CHAPTER 330: CHAPTER 324 RECRUITMENT RESIDENCE

Zhao Ming was always worried that Zhao Hanzhang would clash with Zhao Zhongyu, which would consume the Zhao Family’s internal resources, so he remained uneasy. Not only did he keep Zhao Zhongyu in the dark about Zhao Hanzhang’s movements, but he also withheld some matters within the clan from Zhao Hanzhang.

When Zhao Hanzhang issued the Recruitment Order, he knew he could no longer hide it from Zhao Zhongyu.

He was always waiting for Zhao Zhongyu’s reaction.

To his surprise, Zhao Zhongyu’s reaction was not directed at the clan but directly at Zhao Hanzhang.

After reading the letter, Zhao Ming frowned in deep thought, "Is the situation really this critical?"

The Clan Leader was even considering migrating south.

Concerning the clan, Zhao Ming was compelled to seek out Zhao Hanzhang, "What do you think?"

Zhao Hanzhang, knowing history, realized that if Luoyang City fell, the aristocrats and nobles from the Northern Land would indeed migrate south to seek refuge and survive.

But the cost was not small, and if it was so for the aristocrats and nobles, one can only imagine for the common folk.

After the chaos of the Eight Princes’ Rebellion and the Five Barbarians, the Han people north of the Yangtze River were almost exterminated, and the ordinary citizens of the Xiongnu, Jiehu, Xianbei, Qiang Clan, and Di Clan suffered heavy casualties as well. Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes were deep, clenching her fist, "Retreating to Jiangnan is not the best strategy."

Zhao Ming nodded, "Migration, especially for a clan like ours with over a thousand people, plus servants, tenant farmers, and retainers, nearly ten thousand in total, would be extremely difficult and dangerous."

"And besides, it’s hard to leave one’s homeland," Zhao Ming sighed, "Not everyone is willing to leave their hometown."

At that time, the clan would have to split into branches, and those who stayed would be too weak to survive.

Zhao Ming fixed his gaze on Zhao Hanzhang, solemnly saying, "So, Hanzhang, you must secure Ru Nan. To preserve Ru Nan is to preserve the Zhao Family."

The ambition in Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes blazed fiercely, clearly shown before Zhao Ming for the first time, "The power of Ru Nan is still too small. If we can wield the strength of an entire state, even if the Xiongnu Army marches south, we will have room to maneuver."

Zhao Ming knew she was right, yet a doubt that had always lingered in his heart arose again. But this time, he refrained from warning her and instead said, "You must proceed gradually."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly and agreed.

She knew that as long as it was for the Zhao Family, Zhao Ming would relent.

With Zhao Ming’s support, Zhao Hanzhang began to act freely. She set up a Recruitment Residence next to the county government, specifically to interview talents who came to seek her out, and established recruitment points on the official roads leading in and out of Xiping County.

Ji Yuan observed this and collaborated with Zhao Ming to jointly purchase large quantities of grain by tapping into known connections.

In the past, Zhao Ming would not have been involved in such matters, but this time he did not refuse. He not only took charge of selling grain at low prices from within the clan to Zhao Hanzhang but also proactively contacted grain merchants and wealthy individuals he knew, purchasing considerable grain for Zhao Hanzhang.

Of course, they could not say they needed the grain to raise troops; instead, they found an excuse.

The excuse was ready-made: they claimed it was to gather military grain and taxes for Inspector He.

Having deployed troops to fight the Xiongnu, Inspector He, who was already caught in the chaos of war, had no idea that someone behind the scenes was using his name to carry out illicit deeds.

Prince East Sea was commanding the army in a desperate resistance; Gou Xi launched a pincer attack from behind the Xiongnu, and various reinforcements from Inspector He and others coordinated, pushing the Xiongnu forces back to Luoyang’s city walls, forcing the Xiongnu Army, who seemed about to breach the city, to retreat...

At present, the situation looked promising.

However, everyone felt uneasy, for the Xiongnu were also reinforcing, seeming as though they would not retreat without taking a bite out of them.

Sure enough, upon withdrawing from Luoyang, they turned to fiercely attack Yu State.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was unaware of anything. Today was the fifteenth, the day of the first talent examination at her Recruitment Residence.

Since the test papers were used once and not again and the number of examinees was not large, Zhao Hanzhang decided to draft the questions on the spot.

Fu Tinghan had just handed her the drafted questions last night. After reviewing them with no issues, she confirmed the questions, and both she and Ji Yuan contributed two questions each.

The first talent examination in Ru Nan County was this simple and straightforward.

When the time came, Zhao Hanzhang entered the Recruitment Residence with the questions in hand.

The candidates were already waiting.

This time, thirty-six people took the exam, eight of whom were students from her school. Apart from two young men who had learned literacy for just a year and a half, the other six were centurions and squad leaders from the army. They came to take the exam because Zhao Hanzhang had said that those in the army who learned literacy at the school and could solve three questions would not only earn merit but also be exempt from returning to the school.

The six immediately signed up for the exam.

As for the others, they were talents... and beauties who came from various places to take the exam.

Indeed, among the examinees were also two girls. Although there were only two, Zhao Hanzhang was pleased and paid extra attention.

One was her acquaintance and relative, Zhao Yunxin of the Zhao Family.

The other was someone she brought in, her cousin Sun Linghui. Both young girls sat at the front, and when they saw Zhao Hanzhang enter, they rose respectfully with the other examinees to greet her.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, raised her hand, and said, "No need for formalities. Before coming, you should have already seen the announcement outside the county government and understood the rules of the examination, right?"

Everyone agreed.

"Though you’ve understood, I will repeat them. The rules in my examination hall are simple: first, no cheating; second, do not disturb other candidates; third, submit your papers on time." Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Can everyone do that?"

Everyone replied in unison, indicating they could.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang nod in satisfaction. She then took out the examination papers, "Now I will present the questions. Today, there are only two questions in the morning."

"The first is a strategy essay: Wherever you are, plan for it; the second is to write an official document, based on your observations, for the newspaper, with proposed solutions attached."

Most wore bitter expressions. Such difficult questions, how could they start with such challenge?

Zhao Hanzhang hung the examination papers so they would be in full view when their heads lifted, then sat in a chair, resting her chin on her hand, watching them scratch their heads.

When she was a teacher, since she taught piano, exams were about listening to the students play, and she never had the chance to "watch" them take exams. Later, due to fighting, oh no, being accused of fighting a colleague, she was transferred to the library, and even more so had no chance to proctor exams.

Now she could truly proctor an exam herself, and it felt quite good.

Zhao Hanzhang keenly observed everyone, and nobody dared to make any sneaky moves under her watchful eyes.

This was essentially the prototype of the imperial examination. She wanted to make selecting talent through exams a norm, but there was still much work to be done, especially since the current system was not yet comprehensive.

For now, she didn’t need anything too elaborate. It was already good to have people willing to join her.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t inquire about family background and was even willing to lower the bar for talent a bit — as long as someone could work as a clerk in the county government, they were welcome.

She was really short on hands everywhere now, especially in the military.

Thinking about this, she glanced lightly at those six coarse military men and hummed softly. They surely were not aware of the blessings they enjoyed; if they could read well, they might even study the compiled military strategies in the future.