He had underestimated her. Magistrate Zhang glanced at Vice General Qiao and couldn’t help sighing again. He had thought this battle would be incredibly difficult and had prepared himself to charge into Quyang City if they truly couldn’t hold out. He never expected that Zhao Hanzhang could not only boost morale but also cling relentlessly to Liu Jing, preventing him from playing any role in this engagement.

Right, Magistrate Zhang remembered and quickly asked, “Sanniang, the army was shouting earlier that Liu Jing was dead. Is that true or false?”

Vice General Qiao was also eager to know and looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I don’t know if it’s true. I struck his back with an arrow, but his guards rescued him and I didn’t see a corpse, so I can’t confirm he’s dead.”

“If you struck his back with an arrow, he’s most likely dead,” someone nearby congratulated Magistrate Zhang and Zhao Hanzhang. “This is the achievement of the Governor and Lady Zhao!”

Vice General Qiao stepped aside. “Magistrate Zhang, Lady Zhao, this way please. The Governor requests your presence.”

The group followed Vice General Qiao into the city, while the main army remained outside.

Qiu Wu and Ji Ping had appeared from somewhere. They looked around and, seeing the main force remaining outside and that most attendants of the vice generals and magistrates were also staying, they too left their subordinates behind, with just the two of them following Zhao Hanzhang into the city.

Vice General Qiao glanced at them. Zhao Hanzhang said casually, “They’re my two bodyguards. The elders at home were worried and ordered them to stay with me at all times. If the Governor finds their presence inconvenient, I’ll have them wait outside.”

Never mind that the Governor wouldn’t find it inconvenient—even if he truly did, Vice General Qiao wouldn’t dare say so in front of so many people.

They were all Jin forces. If it was inconvenient, what was the Governor planning to do?

Would Magistrate Zhang and the others still dare enter the city?

They still had at least twenty thousand men remaining. If these twenty thousand started an uproar…

Vice General Qiao forced a smile. “Since they’re Lady Zhao’s personal guards, please bring them along.”

During the duel, he had watched from the city tower, and the Governor had too. They had all witnessed Zhao Hanzhang’s martial skills and ability. They didn’t believe she needed guards constantly by her side.

Quyang County was not small, comparable to Shangcai County, but it was quite desolate now. There were almost no people on the streets, every household had doors and windows tightly shut, and some houses near the city gate were even completely empty.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang looking at the broken houses on both sides of the road, Vice General Qiao said, “When the Xiongnu army attacked the city, they catapulted stones that damaged the houses. Is this Lady Zhao’s first time seeing such a thing?”

“No,” Zhao Hanzhang replied. “When Xiping County was breached, it was like this too, even more devastated than this.”

Vice General Qiao was surprised. “Xiping County was breached?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled lightly. “Yes, but fortunately the rebel forces have been driven away. The city gates and walls are currently under repair.”

Though Quyang was besieged, messages could still be transmitted. Government documents from the court could be delivered; otherwise, how could Governor He, while under siege, issue orders for counties to increase tax payments and for prefectures and counties to send reinforcements? She didn’t believe Vice General Qiao wouldn’t know.

Vice General Qiao did indeed know, but since the Governor wanted him not to know, he could only pretend ignorance.

Governor He was waiting for them in the county office.

When they arrived, Governor He was sitting on a couch eating. Seeing them enter, he immediately shuffled over in his slippers to greet them, ushering everyone in before saying, “You are all heroes of great merit. By rights, I should have personally gone out to welcome you, but my old ailment acted up. If I don’t eat when mealtime comes, I get dizzy and lightheaded. I had no choice but to return to the residence first to eat.”

Governor He invited everyone to sit, ordering food and drink brought out. “Everyone fought valiantly. You must all be hungry by now. Let’s eat first. We can talk after the meal.”

Magistrate Zhang looked troubled. “Governor, we’re covered in grime and filth. It would be too improper to appear before you like this.”

