After kneeling before the grave and weeping, Fu Chang asked Fu Xuan the same question, “All along my journey, the cities and countryside were peaceful. The people I saw were all diligently farming. There was no disaster of war, nor floods of refugees. Did Father see all this?”
“He did,” Fu Xuan said. “Father passed very peacefully.”
Fu Chang felt much better in his heart. Only then did he push himself up from the ground and call to his two foolish sons still kneeling, “Go bow to your eldest brother and sister-in-law. These past two years, thanks to them fulfilling filial duties before Grandfather.”
Fu Yong and Fu Hong quickly rose and bowed to Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang. The two hurriedly stopped them. Zhao Hanzhang said, “Second Uncle, you shame us both. These past two years we’ve rushed about east and west, rarely at Grandfather’s side. We’ve truly been quite unfilial.”
Fu Chang shook his head. “Father’s lifelong wish was for peace in the realm. Now the realm is at peace because of you. You’ve realized his aspiration—that is the greatest filial piety.”
He said gloomily, “Not like me—I could neither fulfill filial duties at Father’s side nor contribute to pacifying the realm. I even made Father worry about me. I’ve truly been most unfilial.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “In chaotic times, Second Uncle preserved yourself and saved over a hundred people. That’s already very impressive. Now that the realm is stable, with Second Uncle’s talents, there’s much you can accomplish.”
She continued, “Peace must be sustained. This task is no easier than pacifying chaos—it requires the combined efforts of worthy people working with one heart. I request Second Uncle’s assistance.”
The massive stone weighing on Fu Chang’s heart loosened and rose. He finally caught his breath and bowed deeply to Zhao Hanzhang, “I dare not refuse.”
Zhao Hanzhang quickly returned the courtesy.
Fu Xuan frowned and interrupted them, “Tinghan has prepared the meal. You’ve all traveled far—eat first.”
As soon as Fu Tinghan reached the mountain, he’d begun washing rice and cooking. He also picked quite a few vegetables from the garden. He always kept his cooking simple, using only vegetables of different varieties—either blanched or boiled, quite straightforward. In less than three quarters of an hour, everything was ready.
The rice was perfectly steamed too. He beckoned to Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Yong, and Fu Hong, “Come quickly and set out the bowls and chopsticks.”
“I originally wanted to make you porridge, but the pot is rather small—porridge wouldn’t be enough. So I switched to cooking rice instead.” Fu Tinghan placed the dishes on a small table. The mountain accommodations were simple—they usually sat on dried tree stumps.
The family sat together eating three vegetable dishes, but everyone ate with relish. Fu Hong couldn’t help but praise Fu Tinghan, “Elder Brother’s cooking is truly delicious. These two dishes are so crisp yet have no water—how did you make them?”
Fu Tinghan said, “Stir-fried.”
“Stir-fried?” Fu Hong’s spirits lifted. “Is that with the iron wok? I want to learn too.”
Fu Tinghan smiled, “Very well. Later I’ll have the cook teach you.”
Fu Hong’s smile froze. “Elder Brother can’t teach me?”
Fu Tinghan said, “My dishes are merely edible. If you want to learn culinary skills, it’s better to learn from the cook.”
Rarely finding someone interested in culinary arts, Zhao Hanzhang encouraged him, “Perhaps in the future we’ll get to eat delicious food made by Third Brother himself.”
Fu Hong lowered his head and thought seriously. “I should be able to do it. My roasted meat is better than Father’s and Elder Brother’s. When we were in the mountains, I usually cooked. I’m very talented.”
Fu Chang lost his appetite. Fu Yong also felt the rice in his hand wasn’t as appealing. He served him a chopstick full of greens, “Eat more vegetables.”
After the meal, Fu Chang sat before the grave in melancholy. Fu Xuan urged him, “You’ve already paid respects to Father. You and Erlang and Sanlang should go home and rest. The Princess has already arranged food and rooms for you at the residence.”
Fu Chang shook his head. “I want to stay on the mountain and observe mourning with Elder Brother.”
Fu Xuan frowned deeply. “There’s no rush for this moment. Go home and rest for two days first, then come back.”
