Chang’an was impossible. Chang’an was also suffering from famine, and guarding Chang’an was the Eastern Sea Prince’s younger brother, the Prince of Nanyang. Having finally escaped the Eastern Sea Prince, why would he rush toward the Prince of Nanyang?
Chang’an was also too close to the Xianbei.
As for Chen County, the Emperor glanced at Zhao Hanzhang.
Compared to Zhao Hanzhang, he trusted Gou Xi more.
Gou Xi was worth two secret imperial edicts from him. Although they mostly communicated through letters, the Emperor admired his character and trusted his abilities.
As for Zhao Hanzhang, though he had heard plenty about her exploits, the Emperor didn’t trust her much, especially since she had been so ruthless in dealing with Wang Mi this time—one moment they were allies, the next she killed him without batting an eye.
So the Emperor still chose Gou Xi, which naturally meant choosing Yuncheng.
The Emperor insisted, but the officials below were divided. Some supported the Emperor going to Yuncheng, others proposed Chen County, and still others suggested staying in Luoyang.
“Relocating the capital is a matter of great state importance. Luoyang has natural defenses on all four sides. Though currently ruined and desolate, if Your Majesty governs with dedication and benevolent policies, I believe people will come to settle here, and it will flourish again.”
Surprisingly, this was Fu Zhi’s proposal.
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Fu Zhi across from her and immediately said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, rebuilding Luoyang will cost dearly. Though Liu Cong has retreated, the Xiongnu are still too close to Luoyang, and the Xianbei sometimes bypass Chang’an to move south. Remaining in Luoyang is inadvisable.”
However, Xiahou Yan immediately followed up. “Your Majesty, this subject also believes rebuilding Luoyang is better, or else relocating to Chang’an. Otherwise, Chen County would do.”
Both Gou Xi and Gou Chun looked suspiciously at Zhao Hanzhang across from them, their gazes deep, suspecting she was playing hard to get with false modesty.
Seeing their looks, Zhao Hanzhang inwardly spat blood and simply stopped caring. “If Your Majesty is willing to go to Chen County, I will certainly accompany and protect you. However, I cannot remain in Luoyang.”
The Emperor didn’t want to stay in Luoyang either. Whether after or before his enthronement, Luoyang hadn’t left him with good memories.
So he said directly, “You need not persuade me further. I must relocate the capital. I hesitated repeatedly before, which led to the Luoyang disaster.”
He asked Fu Zhi doubtfully, “Minister Fu, you always advocated relocating the capital. Why have you changed your mind now?”
Fu Zhi said, “Circumstances change. At this time, Your Majesty remaining in Luoyang would benefit both state and people greatly—it would be a great good deed.”
“Indeed,” Xiahou Yan’s gaze swept over Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi, his meaning profound. “Remaining in Luoyang, with the support of Generals Zhao and Gou, Luoyang will surely recover its vitality quickly.”
Xiahou Yan had hinted this far, but unfortunately the Emperor had been scared out of his wits by the Xiongnu. When Liu Cong and Wang Mi attacked this time, they had been only a door away from him.
He had already prepared himself to be killed or captured, so he absolutely refused to stay in Luoyang.
Seeing this, Xiahou Yan sighed and, after glancing at Fu Zhi, stopped pressing the matter. He was just a minor scholar, unlike Fu Zhi. So he only offered advice—if the Emperor wouldn’t listen, he could only lament that Heaven was truly abandoning Jin.
But Fu Zhi was different.
Looking at Fu Zhi’s temples frosted like snow, he would have much to worry about in the future.
Glancing again at Fu Tinghan seated beside Zhao Hanzhang, Xiahou Yan shook his head and sighed before raising his cup to Fu Zhi. Without waiting for his response, he drank the wine himself.
Having set down his cup, he said no more. Fu Zhi, however, could not remain silent. He still strongly advocated staying in Luoyang or going to Chang’an.
“The Prince of Nanyang has talent but lacks wisdom and cannot hold Chang’an. Yet Chang’an, like Luoyang, is a bulwark of the Central Plains. Your Majesty, as sovereign, should guard the nation’s gate,” he continued. “Moreover, Chang’an is easy to defend and hard to attack, and with the Central Plains as backup, with Generals Zhao and Gou here, Your Majesty need have no worries.”
