Chapter Nine: Ironware, Five Thousand Jin!

“Yuelan?” Fang Han asked in confusion. Seeing the woman’s shy expression, he immediately understood that her name was Yuelan.

“There are already houses available. Have Liu San handle it,” he said.

Another day passed, and Fang Han found a rare moment of leisure.

At this time, in the Protectorate Headquarters, both Fang Han’s and Lin Qingwei’s rooms had been cleaned.

Originally, Fang Han planned for them to share a room, but Lin Qingwei resisted.

In her own words, she feared the illness might be contagious. Fang Han did not force the issue, especially since their grand wedding had yet to take place. He swore to make Lin Qingxue pay for her deeds, and until then, everything else was secondary.

In Lin Qingwei’s room, she sat quietly at the table, lost in thought. She didn’t even notice when Fang Han entered.

Since Fang Han mentioned he could develop a cure, she no longer wanted to wear the heavy bamboo hat. Not only was it unattractive, but it also lacked any dignity.

“What are you thinking about?” Fang Han asked.

The sudden voice startled Lin Qingwei. Snapping back to reality, she said, “Nothing. It’s just that this room feels so stuffy. It’s better in the carriage, where I can overhear your conversations.”

Fang Han realized she was quite bored. Looking around, he suddenly noticed something missing.

After a moment of thought, he remembered—it was the absence of a maid.

In this era, wealthy young ladies always had maids, let alone a princess.

While in the palace, although Lin Qingwei was considered ominous, there were still palace maids attending to her daily needs.

Now that she was no longer in the palace, those maids did not come along.

Fang Han decided it was time to find some attendants for her. Regardless of her royal status, as the Protector’s wife, it was inappropriate for her to be without any servants.

Fortunately, there were enough people now, including several clever young girls among the refugees. They looked quite smart.

“Wait here. I’ll get you a gift,” he said.

Hearing the word “gift,” Lin Qingwei felt a flicker of hope.

“Probably something edible—is it fruit from the mountains? They say the southern border mountains are rich in produce, but given the current state, there might not be much food up there,” she mused.

She assumed Fang Han was referring to game hunted by soldiers from the mountains, unaware that the “gift” was actually someone to keep her company.

In the main hall of the residence, Liu San had been waiting for a long time. The master had tasked him with compiling information on the southern border situation, and he dared not slack off for even a moment, completing the report within a single day.

In truth, the southern border was in decline; apart from bandits and warlords, there was little else worth noting.

Seeing Fang Han arrive, Liu San stepped forward. “Master, I have compiled the situation in the southern border. Apart from a few major bandit troubles, the original officials are recruiting soldiers, claiming they intend to suppress the bandits on behalf of the court.”

Fang Han sneered inwardly. “On behalf of the court? That’s just an excuse—they have ambitious designs.”

“Master, this concerns the minerals and farmland within a hundred li of the provincial capital,” Liu San added.

Hearing “minerals” and “farmland,” Fang Han’s interest piqued. Nothing was more important than these resources now.

Especially the farmland—he had already noticed terraced fields forming on the journey here. With some strong tools and minor improvements, these could be transformed into vast arable land.

Fang Han took the notebook and studied it carefully.

“Have the people sent out to purchase grain and seeds departed?” he asked.

Liu San respectfully answered, “They have already left, accompanied by your personal guards. I believe there will be no incidents.”

“Good. And one more thing—there’s no one to care for the little princess. Find a few clever attendants for her.”

Upon hearing this, Liu San immediately became alert. “Master, rest assured. I have managed servants for half my life and will surely select those who will satisfy the little princess.”

Receiving the order, Liu San was pleased; he had feared the new master would consider him useless.

Now, with a chance to prove his worth, he would seize it firmly.

As evening approached, Fang Da arrived carrying the woman named Yuelan.

“Sir, good news,” he said.

“What is it?” Fang Han asked.

Yuelan lowered her head, avoiding Fang Han’s gaze, nervously clasping her hands as she spoke cautiously, “Sir, my family were originally landlords and have a large number of hoes. But we never intended to rebel—it’s just that the fields in the southern border are all on the mountains, and the hoes often get damaged.”

Fang Han froze. A large number of hoes?

The Great Zhou laws regulated the amount of iron tools in the households of officials and commoners. Commoners were limited to no more than one hundred jin; landlords could not exceed five hundred jin. Exceeding these limits was considered suspicious of rebellion.

“How many hoes?” Fang Han narrowed his eyes.

Yuelan dared not answer. Fang Da said, “I went to look. By estimation, there are five thousand jin—all discarded hoes.”

Five thousand jin! Even though Fang Han was mentally prepared, hearing this number startled him.

Such an amount of iron could arm a bandit gang of a hundred men.

Currently, aside from a hundred elite soldiers, his forces were unarmed. Obtaining this cache of iron tools would give him significant strength.

“How many people know about this?” Fang Han pressed.

Yuelan stumbled back in fright. Fang Da quickly steadied her.

“Sir, my father was afraid of being accused and never spoke of it. Besides me, no one else knows.”

Fang Han breathed a sigh of relief. Among those he had taken in, there might be spies, so no information could be leaked.

Seeing Fang Da’s nervous expression, Fang Han understood—he had taken a liking to her. He decided to grant a favor.

“Fang Da, this matter must be kept secret for now. From today on, you will live at this young lady’s house. I want you to guard these iron tools closely. Understood?”

Fang Da instantly recognized the importance of the task and was delighted. “Yes, sir.”

“All right, you may leave now. Have Fang Shou come here.”

Among the hundred elite soldiers given by Liu Wanquan, thirteen were orphans without families. Fang Han gave them new names.

Fang Da was the biggest, so he was called Fang Da. Fang Shou was skinny as a bamboo pole, so he was named Fang Shou.

After Fang Da left, Fang Shou arrived.

“Master,” Fang Shou said.

He was thin and weak, with a voice that sounded sinister and sly, and his appearance was equally sharp and cunning. This was why Fang Han assigned him as a personal guard.

“Take inventory of your equipment’s wear and tear and report it to Fang Da. Also, intensify training in the personal guard camp, and order men to collect iron tools from every household in the city to make weapons.”

“Yes, master.”

After Fang Shou left, Fang Han looked up toward the capital city, his heart filled with unbounded rage.

If it weren’t for him back then, Great Zhou would have long fallen.

He did not crave power, but he refused to let six years of hardship become a joke. Moreover, he wanted the world to know that this throne was born to be occupied by a man!

“Lin Qingxue, Fang Li, you probably never dreamed I was not dead, and that I have safely arrived in the southern border.”

“When I unify the southern border and march on the capital, the humiliation you made me suffer—I will make you taste it a hundredfold, a thousandfold.”

“That day is not far. Just wait for me.”