Changning and Zhao Hu had an old relationship. Zhao Hu often suffered losses under Changning. He knew Zhao Hanzhang valued Changning highly, favoring him in many matters. Plus the other party always had reason and evidence, so he didn’t want to offend him too much. Meanwhile, Changning also knew Zhao Hu had greatly aided the Ministry of Revenue. Plus he was a major taxpayer, so he didn’t dare completely tear apart their relationship either.
So the two disliked each other but also feared each other, always maintaining a facade of superficial harmony.
At this moment, Changning received Zhao Hu with a smile, very cordially explaining to him, “The court has separate regulations for the entertainment profession, so market certificate issuance has been temporarily suspended. This isn’t specifically targeting the Seventh Grand Elder.”
Zhao Hu frowned upon hearing this, saying suspiciously, “Don’t tell me Sanniang is opposed to pleasure houses because they mostly have women, so she wants to prohibit them? That won’t do. If she’s unhappy, I can also open a male establishment, specifically serving women. Fair and just—then you can issue me this market certificate.”
Changning: “…The Seventh Grand Elder jests. How could the Grand General refuse to issue market certificates for such a reason? Once the court reaches a decision, we’ll naturally issue a public announcement.”
Zhao Hu’s expression wasn’t good. He said with a half-smile, “My building is already renovated, wine and food are all arranged, I’ve even bought the people—just waiting to open for business. Now you brush me off with one sentence about the court not having reached a decision?”
Seeing he had every intention of pestering endlessly, Changning couldn’t help but sigh. He looked outside, then immediately waved his hand to dismiss his subordinates.
He walked to the window and opened it, only then lowering his voice to tell Zhao Hu, “Seventh Grand Elder, this matter isn’t only about the entertainment profession. The Grand General wants to establish East and West Markets in Luoyang. In the future, wine houses, restaurants, and various shops will all relocate to the markets. Additionally, small lanes will be designated beside each ward for convenient sale of agricultural products like vegetables, eggs, and chickens—these will be called markets. Everything else, like pork, mutton, beef and other major items, must all go to the markets.”
Zhao Hu: “Setting up markets within wards—isn’t that the same as villages?”
Changning smiled. “Wards are similar to villages, so saying that isn’t wrong.”
Zhao Hu lowered his eyes and asked, “What about my shops…”
Changning hurriedly said, “The Grand General hasn’t selected new sites to establish markets. Considering that commerce has already formed scale, the general boundaries follow the previous ward-market divisions. Most of your shops are within them.”
The ward-market system had taken shape during the Zhou era and basically became institutionalized during Han times. However, management wasn’t strict, and there were still many instances of markets within wards and residences within markets.
By this dynasty, the ward-market system had basically been destroyed. Shops bloomed everywhere without standardized management.
During Han times, if he prepared travel arrangements and horses, he could equip everything needed—carts, horses, saddles, etc.—in the East Market, then walk through the West Market and basically have all the rice, cloth, buckets, and medicine needed. But now, because shops lacked rational planning, one house sold saddles while the next sold rice. To find a blacksmith, you had to cross half of Luoyang.
Now Luoyang still had few people, and commerce was only in recovery stage, so when shopping, the scattered and sparse shops felt inconvenient.
Zhao Hanzhang wanted to take advantage of everything being in ruins and nothing yet settled to establish regulations, avoiding future harm to the people when population and shops multiplied and relocation became necessary.
Moreover, the damaged East and West Markets had been repaired sufficiently. Ground surfaces were all leveled, most buildings had been sold and renovated. After separating wards and markets, it would not only benefit the people but also merchants.
Of course, Zhao Hanzhang’s goals didn’t stop there. She wanted to abolish pleasure houses, but she currently lacked the money and ability to arrange proper destinations for them, so she could only settle for the next best thing—temporarily suspending new market certificate issuance while dispatching people to take over civilian entertainment operations, ordering them to establish an entertainment industry association.
When she had money, she would find time to handle this matter. There were large numbers of entertainers among the populace, mostly female, but also a considerable portion male.
Males were fine. After being freed, they could return home. Most could start new lives, even changing names and disappearing.
In this era, people rarely questioned a man’s past. After all, displaced people were everywhere.
But women couldn’t. They would be scrutinized longer, discussed more. The pressure on them was greater.
Some court officials suggested simply disbanding them to return home, but Zhao Hanzhang disagreed.
She believed that for the vast majority who had fallen to this state, their families had unavoidable reasons. They themselves might not hate their birth families, but she still hoped they could truly obtain new lives rather than return and rot and take root again in their original families.
So she was waiting—waiting until she had capital, also waiting for their consciousness to awaken.
Changning convinced Zhao Hu and sent him off before going to see Zhao Hanzhang, telling her he’d already sent Zhao Hu away.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Has Chen Siniang not yet returned to the capital to report on her duties?”
Changning: “…This is a Personnel Ministry matter. However, I heard she’s already preparing to return. She has great prestige among displaced people and children in Jingzhou. The people there are reluctant to part with her. She also wants to hand over affairs carefully, which is why she’s been delayed.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly without urging further.
When Chen Siniang returned, the capital’s various merchant associations and labor unions could be established. After the Jiangnan region returned, schools welcomed a wave of withdrawals. Many girls were taken home by family before even taking exams.
Later, teachers went to bring the children back, and Zhao Hanzhang also specifically issued a public announcement, ordering ward chiefs and neighborhood heads to admonish families. Only then were most female students brought back to classrooms.
With her presiding over Luoyang, things were still like this. What about places her eyes couldn’t see, her feet couldn’t reach?
Because they felt fighting would continue and families lacked sufficient grain, they sent children to schools where at least their lives could be preserved.
Because the realm had stabilized and families had some stored grain so children wouldn’t starve, when labor was needed, they chose to bring girls home to work while keeping boys in school to study…
Her five-year compulsory education policy targeted all school-age children, regardless of gender!
Oh right, her five-year compulsory education policy hadn’t yet been publicly released or completely finalized.
Sigh, ultimately, it still came down to lacking money and lacking teachers. She’d just have to wait until she got through this year’s calamity.
Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Zhao Yunxin. “Has the solar eclipse matter been published in the gazette?”
Zhao Yunxin said, “It will be published tomorrow.”
Zhao Hanzhang calculated the timing and nodded. “This timing is just right.”
By the time it spread throughout the realm, the solar eclipse would arrive too, giving people the mistaken impression that Guo Pu was a living immortal. Once his reputation rose, she could use his words to accomplish many things.
The corners of Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth lifted slightly. She felt less anxious now.
Once the official gazette was published, people in Luoyang saw the tucked-in report predicting a solar eclipse first.
In wine houses and restaurants, scholars immediately expressed disdain. “The Master didn’t speak of strange powers and chaotic spirits. This Guo Pu plays at mysticism and ghosts, actually claiming heaven will have a solar eclipse. Simply absurd. Now the realm is stable, His Majesty is well, and the Grand General is loyal, brave, and virtuous. This is a great time—how could such a calamity appear?”
Some didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but naturally some did believe. Moreover, in this era, actually the vast majority believed, even educated scholars.