Chapter 142 - Alliance

Chapter 142: Chapter 136 AllianceZhao Hanzhang nodded, "Thank my uncle on my behalf, just tell him that I have accepted his kindness. However, the situation in Xiping County has been settled. Since the Fan Family Girl is not accustomed to living in Wu Castle, don’t force her to stay. I will take her away next time I return."

Changqing agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "No one in the clan is bullying the little girl, right?"

Changqing quickly replied, "The Fan Family is known for its loyalty and righteousness, the clan treats them with great respect, how could they bully her?"

Zhao Hanzhang was relieved and returned to the old residence to have the servants pack some gifts to be sent to Fan Ying.

Although the Fan Family is not from Xiping County, County Magistrate Fan served as magistrate in Xiping County for several years. This time, in defending the city, the entire family was killed, leaving only one person alive. Regardless of whether she wants it or not, Fan Ying is pertinent to the stability of Xiping County.

Although Zhao Hanzhang is not afraid of the troubles that differences can bring, who would deliberately seek out trouble if they could avoid it?

Zhao Hanzhang tapped her fingers unconsciously on the table. After thinking through everything and confirming there were no mistakes or omissions, she went to rest, then returned to Shangcai the next day full of energy.

She marched quickly all the way to Shangcai County.

County Magistrate Chai had thought today would similarly be a day of hopelessness, but was caught off guard by her appearance. He was both surprised and delighted, immediately bringing Chang Ning to greet her.

County Magistrate Chai saw the people she brought back and let out a big sigh of relief, "Third Lady, you are finally back."

Zhao Hanzhang bowed, "Hanzhang is fortunate not to have disgraced the mission."

County Magistrate Chai quickly lifted his hand to gesture her to a seat, then asked, "Please tell us how the battle went, how is the situation in Xiping County?"

Although he received a lot of news during this period, he still wanted to hear it from her directly.

Zhao Hanzhang described it to him once, then talked about the casualties among the people she took away this time.

There really were casualties, so she couldn’t return all of County Magistrate Chai’s people fully intact.

County Magistrate Chai had already anticipated this. Actually, after hearing about the battle in Xiping, he thought Zhao Hanzhang would be doing well if she could return even half of the people. To his surprise, the casualties were not very heavy, and he was already quite satisfied.

Zhao Hanzhang casually mentioned the compensation for fallen soldiers, to which County Magistrate Chai casually replied, "The county government will take responsibility."

Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied, and only then did she bring up her family.

County Magistrate Chai immediately indicated that she could take people away at any time.

County Magistrate Chai wanted to get up and send her off, saying, "Third Lady, you have returned triumphantly, you must be missing your family. I won’t keep you from reuniting with them. Shall I have someone lead you to see your lady and Second Son?"

Zhao Hanzhang, however, said, "No rush, no hurry. Although the threat from Xiping’s side has been resolved, I wonder how the situation is over at Yu Yang?"

According to the information Zhao Family received, they are still fighting over at Yu Yang, and the situation is quite bad.

County Magistrate Chai sighed, "The Xiongnu Army has not yet retreated, the situation is not very optimistic."

"Is there still no reinforcements?"

"A troop from Yingchuan has arrived, but..."

Zhao Hanzhang: "But what?"

"Alas, but they lack supplies, and Yu Yang needs to be responsible for it. I was about to discuss this with you, the Inspector ordered all counties to gather food supplies, adding twenty percent to the autumn tax per adult, Third Lady, what about your manor..."

Zhao Hanzhang: "...County Lord, you know that when I led troops to pacify Xiping, the supplies were all from my own resources. Supplying over a thousand people for ten days was not trivial, there isn’t much left from the summer harvest, and as for the autumn harvest... alas, it’s better not to bring it up."

County Magistrate Chai silently met her gaze.

After a while, Zhao Hanzhang asked, "How many troops came from Yingchuan?"

"It’s heard that there are about three thousand, and they are all quite hungry. Without provisions, why would they fight for Yu Yang?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced around at the people in the main hall.

Qiu Wu cleverly led the others out, Chang Ning did not move.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind, leaned closer to County Magistrate Chai and whispered, "County Lord, the Inspector has iron mines in his control, just three thousand troops, would he not be able to support them?"

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Chai couldn’t help but complain to her, "Alas, but those are the Inspector’s private properties, it’s not for subordinates like us to mention."

In the past, County Magistrate Chai would never have said such things to Zhao Hanzhang, as she was a major taxpayer in his jurisdiction. To question the justice of taxation with a major taxpayer, how thoughtless would he be?

But now Zhao Hanzhang is already the actual authority in Xiping County, clearly, Xiping County also has to pay taxes, so in calculation, the two of them are facing the same plight, Zhao Hanzhang has the responsibilities of a magistrate, just not the title.

County Magistrate Chai sighed, "Although Shangcai escaped the ravages of war, the summer tax was already quite heavy, and with the added autumn tax, more people might flee."

Why is it that land that is properly cultivated one year is left fallow the next?

Naturally, it’s because the people who tend to the land cannot pay the taxes and abandon the land, fleeing.

These abandoned lands will be automatically reclaimed by the county government after a certain time, or vanish without a trace.

"But to collect the autumn tax, it needs to wait until after the autumn harvest, by then it’s already winter," Zhao Hanzhang mused, "Do the Xiongnu have the capability to besiege the city? By then, the predicament may have been resolved, or perhaps..."

County Magistrate Chai whispered, "The city will be breached?"

That means misfortune for Shangcai.

County Magistrate Chai was torn, "Should I send the autumn tax over in advance?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him, send what, she preferred to pull him into not paying at all, so she said, "A distant water won’t quench a near thirst, collecting taxes also takes time. If the County Lord knows people close to the Inspector, why not discreetly suggest taking urgent steps against the enemy? Why not take some money out of the Inspector Mansion to first collaborate with Yingchuan troops to drive away the Xiongnu before discussing it further?"

County Magistrate Chai pondered deeply, unable to decide for a moment.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t pressure him. After all, there was still some time before taxes needed to be paid. Seeing that it was getting late, she stood up to take her leave.

By the time she walked out the county government’s gate, it was almost dark. When she reached the courtyard, only the faint light remaining made it barely possible to make out faces.

Mrs. Wang had been waiting early at the courtyard gate; upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang ride up, her tears started flowing, and she gathered her skirt, running over.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly jumped off the horse and caught her, "Mother."

Mrs. Wang felt Zhao Hanzhang all over, then touched the bandages on her palm and wrist, "Are you injured?"

"No," Zhao Hanzhang denied, "It’s for holding the sword more comfortably, to avoid chafing. Mother, do I look injured, jumping around like this?"

Mrs. Wang finally smiled, but her tears were still streaming, "You don’t know how scared I was. There’s been all sorts of rumors in the city these days. They say Xiping County was breached, the rebels slaughtered the city, leaving many dead, even the Zhao Family’s Wu Castle is..."

"None of it is true, these are all rumors. Didn’t I say when I left, don’t believe the outside news, just listen to Mr. Ji?"

"But the Zhao Family even sent out fire seeds, how dangerous must it have been for them to do that?" Mrs. Wang worriedly checked her again, "Are you really not injured?"

"I’m not, I swear."

Mrs. Wang couldn’t bear to make her swear and pulled her back home, "Come on inside, Mr. Ji and Second Son have been waiting for you to eat. We’ve been waiting since we heard you returned this evening, but it’s almost dark by the time you got back..."