CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER 259: DIFFERENT JOYS AND SORROWS (ADDITIONAL CHAPTER FOR LUOLUO)

Xiping County was bustling for three days, with officials and the people celebrating together, and the merchants who made a fortune were also very happy.

The young masters who, like Zhu Chuan, enjoyed the excitement and fun also felt very happy, except for some of their fathers and elder brothers.

This time, the activities in Xiping County made them confront the abilities and prestige of Zhao Hanzhang directly. At this moment, they vaguely sensed that even without the backing of the Zhao Family, Zhao Hanzhang could still hold her ground in Xiping County.

And soon, news from Shangcai reached Xiping.

Zhao Hanzhang’s prestige in Shangcai also reached a new height.

Ji Yuan, following Zhao Hanzhang’s suggestion, had a large amount of bean powder ground, which together with grain like wheat and rice, was donated to the Shangcai County Government, along with a batch of bean oil.

Then, to respond to the activities in Xiping County, Shangcai Manor also organized an event internally, mainly to provide benefits to the servants, laborers, and tenants.

Initially, because Ji Yuan participated in the donations, County Magistrate Chai did not specifically publicize it, so people from remote areas naturally did not know that it was Zhao Hanzhang who donated;

But with such an event at Zhao Manor echoing the activities in Xiping County, those aware couldn’t help but feel envious and jealous, which led to talk about Zhao Hanzhang donating this year’s relief supplies.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one who donated; many wealthy people in Shangcai also donated, but no one talked about it, which in turn highlighted Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation in Shangcai County rose sharply, and correspondingly, County Magistrate Chai’s reputation declined sharply.

He didn’t know what expression to make upon hearing this. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, wiped his face, and asked, "Did Ji Yuan design this to spread out?"

"No," the Chief Clerk bowed his head and said, "It spread naturally among the people. Mr. Ji seemed to have explained, but it was largely ineffective."

County Magistrate Chai snorted, "A bunch of ignorant people who only believe what they want to believe and won’t listen to reason. Without my mediation, would Zhao Manor have donated so much?"

"Indeed, it’s all thanks to the County Magistrate. The people are ignorant and unable to comprehend your painstaking efforts,"

The Chief Clerk worriedly asked, "What should we do next? Spring is coming, and if too many people leave Shangcai for Xiping, what about our taxes next year?"

What else can be done?

County Magistrate Chai could only order that people were not allowed to leave the village freely; anyone planning to travel must report to the village chief and spread the news that the county government would provide a batch of grain seeds next year.

Zhao Hanzhang was also worried about the grain seeds.

After New Year’s Eve, the New Year was approaching, and after the New Year, the weather would gradually warm up, and preparation for spring sowing would begin.

Before spring sowing, she had to prepare the grain seeds to be distributed this year.

Of course, not every county government would distribute grain seeds every year, and not every household could receive them; it depended on the county government’s financial situation and the conscience of the County Magistrate.

By coincidence, Zhao Hanzhang was not only conscientious but also wealthy, so she entrusted the matter to Chang Ning, "Be sure to select carefully and choose the best grain seeds."

Chang Ning agreed.

Compared to the lively celebrations of the New Year’s Eve in Xiping County, the New Year in Xiping County was solemn and low-key. On the twenty-ninth day of the month, the survivors went to worship their relatives who died in the turmoil.

Yushan Hall was filled with cries, and Zhao Hanzhang specifically allocated a sum of money for them, allowing them to ask the kitchen for offerings to worship their relatives.

Some of the orphans were not from Xiping County but had drifted here, so they could worship along the way; thus, on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth, there were many traces of worshipping on the streets, creating a somewhat solemn atmosphere.

Zhao Hanzhang had already withdrawn to Wu Castle. She took her family to the ancestral graves to worship her grandfather and father, then celebrated the New Year quietly with her family.

Mrs. Wang felt like she was dreaming, "A year ago, I could never have imagined you would become County Magistrate." And that they would be in such a situation.

Like Mrs. Wang, the Emperor Yongjia in the Imperial Palace also felt like he was dreaming.

Sitting on the couch, he silently wept. Just now, Prince East Sea publicly humiliated him, and among all the civil and military officials, only Fu Zhi spoke for him.

The Empress silently walked to his side and sat beside him. After sitting quietly for a while, she asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do?"

The Emperor held her hand, "I have no one to use; the government is controlled by him, and we are nothing but puppets, just waiting for the axe to fall."

"I am worried that the ambitious Liu Yuan from the Xiongnu will not spare Luoyang even though we repelled him," the Emperor wept, "The Northeast gateway of Luoyang is lost, Yongzhou is in chaos, and the Xiongnu army could arrive at Luoyang at any moment. If we don’t leave, not only will the Imperial Family not survive, but the people of Luoyang will be implicated by me."

Empress Liang’s face changed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, why not summon the ministers to discuss persuading them to relocate the capital?"

The Emperor said, "The court is divided into two factions, with only Fu Zhi and a few supporting my move. The others follow Prince East Sea; how can they allow me to relocate the capital?"

He sighed, "If Wang Yan would help, it would be fine, but he usually avoids government affairs and only listens to Prince East Sea when he is involved."

The more the Emperor thought, the more heartbroken he became. He hadn’t wanted to be Emperor in the first place; he was forced into this position, and being Emperor under such constraints left him without the strength to struggle.

A year ago, he never imagined he would be in such a situation.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace of the Han Kingdom, nearly a thousand li away, Liu Yuan was celebrating the Spring Festival with his sons and ministers.

This was a Han people’s festival, but Liu Yuan admired Han culture since childhood and presented himself as a Han person. After all, he believed he shared blood with the Liu Han Royal Family and was legitimate!

So they celebrated the New Year, and it was very lively.

Liu Yuan gulped down a glass of wine, slammed the cup down, and boldly declared, "Next year, I must invade Luoyang and reclaim the remaining half of my Great Han!"

Having occupied most of Bingzhou, Liu Yuan was ambitious and felt he had taken half of Great Jin.

A group of Xiongnu people immediately expressed, "We are willing to serve Your Majesty!"

Some enthusiastically shouted, "When morning comes, I will lead my men to attack Luoyang immediately!"

Liu Yuan was actually afraid he would lead troops there and quickly said, "No need to rush; wait until spring sowing is over!"

Although he truly wanted to take Luoyang, it didn’t mean he wanted to launch an attack on New Year’s Day; war should be waged at the right time.

Finding New Year’s Eve dull, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan were drawing on the ground with charred sticks, "If I were Liu Yuan, I would choose to attack Luoyang either before summer harvest or after summer harvest."

Fu Tinghan asked, "To seize the grain?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "To sustain war with war, consumption would be less."

Fu Tinghan frowned at the lines on the ground, "You mentioned refugees causing trouble in Yongzhou last time?"

"Indeed," Zhao Hanzhang also looked at the spot he pointed to, sighed, "If Prince East Sea cannot pacify Yongzhou, the Xiongnu army could march directly into Luoyang. This is a very dangerous situation."

Fu Tinghan said, "If I were the Emperor, I would relocate the capital directly."