CHAPTER 475: CHAPTER 469: DO NOT BETRAY

Zhao Ming glanced at her indifferently, "He’s now capable of earning military merits on the battlefield, even serving as a Prefectural Governor. What’s wrong with getting a wife?"

"The former is due to his personal abilities, while the latter results from my influence. However, marriage requires both physical and psychological maturity," said Zhao Hanzhang. "Even if we overlook the psychological aspect, do you think a thirteen-year-old Second Son can bear healthy and long-lived children?"

Zhao Ming paused in silence before speaking, "For the family..."

"For the family, I would not impose such a burden on Second Son," Zhao Hanzhang stated. "It’s the same for all my brothers and sisters. Uncle Ming, there’s no need to bring up this matter again. Instead, perhaps it’s better to send more medicinal herbs to Luoyang."

Ensuring Zhao Zhongyu preserves his health for a few more years is essential.

Zhao Ming gazed deeply at Zhao Hanzhang for a while and finally nodded slowly.

Zhao Ming remarked, "During the Qingming ancestral rites, you should return. Your appointment as Yu State Governor is a significant event, ideal for notifying our ancestors."

Upon thinking of Zhao Ji, Zhao Hanzhang accepted happily.

Seeing her smile so brightly, Zhao Ming couldn’t help feeling uneasy. He hesitated but couldn’t hold back, warning her, "If Zhao Ji shows up, you mustn’t act recklessly."

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded slightly, "Uncle Ming, am I such a person?"

Zhao Ming snorted, then continued, "If you anger the Clan Leader, then select a wife for Second Son."

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang restrain herself.

She didn’t linger in Xiping, instead returned with her entourage to Chen County.

The entire Chen County was jubilant upon hearing Zhao Hanzhang was back. Despite everything, they found Zhao Hanzhang a bit easier to get along with than Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan was very pleased with the results of Zhao Hanzhang’s inspection tour this time, "Much faster than I anticipated."

Zhao Hanzhang explained, "Because I only inspected Ru Nan County and Nanyang Country."

In fact, it was only an inspection of Nanyang Country.

"However, with Nanyang Country as a precedent, the other counties and states have naturally streamlined their processes," Ji Yuan commented gently. "The lady has chosen this chicken very well."

The effect of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys was very evident.

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile paused for a moment; could she tell Ji Yuan that she hadn’t deliberately chosen?

She simply thought of starting from Nanyang Country, moving from south to north, inspecting one county after another, and finally circling back to Chen County.

Ji Yuan handed Zhao Hanzhang a pie, saying, "The selected examinees from each county and state are on their way to Chen County. My lady, this is our first recruitment exam in Yu State, you must be cautious."

Zhao Hanzhang corrected him, "Second time."

Ji Yuan raised his eyes to look at her, "That time shouldn’t count for Yu State but Ru Nan County, attracting only a few people?"

He said, "There were quite a few examinees, but usable ones were just a handful and not particularly fitting. This time, there are quite many people, not only among the noble and scholar families within Yu State but also among many rural and poor scholars attending."

At present, Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation is different, and her territory has expanded, so people in Yu State have much confidence in her. As soon as the recruitment order was issued, it attracted plenty of people.

Including the scholars outside of Yu State.

Ji Yuan added, "The other four counties also sent lists of names, but there are problems with these lists."

Zhao Hanzhang tore a piece of pie and threw it into her mouth, asking, "What problem is it that they didn’t take the exam and directly selected people to send over?"

Ji Yuan, having eaten his fill, set down his chopsticks and chuckled, "The lady has foresight, indeed it’s the case."

He asked, "How should we handle these people?"

Zhao Hanzhang unconsciously tore her pie and ate, contemplating for a moment before declaring, "There’s no need to treat them differently; let’s have them join the exam as well."

Considering that this time, noble, powerful clans, and poor scholars are mixed together, Zhao Hanzhang put down her pie and said, "For this exam, we’ll mask the names."

Ji Yuan was taken aback, "Mask the names?"

"Yes, on all the collected papers, we’ll cover the sections containing names, birthplace, and background with paper strips. After grading the papers and arranging the ranks, we’ll remove the strips to achieve some fairness," Zhao Hanzhang explained. "As for the other four counties, since we have yet to control them, there’s no need to rupture relations over this. Since they’ve sent people, we’ll use those who are indeed usable."

"What if there are spies among them?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "If the scholar is distrustful, then let them serve as minor officials in the western and southern parts of Nanyang Country and Ru Nan County. Everywhere is short on manpower right now, and if any county has useful magistrates or other officials, they can recommend them upwards."

Due to wars and court power struggles, some counties in Yu State haven’t changed in over a decade, leaving many officials stagnating without promotion.

These people need to be mobilized, especially with recent shifts due to resignations, creating vacancies everywhere in Yu State, which Zhao Hanzhang isn’t worried about filling.

"Spies," Zhao Hanzhang scoffed, "using scholars as spies, who knows if they’ll turn into valuable officials or remain spies under my command?"

She continued, "There’s still skepticism about Li Bing being a spy, yet his contributions to Qin and Shu lands might be praised for millennia."

Ji Yuan inquired, "How many Li Bings are there in the world, after all?"

Nevertheless, he agreed with Zhao Hanzhang’s opinions, deciding to let them join other examinees, and if any truly pass, then choose places far from the four outer counties and military strongholds for them to stay.

If they have talent and virtue to govern well, then great; if not, it provides even more reason to deal with them later.

Thinking this way, Ji Yuan found Zhao Hanzhang’s idea rather clever and smiled, "The lady shows great prudence."

Zhao Hanzhang also felt that way, thinking the sent individuals shouldn’t be rejected without cause; she even thought too few had come.

"Pay attention to those who come for the exam but don’t pass; some areas without official appointments urgently need talents."

Ji Yuan briefly contemplated and said, "Those noble and powerful clans naturally look down on it, but poor scholars eagerly seeking opportunities might stay in Chen County waiting for the next recruitment exam, such among them will likely be intrigued."

Zhao Hanzhang responded, "Let this matter be handled by the scholar."

Having finished her pie, Zhao Hanzhang felt sated and cheerfully said, "It’s indeed good to be back in Chen County; having the scholar by my side makes things much easier."

Ji Yuan also felt much relieved with Zhao Hanzhang’s return, thus tilted his lips in pleasure, "Serving the lady is Ji Yuan’s honor."

"Let’s go then. The scholar mentioned wanting to see the gunpowder, so let’s first look at the newly built workshops, then conduct some tests."

Ji Yuan trailed a step behind Zhao Hanzhang and walked out with a smile, "I wonder where the First Son acquired such vital recipes; I hear from others, that when gunpowder explodes, it’s just like heavenly thunder, quite terrifying."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "That’s an exaggeration; with just one tube, the noise isn’t that loud."

Ji Yuan advised, "The lady should treat the First Son kindly in the future. By the way, is the lady about to complete her mourning period, then wouldn’t your wedding date be..."