Governor He laughed. “What formalities are there on the battlefield? Look, don’t I have bloodstains on me too? Let’s eat first. Nothing in this world is more urgent than eating.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded emphatically in agreement.

Governor He noticed her, his smile deepening as he softened his voice to ask, “How should I address this young general? I watched you fight courageously from the city tower earlier and was filled with admiration.”

Zhao Hanzhang bowed in salute. “I am Zhao Hanzhang of Xiping. I pay my respects to the Governor.”

“Xiping? Then you’re a member of the Zhao clan. Who are your father and grandfather?”

Governor He had just been promoted to Governor of Yuzhou this year. Before that, he had been the Magistrate of Runan Prefecture for ten years and was thoroughly familiar with the Zhao clan.

So familiar that Zhao Hanzhang probably wasn’t as knowledgeable as he was. He looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down, truly unable to recall this person from memory, though she seemed vaguely familiar.

While he was thinking, he heard her say, “My grandfather’s name is Jiao.”

Governor He’s smile froze. He turned his head to look at her. “Zhao Jiao, Zhao Changyu, is your grandfather?”

Zhao Hanzhang respectfully replied, “Yes.”

He hadn’t heard of Zhao Changyu having illegitimate sons outside the family who produced sons, or of any sons having illegitimate children outside.

He looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down, finally saying quietly after a long pause, “You’re a young lady.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled in acknowledgment.

Governor He recalled the recent news he’d heard and couldn’t help laughing. “Good, good, good! A woman no less capable than men—we should all be ashamed. Come, sit here by me. By rights of seniority, you should call me grandfather too.”

Zhao Hanzhang obediently changed her address. “Grandfather He.”

Governor He laughed heartily and repeatedly said, “Good, good, good! Quickly sit down. You must be famished after all that fighting. I’ll have them cook you some meat. Someone, hurry and bring the food!”

Servants rushed off to fetch the meal, and soon food was brought out.

Governor He seemed very fond of Zhao Hanzhang. Not only did he seat her at his left, directly across from Magistrate Zhang, he even gave her two dishes from his own table.

For a junior and subordinate, this was tremendous favor and recognition.

And Zhao Hanzhang was currently both junior and subordinate to him. She gladly accepted, though her heart remained alert and never relaxed.

From what she knew, though the Zhao family and Governor He appeared to have a good relationship on the surface and had always gotten along well, digging deeper revealed that Zhao Changyu had once seriously undermined this man, apparently quite severely.

Governor He smiled broadly while watching Zhao Hanzhang eat, but inwardly he was smugly thinking: Zhao Changyu, oh Zhao Changyu, you never imagined there’d be a day when not only would your own granddaughter call him Grandfather He, she’d also be working under his command.

Governor He’s smile grew even wider as he asked Zhao Hanzhang, “Who’s in charge of Xiping County now? I heard the position of County Magistrate was assigned to Zhao Ming. Why is the County Magistrate position vacant?”

Normally the County Magistrate and Registrar should be appointed by Governor He, while the County Magistrate was appointed by the court. Unfortunately, during that period, Governor He was trapped in Quyang, overwhelmed with troubles. How could he spare attention for a small county?

The Zhao clan had also conveniently treated him as nonexistent and directly petitioned Luoyang for the appointments.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t sure if he wanted to settle accounts after autumn or was genuinely just understanding the situation and perhaps inserting someone of his own. She paused briefly.

But she quickly thought it through. Even if he really did send a County Magistrate, she had ways to maintain control of Xiping County. So she answered frankly, “Currently, Xiping County is under Hanzhang’s authority.”

At these words, everyone including Magistrate Zhang raised their eyebrows slightly.

Had she said this yesterday, everyone would have taken it as a joke or a cover for the Zhao clan. But after what had just transpired, no one underestimated her anymore, and they instinctively believed her words.

Governor He believed it too. He studied Zhao Hanzhang closely, seeing her sitting cross-legged with straight posture, wearing a slight smile, gazing at him with confidence and determination.

For a moment, Governor He felt as if he were seeing Zhao Changyu, and his mood immediately soured.