CHAPTER 451: CHAPTER 445: REISSUING THE RECRUITMENT ORDER

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang sat down, Fan Ying came to report, "Governor, all the refugees have been settled. There are vacant houses in the city, and Yin Sheng has sent over a batch of firewood and charcoal, so they can get through the night."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Tomorrow morning, call together the officials from the Governor Mansion and Lu Yang County, so we can start discussing matters."

She said, "Initially, I had no intention of staying long in Nanyang Country; I thought of selecting a suitable prefectural governor from below to take over and then leaving. But now it seems that there isn’t a suitable person here in Nanyang Country, so we shall have to stay long-term."

"It’s not feasible for so many refugees to wander with us; let’s settle them in place."

Fu Tinghan immediately understood her plan, "You want to set up the framework in Nanyang Country?"

"Yes," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Build Yushan Hall and schools, arrange everything that needs arranging, and construct more infrastructure."

Fu Tinghan said, "Then what about the person to take over? Judging by the current situation, even if we lay the framework well, without a suitable successor, once we leave, the setup will collapse."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "What do you think of Wang Nai and Xie Shi?"

Fu Tinghan was slightly surprised, thought for a moment, and then nodded, "Not bad."

Wang Nai and Xie Shi were people Zhao Hanzhang left for Zhao Erlang; they didn’t follow along this time and instead stayed in Chen County.

However, ever since they’ve been with Zhao Erlang, both have indeed been conscientious and diligent, continuously teaching Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t yet given them suitable positions, but she kept them in mind.

She said, "I want to leave Erlang in Nanyang Country."

This way, Wang Nai and Xie Shi could stay in Nanyang Country to assist Zhao Erlang, and she also wanted to see if Zhao Erlang could take charge once away from her.

"He doesn’t need to be exceptionally intelligent or capable; as long as he listens to Wang Nai and Xie Shi’s arrangements, that’s enough. I also want to see how the two of them will operate through Erlang."

Nanyang Country will be a platform for them to integrate.

It’s for Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang, Zhao Erlang and Wang Nai and Xie Shi, and also for Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Nai and Xie Shi to integrate. Everything is within an adjustable range, with low trial and error costs; she can call for a halt at any time.

Fu Tinghan also thought that this method was good, "Besides, Nanyang Country could also serve as a model for other counties and countries."

"Isn’t there already a ready-made model?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Ru Nan County has already developed; what a great model it is, hmph, they’re just not attentive and don’t want to take charge."

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, "Ideological education is indeed important; the children in the schools are our next generation, but this current generation shouldn’t be abandoned either. Fan Ying, spread the news about Xie County and County Magistrate Pei’s resignation."

She added, "Only with fear can one be cautious; only when people know how to be cautious will they abide by the rules!"

Fan Ying acknowledged and immediately went to make arrangements.

In Nanyang Country, there’s no need for publicity anymore; their own speculations can scare themselves. Fan Ying mainly spreads it to other counties and countries, especially Ru Nan County.

Because the Zhao Family is in Ru Nan, and now the economy and focus of Yu State are much centered on Ru Nan, there’s no way around it. Zhao Hanzhang’s whereabouts are erratic; she doesn’t want people to know her location but can appear unpredictably behind Xiongnu lines, let alone that all of Yu State is now hers.

So if everyone can’t track her, they might as well focus on the news from Ru Nan County.

Thus, as soon as the news from Nanyang Country reached Ru Nan County, it spread rapidly to the surrounding counties and countries.

Perhaps sensing Zhao Hanzhang’s intentions, Zhao Ming assisted Fan Ying upon receiving the news, so overnight, the households, gentry, and merchants in Ru Nan heard about Pei He resigning and leaving overnight.

Zhu Chuan, who had just arrived in Xiping and hadn’t had time to visit old friends, was stunned upon hearing the news in the tavern, "Just a few days, and Pei He resigned?"

"I heard it was even earlier; it’s said that he left hastily almost as soon as we entered Ru Nan County, leaving behind even his family assets."

Zhu Chuan scratched his head, "What did Zhao Hanzhang do?"

"No idea, but I heard that County Magistrate Gao in Xie County is living miserably, having squandered his family assets and living in dire straits every day."

Zhu Chuan lowered his eyes and pondered, "Zhao Hanzhang intentionally spreads such news, isn’t she afraid that officials from other counties will directly abandon their posts?"

Not knowing why Pei He resigned in such haste, but seeing County Magistrate Gao who squandered his family assets, surely some would, like Pei He, choose to resign suddenly.

At least they could preserve some assets and their lives.

The rules of officialdom indicate that once an official resigns to retire, past issues are all settled. Even if they had made mistakes in the past, as long as it’s not a murder case, it can be expunged.

The main question is, does Zhao Hanzhang have enough people to replace them?

As he was questioning this, lively chatter arose downstairs in the tavern; someone was running towards the county government office.

Someone hurriedly went out and stopped a runner to ask, "What’s happening?"

"The county government issued a Recruitment Order, this time recruiting across the entire Yu State. It’s heard our lady issued it personally, not only calling for talents in various counties and countries but also planning to send people to personally evaluate and select talents in each county and country, with a final selection again in Chen County. The best can even be beside the lady herself."

The people in the tavern heard this, their eyes brightening.

Who seated in this Xiping tavern drinking and eating doesn’t have some wealth?

With money comes the desire for power, and Zhao Hanzhang, in recruiting talents, doesn’t place much weight on family background, nor does she care much for literary talent and reputation. Among the ones she chose in the last Recruitment Order were some unknown figures, even women.

So, couldn’t they possibly stand a chance too?

They thought they could!

A group of people got excited and repeatedly confirmed, "Ah yes, a Recruitment Order has truly been issued?"

"Truly issued!"

"Then, what about next year’s official ranking, will the Central Justice Officer still determine the ranks?" Some were still thinking about participating in next year’s ranking by the Central Justice.

"Who knows, they probably... have to rank, right?" After all, it’s a decades-old selection system; so many are waiting for the rankings, how can there be no ranking?

The person being held wasn’t pleased and snorted, "Our lady isn’t the Central Justice Officer, and the ranking isn’t in Xiping; besides, even if the ranking is done, then what?"

He said, "Can the court use them? Would our lady use them?"

The crowd gaped, indeed, it’s said that Gou Xi is still besieging the Capital City, let alone talents, that even ordinary letters can’t be sent into the Capital City. Can the court use the talents ranked by the system?

And Zhao Hanzhang...

It’s obvious she wouldn’t use talents selected by Xiahou Zhongzheng, the Xiahou family is now on Gou Xi’s side.

If neither the court nor Zhao Hanzhang uses them, what’s the point of participating in Yu State’s ranking?

It’s truly better to respond to Zhao Hanzhang’s Recruitment Order, take the exam under her command, and rise in prominence.

The person being held saw that they were contemplating and nodded approvingly, "You think it over slowly; I’m heading to the office to register."

The crowd came to their senses and hastily grabbed him again, "Register now? Then when is the exam?"

"This time, the exam schedule is quite relaxed. After February 2 of next year, each county and country’s jurisdiction will hold exams locally, and candidates from both local and other areas can take nearby exams. After passing, they move on to Chen County for the next level of exams. I’ve heard that by then, the lady will personally test the candidates."