Leaving these people in the granary to count the grain, Zhao Hanzhang led her people back to the county office to tally casualties and pacify the populace.

Zhao Hanzhang ordered the village chiefs from each rural district to come to the county office, instructing them to pacify the villagers in their districts and temporarily halt the collection of this summer’s taxes.

That’s right—even now, the tax collection hadn’t stopped. A considerable portion of the villagers hadn’t been able to pay their taxes in full. County Magistrate Sun had arrested a batch of people, and while he hadn’t arrested the rest, he had intimidated them into finding ways to scrape together the grain tax.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t punish the county magistrate, even though he wasn’t innocent either. Instead, she kept him by her side and had him bring forth all the cases from the past two months related to taxes.

She released all those who had been arrested for failing to pay their taxes in full, and at the same time confiscated the household registers and tax ledgers from the household office, beginning to audit the accounts.

So Fu Tinghan took over the household office.

Zhao Hanzhang had Zhao Ju and Zhao Erlang lead the troops into the countryside to ensure that the rioters who had left the county town wouldn’t cause chaos in the rural areas.

Ji Yuan assisted Zhao Hanzhang in controlling Quyang County, while Zhao Hui and others who usually followed Zhao Kuan were transferred from Shangcai County to Quyang to assist Zhao Hanzhang.

When they entered Quyang, they were all bewildered, completely unable to understand how overnight their administrative base had changed from Shangcai to Quyang.

When they arrived at the county office, Zhao Hanzhang personally came out to greet them. “Elder brothers have arrived—please, come inside.”

Looking at Zhao Hanzhang, who hadn’t yet removed her armor, and thinking of the bloodstains and corpses being dragged away that they’d seen along the way, Zhao Hui and the others forced a smile and asked very gently, “Third sister, what can we do to help?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “There’s quite a lot, actually. The most urgent matter is at the household office. Though Tinghan is clever, his manpower is limited, so I need elder brothers’ help.”

Zhao Hui led his clan brothers to follow her to the household office. Seeing only Fu Tinghan and Fu’an inside, he asked, “Where is Quyang County’s chief clerk?”

“I beheaded him,” Zhao Hanzhang said with an unconcerned smile. “But the household office clerks are all still here. I just had them go summon the remaining county office staff—they should be back soon. Elder brothers can make use of them.”

Zhao Hui and the others forced another smile. “I see…”

Looking at their third sister like this was somewhat frightening—what should they do?

When Fu Tinghan saw them, he immediately waved his hand. “Perfect timing—help me record some entries.”

Zhao Hui hurried forward. Compared to Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Tinghan seemed a bit safer.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t disturb them. Seeing they were getting along harmoniously, she turned and went back to the county magistrate’s office.

She dismissed Ting He and pulled over an inkstone to slowly grind ink, pondering how to write the letter to Governor He.

This was a private letter, but it couldn’t be entirely private—it needed to carry some official document overtones as well.

By the time the ink was ground, Zhao Hanzhang had figured out how to write this letter.

She set the inkstone aside and was about to roll up her sleeves when she remembered she was still wearing her armor.

She quickly stood up. “No wonder I feel so tired—take it off, take it off!”

Ting He hurried forward to help her remove the armor and changed her into light, comfortable clothing. “My lady, you haven’t slept all night, and yesterday you traveled all day. Why don’t you sleep first?”

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang remember, “Tinghan hasn’t rested either. Go to the kitchen and prepare some food to send to the household office. Have him eat and then rest—don’t overwork himself.”

“…Yes,” Ting He said. “What about you?”

Zhao Hanzhang spread out paper while saying, “Once I finish writing this letter, I’ll also rest.”

Only then was Ting He pleased. “I’ll go make food for you and the young master. After you’ve both eaten, rest together.”

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t really listening and casually acknowledged with a sound, her entire mind focused on writing the letter to Governor He.

She didn’t know where Zhao Ming had taken Zhao Kuan by now. Chen County was quite far from Xiping—even without stops along the way, it would take three days to arrive, wouldn’t it?

Ah, what a headache. Quyang County’s taxes were also a huge problem. How could she get Governor He to willingly let her manage Quyang County while also reducing some taxes?

Zhao Hanzhang felt this problem was too difficult. One had to eat one bite at a time, so she focused on describing County Magistrate Sun’s plea for help to Xiping.

She expressed her shock and anger upon learning that the county magistrate had been killed by rioters, as well as her fear and dread when she arrived at Quyang County to find the entire populace in rebellion.

Zhao Hanzhang stated that with her strength alone, it was difficult to quell the chaos in Quyang County, so she had no choice but to find ways to pacify the rioters in hopes of bringing them to surrender.

With Luoyang unstable now, if Yuzhou experienced more unrest, the court would certainly assign blame. Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang believed the top priority was stability—everything else was insignificant compared to stability.

So she had found ways to pacify Quyang’s people. She also wrote about the reasons for Quyang’s unrest, indicating that both the deceased county magistrate and County Magistrate Sun bore some responsibility for this matter, though she also greatly lamented the county magistrate’s death.

Finally, Zhao Hanzhang made a token mention of Governor He’s recognition and favor toward her, stating she would certainly manage Xiping well and follow Governor He’s lead in all things.

After finishing the letter, Zhao Hanzhang dried the ink and called for Ji Yuan, looking at him eagerly. “Sir, what do you think of this letter I wrote?”

“Quite good,” Ji Yuan said. “As long as he doesn’t know Shangcai is also in your hands, he won’t be angry.”

In Governor He’s eyes, it was perfectly normal for Xiping County to be unable to provide the taxes he demanded, since Xiping County town had been breached last year and all of Xiping had suffered heavy losses.

His fury would more likely be directed at Shangcai.

Poor County Magistrate Chai.

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately sealed the letter. “Then I’ll have someone send it to Chen County right away.”

Ji Yuan nodded. “County Magistrate Sun is also on his way to Chen County. It would be best if this letter could arrive before County Magistrate Sun…”

The two exchanged glances and couldn’t help but chuckle together.

County Magistrate Sun was desperately rushing toward Chen County, but not only did people need to stop and rest—horses needed to as well.

He descended from his carriage completely exhausted, sitting disheveled on the grass, his heart filled with anxiety. He didn’t know what had become of Quyang County. Zhao Hanzhang was quite capable in warfare—she should be able to protect the county town, right?

His wife and children were still in the county town.

Indeed, County Magistrate Sun’s wife and children were still in the county office, which is why Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t moved into the rear courtyard but was staying with Fu Tinghan in the front office. The two were lodged in a small rest room beside the main hall, with the room divided in two by a large screen creating small private spaces.

The two worked until noon and finally had a meal, then simply couldn’t hold out any longer and returned to their small rooms to collapse into sleep.

Madam Sun, hiding in the rear courtyard with her children, heard that the city’s unrest had been quelled and immediately wanted to see Zhao Hanzhang. But before she reached the front office, she was stopped at the small gate.

Madam Sun hadn’t expected that she now lacked even the qualification to enter the county office. The soldiers guarding the small gate wouldn’t accommodate her, and even the clerks who had once been deferential to her avoided her gaze and quickly walked away without a word.

Her heart sank, sensing trouble.

—