Zhao Hanzhang had judged in favor of Fang Jing, so she would not show favoritism. The craftsmen in Xiping were indeed all assigned to Fang Jing, and the Glass Workshop also began accepting orders from Fang Jing.

However, Zhao Hanzhang also gave Zhao Hu enough face by having Shangcai send over craftsmen. First, to measure the area needed for the glass windows and glass greenhouse that Zhao Hu wanted to make and create designs; second, to observe and learn in Xiping.

Shangcai wasn’t far from Xiping, and the craftsmen there could also make glass windows—they just needed to communicate with carpenters about some details.

That’s right, whether it was glass greenhouses or glass windows, they all needed to cooperate with carpenters.

Zhao Hanzhang had carpenters under her command, and Zhao Hu had even more—their excellence was no less than those under Zhao Hanzhang’s command. With cooperation between both sides, they quickly produced many window frames and even designed glass greenhouses.

The people at the Glass Workshop divided into two groups—one to blow glass windows, and another to prepare the glass needed for the glass greenhouse. While they were busy, Zhao Hu found his own craftsmen to lay foundations.

So his progress wasn’t slow at all.

The Treasure Pavilion hadn’t violated the contract with Fang Jing either—after all, what was signed with him was the Xiping Treasure Pavilion. Who could fault Zhao Hanzhang for also bringing the people from the Shangcai Glass Workshop over to serve Zhao Hu?

Because of this, all the Zhao clan relatives were all smiles, privately saying: “Old children, old children—Seventh Uncle is already so old, yet still acts like a child. Sanniang is the same, still constantly indulging him.”

“It’s fortunate that Zitu isn’t here, or there would be another quarrel.”

When this talk spread, everyone said that Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao clan had become even more harmonious. Combined with Zhao Hanzhang’s previous reputation for fairness, talent appreciation, and treating those who came to Xiping well, this spread in all directions. Fang Jing naturally heard about it too.

Looking at the nearly completed glass greenhouse, he sighed deeply. The plan had failed—Zhao Hanzhang was more cautious and cleverer than he had thought.

She had handled such an easy trap so well.

And the Zhao clan internally was more united than he had imagined. Looking at the Xiping Zhao clan, he seemed to see a flame just being kindled, gradually growing stronger.

And standing right in the center of that flame was a young phoenix—no one could harm her through the flames.

He felt a sense of urgency, especially seeing the merchant caravans and people arriving one after another—all of Yuzhou was slowly recovering its vitality.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t stayed to watch the outcome of their competition in wealth. When Zhao Ming returned, she gave brief instructions, had people escort Ji Yuan and the others back to Chen County, then led her people on an inspection tour of Yuzhou.

She decided to go to Nanyang Kingdom first.

Of course, she wasn’t alone—Fan Ying and several officials from the Provincial Governor’s office accompanied her. They would maintain constant contact with Chen County, and some major decisions still needed to go through her. Ji Yuan also needed to communicate various information with her.

Fu Tinghan also went along—he wanted to draw maps.

Maps were very important, so collecting terrain data was crucial. The most direct method was to have each county measure and draw maps for him to compile, while also extracting useful information from county records.

At the same time, he also needed to see the situation of refugees in various places. With data, he could help Zhao Hanzhang formulate better disaster relief policies.

Zhao Hanzhang knew that she was no longer what she used to be—now countless people throughout the realm wanted to kill her. So she was very cautious. This time she had Qiu Wu select five hundred cavalry to accompany them.

Five hundred cavalry could take down a commandery! Don’t look at the small number—but in terms of mobility and weapons and equipment, there wasn’t a single commandery that dared to clash head-on with these five hundred men under her command.

Zhao Hanzhang only told Zhao Ming of her itinerary, so the Zhao clan didn’t know that Zhao Hanzhang had left one early morning. Everyone was still enthusiastically waiting to watch Zhao Hu and Fang Jing compete with their glass greenhouses.

Fang Jing also wanted to do better—even if his scheme didn’t succeed, he didn’t want to fail in other areas.

He vaguely knew that Zhao Hanzhang already knew about his scheme. To also lose in the greenhouse competition would make him seem too incompetent.

Too embarrassing. Fang Jing also had his pride.

He didn’t know that Zhao Hanzhang had left Xiping.

And Zhao Ming, who knew, let them compete, even adding fuel to the fire by letting this news fly out of Xiping and spread throughout the surrounding areas, successfully attracting a batch of merchants and local gentry who enjoyed watching the excitement.

Many people ran to Xiping to watch, making Xiping—already thick with the New Year atmosphere—even more lively.

Zhao Hanzhang, rushing along the road, slowed her horse speed. The mounted troops behind her also slowed down. Zhao Hanzhang reined in her horse, pricked up her ears to listen, raised her eyebrows, turned to Fu Tinghan and said: “There seems to be a fight ahead. Let’s go take a look.”

Fu Tinghan lifted the face cloth covering his ears a bit, discovered he couldn’t hear anything, couldn’t help but glance at her, and nodded.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang order them to enter combat readiness. Ting He immediately took down the long spear on her back and tossed it to her.

Zhao Hanzhang caught it, first leading two hundred men to rush ahead, leaving three hundred to cluster around Fu Tinghan and the others as they moved forward.

Galloping forward for a while brought them to a bend. Turning the corner, they saw a group of people in ragged clothes surrounding a merchant caravan—both sides were engaged in fierce combat.

The ragged refugees were wielding wooden sticks and stones, striking and hurling them forcefully at the merchant caravan’s people. The caravan guards were also mercilessly hacking at them with blades, trying to break through the encirclement…

But there were too many refugees—they had tried several times without success.

Someone who had been trapped inside an overturned wagon finally climbed out, swiftly drawing a long sword. He blocked an incoming wooden stick, kicked the person away, then stabbed them with his sword. He quickly scanned the area, realizing it was impossible to break through with the cargo. So he turned to his attendants and said: “Take the luggage, abandon all cargo—everyone just push outward!”

With this command, cries broke out in the merchant caravan. Many small merchants who had joined them wept bitterly—abandoning this batch of goods would hurt them deeply, possibly even leading to family ruin.

Just then, Zhao Hanzhang led two hundred men charging out from the bend. The young man who had just been about to lead his people in abandoning the cargo to escape immediately recognized the woman on horseback. His eyes lit up at once as he shouted: “Zhao Hanzhang!”

He kicked away refugees attacking him, jumped onto the overturned cart, and waved toward the distant troops while shouting: “Zhao Sanniang, Magistrate Zhao!”

Zhao Hanzhang had sharp ears. Hearing someone in the field calling her name, her gaze swept over and landed precisely on the man.

She raised her eyebrows slightly, commanding the cavalry behind her to split into four groups—five squads as one team—directly charging into the crowd to scatter the gathered refugees.

She didn’t personally join the assault, but instead reined in her horse on the hillside, looking down from above at this clash.

Zhao Erlang led one team. Remembering his sister’s words, he didn’t go for the kill on these people. Leading his men in the charge, his spear struck precisely at the hand holding a wooden stick. As the person cried out, the spear swung and struck their chest directly, knocking them to the ground.

The sound of hoofbeats was urgent. The refugees watched the war horses galloping before their eyes and instinctively retreated in panic. Zhao Erlang didn’t strike at them—his horse leaped past them, his spear sweeping over those gathered together continuously attacking the convoy. Refugees fell to the ground…

—