Zhao Hanzhang rolled up the map and told the reluctant Eleventh Grand-Uncle, “Don’t worry, Eleventh Grand-Uncle. I’ll return it very soon, and then you can continue drawing.”

Eleventh Grand-Uncle didn’t understand. “What are you taking this map to do?”

She could tell Zhao Ming about attacking Quyang, but she couldn’t tell the other people in the fortified village. Zhao Hanzhang casually made up an excuse. “Tinghan wants to check whether the mountains, rivers, and geography already drawn are correct, to avoid one mistake leading to all subsequent mistakes.”

Eleventh Grand-Uncle was convinced and nodded. “Take it then, but tell your future son-in-law not to be too nervous. We’re all family—if he wants to check for errors and fill gaps, he can just come to the fortified village. Why must he take the map away?”

Eleventh Grand-Uncle muttered and grumbled for quite a while. Zhao Hanzhang, hugging the map, hurriedly fled.

With the map, Zhao Hanzhang and her group traveled with even more confidence. Fu Tinghan sat in the carriage committing the map to memory. He closed his eyes slightly and reviewed the map in his mind, then opened his eyes to verify. After confirming there were no errors, he rolled up the map and set it aside, closing his eyes to review the mountains, rivers, roads, and cities on the map again and again until he would never forget them.

Zhao Hanzhang rode her horse at the very front, with the minor official from Quyang County beside her. Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang said she would send troops and then did so, bringing so many people, he was very moved. “County Magistrate Zhao, once we rescue our county magistrate, if you have any requests in the future, we will certainly do our utmost.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and nodded. “Good to know, good to know.”

They rushed to reach Quyang. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t immediately launch an attack but instead camped outside the city, then sent scouts to gather intelligence.

This was already her second time leading troops to Quyang. Once is strange, twice is familiar. The last time they came, she had visited quite a few places.

This time, the opponents they faced were a group of rioters without organization, rather chaotic and untrained—much easier to deal with than the Xiongnu army last time.

They had occupied most of the county town but didn’t even have many people guarding the city gates. The scouts quickly reported back, “There are only about ten soldiers at the city gate. There are also few people on the city tower, approximately twenty or so. The city gate is open.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Is the city gate empty?”

“Not empty. Many common people in tattered clothing are surging inside, saying there’s grain in the city and the wealthy households inside can be looted at will.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s brow twitched. After thinking it over, she said, “Have everyone rest briefly. Once there are fewer people at the city gate, we’ll charge in immediately.”

Ji Yuan was startled and quickly expressed his objection. “Charge directly? My lady, this is too dangerous. What if there’s an ambush in the city…”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “If there were an ambush in the city, those ordinary common people wouldn’t be pushing inside so desperately.”

She paused, then said, “But if Master is worried, we could have people infiltrate first to investigate, and they could provide support from within at the critical moment.”

People suitable for infiltrating were far too easy to find in her army.

Because half of the troops were refugees by origin, they understood the mindset of the rioters surging into the city at this moment far too well. They also knew how to appear more convincing—they just needed to recall what happened eight or nine months ago.

So very quickly, several dozen people were selected. They managed to obtain several dozen sets of filthy clothes, changed into them, smeared their faces, loosened their hair, and then quietly mixed into the rioters in twos and threes, supporting each other.

There were actually people checking at the city gate, but they were very careless, just randomly grabbing people to ask where they were from. As long as the accent was correct, everyone was allowed in.

They quickly infiltrated, following the crowd inside for a distance before huddling in an alley without moving.

They observed for a long time and discovered no ambush, so they said, “I’ll go out and tell the County Magistrate.”

A companion quickly grabbed him. “Are you stupid? How would you get out?”

“Right now there are only people entering the city—who’s leaving? If you leave the city at this time, aren’t you making it obvious you have a problem?”

“Then what do we do?”

“Wait. The County Magistrate gave us signal flares and said to light them if there’s an ambush. Since there’s no problem, we just don’t light them. Isn’t that fine?”

Zhao Hanzhang kept waiting outside. Seeing the night beginning to fall while the county town remained completely still and silent, she curved her lips upward, turned around, and went back, telling Zhao Ju, “I’ll charge at the front. Uncle Qianli, you hold the rear.”

Zhao Ju acknowledged.

Zhao Erlang immediately pushed forward. “Sister, what about me, what about me?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “You’ll be with me.”

She instructed, “Don’t randomly kill common people. Unless someone strikes first, otherwise focus primarily on intimidation.”

Zhao Erlang acknowledged.

So Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse, with Zhao Erlang and Fu Tinghan riding on her left and right. Behind them followed Qiu Wu and other cavalry guards.

Zhao Ju led people behind them to hold the rear position.

Zhao Hanzhang kicked her horse’s belly and was the first to charge toward the city gate.

The people on the city tower were the first to spot them and immediately began frantically beating gongs and drums. The people below, hearing the sound, didn’t close the city gate but instinctively looked up at the tower.

The people on the tower were furious and shouted down loudly, “Enemy troops are attacking! Quickly close the city gate, quickly close the city gate…”

Only then did the dozen or so people guarding the gate scramble to close the gate. The common people queuing to enter the city saw this and surged inward in a rush. The city gate was already heavy, and now it was even more impossible to close. The cavalry rapidly approached…

Zhao Hanzhang held a long spear in her right hand and the reins in her left. She was the first to reach the city gate, using the shaft of her spear to sweep aside those blocking her path, shouting loudly, “Xiping County’s relief troops have arrived! All rioters who surrender their weapons will not be killed—why don’t you all retreat…”

The common people, powerless as chickens, scattered and fled. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t go after them. Even the dozen guards at the gate were merely swept aside without injury to their lives. She led the charge into the county town, saying, “Take control of the city gate!”

The infantry following behind and charging in quickly took control of the city gate and tower. They methodically secured the key positions. From this moment on, no one could easily enter or exit the city gate.

The people who had infiltrated earlier immediately jumped out from the streets to guide them. “County Magistrate, County Magistrate, the rioters are currently looting the wealthy households in the city.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How is the situation at the county office?”

“They’re still surrounding it. County Magistrate Sun has summoned all the bailiffs and garrison troops to the county office. They still have many arrows, so the rioters can’t break in.”

Still somewhat clever.

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and called over Zhao Erlang. “You go rescue them. Be careful with your methods. Don’t randomly kill common people. Our goal is to offer amnesty. Tell them that as long as they’re willing to put down their weapons, the court will let bygones be bygones.”

Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously in agreement, not caring whether his sister could represent the court.

Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Fu Tinghan and nodded slightly. “I’m entrusting Erlang to you.”

Fu Tinghan acknowledged. “You be careful.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and headed toward the county office with Ji Yuan.

There were quite a few rioters surrounding the county office. Seeing that court relief troops had arrived, they panicked terribly. Some people didn’t listen to commands at all and, in their fear, raised the knives in their hands and charged at Zhao Hanzhang with loud cries.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even let him get close, directly raising her horse’s hooves to kick him. Then, before the crowd could react, she jumped down from her horse and grabbed the fallen man, lifting him up. Her gaze settled heavily on the surrounding common people as she said, “The chief culprit, the Commandery Vice-Governor, is already dead. To continue would be a grave error. Do you still want to continue?”