When Zhao Hanzhang arrived, Zhao Song had just finished his morning meal. Seeing her, he immediately broke into a smile. “I knew you’d come today. Your uncle already told me last night that you won a victory at Quyang, and the matter with Xiping County has been officially acknowledged.”

He turned to instruct a servant, “Go invite Sixth and Seventh Uncle and the others.”

The servant acknowledged and left.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled as she performed her courtesies before sitting down. “Fifth Great-Uncle still dotes on me the most. I was just planning to meet with several elders as well.”

The Zhao clan was the largest family in Xiping County, with marriage connections throughout the region. If a new policy announcement could gain their support, everything afterward would be much easier.

So when the clan elders had all assembled, she first brought up the matter of waiving this year’s autumn tax.

Hearing such good news, the elders’ expressions all softened, and they asked warmly, “Has Governor He agreed to this?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Our Xiping County just went through a major battle, so this is preferential treatment the governor is giving us.”

Among those present, aside from the truly naive, who would believe that?

Over the past few years, there had been places within Runan Commandery that experienced rebellions and warfare with equally severe damage, but they still had to pay the taxes they owed, and the military expenses that increased were not reduced by a single coin.

So everyone understood that Xiping County could achieve this result mostly because Zhao Hanzhang had fought hard for it.

Everyone was quite satisfied. Having a clan member serve as Xiping County magistrate seemed not bad after all.

Previously during the battles, every family had suffered heavy losses. Those killed in action needed compensation, and the fortified manors needed repairs—every family had to contribute considerable funds.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang bring up another matter: next year’s taxation would undergo some changes, and they could discuss the specifics when the time came.

Hearing that Zhao Hanzhang wanted to maintain two sets of account books herself, the elders exchanged glances, then unanimously looked toward Zhao Song.

Zhao Song’s heart pounded. His son’s earlier warning surfaced again, and he couldn’t help turning to look at Zhao Ming, who had been sitting silently the whole time.

Zhao Ming had known about this matter for some time. He had even watched Fu Tinghan calculate the classification levels. Seeing his father looking at him, he nodded slightly.

Sixth Great-Uncle asked cautiously, “So this second set of account books would be in Sanniang’s hands, and the benefits would also be Sanniang’s. What do you need so many people and so much grain for?”

“To protect Xiping County and protect the fortified manors,” Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hide anything, stating directly, “Right now His Majesty cannot wield power. The princes in control above change every so often, and the court administration is in utter chaos. Great-Uncles, they are using the entire nation’s strength to fight for power and profit.”

“They can disregard the lives and deaths of local common people—we cannot manage affairs outside our borders, but we must at least ensure our own survival, our families’ survival, and our friends’ survival.”

The Zhao clan’s relatives were mostly distributed throughout Yu Province. The resources reserved by this second set of account books would be used to protect Xiping, protect Runan, and even protect Yu Province.

The elders looked at Zhao Hanzhang, whose words bordered on treason, and for a long moment could not speak.

The elders were conflicted and momentarily silent, but Zhao Hu slapped his thigh. “Exactly! We can’t keep sending everything to Luoyang when they don’t care whether we live or die. We have to think of ourselves. Fifth Brother, let’s do as Sanniang says. I’ve wanted to say this for ages, but Big Brother is too rigid—won’t allow this, won’t allow that.”

Zhao Song irritably rebuked him, “Shut up!”

Zhao Hu reluctantly closed his mouth.

Zhao Song lowered his head in thought for a moment before asking her, “When did you develop this idea? Does your grandfather know?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “It gradually emerged after we broke the siege of the fortified manor this time.”

She continued, “This trip to Quyang to see the governor wasn’t only to break Quyang’s siege—I also wanted to ask the governor for guidance. The Xiongnu army is moving south, and Yu Province bears the brunt. Shangcai Pass is strategically critical, and after Shangcai comes Xiping. Our Zhao clan is famous throughout Yu Province. The Xiongnu army is notorious for plundering wealth—they will definitely come to our Zhao clan’s fortified manor.”

The elders nodded slightly and asked, “What did Governor He say?”

Zhao Hanzhang let out a deep sigh. “The relief force that went to break the siege totaled over twenty thousand men. After the battle, Governor He only had five cartloads of grain delivered, and nothing after that. When I left, Governor He was already urging the army to depart, but the soldiers had exhausted their provisions and didn’t even have enough grain to begin the journey home.”

Everyone fell silent. She hadn’t said how Governor He planned to resolve Xiping and the Zhao clan’s difficulties, yet she had somehow said everything.

A governor who wouldn’t even spare a full meal for the relief army—would he be willing to provide money and men to protect Xiping and protect the Zhao clan?

Forget about being self-sufficient—that was simply impossible. The court wanted nothing more than to scrape up all civilian resources to fight for that position above, to protect themselves.

Everyone began to waver, constantly looking toward Zhao Song.

This exceeded Zhao Song’s moral standards. Wasn’t this openly undermining the state?

Zhao Ming, who had been silent all along, said quietly, “Father, this isn’t only to protect the Zhao clan—it’s also to protect Xiping’s common people. Xiping County isn’t only populated by people surnamed Zhao.”

Zhao Song thought about it and realized this was true, which made him feel somewhat better. He reluctantly agreed to the matter.

Zhao Hanzhang breathed a sigh of relief. With Zhao Song’s consent, the Zhao clan was on board, and the other families would pose no problem.

With the serious business concluded, Zhao Hanzhang drank some water and remembered something. She turned to Zhao Hu. “Seventh Great-Uncle, you need to make up the back taxes you owe the county office. Hanzhang is quite poor right now—you really must help me.”

Zhao Hu froze, nearly jumping up. “When did I ever owe the county office taxes?”

He glared and shouted without thinking, “You want to investigate hidden households? Fine, Zhao Sanniang! I just spoke up for you, and you have hidden households yourself, yet you turn around to investigate mine?”

Zhao Song coughed heavily and shouted a warning, “Seventh Brother!”

Zhao Hanzhang said helplessly, “Seventh Great-Uncle, when did I ever say I’d investigate your hidden households? I want the portion of taxes that should be in the county office’s account books. I’ve verified everything—you’ve underpaid every year, especially last year.”

Zhao Song asked quietly, “Seventh Brother, did you merge your official accounts into your private accounts?”

Zhao Hu thought hard. Had he really made a mistake?

“I’ll have someone check when I get back,” Zhao Hu paused before saying, “Magistrate Fan is dead—when a person dies, debts are canceled. You’re still trying to collect on old accounts…”

Zhao Hanzhang said quietly, “Seventh Great-Uncle, those accounts don’t belong to Magistrate Fan—they belong to Xiping County Office, and I’m the new magistrate now.”

The others quickly chimed in, “That’s right, Seventh Brother, just pay her. Your hidden households are all left alone—she’s not digging to your foundation. She’s just a child—if she doesn’t make an example of someone prominent first, those people in the county town won’t take her seriously later.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded emphatically. “Eleventh Great-Uncle truly understands.”

Zhao Hu grumbled, “So you’re using me as the chicken to scare the monkeys.”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Of course not. Based on the amount you owe, Seventh Great-Uncle, you’re not the chicken—you’re the monkey.”

Zhao Song turned to scold her instead, “Impudent! Is that any way to speak to an elder?”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly adopted an obedient manner and admitted her fault. The atmosphere relaxed, and everyone laughed.

—