Zhao Hanzhang said, “Never mind that he currently has no designs on the throne—even if he did have ambitions and actually did something, I wouldn’t stoop to such actions.”

She continued, “I dare to compete with everyone in the world for this position. Why would I fear a single Sima Rui?”

Especially a Sima Rui whom she didn’t particularly respect.

Rather than viewing Sima Rui as an opponent, it was better to consider the Wang Dun and Wang Dao brothers as rivals.

Ming Yu couldn’t help but smile, praising her, “The Governor speaks correctly. It’s I who was narrow-minded.”

Wasn’t Gou Chun overly wary of Zhao Hanzhang, which only made his own situation progressively worse, also implicating Gou Xi in the process?

Ming Yu admonished himself inwardly, then looked up to see Zhao Zhongyu approaching. He quickly lowered his head and withdrew, giving space for the grandfather and granddaughter to speak.

“Grand-uncle,” Zhao Hanzhang said with an apologetic expression, “I’m afraid I cannot bring Uncle with me. We’re marching rapidly, and with his injuries not yet healed, he cannot keep up with us.”

Zhao Zhongyu nodded, “I know. Once you’ve packed your things, leave quickly. Right now both Yuzhou and Sizhou are waiting for you to take charge of the overall situation.”

“As for your eldest uncle,” Zhao Zhongyu paused before continuing, “even if you could take him, he cannot leave. He needs to stay behind to stabilize morale.”

Zhao Ji wasn’t actually of much use, but he was Zhao Zhongyu’s son and Zhao Hanzhang’s eldest uncle. His status alone mattered. With the civil and military officials all panicking and wanting to flee, and with Gou Xi and others out fighting battles, the internal front needed Zhao Zhongyu and other such ministers to stabilize public and military morale.

If people learned at this time that Zhao Ji had fled, both public and military morale would certainly collapse. Even the Emperor’s heart might waver.

If the Emperor also lost faith that Yuncheng could be defended, then Yuncheng truly couldn’t be defended.

Therefore, even if Zhao Ji were fit and healthy and could leave with Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t let him go.

Zhao Zhongyu urged her, “You should leave quickly.”

Fan Ying and others also quickly finished packing their luggage. Zhao Hanzhang picked up her long spear and went out. Zhao Zhongyu saw her to the door, and after hesitating for a long time, he finally lowered his voice to say, “Yuzhou is paramount. Though Yanzhou and His Majesty are important, they are not as important as the Zhao clan. Since you have ambitions…”

“Grand-uncle,” Zhao Hanzhang gently cut off his words, “Though I have ambitions, I will not allow the Xiongnu to destroy my rivers and mountains or kill my people. As long as Sizhou and Yuzhou are safe, I will come to provide relief.”

Zhao Zhongyu sighed, “Your pressure is far greater than Gou Xi’s. The border between Yuzhou and Sizhou is too long, and this time the Xiongnu’s main forces are also directed at Yuzhou.”

Indeed, Liu Cong’s troop deployments this time favored Yuzhou. Of the three-pronged army, the forces successively rushing to Yuzhou numbered the same as those going to Yanzhou, but Shi Lei’s main forces were also aimed at Yuzhou, so Zhao Hanzhang’s pressure was extremely great.

Zhao Hanzhang had calculated in her heart and felt she could hold the line. Her popular support in Yuzhou was exceptionally strong. She believed that if the Xiongnu forces arrived at the city gates, the old and young of Yuzhou could all become military resources, able to resist the enemy together. It wouldn’t be easy for the Xiongnu to break through the defensive lines and capture Yuzhou.

Zhao Hanzhang leaped onto her horse and led her people away.

After leaving the city, she met up with her personal guards and immediately headed toward Yuzhou.

Zhao Hanzhang switched to riding in a carriage and discussed arrangements for Yuzhou and Sizhou with Ming Yu.

“Zhao Ju will aid Yanzhou. I want to make Zhao Ming the Grand Military Commander of Yuzhou to oversee all military affairs in Yuzhou,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I’ll order Xun Xiu and Lu Xiyuan to divide their forces and guard Yuzhou from two directions. Ji Ping, Li Tianhe, Yuan Li, and Gao Yi will each lead twenty thousand Zhao family troops under their command.”

