"It’s fine, but the items to be reported are too detailed, the taxes are complicated, and I’m not sure how Luoyang City is going to collect taxes." He was worried that the taxes might be numerous and heavy, fearing that in the end it would only benefit the officials.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly, also wanting to hear their opinions on the current commercial tax, she then said, "I would really like to see the Shujin you brought. How about this, shall we meet at the Flavor Building at noon tomorrow?"

The manager had never been to Luoyang and didn’t know the location of the Flavor Building, but he had heard of Zhenxiu Building, which was a restaurant owned by Zhao Hu, with locations in various places such as Xiping and Chen County.

So he asked, "Why not go to Zhenxiu Building?"

Because everyone from the shopkeeper to the staff at Zhenxiu Building knows her.

Zhao Hanzhang lied with a straight face, "The chicken soup at Flavor Building is extremely delicious. From the manager’s accent, you must be from Jiangyang. I heard Jiangyang has a famous dish called Bai Ma Chicken Soup."

The manager’s eyes brightened upon hearing that. He said repeatedly, "Lady, you actually know Jiangyang? Yes, our Bai Ma Chicken Soup is quite famous. My wife at home cooks it very well."

He promptly agreed to meet Zhao Hanzhang at Flavor Building, smiling, "Rest assured, Lady, I will certainly save the best Shujin for you."

Zhao Hanzhang was satisfied and bid farewell to leave.

As she got closer to the city gate, more soldiers patrolled, their military presence orderly, and none dared to offend the caravan.

The peddlers selling soup and biscuits walked among them, and the soldiers would politely step aside, not obstructing.

Zhao Hanzhang stopped, noticing a young round-faced soldier inadvertently following a peddler, swallowing saliva.

Zhao Hanzhang walked up to him, the young soldier snapped back to reality, stood tall with eyes inevitably sweeping towards Zhao Hanzhang.

He soon recognized Zhao Hanzhang, eyes widened, and tried to salute her, but Zhao Hanzhang raised a hand to stop him, leaned beside him and whispered, "Have you eaten dinner?"

The young soldier whispered back, "No."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Are you hungry?"

The young soldier replied without thinking, "Not hungry!"

Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him.

The young soldier hesitated, "Hungry?"

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled, "Don’t you know yourself if you’re hungry?"

The young soldier blushed and bowed his head, not daring to speak.

Zhao Hanzhang patted his shoulder, saying, "Thank you for your hard work tonight."

"To serve the General, it’s not hard at all."

The commotion quickly caught the attention of their centurion, who soon came over, glanced at the young soldier, and slightly bowed to Zhao Hanzhang. He seemed aware that she wanted to keep her identity hidden, thus spoke in a lower tone, "Great General, County Lord and County Magistrate are waiting ahead for you."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, walking forward, instructing, "Have the barracks send another team to replace you, go eat first, there’s more grinding tonight, switch shifts."

The centurion agreed.

Halfway through, Zhao Hanzhang stopped and looked back, asking the centurion, "Are you married?"

The centurion paused, and then shook his head, "No, my status is low, and I have no savings. How could I afford a wife?"

"Want to marry?"

The centurion licked his lips, smiling foolishly, "Of course I’d want to marry."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Would you marry a widow?"

The centurion replied without thinking, "Marry!"

"With children?"

The centurion was even more delighted, exclaimed, "Marry!"

People nearby looked over, his excitement instantly faded, and he nervously asked Zhao Hanzhang, "Would she even consider me?"

Zhao Hanzhang patted his shoulder and turned away.

As Zhao Hanzhang left, nearby soldiers gathered, "That was the Great General, right? What did you talk about? Go where?"

"Go, go, go, I said... It’s nothing, just mumbling..." The centurion glossed over it, not wanting to reveal anything in case someone else got involved.

Speaking of which, the Great General’s words, was she matchmaking for him?

But does the Great General even know his name?

Why didn’t she ask his name?

It would be bad if she mixed up the person.

The centurion looked worried.

Zhao Hanzhang had already met Zhao Erlang and Zhao Zheng, starting with, "This group of soldiers hasn’t eaten, organize another team from the army to replace them."

She also asked, "Have they eaten yet?"

This was directed at the officials and students responsible for recording and inspecting. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Zhao Erlang shook his head and said, "Sister, I haven’t eaten either."

"You’re a bystander, just stuff some dry rations into your mouth." Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Zheng, "Tonight it seems we’ll go until dawn, rest at the city tower."

Zhao Zheng agreed, then talked about the receipts deducting taxes, "But this time they deduct in Luoyang, next time elsewhere, it’s hard to consolidate the accounts. I want to create a ledger, clip the receipt, write the deducted tax amount, and also, should the state treasury reimburse the localities for the deducted tax?"

Zhao Hanzhang thought briefly and replied, "Do as you said, create a ledger, record each deduction, stamp it, and deduct the deducted tax amount from the annual taxes they owe to the court."

"But if they deduct in small localities, it might hurt the local economy."

For instance, in a small county where annual tax revenues tally to just a few hundred thousand, the revenue essentially stays local with nothing left for the court. If a merchant convoy chooses such a place to deduct, they can waive tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, costing it an opportunity for development that doesn’t happen because of the deductions.

Eventually, their original tax revenue might even decrease, leading the small county to impoverishment, missing chances to grow.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will add a decree, deductions are only allowed in certain counties, explain this to merchants when ledgering, if they can’t remember, have them write it down."

Zhao Zheng, "Which cities do you limit?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Xiping, Chen County, Luoyang, Chang’an, Linqiu... The capitals of the nine prefectures under the court now qualify for deductions."

Besides Chang’an, these places are capable of surplus, annually needing to deliver certain tax amounts to the court, thus having extra for deductions.

Zhao Zheng thought this a good plan, hence noted it, "This is significant, should it be discussed in court?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "I can wait, but they can’t, I’ll decide this matter, let it be."

Zhao Zheng complied.

As Zhao Hanzhang was about to leave, she thought of something, turned back, "Zhao Zheng, you’re familiar with the household registration of Luoyang City, right?"

Zhao Zheng nodded, "Yes." During Zhao Kuan’s tenure as County Magistrate, the Imperial College often helped transcribe registrations and record settlers; naturally familiar.

Zhao Hanzhang then asked, "Are there many widows in the city?"