“Support fees?” Zhao Hanzhang was so startled she sat bolt upright and asked, “How much money?”
Fu Tinghan said, “One million cash per year.”
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue—so much! She didn’t think she had that much money. Even though she could mint copper coins herself, that money belonged to the public treasury. Her private treasury really didn’t have much.
Moreover, copper coins weren’t something she could mint as many as she wanted. Setting aside the fact that the quantity needed to be calculated, minting coins required mining copper, smelting it, and only then casting—the process was complex and time-consuming.
But if Fu Zhi was demanding support fees now, it definitely wasn’t just about support fees.
Zhao Hanzhang’s mind turned, and before she could ask, Fu Tinghan said, “If there’s no money, it can be paid with goods.”
Zhao Hanzhang relaxed and asked, “What does he want?”
Fu Tinghan said, “Glass mirrors, grain, and military equipment.”
Glass mirrors were currently quite popular items. Their value and circulation were comparable to silk—they could be quickly converted to cash.
Grain and military equipment needn’t be mentioned—Fu Zhi also needed to maintain troops.
One million cash converted to these items wasn’t actually that much. Money—Zhao Hanzhang didn’t have, but she did have these things.
She said, “Except for grain, the other two are fine.”
Fu Tinghan asked, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll take the military equipment and turn around to attack us?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I trust that as long as I don’t send troops against the Jin Emperor, Grandfather Fu won’t send troops against me. And I trust myself—I won’t send troops against the Jin Emperor.”
Fu Tinghan nodded, then went to tell Fu Zhi that he would pay the support fees, with the grain portion exchanged for additional military equipment and glass mirrors.
Fu Zhi looked at him with complicated feelings and said, “After you return, have someone deliver it to Chang’an within a month.”
Fu Tinghan agreed.
Fu Zhi said, “Your mother is a Jin imperial princess. Emperor Hui is your maternal grandfather, and the current emperor is your maternal grand-uncle. She will never accept your Way. Have you thought this through—are you really not going to change your Way?”
Fu Tinghan pressed his lips together and shook his head firmly. “I won’t change.”
Fu Zhi sighed and wearily waved his hand. “Go on, then.”
Fu Tinghan looked at him with concern but still bowed respectfully before withdrawing.
Watching his upright retreating figure, Fu Zhi finally turned to his attendant and said, “Send word to Shihong. Tell him the Central Plains are unstable. If they can still manage in Shu, they should stay in Shu. If they truly can’t hold on, have the couple return to Chang’an.”
The attendant quietly acknowledged and said gently, “The master still cares for the young master.”
Fu Zhi’s eyes filled with grief. “What he said wasn’t wrong. It’s truly difficult for the Jin imperial house to bring peace to the realm. Even though His Majesty is gifted and showed outstanding promise in his youth, the roots of the state are crooked and can’t be straightened. Moreover, with heroes rising in chaos throughout the realm now, His Majesty’s talent and virtue still can’t command respect.”
Even someone as loyal as Fu Zhi had to admit that in terms of both talent and reputation, Zhao Hanzhang surpassed the Emperor.
“Forget it, let them go.” Since last night, Fu Zhi’s heart had been torn between two forces that refused to yield to each other. His reason told him Fu Tinghan was right—he should think from the common people’s position. But emotionally, he couldn’t accept it.
He couldn’t accept Fu Tinghan and Zhao Hanzhang’s betrayal of Jin, and even more, he couldn’t accept his own betrayal of Jin.
Fu Zhi was in poor spirits and didn’t want to keep his guests. He immediately showed signs of wanting them to leave. Although Yang Dan didn’t know what had happened, he could sense there was discord between grandfather and grandson, so he tactfully took his leave.
Zhao Hanzhang also honestly proposed her departure.
But Zhang Ru didn’t want to return with Yang Dan. She wanted to go with Zhao Hanzhang. “I also want to be a female general like Inspector Zhao.”