“How can one choose the time for fulfilling filial duties?” Fu Chang said. “My heart is grieving—I cannot eat, cannot rest easy. Elder Brother, if you send me down the mountain, I’ll only feel worse.”
Unable to persuade him, Fu Xuan could only look toward Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought, then said, “Then stay. I’ll take the two younger brothers back.”
Fu Yong and Fu Hong also quickly expressed their desire to stay. However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t indulge them, saying, “There’s only one thatched hut on the mountain—it can’t accommodate five people. If you want to stay on the mountain, you’ll have to wait until another hut is built. Go down the mountain for now. Come back up once it’s ready.”
She then nodded to Fu Tinghan and led the two away.
She escorted them to the Fu residence. Princess Hongnong had been waiting at home. Seeing the now-grown Fu Yong and Fu Hong, she couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, “You’ve both grown up.”
How strange—when children are right before your eyes, you find them bothersome and feel they grow so slowly. But when they’re not around and you see them again after a few years, you discover they’ve grown so quickly.
Princess Hongnong had someone lead them to rest before asking Zhao Hanzhang, “Is your Second Uncle well?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “His temples are frosted white. He looks much older than Father. He must have suffered greatly these past years.”
Princess Hongnong sighed, “Your Second Uncle isn’t like your father-in-law. He resembles Grandfather—his thoughts run deep. These past years, even hiding in the mountains, he would have worried more, not less. And there are your Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle—who knows where they are, whether they’ve settled down or are still wandering displaced.”
The refugees around Luoyang had all been taken in. Whenever refugees appeared, the counties within Sizhou would compete for them, so there were almost no refugees visible on the roads.
But it was different in other regions—there were still displaced people wandering about. Perhaps they wanted to return home, or perhaps they sought more suitable places to live, so they hadn’t stopped their journey and were unwilling to accept recruitment by local county offices.
Zhao Hanzhang said nothing but took this matter to heart. After leaving, she made a detour to the publishing house.
The publishing house had expanded again, taking over the neighboring shop to create a newspaper office. Now Luoyang had five different newspapers. One called “Sanyan Liangpai” mainly published anecdotes, poetry, prose, and stories, along with small advertisements from shops hiring workers or individuals seeking employment—anything could be printed for a fee.
The Official Gazette and “Boundless Learning” learned from this. Occasionally they would publish in the Official Gazette information about the state seeking talent—special talents with such abilities could bypass the recruitment examinations and come directly to Luoyang to meet Zhao Hanzhang. Those who passed the interview could be employed.
Zhao Hanzhang even worried these talented people might lack money to reach Luoyang, so she specially decreed that anyone with abilities mentioned in the Official Gazette could register with their local governor’s office or provincial administration. After passing an initial assessment, the local government office would cover their travel expenses to the capital and order the relay stations along the way to provide good hospitality.
Zhao Hanzhang arrived at the newspaper office. The editors inside immediately put down their brushes and came downstairs to respectfully bow to Zhao Hanzhang, “Grand General.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and asked, “Who’s working on the next issue of the Official Gazette?”
A scholar immediately stepped forward and bowed, “It is this humble one.”
Zhao Hanzhang walked to the desk and looked at the half-copied Official Gazette, nodding. “I want to publish a notice in the paper. Write it for me.”
The scholar immediately bowed in acknowledgment. He first took a blank sheet of paper, dipped his brush in ink, and looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang paced in place twice, then said, “During the nation’s crisis, court governance was neglected for several years, causing river channels everywhere to fall into disrepair from age—silted and blocked. This year we were fortunate, so no great disaster occurred during the rainy season. But next year, the year after—we may not have such good fortune. Therefore, I’m seeking talented people skilled in water management from across the nation. Order each county to investigate. If there are people with such talents, please send them respectfully to Luoyang.”
She paused, then added, “In former years, Duke Fu built the Shenlai Weir to resolve the Yellow River flooding problem in Yan and Yu provinces. Among his works is a famous essay on water management. Anyone who can recite it may also come to the capital.”