Although she had decided to leave the next day, Zhao Hanzhang still met with Xun Xiu and other officials and generals from the Provincial Governor’s Office first.

Everyone gathered to hold a conference on Yuzhou’s future development, and Zhao Hanzhang issued important directives.

She said to Xun Xiu and the other generals: “In fighting against the Xiongnu, cavalry is particularly important, so each army must establish its own cavalry units and obtain enough warhorses by any means necessary for training.”

She continued: “Infantry training must not be neglected either, especially battle formations. If the cavalry cannot match the Xiongnu, then we must use military formations to block and kill them. Although there are no battles now, you all must not slacken.”

Someone said: “Speaking of infantry against cavalry, one must look to Beigong Chun. Whether it’s the Xianbei or Xiongnu, they gain nothing against him.”

Xun Xiu had never been quite convinced by Beigong Chun, so hearing this he said: “What use is one man’s valor? One must be able to lead troops and command armies. Never mind leading armies—he can’t even return to Xiliang.”

“Hm?” Zhao Hanzhang turned her head. “There’s news of General Beigong? He didn’t return to Xiliang?”

Ji Yuan, who had been sitting silently, said: “We received news that Liangzhou Provincial Governor Zhang Gui seems to have fallen ill. Someone informed the Prince of Nanyang that Zhang Gui has been disabled, and the court intends to replace the Liangzhou Provincial Governor. General Beigong had just reached Qinzhou when he was blocked by Jia Kan, who wouldn’t let him pass through Qinzhou.”

“Unable to proceed, he could only detour through Chang’an, hoping to return to Liangzhou from there, but the Prince of Nanyang detained him and reportedly wants to send Jia Kan as the new Liangzhou Provincial Governor. Now General Beigong has been kept in Chang’an for an appointment,” Ji Yuan said. “Beigong Chun is Zhang Gui’s trusted confidant. Although we don’t know what happened to Zhang Gui, clearly Jia Kan is competing with him for the position of Liangzhou Provincial Governor. Letting him return to Xiliang now would be extremely disadvantageous to Jia Kan.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed deeply. “General Beigong is not without the ability to lead troops—he’s just been unlucky.”

Xun Xiu said: “Luck is also part of a general’s capability.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed with this, but didn’t think Beigong Chun belonged in this category. She simply sighed once with a face full of disappointment, then turned around and quietly sought out Ji Yuan, saying in a low voice: “Send a merchant caravan to Chang’an. Choose someone clever and well-spoken. It would be best if we could invite General Beigong back to Yuzhou. If we can’t persuade him, we should at least maintain contact.”

Ji Yuan knew her heart was still set on Beigong Chun.

However, Beigong Chun was indeed worth such efforts. If Zhao Hanzhang could obtain Beigong Chun, Yuzhou would no longer fear the Xiongnu.

So Ji Yuan readily agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t discuss Beigong Chun much in front of Xun Xiu and the other generals. After expressing regret, she continued: “Elite soldiers must train daily, while the remaining soldiers should return to the fields—farming during busy agricultural seasons and training during slack seasons.”

Xun Xiu and the other generals exchanged glances and asked: “Governor, if soldiers farm, I fear they will become reluctant to fight in the future…”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Currently, nine out of ten soldiers in the army come from farming backgrounds. They all enlisted out of necessity. Now they can all fight—how would they become worse after training?”

She said: “People regard food as heaven. Right now Yuzhou’s population is decimated. There may be fewer common people than soldiers. If we don’t return soldiers to the fields, one commoner might have to support two, three, or even four people. How can they afford that?”

Only then did Xun Xiu and the others fall silent.

Zhao Hanzhang said: “I’m already preparing farming tools and seeds. Starting tomorrow, each army should plow and clear weeds in their stationed areas in preparation for spring plowing.”

The generals exchanged glances and all agreed in unison.

What followed had nothing to do with Xun Xiu and the others—it was all civil administration.

Zhao Hanzhang met with the former Provincial Governor’s Office officials. She had kept most of these officials, replacing only some who were lazy and clearly neglecting their duties.

Her political initiatives were numerous and required several times more manpower than before. Even filling positions with the people she brought wasn’t enough, so she even recruited Governor He’s advisors to help.

“The New Year festival approaches. Issue this order: from today until the end of next year, all merchant caravans passing through our Yuzhou, regardless of size, are exempt from transit fees. For transactions within the five commanderies, commercial tax will be one-sixtieth.”

This wasn’t a discussion—it was a direct announcement.

Everyone was astonished. Even Ji Yuan couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, saying: “Governor, isn’t this tax too low? Currently, commercial taxes everywhere are one-thirtieth, one-twenty-fifth, and some even reach one-twentieth.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Then look at how much commercial tax they actually collect.”

Ji Yuan fell silent.

Zhao Hanzhang said to Xun Xiu and the others: “When merchants come to Yuzhou, we must guarantee their safety. Since you need to train troops anyway, eliminate all the bandits within Yuzhou’s borders.”

She continued: “They’re all common people forced to become outlaws. Accept their surrender if possible; only suppress them if they won’t surrender. Don’t abuse or kill bandits—I have other uses for them.”

Xun Xiu, quick of tongue, asked one more question: “What does the Governor want them for?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said: “Mining!”

Oh right, Governor He had a large iron mine, which now belonged to Zhao Hanzhang!

Everyone’s eyes involuntarily turned together toward He Heng, who sat at the very end, with Yu Sheng, Governor He’s former advisor, sitting beside him.

Zhao Hanzhang, for some unknown reason, had neither replaced He Heng nor driven away Yu Sheng after returning to Chen County. Instead, she kept them both and found them positions of moderate importance in the Provincial Governor’s Office.

Xun Xiu and the others thought she was showing favor to win over Governor He’s faction, but she herself hadn’t stayed in Chen County, nor had she shown anyone different treatment—everything was strictly business, which seemed inconsistent with that theory.

Seeing everyone turn to look at He Heng, she simply looked over as well and said directly: “I’m returning to Runan Commandery tomorrow. He Heng and Yu Sheng will accompany me.”

One of the two shoes hanging over He Heng’s heart dropped, and he rose respectfully to acknowledge the order, though the other shoe still hung there.

Yu Sheng also agreed.

This conference continued from noon until evening. When the generals and officials departed, their faces were all numb—they had received too much information today.

This new Governor of theirs was truly diligent—the most diligent Governor they had encountered. And she had issued so many new policies.

What to do? They had already forgotten nearly half of them.

Just as they were thinking this, Fan Ying chased after them from behind and called them back. She stood on the steps, cupped her hands slightly in salute, and said with a smile: “I’ve compiled today’s conference content with the Governor into a册. If the generals and officials need it, please send a deputy to the Provincial Governor’s Office to make a copy.”

Led by Xun Xiu, everyone immediately breathed a great sigh of relief and indicated they would send someone shortly.

Zhao Hanzhang rotated her neck and went to rest, while Fan Ying and the others worked overtime until midnight. After a night’s sleep, the next day they were waiting spiritedly outside the Provincial Governor’s Office again.

Yesterday Zhao Kuan had not only attended half a day of meetings but had also handled various matters with Ji Yuan afterward. Right now his eyes were vacant.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang bidding farewell to Madam Wang with a face full of reluctance, he couldn’t help but sigh.

Standing beside him, Fan Ying, who was quite happy, heard this and turned to glance at him. Unable to stand his half-dead appearance, she said: “It’s only half a month of oversight, isn’t it? The Governor said we’ll return soon.”

“You’re not the one staying behind, so naturally you can be this relaxed.”