After the summer harvest ended, both Luoyang and various parts of Yuzhou began conscripting corvée labor, with each household required to provide one able-bodied man for one month of service.
But both Yuzhou and Luoyang had recently experienced warfare. Especially Luoyang—households with able-bodied men were few and far between, mostly consisting of the elderly, children, and women.
Zhao Hanzhang could only issue another announcement, recruiting paid short-term laborers and encouraging counties to gather refugees to build water conservancy, and furthermore, aside from elite troops, all other stationed troops had to assist localities in building water dams, ponds, irrigation channels, and other water conservancy facilities.
To prevent localities from doing useless work and wasting manpower and resources, Zhao Hanzhang decided to make a trip back to Chen County to meet with Zhao Ming in person so everyone could hold a meeting and establish proper regulations.
She had discussed with Fu Tinghan, Ji Yuan, and others that ideally each township should have one deep well and one water dam or large pond suitable for irrigation, with depth being the priority so water could be better stored.
The choice of location was particularly important. Deep wells needed to be in places where water could be easily drawn, requiring precise positioning. Water dams or ponds for irrigation not only had to consider the irrigation coverage area but also integrate existing channels, connecting them all as much as possible.
This meant they needed many people skilled in mathematics working at the grassroots level.
Students from schools across Yuzhou’s counties, especially Xiping Academy, were directly conscripted. All students who passed the Level Three arithmetic examination had to report to their county offices.
Of course, this was currently just an order. Each school had received the command and was preparing for examinations. The top scorer could accompany their teacher to Chen County to meet the Administrator.
So when the order reached each school, students went crazy studying arithmetic, temporarily setting aside all other subjects.
To better discuss student management regulations, Zhao Hanzhang also called Zhao Cheng to return to Chen County together for a meeting to see the student representatives.
When Zhao Hu learned of this, he was still wandering around Luoyang City. Upon hearing a servant report that Zhao Cheng had packed his things to return to Chen County, he immediately abandoned the agent who was showing him shops and ran straight back to the Zhao residence.
“Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hanzhang—” Zhao Hu barged aggressively into the courtyard but was stopped at the study door. No matter how he pressed forward, the guards wouldn’t budge. When he got closer, they gripped their sword hilts, their gazes cold, radiating an aura of drawing their weapons and cutting him down.
Somehow, Zhao Hu felt they really would cut him down, so he didn’t advance further. Instead, he shouted angrily in front of the guards, “Zhao Hanzhang, I know you’re in there—come out!”
In the study, Zhao Hanzhang smiled apologetically at everyone, had them remain seated, then stood up to go outside. Zhao Cheng’s expression wasn’t good as he also moved to go out.
Everyone else only slightly bowed but remained seated, waiting for her to handle the matter and return to continue.
Ming Yu furrowed his brow deeply, quite displeased. After Zhao Hanzhang left, he turned to ask Ji Yuan, “Does the Administrator always indulge her clansmen this much?”
He was very afraid Zhao Hanzhang would become another Gou Xi.
But Ji Yuan smiled at him. “Mister Ming needn’t worry. The Administrator is a person of great principle. In the future, please remind the Administrator to be more generous with her clan.”
Mister Ming was slightly surprised. More generous?
Ji Yuan’s gaze swept over the unmovable Beigong Chun and others before saying to Mister Ming, “Seventh Great-Uncle is an elder. See how loud his voice is now—couldn’t he break into the study?”
Ming Yu thought about it and realized that was true. If this were Gou Xi, his guards really couldn’t stop Gou Chun.
But perhaps it was because Gou Chun was young while Zhao Hu was already old?
No, no—Zhao Hu was still an elder!
Ming Yu couldn’t help but prick up his ears to listen to the commotion outside.
As soon as Zhao Hanzhang came out, she quickened her pace, almost running down, nodding approvingly at the guards before facing Zhao Hu with a tolerant smile. “Seventh Great-Uncle, what brings you here?”
