Zhao Ming didn’t feel at all that he was an unfilial son, but he also didn’t want to provoke his father too much, so he obediently returned to his room.

Zhao Song took a long while to calm down, and decided to vent his anger on Tan Zhong, believing that if he hadn’t come, father and son would never have quarreled over ancestral property and clan property, nor would they have grown annoyed with each other over their different attitudes toward Zhao Hanzhang.

In the end, wasn’t it all because of these properties?

So Zhao Song angrily wrote a letter to Zhao Zhongyu. His letter and Tan Zhong’s letter arrived in Zhao Zhongyu’s hands almost simultaneously through different channels.

Zhao Zhongyu first opened Tan Zhong’s letter to read. Tan Zhong very objectively described what he had seen, heard, and experienced after arriving in Xiping.

Then he spoke frankly, saying that Sanniang had borrowed the authority of the senior branch and added favors on top of that, already winning the hearts of everyone in the fortified estate. If the grievances between the two branches could not be resolved, the master’s prestige within the clan would likely be damaged, and in the future the second branch would also find it difficult to advance.

He also wrote: As for the ancestral property and clan property, although Fifth Great Uncle has relented, he doesn’t trust outsiders and has some complaints about the master as well. However, in Tan’s view, the Xiping ancestral home still wishes to support the master, so perhaps speaking frankly about the difficulties might resolve the current predicament.

After reading Tan Zhong’s letter, Zhao Zhongyu’s heart sank by three parts. He then opened Zhao Song’s letter, and his heart sank even more.

Zhao Song, carrying the force of his anger, spoke somewhat bluntly and excessively, not as tactfully as before.

He first mentioned the matter of rent exemption, then said: Tan Zhong cannot make decisions and still needs to write to ask you, but this back and forth takes ten days. If the road is difficult and the messenger encounters disaster, this letter might never be delivered in a lifetime. Must clan affairs, regardless of size, all wait for your decision before being resolved?

Don’t you see the disappointment in the eyes of the clansmen and tenant farmers? Once is acceptable, but over time, what prestige will the clan leader’s lineage have within the clan?

If the clan leader lacks leadership ability, benevolent virtue, and an inclusive manner, how can the clansmen pledge their allegiance?

If the clansmen and tenant farmers cannot pledge allegiance, how can the family exist?

Then he began discussing Zhao Changyu, praising how unified and progressive the clan was when he served as clan leader, how strong the cohesion of the clan leader’s lineage was. Finally, he couldn’t help but praise Zhao Hanzhang as well, saying Sanniang greatly resembled her elder brother in bearing, what a pity she wasn’t born male.

He also jabbed at Zhao Zhongyu, saying, “If you truly cannot rest easy leaving clan affairs aside, why not have Dalang return home? That would be better than entrusting matters to advisors who cannot make decisions.”

The Dalang that Zhao Song mentioned was Zhao Zhongyu’s grandson Zhao Yi. He and Sanniang were the same age, just a few months older. Of course, Zhao Song didn’t actually think Zhao Zhongyu would let Zhao Yi return to Xiping.

He deliberately wrote it to provoke Zhao Zhongyu.

Look, Sanniang can now serve as head of the household, and Dalang is even a few months older than Sanniang, yet still under his grandfather’s protection.

However, at this moment Zhao Zhongyu actually began seriously contemplating the matter of Zhao Yi returning home.

He was still thinking about it when Zhao Ji hurried in, “Father, the great army has retaken Luoyang.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhongyu’s eyes brightened slightly, “Where did this news come from?”

“A messenger just returned to report the victory. The person coming to fetch you should already be on the way.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of armor clanking came from outside, and a colonel came to request Zhao Zhongyu’s presence, “Minister Zhao, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Zhao Zhongyu put away both letters, responding while rising, asking: “I heard the court has achieved a great victory?”

“Yes,” the colonel couldn’t help but show a smile, “General Cao has already led the great army into Luoyang and is clearing scattered soldiers along the way. We can return to Luoyang before long.”

