“I, I’m reading…” Magistrate Chai couldn’t help but look at Chang Ning. How would he know which book he was reading?
Chang Ning said, “The magistrate is reading ‘Letter to Yang Jun.'”
Magistrate Chai immediately nodded. “Right, right, that’s exactly what I’m reading.” He looked at Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan had no reaction.
Zhao Hanzhang then asked, “Does the magistrate have any new insights?”
“Ah?” Magistrate Chai quickly said, “No, I think what Secretary Fu said is extremely correct. We should all encourage each other.”
Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at Chang Ning. “What does Master Chang think?”
Chang Ning withdrew his gaze from Fu Tinghan and began focusing on dealing with Zhao Hanzhang. “I also believe Secretary Fu was far-sighted and deeply thoughtful. Rewards and punishments should be strictly clear, especially during dynastic transitions.”
“This was true then, and should be true now.” He said, “Since Luoyang fell into difficulty, many common people from the capital region have been displaced and wandering. Quite a few have entered our Shangcai County, and the magistrate is deeply concerned.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, indicating she was also very concerned.
Chang Ning paused before continuing, “The magistrate wishes to take in the people and support society, but lacks good methods. Hearing that Zhao Sanniang’s estate has been gathering refugees, perhaps Zhao Sanniang and Master Fu have suggestions?”
Zhao Hanzhang, hearing this, smiled slightly at Chang Ning. She truly did have suggestions, and quite a few of them.
“Since the magistrate wishes to take in the people, why not keep all the passing refugees in Shangcai?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Outside the county seat are many abandoned fields. Over these years, whether from natural disasters or human calamities, many common people have fled, leaving behind abandoned land.”
“Before, with sparse population, they had to be left fallow. Now that we have people, why not distribute the abandoned fields to the refugees for cultivation? This way we both settle the refugees and restore arable land,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Wouldn’t this be supporting society?”
How could it be so easy?
Magistrate Chai opened his mouth to speak, but Chang Ning moved his hand, pressing his leg under the table to stop his words. After sighing, he said, “Sanniang’s kind heart—our magistrate has this same thought. But the food and clothing for retained refugees is one problem, housing another, not to mention seeds and farm tools. They have nothing, while the yamen’s coffers are tight and can hardly provide support.”
He continued, “Moreover, when refugees enter the city, villages, or countryside, there are always incidents of theft. In serious cases, there’s even robbery and murder. Our magistrate has the will but lacks the power.”
Chang Ning was about to lead into their objective when Zhao Hanzhang suddenly said, “I actually have a solution.”
Chang Ning’s train of thought halted. Magistrate Chai couldn’t help his curiosity. “What solution?”
“At its root, the magistrate cannot settle the refugees because of lack of money. So we just need to earn money.”
Magistrate Chai quickly waved his hands. “That won’t do, won’t do. Sanniang, you’ve only recently returned from Luoyang. I’ve heard about it too—you lost your luggage on the journey home. How could I take your money?”
Zhao Hanzhang paused, suspecting she’d misheard. But her vision might have problems, not her hearing.
She turned to look at Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan met her gaze and couldn’t help but lower his head to laugh, even getting laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.
Zhao Hanzhang mentally clicked her tongue twice and followed Magistrate Chai’s words. “Magistrate, although I face difficulties, I have my clan in Xiping, with elders helping me. I can still produce some money. Moreover, Shangcai County has so many wealthy people—if I can’t produce money, surely they can?”
Magistrate Chai said nothing.
Chang Ning quickly helped deflect. “How dare we take Sanniang’s money for nothing?”
“If the magistrate feels awkward or finds it hard to account for, why not do business with us?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Land abandoned for over three years should be reclaimed by the yamen according to law. The yamen must have much land on hand now, correct?”
Zhao Hanzhang continued, “I’m willing to pay to purchase some fields. This way I can settle some refugees, while the magistrate can also use this money to settle a group of refugees. If you fear them entering the city and causing trouble, you can temporarily prohibit their entry but allow them to establish markets in their gathering places. What does the magistrate think?”
“Ah, right, we wanted to ask why you’re taking in so many refugees.” Magistrate Chai finally remembered the true purpose of this visit.
Chang Ning barely restrained the urge to cover his face, only managing to look up and give a dry laugh.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Didn’t the magistrate and Master Chang just say? The magistrate wishes to take in the people and support society. Though Sanniang is but a woman, seeing the people displaced and society in peril, my heart cannot rest easy.”
“When my grandfather lived, what worried him most was the nation and its people. Whether for loyalty, righteousness, or filial piety, Sanniang wishes to do what lies within her power,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Apart from some land and some money, I have nothing else. So I’ve brought out my land and money to settle refugees.”
Magistrate Chai sighed. “Zhao Sanniang is so kind-hearted. If everyone in Shangcai County were like you, why would I need to worry so?”
Chang Ning completely lost words. If everyone in Shangcai County were like Zhao Hanzhang, where would there be room for the county magistrate?
Looking at the magistrate’s moved expression, Chang Ning paused a very long time before rebuilding his sense of dedication to serving his lord. He forced out a smile. “But according to what I know, Zhao Sanniang has gathered quite a few refugees, yet fewer than half have registered with the county yamen.”
“Really?” Zhao Hanzhang smiled lightly. “Perhaps Master Chang saw incorrectly, or the refugees gathered these past days haven’t been reported yet.”
She said, “My estate is only so large—how many people could it hide? If the magistrate doesn’t believe me, why not send people into the estate to investigate?”
How would Magistrate Chai dare poke that hornet’s nest? He immediately said it wasn’t necessary. “I see Sanniang’s wholehearted devotion to society—how could you do such a thing as concealing good people?”
“Of course,” Zhao Hanzhang affirmed. “Though Sanniang lacks lofty character, I still know about obeying laws and regulations.”
“Yes, yes, yes. It must be the yamen runners who saw wrong and reported to Master Chang. He worried and made something out of nothing,” Magistrate Chai said. “When I return, I’ll punish the gossip-mongering runner by sending him to the countryside. See if he dares speak carelessly again?”
“That’s not necessary,” Zhao Hanzhang laughed. “It’s just a matter of a glance. Seeing wrong is normal—after all, they’re not counting one by one. It’s like counting ants. Two piles of ants look about the same at first glance, but when you count them, you realize how absurdly different the numbers are.”
“Yes, yes, they must have seen wrong.”
Zhao Hanzhang stood up and said to Magistrate Chai, “The magistrate can consider my proposal. With money, the yamen can save people. Otherwise, with empty coffers, even if refugees faint at the yamen gates from hunger, you’d find it difficult to cook them a bowl of rice porridge. Isn’t this all because of lack of money?”
Magistrate Chai was quite moved. Ignoring Chang Ning’s hints, he asked, “But land is cheap—how much land would need to be sold to have enough money to settle refugees?”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “Actually, we can pursue two approaches simultaneously. Besides selling land, I have another business venture I can do with the magistrate.”
—