This question was easy to answer. The farmers replied, “The land over there is too good. Even if we plant it now, it’s useless. In a few years, some noble person might come to buy it. Then wouldn’t we have planted for nothing all those years?”

“Might as well choose a decent plot now to plant and nurture the soil.”

Although the land was good, burning or pulling out the grass still took considerable effort. They also feared that after improving the land, when nobles came and waved their hands, they’d seize the land the farmers had cultivated.

That would be nothing. What if there were still crops in the field at that time, and the crops got seized too?

Such things had happened before.

These kinds of incidents were also one of the reasons more and more people tended toward selling themselves into slavery.

But selling oneself into slavery meant being even more at others’ mercy. So as long as there was even a bit of hope, they didn’t want to sell themselves.

The farmer who chose to sell himself wanted to use the sale money to treat his mother’s illness.

Zhao Hanzhang understood what she wanted to know and said directly, “Just go over there and choose whichever land you fancy to cultivate. As long as you can clear and plant crops on the land, I’ll have the county office make land deeds for you.”

She added, “Do you have enough seed grain? If not, go apply at the county office. I’ll have some sent over. You can collect it directly from the county office.”

The farmers frowned upon hearing this. Zhao Hanzhang lowered her head to look at their farming tools.

They directly used hoes to loosen the soil a bit, then scattered wheat seeds. Not only was this method slow, but it didn’t achieve deep and meticulous cultivation.

However, it was understandable. Without sufficient labor or animal power, they could only carry hoes to loosen the ground themselves.

Finding several oxen and delivering them immediately might not be easy for Zhao Hanzhang, but sending some farming tools wasn’t difficult.

She said, “I’ll have the county office provide you with some farming tools. I’ll strive for twenty plows per li. You shouldn’t be rigid either—you can help each other as neighbors.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Three families can form partnerships. Today plow this family’s land, tomorrow that family’s. Won’t three people working together be faster and more efficient than one person laboring alone?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at the wheat seeds that had just been scattered. With some distaste she said, “Not to mention that such large soil clumps are hard to cover, even if they could be covered, with such shallow holes, how will the wheat seedlings survive winter? It won’t be easy to apply fertilizer next year either.”

The farmers’ faces reddened slightly, then they all looked at her in shock.

They secretly shifted their eyes to appraise her, swallowed, and asked tentatively, “Who might the young lady be?”

“I am Zhao Hanzhang.”

The farmers fell to their knees with a thud, prostrating themselves with all five points touching the ground. “Commander!”

Zhao Hanzhang was so frightened she stepped back two paces. Recovering, she quickly stepped forward to help them up. “No need for such formality. If I cannot make you feel secure as commoners and you must seek survival by selling yourselves, this is my failing.”

The person she helped up trembled all over, tears covering his face, unable to speak.

Actually, they had another reason for choosing to sell themselves. This year’s corvée labor had been quite heavy. They had just completed a month of service. Although the office hadn’t announced it, they felt next year’s corvée would be even heavier.

But heavy corvée didn’t mean they didn’t respect and admire Zhao Hanzhang.

Although it was difficult to continue living as commoners, they still felt grateful that Zhao Hanzhang had given them a relatively stable place to settle.

Before, this area was constantly fought over. They were also seized again and again—first plundered by the court, then by Prince Donghai, then by the Xiongnu, then by passing refugees, and they’d still encounter bandits when going out…

Their parents, brothers, even wives and children had basically died or been scattered during this process, never to be seen again.

But now, they only had Zhao Hanzhang above them.

The court could no longer collect taxes from them. There were no Xiongnu invasions. Occasionally encountering refugees and bandits, soldiers from both Luoyang and Chen County would come out to suppress bandits and could protect them.

They only needed to deal with Zhao Hanzhang alone.

So this year, even if her corvée was a bit heavier and more tiring, everyone could still accept it.

If not for truly having too few people at home and difficulty gaining harvests from farming, they would very much like to be subjects under her rule.

With Zhao Hanzhang’s apology, they cried even harder, raising their hands in shame to cover their faces. “We are unworthy to face the Commander.”

One farmer explained, “It’s truly not that we’re unwilling to be the Commander’s subjects, but life is really too difficult. My family only has me and my twelve-year-old sister. She injured her hand while fleeing. With just me farming alone, I really can’t support both of us.”

Zhao Hanzhang held back tears, forcefully supporting those who wanted to kneel again, and nodded. “I know. This isn’t your fault. It’s the court’s failure to protect you. It’s my failure to give you a stable life.”

If one could be a proper person, who would want to become a slave like livestock, with life and death dependent on another person?

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “I’ll give you land deeds to ensure you can cultivate whatever good land you desire. I’ll provide you with grain seeds and farming tools so you can cultivate more fields. You can partner with each other and help one another. Under these circumstances, are you willing to continue being my people?”

Several farmers looked at each other, then immediately knelt down. “We common people are willing!”

Zhao Hanzhang breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the tears from her face, and pulled them up. “If one person cannot reach where flowers bloom abundantly, why not join with fellow travelers and help each other?”