Zhao Hu was very angry. “You tricked me from Xiping to Chen County, then from Chen County to Luoyang. Now that I’m in Luoyang, you’re sending Zhao Cheng back to Chen County. What are your intentions?”
Zhao Hanzhang looked completely confused, never having expected he was angry about this. She had been worried it was about something major like exchanging new money for old.
“Seventh Great-Uncle, Uncle Cheng is only temporarily returning to Chen County for work. It’s not like he’s not coming back to Luoyang. Just stay peacefully in Luoyang—rest assured, he can’t run away.”
Zhao Cheng: …
Zhao Hu looked at her disbelievingly, then glanced at Zhao Cheng. “You say he won’t run, but will he really not run? Who knows if he’ll go somewhere else after returning to Chen County?”
Zhao Hanzhang was somewhat puzzled. “Seventh Great-Uncle, Uncle Cheng traveled all over before, and I never saw you this angry.”
Zhao Hu looked at her resentfully. “Before was before. I was in Xiping then, and if he ran, he ran—I was angry but helpless. But now I’ve chased him all the way to Luoyang. If he runs again, wouldn’t my trip have been for nothing?”
He said, “When the mountain won’t come to me, I go to the mountain. But when I reach the foot of the mountain, it grows legs and runs away. Tell me, am I not justified in my anger?”
Very reasonable points—Zhao Hanzhang was speechless and could only turn to look at Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Cheng silently met her gaze, wanting to remain unmoved, but Zhao Hanzhang kept making meaningful glances. Zhao Cheng had no choice but to tell Zhao Hu, “Father, rest assured. I will return to Luoyang.”
Zhao Hu wasn’t reassured. “I heard you’re also bringing Zheng’er with you this time.”
Zhao Cheng nodded. “Though Zheng’er is young, he has some talent in mathematics, so I plan to take him back for some practical experience.”
“Luoyang is also building water conservancy. Zheng’er can gain experience here too. Why must you take him back to Chen County?”
Zhao Hanzhang on the side nodded slightly, thinking Zhao Hu made a good point.
Zhao Cheng said, “Here in Luoyang we have Clerk Cao and others—we’re not lacking in people who can calculate. But the prefectures and counties under Yuzhou’s jurisdiction are very short of people. With Zheng’er following me, he can accomplish more.”
This was indeed true, and Zhao Hanzhang also nodded, thinking Zhao Cheng’s plan was correct.
“Bah! You just don’t want Zheng’er following me. Luoyang is so large, taking in so many people every day, and Zhao Hanzhang keeps crying about lacking people. I don’t believe such a huge Luoyang City can’t accommodate one Zhao Zheng,” Zhao Hu said, his face red with anger. “Yuzhou has already held three recruitment examinations, plus the schools opened in various prefectures and counties. There are plenty of people who can do arithmetic—is Zhao Zheng really that indispensable?”
Zhao Hu’s eyes also reddened with anger. “You just don’t want Zheng’er following me, won’t let us grandfather and grandson be close.”
Zhao Cheng’s expression grew somber as he fell silent.
Zhao Hanzhang quickly smoothed things over. “Seventh Great-Uncle has misunderstood Uncle Cheng. Luoyang is large, but isn’t Yuzhou even larger? With so many prefectures and counties below, although we’ve held three recruitment examinations, we’re still extremely short-handed. Brother Zheng is truly good at mathematics—even Tinghan has praised him. He can do the work of ten men.”
Zhao Hu sneered coldly at her. “In any case, you’re just deceiving me. Since that’s the case, I won’t exchange the remaining money.”
Zhao Hanzhang: …
With that, he gave Zhao Cheng a cold look, flicked his sleeves, and left.
Zhao Cheng furrowed his brow tightly and turned to ask Zhao Hanzhang, “The money exchange matter is of great importance. Should I…”
“No need,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Seventh Great-Uncle spoke in anger. He and I have already signed a contract.”
—