Zhao Hanzhang was very satisfied with their sensible cooperation. She handed Li Tianhe over to Liang Hong and told him, “Li Tianhe is the backing I’m leaving for you. He will support you, so you need not fear anyone. You only need to follow my orders and manage the people under your governance well.”

Liang Hong had never imagined that someone like him, an unranked scholar, could become a county magistrate. Thus both excited and grateful, he solemnly promised, “This official will certainly not fail the Vice Administrator’s trust.”

Zhao Hanzhang also nodded at him solemnly.

To Li Tianhe, Zhao Hanzhang had only one thing to say: “Station troops and store grain. You must persist in training soldiers every day. Even during busy farming seasons, you cannot slacken. The world is unstable now, and you never know when you’ll be needed.”

She said, “If you work harder today, your chances of surviving on the battlefield will be greater.”

Li Tianhe also solemnly agreed.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang continue her inspection tour. This time she went to Queshan County. After passing through Queshan County, she headed southeast to Zhengyang County…

Now was the autumn harvest season. Although this year’s yield was very ordinary, and production was low because many green shoots had been eaten during the summer, the fact that there was grain in the fields slightly soothed the people’s inner anxiety. Everyone retreated back into their shells and muddled through as best they could.

Zhao Hanzhang traveled this route, inspecting public sentiment and examining the county magistrates’ capabilities.

Because the matter of Zhao Hanzhang executing County Magistrate Hu had long since spread throughout Runan Jun, the county magistrates had all been very compliant recently. Regardless of whether they accepted this female Vice Administrator or not, she held the official seal in her hands and legitimately governed them.

Moreover, she commanded troops and was ruthless and decisive—who dared provoke her?

Thus, during the month Zhao Hanzhang remained in Biyang County, two county magistrates fled from Runan Jun. Oh, one couldn’t say they fled—the refined way to put it was that they resigned their posts.

They disdained to associate with Zhao Hanzhang, so they resigned and went home or traveled about.

Zhao Hanzhang did not send anyone to pursue them, nor did she settle accounts after autumn. She immediately ordered the county magistrates’ assistants in those two counties to temporarily assume the magistrate’s duties, pacify the people, and reform county governance.

Through Zhao Hanzhang’s policies in Xiping, Shangcai, Quyang, and Suiping Biyang, officials in all counties had grasped the characteristics of this new Vice Administrator’s governance.

She sympathized with the people, so whenever she arrived at a county, her first requirement was always to pacify them.

The two county assistants were not stupid either. They immediately took over the magistrate’s authority and personally went to the countryside to comfort the people.

County magistrates were originally people who sat in the county office issuing orders; actual implementation still depended on the county assistants, chief clerks, and others.

Especially since Dajin officials mostly prided themselves on elegance and looked down on overly vulgar common affairs, the common people might not be as familiar with the county magistrate as they were with the county assistant.

When the county assistants personally came forward, the people’s unrest was barely soothed somewhat. Especially since Zhao Hanzhang had Xiping and Shangcai provide them with some grain support, and they opened the storehouses for relief, the common people gradually settled down.

The remaining three county magistrates were as quiet as chickens. No matter what they were like before, they all seemed very compliant now.

Zhao Hanzhang deliberately stayed in Biyang County for over a month, also to wait and see their reactions and ability to handle affairs.

As she inspected and examined them along the way, she did not investigate the past. As long as these quiet-as-chickens magistrates had the will and ability, she could treat them with bygones being bygones.

But if after over a month they still could not handle county affairs well, then they either lacked will or lacked ability.

And in the position of county magistrate, lacking ability was just as intolerable as lacking will, so Zhao Hanzhang replaced another county magistrate.

However, this time she did not kill anyone. She directly told the magistrate, “Sir, you are not suited for these mundane matters. Why struggle in this mortal world?”

In other words, you’re not suited to be an official—go home.

