Chapter 148 - Uncle and Nephew’s Consensus

Chapter 148: Chapter 142: Uncle and Nephew’s Consensus"Truly," Zhao Hanzhang solemnly nodded, "More real than gold."

The four people’s hearts slowly settled, and after exchanging a glance, they silently sat unmoving on the ox cart.

The three messengers on the other ox cart became increasingly despairing; although they were still tied up in sacks and couldn’t see the surroundings, they could hear.

Hearing that Zhao Hanzhang soothed people with just a few words, they felt hopeless about returning home in this lifetime.

Clearly, she was waiting for them to escape so she could kill them without any psychological burden; but if they didn’t escape, what good outcome could they expect?

They arrived at Zhao’s Fortress close to evening, where the parents of the four children had already been waiting, and immediately approached when they saw the convoy.

The four children were especially delighted to see their parents, jumping off the cart and running to them, the family embraced and wept bitterly.

Zhao Hanzhang got off the horse, leading Zhao Erlang forward.

After they finished crying, she said, "Uncles and aunts, are your hearts at ease now? They’ve been fine these days, just missing you, so they’ve been a bit thinner because they couldn’t eat or sleep."

The parents carefully examined their children, unable to lie and say they were thinner, thus saying, "Thank you, Third Lady. Come, quickly thank your Third Sister; if not for her soldiers intervening, the fortress wouldn’t have been so easily preserved."

The four children hurriedly turned to Zhao Hanzhang to show their gratitude.

Zhao Hanzhang returned the gesture, touching the smallest girl’s head and smiling.

Only then did they realize Zhao Erlang was back too, and warmly said, "Erlang has also returned; come into the fortress, have dinner at my house tonight."

Zhao Erlang refused, wanting to stay with his sister, glancing around before asking, "Sister, where’s Brother-in-law?"

Zhao Hanzhang apologized with a smile to the relatives before answering Zhao Erlang, "He’s in the county; I’ll take you to see him later."

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Ming asked, "Is Third Lady planning to imitate Yu the Great and not enter the house three times?"

"Oh no, I was just about to go in to pay respects to Uncle."

Zhao Ming’s gaze fell on the ox cart behind, nodding towards it and asking, "Who are these people, and why are there children?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I found some horse caretakers; I’m planning to establish a horse field in Xiping."

Upon hearing, Zhao Ming pondered, "That’s actually a good idea; the fortress lacks horses the most."

"Indeed, if we had enough warhorses this time fighting, Shi Le wouldn’t have breached the city four times; we could have opened the gates and fought him outside," Zhao Hanzhang said, "So I decided to build a larger horse field."

Zhao Ming asked, "Do they know horse selection and raising?"

Horse selection and raising are also technical skills, part of the craftsman’s registry, comparable to blacksmiths in status.

Zhao Hanzhang confidently said, "Yes, and it seems their skills aren’t low."

Zhao Ming then asked, "So, do we have foals?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "I was just about to talk to Uncle about that."

Zhao Ming: "... You found horse caretakers before obtaining foals?"

"It’s about preparation; this is called being proactive. Moreover, horse caretakers are rare; it’s hard to encounter four at once, so how can we wait? What if they get abducted when we turn around?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "As for foals, they are scarce, but I believe with the Zhao Family’s reputation and connections, we can buy some."

Zhao Ming looked at her for a while, directly asking, "Whom do you intend to do business with?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Uncle ancestor had old ties with Liu Yueshi from Bingzhou, and I heard Liu Yueshi has a good relationship with the Tuoba Tribe’s chieftain, perhaps he could help us acquire some Xianbei horses and foals."

Zhao Ming: "How do you know Liu Yueshi’s relationship with the Xianbei is good? He went to Bingzhou less than a year ago, right?"

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled at him.

Zhao Ming rubbed his forehead, contemplating, "Though not impossible, the route from Bingzhou to here is long, and many places are controlled by the Xiongnu. Our Han people’s caravans would struggle to pass through."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "First try with an amount of money; I think Liu Yuan wouldn’t want his trade routes cut off, and merchants have their ways, as long as we offer enough money."

"How much money would it take for them to work so hard?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "What if we had goods that they sought but couldn’t find elsewhere?"

She said, "Don’t worry about how they pass through; we set the price, and as long as they accept it, merchants will naturally find ways to deliver goods to us."

Merchants have their own ways; the paths these aristocratic families can’t find don’t mean others can’t.

Zhao Ming asked, "What do we have here that they absolutely have to come for?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Glaze perhaps."

Zhao Ming: "It’s scarce, but judging by the amount you’ve sent twice, it won’t be scarce for long."

"I’ll have other things by then," things to improve people’s living standards, which they can slowly research since there’s plenty of time, Zhao Hanzhang said, "First draw them here, perhaps they’ll be charmed by our uncle-nephew duo’s charisma and buy horses even without scarce items?"

Zhao Ming: "It’s getting late; since you’re not planning to enter the fortress, then go ahead, take care."

Zhao Hanzhang mounted her horse and smiled at Zhao Ming, "Uncle, treating Third Lady like this will make her sad."

Zhao Ming disdained and waved her off.

Zhao Hanzhang clasped her hands on horseback, "Then I’ll rely on Uncle for this matter, and please help coordinate with Uncle ancestor."

After she finished, she beckoned Zhao Erlang and everyone turned to head to the county.

By the time they reached Xiping County, it was already dark, only vague figures were visible, and the city gate was closed.

The guard at the gate was Ji Ping, who, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, hurriedly called people to open the gate and welcomed them in.

Zhao Hanzhang pointed to the people on the ox cart and said to Ji Ping, "These are the heads and horse officials of our future horse field, make the arrangements for them."

"Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang led the rest back to the county government.

Three large sacks were carried into the courtyard and thrown down, Fu Tinghan hearing the commotion rushed out bewildered with a pen, still wearing wooden clogs, and stared at the constantly rolling sacks on the ground, "What’s this?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "People!"

She called someone to open the sacks, revealing three people.

Fu Tinghan: "Who are these people, and why are they in sacks?"

Luckily the seams of the sacks were big enough, otherwise they could have suffocated.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at the three and said, "Gentlemen, introduce yourselves, won’t you?"

The three messengers: ...

Under the roof, one has to lower their head, the three reported their names indignantly, "I am Du Zhang."

"I am Yu Ji."

"I am Gao An."

Fu Tinghan: "So who are they?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "They are messengers from the Inspector Mansion, here for horses at Shangcai Horse Field."

Only then did Fu Tinghan recall that they had previously taken all the adult horses from the field.

He glanced at the disheveled trio, somewhat sheepishly, "So is this to?"