Upon reaching Lu County in Shangdang, Zhao Hanzhang met Wu Erlang and entrusted Ming Yu to him, instructing, “You must protect Master Ming well. On the surface, you are in charge and Master Ming is an advisor, but the team should follow Master Ming’s directions in all matters.”

Wu Erlang acknowledged.

Having finished with official business, Zhao Hanzhang then mentioned his personal matters. “Your nephew and niece are both in Chen County now. This time I’m returning to support Yuzhou. If you have anything you want to tell them, you can write a letter and give it to Ting He later. When we return to Chen County, I’ll deliver it to them.”

Wu Erlang was overjoyed and repeatedly agreed, hurrying away to write the letter.

Wu Erlang originally could not read. He was just clever. But over these years traveling north and south, needing to read account books, he learned to recognize many characters.

He could not compare with his younger nephew and niece, but he had learned quite a few characters. He just was not very good at writing, and what he wrote was quite poor. Still, he loved writing letters to his nephew and niece.

The central theme was always: you must study hard and repay the young miss in the future, practice martial arts diligently to achieve merit on the battlefield in the future and bring glory to our ancestors; don’t spend the money I give you carelessly, save it up for when I return to marry a wife. If I can’t get a wife, it will be my retirement money, and I still need to buy a house…

Only at the very end would he briefly mention that he was very safe outside and ask them to take care of themselves too.

Wu Erlang’s merchant caravan only traveled in the north. The impression he gave outsiders was that his master had some connections with Zhao Hu, so he could obtain many rare goods from Yuzhou.

People outside did not know he was Zhao Hanzhang’s man.

Wu Erlang and Ming Yu led several carts of treasures toward Xihe State. This matter was of great importance, so Zhao Hanzhang assigned them another unit of Zhao Family Army soldiers, plus over ten carts of goods. The caravan was grand and imposing, looking very prosperous.

However, ordinary bandits and horse thieves would not dare provoke them.

Once they departed, Zhao Hanzhang separated from Ji Yuan. She led the main force in a rapid march back to Yuzhou, with Fu Tinghan accompanying her.

People’s thoughts can change. We must view this world with a dynamic perspective. Stubborn persistence only leads to ideological rigidity.

So after using gunpowder once, Zhao Hanzhang had completely opened this Pandora’s box. Whether what emerged was demons or deities, for now, she had the say.

Fu Tinghan said nothing more. If she wanted it, he would make it for her.

Wei Prefecture and Ji Prefecture had already been taken by Beigong Chun and Zu Ti. When Zhao Hanzhang passed through, the officials left behind in the territory occupied by Beigong Chun all came to pay their respects. Zhao Hanzhang met with them only briefly, then ordered them to clear the roads to let the army pass.

When she reached the areas Zu Ti had taken, he had also long since instructed people to clear the roads. Zhao Hanzhang led the army in a rapid march through. Going further would be Dunqiu Prefecture, which Shi Lei had already taken.

Shi Lei needed the army for attacks. He did not leave many people behind to govern and garrison the territories.

He also knew that if he had to leave enough people to govern and garrison each place he conquered, his forces would be far from sufficient. So he still had to use local people for governance.

Therefore, when there were officials who surrendered, he would use those officials, or he would select a gentry member from the locality to act as administrator.

With Shi Lei’s forces totaling only about a hundred thousand at most, he could not very well slaughter all the officials, gentry, and common people in every city he conquered, could he?

So he would just kill the chicken to warn the monkeys—execute some people as a deterrent, then continue to use local people for governance.

This resulted in the people in those cities mostly still being locals, even the officials still being Jin subjects, Jin people.

When Zhao Hanzhang’s army arrived, the people in the city from top to bottom did not have very strong will to resist. Only the garrison Shi Lei had left behind fought desperately to resist.

But when a cannon shell fell on the city tower, blowing the people on it away, the ladder team that had been waiting rushed forward rapidly. Ladders were erected, and they climbed up swiftly, leaping onto the city tower…

Dunqiu County instantly fell. The ladder suicide squad opened the city gates, and the vanguard army charged into the city. Only after the gates were completely secured did Zhao Hanzhang lead her people into the city.

The city streets were in complete disarray. Apart from injured and dead soldiers and prisoners squatting on the ground, the entire city was silent and still, as if there were no other people.

Dunqiu County Magistrate Cui Shi led the county yamen officials and local gentry, kneeling not far away. He stole a glance at Zhao Hanzhang riding toward them on horseback, immediately bowed his body even lower, almost prostrating himself completely on the ground.

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to speak. Several village elders kneeling at the front with Cui Shi trembled slightly, their hands pressed on the ground barely able to support their bodies.

They lowered their eyes, not daring to raise them even an inch. Their eyes could only see a tiny bit beside their thumbs. At this moment, their hearing became very keen. They heard heavy and orderly footsteps approaching them. They knew this was the Zhao Family Army!

They did not know how Zhao Hanzhang would deal with them. Although rumors said she always treated prisoners well, they were different from ordinary prisoners. They were Jin people who had first surrendered to Shi Lei, and in just one month, when the Zhao Family Army attacked the city, they had switched allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang again. Would she accept them?

Lost in anxious thoughts, Cui Shi’s arm pressed against the ground was suddenly grabbed and forcefully lifted up.

Cui Shi looked up in a daze and saw Zhao Hanzhang half-crouching, helping him up.

Cui Shi did not dare to rise. He only straightened his waist slightly and repeatedly said he did not dare.

