Chapter 300 - 294 Warning
With the experiences of Xiping and Shangcai County, Zhao Kuan found the settlement and construction of Yu Yang relatively smooth, as they not only had precedents to follow but also had experience.
Zhao Hanzhang began to engage with the affairs of Ru Nan County, which is why she kept Ji Yuan by her side and specifically left Zhao Ju to recruit and train soldiers in Yu Yang.
She said, "I’ll give you a quota of one thousand, and later someone will bring the provisions and weapons."
Zhao Ju did not question why Zhao Hanzhang needed to maintain such a large force; he simply followed orders, thus accepting without hesitation.
Zhao Kuan was terrified and couldn’t help but quietly run back to see Zhao Ming, but as soon as he started, Zhao Ming said, "These are your Yu Yang affairs. I’m merely a small County Magistrate of Xiping County; it doesn’t concern me, so there’s no need to tell me."
Zhao Kuan: ...
He understood and thus said nothing, sneaking back to Yu Yang and turning a blind eye. When Zhao Ju requested a military camp, he had people build it through work-for-relief programs.
As a result, a brick workshop was also established in Yu Yang County.
Zhao Hanzhang was very generous, not only providing technical personnel for the brick workshop but also opening a Treasure Pavilion in Yu Yang. The goods sold inside were the same as those in the Treasure Pavilion of Xiping, allowing some merchants to purchase affordable paper, books, glass, and other goods in Yu Yang without having to go to Xiping.
At this time, Zhao Hanzhang issued her second directive after taking office as Magistrate: she ordered the county magistrates to meet her in Xiping before the Mid-Autumn Festival to attend her coming-of-age ceremony.
Zhao Hanzhang was about to come of age; her birthday was on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since she was still mourning, she initially did not want to make it a grand affair.
But Ji Yuan discussed with her, believing she should find an opportunity to meet the county magistrates. Her birthday banquet served as a good excuse.
Whether the coming-of-age banquet happens or not, the main thing is to bring the people there first.
It’s said new officials bring three fires; even if she has none, she needs the county magistrates to meet this new Magistrate.
Zhao Hanzhang agreed, thus issuing orders to the county magistrates.
By the time the county magistrates received the mandate, they had become numb. The court was now fragmented, and the emperor was being jostled between Prince East Sea and Gou Xi, so having a female superior didn’t seem incomprehensible.
Zhao Hanzhang had no prestige, but out of respect for the Zhao Family, they still had to go.
The new Magistrate had moved the county’s administration to Xiping.
Therefore, the county magistrates began preparing gifts to attend the new Magistrate’s coming-of-age banquet.
In contrast, the Zhao Family seemed much colder, yet they still sat together to discuss, "Is Third Lady’s coming-of-age banquet really going to happen?"
"Didn’t she send someone back saying it was just an excuse to meet the county magistrates?"
"Since it’s already been said, it might as well be done well."
"Still in mourning, it wouldn’t be appropriate to have a grand affair."
Everyone looked towards Zhao Song, waiting for him to decide.
Zhao Song sighed, saying, "On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, there will be no alcohol, only tea; after all, it’s Third Lady’s important day. Since the guests are invited, they should be well hosted."
He said this but still wasn’t entirely pleased, "Third Lady shouldn’t be having a grand coming-of-age banquet; it could wait till after mourning, why rush?"
Zhao Ming: "She’s not doing it to flaunt herself but to meet the county magistrates. They might not come without an excuse."
Zhao Song hadn’t yet fully processed that Zhao Hanzhang was the new Magistrate and sighed, asking, "What exactly are you all trying to do?"
Zhao Ming didn’t speak.
Zhao Song couldn’t help but say, "Zi Nian, we, the Zhao Family, are descendants of loyal subjects; don’t you and Third Lady make a mistake, otherwise..."
He paused, lowering his voice to say, "Even if you are my son, I would not spare you."
Zhao Ming: "... Father, you are overthinking, Third Lady just wants Ru Nan County for her own peace. We, the Zhao Family, are in Ru Nan; if we can make Ru Nan County an iron-clad region, Wu Castle would be much safer too."
Zhao Song’s expression was serious, unclear if he believed it.
Leaving the study, Zhao Ming thought for a moment and decided to go to the Xiping County Government.
Zhao Hanzhang was training troops, and only Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan were in the county government.
Zhao Ming didn’t bother with Ji Yuan, who was dealing with administrative affairs, and instead went to find Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan was drawing; he thought Eleventh Ancestor moved too slowly, and with the Zhao Family youths taken by Zhao Kuan, there were few left who could draw.
Since he wasn’t busy, he decided to do it himself.
When Zhao Ming arrived, Fu Tinghan was immersed in his drawings, with scattered sketches and manuscripts around him, holding a ruler to match each piece.
Unlike Eleventh Ancestor, who would cross-check sketches and manuscripts, draft once, ensure accuracy, then copy again, Fu Tinghan would look over the sketches and manuscripts and start drawing directly, fluidly, as if the drafts were initially his work.
Zhao Ming stood at the door for a while, seeing he was so absorbed, Zhao Ming didn’t speak, just stood quietly.
The map of mountains and towns was almost complete. Fu Tinghan’s speed was indeed fast; a day’s work by him was equivalent to that of ten Zhao Family youths in a day.
Such vast knowledge and wisdom, yet he seldom engaged in administrative affairs; Zhao Ming rarely saw him interact with the officials in the county government.
After finishing the last direction of the road, Fu Tinghan turned his sore neck and, raising his head, noticed Zhao Ming standing at the door, slightly surprised.
He put away his brush and ink, got up, and said, "Uncle Ming, when did you arrive?"
The nearly numb-legged Zhao Ming casually replied, "I just got here."
He invited Fu Tinghan, "Where’s Third Lady? Shall we go meet her?"
Fu Tinghan wanted to review the remaining sketches and manuscripts, so he said, "She’s in the military camp; you can go find her yourself."
Zhao Ming insisted, looking at him, "Come with me."
Fu Tinghan, surprised, looked at him, saw his determination, thought for a moment, then gathered the scattered drafts, nodded, "Alright."
Fu Tinghan locked the door, handed the key to Fu An, and then left with Zhao Ming.
The servants had already prepared horses for them.
Zhao Hanzhang was in the military camp outside the city, so they headed straight out of the city.
But Zhao Ming wasn’t in any rush; instead, he slowed his horse and asked Fu Tinghan, "How many times have you been to the military camp?"
Fu Tinghan said, "I haven’t counted, but it’s frequent."
Zhao Ming humorously asked, "Are you also going there to train soldiers?"
Fu Tinghan replied, "I go to exercise and watch them train."
Zhao Ming asked, "I heard you are also keeping troops in Yu Yang? Including the private soldiers in Shangcai Manor, you have quite a number of soldiers, right?"
Fu Tinghan said nothing.
Zhao Ming halted his horse, gazing piercingly at Fu Tinghan, and asked, "What is your limit?"
Fu Tinghan asked, "Why doesn’t Uncle Ming ask Hanzhang?"
Zhao Ming dismissively said, "She can’t be trusted to speak the truth."
Fu Tinghan disagreed, shaking his head, "Though she talks a lot, she rarely deceives."
Zhao Ming silently observed him.
Fu Tinghan smiled, "Uncle Ming, I’m serious; she may like to boast and flatter, but the promises she makes are never false. If you want to know something, just ask her directly."
"And what about you?" Zhao Ming asked, "Don’t you have any thoughts of your own?"