Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan spent half a day at the water mill. When it came to physics and mathematics, Zhao Hanzhang was quite competent herself, so Fu Tinghan could discuss many things with her. The two examined the blueprints and walked the route from the Luo River to the water mill, studying it extensively. Finally, they decided to select another location to build a mill that could house the hydraulic forging press.

After wandering along the Luo River for half the day, the two eventually stood at a spot two li upstream from the water mill.

Fu Tinghan crouched by the water’s edge, extending his hand into the water to feel the impact brought by the drop in elevation. He looked at the surrounding area and frowned slightly. “I’m afraid it won’t be easy to build a mill here.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced around and said, “We’ll just level it. I’ll have people come do it.”

This was no small engineering project, but Fu Tinghan calculated that if the hydraulic forging press could be successfully built, the cost would be worth it.

Fu Tinghan reached out toward Fu’an, who immediately opened the cloth bundle he carried on his back and took out various tools for him.

Fu Tinghan began taking measurements.

Seeing Fu’an somewhat flustered, Zhao Hanzhang rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward, taking the items from his hands to assist Fu Tinghan.

Ting He, standing nearby, looked at Fu’an with disdain. “You’ve been with the young master for so long, how can you still not handle such a small matter properly?”

“In the past, when the young master did this kind of work, he always brought craftsmen under his command. I, I only occasionally handed him things,” Fu’an explained in a small voice. Seeing Ting He still snorting disapprovingly, he was about to explain further when he caught sight of a guard riding quickly toward them. The guard dismounted in the distance and signaled to him. Fu’an swallowed his words, stuffed the cloth bundle into Ting He’s hands, and jogged over. “What is it?”

The guard was one of Fu Tinghan’s men, taking orders only from Fu Tinghan and Fu’an.

He handed a sealed letter to Fu’an. “It’s a letter from your maternal uncle’s family. They say it’s an urgent matter for the young master and must be delivered to you immediately.”

Fu’an took the letter and moved away from the guard to open it. He froze for a moment, then quickly stuffed the letter back into the envelope and ran up to find Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang.

Although Zhao Hanzhang was actually the real master of Gaohui’s merchant caravan, Fu’an still ran to Fu Tinghan first, leaning close to his ear and whispering, “Young master, Gaohui has taken in bandits who fled from Mount Hai’er.”

Fu Tinghan was so startled he looked up, his eyes wide as he stared at him. “What did you say?”

Fu’an glanced carefully at Zhao Hanzhang, then showed the letter to Fu Tinghan.

Zhao Hanzhang, whose ears were quite sharp and who had heard even though she didn’t want to, thought: …

Fu Tinghan opened the letter and read it. After a long silence, he handed it to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take it, quickly scanning through it. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “It seems Beigong Chun and Erlang’s bandit suppression went fairly smoothly. Only twenty-some escaped. Not bad.”

“But the ones who escaped were the bandit chiefs.”

“Haven’t they ended up in your hands anyway?” Zhao Hanzhang put away the letter and handed it back to Fu Tinghan. “You go take a look.”

“That man is a bandit leader. You want to take them in?”

“We can take them in, or not—either works. Bring a few more people with you. If you don’t want to keep them, just execute them on the spot.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Analyze the specific situation as it arises.”

Fu Tinghan looked at her. This meant that as long as it was beneficial and the person could be useful, they could keep them, and temporarily forgo pursuing the crimes they had committed in the past?

But the bandits of Mount Hai’er had once robbed merchant caravans. Several guards from the caravan had died—people they had spent day and night with. Would they be willing?

Fu Tinghan went to see Gaohui with a heart full of concerns.

The situation was beyond Fu Tinghan’s expectations. When he arrived, the caravan guards and the bandits were competing in wrestling. Although they showed no mercy in their strikes, the atmosphere wasn’t as tense as he had imagined.

He stood quietly watching for a while. After Gaohui came forward to greet him, he turned and left with him, going inside to talk.

