She asked, “As for the Shu region, which of you two gentlemen think would be suitable to go?”

Ming Yu pondered, exchanged a glance with Ji Yuan, and they said in unison, “Zhao Xin.”

Oh, her cousin Xin. He currently served in the court as a censor, a reliable brick that could be moved wherever needed. “Is Zhao Xin still in Liang County?”

“Yes,” Ming Yu paused before continuing, “There’s been no news recently. Should we send someone to inquire?”

Liang County was a county under Sizhou’s jurisdiction, not far from Yuzhou. In the first ten days of the month, someone reported that many merchant caravans passing through Liang County had been robbed. There were rumors that local powerful families and county officials were using their fortified estates as cover to masquerade as bandits and plunder. So Zhao Hanzhang had the Censorate send a censor to investigate.

The Censorate selected Zhao Xin.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How many days has it been?”

Ming Yu calculated mentally before replying, “Six days now.”

That was quite a while. Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “Have Zhao Shen take troops to Liang County. If the reported information is false, then suppress the bandits. If it’s true, then destroy the fortified estates.”

Zhao Hanzhang paused here and asked, “How many fortified estates are still in Liang County? Didn’t Shi Le completely eliminate the estates back then?”

Shi Le was quite skilled at destroying estates. During their battles, as he attacked cities and seized territory, he also broke through all the fortified estates he could see along the way.

At the time, Zhao Hanzhang had felt quite pained, because although these estates were all civilian forces, once foreign tribes invaded, their resistance could extend the dynasty’s survival.

But after the war ended, she actually felt… it wasn’t so bad, and then naturally enjoyed this outcome.

The power of fortified estates was naturally advantageous against external threats, but internally, they were a pit— oh no, they were a pit for her.

However, she had never thought of using forceful measures to eliminate the estates. After all, she herself had risen to power through a fortified estate. Putting herself in their shoes, if someone wanted to destroy the Zhao family estate, she would definitely fight them to the death.

So to avoid making others fight her to the death, Zhao Hanzhang decided to adopt a conciliatory policy, dissolving the estates through gentle, gradual means.

But if some estates courted their own destruction and dared to plunder passing merchants or even common people, then she couldn’t be blamed.

“I don’t care what their status is. As long as they engage in plundering, they are all bandits. Since they are bandits, they can be suppressed!” Zhao Hanzhang had Zhao Shen go replace Zhao Xin and bring Zhao Xin back.

Zhao Shen was overjoyed to receive the order and immediately took the written command to the military camp to muster troops.

Although watching older single soldiers go on blind dates every day was amusing, anyone would get tired of organizing so many matchmaking events. At this moment, forget asking him to suppress bandits— even if you told him to roll in mud pits, he would happily obey, as long as he didn’t have to organize matchmaking events anymore.

Zhao Shen received the order in the afternoon and immediately left the city to muster troops. By evening, he had completed the mobilization speech, then quickly prepared provisions for the journey, mainly easily portable dry rations.

The military’s granary was independent, and since he was marching urgently with only a thousand men, preparations were very fast.

He didn’t even return home that night. The next day, just as dawn broke, he led his troops out, aiming to reach Liang County within a day and take action the next day.

Fifth Grand-uncle woke up to discover his grandson hadn’t returned home all night. After asking, he learned he had gone out to suppress bandits.

Fifth Grand-uncle said, “Such a major matter, and he didn’t even inform me before running off?”

The mountain servant said, “Perhaps it’s classified, so it wasn’t convenient to tell you, sir.”

“Nonsense! If it’s classified, how did you find out?”

The mountain servant replied, “Sir, how can you use such vulgar language?”

Zhao Song fell silent, repenting inwardly. He forcibly suppressed his emotions and asked, “Are there many bandits in Liang County? Why send him, a Vice Minister of War, to suppress them?”

The mountain servant looked around, then lowered his voice and said, “I heard they’re going to destroy fortified estates in Liang County.”

Zhao Song showed surprise. “Why destroy fortified estates?”

The mountain servant said, “They say the estates have grown too powerful and won’t obey court orders. Some people also say Sanniang wants to tear down our Zhao family estate.”

Zhao Song looked at him with an expression of caring for someone mentally challenged. “Shanmin, when you go out to buy vegetables every day, don’t listen to everything. What benefit would tearing down our estate bring her? Right now, in the Zhao family estate, her word is law. Why would she tear down the estate?”

The mountain servant replied, “They say it’s because our Zhao family is about to establish a new clan leader, and then they fear they won’t obey Sanniang’s orders anymore.”

Zhao Song said calmly, “Erlang hasn’t even married or had children yet. Who would become clan leader? Outsiders worry too much.”

The mountain servant said, “But Sanniang is about to marry Young Master Fu.”

Zhao Song was slightly stunned, then said, “They’re of age now, and indeed should marry. I’ve been urging them for a long time.”

But in his heart, he couldn’t help worrying. The Zhao family currently had no clan leader, but Zhao Hanzhang was actually the invisible clan leader.

Zhao Song, on one hand, didn’t want the Zhao family to fall into the second branch’s hands, and on the other hand, worried that Zhao Erlang couldn’t manage the clan well, so he turned a blind eye and tacitly allowed Zhao Hanzhang to lead the Zhao family.

Many of Zhao Hanzhang’s initiatives were implemented within the Zhao family through Zhao Song and his son Zhao Ming.

She was currently a daughter of the Zhao family, so naturally she prioritized Zhao family interests. But once married…

Even though Zhao Song trusted Zhao Hanzhang enough and had been urging their marriage, he couldn’t help but doubt— once she married into the Fu family, could she still prioritize the Zhao family?

While he was worrying, a servant came in to report, “Sir, Sanniang has arrived.”

Zhao Song came back to his senses and said, “Show her in.”

Zhao Hanzhang entered carrying a large fish.

Zhao Song stared at the fish in her hand.

Zhao Hanzhang held up the fish with a smile and said, “This morning, Tinghan and I went to the water mill. We happened to see fishermen casting their nets. I went closer to look, and a large fish leaped up. I was quick and caught it with one grab.”

Actually, her feet were quick. When that fish leaped up and she was on the side, she immediately jumped up, extended her foot to hook and kick it, and then the fish was kicked onto the shore.

Zhao Hanzhang thought this fish represented her good fortune, so with particular filial piety, she brought it to honor Zhao Song.

Even her mother didn’t get one.

Zhao Song felt her filial piety, and his lips curved slightly upward, but he still asked first, “So early in the morning, what brings you here?”

Actually, what he wanted to ask more was: you’ve already left the city on official business, why come back so early in the morning? What are you… plotting?

Zhao Hanzhang said, “First, I came to visit Grand-uncle. Second, I want to formally inform you that Tinghan and I are getting married.”

Zhao Song nodded. “Your marriage has been settled for a long time. It is indeed time to marry.”

He paused, then decided to ask, “The Zhao family… what do you plan to do?”

Zhao Hanzhang sat across from Zhao Song and, hearing this, leaned forward. “Grand-uncle, what if I make Uncle Ming the clan leader?”

“No,” Zhao Song flatly refused. “The clan leader must be inherited through the direct line, otherwise I’ll have no face to meet our ancestors and your grandfather after a hundred years.”

“Alright,” Zhao Hanzhang didn’t force him to change his views. “Then let Uncle Ming serve as acting clan leader and wait twenty years for Erlang’s children to grow up.”