Fu Tinghan’s solution was to personally repair these tools, which wasn’t difficult for him, even though he didn’t have many tools at hand.

But with just a few wooden blocks and a shovel, he carved out the wooden pieces he wanted and began repairs.

As for the hoes with notches, he simply adjusted the angle, then had someone try them out. Hoeing the ground wasn’t difficult, and they weren’t much different from intact hoes.

However, continued use would cause greater wear.

Fu Tinghan handed the tools to them and consoled, “Alright, go to work. Our speed isn’t slow. Since they were stolen, they were stolen. Next time everyone should just keep their tools with them at all times.”

Zhao Hanzhang stared at him thoughtfully.

Fu Tinghan turned and saw her, then asked, “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Everyone has intelligence and wisdom. Whatever we need, we just have to raise the problem, and the people below will naturally think of various ways to solve it.”

Fu Tinghan: “…”

He said somewhat gloomily, “I’m one of the people below now.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him. Having made up her mind, when evening came and they returned to the Governor’s Office, she changed her clothes and summoned Fan Ying: “Tell the Wushan Iron Mine and Pingxi Mountain Iron Mine that I need triple their production capacity. I’ll need large quantities of farm tools next spring.”

She also ordered: “Issue orders for all commanderies to search for blacksmiths and train people who can forge iron. Before February after the New Year, each commandery must add at least ten blacksmiths. Have you finished the announcement I asked you to prepare about improving craftsmen’s treatment?”

Fan Ying bowed: “It’s already done and distributed, but there hasn’t been much response from various localities.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Issue it again. This time, send three consecutive orders, saying that after the New Year I’ll personally visit each commandery to inspect them.”

If they don’t see it with their own eyes, she’ll scare them to death.

Fan Ying noted everything down, then brought over a stack of documents for Zhao Hanzhang to review.

Zhao Hanzhang multitasked, quickly scanning through the documents in her hand while listening to Fan Ying report matters—all news compiled from various localities.

“Wang Nie and Xie Shi have both gone south. Calculating the days, they should reach Nanyang in a few more days. Zhao Kuan was ordered to go to Ruyin Commandery and is already overseeing the situation there. Today we received two secret letters, both secretly reporting that Master Ji abused his authority to kill people.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked up from the documents: “Who did Master Ji kill?”

“He killed the County Magistrate of Meng County, and also…” Fan Ying looked up at Zhao Hanzhang before continuing, “Also the Chief Clerk of Qiaoguo.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows and looked at Fan Ying.

Fan Ying explained in detail: “Does the Governor remember Qiaoguo?”

Of course she remembered. When she went to rescue Beigong Chun and traveled around various places, she had been to Qiaoguo. Well, Qiaoguo also belonged within Yuzhou territory, but this place was rather special—it was very small, extraordinarily small, with only one county, namely Qiao County.

The reason Qiao County was designated as a kingdom was because Emperor Wu had enfeoffed this area to the Prince of Qiao.

Zhao Hanzhang finally recalled: “Wasn’t the Prince of Qiao killed by Shi Le?”

“Yes. Because the court… couldn’t attend to Qiaoguo, and the Prince of Qiao had no heir, Qiaoguo should now belong to the Governor and be taken over by Yuzhou for administration.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. When a vassal prince died and the court hadn’t dispatched a successor, it should indeed be administered by the local Regional Inspector.

“That Chief Clerk wouldn’t obey the Inspector’s Office and even wanted to lead the princely guards to join Gou Xi. After news of Pei He’s resignation reached Chen County, Master Ji immediately ordered people to go to Qiaoguo to execute the Chief Clerk and directly took over Qiaoguo.”

Zhao Hanzhang tapped the table, pondered for a moment, then said: “Issue an order: change Qiaoguo to Qiao County and incorporate it into Liang Commandery. Order Mi Ce to lead troops to garrison Qiaoguo to prevent the Xiongnu from raiding south again.”

