Ma Hao wasn’t stupid—he understood almost instantly that Zhao Hanzhang intended to use the money confiscated from County Magistrate Hu to buy grain from him.
Some of the valuables in the Ma family villa truly did belong to the Ma family and had been stored there.
Ma Hao rubbed his forehead. That wealth most likely couldn’t be recovered. Being decisive, he glanced at Ma Zuo before nodding in agreement, gesturing toward Ma Zuo and saying warmly to Zhao Hanzhang, “This is my younger brother. He’s always managed the household affairs. If the County Administrator wishes to purchase grain, just speak with him.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded at Ma Zuo and took the opportunity to size him up.
Ma Zuo, who was bowing slightly with his head lowered, was much more agreeable than Ma Xuan. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stint on her praise either, asking directly, “Since Ma Zuo manages the affairs, why was it Ma Xuan who came to the county office to handle matters?”
Ma Hao’s face stiffened, and he quickly asked, “Did my brother say something improper and offend the County Administrator?”
He hurriedly said, “He’s read himself silly—it wasn’t intentional disrespect. Please, County Administrator, for my sake, be lenient…”
Fearing that Zhao Hanzhang might have Ma Xuan beheaded in a moment of displeasure.
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, he’s fine. At this moment, he’s probably drinking with County Administrator Liang.”
Ma Hao: …
Though she said this, he still wasn’t entirely reassured. After all, this was their first meeting, and Zhao Hanzhang had been far too brutal.
Zhao Hanzhang took the opportunity to bring up purchasing grain. Although he had said Ma Zuo was fully in charge, Liang Hong had also said that Ma Hao was the one who made decisions for the Ma family.
If the grain she wanted to purchase exceeded his bottom line, naturally he would still need to decide. Going back and forth would be too troublesome. Since she had come to visit him today, she might as well settle things directly.
So she completely ignored Ma Zuo behind her and said to Ma Hao, “I want to purchase two thousand shi of grain from the Ma family.”
Ma Hao: …Why don’t you just say you plan to completely empty our family’s grain stores?
Ma Hao naturally couldn’t possibly sell Zhao Hanzhang two thousand shi of grain. Although he could manage it if he squeezed hard enough, doing so would leave his own family without grain.
The Ma family supported many servants and retainers. Of course, they couldn’t compare to the forces the Zhao clan maintained, but their daily expenses were still considerable.
Thinking of this, Ma Hao finally stopped wanting to push the trouble onto Ma Zuo. Instead, he rallied his spirits and began haggling with Zhao Hanzhang.
Actually, there wasn’t much to argue about regarding the price of grain. He was willing to lower the price somewhat to sell to Zhao Hanzhang, and Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to drive the price too low either. After Biyang County, there were still five more counties to go. She hoped news of her generosity and wealth would spread out from Biyang County, ideally spreading beyond Runan Commandery and floating across all of Yuzhou, attracting more grain merchants and gentry.
So what they were really arguing about was the transaction volume.
Zhao Hanzhang kept trying to buy more, while Ma Hao kept trying to sell less.
Ma Zuo listened from the side, finding it rather strange—this was the first time he’d seen a buyer wanting to buy more while the seller wanted to sell less.
Zhao Hanzhang finally succeeded in settling on twelve hundred shi, and they agreed on the price as well.
Zhao Hanzhang was especially generous, saying directly, “I’ll have someone send the money over right away.”
Ma Hao was startled and immediately said, “No rush, no rush. Wait until I’ve prepared the grain before we make the transaction…”
But Zhao Hanzhang gave him a slight smile and said, “I trust Master Ma. I’ll pay first. I imagine we can complete the transaction quite quickly, can’t we?”
She said meaningfully, “The common people are all waiting for relief grain.”
Ma Hao couldn’t voice his objections. Did he dare renege? Did he dare delay?
As soon as Zhao Hanzhang left, Ma Hao clutched his chest in pain and collapsed back onto the bed, his brow tightly furrowed.
Ma Zuo saw Zhao Hanzhang out the door before returning to see this. He bowed and stood to the side. Ma Hao recovered somewhat, climbed back up, and said irritably, “Send someone to the county office to bring younger brother back. Tell him to deal with Zhao Hanzhang. What has he been doing?”
People had come all the way to his sickbed, yet he was still nowhere to be seen at the county office.
Ma Zuo acknowledged and turned to leave. Ma Hao called him back, frowning. “These are small matters—let the steward handle them. You take people to the granary to count the grain.”
He sighed. “The grain in the warehouse probably won’t be enough. You’ll need to have the estate send some more.”
Ma Zuo acknowledged, then paused before asking, “Elder brother, why did you agree to her? Giving out so much grain will leave our household in difficulty.”
“Because Zhao Hanzhang is someone who… acts recklessly and dares anything. Give it to her now, and it’s a business transaction—good for her, good for me, good for everyone.” Ma Hao paused before continuing, “If we don’t give it, who knows whether the Ma family might encounter bandits or mountain thieves later on?”
She had ordered County Magistrate Hu’s beheading without a second thought. Facing such a County Administrator, Ma Hao didn’t dare have high expectations.
Indeed, once Zhao Hanzhang had purchased the first batch of grain, she returned to the county office and began issuing public announcements. She had yamen runners and night watchmen proclaim throughout the streets and alleys, and also sent them to every village and community to read the announcement. The content was simple: Biyang County had changed county magistrates. The county office would be distributing relief grain, and they wanted each community’s villagers to come personally to the county seat to receive it.
All those who had turned to banditry this year due to poverty would be pardoned. As long as they voluntarily returned to their villages, she would act as if nothing had happened and would give them some relief grain to help them through their difficulties.
Once the news spread, many people believed Zhao Hanzhang directly because they knew County Magistrate Hu had been beheaded by the newly arrived County Administrator. They began bringing their household registration documents and leading their families toward the county seat.
Many villagers who had already secretly turned to highway robbery and collected tolls heard this news and quietly returned to their villages, pretending nothing had ever happened.
But there were also those who stubbornly remained in the mountains, persisting in making a living through robbery and plunder.
Zhao Hanzhang flipped through the reports submitted by various village heads, and she had a clear picture in her mind.
If anyone understood the bandit situation in Biyang County best right now, it was Fu Tinghan.
The bandits and mountain thieves had all been good citizens before. They had household registrations and were under the jurisdiction of village heads before turning to banditry. So those who understood the situation best were the village heads.
And Fu Tinghan, who had compiled all these village heads’ reports, naturally understood the situation best. After Zhao Hanzhang finished reading, he said, “Right now, in the Houshan Valley area alone, there are over three hundred bandits. Besides the original villagers from Houshan Valley, a considerable portion were attracted from elsewhere.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Quite a few people.”
Fu Tinghan asked, “Are you going to suppress the bandits?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “Suppressing bandits requires considerable manpower and resources. They’ve only just started and are only robbing passing merchants—they haven’t killed anyone yet. I don’t want to have my soldiers fight and kill them.”
Fu Tinghan’s heart stirred, and he turned his head to look at her. “So?”
“So I’m going to offer amnesty!” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Courtesy before force—let’s see if we can attract them back.”
“Who will go to negotiate?”
“Naturally, I’ll go myself.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Advisor Ji isn’t here, and Liang Hong isn’t trustworthy enough yet. Moreover, his abilities and prestige aren’t sufficient—if he goes, it’ll just be a wasted trip. Better that I go myself.”
Fu Tinghan nodded, closed the ledger in his hand, and stood up. “Then let’s go.”
Zhao Hanzhang stared at him blankly. “You’re going too?”