Zhao Erlang said, “It’s not for me—my soldiers need it. They want to marry wives. How can they marry without money?”

The summer harvest had ended. This year Luoyang’s millet harvest was decent. With grain secured, the soldiers’ hearts grew restless, wanting to fulfill their reproductive responsibilities.

This was an important matter. Zhao Hanzhang perked up. “Are there many with prospects?”

“Not many, just thirteen,” Zhao Erlang said. “But many want to find wives. I asked around—throughout the entire army there are over three hundred men who want to marry. But they have no money. I consulted matchmakers, and they said without money, it’s very difficult to arrange matches for them.”

This was indeed a problem. Zhao Hanzhang pondered. “We should find a way to pay the soldiers some military stipends.”

Due to poverty, Zhao Hanzhang had only sporadically paid stipends for a few months, mostly during their time in Shangcai.

Ever since they left Shangcai and Zhao Hanzhang grew poorer day by day, she had continuously defaulted on military stipends. Being able to feed everyone was already quite good.

Oh, the elite troops of the Zhao Family Army could occasionally still receive a little, but that too was intermittent.

Zhao Hanzhang increasingly missed Zhao Hu. “Why hasn’t Seventh Great-Uncle arrived yet?”

Just as she spoke, a guard came running in. “Commander, a letter has arrived from Yuncheng.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly reached out to receive it, scanning through it rapidly. She didn’t even finish eating. “You all continue. I’m going to write a letter.”

Zhao Kuan and Zhao Yunxin felt like ants crawling in their hearts, desperately wanting to know what the letter said.

Turning to look at Fu Tinghan and seeing he showed no curiosity whatsoever, they asked, “Does Tinghan know what the letter says?”

“No.” But he would know eventually.

So there was no need to be anxious.

It was a letter from Zhao Zhongyu, asking Zhao Hanzhang to send someone to receive Ming Yu, who had agreed to pledge allegiance to her.

The person closest to Yanzhou was in Yuzhou. Among those around Zhao Hanzhang suitable for this task, there weren’t many options.

So she decided to entrust this matter to Zhao Ming.

After finishing the letter, she immediately summoned Yuan Li and handed him the letter. “Take this letter back to Yuzhou and find Zhao Ming. Ask him to go receive Ming Yu. Remember, you must ensure Ming Yu’s safety.”

Yuan Li solemnly acknowledged the order. After receiving the letter, he departed, leaving the city that very night.

Zhao Hanzhang stroked her chin pensively. Once Ming Yu left, the Emperor’s efforts at undermining support would go even more smoothly. But this also meant the conflict between her and Gou Xi would deepen. Zhao Zhongyu staying in Yuncheng was becoming somewhat dangerous.

She frowned, pondering for a moment, then summoned Zeng Yue. “Select twenty men from the army, divided into two squads. Have them secretly infiltrate Yuncheng. Normally they need do nothing—just watch over Zhao Zhongyu. If any trouble arises in Yuncheng, immediately escort Zhao Zhongyu back to Yuzhou.”

Zeng Yue acknowledged. After pausing briefly, he asked, “What about the Great Master?”

Zeng Yue had once been a Zhao household retainer and was accustomed to addressing Zhao Ji this way.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes, contemplating for a moment. “Prioritize Great-Uncle’s safety.”

Zeng Yue immediately understood. Zhao Ji’s life and death weren’t important—could even be disregarded.

Zeng Yue bowed and withdrew.

Communication between Luoyang and Yuzhou was very frequent. Basically every other day, courier soldiers would deliver letters and official documents, since occasionally matters in Yuzhou required Zhao Hanzhang’s attention.

Unlike Zhao Hanzhang, who was busy with military drills, minting coins, and handling official business reported from various regions, Zhao Ming was currently relaxing in his residence, drinking wine with renowned scholars from Yuzhou and visiting literati from other regions.

A famous scholar was playing the qin. He reclined against his table, lightly sipping clear wine, then smiled as he listened.

A servant carefully avoided the people in the garden, walked to the pavilion, approached Zhao Ming’s ear, and whispered, “Young Master, a letter has arrived from Luoyang.”

