They initially directed soldiers, then posted the work relief announcement, and people began signing up to participate. They started using people from the fortified village.

Many people signed up, but even more were watching. It wasn’t until those who went to work not only truly got three meals a day but also received wages.

The onlookers couldn’t hold back anymore and rushed forward in a swarm, surrounding those who came out with their wages. “How can there be wages too? Wasn’t it just room and board?”

The other person tightly clutched the copper coins in his hand, but his face was full of pride. “Your Excellency said that in this world, there are few solitary individuals—most have families to support. Those of us who come out to work can naturally eat our fill and drink our fill, but what about the weak at home? So Your Excellency had people issue us wages. As long as we work well, we can receive five to ten coins daily.”

He said cheerfully, “Your Excellency also had people open a grain shop in the wooden shelter near the county offices. The prices aren’t high. As long as you have a work slip, each person can buy one peck of grain every ten days.”

One peck of grain was enough for his wife and children to eat for ten days. If they were frugal, there would be plenty left over.

Hearing this, someone immediately pushed out of the crowd and ran toward the recruitment shelter. Others reacted quickly too, seeing someone run first, they all followed.

At dusk, the recruitment shelter had already decided to close up for the day and was about to leave when they saw so many people running over and stopped.

Soldiers patrolling nearby immediately approached with swords. Before people could get close, they shouted, “What are you doing? Charging the camp is a serious crime!”

Nearby was their army’s encampment.

The refugees stopped running but continued walking forward, calling out loudly, “We’ve come to apply for registration!”

“That’s right, that’s right, we also want to register to build our new county capital.”

Hearing this, the soldiers’ tense expressions relaxed. They looked back at Zhao Kuan and the others still sitting in the shelter.

Zhao Kuan nodded slightly, and only then did they let people through, though still barking fiercely, “Everyone line up properly. No pushing. If you don’t listen, we’ll arrest you for hard labor!”

Everyone immediately dared not push forward. Those who wanted to push aside the person in front to squeeze in also behaved.

Zhao Hanzhang watched from afar, nodding slightly, then turned to Ting He. “You’re literate. Go help too. Have them light torches. Since the people have come, let’s take them all in.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved upward. Many hands make light work. With so many refugees plus their army, building a county capital was just a matter of time.

The county capital had already been planned. The next day, the newly recruited refugees followed the entire army to the wilderness.

The county capital would be built on this expanse of open land. Because the Xiongnu had invaded in the seventh month and only retreated now, there had been no time to plant winter wheat in the fields.

In four or five months’ time, the wild grass in the fields had grown taller than calves. With winter’s arrival, the vegetation had yellowed somewhat.

Zhao Kuan and the others divided people into teams, one team per hundred people, managed by squad leaders they assigned. Under the squads were units of ten, each leading ten people, completely following military management methods.

Ten squads made one battalion—this was Zhao Hanzhang’s regulation, so it could be distinguished from the army’s companies.

The battalion commander of each battalion was appointed by Zhao Hanzhang. Fan Ying also led a battalion, so her team had more women.

They needed to select capable deputy battalion commanders from their subordinates. After they left, there would still be people to manage.

Above them was the new Song County Magistrate, Chen Yin.

Chen Yin hadn’t expected that as a newly appointed seventh-rank county magistrate, he would suddenly become the superior of sixth-rank lieutenants and a sixth-rank provincial secretary.

Oh, though it was temporary, he still felt a bit giddy, with a sense of not standing on solid ground.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed to have become a hands-off manager, but she had plenty to handle daily. News from Chen County and various places kept arriving.

She spent most of each day handling official business, continuously issuing orders from here, instructing each commandery and kingdom to provide relief and comfort to the people and take in wandering refugees everywhere.

At the same time, she also sent orders to the commanderies and kingdoms currently controlled by Gou Xi, telling their administrators to come to Chen County to report to her when free. If they couldn’t meet in person, they should still provide relief and comfort to the people.

She didn’t know if she could reclaim these five commanderies and kingdoms, but she had to try. If unsuccessful, she didn’t want to conflict with Gou Xi right now. This was just a probe.

Probing the attitude of the five commanderies and kingdoms, and also probing Gou Xi’s attitude.

Such matters were very mentally exhausting, making Zhao Hanzhang feel somewhat weary. But every time she walked out of camp and saw the vigorous construction outside, her mood improved. Her mind relaxed, and she could happily face those external disputes again.

New Song City was being built at flying speed. Four battalions of nearly four thousand people were constructing simultaneously. Two battalions handled foundation construction, while two battalions were responsible for preparing and transporting materials. They divided into several groups—some went to the mountains to fell suitable trees for drying, others went to collect stones.

Because the needed bricks and stones were excessive, Zhao Ze eventually set his sights on old Song City.

The youth who became commander of the third battalion was brought before Zhao Hanzhang. Facing her, he argued confidently, “Since we already have a new county capital, what use is keeping the old one?”

He said, “That’s just a place of sorrow. Keeping it is useless. Better to use everything to its fullest potential, saving us considerable human and material resources. Why not?”

But Chen Yin was a sentimental person. “That’s the hometown of many Song people. Even I can’t bear to see Song City become true ruins. I beseech Your Excellency to preserve old Song City.”

Zhao Kuan also said, “Yesterday’s mistakes are today’s teachers. Preserving old Song City not only gives wandering souls a spiritual home but also teaches future generations to learn from today’s lessons and never again allow barbarians to cross south.”

Zhao Ze felt they didn’t understand the difficulty of managing a household without knowing the cost of firewood and rice. “You’re only digging foundations on-site and don’t know how hard it is for us outside. Mining stones requires going to very distant places and then transporting them. Old Song City isn’t far away, and the bricks and stones are easiest to excavate. Taking from there, we can save at least two-thirds of the human and material resources. Why look far when near is available?”

He said, “Old Song City is already ruins anyway. What difference is there between completely excavating it and not?”

Chen Yin was tongue-tied and couldn’t articulate his reasoning. He just felt it was wrong, and could only look at Zhao Hanzhang pleadingly.

Zhao Kuan said, “You’ve already died but still have tattered clothing covering you. But now I’ve stripped even your tattered clothing clean. Do you think your family won’t hate me to death and want to tear me apart?”

Zhao Ze replied seriously, “Cousin Kuan, my death was caused by barbarians, but you’re my elder brother. If my tattered clothing could save your life, I naturally wouldn’t blame you. I think my parents and family wouldn’t either. Rather, they’d be gratified that even in death, I could save your life. How is this not meritorious?”

Zhao Kuan: …

Zhao Hanzhang thought carefully. She said, “What Zhao Ze said is correct, but Zhao Kuan and Chen Yin’s ideas are also right. We can’t leave wandering souls without a homeland, but the living are more important.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s decision was to erect a stone tablet in the old county capital.