The next day, Fu Tinghan didn’t go to the fields. Princess Hongnong, having received her desired answer, also didn’t come again. Instead, Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, Zhao Ming, Xun Fan, and other ministers were summoned.
A group of elderly ministers followed behind Zhao Hanzhang plowing fields, weeding, opening furrows, sowing seeds, fertilizing, then covering with soil.
Zhao Hanzhang harnessed an ox and plowed the field herself. After finishing, she patted the heavily panting ox and switched to another to open furrows. Ji Yuan and the others followed behind weeding, loosening soil, sowing seeds, and fertilizing.
Those from backgrounds as elevated as Zhao Ming and Xun Fan could all do farm work, let alone Ji Yuan and Ming Yu.
Previous dynasty officials might have had most who couldn’t do agricultural labor, but this dynasty’s officials had almost all done it, especially with Zhao Hanzhang’s yearly focus on agriculture.
As court officials, they naturally hoped the nation and people would grow better and better.
Zhao Hanzhang finished opening furrows and looked back—working alone, she had outdistanced them by fifteen rows.
So she untied the rope, patted the ox’s rump to let it graze, and strolled over to talk with them.
“Minister Zhao, how did your household usually open furrows in the past?”
While dropping wheat seeds, Zhao Ming said: “Also like this. But before we switched to curved-shaft plows, someone had to lead the ox in front. It was difficult for one person to control both ox and plow.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked: “So curved-shaft plows can replace at least one laborer. Do tenant farmers also plow like this?”
Zhao Ming wasn’t the type of official who asked “why don’t they eat meat?” He shook his head: “Most use human power to pull plows. Generally, plowing and opening furrows require three laborers, and their endurance is far inferior to draft oxen.”
Ji Yuan and others also nodded.
Zhao Hanzhang said: “So draft oxen can replace at least two laborers.”
“Now the population is small. Even having children, raising them until they can plow fields takes at least sixteen years. But raising an ox until it can plow only takes three years.”
The ministers were speechless.
Ji Yuan began: “Your Majesty, the cattle and horse farms under your name are unwilling to transfer to the state treasury…”
“How many cattle and horses can those few farms produce?” Zhao Hanzhang interrupted. “The realm is so vast, the people so scattered. It’s impossible for ranches to supply the draft oxen all common folk need through breeding.”
Xun Fan lowered his eyes in thought. After stepping forward to bury wheat seeds, he said: “Common folk are organized by households, with clans above, wards above those, and only then county yamens. If Your Majesty wishes to rapidly popularize draft oxen, arrangements should be made at county level and below.”
“Correct.” Zhao Hanzhang praised: “Grand Tutor Xun sees clearly. Those few cattle and horse farms under my name—the oxen, mules, and horses they produce annually, dispersed out, barely make a ripple. All these years, the spread has been extremely slow. So we’ve taken the wrong path.”
Ji Yuan asked: “Does Your Majesty want to encourage common folk to raise cattle themselves, to breed cattle and horses?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
Zhao Ming objected: “But the common folk are impoverished. How could they afford to raise cattle and horses?”
“So I want to open cattle markets in each county as true court enterprises.” Zhao Hanzhang said: “Cattle markets won’t just buy and sell oxen—they can also provide credit and rental. I’ve reviewed the accounts. Relying only on those few large cattle farms is too slow. I’ve decided to open the cattle market. The court will subsidize legitimate merchants operating draft oxen and mules.”
Zhao Ming keenly asked: “How does one qualify as legitimate?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied: “Naturally, draft oxen sales prices must fall within the court-specified price range.”
Zhao Hanzhang spent one day with the ministers planting a field of wheat and finalizing the new cattle market policy, only waiting until after the holiday to announce it.
The next day, Zhao Hanzhang brought Lady Wang, Wang Huifeng, and Chen Siniang first to the Benevolent Hall. At the field’s edge, she offered warmth to the children. Zhao Hanzhang even went down to harvest rice with them, encouraging them to study hard, live diligently, and after growing up, serve the nation and realize their ideals and ambitions.
She also shared a midday meal with the children—food they made themselves. Lady Wang personally rolled dough and mixed filling, making dumplings together with them.
The children ate dumplings hand-wrapped by the current Empress Dowager. The Benevolent Hall officials were so happy they nearly fainted.
National Benevolent Hall Director Chen Siniang specifically introduced Wang Huifeng to the officials.
Though Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t stated it explicitly, Chen Siniang, being her confidant, had already sensed that henceforth the Benevolent Hall would be jointly managed by court and imperial household.
The imperial household portion would be handed to the inner court—that is, managed by the Empress Dowager, with Wang Huifeng under the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager’s management style was quite casual, meaning in future she would partner with Wang Huifeng—she representing the court, Wang Huifeng representing the inner court.
For the Empress Dowager to do charity work in her capacity was far better than the court or Zhao Hanzhang appearing personally.
After a thorough inspection, Lady Wang was deeply moved. Her fingers flew making dumplings, quickly filling a winnowing basket. Upon leaving, she reluctantly parted from the children.
The children too were reluctant, standing at the Benevolent Hall entrance waving vigorously at her and Zhao Hanzhang, mouths continuously calling “Your Highness, Your Highness…”
They liked Zhao Hanzhang very much, admired her, respected her, but felt closer to Lady Wang.
After traveling far, Lady Wang finally withdrew her gaze and used a handkerchief to wipe tears from her eyes. “Every festival and disaster, I’ve had Qinggu deliver things. I thought their lives were already good now. I didn’t expect they’re still so poor. Many children don’t even have cloth shoes on their feet, only straw sandals.”
Zhao Hanzhang reached out to grasp her hand and patted it without speaking.
Lady Wang then said: “I’ll have people make them some shoes and send them fabric. I see they’re also thinly dressed. With weather about to turn cold, they need winter clothes prepared.”
Zhao Hanzhang agreed.
In the afternoon, they went to villages around Luoyang.
Zhao Hanzhang’s outing this time wasn’t for inspection but to display the Empress Dowager’s dignified bearing, so notice was given in advance.
When they arrived, not only had various ward chiefs brought crowds of common folk, County Magistrate Zhao Zheng was also there.
Zhao Hanzhang personally helped Lady Wang descend from the carriage. Mother and daughter together consoled elderly widows and widowers, and injured and retired veterans from several nearby villages.
After they left, only excitement and envy remained in the eyes of elders and adults. “If you have a daughter, let her be like Zhao Hanzhang”—never had this children’s rhyme so perfectly fit their hearts.
So they turned to household girls and said: “You must study hard and learn real skills. If in future you can learn even one-tenth of His Majesty’s ability, you’ll bring glory to ancestors and let your mothers receive honors through your success.”
This matter was published in gazettes and major newspapers for dissemination everywhere. Local officials and literati saw it as Zhao Hanzhang’s love-the-people action of caring about autumn harvest. School students also used it to promote among local people.
But at this moment, common folks’ brainwaves successfully connected with Zhao Hanzhang’s.
While nodding in agreement with those officials and students, they privately discussed: “Common folk around the capital truly live well—they can see not only His Majesty the Emperor but even the Empress Dowager.”
“The Empress Dowager is truly fortunate, having given birth to His Majesty…” The conversation reached this point. Looking again at their own children, hearts stirred. It seemed their household daughters were actually a bit cleverer than sons. School teachers praised daughters three times before praising sons once.
If their daughters became high officials in future, could they, like the emperor, also extend grace to their maternal families?