Only Zhao Hu remained in poor spirits, grumbling for quite some time before finally saying, “I’ll have the accounts office check when I return.”

Zhao Hanzhang said magnanimously, “Hanzhang isn’t terribly urgent about this. Winter wheat planting is coming up—we can settle the accounts after the winter wheat is sown.”

Speaking of farming matters, Zhao Hanzhang took them very seriously and instructed, “Great-Uncles should plant all the land you can. If you’re short on laborers, you can request them from me. My people are especially cheap—two meals a day plus two catties of wheat per day will suffice. They can plow fields, sow seeds, weed, and prepare fertilizer.”

Everyone fell silent.

And here they thought she was going to provide filial service and help for free.

But considering the chaos everywhere and that grain prices would likely soar next year, they tacitly accepted her pricing.

However… “Farming isn’t just about sowing seeds. There’s weeding, pest control, fertilizing afterward, and then harvesting. Will you still have people available for us then?”

Zhao Hanzhang assured them, “Naturally. For any work requested by Zhao clan fortified manors, labor will be thirty percent cheaper than market rates. If there aren’t enough people, I’ll bring my retainers to work.”

Only then did everyone feel reassured and began mentally planning. Originally, because so many had died this year, they had planned to leave some land fallow, as they simply couldn’t manage to farm it all.

But if Zhao Hanzhang was willing to provide laborers, that would require different planning.

Having finished the serious matters, Zhao Hanzhang casually mentioned her mother. “The Shangcai estate has stabilized now, and I plan to invite Mother back to Xiping. But she’s unfamiliar with the county town, so it’s best if she lives at the old residence. There she’ll have familiar people to talk with, and aunts and sisters-in-law to look after her.”

Hearing that Wang Shi would move back, the elders’ expressions grew even more gentle as they nodded. “She should move back. What does it look like, always living outside?”

“It’s good that she’s coming back. If anything comes up, the clan can help out.”

Wang Shi living in Shangcai while Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang lived in the county town—such distance made them seem like outsiders. Even though everyone knew in their hearts they were family, there was still some unease.

Wang Shi moving back was good. Setting aside everything else, it made them feel closer.

Moreover, with Wang Shi living in the fortified manor, future interactions with Zhao Hanzhang would be much more convenient, and she would have to show some consideration.

Zhao Hanzhang, seeing they welcomed Wang Shi, was also very pleased. Both sides were happy.

Zhao Hanzhang was especially attentive as she accompanied Zhao Ming in seeing the elders off.

After they had left, Zhao Ming turned to ask Zhao Hanzhang, “You used that conscription order to recruit so many people—how do you plan to settle them?”

She only put three thousand on the books and hid all the rest. Zhao Ming didn’t know whether to call her bold or foolish. “With so many people, can you afford to support them?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly. “Of course. If Uncle doesn’t believe me, just watch.”

She continued, “If I succeed, Uncle must help me in the future.”

Zhao Ming waved his hand. “Go on, I won’t see you out.”

He turned and went back inside.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, then ran back to find Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang to return to the county office.

Wang Shi was reluctant to part with them. Knowing Zhao Hanzhang was busy, she didn’t dare detain her, so she held onto Zhao Erlang instead. “Erlang, why don’t you stay and keep Mother company? Mother will take you visiting and find you good food.”

Zhao Erlang forcefully pulled his hand away, unwilling. “Mother, I’m going to train troops. I’m a squad leader now—I can’t leave camp casually.”

“You’re still so young—your sister is just humoring you.”

“That’s not true!” Zhao Erlang said unhappily. “Older Sister and I went to Quyang and even went onto the battlefield. Although I didn’t take any heads, I seized some items—I have spoils of war.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned back. “Mother, let him come with me. Leaving him at the fortified manor with nothing to do would just waste his precious time.”

“At his age, he should be attending clan school…”

“Forget it. Spare Eleventh Great-Uncle and spare Erlang too. Send him to clan school and either he’ll be beaten or scolded to death, or Eleventh Great-Uncle will be angered to death.” The clan school was currently managed by Eleventh Great-Uncle.

Wang Shi thought of his blockhead that simply wouldn’t open up to learning, sighed, and agreed. It would be fine to anger her, but if she angered a clan elder, her reputation would suffer.

From the fortified manor to the county town wasn’t far. The three of them arrived on horseback in just a short while.

The person in charge at the county office had disappeared without a trace. Geng Rong, Song Zhi, and the others couldn’t find anyone and were running around anxiously. When they saw Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan return, they immediately rushed forward.

“My lady, Master Fu.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Song Zhi replied, “Following Master Fu’s instructions, the newly arrived people these past few days have all been organized into full units. We don’t know where to send them.”

Fu Tinghan said, “Give me the roster and total numbers. I’ll arrange things shortly.”

Geng Rong added, “We’ve calculated all the back taxes owed by various families over the years. Here are the accounts.”

Even Chen Siniang came over, bowing as she said, “Winter is approaching. The bedding and clothes in the charitable hall are insufficient. Too many orphans and widows have been taken in, and the current courtyard cannot accommodate them all.”

Zhao Hanzhang tossed her horse to an approaching runner. “Come, let’s go to the main hall to discuss this.”

Geng Rong continued, “There’s also the wheat seed. My lady, you want to plant so much land, but there’s simply not enough seed. The land is already being prepared and planting should begin soon.”

In short, there were many matters, all requiring them to spend money and make decisions.

Zhao Erlang followed them into the main hall in a daze. Zhao Hanzhang turned and saw him, then patted his arm. “Go back to the military camp. Take your men to train.”

Zhao Erlang immediately came alive, happily agreeing before turning to leave.

As he was leaving, he saw Fu’an leaning against the doorframe and grabbed him. “Come on, come train troops with me.”

Fu’an clung to a pillar. “Second Young Master, I need to stay with our young master.”

“Brother-in-law doesn’t need you. Come with me. Read us some military texts later—I forgot what Brother-in-law read to me last time, and Elder Sister will definitely quiz me tonight. Come on…”

Fu’an thought of their training intensity and stubbornly hugged the pillar. “I won’t…”

Zhao Erlang, being strong, pulled him away. “Come on, come on. Brother-in-law doesn’t need you anyway…”

Fu’an was nearly in tears. He was the young master’s servant, not Zhao Erlang’s!

Fu Tinghan looked up at the outside, then lowered his head to continue reading the account books in his hands, not interfering.

These contained individual names, ages, native places, and so on, with totals at the end.

Following his instructions, Song Zhi had organized people into units of two hundred, dividing them into nine units—these were the people who had gradually come seeking refuge over the past few days.

Fu Tinghan showed the account book to Zhao Hanzhang. “I plan to designate areas within Xiping County’s territory to settle them, like settlement villages.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Soldiers in wartime, civilians during farming season?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “During this time I’ve surveyed Xiping County’s official field assets. There aren’t many official fields on the books, but there’s much abandoned land among the people. All this land can be put to use.”

Zhao Hanzhang considered briefly before nodding in agreement. “Good, then let’s establish settlement points.”

—