Fan Ying’s lips curved slightly upward as he loudly responded, “Yes.”

Qiaoguo bordered Yanzhou and was one of Yuzhou’s outer five commanderies and kingdoms. Previously it had only obeyed Gou Xi’s orders and wouldn’t listen to Zhao Hanzhang. Master Ji seized the opportunity of Zhao Hanzhang’s fearsome reputation to kill Qiaoguo’s Chief Clerk and reclaim Qiaoguo—this was a deterrent to the other commanderies and kingdoms.

“What other news is there?”

“The rest is from outside.”

Zhao Hanzhang finished reviewing the document in her hand, closed it and tossed it aside, then picked up another and said, “Tell me.”

Fan Ying hesitated before saying: “There’s news that the Prince of Donghai seems to want to withdraw from the capital.”

Zhao Hanzhang froze and looked up: “What?”

Fan Ying explained: “The weather is too cold, and military consumption is extremely high. Most of Gou Xi’s army has returned to Yanzhou, with only a small portion still surrounding the capital. But the Prince of Donghai also hasn’t sent troops to drive away those soldiers surrounding the capital. Master Ji wrote that some people in the capital are quietly discussing that the Prince of Donghai wants to withdraw from the capital.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt complicated emotions for a moment and asked: “So this news isn’t confirmed?”

“Correct. It’s just rumors, but Master Ji specifically mentioned it in his letter.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and asked: “Anything else?”

“When Gou Xi withdrew, he conveniently took Shangdang Commandery and the southern part of Wei Commandery, so although he returned to Yanzhou, he still has the capital tightly surrounded.”

Shangdang Commandery and Wei Commandery were both still north of Luoyang, not to mention their distance from Yanzhou. Clearly, Gou Xi hadn’t made this trip for nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, indicating she understood, and asked: “Anything else?”

Fan Ying said: “A letter came from the capital.”

The only person in the capital who would write to Zhao Hanzhang was Zhao Zhongyu.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t ask further questions. Instead, she finished reviewing all the documents before extending her hand: “Bring me the letter.”

Fan Ying immediately presented it. This was a private letter, and without Zhao Hanzhang’s authorization, Fan Ying wouldn’t open it to read, so she didn’t know what information it contained.

Zhao Hanzhang opened it. The letter was quite thick, a full five or six pages. She unfolded it to read.

The letter was written by Zhao Zhongyu. He wrote extensively about the current state of the capital, telling Zhao Hanzhang that the conflict between the Prince of Donghai and the Emperor was deepening. They quarreled daily. Not only was the Emperor eager to rid himself of the Prince of Donghai, but he observed that the Prince of Donghai also showed signs of weariness.

He wrote: “Recently there have been rumors in the capital that the Prince of Donghai wants to return east to Donghai. I don’t know if it’s true or false, but if it is true, he probably won’t leave His Majesty with a single soldier. When that happens, the capital will be in crisis, and you might be able to make your move.”

Zhao Zhongyu’s meaning was: although you’re now the Yuzhou Regional Inspector, your position lacks proper legitimacy. To control Yuzhou more reasonably, you must obtain the Emperor’s edict.

So Zhao Zhongyu proposed: “If the Prince of Donghai leaves the capital, you can come to the capital to escort the Emperor in relocating the capital. If you establish the merit of following the dragon, His Majesty will certainly enfeoff you, and then you can have proper legitimacy.”

He also mentioned the current situation in the capital: “Gou Xi has sealed the city—people can’t leave, supplies can’t enter. Every day in the city, corpses of those who’ve starved to death are everywhere. It’s truly dire. So His Majesty urgently needs your help. If you can seize this opportunity, you can not only become the Great Jin’s first female Regional Inspector but also have your name recorded in history for eternity.”

Zhao Hanzhang tapped the table and pondered. After a moment, she unfolded blank paper to write a reply to Zhao Zhongyu.