After lifting a guard and pressing him down with one hand, Qiao Sheng roared loudly and stood up, asking, “Who else wants to come?”

Zhao Chang unfastened his blade and threw it to his subordinate, stepping forward. “I’ll come!”

Qiao Sheng stepped back, rotating his neck and limbs, but his gaze involuntarily swept over the spot where Fu Tinghan had been standing.

The courtyard walls weren’t low, but he could faintly hear the sounds of carriages and many horses arriving from outside. He had heard the sounds of carriages and horses just now.

Though that person had been wearing a veiled hat, his bearing was upright. At a glance, despite his ordinary clothing, a fine jade ornament hung at his waist.

He knew then that this group operated under strict orders and prohibitions. When they formed up for combat, they used battle formations employed in the military. Aside from the leaders Gaohui and Sima Hou, who still carried some Shu region accent, the others mostly spoke with Central Plains accents.

He had already suspected that this merchant caravan couldn’t possibly be from the Shu region—there must be an unusual master behind them.

Was the person who had been standing there just now the one behind Gaohui?

Could he protect him from the Zhao Family Army?

Thinking of how two years of careful management had been destroyed in an instant, Qiao Sheng’s teeth itched with hatred. His strikes became even more fierce. Zhao Yong, Zhao Erlang—if he ever got the chance, he would…

Regarding Beigong Chun, he felt respect and fear. Qiao Sheng didn’t dare resent him. But toward the milk-smelling, immature Zhao Erlang, who relied on his sister for his current position and was a fool besides, Qiao Sheng was filled with grinding hatred. He felt that if not for him, how could his stronghold have been broken?

Qiao Sheng and Zhao Chang had old grievances. Now, with every punch hitting flesh and every kick striking the body, their anger flared. They fought with thunderous impacts, neither giving ground. The guards and bandits all watched with gleaming eyes, loudly cheering from the sidelines, all excitedly clamoring.

Fu Tinghan withdrew his gaze from the window and walked to the main seat to sit down, asking, “What happened?”

Gaohui reported in a low voice. Today was the Dragon Boat Festival, so he had gone out to meet with clients, mainly wanting to buy some silk and fine porcelain to take north for trading.

When meeting clients, one naturally had to cater to their interests. Knowing there were cultured scholars among them, they had moved to a manor on the outskirts to play “floating cups on winding streams,” drinking wine while singing and composing poetry.

How could they have known that a bandit suppression was taking place on Mount Hai’er in the distance?

Then Qiao Sheng had led twenty-some bandits in a desperate escape.

Mount Hai’er was quite far from Xin’an County town, and that area was open. If they ran in that direction, that stubborn Zhao Erlang would insist on catching them and would pursue relentlessly.

With just their two legs, how could they possibly outrun Zhao Erlang on horseback?

So they ran toward Luoyang. First, they felt that Beigong Chun was a mature general who understood gains and losses and would know when to make trade-offs. With so much treasure on the mountain to plunder, he wouldn’t personally chase after them.

Second, today was the Dragon Boat Festival, and Luoyang was crowded. As long as they could blend into the crowd, they would be safe.

So they fled toward Luoyang.

Then they spotted a manor with many ox carts and horse carriages parked in front.

Qiao Sheng, being pursued and filled with murderous rage, hardened his heart and led his men to infiltrate. At worst, they would kill everyone inside and then hide there.

Then he encountered Gaohui.

Gaohui hadn’t brought many guards, but he was from a wandering warrior background, and his skills were no worse than Qiao Sheng’s. When the two clashed, although Qiao Sheng didn’t lose, he didn’t win either.

Then Qiao Sheng made the decisive choice to pledge allegiance to Gaohui.

Gaohui was immediately tempted. He said, “Young master, Qiao Sheng is brave and fierce. He’s been a refugee and a bandit—no one understands bandits better. If we want to cross Shangdang and go further north, such a person is indispensable.”