CHAPTER 324: CHAPTER 318: RECRUITMENT 3

It sounds rather pitiful, but Zhao Hanzhang doesn’t empathize much with them, as it was looted goods.

However, Zhao Hanzhang finds it difficult to blame them since they didn’t become bandits out of greed, laziness, or because they liked to fight, but because they truly couldn’t survive otherwise.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Do the villagers still have land? Have they sold it?"

Not treating them as bandits but as ordinary citizens, not only was Wei Dayi comforted, but the dozen or so young men who came down the mountain with him also felt comfortable and a bit aggrieved.

"We still have some land, but we’ve sold some too. Particularly good fields still have buyers," said Wei Dayi. "Now, with so much land lying fallow, as long as one can pay taxes and afford seeds, the land can be cultivated as one wishes. Few are willing to spend money to buy land."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and said to him, "When you return to your respective villages, I will have the county government give you a batch of grain seeds and tools. After the autumn harvest, you can start preparing to plant winter wheat."

Wei Dayi paused for a moment and then asked, "But after coming down the mountain, what will everyone eat?"

There was no insistence on wanting to stay on the mountain to be bandits.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Haven’t you planted any rice and beans at home?"

Wei Dayi felt a bit embarrassed and mumbled, "The harvest from the fields wasn’t good. We always have to keep some for the family. Moreover, not long ago, some were so hungry they ate the young crops, and there’s not much left in the fields."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "I will try my best to arrange relief grains."

Wei Dayi lowered his eyes in thought, while the young men behind him were restless. Who would want to be a bandit if they could be a civilian?

So, they quietly tugged at Wei Dayi’s sleeve.

Wei Dayi then raised his eyes to look at Zhao Hanzhang, his gaze serious and solemn, "Zhao County Governor, after we come down the mountain, can you and the government truly let bygones be bygones?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "I keep my promises."

Wei Dayi swallowed and asked, "But what if the merchants we robbed come looking for us for compensation?"

Zhao Hanzhang was taken aback as she hadn’t considered this issue, "Will they come looking for you?"

Wei Dayi looked serious, "It’s something that needs to be considered."

Better safe than sorry; it’s uncertain whether they will come or not, but what if the government wants money from them and forcibly demands repayment?

By then, everyone will have come down the mountain and scattered across the villages. Wouldn’t the government have the final say?

Zhao Hanzhang thought his concerns were valid, so she nodded and said, "This will be dealt with by the government. If you’re really worried, why not follow me instead?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the ten or so tall young men behind him, thinking that if bandits looked like this, she’d be very willing to recruit them into the army.

Zhao Hanzhang made a plan in her heart and said to Wei Dayi, "Join my army, and I’ll take care of your food, clothing, and shelter."

Wei Dayi was stunned, while the young men behind him couldn’t restrain themselves and hurriedly asked, "What about our families?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "They can choose to return to the village to continue farming, and while you are with me, you don’t have to worry about the county government settling scores in the future; or they can choose to come with me, and I will allocate them land to farm."

Since becoming the County Governor, Zhao Hanzhang has more land at her disposal. Now, she lacks everything but farmland.

Even the inexperienced but enthusiastic young men behind Wei Dayi, he was tempted himself.

Feeling tempted, feeling tempted, Wei Dayi finally couldn’t help but ask, "Can we really follow the County Governor?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Of course, as long as you are willing."

They were very willing and didn’t even ask about military pay. Knowing that they could follow Zhao Hanzhang, who would provide their meals, clothes, and shelter, everyone in the bandit camp, from as young as fourteen to as old as forty, signed up to join the army.

If Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t refused those younger than that or older ones, the number might have been even greater.

In this world, everything else is superficial. As long as someone is willing to support them and keep them alive, they are willing to risk their lives for that person.

Wei Dayi brought this news back to the mountain camp, and everyone there immediately packed up to go down the mountain and seek refuge with Zhao Hanzhang.

Wei Dayi looked around rather speechlessly, "Weren’t you all reluctant when peace terms were offered before?"

"We didn’t know we’d be following Zhao County Governor. We thought we’d be forced to return to farming," someone explained. "If they say we have to go back to farming, who knows if the soldiers will trick us and kill us to claim military achievements?"

"Or if Zhao County Governor leaves, the county government might settle accounts in the autumn. If not, even if we can farm peacefully, the hefty taxes won’t make our lives easy."

"Exactly, is it because we had no land that we became bandits? Doesn’t everyone have some land? It was just that the taxes were too high. After paying taxes, nothing is left." Toiling all year, working tirelessly, only to find it all goes to the government, and they didn’t even have a full season’s grain for themselves.

So why bother?

Follow Zhao Hanzhang; regardless of future prospects or treatment, at least they won’t starve, right?

So everyone, with their bundles, made their way down the mountain to line up under the watchful eyes of soldiers, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to choose them.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t choose; she simply waved her hand and said, "Everyone willing to come with me, stand to the right."

So everyone quickly moved to the right. Wei Dayi hesitated for a moment, then also moved over, thinking he was good at fighting, maybe following Zhao Hanzhang would have some prospects?

Farming is indeed hard work. If possible, he would never farm again in his life.

Coincidentally, that’s what the others thought as well.

But unfortunately, very unluckily, coming with Zhao Hanzhang meant they still had to farm.

Zhao Hanzhang counted the people; with their family members included, there were more than eight hundred people in total.

She sighed and said, "County Magistrate Hu’s death wasn’t unjust at all. Under his jurisdiction, such a large bandit nest emerged, complete with families, showing a trend towards sustainable development."

"If this continues, it won’t take two years for Biyang County to become the second Yu Yang County, but Biyang doesn’t have a County Governor to kill. By then, the one to be killed would only be County Magistrate Hu."

Moreover, the rebellious soldiers wouldn’t just kill County Magistrate Hu alone. For example, the former County Governor—when the rioting populace broke in, they hacked his entire family to pieces. Zhao Hanzhang touched her chin and felt that saving County Magistrate Hu’s family was an immense act of kindness, and thus she became happy again.

Fu Tinghan agreed with her conclusion, thought for a while, then turned and said to Wu Erlang, "Did you hear that?"

"Ah?" Wu Erlang raised his head in confusion to look at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan squinted his eyes and asked, "Didn’t you understand?"

Seeing Wu Erlang look at him in anxiety and confusion, Fu Tinghan enlightened him, "This should be communicated to Mrs. Hu’s family. County Magistrate Hu’s death wasn’t unjust, and if he hadn’t died, in two years, the Hu Family might face the same fate as the former County Governor’s family."

Wu Erlang instantly understood and promptly said, "Got it. The noble deed must be publicized, otherwise, it’s like wearing fine clothes under a quilt."

Fu Tinghan: "...Though the words are crude, they make a lot of sense."