This County Magistrate Yu was also tactful and did not make things too ugly for everyone. When Zhao Hanzhang put it this way, he packed his belongings and left freely and easily with his family.

Zhao Hanzhang even personally saw him off.

County Magistrate Yu stood beside his carriage and looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down. Since they were no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship and she had treated him fairly courteously, he did not position himself as a subordinate anymore and immediately adopted the bearing of a scholar.

He stroked his small beard and said with a smile, “Vice Administrator, working so hard like this, be careful you don’t meet a good end.”

Wu Erlang and Ting He, who were following Zhao Hanzhang, immediately frowned and glared fiercely at him, feeling he was cursing Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang was only momentarily stunned before sighing with the air of meeting a kindred spirit, “Sir understands me after all. But when in office, one must fulfill one’s duties. If it’s for the sake of the people, then so be it if I don’t meet a good end.”

The reason County Magistrate Yu was removed was precisely because he held office without fulfilling his duties. However, his behavior was still within Zhao Hanzhang’s tolerance, which was why she let him leave peacefully. She also didn’t want to establish a reputation as a killing maniac.

County Magistrate Yu’s smile faded slightly. After seriously looking at Zhao Hanzhang once more, he stepped back and bowed deeply to her before turning to board his carriage and leave.

Zhao Hanzhang stood and accepted this bow, watching him depart.

After he lowered the curtain, Madam Yu sighed. She asked, “Husband, are you reluctant to go?”

“Although losing my position is regrettable, it’s not enough to make me sigh over.” County Magistrate Yu stroked his small beard and said, “I feel sorry for Zhao Hanzhang. She is too passionate and will likely find it hard to live long.”

Madam Yu looked completely confused. “Isn’t she betrothed to the Fu family? Yesterday I even saw the Fu family’s eldest young master following her around. What, did they have a falling out?”

No wonder she didn’t see Fu Tinghan accompanying her today.

County Magistrate Yu said, “The passion I speak of isn’t romantic passion, but her compassionate heart toward the people. Alas, in this world, people’s lives are difficult. Being so concerned for the people, she will certainly suffer heartbreak in the future. It would be strange if she could live long.”

Madam Yu’s eyes flickered. After pausing, she lowered her voice and asked, “But I heard she has also banned the immortal elixirs. She doesn’t take them herself and won’t allow others to take them either. Husband, are those immortal elixirs real or fake?”

“Of course they’re fake. Otherwise, where would He Yan be today?”

Madam Yu said, “You’re trying to fool me. If He Yan hadn’t died from human disaster, how do you know he couldn’t have lived a hundred years?”

County Magistrate Yu said, “Whether they’re real or fake, why don’t you watch your uncle after he passes away and see if he can become an immortal.”

Madam Yu replied, “If he really becomes an immortal, how could I possibly see him like an immortal would?”

The married couple bickered as they gradually traveled away. Meanwhile, Zhao Hanzhang was troubling over the selection of a new county magistrate.

This County Magistrate Yu really didn’t manage affairs much, so county business was a complete mess. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t approve of the county assistant, and after having someone investigate, she directly threw him in jail according to the law.

So now Zhao Hanzhang not only lacked a county magistrate but also a county assistant.

Without talent, she began to consider those brothers from the Zhao clan. Zhao Hanzhang started making a list and asked Fu Tinghan, “Who do you think is suitable?”

Fu Tinghan couldn’t tell. “If you can’t decide, then have them take an exam.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes lit up as she nodded repeatedly. “Good idea! I’ll give them some questions. Hmm, you give them some questions too. As a county magistrate, they should at least be able to calculate land acreage and taxes, right?”

Fu Tinghan agreed without hesitation.

“Since we’re having an exam, we can’t only target the Zhao clan. Why not announce it widely and summon talented people from across the land?”

“Talented people from across the land?”

“Uh, talented people from Runan Jun? Would that be too limited?” Zhao Hanzhang said unwillingly, “Or all talented people who hear this news and come rushing over?”