A letter had just arrived yesterday, and another today. Zhao Ming showed no change in expression as he stood, nodded slightly to his friends, and departed.

The servant followed closely, reporting quietly, “Besides the letter, there’s also a cart of money. The one who brought it back is one of the Lady’s retainers, called Yuan Li.”

“Money?” Zhao Ming’s steps paused only briefly before he quickened his pace. Zhao Hanzhang was sending him money?

In the half year she’d been away, each time she’d only reached out asking him for money. Sending money back—this was truly unprecedented.

Moreover, he knew Yuan Li well. The man’s methods were ruthless, but Fu Tinghan didn’t quite like him. He could sense that even Zhao Hanzhang didn’t particularly like him, though she employed him heavily because he was useful.

Yuan Li waited in the front hall. Seeing Zhao Ming enter, he immediately clasped his fists in salute. “This subordinate pays respects to Regional Commander Zhao.”

“At ease.” Zhao Ming sat cross-legged and extended his hand. Yuan Li immediately respectfully handed over the letter he’d been holding.

Zhao Ming opened the letter and scanned through it rapidly, slightly surprised.

He lowered his eyes, pondering for a moment. “Go rest first. By evening I’ll have arranged personnel for you.”

Yuan Li didn’t ask questions either. He bowed and withdrew. The items he’d brought from Luoyang all remained at Zhao Ming’s residence.

Zhao Ming rose to go inspect that cart of money.

The money was in boxes. A single cart couldn’t hold many boxes, and being copper coins, the value was roughly equivalent to one gold ingot.

But the significance of these coins was completely different.

Zhao Ming had someone bring the boxes down and open them. He picked up a coin and examined it in the sunlight. Turning it over, he saw the character “Zhao” in the lower left corner. He suddenly gripped the copper coin tightly, his eyes lighting up.

After a long silence, Zhao Ming waved his hand. “Put the money in storage.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Ming said pensively, “Put away all the valuable decorations in the residence. From today onward, I shall wear only hemp garments. See our guests off properly and cease hosting banquets…”

He hesitated, then sighed. “Put away all the wine as well. The Commander advocates frugality, and we should learn from her.”

The servants exchanged glances before bowing in acknowledgment.

Zhao Ming looked down at the copper coin in his hand and summoned his personal attendant. “Has there been no reply from Xiping? Father and the others are unwilling to come to Chen County?”

The attendant quickly bowed. “News arrived just this morning—the Great Master and the others departed two days ago.”

Zhao Ming’s expression relaxed. He calculated the travel time. “They’re elderly, so the carriages will move slowly. If they don’t arrive by tomorrow evening, they’ll arrive by midmorning the day after. Have the courtyard prepared.”

“Yes.”

But Zhao Ming waited two full days without anyone arriving. Zhao Ju had already led troops quietly to the Yanzhou border to await receiving Yuan Li and his party, yet Zhao Song and the others still hadn’t reached Chen County.

Zhao Ming couldn’t help suspecting they’d encountered bandits on the road.

But in the past half year, Zhao Hanzhang had ordered Xun Xiu and others to suppress bandits. There shouldn’t be large-scale bandits on the roads. Moreover, they were Zhao family members traveling under the Zhao banner with retainers as escorts.

Just as he worried, Zhao Song and his party slowly appeared outside the city.

Zhao Ming hurried out to meet them. Seeing the vast procession he’d brought, Zhao Ming was speechless for a long while.

“This is…”

Zhao Hu saw him and became very excited. Before the carriage stopped, he stuck his head out and waved. “Great-nephew, I—ptui, ptui, ptui…”

Zhao Hu hadn’t finished a sentence before floating dust filled his mouth. When the carriage reached Zhao Ming, he stuck his head out unhappily. “Zinian, why is this road so dusty? As Regional Commander, you should arrange more people to sprinkle water on this road daily so visiting merchants and guests feel welcomed. Then they’ll enjoy coming to Chen County.”

Zhao Ming replied expressionlessly with a slight bow, “Seventh Uncle speaks truly. I am instructed.”