Chapter 432 - 426 Encounter
Zhao Hanzhang judged in favor of Fang Jing, and thus was impartial. Indeed, all craftsmen from Xiping were assigned to Fang Jing, and the Glass Workshop also began to take orders from Fang Jing.
However, Zhao Hanzhang also gave Zhao Hu enough face, sending craftsmen from Shangcai. Firstly, to measure the area needed for Zhao Hu’s glass windows and glasshouses, and to complete the design; secondly, to visit and learn from the team in Xiping.
Shangcai is not far from Xiping, the craftsmen there can make glass windows as well, though certain details need to be communicated with the carpenters.
Indeed, whether it’s glasshouses or glass windows, collaboration with carpenters is essential.
Zhao Hanzhang has carpenters at her disposal, and Zhao Hu has even more, with skills not inferior to Zhao Hanzhang’s team. Through cooperation, many window frames were quickly made, and designs for glasshouses were completed.
The people from the Glass Workshop split into two groups: one to blow glass windows, and the other to prepare the glass needed for the glasshouses. As they busied themselves, Zhao Hu personally found craftsmen to lay the foundation.
So his pace was not slow at all.
The Treasure Pavilion did not breach its contract with Fang Jing, as the contract was signed with the Treasure Pavilion in Xiping. Who could object to Zhao Hanzhang bringing the Shangcai Glass Workshop people over to serve Zhao Hu?
Because of this, the Zhao Family relatives were all smiling and privately remarked: "Old child, old child, Seventh Uncle is so old already, yet still behaves like a child, and Third Sister indulges him as well."
"Luckily Zitu isn’t here, or there would have been another quarrel."
As these words spread, everyone said that Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family’s relationship had become more harmonious, passing along Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation for fairness, valuing talent, and treating Xiping talents well, spreading far and wide, which Fang Jing naturally heard of.
Looking at the glasshouse that was almost completed, he sighed deeply, realizing things didn’t go as planned; Zhao Hanzhang was more cautious and clever than he thought.
She easily managed to handle such likely pitfalls.
The Zhao Family’s cohesion was also stronger than he imagined, observing the Xiping Zhao Family, he seemed to see a newly ignited flame, growing steadily.
At the heart of the flame stood a fledgling phoenix, which could not be reached through the flames to harm her.
He sensed urgency, especially upon seeing the steadily arriving trade caravans and people, with the whole Yu State gradually recovering vitality.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stay to watch the conclusion of their wealth contest, and once Zhao Ming returned, she gave brief instructions. After escorting Ji Yuan and others back to Chen County, she and her team went on a patrol across Yu State.
She decided to head to Nanyang Country first.
Of course, she wasn’t alone. Fan Ying and several officials from the Inspector Mansion accompanied her, maintaining contact with Chen County. Major decisions still required her approval, and Ji Yuan also needed to communicate various information with her.
Fu Tinghan also accompanied, wishing to draw maps.
Maps are important, making the collection of topographic data crucial. The most straightforward method was for each county to survey and sketch, which he’d compile, along with extracting useful information from county records.
Meanwhile, he also planned to observe the condition of disaster victims across regions, using gathered data to assist Zhao Hanzhang in devising relief policies.
Zhao Hanzhang knew she was no longer what she used to be; now there were countless people who wanted her dead, so she was cautious, having Qiu Wu assign five hundred cavalry to accompany her.
Five hundred cavalry could conquer a county, despite its small number, its mobility and weaponry were unmatched by any county or country attempting direct confrontation with this troop.
Zhao Hanzhang communicated her itinerary only to Zhao Ming, so the Zhao Family was unaware when Zhao Hanzhang left one morning. They were eagerly waiting to see Zhao Hu and Fang Jing’s glasshouse showdown.
Fang Jing also wished to do it well, even if his schemes didn’t succeed, he didn’t want to fail elsewhere.
He vaguely knew Zhao Hanzhang was aware of his schemes, and failing at the glasshouse would make him appear incompetent.
It was too disgraceful; Fang Jing also had pride.
He didn’t know Zhao Hanzhang had left Xiping.
Zhao Ming, who was aware, allowed them to battle, even adding fuel to the fire, letting this news spread out of Xiping, causing it to stir in all directions, successfully attracting a bunch of spectacle-seeking merchants and local aristocracy.
Many came to Xiping to witness the clash, making the already festive atmosphere of Xiping even more lively.
Galloping on the path, Zhao Hanzhang eased her horse, so the mounted team behind slowed as well. Zhao Hanzhang reined in her horse, listened attentively, raised an eyebrow, and turning to Fu Tinghan, she said: "It seems there’s a fight ahead, let’s go check it out."
Fu Tinghan lifted the scarf covering his ears slightly, realizing he couldn’t hear anything, glanced at her, and nodded.
Zhao Hanzhang then ordered preparations for battle, with Ting He immediately taking down the long spear strapped to her back, throwing it to her.
Zhao Hanzhang received it and led two hundred people ahead, leaving three hundred to shield Fu Tinghan and his group forward.
Riding fast ahead for a while revealed a curve, turning around it, there was a group of ragged people besieging a trade convoy, engaged in fierce combat.
The ragged refugees wielded wooden sticks, stones, and fiercely struck and threw them at the convoy’s guards, who unhesitatingly hacked at them, attempting to break out of the encirclement...
But the refugees were too many, and their efforts to break out repeatedly failed.
A trapped person inside an overturned carriage finally crawled out, swiftly drew a longsword, blocked a fast-approaching wooden stick, kicked the attacker away, and stabbed him once, quickly surveying the situation, realizing breaking out with goods was impossible, thus turned to his aide: "Take the luggage, abandon all goods, everyone should just escape!"
With this order, cries filled the convoy, many smaller merchants following them wept. Losing this batch of goods may break their limbs, possibly leading to family ruin.
Just then, Zhao Hanzhang led two hundred members charging out of the curve. The youth about to abandon goods and flee immediately recognized the mounted lady, his eyes brightened, calling out: "Zhao Hanzhang!"
He kicked away attacking refugees, leaped onto a fallen carriage, waved towards the distant cavalry, shouting loudly: "Third Sister Zhao, Lord Zhao!"
Zhao Hanzhang, with keen ears, heard someone in the scene calling her name, glanced over, her gaze precisely falling on the young man.
She raised a brow slightly, directing the cavalry behind her to split into four, five squads as a team, directly charged into the crowd, dispersing the gathered refugees.
She didn’t personally charge in, but reined in her horse halfway up the slope, observing the impact battle from a vantage point.
Zhao Erlang led a team, remembering his sister’s words, didn’t use lethal force. He charged in, jabbed the long spear, accurately striking the arm holding wooden sticks, and as the opponent wailed, flipped the spear on his chest, flipping him to the ground.
The sound of hoofbeats was urgent, the refugees seeing the warhorses charging swiftly towards them instinctively retreated in panic, Zhao Erlang refrained from attacking them, as the warhorses leaped in front of them, sweeping past those gathering attacking the convoy, refugees fell to the ground...