Ming Yu asked, “What about Yanzhou? We must prepare for the possibility that Yanzhou will fall. Once Yanzhou falls…”

“Leave this side to Wang Nie,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Wang Nie and Zhao Ju have often cooperated these past two years and have gained experience. I trust them.”

Ming Yu said, “What about Jingzhou…”

“I trust Wang Yifeng.”

Ming Yu stopped speaking. He thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Zhao Hanzhang’s arrangements. “This way, there will be no forces from Yuzhou available to support Sizhou.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “Yes, but the main forces of the Xiongnu and Shi Lei are in Yuzhou.”

Her fingers lightly tapped her thigh as she said, “We cannot be led by the nose by them. They want to capture Yuzhou and cut off the rear routes of Sizhou and Yanzhou. Hmph, I won’t let them have their way.”

“His Majesty has already issued edicts far and wide, ordering all soldiers under heaven to come to the Emperor’s aid. Minister Fu is loyal to the ruler and loves the country—he will certainly respond,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Once I return to Sizhou, we’ll coordinate with Minister Fu for a strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.”

Ming Yu’s eyes flashed, “You want to attack Pingyang City?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Don’t you think this is a good opportunity?”

Ming Yu said, “Pingyang is the capital of the Xiongnu Han state. It certainly has heavy troop defenses.”

“I also have heavy troops,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “At the beginning of the year, I didn’t dare to make a move—not because I feared their heavy troops, but because they could continuously and fiercely draw back endless reinforcements. But now, do they still have reinforcements?”

Zhao Hanzhang continued, “There’s also Liu Kun and Zu Ti. Everyone who should move should all move together. Hmph, Liu Yuan wants to take advantage of the fire to plunder, to take the opportunity to catch us all in one net? Well, that depends on whether his stomach can hold it all.”

If she had connections with the Tuoba Xianbei, she would also need to write a letter to provoke them, getting the Tuoba Xianbei to send troops and share in the spoils.

Hmm, this matter could be discussed with Liu Kun—he was quite familiar with the Tuoba Xianbei.

Zhao Hanzhang and Ming Yu discussed things in detail. When the horses were tired and everyone was hungry, they stopped to rest. She immediately had Ting He grind ink to write letters.

Ming Yu and she each occupied half the table. She wrote letters while Ming Yu wrote various military orders.

When she finished writing her letters, Ming Yu’s military orders were also complete. Zhao Hanzhang signed and stamped them, then called over a team of messengers. They divided the military orders and letters among them. The soldiers pooled together, scraping up ten horses to give them.

This allowed them to have two horses per person for relay riding.

After watching them ride away on horseback, Zhao Hanzhang finally felt the hunger in her belly.

She took the dry cake Ming Yu handed her and took a bite. Only then did she worry, “I wonder how Tinghan is doing in Luoyang. He’s not skilled in military affairs—he should be able to defend Luoyang, right?”

Ming Yu paused before saying, “Governor, there’s still Master Ji in Luoyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang became even more worried. “I suddenly recalled that although Master Ji is my military strategist and adviser, he rarely participates in military decision-making. Like Tinghan, he mostly handles logistical matters.”

Ming Yu organized his thoughts to try to comfort her, but before he could speak, Zhao Hanzhang had already recovered. “It’s fine. General Beigong is still there. Fortunately, I left General Beigong to guard Luoyang. If the battle really can’t be won, he’ll make Tinghan and Master Ji flee.”

“Erlang also has Master Xie by his side—he’ll flee too.” Though she said this, Zhao Hanzhang still quickened the pace of the journey. Generals could flee, but could the soldiers escape as well?

And what about the common people?

What if they couldn’t escape?

Zhao Hanzhang traveled day and night, nearly running the horses to death. They left over twenty people behind on the road before finally returning to Chen County on the third day.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t exchange pleasantries with Zhao Ming. While asking whether the military orders had been sent out, she had people arrange horses for her.

Zhao Ming blocked all her haste with one sentence: “Shi Lei’s main army is in Wei Commandery.”