Zhao Ming had long known that Inspector He had left the iron mine of Runan Commandery to Zhao Hanzhang. Of course, it wasn’t given to Zhao Hanzhang personally, but to Yuzhou.

The He family, having lost Inspector He, had no one behind them who could control great generals like Xun Xiu and Mi Ce. They had to relinquish the iron mine, otherwise not only Xun Xiu and other military generals, but even great clans like the Zhao and Xun families within Yuzhou could devour them.

Now that Inspector He had directly handed the iron mine to Zhao Hanzhang, even if only for this iron mine’s favor, the Zhao clan would do its utmost to protect the He family’s old and young, allowing them to live comfortably under protection.

However, that was still an iron mine, and a productive one at that. He thought the He family would want to negotiate some additional conditions before willingly handing it over to Zhao Hanzhang, but now she had completely taken control of it.

Zhao Hanzhang knew what Zhao Ming was thinking. After returning to the old residence with him and having servants lead Yu Sheng and the others down to rest, she turned to Zhao Ming and said, “The He family members are all very sensible. Since Magistrate He’s death, He Heng has mentioned handing over the iron mine to me three times. Since I was coming back to see Uncle this time anyway, I brought him along.”

“Coming back to see me?”

“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang showed a smile. “Uncle helped me solicit many people to gather supplies. No matter what, I must come back to see you. I couldn’t let Uncle lose face, could I?”

Zhao Ming snorted lightly. “As long as you can produce the money to settle accounts, I’ll have face.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “I brought money back this time.”

Zhao Ming was slightly surprised.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “State affairs are busy, and I’d already forgotten today is the winter solstice. It was only this morning when I was leaving that Zhao Tong brought me a bowl of dumplings that I realized today is the winter solstice. Therefore, I didn’t dare delay outside and immediately rushed back to Xiping. I don’t know if our family is holding a winter solstice banquet this year? Are those who prepared supplies in the fortified estate?”

She went to Shangcai.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Zhao Ming was already nodding. “Some are here, some are not.”

“Please introduce them, Uncle.”

Zhao Ming looked her up and down and, seeing her full of confidence, asked, “Where did you get so much money?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s face couldn’t help showing a brilliant smile as she said directly, “Grandfather left it to me.”

His guess confirmed, Zhao Ming didn’t know what to say.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hide this at all—she even hoped this rumor would spread as widely as possible.

Zhao Ming didn’t know if he had also guessed her plan. He turned and took her to the banquet garden to meet people.

In this era, those possessing the most resources weren’t simple merchants but great clans and aristocratic families.

What were merchants? They were merely people who transported goods for great clans and aristocratic families, most of them coming from their own households.

So-called great clans and aristocratic families were large landlords integrating cultivation, textile production, shops, and traveling merchants.

In this era when labor was severely depleted, when common people were barely clothed and fed, great clans and aristocratic families were the only ones who could have surplus resources.

They would use these resources to acquire more land and population, then forge even stronger networks. So when Zhao Hanzhang wanted to buy supplies, she could only turn to them, and they were the first she thought of.

They loved pleasure and enjoyed refined living, and they also needed to strengthen their own capabilities.

Therefore, they needed money to purchase exquisite porcelain, soft silk, and powerful weapons and iron tools.

Right now, Zhao Hanzhang had the gold and silver they needed, while they had the grain and cloth Zhao Hanzhang needed.

Such a perfect match made them very friendly when they first met.

To show she wasn’t short of money, Zhao Hanzhang clapped her hands, and guards carried up four large chests. Upon opening them, they revealed neatly stacked gold cakes.

Everyone was dumbstruck. Even Zhao Ming, who had anticipated this, couldn’t help clenching his fists.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, “Hanzhang has received the blessings of my ancestors. This is what my grandfather left me—just a portion. As you uncles know, my Yuzhou is currently in need of everything and resources are urgently needed, so please be generous, uncles. Whatever surplus you have at home, please sell it all to Hanzhang.”

She spoke carelessly, as if unaware of gold and silver’s value, saying, “The price is negotiable.”

The aristocratic scholars who had come to the Zhao clan’s winter solstice banquet to freeload food, drink, and reputation swallowed hard, their gazes slowly sliding from the gold cakes to Zhao Hanzhang’s face as they asked, “This… all this was left to Sanniang… the Inspector by Duke Zhao?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “Correct.”

Everyone’s hearts grew fervent. Left by Zhao Changyu!

It seemed the rumors weren’t wrong. Given Zhao Changyu’s skill at business management and his miserly nature, who knew how much money he had saved? Ten years ago, they’d heard he was wealthy enough to rival nations, with more silver stored at home than even Shi Chong and others.

Hmph, Shi Chong—that type of person was wealthy, sure, but he didn’t know restraint. He’d announce every bit of windfall to the whole world. How could he compare to Zhao Changyu’s low-key discretion?

It seemed he’d left all that money to Zhao Hanzhang.

So… did Zhao Zhongyu know?

He had inherited the clan leader position after all. Was this all Zhao Changyu’s private property, or the Zhao clan’s collective property?

Everyone couldn’t help looking at Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming’s expression remained calm. It was truly difficult for them to read any other meaning from his pale, refined face, so they had to give up.

The winter solstice banquet was a very refined affair. Everyone composed poetry, wrote essays, and painted—that was all well and good, but discussing business—what kind of thing was that?

So Zhao Hanzhang only mentioned it once, and the others only listened with half an ear, their gazes sliding over the gold cakes. Specific details could be discussed later.

They didn’t even need Zhao Hanzhang to come forward personally—Ji Yuan could handle it.

Zhao Hanzhang met the many talented individuals at the banquet, smiled, and left without selecting a single one.

Seeing this, Zhao Ming couldn’t help frowning as he followed her. “The Impartial Official of Yuzhou is still General Xiahou. I hear he’s currently in Lu Kingdom, quite close to Gou Xi?”

Lu Kingdom also belonged to Yuzhou. Yes, our great Yuzhou’s territory was just that vast.

But… “Lu Kingdom is not within my control.”

“So if he conducts evaluation and talent selection in Lu Kingdom, do you think you can compete with him?” Zhao Ming said. “Right now there are so many people here. Why don’t you conduct evaluation and talent selection?”

Zhao Ming was quite bold, saying directly, “You are the Inspector. You have the authority to select and employ talent.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I won’t conduct evaluations. If anyone wishes to enter office, they can simply take the examination.”

Seeing Zhao Ming frown without speaking, Zhao Hanzhang said, “I know they pride themselves on status and are unwilling to take examinations alongside humble scholars. But if they want to enter office and wield authority, if they want to display their aspirations, they can rush about everywhere expressing their views, hoping those in power will notice and favor them—how is this nobler than openly taking examinations and allowing me to select talent?”

“Sitting together with humble scholars…”

“Uncle, of all the people in the world, those who can be called humble scholars are barely one in ten million. The remaining millions are what they consider base commoners. What I am doing is hoping for the peace and security of all people. They won’t even sit together with humble scholars—how can they be willing to bend down for these base commoners?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “They are so noble, I cannot afford to employ them.”

How could Zhao Ming not hear the sarcasm in her words? After a moment of silence, he nodded. “Also good. If you cannot choose like-minded people, at least the differences shouldn’t be too deep.”