CHAPTER 471: CHAPTER 465: PROMOTION TO PREFECTURAL GOVERNOR

Yin Sheng stood on the steps anxiously looking out, when another explosion sounded in his ear, though this one was much smaller than the previous ones. He couldn’t hold back any longer and hurried down the steps to go outside, only to run into a fast-running officer.

"Have you found out where the sound came from?"

"It came from the Five Stone Mountain outside the city, there’s a huge plume of smoke and dust rising there."

"Send someone quickly to investigate, why is there such a phenomenon?" It’s a clear sunny day, not even a grey cloud in the sky, where did such a loud sound come from? It’s like the mountain collapsed.

This kind of phenomenon is not a good omen.

After taking a breath, the officer said, "Someone has been sent, but before getting close to the mountain, they were stopped by the Governor’s personal soldiers, the area around the Five Stone Mountain is surrounded."

Yin Sheng was stunned, Zhao Hanzhang was there, did Zhao Hanzhang create this phenomenon?

What does she want to do?

No, how did she create this phenomenon?

The entire Lu Yang County was a bit uneasy today, especially the officials and knowledgeable people, all worriedly looking towards outside the city.

Then waiting for Zhao Hanzhang’s other shoe to drop.

What will she say?

The current ruler is immoral?

Or that Prince East Sea is treacherous and must clear the side of the emperor?

Or is it that Heaven is angry, and she wants to reclaim other parts of Yu State?

Many thought a lot, and some even started preparing to leave Lu Yang County, deciding in family meetings where to escape disaster, but Zhao Hanzhang returned freely and happily with her personal soldiers.

She didn’t even look for Yin Sheng, instead, she went to the officials of the workshop and instructed, "We blew up the Five Stone Mountain, and lots of rubble came out. Right now, there’s a shortage of stones for building houses, send people to take them."

She further said, "The stone collectors have a hard time, so I had someone make gunpowder specially for stone mining. Later, pick some clever people to send to the army, let General Qiu teach them how to use it."

The instructions had already been written by Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, handed over to Qiu Wu, and they just needed to be taught together.

After giving the instructions, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan returned to the backyard to bathe and wash their hair.

Stone mining is really dirty, especially for the hair.

Yin Sheng and others received the news and were stunned, then sent people to investigate the Five Stone Mountain, only to find that a lot of stones had been blasted out around the periphery of the Five Stone Mountain, all chunks of stone had collapsed down and could just be hauled away with a push.

Some were very large, but also very easy to mine, just pour hot water, find a point and knock it, and the stone would break open. They’ve always mined stones this way, but now...

Zhao Hanzhang caused such a commotion just for stone mining?

Just to make the stone collectors’ work less arduous?

After waiting for two days, every day they could vaguely hear some explosions, but no longer as alarming as at first. Once it was confirmed that Zhao Hanzhang was really just making stone mining easier, those who overthought it fell silent.

Yin Sheng and others were quiet, but the local aristocrat Tian Jin in Lu Yang County sighed deeply, then called for his sons and grandsons, telling them, "Earlier, I was unwilling to admit it, Zhao Hanzhang was just a woman, even if she was in power for a while, it wouldn’t last long, so I didn’t want anyone in our clan to be involved, to avoid bringing trouble."

"But now it seems, she might not last long, but just for her benevolent heart, even if it invites trouble in the end, there will be no regrets." Tian Jin said, "If you still want to become officials, then follow her."

Tian Chen, who had always wanted to go to Ru Nan County, immediately looked at his father Tian Qi, "Father, I want to participate in this year’s recruitment exam."

The younger Tian Ji immediately said, "I want to go too."

Tian Qi thought for a moment, glanced at his younger brother Tian Sheng, saw he was also tempted, and said, "You all go, Second Brother, you go too, I’ll stay home to attend to Father."

Tian Jin did not refuse and told the three, "Since you’ve decided, then go register tomorrow, the exams are in a few days."

The recruitment exams were first held in each county and state, selecting the best candidates to send to Chen County for another exam. It’s said that the exam in Chen County was personally supervised and assessed by Zhao Hanzhang, and she even wanted to meet each examinee.

Tian Chen was very confident, thinking he would surely pass, Second Uncle Tian Sheng also had no problem, Little Brother Tian Ji...

Tian Chen reached out and patted Tian Ji on the shoulder, "Go back quickly and study."

Tian Qi frowned at this, "What use is cramming at the last minute?"

Tian Jin also shook his head, but didn’t stop his grandsons and told them, "Go then, starting to work hard now is still okay."

Zhao Hanzhang was also very concerned about the recruitment exam. She took time to flip through the roster and raised an eyebrow, "Quite a lot of people registering these two days."

Fan Ying said, "Maybe after the New Year, talents from other counties are gradually arriving."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and asked, "Are there any women registering?"

"Yes," Fan Ying replied, "But only two."

Zhao Hanzhang quirked her lips and said, "Having some is better than none, keep an eye out, if they truly have talent and virtue, accept them."

Fan Ying bowed and answered, "Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t place the gunpowder workshop in Nanyang Country, after comprehensive considerations, she decided to put it in Chen County.

There are now two political centers in Yu State, one is Runan Xiping, and the other is Chen County.

Zhao Hanzhang was returning to Chen County, this thing should be kept under her watch for safety, prepared gunpowder can just be transported to the place as needed.

Though it increases costs, it also strengthens control over the formula.

Zhao Hanzhang waited for the county exams in Nanyang Country to finish, and those who went out on patrol, Wang Nai and Zhao Erlang, also returned.

Zhao Erlang had a trace of killing on him, while Zhao Hanzhang received many of his battle reports in Lu Yang County. He had been suppressing bandits along the way, contributing greatly to the population growth of Nanyang Country.

After circling around, the number of registered citizens in Nanyang Country increased by over eight thousand people.

Zhao Hanzhang was very satisfied with this, seeing Wang Nai looking more emaciated, but getting along well with Zhao Erlang (Wang Nai: Which eye saw that?), so she confidently handed over Nanyang Country to Zhao Erlang.

Zhao Hanzhang called all the Governor Mansion’s officials in Nanyang Country and announced that Zhao Erlang would succeed as the Prefectural Governor of Nanyang Country, with Wang Nai and Xie Shi being appointed as Chief Clerk and Sima, respectively, to assist Zhao Erlang.

No one had any objections.

Although Zhao Erlang was illiterate, and although they didn’t go through the formal court, the concept of clan rule was deeply ingrained. Yu State was Zhao Hanzhang’s domain, and since Nanyang Country was conquered by her, naturally she had the final say.

If officials couldn’t accept it, they would resign.

Those who resigned... there really were none.

Yin Sheng and others weren’t foolish either; Zhao Hanzhang specifically left Wang Nai and Xie Shi clearly to help Zhao Erlang manage Nanyang Country. With their capabilities, they should be able to manage Nanyang Country well.

Having spent a month with Zhao Erlang, Wang Nai looked haggard and couldn’t help but ask again, "Is the Governor leaving so soon?"

Not considering staying a while longer?

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I’ve been away from Chen County for too long, it’s time to go back."

Also, with the various counties’ recruitment exams concluding, the successful scholars would head to Chen County, and she needed to return for the exams.

Wang Nai could only reluctantly see her off.

Zhao Erlang was even more reluctant, it was the first time he held such a high position, even though Sister said to listen more to Wang Nai and Xie Shi’s advice, he still felt a bit anxious inside.