When Ji Yuan returned to Quyang County office, it was already ablaze with lights. The Chief Clerk and County Administrator, who had been hiding at home, had both been invited to the county office to work.

Half the village heads from the city had arrived. The other half were either having their homes besieged or had fled. However, these people were enough for Zhao Hanzhang’s purposes.

As soon as Ji Yuan arrived, Zhao Hanzhang knew Magistrate Sun had successfully been sent away. Sure enough, he reported: “Magistrate Sun has successfully left Quyang and gone to Chen County to request reinforcements.”

The County Administrator, Chief Clerk, and village heads: “…” Didn’t they say the rioters had surrendered? Why was there still need to request reinforcements at this time?

Everyone invariably looked toward Commander Ding. He was in the county office and should understand the situation best.

Commander Ding had already vaguely realized something, so he kept his face tense and didn’t look at them, offering no response.

Zhao Hanzhang had already finished meeting with scouts reporting from all directions. She slightly raised her chin to look at them and asked, “The rioters’ leader Chen Wan has been pacified, and he’s willing to assist the county office in calming the people. However, the city is currently chaotic, and it’s deep night. There are many taking advantage of the muddy waters. Do you have any way to pacify the people and quell the chaos?”

Everyone exchanged glances. Knowing that Magistrate Sun had already fled and that Zhao Hanzhang, although County Magistrate of Xiping County, was the highest-ranking official here besides Commander Ding, they instinctively followed her lead. “We are willing to follow County Magistrate Zhao’s orders.”

After pledging loyalty, the County Administrator said, “As long as they don’t riot again, this official is willing to personally visit each household to report safety and pacify people’s hearts.”

The Chief Clerk also immediately said, “This official is also willing to go.”

Hearing this, the village heads also said one after another, “We are also willing to personally visit each household to report safety and stabilize people’s hearts.”

This was exactly Zhao Hanzhang’s goal.

With people in the city currently in a panic, only the County Administrator, Chief Clerk, and village heads personally coming forward to pacify them could calm the common people who wanted to flee, including the gentry and wealthy households in the city.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ll have soldiers escort you all.”

She looked toward Commander Ding.

Commander Ding took the hint and immediately said, “This general is also willing to protect everyone.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction and had someone take them down to make arrangements.

Tonight, the entire Quyang County town would not sleep.

Zhao Erlang and Zhao Ju split up to lead teams—one pacifying the east of the city, one the west—eliminating rioters who refused to obey orders and stop, while driving those willing to surrender toward outside the city or before the county office.

The County Administrator and others, under soldiers’ protection, went deep into the alleys, stepping over the chaotic bloodstains and corpses on the ground to knock on doors, telling those inside, “The chaos has been pacified. Each household should keep doors tightly shut, treat the wounded, and quietly await daybreak.”

The accompanying soldiers shouted: “We are reinforcements from Xiping County. Quyang County’s chaos has already been pacified by our County Magistrate.”

Previously, someone had already beaten gongs and drums to shout this once, but not many believed it. Now hearing that those shouting outside were the County Administrator, Chief Clerk, or village heads, the people inside finally felt relieved.

This scene replayed in every alley. Some people even quietly opened their doors to confirm, seeing that outside there truly were no more crazed rioters smashing things. Only then did they slam the door shut again with a bang.

As night grew deeper, the brightly lit county town gradually quieted. Basically all the rioters had either been driven outside the city or herded before the county office.

Zhao Hanzhang had been standing on the county office steps watching. All those driven here looked up quietly at her.

Near dawn, Zhao Ju led his team back and formed ranks along both sides of the street. Seeing so many soldiers emanating killing aura, the rioters shifted uneasily.

Zhao Erlang and Fu Tinghan also returned on horseback, covered in blood, leading their forces.

The common people on the main street became even more frightened and began stirring restlessly.

Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Zhao Ju and Fu Tinghan.

Zhao Ju said quietly, “We killed over a dozen who used cruel methods. The rest were all driven here. Some also fled outside the city.”

Fu Tinghan said, “We arrested five people. I had them secretly taken to the back. The rest were also driven here. Some also fled.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, only then addressing the gradually stirring common people: “The city gates are already open. From here to the main city gate, the path is completely clear. Now you can turn around and go home.”

Upon hearing this, everyone gradually quieted down.

“Today’s chaos is not only my pain but also Quyang’s pain, and also your pain and nightmare. I hope you can remember today’s chaos forever, and I will always remember it too!”

Zhao Hanzhang said solemnly, “In the future, you will never again commit such errors, and I—all who serve as officials, who are wealthy, who are powerful—will also not commit today’s errors and drive you to this point…”

The entire street fell silent. Everyone quietly gazed at Zhao Hanzhang standing below the county office gates, listening to her speak.

“Now, turn around and walk toward outside the city, return to your homes and wait,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I can promise you once more: regarding today’s matter, there will be no investigation, and absolutely no settling of accounts after autumn. Regarding the summer taxes, I will reexamine them!”

One person on the main street first bowed to Zhao Hanzhang, then turned and parted the crowd to walk backward—that was the direction of the city gates.

Seeing him, those beside him also hurriedly bowed to Zhao Hanzhang and turned to follow toward the city gates.

The quiet main street began to flow. Everyone turned as one toward the city gate direction.

When daylight appeared and the entire county town was once again presented before everyone, besides the soldiers on the entire main street, there was not a single commoner left.

Oh, there were still two people standing below the county office steps—one was Chen Wan, one was Xiang Yu.

Seeing that the rioters had indeed all left without incident, Ji Yuan breathed a huge sigh of relief. He looked toward Zhao Hanzhang.

However, Zhao Hanzhang’s face showed no joy, because from the latter half of the night until now, the streets and deep alleys that had been quiet began to emit crying sounds.

First were one or two soft cries, then a chorus of crying. By the time the sun fully rose, the entire county town was filled with either suppressed or completely broken sobbing.

Ji Yuan also lost his cheer.

Everyone listened to these cries in silence for a long while without speaking.

Finally, Fu Tinghan broke this prolonged silence. “Let’s go check the granaries.”

Whether it was the grain tax to be submitted to Yuzhou or the stability Zhao Hanzhang had promised to Quyang’s common people, both required grain.

So the most urgent matter was the granaries.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and looked toward Commander Ding, the County Administrator, and Chief Clerk. “Lead the way. Let’s first go see the granaries.”

“This…” The three exchanged glances. That was Quyang County’s lifeline. With Magistrate Sun absent…

“What,” Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows, “can I no longer make decisions for Quyang County now? Or shall I have those common people come back again?”

The three’s faces darkened. Commander Ding glanced at the County Administrator and Chief Clerk before saying, “Our county has two granaries total—one in the county office, one elsewhere. We don’t know if the granary has been discovered and breached.”

—