Zhao Hanzhang sat alone in the seat representing the chief, then with a wave of her hand, people went to prepare food. Her standard of living barely returned to what it had been before.

Oh yes, the refugees who had walked ahead of them had also mostly been robbed and brought up the mountain. Shi Jian had followed Shi Lei for many years and deeply understood the importance of people, so when robbing, if there was money he’d rob money; if not, he’d rob people, directly absorbing them as subordinates.

At this moment, all this benefited Zhao Hanzhang.

With Shi Lei present, when he expressed obedience to Zhao Hanzhang, Shi’s soldiers naturally followed in obedience. Zhao Hanzhang met with them one by one, directly reorganizing them into squads.

Because there were few people, she temporarily set it as one company of five squads, one squad of five men, with vacancies to be filled later. This was to leave positions for newcomers and also to dilute the influence of the former Shi army.

Therefore, over two hundred people were divided by Zhao Hanzhang into ten squads, with her as Grand General in command.

Shi Lei watched her divide the groups and had to admire her. “Governor Zhao is formidable. A battalion normally has a thousand men at full strength, yet with just over two hundred you’ve made a battalion.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him: “People? Where aren’t there people?”

She had Shi Jian go bring all the refugees robbed up the mountain.

Shi Jian couldn’t help but turn to look at Shi Lei. Shi Lei noticed Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze also looking over, his expression becoming stern as he said gravely: “The Grand General told you to go, so go. Why are you looking at me?”

Shi Jian pressed his lips together, gave Zhao Hanzhang a perfunctory salute, then withdrew to fetch the people.

Zhao Hanzhang slightly raised an eyebrow, saying to Shi Lei who was barely sitting in his seat: “General Shi, this trusted general of yours is indeed unruly. But that he doesn’t submit to me is one thing—why is he so disrespectful even to the General?”

Shi Lei kept a stern face and apologized for him: “A man from the countryside who hasn’t studied and doesn’t know propriety. I ask the Governor to forgive him.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and shook her head: “It’s not a matter of impropriety. It’s just, if he truly respected and submitted to the General, how could he so question Your decisions?”

Shi Lei lowered his eyes without speaking.

Zhao Hanzhang left it at that, waiting for Shi Jian to bring up the refugees robbed today.

There were quite a few—old, weak, sick, and disabled totaling fifty-eight people. Since they’d just been robbed, aside from having their possessions taken, the people had no injuries.

Only when suddenly brought to this clearing and stared at by so many bandits, they trembled with fear.

Upon seeing that the one sitting in the place of honor was a young woman, they only paused briefly before obediently accepting it, kneeling down one after another.

What was strange about this?

Wasn’t the new Grand General of Jin currently a young woman?

They had just knelt when they heard the woman above say: “I am Zhao Hanzhang. This bandit lair now belongs to me. I’ve called you here for two reasons: first, to return the things robbed from you; second, to let you choose a destination.”

The refugees stared blankly, not immediately understanding her meaning.

Standing to the side, Awei also felt his head buzzing. From when Zhao Hanzhang and Shi Lei began addressing each other by official titles, he had felt an ominous premonition.

In this world, how many young women could be respectfully addressed as Governor?

Throughout the land, including the Xiongnu Han state, only Zhao Hanzhang had such honor.

When she revealed her own name, Awei felt like firecrackers going off in his head during New Year’s, crackling nonstop. He staggered, nearly falling sideways.

Fu An was quick-eyed and caught him, grumbling dissatisfied: “What are you doing? Can’t even stand properly?”

Awei’s lips trembled: “I, she, I said Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t a loyal and righteous person, that she had treasonous intentions.”

Fu An muttered: “You weren’t wrong. A mere Jin state isn’t worth our lady’s loyalty.”

Awei’s lips continued trembling: “I, I also said Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t worthy of my service…”

Only then did Fu An remember this detail. His eyes brightened as he quietly asked: “So will you leave?”

He had long been dissatisfied with Awei, who kept giving their young master attitude. Though they’d only known each other one night, Fu An seemed to have developed years of resentment toward him. Hmph, good riddance if he left. Their young master was magnanimous enough not to hold grudges, but he didn’t like such people around the lady.

Awei’s whole body shook, his expression changing several times before he finally gritted his teeth: “I’m not leaving!”

His voice was too loud, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced over. Fu An immediately stood properly, staring at his own toes without moving, distancing himself from Awei.

Awei’s face flushed red. After thinking, he simply stepped forward and knelt, raising his head: “La… Governor, I, Awei, won’t leave. I’ll follow you.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…I wasn’t asking you. I was asking them. Step aside for now.”

“Oh.” Awei silently got up and returned to his original position.

This commotion actually relaxed the refugees considerably.

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Those unwilling to stay can take their belongings and leave. Since you’ve walked to this point, clearly you don’t wish to travel with the main refugee group. Why not go to Wu’an County? My Zhao Family Army just took it, and you can settle there and be allocated farmland to cultivate. Now that hostilities between the Zhao and Shi armies have ceased, it’s temporarily safe.”

She continued: “Those willing to stay—this bandit lair is also our temporary dwelling. With a bit of tidying up, we’ll also head to Wu’an County.”

The refugees’ hearts stirred. Someone boldly asked: “Lady, you’ll truly let us leave?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded: “Once we depart, you can disperse on your own.”

Shi Lei narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. Letting them disperse only after they themselves left—it seemed they would be leaving quickly. Moreover, she was preventing the refugees from spreading word of her being here.

Zhao Hanzhang naturally had to be cautious. After all, news of Shi Lei’s surrender to her hadn’t yet been announced to the world, and Shi’s army hadn’t truly surrendered.

This wasn’t something that could be accomplished with a single written order. It required careful planning. So while she seemed to democratically give the refugees two choices, there was really only one.

Sure enough, after quietly discussing with their families and companions, the refugees asked: “Governor, we still have some strength and naturally wish to follow the General. But our wives and children at home—the weak ones are weak, the young ones young. How can they join the army?”

Zhao Hanzhang laughed heartily: “Having you follow me doesn’t mean all of you must enter the military.”

She said: “Building cities requires many hands—textile sewing, cooking, tilling fields. Once we reach Wu’an County, there will naturally be suitable positions for you.”

The refugees’ eyes brightened.

Though their homeland was far from Yuzhou, Zhao Hanzhang’s great name had long resounded throughout north and south. They had previously been under Han state governance, where the Xiongnu nobles above always said Zhao Hanzhang harbored ill intentions and would one day rebel against the Jin Emperor, also saying the bandit Zhao was cruel and vicious, specifically eating the hearts and livers of small children.

But they also had information circulating privately. Reportedly, the common people in Yuzhou lived far better than those in other states. Perhaps because Zhao Hanzhang was a woman, naturally softhearted, she treated her subjects especially well, particularly women and children…

Those in power who could sympathize with the weak generally weren’t the worst rulers.

That’s why they followed the southern exodus. But too many vicious people were among the refugee crowds—their possessions had been mostly robbed. If they kept following, they feared for their lives later. That’s why they considered going on their own, first choosing a place to settle, thinking about the future later.

Now that Zhao Hanzhang would lead them…

In any case, they were all heading to Wu’an County. Going on their own versus following Zhao Hanzhang—naturally following her was better.

Not only would safety be guaranteed, perhaps they could even cultivate some connection with Zhao Hanzhang.

They were common folk who had spoken with Governor Zhao herself.

—