The efficiency of one person farming three mu versus three people farming nine mu together was completely different—the former was far slower than the latter.

Each household had few people, so they could completely form partnerships.

Zhao Hanzhang pondered—how many more people in Luoyang and Yuzhou were struggling alone here because their families had scattered?

Without clan members nearby to support them, they could completely find people to form alliances with.

She was the same. Besides Xiliang and Gou Xi, she should also seek more help. There was Shu, which had been remaining aloof, Chang’an trembling while caught between her and Xiliang, and Jiangnan which was now the financial backbone of the court…

Zhao Hanzhang fell into thought. Zhao Hu beside her was so angry he blew his beard. “Zhao Hanzhang, intercepting people is one thing, but now you won’t even sell me the land!”

Zhao Hanzhang instantly returned to her senses and placated him. “Seventh Grand-Uncle, forget about people here—even birds barely shit here. What would you buy this land for? Don’t you have enough land already?”

She said, “Look at the land I’ve had you buy—Chen County, Luoyang, all first-rate excellent locations with large populations. With a little management they’ll become prosperous. That’s when it won’t be a loss. If you buy this land now but can’t find people to cultivate it, it’ll still end up abandoned here.”

“I’ll say the ugly words up front. Even if you’re my grand-uncle, you still have to follow the rules I’ve set. Land that goes uncultivated for three consecutive years after purchase, I’ll still take it back.” Zhao Hanzhang said very sincerely, “I’m not letting you buy land here entirely for your own good.”

Only then did Zhao Hu feel better.

This place was indeed remote. Although the land was good, cultivators were hard to find. Buying it without anyone to cultivate it was useless.

Zhao Hu finally set aside his thoughts.

Zhao Hanzhang also withdrew her gaze from this vast wasteland. If she let Zhao Hu buy this land, at most it would just be cultivated. This place was remote with few merchants passing through. The people it could support wouldn’t bring much economic benefit.

With this money, Zhao Hu would be better off opening several more shops elsewhere or setting up a few more workshops.

The group returned to the road. Just then the carriages from behind arrived. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t continue riding but directly boarded her own carriage. However, she had Fu Tinghan, Zhao Cheng, and Wei Jie all board together to discuss matters.

They discussed until evening when they stopped, and still hadn’t finished. Several of Zhao Cheng’s students and Zhao Zheng together served as their secretaries, recording their orders one by one.

Zhao Hanzhang and the other three formulated several policies. Once they reached Luoyang, these could be announced in both places. At the same time, the Ministry of Works would be responsible for delivering some farming tools to various locations.

They discussed and determined quantities in the carriage. This was thanks to Fu Tinghan—only he could remember how many townships each county had without consulting records.

Having Zhao Zheng and the others take notes, Zhao Hanzhang sat by the fire and turned to look outside.

There were more than ten scattered thatched cottages and earthen houses, all in terrible disrepair. Several houses were on the verge of collapse, seeming ready to topple in the cold wind.

The house they were currently staying in was the best in this small village, but looking up one could still see the moon and stars in the clear sky, visible through the broken thatch and twinkling little stars above.

This was an abandoned village.

And in Sizhou and Yuzhou, there were many such villages. Beyond the two provinces, in Jizhou and Bingzhou, there were only more, not fewer.

Just as she was worrying, Ting He came in with a red face, leaning close to her ear to whisper softly, “Miss, this servant has had someone set up a privacy screen in a nearby house.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at her. If it was just for convenience, just say convenience. Why a screen? When leading troops in battle, didn’t she also relieve herself outdoors?

Zhao Hanzhang directly stood up.

Ting He followed behind to attend her, complaining softly, “When we left, Madam had already arranged for screens to be brought. They were supposed to be set up all along, but we haven’t used them once this whole journey. Tonight we finally have a place to use one, but Zeng Yue has no sense.”

Zhao Hanzhang said indifferently, “The cycle of five grains is all normal. It’s only you all who must be refined, unwilling to speak of it directly, being evasive and secretive, which makes it even more awkward.”

She said, “Say it openly and honestly—who would dare peek? And if they did, you speak up and I’ll gouge out their eyeballs for you.”

Ting He: “…I was afraid you’d be embarrassed, Miss.”

“I’m not embarrassed at all,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If I were embarrassed, I shouldn’t be commander of the Zhao Family Army.”

Zhao Hanzhang walked into the house. This was an earthen room that leaked even more severely. At this moment, a screen had been set up inside with a chamber pot placed within.

Zhao Hanzhang twitched her lips. Actually, she would rather dig a hole outdoors to take care of it. Otherwise someone would have to wash the chamber pot…

She undid her belt and was about to proceed when Ting He outside the screen let out a sharp scream. Zhao Hanzhang instantly pulled back the screen curtain, stepped forward in two strides to pull her behind herself, and looked ahead with sharp eyes.

The people outside were also startled. Zeng Yue drew his long blade and rushed quickly to the door, calling loudly, “Miss, what happened?”

Fu Tinghan also ran out. “What’s wrong?”

Zhao Hanzhang had already clearly seen what had frightened Ting He. Her voice lowered slightly as she said, “Nothing.”