“Those one hundred thousand people have been brought back to Luoyang. Several counties near Luoyang are all empty, so this time I brought five hundred households over to settle them.” Fu Tinghan looked her up and down, and seeing she wasn’t injured, he relaxed. “Fan Ying also came over. She’s waiting outside to see you.”

“Why didn’t she come in?”

Fu Tinghan smiled. “She feels guilty, thinking she failed your trust, so she doesn’t dare come in.”

At that time, Zhao Hanzhang had rescued about two hundred thousand people from Shi Lei’s hands and left them all in Xiangcheng under Fan Ying’s management.

Those people had all fled Luoyang following the Prince of Donghai.

Luoyang was so large, with a population of five to six hundred thousand in the city alone. Bringing back these two hundred thousand people wouldn’t be difficult to settle. They could exactly revive the lifeless Luoyang.

So before leaving, Zhao Hanzhang had left instructions for her to watch over the people well.

Who knew that right after Zhao Hanzhang’s departure, some people would leave the group.

A full two hundred thousand people. Among them were scattered soldiers, poor commoners, poor scholars and gentry, and collateral branches of aristocratic families with their dependents.

There were even officials and literati who had been scattered during the chaos.

Their minds were active. Having already escaped Luoyang, they naturally wouldn’t want to return to Luoyang in such a wretched state, so they chose their own destinations and left directly.

Fan Ying couldn’t stop them, because Zhao Hanzhang had only left her ten thousand troops. She didn’t dare act too harshly for fear of backlash.

But unexpectedly, some who left returned a day later, then incited even more people to leave with them.

Because there were many people and much confusion, everyone came and went as they pleased. Fan Ying didn’t notice at first. Only when a large number of people left did she realize something was wrong. Upon investigation, she learned that someone was spreading rumors among the refugees, encouraging everyone to go to Yanzhou.

Originally a massive two hundred thousand people, but in just a few days only about one hundred thousand remained.

Fan Ying was heartbroken. When Zhao Hanzhang called her in, she immediately knelt down with reddened eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly helped her up. “This isn’t your fault. I was the one who didn’t think things through. At the time, I should have divided them and governed them separately.”

Fan Ying felt even worse. “The Governor risked danger to rescue so many people, yet I couldn’t even keep them. I’m truly incompetent. Please punish me severely, Governor.”

Zhao Hanzhang was about to comfort her when Fu Tinghan beside her said, “Since there was a mistake, punish her then. The Governor has always been clear about rewards and punishments.”

Zhao Hanzhang paused, then said, “Alright, then your salary will be forfeit for half a year. Your merit this time offsets it.”

Fan Ying’s mouth fell open. “That’s… that’s all?”

“Otherwise, do you want to resign? Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I’m in great need of people right now. You wouldn’t want to leave at this time, would you?”

Fan Ying quickly said, “As long as the Governor can use me, I’m willing to follow the Governor for life.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Good. Then go arrange the refugees who migrated here. Do the registration properly. Circle off a section of land for them in the south part of the city and let them choose what to plant. We cannot miss the farming season.”

“Yes.” Actually it was already a bit late. Fortunately, spring came late this year and there were still occasional late spring cold snaps, so replanting was possible. In previous years, starting spring plowing at this time would already be late.

Fan Ying asked, “Then who is the county magistrate of this county?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’m also troubled about that. Do you have anyone to recommend?”

Fan Ying shook her head. “Shall I fetch the list of candidates who passed the examination this year?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “Go ahead. I was just planning to select people from there.”

This was her main avenue for selecting talent. Zhao Hanzhang tapped her fingers lightly. “Besides this, there should be quite a few talented people among those brought back this time. Fan Ying, draft an announcement to post in all the counties of Luoyang and Gucheng, saying I urgently seek talent. Anyone who considers themselves talented may come to the county office to recommend themselves.”

“Yes.”

Fan Ying immediately went down to make arrangements.

