Everyone turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang together.
Under everyone’s gaze, Zhao Hanzhang smiled and agreed.
Several people couldn’t help frowning slightly. This was too obsequious—leaving before getting any results? Could it be she got something from Governor He and deliberately rushed out to be his vanguard?
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t care about their speculation. Xiping and Shangcai still had a pile of matters waiting for her to return and handle. Getting Governor He to part with resources was no easy matter. When he was trapped in the city before, he still wouldn’t spend money to have soldiers fight desperately, much less now.
For her, time was far more precious than whatever benefits Governor He might offer.
Besides, they had just reached an agreement.
Zhao Hanzhang was especially forthright in taking the lead to leave.
The others looked at each other, hesitating, and finally looked toward Magistrate Zhang.
Magistrate Zhang’s hand resting on his knee immediately clenched tight. After a moment, he forced out a smile and said, “We’ll also go see nephew off.”
He didn’t say they would leave, but instead drew closer to his relationship with Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly without objecting.
So a group of important officials went to see Zhao Hanzhang off.
Zhao Hanzhang felt that those who left afterward probably wouldn’t receive the treatment she was getting today. She smiled and had Zhao Ju organize the troops, while she stood with Governor He and the others waiting.
By the time Zhao Ju finished organizing the troops and dismantling the camp, it was nearly mid-morning. Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at the ordinary soldiers from other areas behind them who were watching in their direction, and said quietly to Governor He, “Governor, please look behind you.”
Governor He turned to look and saw soldiers from other prefectures and counties—reinforcements with no discipline at all, neither standing nor sitting properly, watching in their direction. He couldn’t help frowning slightly.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “They are the future of Yuzhou.”
Governor He thought Zhao Hanzhang was mocking him and Yuzhou and was about to speak when he heard her sigh, “Liu Yuan has declared himself emperor and is directing forces to attack Luoyang and Yuzhou. In the future, Yuzhou will depend entirely on them for protection. Governor, if we cannot treat them well, in the not-distant future when we need them to exert themselves again, will they still be willing to risk their lives for Yuzhou, to risk their lives for you, Governor?”
Governor He’s words caught in his throat and he frowned without speaking.
Zhao Hanzhang stopped there. When Zhao Ju had organized everyone, she cupped her fists and bowed to everyone. “Everyone, Hanzhang will take her leave first.”
Governor He’s frown relaxed. Though somewhat displeased, he still smiled and bid her farewell. “Give my regards to your Uncle Shuzu.”
Magistrate Zhang also said, “Give my regards to your Uncle Ming. I’ve obtained several jars of good wine and, knowing he likes wine, I saved him a jar. Tell him to come find me in Ruyin another day so we can drink together.”
Hmph, who doesn’t know a few people from the Zhao clan?
Zhao Hanzhang agreed to everything, saying she would pass it all along when she returned.
The others also smiled and bid Zhao Hanzhang farewell, watching as she leaped onto her horse. With a single command, Xiping County’s reinforcements departed in orderly fashion.
Several people narrowed their eyes. They’d heard these people were just recruited by Zhao Hanzhang in recent days. Though their formation wasn’t very neat, compared to theirs it wasn’t bad either. The key was that they all looked spirited.
Thinking of her bravery on the battlefield, everyone made a mental note: the Zhao clan…in this chaotic world would likely rise. Even if they couldn’t advance further, they would be more enduring and stable than others.
And in these times, endurance and stability held the greatest attraction.
Ji Yuan hadn’t come forward to meet Governor He. This was the young lady’s stage, and it would be better if he, a relatively famous strategist, didn’t come forward to steal the spotlight.
After all, he had participated in several previous confrontations between the master and Governor He. If he appeared, who knew whether the other party would resent him.
Only after walking far away did Ji Yuan, who had been mixed in with the troops, ride forward to catch up with Zhao Hanzhang and say quietly, “Three people were selected and all sent into the city. Now it depends on whether they can get close to Governor He.”
“Did you leave them money?”
“Left some, but didn’t dare leave too much, since they’re coming as people seeking refuge.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “After returning, find a reason to treat their families well. Take better care of them in daily life.”
Ji Yuan agreed.
Zhao Hanzhang turned to Zhao Ju and said, “Give the order to march quickly. We should reach Shangcai before nightfall.”
Zhao Ju was startled. “We’re still detouring to Shangcai?”
Shangcai and Xiping weren’t in quite the same direction. When they came, they detoured through Shangcai to pick up Ji Yuan and the provisions he’d prepared, but now…
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Xiping is currently short of grain. We’ll go to Shangcai to buy some grain to bring back.”
“But winter is about to start, the Xiongnu army is attacking Yuzhou, refugees are rampant—who would be willing to sell grain now?”
Zhao Hanzhang said with certainty, “They’ll be willing.”
Ji Yuan’s gaze swept over their troops and nodded deeply in agreement. “They’ll definitely be willing.”
When the sky was darkening, they returned to the Shangcai estate. Zhao Hanzhang had the soldiers make camp outside the estate and cook meals, while she took Gentleman Ji back to the villa.
Lady Wang was about to go to sleep when she heard her daughter had returned and immediately climbed up to change clothes and come out to greet her.
Seeing her in full armor with a long sword at her waist, holding a lantern as she smiled and walked toward her, Lady Wang was momentarily reminded of her father.
“Mother?”
Lady Wang came back to herself and saw her daughter tilting her head looking at her. She quickly put her smile back on. “You’re back. Come inside quickly. That armor must be heavy to wear. Take it off quickly. I’ll have someone heat water for you to wash. Qinggu, hurry and tell the kitchen to make Sanniang’s favorite dishes…”
Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “It’s already dark—no need to go to such trouble. Just have them make noodles. Gentleman Ji and the others have returned too, so make more.”
“Don’t worry about these things, just hurry inside and change.” Lady Wang pushed Zhao Hanzhang inside to wash and change clothes.
Meanwhile in Shangcai County, Magistrate Chai, who had already gone to bed, climbed out again and paced anxiously back and forth in the hall. “Why would there suddenly be so many troops outside the county?”
Changning was very calm. “It’s probably Zhao Hanzhang’s three thousand soldiers.”
“…Fine that they passed through our Shangcai County on the way there, but why do they have to pass through again on the way back?” Magistrate Chai fumed. “Coming from Quyang, Xiping and Shangcai aren’t in the same direction—why detour this extra distance?”
Probably to scare you.
Changning silently swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue, thought for a moment, and said, “It’s probably for grain. I heard Xiping took in many refugees this time. They just broke through the siege and are rebuilding, so they’re probably very short of grain.”
“Ah, that’s right,” Magistrate Chai remembered. “Zhao Sanniang’s estate hasn’t paid its full autumn taxes yet. She wouldn’t be planning to just take the grain to Xiping without paying, would she?”
Changning sighed slightly. She would probably still pay what should be paid, but she probably wasn’t here just for those taxes.
Sure enough, the next day Zhao Hanzhang had people push carts to outside Shangcai County. Not counting the casualties from this battle, her three thousand troops still had over two thousand left.
Shangcai County wanted to keep the gates tightly closed, but she didn’t have people enter. Instead, she stayed outside, then brought only Qiu Wu and Ji Ping into the city, and under everyone’s anxious watchful eyes, visited several locally famous gentry and wealthy merchants.