The Emperor frowned, also glancing at Fu Tinghan beside Zhao Hanzhang, slightly displeased. “Grand Secretary Fu previously favored relocating to Yanzhou. Why have you changed your mind?”
Because in just this short half-day, Fu Zhi had detected that Gou Xi was no longer the upright and honest minister of before. But with Gou Xi and all the officials present, he couldn’t voice these words.
Fu Zhi lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Zhao Hanzhang picked up the wine pot to pour herself a cup, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.
Fu Tinghan glanced at her before saying to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, relocating the capital is a grave matter requiring consultation with all officials. It cannot be decided in a moment. Today’s banquet need not dwell on this matter.”
Zhao Zhongyu immediately agreed, “Exactly. Today’s palace banquet celebrates the resolution of Luoyang’s crisis. On such an auspicious occasion, why discuss these troubling matters?”
The Emperor’s grave expression eased as he smiled again. “Right, today we only drink and discuss happy matters, not these vexing issues.”
Empress Liang smiled. “Since that’s the case, Your Majesty might as well take this opportunity to reward General Zhao.”
She continued, “General Zhao resolved Luoyang’s crisis and rescued Your Majesty—such merit deserves great reward.”
The Emperor, eager to leave Luoyang, wanted to settle these matters quickly. He immediately asked, “What reward does General Zhao desire?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied courteously, “This is merely my duty as a subject. I dare not seek rewards. However, I have several capable generals. Thanks to them, we could drive out the Xiongnu army. So I request rewards for them.”
This was also tacitly understood. The Emperor asked, “What merit do you wish to claim for them?”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately produced a prepared memorial. A palace attendant came down to receive it and present it.
The Emperor unfolded it and saw it was not short—clearly quite lengthy. He carefully read through it and found that even ordinary squad leaders’ merits were recorded.
It seemed Zhao Hanzhang was requesting rewards for all her subordinates on a large scale, which couldn’t be decided immediately at a palace banquet.
The Emperor put away the memorial. “I understand. I will consider this carefully.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly. “I thank Your Majesty.”
“These are their merits, but General Zhao’s merit surpasses theirs. Do you want nothing for yourself?”
Zhao Hanzhang hesitated before saying, “Your Majesty, I am sentimental. Yuzhou is my homeland, where my family and clan all reside. So I only wish that the people of Yuzhou can live in peace and prosperity under my governance, loyal to the sovereign and loving the nation.”
That Zhao Hanzhang wanted Yuzhou, Fu Zhi and Zhao Zhongyu had already told him. Today’s question was merely a formality.
The Emperor was also straightforward, immediately declaring, “I appoint Zhao Hezhen as Governor of Yuzhou and enfeoff her as Duke of Runan Commandery! General Zhao, I entrust Yuzhou to you. You must govern it well.”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately rose and came forward, kneeling in the hall and bowing in thanks. “This subject will not fail Your Majesty’s expectations!”
Zhao Hanzhang was respectful, and the Emperor grew pleased, immediately bestowing wine. He smiled. “If we trace our kinship, you would still need to call me Cousin.”
Looking askance at Fu Tinghan seated to the side, the Emperor’s smile broadened as he said cheerfully, “But if we calculate from Tinghan’s side, you would need to call me Great-Uncle.”
Fu Zhi immediately said, “Among relatives, one should calculate from the closer connection, not the more distant one. If we trace back to Emperor Jing, that would be too far. We should calculate from the Princess.”
Fu Changyu’s mother, Princess Hongnong, was Emperor Hui’s daughter. Emperor Hui and the current Emperor were brothers, so the Princess would call the Emperor Uncle, and Fu Tinghan would call him… Great-Uncle.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind being junior in generation, but she very much minded dropping two generations at once. However, if they really calculated from Zhao Changyu’s generation, not only were the two sides more distantly related with equally no blood connection, it wasn’t as close as calculating from Fu Tinghan’s side. She forced out a smile, raised her cup to the Emperor, and called out, “Great-Uncle.”