Wang Siniang asked, “What’s the most valuable thing in Luoyang right now?”
Zhao Kuan replied, “Cloth!”
“No, I mean Luoyang’s own most valuable products—not things brought in from outside.” Wang Siniang said.
Zhao Kuan tilted his head and thought for a moment before slowly saying, “Products from the workshops: glass, paper, and books.”
Zhao Kuan pressed his lips together. “If it really is the workshop, then there’s a rat in the workshop.”
Fan Ying also became serious, frowning. “The workshop is managed by the eldest young master. He’s excellent at accounting—who could falsify records under his nose?”
Wang Siniang said nothing. She didn’t know much about Fu Tinghan, her memories still stuck at when she helped Zhao Hanzhang go to the Fu household to evaluate him, only for them to fall in love at first sight.
In her heart, Fu Tinghan still couldn’t compare to her older brother.
Her brother was so well-matched with Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Kuan temporarily set aside the investigation, but kept this matter in mind.
Today Zhao Hanzhang was hosting a banquet at the Zhao Residence for her subordinates. All the generals and deputy generals, officials, and her advisors would attend. She had even heard that Chen Wu from the Qihuo Army was coming.
He decided that when he went to the Zhao Residence, he would mention this matter to Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan. If there really was a rat in the workshop, it should still be caught. But for Fu Tinghan’s sake, this matter should be kept quiet and resolved discreetly.
Otherwise word would get out and outsiders might think Fu Tinghan was incompetent.
But Zhao Kuan had some doubts in his heart. If it really was a problem with the workshop, would Fu Tinghan not know?
He was so clever.
The grain and fodder calculations for several large armies were so complex that it took accountants seven or eight days to figure out, yet he could calculate it instantly.
How perfect would the workshop accounts need to be to deceive his eyes?
Fan Ying, however, was anxious, very afraid that Fu Tinghan was doing something behind the young lady’s back. Zhao Kuan and the others didn’t see Zhao Hanzhang often, but she was with her every day. As Zhao Hanzhang’s chief secretary, she knew too well about their relationship.
If the eldest young master really did something to betray the young lady, how heartbroken she would be.
Fan Ying slammed the official document in her hand onto the table with a “smack.” When they looked over, she said expressionlessly, “County Magistrate Zhao, the Governor says that Luoyang is becoming increasingly peaceful. After the Dragon Boat Festival, beans from various regions will gradually ripen and be ready for harvest. Before then, you should meet with the county magistrates from other counties in Henan Commandery. So the Governor asks you to invite the county magistrates from all counties to gather in Luoyang in your own name.”
Zhao Kuan glanced at her icy face and immediately nodded. “Alright, I’ll write the invitations shortly. What do you think of the fifteenth day of the fifth month?”
Fan Ying gave him a look. “Decide for yourself. Once people arrive, the Governor will meet with them too. But don’t let it interfere with the bean harvest.”
“Then the twelfth of the fifth month,” Zhao Kuan said. “Even from the farthest county, a fast horse should reach Luoyang in two days.”
Fan Ying handed him that official document, then said, “The second matter is that with summer harvest approaching, County Magistrate Zhao must do a good job coordinating the summer harvest. We can’t let a single soybean or grain of millet rot in the fields. At the same time, you must mobilize for planting after the summer harvest.”
“Besides local farming, the military should also be mobilized to do better with their military farms. Oh,” Fan Ying looked up at him, “the Governor says the families of Xiliang Army soldiers have arrived in Luoyang. County Magistrate Zhao should allocate another plot of land near the Xiliang Army’s military farms for them to cultivate. Remember to include them in the county office’s seed distribution this year.”
Zhao Kuan’s mouth fell open, wanting to say he had no money.
But facing Fan Ying’s icy expression, he swallowed his words. Forget it, he’d bring this up some other day when she was in a better mood. There was still time before autumn planting anyway.
“The Governor also says to have the county office prepare to register the Xiliang Army families. They’ll all be registered in Luoyang, and those newly built houses outside all belong to the military families.”
This was no problem. Zhao Kuan agreed immediately.
Times had changed—present-day Luoyang wasn’t the Luoyang of before. Household registrations weren’t valuable now, and even houses weren’t worth much.
After discussing the matters and confirming their implementation dates, Fan Ying turned and left.
Wang Siniang watched her departure and said, “I hear that Clerk Fan is the orphan of the former County Magistrate of Xiping, a descendant of loyal martyrs?”
Zhao Kuan nodded.
Wang Siniang said, “She handles matters decisively and efficiently. No wonder Hanzhang would promote her to clerk.”
The Chief Clerk of the Regional Inspector’s府 was of the sixth rank, currently Wang Huifeng’s superior.
Wang Siniang had long heard of this superior of her sister’s. Her sister had praised her many times at home, saying she was very capable.
Zhao Kuan continued nodding, then handed her the second official document, saying warmly, “Chief Clerk Wang, this matter will require some extra effort from you. Autumn planting will mainly focus on hemp and wheat, so we need to prepare more seeds, especially wheat seeds.”
He said, “Hemp can be propagated by cuttings, but there isn’t much hemp planted in Luoyang currently, so we need to purchase from other counties.”
At this time, Wang Siniang still didn’t understand the treachery of human hearts. Though she had briefly experienced poverty, she hadn’t been particularly poor. Having grown up in luxury, she hadn’t yet realized the importance of money, so she accepted the official document and promised to complete the task.
Zhao Kuan let out a breath of relief and even reminded her, “Prepare early. Once summer harvest begins, you can proceed simultaneously. When summer harvest starts and grain prices drop, wheat seeds will be relatively cheaper too.”
If she couldn’t buy enough, she could report it early so they could figure something out together.
Wang Siniang acknowledged this.
Zhao Kuan worked until the Hour of Shen, dealing with all the county office matters before getting up to head to the Zhao Residence.
Because the Zhao Residence had become the temporary office of the Regional Inspector’s府, officials could enter and exit the front courtyard without announcement. Only when reaching the inner areas did one need to announce oneself.
Zhao Hanzhang had already finished today’s work and was in the back courtyard with Zhao Erlang, chopping bones.
Because Zhao Kuan also bore the Zhao surname, he could smoothly reach the back courtyard. He saw them move a long table to the courtyard outside the kitchen, with a freshly slaughtered sheep on top.
Zhao Hanzhang held a knife and, under a guard’s guidance, butchered the sheep. She tossed the severed leg to Zhao Erlang, who stripped the meat off, quickly producing a beautiful leg bone.
Zhao Kuan: …
What a fine leg of lamb—roasted and brushed with honey, it would be delicious.
Why strip all the meat off?
Zhao Erlang began cutting off the hooves, then took up a cleaver and chopped the leg bones with loud thwacks.
The siblings divided the entire sheep very finely. Only a small portion of the meat cut off would be used for roasting; the rest would be stewed, stir-fried, braised, and boiled…
Fu Tinghan sat in the corridor, avoiding the sun while leisurely picking vegetables.
Zhao Kuan was a gentleman who had never entered a kitchen, so he stood in the courtyard somewhat at a loss. He looked left and right, finally choosing Fu Tinghan. “Tinghan, why are you doing this yourselves?”