Zhao Hanzhang reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, “If you truly feel uneasy, write to me, and also to Tinghan. We can both help you.”

But Zhao Erlang didn’t know many characters.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Lu Hu beside him and smiled lightly, “I’ve already sent Zhao Cai over. From now on, you can have Zhao Cai and Lu Hu write letters for you.”

Zhao Erlang agreed, reluctantly holding Zhao Hanzhang’s hand. “Sister, how long must I serve as commandery administrator?”

“That depends on your abilities,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If you’re highly capable, you’ll be recalled very quickly. If you lack ability, you’ll also be recalled very quickly. The only difference is whether you return with honor or with shame.”

“Erlang, you’re actually a very clever child. You have compassion for others. As long as you work hard to learn the laws and regulations, listen to your subordinates’ advice, you’ll surely be a good commandery administrator. Sister will wait for you in Chen County, and by then Mother will be as proud of you as Sister is.”

Zhao Erlang was quite doubtful. “Really?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded firmly. “Really!”

Zhao Erlang finally saw off Zhao Hanzhang with a face full of both anxiety and happiness. He turned back to see Wang Nie and the others behind him. Originally wanting to just turn and go back inside, somehow Sister’s image flashed through his mind. If it were Sister, what would she do?

Zhao Erlang stopped in his tracks, raised his hands and bowed to the assembled officials, saying, “In the future, I will have to rely heavily on you all for Nanyang Kingdom’s affairs.”

Wang Nie and Xie Shi, seeing him act this way, both had light shining in their eyes, their hearts blooming with joy like a hundred flowers.

Yin Sheng and the other commandery administrator’s office officials were also pleasantly surprised. Zhao Erlang didn’t seem stupid at all.

Honestly, though everyone was intimidated by Zhao Hanzhang’s authority and didn’t dare oppose her appointment of Zhao Erlang as commandery administrator, they were actually quite worried inside.

Rumor had it that Zhao Erlang barely knew any characters. While he was quite brave on the battlefield, the most important aspect of being a commandery administrator was civil administration.

With the precedent of Emperor Hui before them, their hearts really rose to their throats. However, with Zhao Hanzhang above them, they felt that if Zhao Erlang caused trouble, she would clean up the mess, so everyone kept quiet.

Now seeing Zhao Erlang acting with propriety, they were… still quite pleased.

Everyone followed Zhao Erlang back to the commandery administrator’s office with half their hearts hanging, then went about their respective duties.

Zhao Erlang sat in the seat where his sister had previously sat and spaced out for a while. Seeing no one paying attention to him, he got up, took his sword, and headed for the military camp.

Xie Shi came over carrying a pile of documents. The two met at the entrance, and both fell silent for a moment.

Xie Shi stood at the doorway without moving, his expression fairly mild as he said, “Commandery Administrator, let’s process some documents.”

Zhao Erlang pointed at himself with his finger and asked, “I have to process them too?”

“Naturally,” Xie Shi said. “I’ll read the documents to you.”

Zhao Hanzhang had specifically talked with him and Wang Nie, saying that Zhao Erlang’s inability to read wasn’t due to stupidity, but because he was ill. He had a condition where seeing characters caused headaches and nausea. Supposedly, characters appeared distorted in the eyes of people with this illness, making literacy difficult for them, but their intelligence wasn’t affected.

Xie Shi and Wang Nie had observed him for a while, and having spent time with Zhao Erlang, they believed Zhao Hanzhang’s words.

However, they felt Zhao Erlang’s intelligence was still somewhat affected—he seemed a bit behind peers his age.

Zhao Hanzhang believed this was due to improper education in Zhao Erlang’s childhood. Zhao Changyu and Wang Shi had been obsessed with making him read and recognize characters, forcing him to study relentlessly when he couldn’t learn, never thinking to develop his intelligence in other ways. Instead, because he couldn’t recognize characters, they treated him like a young child, so his intellectual development was slower than others.

Zhao Hanzhang believed that with proper cultivation going forward, Zhao Erlang could catch up.