Only after Fan Ying entered work mode did Zhao Hanzhang have time to ask Fu Tinghan about the situation in Luoyang. “Have you arranged all the people brought back?”

“More or less. When General Beigong and General Mi went to receive the people, they took over their property as well and escorted them back. Without money and with armored soldiers beside them, they had no choice but to return.”

Fu Tinghan paused, then said, “However, quite a few among them were angry, and their words were inappropriate. The refugees were all stirred up with strong emotions and aren’t very obedient to government management.”

He said, “Sir Ji Yuan wants you to return to Luoyang as soon as possible and severely punish General Beigong and General Mi to win the people’s hearts.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to her forehead. This idea was Ji Yuan’s, while Beigong Chun and Mi Ce were just the executors. Now they wanted to severely punish the two executors.

Zhao Hanzhang laughed and shook her head before agreeing. These political tactics would likely be used with increasing frequency in the future. Her subordinates indeed needed to become familiar with them.

However, she had already thought of how to compensate Beigong Chun. As for Mi Ce…

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and said, “What do you think about having Mi Ce garrison Yingchuan Commandery?”

“Weren’t you favoring Xun Xiu before?”

“Xun Xiu has a quick temper, not as steady and reliable as Mi Ce. Right now, the most important thing for Yuzhou and Luoyang is stability, allowing the people to rest and recuperate. Although Mi Ce isn’t as capable as Xun Xiu, his character is steady and he’s kind-hearted. Having him garrison Yingchuan Commandery will help the people settle down faster.”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “Good.”

He paused and asked, “What about Henan Commandery?”

Luoyang belonged to Henan Commandery, and Henan Commandery belonged to Sizhou.

The Emperor only approved Zhao Kuan’s recommendation as Luoyang County Magistrate, but Zhao Hanzhang brazenly took advantage of this to interfere with the other counties of Sizhou’s Henan Commandery, such as Gucheng and then Yangcheng.

Fu Tinghan coughed lightly. “When I left, Sir Ji Yuan said, since you’re stationing troops in Gucheng, why not take all of Henan Commandery in one stroke?”

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “Right now, several counties near Luoyang are basically all empty. Why would I need to personally take them? For those with county magistrates, give them some suggestions. For those without, just dispatch a county magistrate to take them over. As long as we ensure this area won’t be disturbed by outside enemies again, the people will return on their own, and naturally, things will become lively again.”

Fu Tinghan nodded.

The two exchanged a lot of information, essentially discussing work. When they finished talking, Zhao Hanzhang pulled him to his feet and walked out excitedly. “Come, I’ll take you to meet Chen Wu. Do you remember Chen Wu? I mentioned him to you before. He’s a very famous Qihuo Army general.”

Fu Tinghan: “You never told me.”

Zhao Hanzhang stopped. “I didn’t tell you?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “You mentioned the Qihuo Army, but you never said Chen Wu was a very famous Qihuo Army general.”

“Then I probably forgot. Come, I’ll take you to see.”

“But this name does sound somewhat familiar. I just can’t remember for the moment.” Fu Tinghan was pulled along by her. When they were almost at the general’s residence, he remembered. “I remember you once recruited someone named Chen Wan.”

“Hm?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I know Chen Wan. He’s quite brave in battle. I had him follow Uncle Qianli. Oh right, has Uncle Qianli sent back any news? Gou Xi promised me he would return the remaining four commanderies and kingdoms. Have his people withdrawn?”

Fu Tinghan was used to her going off on tangents. He took the time to reply, “Gou Xi said he’ll withdraw only after His Majesty safely reaches Yuncheng. Uncle Qianli has already stationed troops at the border waiting.”

He said, “I remember Chen Wan said he came from the Qihuo Army and has a cousin in the Qihuo Army. His name seems to be Chen Wu.”

Zhao Hanzhang stopped walking upon hearing this, blinked, and said, “What a coincidence?”

—