As the autumn harvest was about to end and various localities were vigorously collecting autumn taxes, Zhao Hanzhang publicly announced in all counties and districts that she was seeking talent.

Since she was already doing this on such a large scale, Zhao Hanzhang naturally would not only seek one or two talents—she sought talent without limit.

The notice stated: “The people’s livelihood is declining, crimes are not prohibited, and all knowledgeable people in the world are heartbroken. Hanzhang’s power is limited; I only seek to give the people a piece of pure land within Runan Jun. I wish to work together with all gentlemen to ensure the people here need not go naked and hungry.”

“All talented people in the world, whoever hears this notice and is willing to walk the same path as Hanzhang, may come to Xiping. Hanzhang awaits all gentlemen here.”

Once the notice was posted, the news quickly spread from Runan to Yuzhou and even beyond.

Merchants came and went, travelers journeyed about, all carrying this news. Some even copied the notice and took it outside.

In taverns and inns, some people looked at this notice that had been passed around many times with tears in their eyes, murmuring, “To let the people have clothes to cover their bodies and food to fill their bellies?”

Someone beside him heard his whisper and also became somewhat excited, grabbing him and asking, “Brother Wang, will you go to Runan?”

Wang Nie pondered for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll go!”

The other person’s eyes immediately brightened, and he said to him, “I’ll go with you!”

“Good, then let’s go back and pack our bags right now and set out immediately.”

“Let’s go.”

Just like that, deciding to go on a whim—this was how willful the scholars of this era were. The two went home to pack their bags, told their families, and ran off.

Their family members chased after them for a long distance. Seeing they couldn’t catch up, they could only give up helplessly. However, the family felt they should return home before too long. “That’s a woman. Although she’s become Vice Administrator, how far can she go in the future? To be lured away by a single recruitment notice—truly willful and reckless!”

Wang Nie and his good friend Xie Shi just ran off like that.

This notice also circulated among refugees and laborers, but they focused on another aspect: “If we go to Runan, wouldn’t we be able to live and work in peace?”

“In this world, where is there a place to live and work in peace?”

That’s what they said, but everyone still couldn’t help heading toward Runan. Never mind whether they could truly settle down there—at least the person in charge had expressed this intention, so perhaps the chances of survival there would be greater?

There were also ambitious young men who clenched their fists and looked at their barely strong arms, feeling they too could perhaps seek a position from that female Vice Administrator.

Although they were illiterate, they had strength and weren’t afraid to risk their lives. As for talent—surely it couldn’t only be about literacy? Charging into battle should count too, right?

There were also those who were not from aristocratic families but had studied and simply lacked the connections to receive an official rank. Seeing or hearing this notice, combined with various news from Runan Jun, they too decided to go to Runan.

“Observing what she has done in Runan Jun these past two years, she is not someone who seeks fame through empty gestures. Perhaps it’s worth a try.”

“I heard the current county magistrate of Xiping County is not from a ranked background but from a humble family—he was previously an advisor to the Shangcai County magistrate.”

“The county magistrates of Quyang and Biyang also aren’t from ranked backgrounds but were former county assistants. This shows she employs talent without regard to official rank.”

The subtext was: we all have opportunities.

It was difficult for those from humble families to enter official service. They wanted to serve the country but lacked the means.

Without distinguished family backgrounds, they were eliminated during the ranking process by the Impartial Officials, so humble scholars could only start by serving as advisors to others.

Some people went their entire lives without achieving anything. The most famous humble scholar in recent years was Sun Xiu.

He was the most successful humble scholar—strategizing for Sima Lun, wielding tremendous power, able to overturn heaven and earth with a wave of his hand. He deposed the Crown Prince, killed famous ministers, and did everything he shouldn’t have done. Yet even so, he was only an advisor and never received an official rank his entire life.

Oh, this person also died miserably. The humble scholars expressed their disdain for learning from him.

But the principle was universal. Sun Xiu’s extreme behavior might not have been unrelated to how no matter how hard he worked, he could never enter official service.

Did Sun Xiu lack talent?

No, he was more outstanding than many people of his time. Otherwise, he couldn’t have stood at the very peak amidst the chaos, manipulating the court in the palm of his hand. Yet he never had the opportunity to stand openly and honorably in the court.

Now Zhao Hanzhang had given them an opportunity. Even if it was only within Runan Jun, it was still a tremendous, rare opportunity.

Thus many people made appointments to head to Runan Jun together.

Zhao Hanzhang had inspected all her jurisdictional counties and brought her mobile little court back to Xiping. By this time, the autumn harvest had ended. Ji Yuan presided over collecting the taxes Zhao Hanzhang had stipulated from each county, and even managed to gather the batch of military grain Zhao Hanzhang owed Prefect He.

Ji Yuan was so capable that Zhao Hanzhang was deeply moved.

Seeing the increasingly thin young woman, Ji Yuan was also very touched. The two held each other’s hands with tears in their eyes. Zhao Hanzhang said with tears, “Sir has worked hard.”

Ji Yuan said, “I haven’t worked hard—you’re the one who has worked hard, young lady.”

Zhao Ming, standing to the side, couldn’t bear to watch them being so clingy. His brow furrowed as he looked at Zhao Hanzhang. “Your inspection tour this time took too long—it actually lasted over two months.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “This couldn’t be helped. Uncle doesn’t know how bad the situation in each county is.”

Zhao Ming glanced at her and said, “You issued recruitment notices widely. The court should know by now, and the clan leader should have received news too.”

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t timid about this now. She smiled and asked, “Then has Great-Uncle congratulated me?”

Whether Zhao Zhongyu had congratulated her or not, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know. But the court was very displeased that Prefect He had actually given control of Runan Jun to a woman.

If not for the fact that Luoyang currently needed all sides to come to its rescue, this matter certainly couldn’t have ended well.

At this time, with Luoyang unable to save itself, although the court officials had many opinions, they couldn’t let such a small matter consume their energy. The urgent priority was still to urge Prefect He and Gou Xi to send troops to repel the Xiongnu army.

However, while nothing was said on the court, everyone privately made sarcastic remarks to Zhao Zhongyu. “Minister, your Zhao family is truly impressive. That Zhao Hanzhang is Duke Zhao’s granddaughter, isn’t she? How is it I remember the one who inherited Duke Zhao’s title was your son?”

Zhao Zhongyu’s expression remained calm. “Thank you for the praise. When Sanniang was at home, people often praised her. She is indeed virtuous and generous. It’s natural for Prefect He to value her talent. If she had been born male, I wonder how proud my elder brother and ancestors would have been. But being female isn’t bad either.”

He glanced at the court officials who were mocking him, half-smiling. “If the court could make use of her, why would my grandniece need to toil over these mundane matters?”

Wasn’t it because you were all useless that Prefect He employed his grandniece? So what did they have to mock?

Zhao Zhongyu flicked his sleeves and left the palace to return home.

Back home, his expression immediately darkened.

Zhao Ji had also heard the rumors outside and had even seen the copied notice at a tavern, with Hanzhang written clearly on it.

So when he saw his father return, Zhao Ji immediately came forward and hurried to say, “Father, something seems to have happened in our old home in Xiping. Sanniang has actually become Vice Administrator of Runan Jun.”