Wang Nie and Xie Shi only felt that Zhao Hanzhang was overly confident in her brother. Alas, it was hard to wake up such parents who thought their own child was the best.

So Wang Nie and Xie Shi could only smile back at Zhao Hanzhang.

Although they didn’t think Zhao Erlang could catch up intellectually with his peers, they still had to follow Zhao Hanzhang’s orders and teach Zhao Erlang about governance.

Xie Shi and Wang Nie had played rock-paper-scissors and lost, so today it was his turn to bring documents and teach.

He took out a document, unfolded it, scanned it quickly, then began reading the memorial aloud to Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Erlang’s head felt enormous listening to it. He… understood less than half.

Xie Shi knew this, so after reading, he explained again in plain language, “The county magistrate of Bowang County is requesting assistance, saying there are many refugees in the county. According to the Governor’s policies for settling refugees, large amounts of money and grain are needed. He hopes the commandery administrator’s office can provide some support.”

Only now did Zhao Erlang’s head stop spinning. He asked, “How much does he want?”

“Ten thousand shi of grain, two hundred thousand in cash.”

Zhao Erlang: “Does my sister’s money blow in on the wind? Tell him—no!”

Zhao Erlang knew very well that Sister and Brother-in-law were often worried about money and grain. One county was asking for this much—with so many counties in Nanyang Kingdom, even selling him wouldn’t earn that much money.

Xie Shi’s expression remained unchanged, adapting well. At least he hadn’t directly said “give it to him,” right?

Xie Shi then instructed him, “You can’t refuse outright, but you also can’t give him all the money and grain he’s requesting. You should have him count the number of refugees in the county and explain how he plans to settle them, then discuss money and grain. Our commandery administrator’s office can support a portion. Since it’s support, naturally most of it must come from the county itself.”

Zhao Erlang asked, “Then how much do you think we should give?”

“One thousand shi of grain or equivalent cash should be about right. We can’t give nothing at all, or they’ll think our refugee settlement policy is just talk. With the Governor not currently in Nanyang Kingdom, without her deterrent presence, I’m afraid they’ll become negligent in their duties again.”

Zhao Erlang tilted his head thinking for a moment, then said, “Sister says that those in office who don’t fulfill their duties are derelict. Depending on the situation, they should be punished—either dismissed or directly beheaded. Tell him that if he dares not listen to me or do his work, I’ll go behead him.”

Xie Shi: …The siblings’ threats really were consistent.

However, he still agreed.

Xie Shi wrote down the handling opinion, set it aside, and took out another memorial. “This is a document from Biyang County, saying there’s recently been a band of mountain bandits outside the county who frequently come down to harass merchants and travelers. The Biyang County magistrate requests provisions to suppress the bandits.”

Zhao Erlang’s eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this. He said directly, “Bandit suppression? I’m familiar with that! I’ll personally lead troops there. Is Biyang County far from here?”

Xie Shi said, “Quite far.”

He looked at what was described in the document, narrowed his eyes, then looked up and smiled at Zhao Erlang, “It would be good for the commandery administrator to personally lead troops there. After suppressing the bandits, you can also inspect the situation in Biyang County.”

Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously. He loved suppressing bandits.

Xie Shi said, “Take Wang Nie with you.”

When Wang Nie learned of this, Zhao Erlang had already sent people to muster troops.

He couldn’t understand. “Why mobilize troops to suppress bandits at this time? He’s the commandery administrator and should remain stationed in Luyang County.”

“Our commandery administrator is different,” Xie Shi said. “Compared to civil achievements, he’s more suited to using military force for intimidation over the counties.”

He continued, “Though Nanyang Kingdom has been subdued by the Governor, they respect the Governor, not Erlang. With the Governor gone, the atmosphere immediately changed. Who could believe Erlang can be a good commandery administrator?”

“Let him lead troops out for a trip. Once they see blood, they’ll behave.”

Wang Nie pondered, then nodded. Halfway through nodding, he realized, “Then why am I the one accompanying him out? Last time he went to suppress bandits, I was the one who went with him. By rotation, it should be your turn.”

“Since you’re already familiar, why bother changing and making him adapt to someone new again?”