Old Madam Beigong bowed slightly to Zhao Hanzhang, then sat in the carriage with Beigong Chun’s support. She tilted her head slightly, watching through the window as Zhao Hanzhang stood on the steps smiling and seeing them off.

Only after the carriage had traveled a long distance and Zhao Hanzhang had turned to enter did Old Madam Beigong withdraw her gaze. She said to Madam Beigong, “I truly did not expect her to be so young. Central Province has actually produced such a remarkable young woman.”

Madam Beigong also felt envious. “Administrator Zhao is very capable.”

Old Madam Beigong nodded slightly.

The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival, the first holiday in many years that the Western Liang army could spend together with their families.

Western Liang did not particularly value the Dragon Boat Festival. To them, it was just an ordinary holiday. But today, they felt the Dragon Boat Festival was a major festival.

Zhao Hanzhang had people send them a batch of grain. All military families who had come were given portions according to headcount, regardless of rank or position.

The grain wasn’t much, but it was enough for each family to get through this month safely. By June, the beans in the fields could be harvested.

Moreover, last night she had already learned that Zhao Erlang would be cooperating with Beigong Chun to suppress bandits.

Since they were suppressing bandits, there would naturally be some gains. Given Beigong Chun’s character, he would definitely not withhold from his subordinate soldiers.

So she had reduced the grain she sent out somewhat. But receiving this grain presented as a holiday gift, the Western Liang army from top to bottom was still overjoyed.

The newly arrived military families began to develop a small sense of belonging toward Luoyang and Zhao Hanzhang.

On the Dragon Boat Festival, the city was full of people selling sachets and fortune eggs. Anyone who bought a sachet would also receive a bundle of mugwort from the selling young girls.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan were leaving the city to inspect the water mill. Along the way, people kept giving them sachets, eggs, and mugwort.

By the end, she really couldn’t hold any more, so she had her guards intercept them, indicating that exchanging Dragon Boat Festival greetings was sufficient and gifts were unnecessary.

A young girl looked at the sachets in her arms, the fortune eggs bundled in her robe, and even the mugwort hanging on the horse’s back. Unwilling to see her gift go undelivered, she grabbed one of her eggs and called out, “Administrator Zhao!”

Zhao Hanzhang turned at the sound. The egg in the girl’s hand shot toward her face. Zhao Hanzhang was startled and instinctively raised her hand to catch it.

The freshly boiled fortune egg was still hot. As soon as Zhao Hanzhang squeezed it, the shell cracked, and the red dye on the fortune egg smeared all over her hand, turning her palm red.

Zhao Hanzhang looked helplessly at the triumphant young girl and accepted the egg.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang accept it, others watching also became restless. Fu Tinghan, fearing they would really throw eggs over as well, quickly rode his horse forward to block her side.

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head to smile at him, then dismounted while cradling her robe full of eggs.

She strode toward a corner of the wall where several children stood, each holding bundles of mugwort. Their clothing was shabby and they were so thin their eyes looked huge. They leaned against the wall, watching them with wide, innocent eyes.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang walking toward them, the children were both excited and frightened. They instinctively straightened their backs while unable to help stepping backward, pressing themselves tightly against the wall.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and ruffled their heads, then stuffed the eggs from her robe into their hands, giving each child two eggs and hanging the sachets from her own neck around theirs.

“Happy Dragon Boat Festival.”

At this time, the Dragon Boat Festival still meant wishing everyone could expel poisons, remain safe, and be happy and joyful. So as soon as Zhao Hanzhang finished speaking, the children who had received her gifts immediately shouted happily, blessing words pouring out in a stream: “Happy Dragon Boat Festival, Administrator! Peace and joy on the Dragon Boat Festival, Administrator! Administrator, this mugwort – take it and hang it on your door. It can ward off evil and bring peace.”

A younger girl beside them anxiously hopped up and down but could only keep repeating, “Administrator, Administrator…”

Then she tried hard to stuff the mugwort from her arms into Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.

Zhao Hanzhang had distributed more than half of the eggs and sachets she received, keeping only two for herself. She patted the little girl’s head and accepted the mugwort pressed into her arms.

She waved to the restless crowd and said, “Alright, everyone disperse now. I’ve received enough fortune eggs and sachets today. You can give them to other relatives and friends, or to the children at the Benevolence Hall.”

She smiled and bowed in all directions. “I wish you all a joyful Dragon Boat Festival.”

Everyone bowed in return. “We wish the Administrator a joyful Dragon Boat Festival.”

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang mount her horse, everyone made way, allowing them to depart.

Only a few people were at the water mill. Most of the workers had taken their rest day to go home for the holiday.

The water mill was built beside the Luo River. When Fu Tinghan had previously inspected the Luo River, he found this location excellent. The water flow had a slight drop, and there was a large expanse of open land on the shore. At this time, three tall water wheels had already been erected in the water. Water falling from upstream struck the blades, causing the water wheels to slowly turn, scooping up water and pouring it rolling into a large irrigation channel beside them.

Three large channels extended toward the water mill. Upon reaching the mill, they divided again, falling with some drop and crashing onto smaller water wheels, which turned and drove the millstones inside the rooms.

Fu Tinghan personally attached the millstone and showed her the effect.

The millstone weighing over two hundred pounds turned. Fu Tinghan used a large ladle to scoop in a bit of soybeans. After the millstone ground them, they slowly overflowed. “Driving the millstone is sufficient. We could even link them in series. During this time, I’ll test how many millstones one room can drive. But the force isn’t enough for the forging press.”

He said, “Currently, the crankshaft of the forging press also has some problems – it keeps disengaging. So more research is needed. Has there been news from Yuncheng?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “Not yet. But I estimate it should come soon. Success or failure, Zhao Zhongyu must give me a reply.”

She looked around and asked, “Are linked water mills difficult to make?”

“Not difficult,” Fu Tinghan said. “Not only can water mills be linked, but water-powered pounders can be as well. However, we’re still in the testing phase and don’t yet know how much wear and tear there will be. But if both can be made into linked systems, just this one water mill facility could pound rice and grind wheat and bean flour sufficient for the entire current population of Luoyang city to consume daily.”

This way, they could free up considerable labor. Zhao Hanzhang currently lacked money and grain, and even more wanted to make full use of people’s abilities.

Moreover, the water-powered millstones and pounders were already using electrical principles. Once they created the water-powered forging press, Fu Tinghan’s research into water power would become even more profound. There would be many more applications for this principle in the future.

“I’ll write another letter to urge Zhao Zhongyu. You have Gao Hui also search in the northern territories for related talent,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “We not only need them to research together, but later when building water mills in various locations, we’ll need them to go and provide guidance.”

Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes and pondered briefly before saying, “We can cultivate related craftsmen starting now. Once we’ve finished building this water mill, we can send them to other places to construct more.”

The craftsmen here were all skilled. They didn’t need to understand the principles – as long as they had blueprints and had done it once, they could replicate it and even make adjustments based on actual conditions.

Sometimes Fu Tinghan wasn’t careful enough, focusing only on certain data and overlooking reality. They were the ones who helped correct things.

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, thinking this was a good method. “This thing is useful. Once you’ve figured it out, have them go to Yuzhou. Build one in each prefecture, and ideally in any county seat with a suitable water source. This way we can save considerable manpower.”

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