Zhao Hanzhang then asked, “When Shi Lei attacked Dunqiu, what were your casualties? After entering the city, did he make things difficult for you?”

Tears suddenly burst forth from Cui Shi’s eyes. He grasped Zhao Hanzhang’s hand and wept bitterly, momentarily unable to catch his breath, tears and mucus flowing together.

He raised a sleeve to wipe his face, wanting to stop crying, but somehow could not hold back. Even he himself did not know his heart held so much grievance.

The officials and gentry behind him heard this and could not help but sob aloud as well, tears streaming down their faces.

Zhao Hanzhang also could not help but moisten her eyes. She forcefully helped Cui Shi up, then went to help the village elders behind him, choking with emotion as she comforted them, “I know, wanting to defend the city was very difficult for you. In this city are your parents, wives, and children, and so many common people depending on you. The burden on your shoulders is very heavy. You have been put in a difficult position, truly a difficult position!”

At these words, the village elder she was supporting could no longer hold back. His body sank down as he sat on the ground and wailed loudly. The others also followed suit, crying loudly, and the scene was filled with weeping.

Cui Shi wiped away his tears and mucus, his eyes red as he knelt on the ground again and bowed deeply. “Grand General, these words shame us. We, as Jin subjects, failed to defend our territory. As Jin people, we could not defend with our lives. We are truly ashamed before the world. If we were not worried about this entire city of common people, we truly would rather die for our country.”

Zhao Hanzhang tried to help him up, but seeing he refused to rise, she took his hand and said, “Magistrate Cui, you are wrong. The significance of a city that must be defended is that its existence can protect more common people, such as Shangdang, Luoyang, and other places. Because pulling one hair affects the whole body, they must be defended to the death.”

“As for other cities, their survival or destruction is more related to the life and death of the city’s people.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Magistrate Cui, by preserving the people of Dunqiu, you have already made me very happy.”

She smiled and said, “What I wish for is that the common people under heaven can live and work in peace. I don’t care whether you are under Jin state, or under Liu Cong, or under Shi Lei. As long as you can live well and make your own lives good, I am already satisfied.”

“If you cannot do so, then you must first stay alive. When in the future I have the ability to protect you, I will naturally protect you again.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “You did very well this time, preserving the vast majority of people. I am very grateful to you, and His Majesty will also be very grateful to you.”

Hearing this, tears burst from Cui Shi’s eyes again. He grasped Zhao Hanzhang’s hand and wept bitterly. “Grand General, Governor, in Shi Lei’s campaign, our Dunqiu County suffered thirty-six thousand deaths and injuries. I waited long for reinforcements that never came. I truly had no choice but to surrender to the enemy. Otherwise, he would have slaughtered our entire city.”

Zhao Hanzhang, with tears in her eyes, helped the man up and nodded. “I know, I know. The situation was sudden, and all areas could not provide support in time. This is the fault of me and the Grand General, and His Majesty. We did not arrange things properly for you.”

After the group cried together and vented their emotions sufficiently, Zhao Hanzhang helped up the leading few people, and everyone went to the county yamen together.

Cui Shi glanced at the prisoners being escorted out and hurriedly indicated that some of them were their own people.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Rest assured. Someone will identify their status. Moreover, my Zhao Family Army has always treated prisoners well. They will be fine.”

Only then did Cui Shi feel relieved. He turned back to look outside the city. From here, he could still see the army arrayed in orderly formation outside the city. He swallowed hard and hurriedly said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Grand General, should we invite the army into the city?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “They will be stationed outside the city. These people in the city are sufficient. We will not stay long. The future governance of Dunqiu will still depend on you.”

Cui Shi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He actually also feared the army entering the city. Then Dunqiu County would likely experience another round of plunder. The disaster scene when Shi Lei’s army entered the city was still vivid in memory.

The gentry listening nearby also sighed in relief, then hurriedly gave Cui Shi meaningful looks. Cui Shi immediately said, “Then I’ll have people prepare grain, supplies, vegetables, and meat to reward the army…”

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept across their faces and she shook her head. “No need. You have just experienced calamity, and your days are also very difficult.”

She looked at the several village elders behind Cui Shi and said solemnly, “But if you gentlemen have surplus on hand, please aid the common people in the city. I know that when Shi Lei’s army entered the city, they certainly plundered. This year’s conditions were already poor, and everyone’s days were already difficult. Encountering this disaster again is, for ordinary common people, no different from utter catastrophe.”

“The vitality and prosperity of a place cannot be separated from the local common people. I ask you village elders to help them so they can get through this difficult time.”

The village elders’ eyes reddened, and they hurriedly nodded in agreement, expressing that upon returning they would immediately have people bring out grain for disaster relief.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, then returned to the county yamen with Cui Shi.

She politely declined their invitation to hold a banquet, then discussed with them in detail the future reconstruction work of Dunqiu County.

In just over an hour, Fu Tinghan and Fan Ying had already sorted out the situation in Dunqiu County, finished counting Shi Lei’s remaining people, and handed the dead and injured to Cui Shi to handle. All those still alive and intact were taken as prisoners.

Other local garrison troops, yamen runners, and others who had been captured were all released. At the same time, they also tallied up the spoils from this battle and assessed the financial situation of Dunqiu County.

Fu Tinghan and Fan Ying only made simple records. Their notes were quite hasty, but Zhao Hanzhang read them very carefully. After examining them carefully, she pondered for a moment, then said to Cui Shi, “I will leave you some weapons and armor to facilitate your future defense of the city.”

Cui Shi’s eyes brightened greatly, and he hurriedly agreed.