Zhao Ju rode up from behind. He jumped down from his horse and approached Zhao Hanzhang leading it. “Sanniang, we’ve left markers. Ji Ping and the others will catch up.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
He brought his horse alongside hers. “Sanniang, ride my horse.”
Zhao Hanzhang politely declined. “Although the rogue troops are pursuing the main army, we must guard against scattered refugee soldiers and court troops. Send people to scout ahead, and keep people at the rear as well.”
Zhao Ju acknowledged and mounted his horse to make arrangements.
The guards sent to find them followed the road to Linnan Village. Upon inquiry, learning they had left that morning, they immediately mounted their horses and pursued along the official road.
Ji Ping paid attention to the markers along the road. Without even entering Linnan Village, he turned at the junction not far from the village entrance. Seeing the marker, he took the small road.
Zhao Hanzhang’s group had many people who needed to walk, with a group of refugees following behind—men, women, old and young. Their speed was consequently much slower. By the time the sky was darkening, they had only reached the point where the path rejoined the official road.
The retainers sent to scout ahead ran back to report, “There’s no village ahead, but there’s a dilapidated earth god temple by the roadside where we can rest briefly.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Let’s go.”
At this time, Ji Ping and his group also looked up at the sky. They didn’t know this road and couldn’t deduce where Sanniang would stop for the night, but they could estimate from the traces on the ground approximately when they had passed.
A retainer touched the cart rut marks, his eyes brightening. He ran forward and reported, “Squad Leader, there’s still water in the wheel tracks. We’re not far from Sanniang.”
There was a puddle ahead that the cart had passed through, picking up water.
Hearing this, Ji Ping immediately waved his hand. “Keep going. No need to stop before dark.”
They had carts and horses, so their speed was faster. With a crack of the whip, they ran for half a shichen and saw the wide official road.
A retainer ran up to look, saw the marker, and looked into the distance. He immediately ran back to report, “Squad Leader, there seems to be cooking smoke ahead.”
So the group quickened their pace even more, running toward the smoke. Seeing refugees lying around a broken temple, Ji Ping knew he’d found the right place.
The refugees saw so many carts coming and all stood up.
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan heard the commotion and came out. They saw Ji Ping happily leap down from his horse, take a few steps forward, kneel before Zhao Hanzhang, and say with cupped fists, “Young mistress, this humble one has not failed his mission.”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced over the grain sacks piled high on the carts, unable to suppress the smile on her face. She stepped forward and helped Ji Ping up. “Good. You’ve worked hard. Come inside quickly.”
Zhao Hanzhang also wanted to know about the main army’s situation.
“…Listening to Fourth Master Chen’s tone, the Emperor didn’t want to abandon Luoyang and flee west. It was only because Prince Donghai threatened him with a sword that he had no choice but to take the palace attendants and court officials to flee together,” Ji Ping said. “But the court ministers also had many complaints about Prince Donghai abandoning Luoyang to flee west. As soon as the army camped, they started arguing in the central tent. In a fit of rage, Prince Donghai executed Wang Yan, the Emperor’s maternal uncle, and only then was the matter temporarily settled.”
Wang Shi was frightened out of her wits, taking a long while to catch her breath. “Heavens, fortunate we didn’t follow the main army. Even the national uncle was casually killed… Is the second master all right?”
Ji Ping quickly said, “The second master is fine. He was even promoted—he’s now the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.”
Wang Shi felt rather bitter. “That was quite a rapid promotion.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “This time when the court fled, many officials were trapped in Luoyang, their fates unknown. The central command naturally can’t wait for them to come seeking positions. With so many vacant posts, they naturally need people to fill them.”
“Moreover, this is a good way to win hearts. Zhao Zhong… Uncle went to the palace to serve the emperor loyally in this crisis. This demonstrates his loyalty. Whether it’s the Emperor or Prince Donghai, they’d be willing to employ someone so devoted to the sovereign. Plus, he’s not incompetent, and with Grandfather’s reputation, the Minister position is well-deserved.”
“However,” Zhao Hanzhang stroked her chin, “by now, Uncle and his family should have met up. He was just promoted, and the very next moment his son lost Grandfather’s coffin and us. If this gets out, Uncle’s official career will be rocky indeed.”
Wang Shi said, “I think he’ll be fine. It’s wartime—he can just say we got separated in the chaos of battle.”
“We might be lost, but what about Grandfather’s coffin?” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Besides, people aren’t fools. Unless Uncle is willing to lose one or two of his three children as well, no one will believe him.”
“It seems people will come looking for us very soon.”
Wang Shi felt somewhat nervous. “Then…”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Perfect timing to fill the gap left by Zhao Dian and the others.”
She quietly instructed Chengbo, “Go open a sack of grain. We’ll eat well tonight, and distribute some to the refugees following outside as well.”
Chengbo understood how to arrange things and bowed in acknowledgment.
It was already dark, and the group had already prepared their evening meal. Not knowing when Ji Ping would return and with many people in their group, plus the limited grain Linnan Village had given them, no one dared eat their fill. So they had all been cooking porridge. Now they could simply give this portion to the refugees following them.
They opened a new grain sack and cooked something more substantial.
By the time the meal was ready, the retainers were squatting outside the temple with their bowls and chopsticks eating. The refugees looked on with envy, and even the retainers themselves had various thoughts, each making their own calculations.
Several retainers who had originally decided to follow Zhao Dian to find the second branch huddled together whispering, “Actually, following Sanniang isn’t bad either. Sanniang is kindhearted and treats people generously. Plus, Sanniang is already betrothed to Fu Dalang. Seeing how things are today, Fu Dalang is extremely filial. In the future, Sanniang will surely take Erlang with her to live in the Fu family. If Fu Dalang is in charge of the household, how could we lack prospects?”
“But we receive support from the Zhao clan, and now the clan leader is the second master. If we privately follow Sanniang, we’ll become Sanniang’s private property. I still have family on the estate.”
“Didn’t you hear what Lao Wu and the others said? The elder master lost even the master’s coffin. This man is callous and cold-hearted. Whether our families are in the group is still uncertain. We still need to have prospects. If they’re scattered, it’ll be easier to find them later.”
“Preserve ourselves first.”
The other person hesitated endlessly, finally shaking his head. “I still need to go see if my family is there. If they are, it’s better for the whole family to be together.”
Even Zhao Dian was contemplating whether it was better to follow Zhao Hanzhang or follow Zhao Zhongyu.
No—it should be, is it better to follow Fu Tinghan or follow Zhao Zhongyu?
In his mind, following Zhao Hanzhang was equivalent to following Fu Tinghan.
While he struggled with indecision, Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him and said quietly to Zhao Ju, “Uncle Qianli, ask around to see who wants to leave with Zhao Dian. Anyone who hesitates, strongly urge them to leave.”
Zhao Ju said, “Why such urgency? I noticed today that Zhao Dian’s attitude has softened considerably—he seems to be considering staying.”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head directly. “Him staying does more harm than good. Currently the retainers only need to recognize you as their leader and me as their master. With him here, I can never consolidate their loyalty. Let him go. If too many people want to stay, persuade those who are wavering to leave with Zhao Dian.”
As long as he had enough people, he would definitely want to leave. “Also, tell him that Uncle has been promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat now.”
Zhao Dian, upon hearing that the second master had been promoted, immediately leaned toward one side. He said at once, “Squad Leader, since the grain and provisions have arrived, shall I take people tomorrow to catch up with the second master?”
Zhao Ju said, “…Go ahead.” The young mistress really understands Zhao Dian.