Zhao Erlang and Qiu Wu moved quickly, not to ntion the governnt officials and soldiers, even the rchants who ran away first were all rounded up by them.
This caused quite a commotion on their side, with both discussions and tax collections happening, and yet the nearby Xie County remained oblivious.
In the biting cold, unless necessary, who would venture out?
Especially to a place so far from the city gates.
Zhao Hanzhang also realized that this place was quite a distance from the city gates, so she summoned the governnt official for questioning, "Taxes on rchants are typically collected at city gates, docks, and crossings. Why are you collecting on the official road?"
The governnt official broke into a sweat again, and after moving his mouth twice, he said, "These rchants are cunning and took a detour to bypass the county town."
Zhao Hanzhang: "... If they could bypass Xie County, it shows they don’t necessarily need to pass through Xie County. How can you collect taxes from them there?"
After all this fuss, the taxes she had just collected shouldn’t have been collected in the first place.
The governnt official whispered, "They privately opened pathways, trampling on quite a few good fields, all within our Xie County."
Zhao Hanzhang sized him up and after a mont comnted, "I have an idea of what kind of person County Magistrate Gao is now."
It’s said that servants resemble their masters, so it seems that County Magistrate Gao of Xie County might be similar to this governnt official.
Hmph, trampling good fields?
What outsider rchant would dare trample on the local people’s fields?
Zhao Hanzhang squinted and thought for a mont, then turned to Fu Tinghan, "We’ll go ahead first, you bring the others and follow later."
Fu Tinghan nodded.
Zhao Hanzhang said to Qiu Wu, "You stay and protect Tinghan."
With that, she took Zhao Erlang and her personal soldiers, urging the governnt officials and soldiers to go on ahead.
So of the governnt officials and soldiers had horses, others didn’t, so Zhao Hanzhang decisively collected all the horses, and they had to rely on their legs to run.
As Zhao Hanzhang spurred her horse along, they could only follow at a run.
When they reached the sparsely populated city gate, the gate guards recognized them from afar and greeted, "Old Zhang, you’re back so early today? Who are those people on horseback?"
The one running in the lead, Old Zhang, couldn’t reply, as Zhao Hanzhang rode forward, glanced around, and imdiately instructed her soldiers, "Secure the city gate."
"Yes."
The guard at the gate sensed sothing was amiss, quickly lowering his spear and shouting, "Who are you? What do you intend to do?"
Zhao Erlang knocked the spear out of his hand with his own, and Fan Ying, standing by Zhao Hanzhang, imdiately shouted, "Bold! This is the subordinate of the Yu State Governor. Upon seeing the envoy, why aren’t you kneeling yet?"
They were stunned, glanced at Old Zhang, saw them hanging their heads and panting, and realized it was true, quickly kneeling down.
Upon seeing one kneel, the guards who rushed down from the city gate upon hearing the commotion hesitated for a mont, but under Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, they all lowered their weapons and knelt.
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand in satisfaction, "Guard the city gates and don’t let anyone out without my orders."
"Yes."
Leaving four personal soldiers behind, Zhao Hanzhang led the remaining people towards the county governnt.
County Magistrate Gao was at ho drinking, with beauties in his arms. The sky was turning dark, as if it might snow.
He was quite content, leaned back, and as he stretched out his feet, a beauty gently took them and ward them in her arms. Satisfied, he pointed and said, "Have the musicians play a tune. It looks like there will be a heavy snowfall tonight. Go invite Mr. Du and the scholars; let’s have a night by the fire."
The servant bowed in agreent, and was just about to leave, when suddenly there was a loud bang, and the courtyard door was kicked open, a gate fell crookedly to the side.
Gao Cheng was startled, imdiately pulled his feet back, and turned to look outside, "What’s the commotion?"
The servant rushed out to see, just in ti to find Zhao Erlang stepping aside after kicking the door open, and Zhao Hanzhang stepping in. She saw Gao Cheng sitting on the mat in only his socks, which was covered in what looked to be a soft fox fur, and he looked at Zhao Hanzhang in shock.
When he saw them ard, his heart trembled, and not knowing her identity, he tried to look fierce, "Bold, do you know where this is?"
Zhao Hanzhang placed a foot on the edge of the mat, looking down at him and smiling, "And where might this be?"
"This is the courtyard of the Xie County governnt!" Gao Cheng did his best to suppress his trembling voice, trying to speak calmly, "If you’re here for money, na a price and I’ll give it, but if you harm anyone, know that the constables, officials, and soldiers of Xie County aren’t weaklings."
Zhao Hanzhang walked around him in a half-circle, finding the room quite dull, not even a chair.
She simply swept the items off the low table, dragged it over with one hand, placed it in front of him, then sat down with a flick of her robe, smiling as she spoke with him, "I’m not here for money, nor do I fancy fighting and killing, so I won’t act without cause."
Although Zhao Hanzhang spoke gently, Gao Cheng dared not relax. For a bandit not to seek wealth or harm lives was abnormal.
The thought flashed through his mind, and Gao Cheng suddenly realized that sothing was wrong. His eyes grew tense as they fixed on Zhao Hanzhang’s sleeve, then slowly traced up to her face.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and encouraged him to keep looking.
Gao Cheng’s face turned deathly pale when he saw the orderly soldiers behind her, and most importantly, those two won standing to the side—one dressed in water-red Shu brocade with elegantly embroidered large floral patterns, clearly of noble birth; the other wearing a blue vest, attired like a household maid, holding a gleaming, intimidating long spear in her arms—looking at the spear alone, he imdiately realized who was sitting before him.
His vision blurred, and countless rumors flashed through his mind, the foremost being the tale of the forr County Magistrate of Biyang County, about how Magistrate Hu was dragged away to be executed without any chance to respond, when Zhao Hanzhang stord into his ho.
His arm shook as he tried to support himself on the fox fur to stand, but the fur slipped, causing him to lurch forward...
His body trembled more violently now, as he shakily pulled back his legs to kneel properly, placing his head firmly on the fox fur, pleading, "I-I didn’t know the envoy had arrived. I’ve been remiss in greeting you, please spare ."
The concubines and servants in the room were startled upon hearing this, and they all quickly knelt and kowtowed. However, they were sowhat relieved, one of the servants even relaxing a bit, thinking that since they weren’t bandits, they likely wouldn’t be killed, having heard that the new envoy is kind to ordinary people.
While they felt relieved, Gao Cheng was drenched in cold sweat, not understanding why Zhao Hanzhang had burst into the county office so abruptly. Even if she were on an inspection, she should have notified them first, right?
He gathered his courage and said, "Envoy, shall I accompany you to the front hall?"
"No need," Zhao Hanzhang said, "it’s still official hours, and since County Magistrate Gao is in the backyard, it seems you often work here. In that case, let’s et here."
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t allow him to stand and picked up the fragrant wine pot from the stove, sighing, "A warm fire, fox fur mats, fine wine, and beauties. County Magistrate Gao leads quite a comfortable life as an official."
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