The various family heads all watched Zhao Ming eagerly, straining their ears trying to hear clearly what the uncle and niece were discussing.

Unfortunately, they spoke too quietly, and despite their efforts, they heard nothing.

So they could only observe Zhao Ming and Zhao Hanzhang’s expressions, trying to read something from them.

If only they would quarrel… how wonderful that would be.

Although it wouldn’t be good for the Zhao Family to have internal strife at this time, judging by Zhao Hanzhang’s methods over the past two days, they were all feeling anxious.

Soon, Zhao Ming turned around and came over with Zhao Hanzhang. The family heads immediately withdrew their gazes and stood properly.

Zhao Ming stepped forward to bid them farewell, indicating he still had matters to attend to and needed to return to the fortress first.

The heads were stunned and quickly asked, “Zinian, Xiping County is currently without leadership, and it’s a time when everything needs to be rebuilt. Won’t you stay to discuss matters?”

Zhao Ming said, “Isn’t Hanzhang here? If there’s anything, just find her. Regarding Xiping County, she can act on behalf of the Zhao Family.”

Everyone fell silent.

Zhao Hanzhang stood to the side smiling at them. They all shivered in unison.

Everyone watched Zhao Ming leave with longing eyes. After Zhao Hanzhang waited for them to look their fill reluctantly, she turned sideways and said, “Everyone, please sit inside. Today my soldiers are still clearing corpses and helping the wounded with treatment. I can’t spare any manpower. The city gates are damaged and should be repaired as well.”

One of the family heads came to his senses and asked, “Are there sufficient medicinal materials?”

Zhao Hanzhang recognized him and knew his family was in the medicine business, so she said, “The two medicine shops in the county have been taken over, and my Zhao Family also sent a batch of medicinal materials, but there’s still a shortage. Does Old Master Qian have any good suggestions?”

The other party understood her hint. Besides, he had brought it up specifically to sell Zhao Hanzhang a favor, so he said, “My family has some involvement with medicinal materials, and we still have some stock at home. We can help out some.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately expressed thanks on behalf of Xiping County’s common people.

Upon hearing this, the other families thought of Zhao Ming who had already left. Being under someone’s roof, they had no choice but to bow their heads. So they all generously opened their purses.

They discussed from morning until afternoon. Not only did the various families donate supplies, but they also took on several rebuilding projects for Xiping County. When they walked out of the county yamen, the family heads all had complex expressions, both apprehensive and full of confidence.

Walking out the yamen gates, they didn’t immediately disperse but gathered in twos and threes with those they were close to.

“Did this Zhao Sanniang seize power from Zhao Ming by her own ability, or did the Zhao Family deliberately push her forward to deal with us?”

“What do you think?”

Another person said, “Looking at her arrangements today, do you think she’s someone who would be pushed out by the Zhao Family as a shield?”

“She’s certainly capable. Even if County Magistrate Fan were here, I’m afraid he couldn’t do what she’s done,” the questioner said. “Following her arrangements, Xiping County will be able to settle down in less than three days.”

“Yet my heart is very uneasy with her being so capable.”

“Indeed. I heard she’s only fourteen years old. So cunning and experienced—truly worthy of being Zhao Changyu’s granddaughter.”

“Fortunately she’s not a man.”

“But I regret that she’s not a man…”

The families had different reactions, but after seeing Zhao Ming and learning from him that Zhao Hanzhang could act on behalf of the Zhao Family in Xiping County, all of Xiping County’s affairs fell on Zhao Hanzhang’s shoulders.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind the workload and busied herself with relish. The next day she summoned the ward chiefs from each ward. If any had unfortunately died in battle, they either elected new ward chiefs to attend the meeting, or their remaining family members came as representatives.

Through the various ward chiefs, Zhao Hanzhang quickly clarified the losses brought by this warfare. Fu Tinghan created various analytical charts for her based on the data.

Zhao Hanzhang then used these analytical charts to regain control of the land and population situation in each ward, and had the ward chiefs persuade the common people who had fled to return to the city.

“It’s currently autumn harvest time. Each ward should first organize manpower to harvest the soybeans and rice,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “For families who have lost able-bodied men, the township will organize people to help with harvesting. For families where everyone perished, the fields they left behind will be temporarily managed by the county yamen.”

The ward chiefs had no objections and bowed in acceptance.

The policy was one thing, but implementing it was not easy. Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t just give an order and wash her hands of it.

So she personally rolled up her sleeves, went out to recruit workers, and led them to the fields to harvest soybeans and rice.

All wages were paid by the county yamen. Besides this, there was also the construction of damaged houses in the county, and the repair of city walls and gates—all of these could be used for work-for-relief.

The whole city was draped in plain white. Xiping County, which had been lifeless, suddenly came alive. Everyone temporarily forgot the pain of losing loved ones in their busyness. And by today, only five days had passed since the Battle of Xiping.

Old Master Song and the others never expected that Xiping County could recover so quickly. The common people who had fled earlier returned on their own. After receiving relief rations, they either went to harvest their own grain or went to the county yamen to get number plates for work-for-relief.

In the midst of everyone’s busyness, Zhao Hanzhang posted an announcement exempting all of Xiping County’s people from this year’s autumn taxes.

Posted together with this announcement was one about requisitioning the slums in West Second Street to use as military barracks. She would station troops in Xiping afterward to protect Xiping.

When the two announcements were posted together, ordinary common people mostly stared at the first announcement. After hearing the clerk read the first announcement, they immediately began discussing loudly, “So this year’s autumn tax doesn’t need to be paid?”

“If we save carefully, we can still make it to next summer.”

“This is really wonderful. The Third Miss of the Zhao Family is truly compassionate and merciful.”

Everyone discussed animatedly, and barely anyone paid attention to the second announcement.

After the clerk finished reading and left, the vast majority of people were illiterate and didn’t care about this announcement. They just gathered together to discuss the autumn tax matter.

But some people specifically paid attention to the second announcement. After reading it back and forth twice, they squeezed out of the crowd and ran back to inform their family heads.

“Zhao Hanzhang wants to station troops in the city?”

“Yes, on West Second Street. Master, if that area is rebuilt, it could garrison at least a thousand men. With so many people, won’t Xiping County become the Zhao Family’s backyard in the future?”

“Should we mention it to the Zhao Family fortress?”

“Mention what?” Old Master Song said. “Look at how Zhao Hanzhang has been acting boldly in the county these past few days—has even one person from the Zhao Family come?”

Now Zhao Hanzhang was in charge at the Xiping county yamen. She had soldiers in hand. Who dared provoke her?

“Didn’t County Magistrate Fan’s daughter survive? The Xiping County Magistrate position should be appointed by the imperial court,” the person said. “County Magistrate Fan and his family died defending the city, and his surviving daughter is a descendant of loyalty and righteousness. If she petitions the court and requests the court to arrange a new County Magistrate…”

Old Master Song fell into thought.

They all didn’t know that at this time, Luoyang had already received Zhao Ming’s letter.

The memorial and the letter arrived in the capital simultaneously. The memorial was submitted officially, while the letter was sent directly to the Zhao residence for Zhao Zhongyu.

As a local prominent family, the Zhao Family had both the right and the obligation to report local situations to the Emperor.

Zhao Ming had once been assessed as mid-ranking gentry. Although he didn’t serve in office, writing memorials wasn’t difficult for him.

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