Chapter 132 - Slum

Chapter 132: Chapter 126 SlumThe situation in the county city is dire, with those of slightly better family backgrounds having been completely looted.

Some have died, and others are injured. Zhao Hanzhang took people to visit each household. Some individuals were still bleeding, with no medicine available, they could only lie in bed waiting for death. In some cases, the entire family had perished, leaving only one survivor.

If Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t taken people inside to dig him out from the pile of corpses, no one would have known he was still alive.

Zhao Hanzhang ordered people to carry the severely injured to the county government for treatment, saying to Zhao Ju, "Tell the night watchman to issue an order that all the injured are to be brought to the county government for treatment."

She said, "The medicinal herbs in the county government warehouse are still there. Personally, take people to take over the city’s pharmacies. The medicines used will be recorded, and later the county government will reimburse them."

Zhao Ju asked quietly, "So will the future County Magistrate reimburse it, or will we?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said, "Naturally, whoever takes charge of the county government in the future will reimburse it. Anyway, take control first. Invite all the doctors to the county government, and also the midwives and veterinarians in the city. Whoever can manage, bring them to the county government."

Zhao Ju looked bewildered, "Midwives and veterinarians..."

"They deal with external injuries, and they’re slightly better at it than you."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "It seems we not only have to raise horses but also need to cultivate some technical talents, such as medical workers."

Zhao Ju only half understood.

Turning the corner of the alley, it was another world. The houses were low, built with wooden structures, and even the streets had shrunk considerably.

As Zhao Hanzhang and her group entered, a few ragged people emerged from the wooden sheds, hiding behind straw in vigilance and looking at them.

Zhao Hanzhang sized them up and saw that they didn’t seem to have external injuries, so she beckoned to them.

The few did not come forward.

Zhao Ju’s face darkened, and he strode forward. Seeing his fierce appearance, the few turned to flee, but Zhao Ju was faster. He reached out and grabbed the back collar of one of them. As the person was about to struggle, Zhao Ju pinched the back of their neck, immediately rendering them motionless.

The other two did not manage to escape either. The soldiers stepped forward as Zhao Ju acted and quickly captured them.

The three were brought before Zhao Hanzhang and made to kneel.

Zhao Hanzhang squatted down to face them. Seeing they were only in their teens, she sighed and asked, "Why did you run?"

The three cautiously looked up at Zhao Hanzhang but said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang sized them up and signaled to a soldier.

The soldier went inside to search and soon found a roll of cloth under the bed. Upon opening it, he found two strings of pearls and a silver bowl.

The soldier handed them to Zhao Hanzhang.

At the sight of the roll of cloth, the three began to struggle violently. Zhao Ju held them down, smacking one on the head, "Behave!"

The three blushed angrily, and one loudly exclaimed, "These are ours!"

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Where did they come from?"

The three remained silent.

Zhao Hanzhang handed the items over to the soldier, fixed her gaze on them, and asked, "Did you kill anyone?"

The three glared resentfully at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, patted them on the head, and said, "Good, as long as you didn’t kill anyone."

Seeing her about to leave, the boy shouted defiantly, "We found these, what we find is ours!"

Zhao Hanzhang had been about to walk away but squatted back down, looked at him for a moment, then smiled, "That’s true, but the chaos in the city was quelled by my people. During the battle, to avoid delay, I didn’t allow them to pick up valuables. Now the battle is over, these are spoils of war, and naturally, I must take them back."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind his filthy appearance, patting his shoulder, "Boy, I can’t let my people shed blood and gain nothing, can I?"

She stood up and was about to leave.

The boy suddenly shouted, "Do you need people? I...I can fight too."

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at him, "You?"

The boy blushed and said, "I’m not younger than you. If you can kill, so can I!"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Alright, then follow me."

The boy immediately stood up and, looking at his two eager brothers, quickly added, "They can too."

The two nodded repeatedly.

Zhao Hanzhang, being generous, waved to accept them all.

The boy swallowed and asked, "Lady, can we earn money like your soldiers when we fight in the future?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "That’s not called earning money; it’s called making money. The soldiers receive military pay, and if things go well in battle, there will be some spoils shared."

"By the way, it seems that your area wasn’t affected by the chaotic soldiers?"

"They came, saw our shabby living conditions, and left without anything to loot," the boy glanced around, then whispered, "Lady, I know who else hid treasures. If I tell you, could I get a share after they’re found?"

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head to glance at him, then suddenly smiled, striding forward, without answering his question, she said to Zhao Ju, "Send someone back to dispatch a unit of soldiers."

Soon, this slum spanning three streets was surrounded. Those who had been hiding inside, pretending not to know Zhao Hanzhang and her group had come, finally couldn’t resist peeking out discreetly.

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyes and signaled the night watchman to advance.

The night watchman stepped forward, banging the drum loudly, his voice booming, drawing out each word, "Everyone come out—Third Sister Zhao requests your presence."

He repeated it three times, but people still only peered from doors and windows, no one stepping into the street.

Zhao Hanzhang told the night watchman, "Inform them, if they don’t come out now, I will send my soldiers to personally invite them. I still have people at the county government, should I call more soldiers?"

The voice was loud enough to be heard throughout the ramshackle streets.

Immediately, someone came out, bringing their family along, timidly approaching Zhao Hanzhang, scared to speak, they laid a broken silver teapot and two strings of money in front of her.

Zhao Hanzhang silently observed.

With the first, the second followed quickly. Most people emerged empty-handed; only a few had items, often things found on the street.

It seemed the bold were in the minority, but it didn’t mean they had brought out everything.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the scattered items on the ground, unimpressed, not questioning whether there were hidden valuables. Once everyone gathered, she leisurely said, "Currently, the county lacks people. The Household Department records were disrupted and some lost. I can’t be sure all of you are still recorded. Since you’re here now, go to the county government to re-register your households. Once I tally the county’s wastelands, I will allocate a plot of land to each household. Before winter arrives, plant wheat."

The crowd was stunned, staring blankly at Zhao Hanzhang.