The actions of Zhao Hanzhang startled the rioters. They gripped their staffs and hoes, wanting to charge forward, yet not daring to do so.

Ji Yuan sat mounted on his horse, and together with Qiu Wu and others, surrounded Zhao Hanzhang on both sides to prevent them from rioting.

Ji Yuan shouted loudly, “Rebellion is a capital crime that results in the execution of one’s entire family. Why don’t you quickly put down your weapons!”

“We’re going to die anyway. If we drag a few down with us before we die, we won’t have lost out!”

“That’s right, we were going to starve to death anyway. Beheading would be quicker.”

“Bah, who says you’re going to die?” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I can testify for you that you were provoked by the persecution of the Commandery Administrator and killed in righteous anger. This is not rebellion. The court is just, and I can guarantee you won’t die.”

“Ha ha ha ha, the court is just,” a man emerged from behind the crowd with loud laughter. He was thin and gaunt with a lean face, but his eyes were bright and piercing. Gripping a large blade radiating cold energy, he stared fixedly at Zhao Hanzhang and said, “The court is just—then where did our heavy taxes come from? You officials clearly want to force us to death. Brothers, don’t listen to his nonsense… eh?”

He looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down in surprise, his face darkening. “Where did this girl come from, impersonating an official? Seize her for me!”

Only then did everyone realize that the person standing before them speaking to them seemed to be a woman wearing armor. Immediately some grew bolder and rushed toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Qiu Wu moved to protect her, but Ji Yuan held him back, letting Zhao Hanzhang handle it herself.

Zhao Hanzhang threw the person she was holding into the arms of those charging forward. The spear in her hand swept like a dragon across their waists and legs, striking them until their bodies ached all over and they couldn’t move.

Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang was skilled in martial arts, the leader’s gaze sharpened. He gripped the blade in his hand tightly and was about to attack when Ji Yuan spoke out in time: “Everyone, my mistress truly is an official. She is the County Magistrate of Xiping County, personally acknowledged by Magistrate He.”

The common people’s information was delayed, and they didn’t know that Xiping County’s magistrate was female. But some were well-informed, such as the leader.

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang with suspicion and doubt. “You are Zhao Sanniang of Xiping County?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and looked him up and down before asking, “You must be Chen Wan then?”

“I didn’t expect County Magistrate Zhao to know of me as well.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ve long admired your name.”

She withdrew the spear behind her and asked, “Now can we have a talk?”

Chen Wan looked up and sighed. “County Magistrate Zhao is a good official, but our fortune is poor—we didn’t have the chance to meet you. Now it’s already too late to talk.”

“We haven’t even talked yet, how do you know it’s too late?”

“We killed the Commandery Administrator, besieged the county office, and robbed so many wealthy households. We can no longer survive and can only raise our banner in rebellion. Fighting with our last breath, we can live a few more days.”

“That’s right. Living one more day is one more day. We absolutely won’t put down our weapons.”

Chen Wan turned to persuade Zhao Hanzhang instead. “County Magistrate Zhao is a good official. We won’t make things difficult for you. Please leave—we absolutely won’t obstruct you.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly. “What if I said I have a way to save you, and am willing to provide you with relief grain to help you through this difficulty? Would you be willing to surrender peacefully?”

Chen Wan said nothing, but those behind him were already shouting, “Officials’ words cannot be trusted.”

Zhao Hanzhang only stared at Chen Wan.

Chen Wan remained unmoved as a mountain. “County Magistrate Zhao is only the magistrate of Xiping County. Can you manage affairs in Quyang County? Moreover, we killed the Commandery Administrator—this is a major matter for Runan Commandery.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I swear by my grandfather’s name.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Wan was indeed somewhat moved.

He thought for a moment, wavering indecisively. Especially with so many people behind him, his chest heaved dramatically, his fists clenched tightly. “…We besieged Magistrate Sun for a day and night. I’m afraid he already hates us to death…”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ll resolve it. In the future, Quyang County’s magistrate won’t be surnamed Sun.”

Chen Wan’s eyes flickered slightly, still hesitating. A rioter covered in blood came running from the distance, crashing directly into Chen Wan’s embrace, pointing in the direction he came from and shouting, “Big Brother, many government soldiers came from that direction and captured all our men…”

Chen Wan immediately looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and nodded, saying, “That’s my younger brother. He doesn’t know his own strength when he acts. Please forgive him, Righteous Man Chen.”

“So Sanniang wasn’t without the ability to suppress the rebellion.” Zhao Hanzhang, who had been smiling warmly and persuading with kind words, suddenly straightened her expression, her gaze sweeping sharply across everyone present. “Last year, Sanniang came to Quyang and killed a Liu Wu and seriously wounded a Liu Jing. Half a year later, my Xiping troops have become even stronger. Perhaps you all think you’re three points more formidable than the Xiongnu army?”

Upon hearing this, everyone trembled and retreated two steps.

Chen Wan saw everyone’s cowardice. He knew that whoever showed fear first in battle would lose. Having come to this point today, even if they didn’t surrender, they couldn’t win a fight.

Seeing Chen Wan’s wavering, Zhao Hanzhang raised her voice again: “The reason I don’t act but instead persuade you to surrender first is not because I cherish my soldiers and officers, but because I pity you!”

“I know that the taxes the court imposed this year were too heavy, but this was not the court’s intention. This is all the result of the Commandery Administrator deceiving those above and below. The court doesn’t know that our Runan Commandery has suffered small disasters continuously these past two years, causing people to scatter and the population to decline sharply. So the taxes imposed were calculated based on the total population from previous years.”

“What ten people used to pay in taxes now needs to be borne by two people. This is why everyone cannot bear the burden. This is all the Commandery Administrator’s fault, so I understand your righteous anger and am unwilling to cross swords with you.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed deeply. “Now the chief culprit is dead. I’m also willing to vouch for you and report to the court to reexamine this year’s taxes.”

“I can swear that if I cannot clear your names, then I’ll have all of you move to Xiping County, where the Zhao clan will protect you. How about that?”

The Zhao clan was the largest and most prestigious aristocratic family in Runan Commandery. Its reputation was far more useful than Zhao Hanzhang’s.

In many places, it was quite normal for common people to recognize aristocratic families but not the emperor.

Although Chen Wan was not from Runan Commandery, he also knew of the Zhao clan’s prestige in Runan Commandery. He looked back at the crowd, whose hearts were already moved, and finally nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly as she extended her hand. “Then please, everyone, first put down your weapons.”

Chen Wan thought for a moment, then threw his large blade forward. Once he put down his weapon, those behind him followed suit one after another.

Zhao Hanzhang breathed a huge sigh of relief. She strode forward, grasped Chen Wan’s hand firmly, and laughed loudly, “Good! Righteous Man Chen truly lives up to being a righteous man. Please, Righteous Man, accompany this guard of mine on a trip to have the righteous men in the city all put down their weapons and follow our men out of the city to wait. How about it?”

Chen Wan narrowed his eyes. “Leave the city?”

Zhao Hanzhang said meaningfully, “Yes, leave the city. Otherwise, how can I send Magistrate Sun away?”

—