Zhao Erlang’s cheeks were rosy red, his eyes bright and sparkling as he stared at Beigong Chun.
Toward this great general who had defeated his sister several times, Zhao Erlang also held great admiration. So when Beigong Chun indicated he had something to say to him, he didn’t think twice and eagerly followed him out.
Zhao Erlang was so pure and looked at him with such trust that Beigong Chun felt bad about severely exploiting him. So he got straight to the point and brought up the bandits of Children’s Ridge.
Zhao Erlang felt this sounded familiar. He tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, “I know. My brother-in-law just mentioned it to my sister today.”
Beigong Chun paused, then asked, “So is the Second General going to suppress the bandits?”
“Naturally,” Zhao Erlang said with a serious expression. “Sister said that route is now a new trade road. Many merchants from the northern territories must pass through that road to enter Luoyang. If we allow the bandits to run wild unchecked, who would dare to come? So we must suppress them.”
Beigong Chun opened and closed his mouth, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Originally, if Zhao Erlang had not known about this matter, he could have proposed joining him in suppressing the bandits. But since he already knew, Beigong Chun felt awkward bringing it up again.
He fell silent for a while. Thinking of the military families who had just arrived in the army, who were in a state of anxiety, if at this time the men and sons couldn’t even produce a settlement fee, how could they be reassured to settle down here?
The rice jar at home was empty, and they didn’t even have enough bedding. Coming to Luoyang would only mean reuniting with family – not only would their lives not improve, they would actually worsen.
They might as well have stayed in Western Liang.
So Beigong Chun steeled his heart and thickened his face, proposing, “Second General, why don’t my Western Liang army join you in suppressing these bandits?”
Zhao Erlang’s eyes brightened considerably as he nodded repeatedly. “Good, good!”
Beigong Chun had not expected him to agree so quickly. Afraid he didn’t understand the implications, he paused before saying, “As for the spoils from the bandit lair…”
Zhao Erlang said without thinking, “We’ll split them half and half.”
Beigong Chun looked at him with delight, vigorously patting his shoulder. “Second General, from now on you’re my little brother. If you have any problems in the future, just call on me.”
Zhao Erlang’s eyes sparkled like stars. “Then can you teach me spear techniques and also fight a battle with me like you did with Sister?”
Beigong Chun said no problem. Wasn’t it just a drill? It was like training troops. When there were no battles, it served to pass the time.
“This matter should be done sooner rather than later. Otherwise, leaving that nest of bandits there, who knows how many people they’ll harm,” Beigong Chun said. “How about we send troops tomorrow?”
Zhao Erlang agreed immediately. “I’ll have someone return to Xin’an now to mobilize troops and have them wait at the border. Tomorrow morning we’ll rendezvous.”
“No, no, no, we don’t need to rendezvous,” Beigong Chun said. “I found two locals to learn about Children’s Ridge. Although there are many paths up the mountain, there’s actually only one place on the mountain suitable for a bandit lair – easy to defend, hard to attack. We can attack from two positions…”
Since the idea of suppressing bandits had arisen in his heart, Beigong Chun naturally had to understand the geography and terrain of Children’s Ridge.
He pulled Zhao Erlang to squat on the ground, casually picked up a stick, and started drawing on the ground. “This is Children’s Ridge. I’ve inquired – from the northeast direction coming from Xin’an, there’s a path up the mountain…”
After formulating the initial battle plan, Beigong Chun said, “Since the Second General has agreed, I’ll send scouts up the mountain to investigate shortly. If there are no discrepancies, we’ll proceed according to this plan. If the information changes, we’ll adapt accordingly.”
Zhao Erlang nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Beigong Chun, having settled matters, left in high spirits.
Zhao Erlang was also very happy, his face blooming like a flower with smiles.
When Xie Shi came looking for him, he saw this and quickly stepped forward to ask, “Erlang, what has made you so happy?”
Zhao Erlang didn’t hide it, happily telling him, “Tomorrow I’m going with General Beigong to suppress bandits. General Beigong also promised that after suppressing the bandits, he’ll teach me his spear techniques and will fight a battle with my Nanyang army, just like he did with Sister.”
Xie Shi was slightly stunned. “Suppress which bandits?”
“Children’s Ridge.”
“Children’s Ridge?” Xie Shi still didn’t know about the major bandits at Children’s Ridge, so he didn’t understand the intricacies. He only asked, “Does the Administrator know about this?”
“She knows. When my brother-in-law was talking to Sister earlier, I was right there beside them,” Zhao Erlang said directly. “Sister also wants me and General Beigong to suppress the bandits together.”
Xie Shi felt reassured and smiled. “If that’s the case, Erlang should follow the Administrator’s orders.”
Zhao Kuan finally found an opportunity to speak privately with Zhao Hanzhang. He spoke about Gao Hui’s merchant caravan. “…I find this caravan somewhat suspicious. Should the Administrator send someone to investigate? As for the workshop…”
“There’s no problem at the workshop,” Zhao Hanzhang knew what he was suspecting. She casually plucked a large rose. “As for Gao Hui’s caravan, there’s no need to concern yourself with it. In the future, when they leave or enter the city, give them convenience when you can. When you cannot, then enforce the laws.”
Zhao Kuan blinked and became thoughtful.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t give him much time to think. She said, “Come, as County Magistrate of Luoyang, everyone seated at today’s banquet is under your jurisdiction. You may be modest, but you must not feel inferior. I heard that a few days ago, several of Yuan Li’s soldiers caused trouble in the city. Yuan Li came to collect them, and you just released them?”
Zhao Kuan snapped back to attention and quickly said, “Two squad leaders brought a few common soldiers out during their rest day. They got drunk and tried to avoid paying for their wine, causing a disturbance. The patrol guards brought them back to the magistrate’s office. When Yuan the adjutant didn’t see them during training, he came to collect them.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Were they fined?”
Zhao Kuan paused before saying, “No. I still need to give Yuan Li face.”
“There’s no need to give face next time,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Not only Yuan Li, even if Zeng Yue or Erlang commit offenses, you need not give them face.”
“Luoyang city is only so large. If you give face today to this person, then must you give face to another person tomorrow? If everyone wants face, then my face will be stripped bare by them,” Zhao Hanzhang said coldly. “If you give them face again next time, you’ll be slapping my face.”
Zhao Kuan shuddered and bowed his head in acknowledgment.
Zhao Hanzhang saw another large pink rose, so she went forward to pluck it. Holding two stems of large roses, she returned to the banquet.
Mr. Ji was surrounded by quite a few people, while only two people sat beside Fu Tinghan, discussing water mill matters.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang approach, the two immediately stood to bow before stepping aside.
Zhao Hanzhang placed one red rose casually in a porcelain vase on the table mat, while handing the other pink rose to Ji Yuan. “Sir, didn’t you previously wish to wear flowers but had none? What do you think of this stem?”
Ji Yuan glanced at it and smiled. “Excellent.”
Taking the flower, he asked a servant for scissors, carefully trimmed it, then had the servant bring over a mirror. Right in front of all the guests, he held up the mirror and pinned the flower to his hair himself.
After pinning it, he asked Zhao Hanzhang, “What does the young mistress think?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, praising, “Beautiful.”