Yang Dan said, “Miss, you’re already betrothed.”
Zhang Ru countered, “Isn’t Inspector Zhao also betrothed?”
Yang Dan was stumped. His gaze swept over Zhao Hanzhang, who was quietly waiting to the side. He gritted his teeth and said, “If Miss wishes to be a female general, you can certainly return to Xiliang. This subject believes that if the Governor learns Xiliang is also producing a female general like General Zhao, he will surely be pleased.”
“Father might be pleased, but Eldest Brother might not be,” Zhang Ru said. “I’ll stay with the Zhao family army. Once I’ve achieved something, I’ll return.”
Zhang Ru insisted, but Yang Dan was more insistent, continually persuading her. For example, “This subject brought you out. If I cannot bring you back, I’ll have no face to see the Governor again.”
Or, “The Governor’s health has only just improved. If Miss isn’t by his side, he’ll surely worry…”
With these words, Zhang Ru began to waver.
In front of Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Zhi, Yang Dan could only hint, but Zhang Ru knew—her father’s health seemed to be improving, but the outlook really wasn’t optimistic. After all, he’d had a stroke.
Though he could now communicate and move normally, those were just surface appearances. She knew her father’s health was far worse than before. If she made her father worry and worsened his condition…
Zhang Ru bit her lip, glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, then lowered her head.
Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward and pulled her aside for a private conversation. “Wouldn’t staying in Xiliang be better? You can fulfill your filial duties while advancing more quickly in your career.”
Zhang Ru felt somewhat aggrieved. “I don’t want people to criticize me for relying on my family.”
“I’m different. When I need to rely on something, I don’t avoid relying on my ancestors and clan,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “As long as I can produce corresponding achievements, or even better, this reliance becomes mutually beneficial. What do officials in this world pursue besides fame, profit, and honor? Isn’t it to ensure their wives are ennobled and their children given rank?”
“You’re also Governor Zhang’s child. If your three elder brothers can rely on your father’s authority to advance in their careers, why can’t you?” Zhao Hanzhang continued, “Since you want to be a female general and advance in your career, don’t be afraid of criticism. Countless people criticize me—have you seen me depressed?”
Zhang Ru asked, “You don’t care at all about their insults?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “That depends on what they’re saying. If their words have substance, naturally I should consider and accept them, correcting any faults. But if it’s just from prejudice or conflicts of interest, you can treat it like they’re passing gas—turn your head and don’t listen.”
Seeing her use crude language without appearing crude, Zhang Ru couldn’t help but giggle. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Zhao Hanzhang and nodded. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”
She hesitated, then couldn’t help asking, “Inspector Zhao, after I return to Xiliang, may I write to you?”
“Of course you can.” Zhao Hanzhang grasped her hand, her eyes also shining. “In this world, there are very few women who aspire to be generals. Just for that aspiration, I admire you.”
Zhao Hanzhang squeezed her hand and said, “In the future, if you still want to come to me, just come. I’ll always keep a position for you.”
This was Zhang Ru’s fallback option.
Zhang Ru’s eyes grew moist. They’d only known each other for three days, yet Zhao Hanzhang could give her such a promise.
Zhang Ru also squeezed Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, then turned decisively and left.
Yang Dan breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed to Zhao Hanzhang from a distance before leading the delegation away.
Zhao Hanzhang also took her leave from Fu Zhi.
Fu Zhi looked at her, his gaze distant, as if seeing someone else through her. After a long while, he finally spoke. “Sanniang, I hope you won’t forget your ancestor’s teachings.”
Zhao Hanzhang knew about the conversation between Fu Tinghan and Fu Zhi that night—Fu Tinghan hadn’t hidden it from her at all. So she understood what Fu Zhi was implying. She nodded readily. “Don’t worry, Grandfather Fu.”
She would never take the initiative to destroy Jin. But Jin was very difficult to sustain for long.
—