Everyone raised their heads to look at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang put down her steamed bun and said to the servant, “From now on, add some wheat bran to my steamed buns. Though they won’t be as soft, they’re very filling and can sustain one for longer.”

Zhao Ming also put down his steamed bun and looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang spoke warmly to everyone, “This year’s harvest was quite good, and life seems to have improved, but because we’re building water conservation projects with large numbers of workers invested in hydraulic construction, there are fewer people available for farming and weaving, so the common people still lack food and clothing.”

Xun Xiu said, “Commander, never mind the present—even during Emperor Wu’s prosperous times, there were poor people among the common folk. Must we also suffer hardship just because there are some impoverished people among the commoners?”

Many agreed in their hearts. They had the means to eat well—surely they couldn’t go hungry just because some common person somewhere was starving?

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but smile. “Your families have abundant resources, so naturally you can afford it, but I cannot.”

She said frankly, “I’m poor!”

“I need to conscript labor, and my people live in poverty—how could I swallow this fine flour?” Zhao Hanzhang had originally planned to start everything from the next meal, but seeing so many people dismissive of the issue, she simply placed the white flour steamed bun back in the basket and told the servant, “Go to the kitchen and bring a basket of coarse grain steamed buns—the kind you servants eat. Take this basket away.”

The servant felt anxious and couldn’t help but look at Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming nodded slightly.

The servant immediately stepped forward to take away the basket of steamed buns.

Zhao Cheng also tossed down the white flour steamed bun in his hand, saying, “Change mine as well.”

Zhao Ming slowly placed his steamed bun in the bamboo basket and nodded to the servant.

The servants hurriedly came forward to remove all three people’s steamed buns.

Ji Ping and the others, being Zhao Hanzhang’s trusted confidants, naturally followed suit and all requested the change.

The remaining people like Xun Xiu wanted to act unconcerned, but looking at the white steamed buns in their hands, they ultimately couldn’t bring themselves to eat them and tossed them down with some annoyance.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t about to consider their feelings. When the servants brought up the grayish-black steamed buns, she expressionlessly picked one up, broke it open, and put it in her mouth, saying to everyone, “They’re a bit coarse, but if you chew them well, they’re actually quite sweet.”

She said, “Life is much better now than before. I remember when we were on military campaigns, the bean cakes and wheat rice we ate were even harder to swallow.”

Xun Xiu and the others’ expressions improved somewhat, and they also picked up steamed buns and bit into them fiercely.

As Zhao Hanzhang ate, she asked Xun Xiu, “Have you secured grain and fodder for the soldiers this year?”

Xun Xiu’s army, because they didn’t bear the Zhao surname, had always received part of their provisions from Yuzhou, with the remainder from their own farming—they had to figure it out themselves.

Xun Xiu said casually, “Not yet. I humbly request the Commander’s mercy and ask for more provisions.”

He said, “This year we deployed large forces to support Luoyang, leaving few soldiers for farming. By the time we returned from Luoyang, we’d missed the planting season, so this year’s harvest was very poor. What we obtained is only enough for three months of the army’s consumption.”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t believe him for a moment. However, even if he was understating the time, it couldn’t be much longer—their own provisions probably would last only four or five months at most.

Zhao Hanzhang pondered and said, “This year, thirty percent of the tax revenue from Yingchuan Commandery will go to the Provincial Governor’s Office. Of the remaining seventy percent, you and the Commandery Governor’s Office can negotiate its use. I have only one requirement: Yingchuan Commandery must fill two granaries for emergencies, and you can distribute the rest yourselves.”

Xun Xiu’s eyes flashed with brightness.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “These taxes come from the people. They scrimp and save, and in the end it’s used on us and the soldiers. We receive their support, so we have the responsibility to protect them well. Now all commanderies and counties need to build water conservation projects to prevent disasters in the coming years. I know the people will live very hard in the near future, but I hope everyone can share the hardship with the people and get through this difficult time together.”

She raised her eyelids to look seriously at each of them. “Not have the people eating chaff and swallowing vegetables while we indulge in extravagance and pleasure.”

Everyone’s hearts jumped, and under her gaze they lowered their heads and couldn’t help but respond with “Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction.

She hoped they could change their mindset—not “I want to seize power and profit, driving the people for my own use,” but rather “I am supported by the people, so I must repay them and share both sweet and bitter with those under my governance.”

This meeting continued until evening. Because everyone had limited time and Zhao Hanzhang disliked dragging things out, she confirmed all the core points in one meeting, then adjourned. Tomorrow everyone would take the official documents she signed and return to their respective commanderies to prepare for conscripting labor.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only the Zhao family members in the hall.

Zhao Ming stood up. “Commander, food and wine have been prepared at home. Everyone, please take your seats.”

Zhao Hanzhang had rarely knelt and sat for so long, and now her legs were a bit numb, so she didn’t move.

Fu Tinghan seemed to know her difficulty. He braced himself and stood up from the mat, stepped forward, and extended his hand to her.

Zhao Hanzhang grasped his hand and slowly stood up.

Zhao Ming looked somewhat disgusted and turned his gaze away. “Kneeling and sitting can invigorate the meridians, dispel wind and cold. I really don’t understand why you had to get a high chair to sit on. After such a short time, just sitting a bit longer and your legs go numb.”

Was this just sitting a bit longer? They’d sat for a full two and a half hours—over five hours! Even sitting in a chair would make one’s bottom hurt, let alone kneeling.

Zhao Hanzhang tried not to argue with Zhao Ming over such small matters. Supporting herself on Fu Tinghan’s hand, she walked down slowly. “My mother has also prepared food. How about we go to my place?”

Zhao Ming said, “I don’t mind, but will Seventh Uncle go?”

He said, “Let’s have Wang Shi come over to eat as well. We can’t very well ask Father and Seventh Uncle to move.”

Zhao Hanzhang thought this made sense and summoned a servant. “Go back and invite Mother to come eat here.”

Zhao Ming sent away the remaining servants as well. He personally led them to the dining hall, though his expression was somewhat unpleasant.

“What happened between you and Seventh Uncle?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Zhao Cheng. “I brought Uncle Cheng back to Chen County, and Seventh Great-Uncle got angry.”

Zhao Ming snorted. “So you’re indulging him?”

His gaze sharply fixed on her. “You should know that indulging a child is like killing a child. You keep telling me to manage the clan members well, yet now you’re letting him do as he pleases, and in front of all the commanderies and counties, you’re bowing and scraping to him. You should know he’s not someone who knows self-restraint. Once he causes trouble, can you still treat him as you do now?”

He even suspected she was doing this deliberately, wanting Zhao Hu to become arrogant and careless so he’d make a mistake, then she’d have an excuse to destroy him.

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and smiled at him. “Uncle Ming can tell Seventh Great-Uncle your suspicions.”

Zhao Ming’s brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a mosquito.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t care. “Seventh Great-Uncle also knows I’m not a good person. He’ll definitely believe you.”

Zhao Ming stopped walking. “Why are you doing this?”

—