Most things in this world could be accomplished through inducement with benefits. If the other party didn’t accept, it must be because the benefits offered weren’t large enough.

Or, if what they were asked to do touched upon someone’s firm bottom line, then give them a lofty ideal.

Now, Zhao Hanzhang not only offered sufficient benefits but also explained the greatness of what they would be doing.

To put it plainly, why did she want to establish the Office of Medicine and Health?

She wanted the people under her rule to have a longer average lifespan, so people wouldn’t lose their ability to work or even their lives due to minor ailments.

She needed people—large numbers of people!

After a long silence, one pharmacy owner asked, “County Magistrate needs people, and there are many methods—the simplest would be to buy them from outside armies, or like now, gather passing refugees. Why go to such great lengths to establish the Office of Medicine and Health?”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Is establishing the Office of Medicine and Health not good?”

The owner said, “It’s too good, which is why we have doubts in our hearts.”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t understand. “Doubts about what?”

A younger pharmacy assistant manager couldn’t stand their veiled speech and impatiently interjected, “County Magistrate, you won’t trick us into joining and then pull us all into military service, will you? I heard fighting has broken out outside.”

The other managers and doctors also looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.

After all this, it was Prince Donghai and Gou Xi who were harming her. Zhao Hanzhang said, “Am I that kind of person?”

Seeing everyone’s hesitant expressions, she paused and said, “Even if I directly conscripted you into the military, who among you could resist?”

Everyone fell silent. They really couldn’t.

“So why would I go through so many roundabout ways to get you into the military?” Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I am your county magistrate, your parental official. And you are my people. Isn’t it normal for me to seek welfare for the people under my rule, hoping they live long, peaceful, and healthy lives?”

Everyone suddenly understood. For a moment, meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, they all felt somewhat ashamed. The owner apologized repeatedly, “We really haven’t seen such a normal county magistrate as you.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Well, you may see them more often in the future.”

She faced the owner and said, “Shopkeeper Zhang, your family is the largest medicine merchant in Xiping County. Even during Xiping County’s most difficult times, you persisted in keeping your shop open. When the city fell before, you led the Zhang family doctors in treating the people. Hanzhang has always kept this in mind. I hope this time you can also play a leading role.”

Shopkeeper Zhang also thought of those difficult times, his eyes moistening. “As long as County Magistrate keeps your promise, I’m naturally willing to contribute my efforts for the people of Xiping.”

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately announced, “Good! Then from now on, Shopkeeper Zhang will be the director of our Xiping County’s Office of Medicine and Health.”

Zhao Hanzhang immediately pulled out an official seal from under the table and presented it to him.

Shopkeeper Zhang took it in a daze, completely confused. “This… this official seal—did the office already have an Office of Medicine and Health?”

Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile, “Starting from now, it does.”

Middle-aged Shopkeeper Zhang was actually stirred up by her words, his heart surging with emotion. He seemed to be the first director of an Office of Medicine and Health in all the world’s government offices. However…

He was still somewhat puzzled. “The court engraved this official seal so quickly?”

To this, Zhao Hanzhang responded with one sentence: “Having connections at court makes things easy.”

Hearing this, everyone expressed understanding. Looking at the official seal in Shopkeeper Zhang’s hands, they couldn’t help feeling somewhat envious.

They had been unwilling before because they feared Zhao Hanzhang had some conspiracy or scheme, but now it seemed she didn’t.

This way, Shopkeeper Zhang was also an official now, even if only of the ninth rank.

They didn’t yet know that this official seal was carved by Zhao Hanzhang herself.

Truly carved by herself—she selected jade of similar quality to her county magistrate’s seal, then carved it bit by bit.

For her, it wasn’t very difficult, but when Changning and Zhao Ming learned of this, their facial expressions became very complex.

It was the first time they’d seen a county magistrate create an official position and carve an official seal to confer office. Zhao Ming’s heart nearly couldn’t take it. He simply turned his back, adopting an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude, conveniently forgetting that the jade for carving the seal had been taken from him.

Fortunately, few people knew about this. Apart from the two of them, only Fu Tinghan and Ji Yuan knew. Everyone else, including Fifth Great-Uncle, thought Zhao Hanzhang had obtained approval from the court.

After all, who would think of this? Who would create official positions just like that, as if Xiping County belonged to her alone?

Only one person was completely unsurprised—Fu Tinghan.

Ever since Zhao Hanzhang said she wanted to control Yuzhou and make it her own territory, he had subconsciously划分 this area into his own sphere of influence on the map.

In that case, whatever Zhao Hanzhang did within it was normal.

Most importantly, whether it was him or Zhao Hanzhang, neither of them had the concept that the Emperor and court were supreme.

For many things, they made decisions first and only then remembered—oh, they still had an Emperor and a court above them.

Few people knew this was Zhao Hanzhang’s personal action, so the establishment of two—no, actually three—new departments still caused quite a stir in many people’s hearts.

It seemed Zhao Hanzhang’s relationship with Zhao Zhongyu wasn’t as bad as secretly rumored. The things she wanted to do, Zhao Zhongyu still helped with.

Even Zhao Song asked his son doubtfully, “Does the clan head know that Sanniang is now in charge of Xiping County? Or did you also propose this matter to the clan head on Sanniang’s behalf?”

Ever since last year when Zhao Zhongyu sent an advisor back wanting to take over the clan’s property, Zhao Song had unilaterally broken with Zhao Zhongyu—after writing a letter to sarcastically and insultingly scold him.

Then Zhao Song handed over contact with the clan head’s branch to Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming was a rational person. He didn’t care at all that his father had just finished scolding someone. As soon as his father gave him the authority, he immediately wrote a letter, hoping that for the sake of the Zhao clan’s future, they could set aside their grievances and cooperate fully. He would fully support the clan head’s official career outside, and internally, he would maintain the clan head’s authority…

Since then, apart from occasionally writing a few letters of greeting (really?), Zhao Song no longer interfered with Zhao Ming’s contact with Luoyang.

So he didn’t know that Zhao Ming had joined forces with Zhao Hanzhang to blind the eyes looking this way from Luoyang.

Zhao Ming’s expression didn’t change as he said “Mm,” though it wasn’t clear which question he was answering.

Zhao Song waited for him to continue, but he stopped.

Zhao Song couldn’t help getting angry. “What are you ‘mm’-ing about? Is he supporting Sanniang, or are you fooling him into thinking he’s supporting you?”

Unfortunately, it was neither.

Zhao Ming answered in his heart and said to Zhao Song, “Shouldn’t Father ask why Sanniang established these three departments?”

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