The colonel spoke correctly. The emperor had summoned Zhao Zhongyu to discuss returning to Luoyang.

Of course it wasn’t just him, but many officials. Prince Donghai stated on the spot that they could return within ten days at the latest.

In other words, he already had victory in the Battle of Luoyang firmly in hand.

Counting it up, they had been away from Luoyang for four months. Everyone was utterly exhausted. If they could return…

When Zhao Zhongyu returned to his residence, he immediately began writing letters. He told Tan Zhong to return, and that the properties would still be managed by the clan.

Then he began writing to Zhao Song about the misunderstanding with Sanniang, hoping he could take better care of Sanniang and resolve the grievances between the two branches.

In the middle he emphasized his difficulties in court, and told him the court would soon return to the capital…

Writing to the end, Zhao Zhongyu paused, but still expressed: “The ancestral property is used for worshipping ancestors, while the clan property is mostly reserved for building the clan’s fortified estate—neither can be touched. I still have some private property under my name. I know that when Sanniang returned home she lost her luggage and life has been difficult. Although my private property may not be much, there should be some surplus after the summer harvest. I’ll give that surplus to Sanniang to make their lives more comfortable…”

Letters took time to go back and forth. Zhao Hanzhang certainly wouldn’t wait in the fortified estate for Zhao Zhongyu’s letter—she had many things to do.

So after inspecting her properties, she brought Fu Tinghan into Xiping county town. The two of them especially looked at luxury goods in the county town, feeling they were about the same as in Shangcai.

Seeing a blacksmith’s shop, Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan inside.

The iron shop was filled with various sickles, kitchen knives, hoes, plowshares…

Fu Tinghan searched for a long time before finally seeing a few swords and sabers in a basket hanging by a pillar. He stepped forward and carefully drew one out, “Don’t you already have a sword?”

“I want to commission a spear head,” Zhao Hanzhang flicked the sword in his hand, listened to the sound, looked at the sharpness, and felt this iron wasn’t good enough. She disappointedly withdrew her hand, “I also wanted to look at farming tools. The wheat has been harvested, and next comes planting beans. I want to see if we can improve the farming tools to make them more efficient.”

Fu Tinghan had studied this in junior and senior high school history, but his memory of it was limited, so he silently followed Zhao Hanzhang as she browsed around.

The blacksmith was also quite proud. Seeing them enter the shop, he let them look around while continuing to forge iron on his own. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang about to leave in disappointment, he clanged the iron blank into the fire pile and wiped the sweat from his neck with a cloth, saying: “There’s only my iron shop in this entire town. If you don’t buy here, you won’t be able to buy anywhere.”

Just that domineering.

Zhao Hanzhang stopped in her tracks, raising an eyebrow to ask: “Surely you’re not the only blacksmith in Xiping?”

“That’s right, I’m the only blacksmith. Even Zhao Family’s fortified estate comes to me for farming tools. Whether you need a spear head or farming tools, you must find me.”

Zhao Hanzhang then drew a sword and stepped forward, asking: “Is there better craftsmanship than this available?”

The blacksmith stepped forward to feel the sword and said: “There is, but it’s expensive—needs several more rounds of forging.”

“Money is not an issue,” Zhao Hanzhang pointed at the sword, “But your skill must be worthy of the money I give.”

The blacksmith listened carefully and sized up Zhao Hanzhang, asking: “Does the young lady only want a spear head?”

Zhao Hanzhang took out a gold piece from her purse and placed it on the table, smiling: “First forge the spear head for me. If it’s good, naturally it won’t be just a spear head. If it’s not good…”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “My humble surname is Zhao. Just return the gold piece to Zhao Family’s fortified estate.”

Hearing this, the blacksmith didn’t dare be negligent. He glanced at the gold piece and after a moment’s hesitation still accepted it, “I wonder which branch the young lady is from? How should I deliver the spear head when it’s forged?”

“I’m from the senior branch. When the spear head is forged, send it to Fifth Great Uncle at the fortified estate. I’ll send someone to your shop to collect it.”

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