Master Ma was one of those who had been drinking and taking drugs with County Magistrate Hu yesterday. He had been terrified and was currently lying at home claiming illness.
Representing the Ma family in negotiations with Zhao Hanzhang was his younger brother.
He couldn’t stand Zhao Hanzhang’s crude and discourteous manner, and moreover, she wanted to use money confiscated from their Ma family villa to buy grain from the Ma family—how excessive!
So he directly refused.
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, glanced at Liang Hong, and turned to leave.
Liang Hong smiled at Ma Xuan, stood up, and followed Zhao Hanzhang out.
Ma Xuan, seeing her so discourteous, couldn’t help but snort through his nose.
Zhao Hanzhang stopped in the courtyard, turned her head, and asked, “Who makes decisions in the Ma family?”
Liang Hong immediately said, “Master Ma.”
“The one who was taking drugs with County Magistrate Hu yesterday?”
“Yes, his name is Ma Hao. The Ma family is famously wealthy in Biyang County.” He paused before adding, “Of course, they can’t compare to the Zhao clan in Runan Commandery, but in Biyang County, they’re indeed among the top one or two, so they’re quite proud.”
Zhao Hanzhang lifted her chin. “Have a yamen runner guide me. I’m going to the Ma residence. As for Ma Xuan here, you stall him.”
“Ah?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him. “Since Ma Xuan can’t make decisions, why waste time going back and forth with him?”
There was no point in wasting her time and energy.
And expecting her to put up with his attitude? Nice thought.
Zhao Hanzhang turned and headed to the Ma residence. Yes, bringing Qiu Wu and a group of soldiers.
When they arrived outside the Ma residence, everyone in the Ma household became extremely nervous. Servants and attendants immediately grabbed swords, clubs, and sticks and hid behind the main gate, below the walls, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to burst in so they could attack.
Zhao Hanzhang looked up at the Ma family’s plaque and nodded slightly before turning to Qiu Wu. “You stay outside with your men.”
Zhao Hanzhang called over Wu Erlang and Ting He, and taking only one yamen runner, she prepared to enter.
Qiu Wu was somewhat worried. “My lady, with just the four of you going in, won’t it be too dangerous?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Would the Ma family really dare attack me, the County Administrator?”
The Ma family members behind the gate, trembling with fear, immediately came to their senses and quietly said to the servants, “Quickly fall back!”
Zhao Hanzhang was right—they indeed didn’t dare attack her. As long as she wasn’t trying to burst into the Ma residence to kill people, the Ma family didn’t want to make a mortal enemy of her.
Right now, she was the master of Runan Commandery!
Ma Zuo forced a smile and stepped out from behind the gate, pushing aside the servants blocking it. He bowed repeatedly to the approaching Zhao Hanzhang. “Greetings to the County Administrator. For the County Administrator to grace our humble home truly brings glory to it.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and said, “I’ve come to see Master Ma. I heard he’s fallen ill?”
Ma Zuo naturally couldn’t say he was frightened, so he found an excuse. “My elder brother overindulged in wine yesterday and fell asleep outside, catching a chill. Fortunately, it’s not particularly serious. How dare we trouble County Administrator Zhao?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I still need to see him. Master Ma is a great talent of our Biyang County.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked toward the gate. Ma Zuo understood and immediately stepped aside, smiling as he invited Zhao Hanzhang inside.
Zhao Hanzhang then led a yamen runner, an errand boy Wu Erlang, and a maid Ting He into the Ma residence. Along the way, they encountered many servants who were secretly observing her.
They still held brooms and large shears in their hands. Some hadn’t had time to hide their wooden clubs and swords. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze sweep over them, they panicked and tried to hide. Those who couldn’t hide in time simply squatted on the ground with their swords and hid behind flower bushes, thinking to themselves: she can’t see me, she can’t see me…
Then Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze slid over their heads, and she walked past expressionlessly.
The servant secretly thought: She didn’t see me, right?
Just as the thought flashed through his mind, a slap descended from above, landing directly on his head. “Fool! I told you to watch quietly, not to wave a sword in front of her!”
“Steward…”
“Still following along? Didn’t you see she only brought three people in? Scram!”
The servant ran off with his sword, unable to help muttering to himself that it was the steward who told them to quietly guard the courtyard, and it was also the steward telling them to scram!
Zhao Hanzhang walked with a faint smile all the way to Ma Hao’s quarters. Ma Zuo, following half a step behind her, couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this courage alone wasn’t something ordinary people possessed.
But Ma Zuo didn’t dare treat her as a reckless person either. For a woman to occupy the position of Runan County Administrator and gain the Zhao clan’s support, she couldn’t be reckless.
Ma Hao also felt she wasn’t reckless, but she was definitely ruthless and bold.
Ma Hao was afraid of such people. Moreover, the image of Zhao Hanzhang pointing her sword at County Magistrate Hu’s throat and having him dragged away for beheading was too aggressive. Even when he couldn’t see her, his mind kept replaying that scene, let alone now that he was seeing her in person.
Ma Hao had known in advance that she was coming and had already positioned himself half-reclining on the bed in preparation. But when he actually saw her, he still couldn’t help but feel his chest trembling, nearly rolling off the bed to kneel on the floor and address her as County Administrator.
Fortunately, he steadied himself and didn’t completely lose face.
Zhao Hanzhang stood before the bed, her face wearing a gentle smile as she looked at him. “Where does Master Ma feel unwell? Have you called for a physician?”
Ma Hao’s back kept going cold in waves. Yesterday, she had just ordered County Magistrate Hu dragged away and beheaded right in front of him. Did she really not know why he was sick?
Zhao Hanzhang seemed truly oblivious, sitting by the bed and showing concern for him before sighing. “Right now, Biyang County is like Master Ma—gravely ill. Master Ma has physicians and medicine, but Biyang County has no good remedy.”
Ma Hao: “…County Administrator jests. With you governing, Biyang County will only grow healthier and healthier. How can you speak of illness?”
Zhao Hanzhang gave him a half-smile. “Though I’m a new County Administrator, I’m confident in my ability to diagnose and treat county governance. If I say Biyang County is sick, then it is sick.”
“…” Ma Hao lowered his head slightly. “County Administrator Zhao is correct, but I wonder what remedy the County Administrator speaks of?”
“Grain.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “For the common people, survival comes down to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—four things. And among these, food comes first. Right now they’re nearly starving to death. Biyang County has lost nearly half its population. Isn’t this illness severe enough?”
Ma Hao’s expression changed several times before finally lowering his head under Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze.
Only at this moment did he truly grasp the reason Zhao Hanzhang had executed County Magistrate Hu. He had always thought she did it to better control Biyang County.
After all, she was a newly appointed official and a woman—surely not all the counties under her jurisdiction would be obedient.
He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before asking, “So the County Administrator has come to me because…?”
“To buy grain.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ve long heard that the Ma family is famously wealthy in Biyang County—your family is large and prosperous. You should have quite a bit of stored grain, shouldn’t you?”
She said, “I’m willing to pay money to purchase grain from you to provide relief to the people of Biyang County. Besides gold, silver, and copper coins, I can also pay with cloth, silk thread, glassware, books, and paper.”