In early September, the Yangtze River’s water level finally began to slowly recede.

With the rainy season passing in the middle and upper reaches, the turbid river water once again became clear.

A fleet consisting of two oared war sailing ships and over ten cargo vessels, after passing through Chizhou’s Yangtze River section, adjusted their sails, veering from the southern shoreline toward the Yuxi River mouth to the north.

Zhao Ting’er, who had worn leather armor the entire journey and tried hard to appear strong before the soldiers, specially changed on the last day of the half-month voyage into a light green jacket and skirt. Her exquisite, flawless face lightly adorned with makeup appeared even more maturely beautiful and charming.

She stood at the bow, craning her neck eagerly to gaze at the still quite desolate, sparsely populated northern shore, her heart both expectant and filled with indescribable nervousness.

“Mother, you and Grandfather both say Father is a great hero. Can he kill a tiger with one punch?” A delicate, jade-carved young child emerged from the cabin, grasping Zhao Ting’er’s hand and asking in a childish voice.

“…” Zhao Ting’er laughed speechlessly, lifting the child into her arms and asking, “Who told you that killing a striped tiger with one punch makes someone a great hero?”

“Didn’t Mother always tell Xin’er to learn real skills so that when grown up, he could eliminate the tiger harming villagers at Huayang Ridge? If Father is a great hero, shouldn’t he be even more capable than Xin’er when grown up?” the child asked in his childish voice.

“Having a heart to eliminate harm for the people makes one a great hero—besides, tigers that harm villagers are easy to eliminate, but what truly harms villagers isn’t only tigers. There are countless harms far more formidable than tigers. Being able to eliminate these harms is what counts as having true great ability, what makes one a great hero,” Zhao Ting’er said with a smile.

“…” The child looked at his mother in confusion, unable to comprehend that there were harms more formidable than tigers.

“The river wind is so strong, yet you bring Wenxin outside the cabin. If he catches a chill, how will you explain it to Han Qian?” Old Zhao emerged from the cabin, seeing his daughter holding his grandson at the bow in the cool wind, and complained.

Zhao Ting’er always felt her father spoiled Xin’er too much, which might not be good for his growth. But right now she wouldn’t go against her father’s wishes, preparing to hand Xin’er to her father to carry back to the cabin.

“Madam Ting, it seems His Excellency and General Wuji have already brought people to wait at the river beach ahead?” Du Yiming, holding an extendable bronze telescope, climbed down from atop the several-zhang-high mast, excitedly informing Zhao Ting’er.

“Really?” Unable to suppress her excitement, Zhao Ting’er took the telescope from Du Yiming’s hands, extended it, and looked toward the river mouth beach seven or eight li away. Through the telescope she could now clearly see behind large patches of reed grass a cavalry troop stopped on the river beach. The leading figure in a blue robe and the one behind in black armor—who else could they be but her husband Han Qian and younger brother Zhao Wuji?

In September, Chao Lake’s water level hadn’t completely dropped, precisely when the Yuxi River’s current was swift and banks wide. The fleet didn’t lower sails to reduce speed. One incense stick later they temporarily halted at the river mouth. Han Qian and Zhao Wuji boarded the large warship by small boat.

Han Qian scooped up the timid Xin’er into his arms, using his chin full of stubble—too busy with affairs these past days to even groom—to vigorously rub against the child’s tender face several times. Listening to Xin’er squealing and struggling, only after a while did he set down the aggrieved Xin’er, then fiercely pulled Zhao Ting’er into his embrace, asking, “Could you bear the wind and waves along the way?”

“Really, so many people are watching…” Zhao Ting’er said coquettishly, embarrassed as she tried to struggle free from Han Qian’s embrace.

“Then I’ll have them all turn their backs,” Han Qian said.

“How can you talk even more nonsense than Xin’er?” Zhao Ting’er said indignantly.

Han Qian laughed heartily, only then paying respects to Old Zhao, inquiring about their hardships along the journey.

At this moment, a young lady timidly emerged from the cabin following Old Zhao’s wife, curtseying to Han Qian: “Rong’er greets Your Excellency.” When greeting Zhao Wuji, her powdered face flushed completely red as if burning, stammering, “Gree-greetings, General Wuji…”

The young lady was Xi Rong, just sixteen years old, the younger sister of Xi Xunqiao, the wife Old Zhao had arranged for Zhao Wuji. The betrothal proposal and matching of horoscopes had occurred last year, with the wedding date already set. But with Great Chu’s navy destroyed at Hongze Lake and the Jianghuai situation plummeting again, Han Qian had transferred Zhao Wuji and large numbers of Xuzhou soldiers to fight in Tangyi, disrupting many plans.

However, Old Zhao didn’t want to miss the selected wedding date. When the day came, following Xuzhou customs, Xi Rong held a rooster for the wedding ceremony, officially entering the Zhao family as daughter-in-law. This time she was being brought—having been in the family nearly half a year—to consummate the marriage with Zhao Wuji.

After marrying over, Xi Rong usually helped Zhao Ting’er manage affairs without any difficulties. But now seeing her husband Zhao Wuji, she was so flustered she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.

In Xuzhou, Zhao Wuji spent most of his time garrisoned at Nanliao Stockade, presiding over Quyang County’s military and civil affairs, responsible for pacifying the raw tribesmen in the middle and upper Qu River to expand Xuzhou’s population. The betrothal and marriage matters were all arranged by Old Zhao.

He had only seen Xi Rong once briefly when proposing marriage before returning to Chenzhong city, with no contact afterward.

