As soon as Zhao Hanzhang sat down, Fan Ying came to report. “Governor, all the refugees have been settled. There are empty houses in the city. Yin Sheng had people send a batch of firewood and charcoal over. They can get through tonight.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “First thing tomorrow morning, summon all the officials from both the administrator’s mansion and Luyang County. We’re starting meetings.”

She continued, “Originally I had no intention of staying long in Nanyang Principality. I thought I’d select a suitable administrator from among them and leave. But from what I see now, there’s no suitable person in Nanyang Principality. Since that’s the case, we’ll be staying for a while.”

“With so many refugees following us, it’s not good to have them keep traveling. Let’s settle them here.”

Fu Tinghan immediately understood her plan. “You want to establish the framework in Nanyang Principality?”

“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Build welfare halls and schools, arrange everything that needs arranging, and construct more infrastructure.”

Fu Tinghan asked, “What about the person to take over? From what we saw today, even if we establish a good framework, without a suitable person to take over, once we leave, this structure will collapse.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “What do you think of Wang Ni and Xie Shi?”

Fu Tinghan was slightly surprised. After brief consideration, he nodded. “Not bad.”

Wang Ni and Xie Shi were people Zhao Hanzhang had left for Zhao Erlang. This time they hadn’t come along but remained in Chenliu.

However, since following Zhao Erlang, both had been conscientious and responsible, consistently teaching Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Hanzhang had never given them appropriate positions, but she had kept them in mind.

She said, “I want to leave Erlang in Nanyang Principality.”

This way Wang Ni and Xie Shi could both remain in Nanyang Principality to assist Zhao Erlang. She also wanted to see if Zhao Erlang could manage affairs after leaving her side.

“He doesn’t need to be particularly clever or capable. As long as he can follow Wang Ni and Xie Shi’s arrangements, I also want to see how they will conduct affairs through Erlang.”

Nanyang Principality would be a platform for them to work together.

Between Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang, between Zhao Erlang and Wang Ni and Xie Shi, and also between Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Ni and Xie Shi. Everything was within adjustable parameters, and the cost of trial and error was very low. She could call a halt at any time.

Fu Tinghan also thought this was a good approach. “Moreover, Nanyang Principality can serve as a model for other principalities.”

“Isn’t there already a ready-made model?” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Runan Commandery has already developed so well—such a good model, yet they just won’t use it. Hmph, they simply aren’t putting in effort and don’t want to manage things.”

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought for a moment. “Ideological education is indeed important. The children in schools are our next generation, but we can’t give up on the current generation either. Fan Ying, spread word of what happened in Xi’e County and Administrator Pei’s resignation.”

She said, “Only with fear can caution arise. Only when people know caution will they follow the rules!”

Fan Ying acknowledged the order and immediately went to make arrangements.

Propaganda wasn’t needed in Nanyang Principality—their own speculation was enough to frighten themselves. Fan Ying mainly spread the word to other principalities, especially Runan Commandery.

Because the Zhao clan was in Runan, currently much of Yuzhou’s economy and attention was focused on Runan. There was no helping it—Zhao Hanzhang’s movements were elusive. When she didn’t want people to know her location, she could appear and disappear like a ghost behind Xiongnu lines, not to mention now that all of Yuzhou belonged to her.

So unable to track her movements, everyone simply watched news from Runan Commandery instead.

Thus news from Nanyang Principality reached Runan Commandery and immediately spread outward, rapidly expanding toward the surrounding principalities.

Whether or not perceiving Zhao Hanzhang’s intent, after receiving the news, Zhao Ming lent Fan Ying a hand. So overnight, all the aristocratic clans and merchants in Runan learned of Pei He’s overnight resignation and departure.

Having just arrived at Xiping and not yet visited old friends, Zhu Chuan heard the news circulating in the wine shop and couldn’t help but pause. “It’s only been a few days and Pei He has already resigned? That was quick!”

“I heard it was even earlier—almost right after we entered Runan Commandery that he resigned and left. Rumor has it he left in haste, not even taking his family assets.”

Zhu Chuan stroked his chin thoughtfully. “What did Zhao Hanzhang do?”

“Unknown. But I heard County Magistrate Gao of Xi’e County is having a terrible time—not only has he depleted his family fortune, but he’s living in dire straits daily.”

Zhu Chuan lowered his eyes in thought. “Zhao Hanzhang deliberately spread this news. Isn’t she afraid that after hearing it, people from other commanderies will directly throw down their responsibilities and quit?”

Not knowing why Pei He resigned so hastily, but seeing County Magistrate Gao who had depleted his family fortune, surely many people would make the same choice as Pei He and directly resign.

At least they could preserve some family assets and their lives.

This was an unspoken rule in official circles—once someone resigned and returned to seclusion, past matters were settled. Even if they had committed errors before, as long as they weren’t capital crimes, all could be written off.

Most importantly, did Zhao Hanzhang have enough people on hand to replace them all?

Just as he was pondering this, the wine shop below erupted in commotion again. People were running toward the county office.

Someone went out and grabbed a running person to ask, “What’s happened?”

“The county office has issued a recruitment order! This time it’s for all of Yuzhou. I heard it was personally ordered by our lady. She’s not only ordered all commanderies to recruit talent, but will also send people to each commandery for personal examination and selection. Finally, there will be another selection in Chenliu. The most capable can follow directly at our lady’s side!”

Hearing this, everyone in the wine shop’s eyes lit up.

Those who could sit drinking and eating in a Xiping wine shop—who didn’t have some family assets?

With money came the desire for power. Zhao Hanzhang’s selection of talent didn’t place much emphasis on family background, or even on literary talent and reputation. In the previous recruitment order, some of those she selected were completely unknown, including even women.

So they felt they could do it too!

They believed they could!

So the group grew both excited and agitated, repeatedly confirming, “Oh my, they really issued a recruitment order?”

“They really did!”

“Will there still be rank assessment next year? Will the Impartial Officials still conduct assessments?” Some still longed to participate in next year’s Impartial Official rank assessment.

“Who knows? Probably… they’ll assess? After all, it’s been decades of selection system. So many people are waiting for rank assessment—how could they not assess?” After all, Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t an Impartial Official. Rank assessment wasn’t conducted in Xiping, and besides, even if famous scholars received rank assessment, what then?

He continued, “Could the court even use them? Would our lady use them?”

Everyone’s mouths fell open. Right! I heard Gou Xi is still besieging the capital. Forget about talented people—ordinary people couldn’t even deliver a letter into the capital. So could the court use the talents selected through rank assessment?

As for Zhao Hanzhang…

Anyone could see she wouldn’t use people selected by Impartial Official Xiahou. The Xiahou family was currently on Gou Xi’s side.

If the court wouldn’t use them and Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t use them either, what was the point of participating in Yuzhou’s rank assessment?

It would truly be better to respond to Zhao Hanzhang’s recruitment order and compete under her for a position.

The person who had been grabbed nodded approvingly, seeing they could think things through. “You all think it over slowly. I’m going to the office to register my name.”

Everyone snapped back to attention and grabbed him again. “Register now? When is the examination?”

“This examination period is very generous—after the second day of the second month next year. Each commandery will hold examinations at their administrative seats. Whether local or from elsewhere, candidates can take the exam at the nearest location. After passing, they proceed to Chenliu for the next level of examination. I heard our lady will personally appear to examine the candidates.”