Zhao Shen’s spirits lifted at these words, his expression shy yet embarrassed. “Grandfather, I don’t care for fine clothes. A gentleman beautifies the world through virtue – even wearing ragged sacks, he’s still beautiful. What I want to ask you about is how to support a family.”
Zhao Song was moved to tears, looking gratified. “My grandson has grown up.”
Then he said, “You have your father – he’s in his prime. Leave supporting the family to him. You just focus on healing. Tell Shanmin whatever you need, and he’ll prepare it.”
Zhao Shen seriously shook his head. “Grandfather doesn’t understand. I brought back over a thousand people this time. They all need food and drink, so I must support them. Alas, unfortunately I have nothing – supporting myself is difficult, let alone them. That’s why I wanted to ask Grandfather about how to support a family.”
Zhao Ming, who’d been drinking tea, paused mid-motion, raised his eyelids to glance at him, and sneered coldly.
Zhao Song said happily, “Don’t worry. Third Girl has taken care of those people for you.”
Zhao Shen’s smile froze. “Taken care of them for me?”
“Yes, didn’t you know?” Zhao Song said. “Third Girl evaluated merits and bestowed rewards. You and your friends all earned merit. At the time, Third Girl asked about their wishes. Those willing to pursue military careers, she enrolled in the army. Those wanting security, she also distributed land, residences, money and grain to settle them – very thorough in all aspects.”
Zhao Shen: “… I didn’t know?”
Zhao Song tilted his head. “I didn’t tell you?”
Zhao Shen woodenly shook his head.
Zhao Song turned to blame Zhao Ming. “I’m old and forgetful – why didn’t you remember to tell Shen’er either?”
Zhao Ming: … This could also be blamed on him?
Zhao Shen also looked at him reproachfully.
Zhao Ming raised his eyebrows, looking at him with a half-smile.
His father blaming him was one thing – that was his old man. But where did Zhao Shen get the nerve?
Meeting Zhao Ming’s gaze, Zhao Shen immediately straightened his eyes, the reproachful expression instantly vanishing, sitting obediently back without moving.
Zhao Ming snorted coldly, simply put down his tea cup, stood up to look down at his son. “The Great General left you a very important position. I see your wounds are mostly healed – tomorrow go find the Great General.”
When Zhao Shen shuffled over to the Zhao mansion with his hands tucked in, the personal guards were carrying boxes outside, securing them on carts.
Seeing Zhao Shen, guards immediately blocked him, then someone went inside to report.
The emperor currently lived at the Zhao mansion. With Zhao Hanzhang also there, the mansion was heavily guarded.
Zhao Hanzhang was reviewing memorials. The little emperor sat beside her, listlessly looking over memorials first. Zhao Hanzhang even allowed him to write his suggestions on them.
Unfortunately, after looking all morning, the little emperor hadn’t written a single useful suggestion.
Seeing someone enter, he greatly relaxed, immediately standing. “Great General, you have matters to attend to. I shall withdraw first.”
Zhao Hanzhang put down her brush and stood, bowing with cupped hands. “This minister respectfully sees off Your Majesty.”
The little emperor ran off as if mad dogs were chasing him.
Zhao Shen watched his retreating figure, thinking he resembled Zhao Ce from several years ago, who always fled in panic whenever studies were mentioned.
Oh right, Zhao Ce was one of his cousins, one of the Zhao family’s famous wastrel children. According to his grandfather, he’d taken the recruitment exam four times and even used Zhao Hanzhang’s back door but still couldn’t get appointed. Now he was looking everywhere for opportunities. Zhao Song was furious about this, feeling he’d wasted a good name.
Zhao Shen withdrew his gaze, looked up at Zhao Hanzhang, and smiled slightly. “Shen pays respects to the Great General.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and waved. “Cousin Shen needn’t be polite. Please sit.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s time was precious, so she didn’t engage in much small talk, directly asking, “Is Cousin’s health fully recovered? Can you travel?”
Zhao Shen paused, swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue, and honestly answered, “Already recovered. I can travel.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Cousin rendered great service to the nation and has the talent of a general. I greatly admire this, so I wish to appoint you as Vice Minister of War.”
Zhao Shen was slightly stunned. “Vice Minister of War?”
“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang searched on her desk, found an official document and handed it to him. “I plan to slightly reform the official system to facilitate handling national affairs, prevent official negligence, and allow the people to live in peace.”
Zhao Shen opened it to read. The memorial should have been written by Zhao Hanzhang herself – he’d seen Zhao Hanzhang’s letters at his father’s place, and the handwriting matched.
The memorial stated that since the Eastern Han governed national affairs through the Six Bureaus, official bureau titles and duties had changed over time, causing confusion among the people about officials’ responsibilities – sometimes even officials themselves weren’t clear about their respective authorities and duties.
Local officials frequently overstepped their authority. Now that the world was stable, Zhao Hanzhang hoped to clearly define each official’s authority and responsibility, so that in the future when local problems arose, accountability and rewards would be properly applied.
She changed the Six Bureaus to Six Ministries. Among them, the Five Military Bureaus became the Ministry of War, which together with the other five ministries would answer to the Minister of Personnel. Besides this, she also clarified the responsibilities of the Secretariat and the Censorate. After all, national affairs were numerous. Even if Zhao Hanzhang worked herself to death, she didn’t want to die young, so she needed to delegate the administrative system.
As for her, since she couldn’t be emperor for now, she’d temporarily serve as Prime Minister – overseeing court affairs and managing all officials, which was also proper and justified.
“I’ve read Cousin Shen’s ‘Ten Memorials on Military Training’ that you wrote to Uncle Ming. I very much agree with some viewpoints. With your talent, you’re worthy of the Vice Minister of War position.”
Zhao Shen swallowed, shamefully tempted.
His eyes gleaming, he stared at Zhao Hanzhang and asked, “Which point in the Ten Memorials does the Great General find most agreeable?”
“Garrison farming,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Supporting troops through farming – soldiers in wartime, farmers during planting season, training when idle, supplemented by elite troops – this is currently one of the best methods for maintaining an army.”
Zhao Shen’s eyes grew even brighter.
This was a letter he’d written to his father two years ago. Though his letters and his father’s often missed each other, most of his letters sent back were delivered, since he moved around while home didn’t.
He’d written this after hearing of Zhao’s army’s reputation.
He was far away in Shu but had heard of Zhao’s army’s prowess, naturally knowing the Zhao family had undergone major changes and was no longer what it once was.
But the more this was so, the more he worried.
Maintaining an army could protect oneself, but it was a double-edged sword that could easily turn and wound oneself after initial success.
Zhao Shen had thought about how to make the family endure, or at least not be harmed by this sword.
Even someone like Wang Yan had to rack his brains for the family’s survival – Zhao Shen couldn’t avoid this either. After much deliberation, his suggestion to the family was to bind soldiers to the land.
As Chinese people, regardless of social class, there was a deep attachment to land.
To control soldiers, the best method was binding them to the land – this not only stabilized military morale but also solved part of the provisions problem, preventing the Zhao family from being dragged down by the army.
Zhao Hanzhang’s current financial difficulties stemmed half from the army’s enormous expenditures.