Zhao Yi Gui was the best female student in Class B. A month ago, she was selected by Zhao Hanzhang as the magistrate of Wuyi County and went south from Yan together with Zhao Yi Cheng, Zhao Jia Shi, and others to take up their posts. They had also just assumed office barely over half a month ago.
These three were all orphans who had long forgotten their surnames, so when they performed excellently in school and received rewards, they chose to take Zhao Hanzhang’s surname Zhao.
There were many orphans in the school who chose to follow the Zhao surname. Zhao Hanzhang knew this was one of Ji Yuan’s methods to secure her position, but because of this connection, she truly doted on these children more.
She also knew that Zhao Yi Gui and Zhao Yi Cheng had mutual affection for each other. In a few more years, they might very well become one family. That’s why she specifically arranged them in neighboring counties—to facilitate their contact.
As soon as they entered the county office, Zhao Yi Gui knelt down, crying, “My lady, Zhao Jia Shi and Zhao Yi Cheng died unjustly. This rebel uprising came swiftly and fiercely—it doesn’t seem like something that could be achieved on short notice.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, helping her stand and asking, “What did you discover?”
Zhao Yi Gui stood up, wiped her tears, and said, “The rebel army moved extremely fast. From the sudden uprising to attacking Wuyi County took only three days. I was able to hold Wuyi County because Zhao Jia Shi and Zhao Yi Cheng warned me, and with Fucheng providing a buffer and alert, which is how I managed to defend Wuyi County.”
Although the three had all done internships in government offices before, this was their first time being magistrates with sole responsibility. The three were not only classmates from the same school but had all been granted the Zhao surname, so naturally their feelings were different. Thus they frequently kept in contact.
The three county seats formed a triangle, all neighboring counties not far from each other. The three frequently exchanged experiences. When the atmosphere in Ji County seemed off, Zhao Jia Shi sensed something. He wrote separately to Zhao Yi Cheng and Zhao Yi Gui: “Regarding the work-for-relief matter, most common people can accept it. Although what’s given is little, it can keep those who work alive. However, the daily grain distributed is hard to sustain family members beyond oneself. The grain seeds distributed are often stolen and eaten. I can only strictly punish and reason with them, but with minimal effect. There are still quite a few people in the county harboring resentment. Moreover, people still starve to death daily in the county. The people’s anger grows day by day.”
“I’ve tried every method, but after the great locust plague, even grass and trees are gone. Even the hair on cattle and horses was devoured by the locusts. In such circumstances, I’m truly incapable. The situation in Youzhou is even worse. Your Excellency has already given us relief grain. To shamelessly ask for more would only transfer the difficulty to Your Excellency. All six provinces suffered disasters, and warfare just ended. Where would Your Excellency conjure grain from to aid us?”
Zhao Jia Shi wrote: “I can only repeatedly comfort and explain, hoping the people will endure with me a while longer. When the beans, melons, and vegetables mature, at least they can fill the gap for a time. They clearly listened and their anger diminished somewhat, but I don’t know why—the next day the resentment increased again. I suspect someone is using the disaster to deceive people’s hearts.”
Zhao Jia Shi wrote this letter partly to have Zhao Yi Cheng and Zhao Yi Gui help him think of solutions, and partly to have them pay more attention to their own counties’ situations.
Zhao Yi Gui raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face, saying to Zhao Hanzhang as she carefully read the letter, “Not long after receiving this letter, I suddenly heard of the great upheaval in Ji County. Zhao Jia Shi, he went out of the city to comfort the rioting rebels but was killed by a clerk named Wang Heng at his side. Ji County rebelled.”
“I immediately knew his suspicions were correct—someone must have been using the disaster to deceive people’s hearts. He must have discovered something. I wanted to organize people to rescue Ji County, but didn’t expect them to be so swift in raising a rebel army of twenty thousand. That very day they attacked Fucheng.”
Twenty thousand people—what did that number mean? Wuyi County, having just experienced disaster, didn’t even have twenty thousand people within the city. Most common people were scattered in various estates and villages outside the city. Currently, those registered as living in the city numbered only slightly over eight thousand.
Across the vast fields, one could walk for half a day without necessarily encountering a person. Yet Wang Heng was able to raise a rebel army of twenty thousand in such a short time.
Zhao Yi Gui at the time felt things were bad and immediately sent people to Fucheng while also sending a letter to Xindu requesting aid.
Previously during the war, Zu Ti had left no garrison troops in the various counties of Jizhou, so each county only had bailiffs and soldiers numbering less than a hundred—all personnel needed for daily operations.
Zhao Yi Cheng defended the city for two days before finally having the county officials escort many women and children to flee to Wuyi County. Not long after they left the city, the rebels broke through the gates, and Zhao Yi Cheng died defending the city.
Zhao Yi Gui used the two days Zhao Yi Cheng had bought for her to rally the people, quickly form a city defense force, further reinforce the gates, and prepare plenty of stones and arrows needed for defending the city. Only then was she able to hold out until Zhao Hanzhang arrived.
This was also her good fortune—she happened to encounter Zhao Hanzhang and her group returning south.
Zhao Hanzhang folded the letter, reached out to press her shoulder, and said in a low voice, “You are all excellent. Rest assured, I won’t let those who incited this behind the scenes go unpunished.”
While they were speaking, Fu Tinghan had already led people to compile statistics on all the rebel troops and searched them thoroughly. He flipped through several letters that had been submitted, feeling his heart pounding heavily with an ominous premonition.
He turned and brought these letters to find Zhao Hanzhang. “Look at these.”
Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take them, discovering they were letters she had written to Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan during this period.
Her brows furrowed as she asked, “Where are the messengers?”
“All dead. Starting from the letter about the army returning to court, all letters sent from the northern lands to Yuzhou were intercepted.”
Zhao Hanzhang laughed in anger. “Excellent. So when the peach ripened, they came to pick it.”
Fu Tinghan was very worried about Yuzhou. “The Emperor’s side has probably met with trouble.”
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought, then said, “They’re currently in Meng County, not far from Chen County. With Xun Xiu there, there shouldn’t be any problems. Uncle Ming and Teacher Ji aren’t pushovers either.”
Zhao Hanzhang paused here, her brows furrowing tightly. “Xun Xiu……”
Fu Tinghan looked at her. Zhao Hanzhang also raised her head to look at him. The two locked eyes, both feeling somewhat uneasy.
Zhao Hanzhang gripped the letter in her hand and finally snorted coldly. “No matter who it is, I’m not someone who only knows how to smile and not get angry.”
She turned to ask those around her, “Where is Fan Ying now?”
The personal guard following Zhao Hanzhang immediately bowed and answered, “Chief Administrator Fan is still in Bingzhou.”
Zhao Hanzhang then said, “Have her change her route and come to Jizhou. For the six provinces affected by disaster this year, grant her the authority to inspect them. She should not only examine officials but also collect public opinion and pay attention to movements among the people.”
“Yes!” The personal guard noted this down.
Thinking of the two people who hadn’t been beheaded earlier, Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fu Tinghan and said, “You’re tired. Go back and rest first. I need to go see two people.”
Fu Tinghan roughly knew who she was going to see and didn’t ask to follow. He nodded and advised, “Great anger harms the body. Don’t get too angry.”
“I know.” Zhao Hanzhang casually agreed, but when she saw the two people hanging there, rage still flared up in waves. She sneered coldly and walked forward, circling the two men before asking those around her, “They haven’t confessed?”