As a representative figure of Xuzhou’s native籍population, Xi Xunqiao was deeply trusted by Han Qian. After Han Qian established himself in Tangyi, Xi Xunqiao replaced Feng Liao as Xuzhou Administrator, jointly assisting Zhao Ting’er in handling Xuzhou’s government affairs alongside Qiao Weiyan, who concurrently served as Personnel Section Officer and Chenzhong County Magistrate, and Du Yijun, who controlled the Manufacturing Bureau and Official Treasury Bureau.

As Xi Xunqiao’s younger sister, Xi Rong was beautiful. From childhood she had followed her brother in learning Han rituals and customs, was literate and well-read, and roughly practiced archery and riding. In this era where marriage matters all followed parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words, Zhao Wuji had no reason to refuse this marriage. But at this moment, his heart was full of unfamiliarity toward the young lady before him who couldn’t hide her flustered state. For a time he didn’t know how to be affectionate.

Zhao Ting’er seemed to understand the awkwardness between her brother and sister-in-law. Breaking free from Han Qian’s embrace, she pulled her brother and scolded him indignantly, asking how, having left Xuzhou nearly a year ago, he’d barely sent any letters home.

Zhao Wuji imperceptibly erased another faint silhouette from his mind. Facing his sister’s scolding, he smiled: “Military affairs keep one constantly busy. Even with leisure time, one is exhausted like mud. But thinking that brother-in-law would tell sister everything in his letters in detail, I got lazy about writing home.”

“You’ve certainly learned to be lazy,” Zhao Ting’er said indignantly, glaring at him. “You’re now someone commanding large armies—can you still act like a lazy child?”

“Sister also knows I now command large armies—you can’t scold me without mercy anymore,” Zhao Wuji said.

“So now you’ve become mighty?” Zhao Ting’er scolded.

Han Qian laughed: “No problem. I’ll relieve Wuji of his command for seven days right now, leaving him for you to properly discipline.”

“Now you have nothing to say, right?” Zhao Ting’er reached out as if to pull his ear.

“You siblings are both grown adults—aren’t you afraid subordinates will laugh at you?” Old Zhao still protected his son, blocking Zhao Ting’er’s hand.

Han Qian instructed Han Donghu to lead guard cavalry along the shore to follow, while he accompanied Zhao Ting’er by boat northward up the river. After reaching Dongguan town they would disembark and change to carriages to head to East Lake Camp.

Zhao Ting’er nestled in Han Qian’s embrace, gazing at Ruxu Mountain’s autumn colors while discussing Xuzhou’s current situation.

Currently, government affairs were handled by Xi Xunqiao, Qiao Weiyan, and Du Yijun. State troops were commanded by Xi Chang, Wei Xu and a group of military officers loyal to Han Qian and loyal to Xuzhou. Chen Jitang presided over the supervision and development of armor and weapons. There were also Zhao Jicheng, Han Dong, Du Qiniang and others each managing different affairs. Wuchuan County under Tan Yuliang’s administration was quite stable. The Xi clan of Chenzhou, Tian clan of Yezhou, and Yang clan of Sizhou temporarily showed no abnormalities.

Within Xuzhou, besides Xi Xunqiao’s branch, the Xiang and Yang clans, under Han Qian’s guidance, had directly participated in Xuzhou’s foreign trade from the beginning of their submission. In recent years they had also deeply participated in developing Xuzhou’s cotton weaving and other industries.

With Xuzhou’s shipping and cotton weaving industries’ development deeply dependent on exports to Sichuan-Shu and Great Chu’s heartland, the Xi, Yang, and Xiang clans had in fact been completely transformed from their previous closed, conservative native clan shells. They now even less wanted Xuzhou to return to its previous closed, conservative state.

Besides the Xi clan’s marriage alliance with the Zhao family, the three clans this time also had over a hundred children enter Tangyi, either as military officers in the army or as clerks in prefecture and county administrations.

With the merging of native and immigrant registrations progressing to this point, as long as Han Qian didn’t suffer irreversible devastating damage in Tangyi, Xuzhou would not experience any upheavals.

No matter how vigilant the Xi clan of Chenzhou, Tian clan of Yezhou, and Yang clan of Sizhou were toward Xuzhou, within their territories—never mind large immigrant households—quite a number of small and medium-sized native clan forces also recognized that using their land to plant cotton and sell seed cotton could bring substantial profits, thus more willingly choosing to cooperate with Xuzhou.

Tan Yuliang’s governance of Wuchuan County also maintained stability. The Chishan Association was recruiting boatmen and sailors in Qianyang and Chenzhong, barely putting down roots.

“Why did you think of bringing Xin’er and me to Tangyi to stay for a while this time?” Zhao Ting’er nestled in Han Qian’s embrace, unable to help gently stroking his slightly prickly chin, asking softly.

“Isn’t it because I miss you both too much?” Han Qian said with a smile.

“Ghosts would believe your words,” Zhao Ting’er glanced at Han Qian, yet burrowed even more tightly into his embrace, asking quietly, “Your father’s mourning period has passed. Have court ministers been making an issue of your marriage?”

“…” Han Qian looked down at Zhao Ting’er’s smooth jade-like forehead, her long lashes casting faint shadows on her eyes like deep springs, her elegant straight nose and alluring red lips. Tightening his arms to hold her even closer, he said with a smile, “You’re so clever—who would dare marry me for you to bully?”

“Is it Wang Jun?” Zhao Ting’er asked.

“…” Han Qian slightly froze, at this moment not knowing where to begin with certain words.

“I was thinking that if she were an ordinary woman you didn’t care about, you wouldn’t be so careful with me…” Zhao Ting’er looked up at Han Qian, hugging him even tighter in return.