Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Thank you Uncle on my behalf, and tell him I appreciate their kindness. However, now that the situation in Xiping County has been stabilized, since Miss Fan isn’t comfortable living in the fortified village, there’s no need to force her to stay. I’ll take her with me when I return next time.”
Changqing acknowledged the instruction.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “No one in the clan has been bullying the young lady, have they?”
Changqing immediately replied, “The Fan family are loyal and righteous people. The clan has been treating her well, how could anyone bully her?”
Zhao Hanzhang felt reassured. Upon returning to the old residence, she had servants prepare some gifts to send to Fan Ying.
Although the Fan family wasn’t from Xiping County, County Magistrate Fan had served in Xiping County for several years. This time, in order to defend the city, the entire family had died except for one person. Whether she wanted to or not, Fan Ying was connected to the stability of Xiping County.
Although Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t afraid of the troubles that disagreements might bring, who would deliberately seek out trouble when things could be kept simple?
Zhao Hanzhang unconsciously tapped her fingers on the table. After going through everything once more and confirming there were no omissions, she went to rest. The next day, she set off for Shangcai full of energy.
She marched rapidly all the way straight to Shangcai County town.
County Magistrate Chai had originally thought today would be another hopeless day, but she caught him completely off guard. Both surprised and delighted, he immediately brought Changning out to welcome her.
Seeing the people she had brought back, County Magistrate Chai breathed a great sigh of relief. “Sanniang, you’ve finally returned.”
Zhao Hanzhang bowed. “Hanzhang has fulfilled her mission without disgrace.”
County Magistrate Chai hastily raised his hands in a gesture of assistance, invited her to take the seat of honor, and asked, “Tell me quickly about the battle situation. How is the situation in Xiping County?”
Although he had received quite a bit of news during this period, he still wanted to hear it from the person directly involved.
Zhao Hanzhang described everything to him, then spoke about the casualties among the people she had taken with her.
Real casualties, which meant she couldn’t return the full complement to County Magistrate Chai.
County Magistrate Chai had expected this. In fact, after hearing about the battle situation in Xiping, he felt that if Zhao Hanzhang could return half the people, that would already be quite good. He hadn’t expected the casualties to be relatively light, and he was already very satisfied.
Zhao Hanzhang then casually mentioned the pensions for the fallen soldiers. County Magistrate Chai readily agreed, “The county office will take care of it.”
Only then was Zhao Hanzhang satisfied. She then brought up her family members.
County Magistrate Chai immediately indicated she could take people away at any time.
County Magistrate Chai wanted to rise and see her out. “Sanniang has returned victorious, you must be missing your family. I won’t keep you from your reunion. Shall I have someone lead you to see the madam and the second young master?”
However, Zhao Hanzhang said, “No rush, no rush. Although the threat from Xiping has been eliminated, I wonder how things are in Quyang?”
According to the information the Zhao family had received, the fighting in Quyang was still ongoing, and the situation wasn’t good.
County Magistrate Chai sighed. “The Xiongnu army hasn’t withdrawn yet, the situation isn’t very good.”
“Still no reinforcements?”
“A military force came down from Yingchuan, but…”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “But what?”
“Alas, they don’t have provisions. Quyang needs to supply them, and I was just about to discuss this with you, Sanniang. The Provincial Governor has ordered all counties to raise provisions and grain, adding twenty percent to the autumn tax per household. Sanniang, regarding your family’s estates…”
Zhao Hanzhang interrupted, “County Magistrate, as you know, this time I led troops to pacify Xiping, and I provided all the provisions myself. Provisions for over a thousand men for ten days is no small amount. The summer harvest grain is nearly gone, and as for the autumn harvest… well, let’s not even mention it.”
County Magistrate Chai silently stared at her.
After a long moment, Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How many troops came as reinforcements from Yingchuan?”
“I heard it’s about three thousand. They’re all quite hungry. Without provisions, how could they fight on behalf of Quyang?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept over the people in the hall.
Qiuwu cleverly led his people out, but Changning didn’t move.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind either. She leaned close to County Magistrate Chai and said in a low voice, “County Magistrate, the Provincial Governor has iron mines in his hands. It’s only three thousand troops—how could he not be able to support them?”
County Magistrate Chai heard this and couldn’t help but complain to her, “However, those are the Provincial Governor’s private property, not something we subordinates can suggest using.”
In the past, County Magistrate Chai would never have said such things to Zhao Hanzhang, because she was his major taxpayer. To question the righteousness of taxation with a major taxpayer—how desperate would he have to be?
But now Zhao Hanzhang was the de facto ruler of Xiping County. Obviously, Xiping County would also have to pay taxes. Thinking of it this way, they were both in the same boat. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t have the title of county magistrate, but she had the responsibilities of one.
County Magistrate Chai sighed. “Although our Shangcai avoided the flames of war, the summer tax was already quite heavy. If the autumn tax is increased again, I’m afraid even more people will flee.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded thoughtfully. “But even to collect the autumn tax, we’d have to wait until after the autumn harvest. By then it will be winter. Do the Xiongnu have the ability to maintain a siege? By that time, the predicament will be resolved, or else…”
County Magistrate Chai whispered, “The city falls?”
Then Shangcai would be in trouble.
County Magistrate Chai became conflicted. “Should I send the autumn tax over in advance?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. Send what? She wanted to convince him not to pay together with her. So she said, “Distant water cannot quench present thirst. Collecting taxes also takes time, County Magistrate. If you know people close to the Provincial Governor, why not hint around? The urgent matter is to repel the enemy. How about having the Provincial Governor’s office produce some money first, and together with the Yingchuan troops, drive away the Xiongnu before discussing other matters?”
County Magistrate Chai fell into deep thought, unable to make up his mind for a while.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t press him. After all, there was still some time before tax payment. Seeing that it was getting late, she rose to take her leave.
As she walked out the county office gate, the sky was nearly dark, and by the time she reached the villa, only dim light remained—just enough to barely make out people’s faces.
Wang Shi had been waiting at the villa’s main gate early on. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang riding over on horseback, tears already welling in her eyes, she lifted her skirts and ran over.
Zhao Hanzhang quickly dismounted and caught her. “Mother.”
Wang Shi felt Zhao Hanzhang all over, then looked at the bandages wrapped around her palms and wrists. “Are you injured?”
“No,” Zhao Hanzhang denied. “These make it easier to hold my sword, so my hands don’t get blisters. Mother, look at me hopping around—do I look injured to you?”
Only then did Wang Shi smile, though tears still flowed down her cheeks. “You don’t know how frightened I was. These past days, all kinds of things were being said in the city. They all said Xiping County had been breached, that the chaotic army massacred the city, that many people died, and even that the Zhao clan’s fortified village had…”
“No, no, those are all rumors. Didn’t I say before I left that you shouldn’t listen to outside news? You only needed to listen to Master Ji.”
“But the Zhao clan sent their heirs out as insurance. How dangerous must it have been for them to send them away?” Wang Shi wasn’t reassured and felt her over again. “Are you really not injured?”
“I’m not. I swear.”
Wang Shi couldn’t bear to let her swear oaths and pulled her toward home. “Come inside quickly. Master Ji and Erlang have been waiting to eat with you. We’ve been waiting since we heard you returned in the evening, but it’s gotten completely dark and you’ve only just come back…”