The young Emperor said, “I have Prince Yuzhang as a companion reader, that’s sufficient. The Prince of Langya’s family has had a long and arduous journey, and the New Year is approaching. Why not rest first?”
Zhao Hanzhang understood his intention, smiled slightly, and nodded. “Very well. The Prince of Langya’s family hasn’t returned to Luoyang in a long time – let them familiarize themselves first.”
She had already made another decision in her heart, though this matter wasn’t urgent. She first held a banquet to welcome the Prince of Langya, Wang Dao, and Zhou Zhi.
It wasn’t until evening that the six people were finally able to leave the palace. Zhao Xin personally showed the way for the Prince of Langya, escorting his family of four back to the Langya Prince’s mansion.
As for Wang Dao and Zhou Zhi, arrangements had been made for them as well.
Zhao Hanzhang was very generous. Because Wang Dao had participated in persuading the Prince of Langya, and Zhou Zhi had also pledged loyalty quickly, she gave both men mansions and had them simply furnished.
Officials from the Ministry of Rites escorted them to their residences to rest.
The bestowed mansions weren’t large, but they weren’t small either. Zhao Hanzhang had only had people clean out one courtyard and add some essential living items to each.
The Ministry of Rites officials left the property deeds and keys before departing.
But whether it was Wang Dao or Zhou Zhi, their long-anxious hearts finally settled down.
If Zhao Hanzhang had furnished the mansions lavishly for them, they would have been afraid instead.
It was precisely this way that they could feel her goodwill and her desire to express that there would be much time ahead.
Both men settled in peacefully. The next day they were again invited into the palace. This time, Zhao Hanzhang directly conferred upon them the official position of Secretariat Assistant – a position she had created herself.
She had originally wanted to directly create a position called “Advisor,” which could invite some learned people to her side to consult about scholarship and national policy. It would have no real power, but Ji Yuan and other high officials thought it would influence her and future monarchs’ decision-making and wasn’t a good arrangement.
So they refused on the grounds that the national treasury was empty and couldn’t support another department.
Zhao Hanzhang did indeed want to establish a Hanlin Academy, and then advisors could be selected from the Hanlin scholars. But Ji Yuan and the others’ reasoning was correct, so she temporarily set aside the idea and changed “Advisor” to “Secretariat Assistant.”
This way, the Secretariat Assistants’ salaries and such would all come from the Secretariat’s accounts, temporarily eliminating the need to establish another department.
Only then did Ji Yuan and the others agree.
Zhao Hanzhang kept the two men by her side and discussed the situation in Jiangnan and its future governance for an entire morning. They ate lunch before she let them leave.
She said to them, “I know that many scholars followed the procession to Luoyang this time. Please convey on my behalf that the day after tomorrow is the rest day – I’ll have people set up a banquet at the Grand General’s mansion, inviting everyone to come discuss Jiangnan’s major affairs together.”
Zhou Zhi was slightly surprised and exchanged glances with Wang Dao before agreeing.
As soon as Wang Dao and Zhou Zhi left the palace, they went to various inns throughout the capital to find people. When they found the family heads and scholars who had come with them, they conveyed Zhao Hanzhang’s message.
Lu Yuan frowned. “No invitation cards? There should at least be some indication of who’s invited and who isn’t, right?”
Wang Dao said, “There are none. All scholars from the returning refugees or aristocratic clan descendants from Jiangnan who wish to discuss Jiangnan’s major affairs with her may go.”
Zhou Zhi said worriedly, “I only worry that if assassins are mixed in among them, it might bring great disaster to Jiangnan.”
The aristocratic family sons were startled and shivered. “That cannot happen. This matter absolutely cannot go wrong. Since she’s not setting limits, we’ll screen everyone ourselves first. Only people we bring in can enter.”
Zhou Zhi glanced at Wang Dao before saying, “Jiangnan aristocratic families are one thing – with myself, the Lu family, and the Jiang family here, we can ensure no mistakes. But regarding the northern refugees returning from Jiangnan…”
Wang Dao immediately said, “I’ll do the screening. I guarantee that everyone entering the Grand General’s mansion has no connection with Wang Dun.”
Zhou Zhi decided to trust Wang Dao. So the two groups separated and immediately spread the news, having those interested in attending the banquet register separately with them. They would gather together before going to the Grand General’s mansion.
Who wouldn’t want to meet Zhao Hanzhang?
As long as one could catch Zhao Hanzhang’s eye, it could be said to be a meteoric rise to success.
So anyone who could claim any connection to being a “scholar” came to them.
Lu Yuan looked down on some minor aristocratic families, thinking they would only embarrass themselves if they went. So even after meeting them, he crossed out their names, regardless of whether they had any suspicion of being assassins.
If this was how he treated minor aristocratic families, needless to say how he treated non-aristocratic commoner scholars who had merely studied.
The next day, Lu Yuan’s actions were somehow leaked, along with Zhou Zhi’s conveyance of Zhao Hanzhang’s words. So the aspiring individuals lodging in various inns became unhappy.
Their families were in Jiangnan – why had they traveled thousands of miles, enduring countless hardships alongside the northern refugees to reach Luoyang?
Wasn’t it to seek an opportunity to advance?
There was no better path than meeting Zhao Hanzhang to realize their ambitions and display their talents. Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t stipulated the status of attendees – why couldn’t they go?
So they contacted each other privately, planning to go on their own the next day without needing the Zhou, Lu, and Jiang families to lead them.
Never mind the literate – even the illiterate were preparing to attend! Some people even brought their weapons, planning to perform for Zhao Hanzhang at the banquet, hoping to be granted a minor military position.
Compared to the chaos on the Jiangnan aristocratic families’ side, things among the northern refugees were much more harmonious.
