CHAPTER 321: CHAPTER 315: FEAR

Ma Hao was not slow-witted and understood almost immediately that Zhao Hanzhang was using the money confiscated from County Magistrate Hu to buy grain from him.

Some of the wealth in the Ma family’s villa was indeed left there by the Ma family.

Ma Hao rubbed his forehead, realizing that most of the treasure was probably lost. He made a quick decision, glanced at Ma Zuo, then nodded in agreement, and pointed to Ma Zuo, speaking warmly to Zhao Hanzhang, "This is my younger brother. He has always been in charge of the household affairs. If the County Magistrate wants to buy grain, you can deal with him."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Ma Zuo and took the opportunity to size him up.

Ma Zuo, who bowed slightly, was much more pleasing to the eye than Ma Xuan. Zhao Hanzhang was not stingy with her praise and directly asked, "Since Ma Zuo manages the household affairs, why is Ma Xuan the one handling matters at the county government?"

Ma Hao’s face stiffened, and he hurriedly asked, "Did my younger brother offend the County Magistrate with his words?"

He quickly added, "He has read too much and become foolish. It wasn’t intentional. Please, can the County Magistrate be lenient on my account..."

He was afraid that if Zhao Hanzhang got upset, she might have Ma Xuan killed as well.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand indifferently, "Don’t worry, he’s fine. He’s drinking with County Magistrate Liang as we speak."

Ma Hao: ...

Although she said this, he was still uneasy. After all, it was their first meeting, and Zhao Hanzhang seemed too ruthless.

Zhao Hanzhang smoothly brought up the matter of buying grain. Although he mentioned it would be Ma Zuo’s responsibility, Liang Hong also said that the Ma family was led by Ma Hao.

If the amount of grain she wanted to buy exceeded his limits, it would naturally require his decision. Going back and forth was too troublesome. Since she was here today to visit the sick, it would be convenient to settle the matter.

Therefore, she directly ignored Ma Zuo behind her and said to Ma Hao, "I want to buy two thousand shi of grain from the Ma family."

Ma Hao: ... Why not just say you’re planning to take all the grain from our storage?

Of course, Ma Hao could not sell Zhao Hanzhang two thousand shi of grain, although he could manage to squeeze some out. But if he did, his family would run out of grain.

The Ma family had quite a number of servants and retainers. Of course, they were far from matching the retinue of the Zhao Family, but the daily expenses were also substantial.

Thinking of this, Ma Hao finally decided not to push the trouble onto Ma Zuo and instead engaged in spirited haggling with Zhao Hanzhang.

In reality, there wasn’t much room for negotiation on the price of grain. He was willing to lower the price a little to sell to Zhao Hanzhang. Zhao Hanzhang also didn’t want to drive the price too low; there were still five more counties after Biyang County. She hoped the news of her generosity and wealth would spread, preferably throughout Ru Nan County and even the whole of Yu State, to attract more grain merchants and gentry.

So what they were mainly negotiating was the quantity.

Zhao Hanzhang was eager to buy more, while Ma Hao was determined to sell less.

Listening on the side, Ma Zuo felt a strange sensation. It was the first time he saw a buyer wanting to buy more while the seller wanted to sell less.

In the end, Zhao Hanzhang successfully settled on a figure of one thousand two hundred shi and also agreed on the price.

Zhao Hanzhang was especially generous, saying directly, "I will send someone to bring the money over immediately."

Ma Hao was startled and quickly said, "No rush, no rush. Wait until I have prepared the grain before we make the transaction..."

Zhao Hanzhang, however, smiled slightly and said, "I trust Mr. Ma, so I’ll pay first. I believe we should be able to complete the transaction quickly?"

She said meaningfully, "The people are all waiting for the relief grain."

Ma Hao was at a loss for words to oppose. Could he go back on his word? Could he delay?

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang left, Ma Hao lay back on his bed clutching his chest in pain, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.

After seeing Zhao Hanzhang out, Ma Zuo returned to find Ma Hao, who was somewhat recovered, getting up and saying angrily, "Send someone to the county government to bring Xuan back to handle Zhao Hanzhang. What’s he doing not showing his face when people have come here directly?"

The people came directly to him, but he was still at the county government nowhere to be seen.

Ma Zuo agreed, turned around to leave, but Ma Hao called him back, frowning, "Leave these small matters to the steward. You take some people to the warehouse to count the grain."

He sighed, "The grain in the granary should be insufficient, and we’ll need to send some up from the estates."

Ma Zuo agreed, paused, and then still asked, "Big brother, why did you agree to her? Giving away so much grain, the family will also face difficulties."

"Zhao Hanzhang is a daring person. Giving it to her now is just business; she benefits, I benefit, everyone benefits." Ma Hao paused and said, "If we don’t give it, who knows if the Ma family will encounter bandits and rogues afterward?"

She beheaded a County Magistrate without hesitation. Facing such a County Magistrate, Ma Hao dared not have too high expectations.

Sure enough, Zhao Hanzhang secured the first batch of grain, returned to the county government, and immediately issued announcements, ordering government officials and night watchmen to spread the news on the streets and in all the villages. The content was simple: Biyang County had changed County Magistrate, and the county government was distributing relief grain, instructing villagers to come to the county town to collect the grain personally.

All those who turned to banditry due to poverty this year were granted amnesty. As long as they voluntarily returned home, she would treat it as if nothing had happened and give them some relief grain to help them through the hard times.

The news spread, and since many people knew that County Magistrate Hu had been beheaded by the new County Magistrate, Zhao Hanzhang, many believed her directly and started heading toward the county town with their family registration books.

Many villagers who had been charging tolls in private heard the news and quietly returned to their villages, pretending that nothing had happened.

But some remained on the mountain, insisting on making a living by robbing.

Zhao Hanzhang reviewed the reports submitted by the village chiefs and understood the situation.

The person most familiar with the bandit situation in Biyang County now would have to be Fu Tinghan.

The bandits and rogues had once been good and law-abiding citizens. Before they resorted to banditry, they had household registrations and were under the jurisdiction of the village chief. Therefore, the ones most familiar with the underlying situation were naturally the village chiefs.

And Fu Tinghan, who had aggregated the reports from so many village chiefs, was naturally most knowledgeable about the situation. After Zhao Hanzhang finished reading, he said, "Right now, there are over three hundred bandits in the Houshan Gou area. Besides the original villagers, a considerable number were attracted from other places."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "There are quite a few people."

Fu Tinghan asked, "Shall we suppress the bandits?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "Suppressing bandits would consume substantial manpower and resources. They’ve just started, only robbing passing merchants, and haven’t killed anyone. I don’t want my soldiers to fight them."

Fu Tinghan’s heart stirred, and he looked at her, "So?"

"So I want to offer amnesty!" Zhao Hanzhang said, "First come with good intentions, then with force. Let’s see if we can draw them in."

"Who will speak?"

"Naturally, I will go," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Mr. Ji is not here, and Liang Hong is yet to be fully trusted. Besides, his abilities and prestige aren’t sufficient. Sending him would be a waste. It’s better if I go myself."

Fu Tinghan nodded, closed the booklet in his hand, stood up, and said, "Then let’s go."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him in surprise, "You’re going too?"