This was one reason for Zhao Hanzhang’s suffering, but not the main one. The main issue was whether her brutal execution of the ringleaders could truly deter those with restless intentions across the realm, making them think twice before attempting similar acts again.

Various thoughts flashed through Zhao Hanzhang’s mind. Finally, her expression hardened. “Shizhi, the people need enlightenment. Think about how to enlighten them and write me a report later.”

“You might write to Luoyang to consult Grand Tutor of the Imperial Academy Zhao Cheng.” She paused, then added, “You could also discuss it with Minister Fu.”

She believed the enlightenment methods from the early founding period were quite effective. However, she was truly too busy. Fu Tinghan might be able to squeeze out some time.

Zhao Hanzhang quietly created trouble for Fu Tinghan, then slipped away. She washed up simply and lay down, but her head throbbed with pain and she didn’t sleep well all night.

It felt like her eyes had just closed when she heard roosters crowing.

She got up wearing her clothes.

At this time of year, the nights were already cold. She dressed, washed her face, and went out.

The captives outside the city huddled together shivering, sleeping even less soundly.

Zhao Hanzhang brought a team of guards out through the small gate, watching them closely.

The restless captives saw Zhao Hanzhang and immediately shrank back, trembling as they looked at her.

Today had terrified them all.

During these three days, when they’d stormed the county office, blood rushing to their heads, they couldn’t think of anything. He didn’t know if he’d killed anyone, but he’d definitely beaten people.

Between natural disasters and war, they’d seen plenty of corpses and blood, but nothing had ever impacted them like yesterday.

Over two hundred people had their heads chopped off right before their eyes. Blood flowed through the yellow earth right to where they were kneeling. Most chilling of all, Zhao Hanzhang had the bodies hung on the city tower, with heads displayed in front. Some still had their eyes wide open, staring blankly at them.

So… terrifying!

At this moment, in their eyes, Zhao Hanzhang was almost like the King of Hell. Those stories they’d heard praising her virtues had mostly faded from the captives’ hearts.

The rebel captives all tried to avoid Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, not daring to meet her eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang naturally wouldn’t force them to look at her. She just walked around them in circles, walking until their hearts grew restless and their hands and feet trembled.

Not until dawn broke at the horizon did a guard come to find Zhao Hanzhang, reporting in a low voice, “They’ve all confessed.”

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang stop. She lifted her eyes to look at the captives who kept avoiding her gaze, and suddenly understood—making them fear her a bit wasn’t such a bad thing. One day, she would use virtue to replaceprestige and earn their trust.

The same applied to others.

Having figured this out, the matter that had been troubling her heart instantly found resolution. She now knew how to deal with the families of Wang Heng and the other ringleaders.

She stopped looking at these people and headed straight back into the city. At the city gate, she encountered Fu Tinghan leading a team of guards and a group of clerks.

Fu Tinghan looked at her in surprise. “What were you doing outside the city so early in the morning?”

Could Zhao Hanzhang say she’d gone out at the second cock’s crow?

By her calculation, it had been about an hour, right?

She coughed lightly. “Just came out to look around. Heading back now.”

She added, “I’ll leave matters here to you.”

Fu Tinghan nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang hurried back to the county office. Zhao Yigui had also risen to handle affairs. Wuyi County had just experienced a major battle—there was much to be done.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Yigui immediately came forward to receive instructions.

Zhao Hanzhang told her, “Go find Zu Ti. He’s the Inspector of Jizhou.”

Zhao Yigui accepted the order and withdrew.

Only then did she look at the guards’ interrogation records.

After a night of questioning, they’d dug out everything they could, though the questions were scattered and not as organized and detailed as Yuan Li’s work.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. Her personal guards were decent at martial arts, and the clerks could handle other matters fine, but they weren’t very practiced at this kind of interrogation.

It seemed she needed to cultivate more criminal investigation talent. Hmm, she could select from among the scouts.

Ancient scouts were equivalent to reconnaissance soldiers. Actually, over these years, military management had been somewhat chaotic—for instance, the intelligence department. Authority was held by her and Ji Yuan, with Ji Yuan managing it normally.

But this intelligence department belonged neither to the military nor to administrative affairs—it was separate, managed by Ji Yuan. This created problems with information transmission and sharing.

The intelligence Ji Yuan provided mostly went to Fu Tinghan and Fan Ying as basic information. After they processed it, they reported to her. Only highly confidential information went directly to her. These two types of messages converged with her, then were transmitted to the various armies.

Previously, because they’d been continuously fighting without rest, Zhao Hanzhang had wanted to make changes but never had time.

Again, that same issue—too few talented people, especially for critical reconnaissance work. Establishing a sound system was currently quite difficult.

However, she believed they could start with a framework.

Current circumstances were special—the military and local governments could cooperate, and some information could be shared.

Also, in the past, garrison troops were only stationed at important towns and passes. Most other places had no garrisons, relying entirely on local self-governance.

But now, with the world in tremendous upheaval, garrison troops should be established to cover certain ranges. If similar incidents occurred again, the military and local authorities could communicate promptly to prevent such occurrences. Even if they did happen, nearby garrisons could provide rapid relief, reducing casualties.

When the world stabilized in the future, this measure could be changed.

As Zhao Hanzhang read the interrogation report, she paced in circles, slowly sorting through the jumbled thoughts in her mind. Garrison troops, garrison troops… The recruitment system absolutely wouldn’t work. The tuntian system could be tried—soldiers in wartime, farmers during agricultural seasons, training during idle times.

When the world stabilized, they could cancel their military registration and have them return to their fields and homes, or settle nearby.

Zhao Hanzhang took out a notebook to record these ideas, planning to discuss them with Ji Yuan and the others when she had time.

After finishing her notes, she looked at the remaining two interrogation reports.

The guards had questioned very thoroughly, even finding out how many people were in their families and where they were.

Both Shi Bo and Gao Tong were minor gentry dependent on the Wang family. Laughably, in the first year of Yongjia, just after the late emperor ascended the throne, Wang Han had led his clan to migrate to Jianye following Sima Rui. At that time, Wang Yan was still serving as Grand Commandant in Luoyang.

Oh, as an aside, although Sima Rui had moved his important base to Jianye, he spent half his time residing in Langya. The two places weren’t far apart.

Jianye was the administrative seat of Yangzhou, while Sima Rui’s fief was in Langya, Xuzhou. Actually, before and after the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, Xuzhou had been under Sima Rui’s control.

The Wang family really hedged their bets on multiple sides. Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help suspecting that Wang Dao’s recent restraint of Wang Dun, preventing him from targeting Jingzhou again, might be because they’d also placed a bet on her.

Zhao Hanzhang snorted inwardly. But she didn’t care what Wang Dao and Wang Dun were thinking—she judged by actions, not intentions!

Wang Han—she’d disliked him for a long time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen to start with Xuzhou.