Wang Dao welcomed all comers. Regardless of the family background applicants had previously or currently had, or if they had no family background at all and were merely commoners, as long as they had demonstrable skills, he would ask a few questions about Jiangnan and Wang Dun before recording their names and arranging a time and place to meet the next day.
Wang Dao worked from daylight to nightfall, recording a thick stack of papers. After reviewing it once more and confirming there were no problems, he put down his brush and sighed before going to bathe and change clothes.
Lying in the bathing tub, Wang Dao closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep when he suddenly awakened. “Oh no! I forgot to visit the Prince both yesterday and today, and I haven’t reported about the Grand General’s banquet invitation either.”
Wang Dao was deeply annoyed. He quickly got out of the bathing tub, pulling on his clothes while saying to his attendant, “Quick, prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Langya Prince’s mansion.”
The attendant looked troubled. “Master, it’s already curfew outside. Crossing the streets without cause is illegal. The patrolling Imperial Guards outside are fierce and show no mercy at all.”
Wang Dao asked keenly, “You’ve violated curfew before?”
The attendant quickly knelt. “Last night the master wanted fresh fish soup. The mansion had no fresh fish prepared, so we thought to go to restaurants and inns to buy some. Who knew we’d be arrested before even leaving the alley?”
Wang Dao asked, “How did the Imperial Guards handle it?”
The attendant said, “Considering we were first-time offenders and had just arrived in Luoyang, not understanding the rules, they fined us one string of cash, gave us three strokes with the rod, and let us go.”
He said quietly, “When we were being punished, we learned that even people from the Princess Imperial’s mansion and the Zhao residence, without proper passes and appropriate reasons, will also be punished for violating curfew – and they say the punishment is especially severe.”
Wang Dao sat on the couch and asked, “What counts as an appropriate reason?”
The attendant replied, “Fire emergencies, urgent illness, deaths in the family – only these count as appropriate reasons. Otherwise, one needs a pass personally signed by the Grand General. But your servant has inquired – to date, no one has used the Grand General’s pass to get through curfew.”
Wang Dao thought: Of course not! Such precious items must be used for critical matters. Who would have access to such passes and waste them on curfew?
Wang Dao rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat anxious. This wasn’t Jiankang – he was constrained here. He hadn’t visited for two consecutive days, and such an important matter hadn’t been reported to the Prince of Langya. Who knew what suspicions and doubts he would have?
Wang Dao irritably patted his own head, thinking himself too forgetful to have forgotten such an important matter.
The attendant bowed at his side awaiting instructions. Seeing Wang Dao no longer mentioned preparing the carriage, he knew his master didn’t dare violate curfew either. He quietly breathed a sigh of relief and continued standing quietly with his head lowered.
Wang Dao ultimately didn’t go see the Prince of Langya, but he was so anxious he couldn’t sleep all night. At daybreak the next morning, he urgently went out to the Langya Prince’s mansion.
When Wang Dao arrived at the mansion, the Prince of Langya hadn’t yet risen.
The Prince of Langya received him directly in his bedchamber wearing his inner garments.
Wang Dao looked apologetic and said to the Prince of Langya, “As I’ve grown older, I’ve become increasingly muddled. After leaving the palace yesterday, I was constantly anxious, afraid of botching the first task the Grand General entrusted to me. I was so busy that only this morning did I have time to come pay my respects to the Prince.”
The Prince of Langya was indeed somewhat unhappy, but he didn’t show it. He smiled at Wang Dao. “Official business comes first. There’s nothing urgent on my end.”
He said, “From the moment we stepped into Luoyang, you and I have only been colleagues and close friends. Everything else has become like passing clouds.”
They no longer had that layer of ruler-subject relationship.
Wang Dao sighed and lowered his head in acknowledgment.
After the two talked for a while, Wang Dao asked whether the Prince of Langya would attend Zhao Hanzhang’s banquet.
The Prince of Langya thought about it and shook his head in refusal. He had already pledged loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang, equivalent to handing all of Luoyang over to her. If she now wanted to meet Jiangnan people to discuss Jiangnan’s governance, wouldn’t his appearance suggest he was trying to seize power from her?
Throughout the journey north, the unwillingness in the Prince of Langya’s heart had dissipated by more than half and had now basically been let go.
Wang Dao also felt it would be better if the Prince of Langya didn’t appear, so he stood up to take his leave.
No sooner had he left than someone came to deliver an invitation card – Zhao Hanzhang was inviting the Prince of Langya to attend a banquet at noon.
The Prince of Langya nervously received the card, momentarily uncertain whether Zhao Hanzhang was having him attend to gain a good reputation or wanted to use this occasion to do something else.
Sima Shao said, “Since we’ve come, we must adapt. Having come to Luoyang, such matters are unavoidable. Father should go.”
The Prince of Langya decided to bring both Sima Shao and his brother along.
Wang Dao could no longer be relied upon. His two sons were both clever – he would bring them both. At least there would be someone at the banquet to offer advice.
The Prince of Langya thought about it and decided to bring Diao Xie as well.
That’s right – Diao Xie had also come to Luoyang with them. Liu Wei had been left in Jiangnan to assist Zu Ti.
However, Diao Xie had always steadfastly followed the Prince of Langya, so he had no achievements in Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes. Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t summoned him nor would there be any rewards. He was staying in a side courtyard of the Langya Prince’s mansion.
Hearing that the Prince of Langya wanted to bring Diao Xie, Sima Shao couldn’t help but remind him, “Father, Grand General Zhao is a righteous person. I’m afraid she won’t like Diao Xie.”
The Prince of Langya said, “I see Diao Xie as upright and magnanimous, also a righteous person.”
Sima Shao was speechless.
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