Great changes occurred in the Dai Kingdom palace. The intelligence agents stationed in Pingcheng quickly noticed, but they couldn’t immediately gather more information. They only knew that many corpses were carried out of the palace.

Moreover, the troops garrisoning Pingcheng seemed to be mobilizing.

Just at this time, the liaison responsible for Ji Dan sent out a message—Ji Dan wanted to meet with Pingcheng’s chief intelligence agent.

For one person to hide in Dai Kingdom wasn’t difficult—just find a deep mountain forest or vast grassland to squat in. But to operate as an intelligence agent in Dai Kingdom was harder than anywhere else.

Because Tuoba Yilu’s laws were severe and his control of subordinates strict. Basically, if one person committed a crime, it implicated the whole family, and even left and right neighbors would be held jointly responsible.

So conducting intelligence operations here was very difficult. For one person to establish cover required many people’s protection.

And the intelligence team leader here held all personnel information and had to be even more careful and cautious.

Ji Dan was Tuoba Yilu’s trusted general. If his intent was deliberate entrapment, the intelligence team leader would be in great danger.

The intelligence team leader didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he had people compile all the information received from various sources. Only after reviewing everything did he decide: “I’ll go see him.”

“We personally witnessed Tuoba Biyan’s public humiliation of Tuoba Liuxiu. The Dai King deposed Tuoba Liuxiu’s birth mother and sent troops to pursue Tuoba Liuxiu. Father and son have already broken apart. Today’s palace disturbance was so great—something must have happened. Ji Dan is, after all, a Jin person. In the midst of great change, he may have other thoughts.”

So the intelligence team leader decided to personally meet Ji Dan.

Of course, before going, he handed over Pingcheng affairs to his deputy team leader, saying: “If I cannot return safely, immediately abandon this location. You don’t need to tell me what you do next—directly contact General Yuan.”

The deputy team leader complied.

Only then did the intelligence team leader set out, taking advantage of the approaching nightfall to scale the wall and meet Ji Dan.

Pingcheng’s curfew came much earlier than Luoyang’s. As soon as the sky darkened, people were forbidden from traveling. The atmosphere had been somewhat abnormal these past two days. Although the common people didn’t know what was happening above, they could vaguely sense something. So as soon as the sun set, everyone hurried home, not daring to linger outside.

The intelligence team leader thus scaled the wall into Ji Dan’s home. There he also encountered Wei Xiong, which startled him. But very quickly, this surprise became nothing, because he would receive two more shocks in succession.

The three men held secret discussions in the room until deep into the night. Only then did the intelligence team leader quietly scale the wall to leave.

He knew how to avoid patrolling soldiers and returned to his residence without incident. He said to his trusted aide who came to meet him: “I must contact General Yuan immediately.”

“It’s so late…”

“The sooner the better, no delay.”

The intelligence team leader found his own code book, closed the door, and kept only the telegraph operator inside.

Yuan Li was roused from sleep and spent half an hour in the telegraph room. After hesitating briefly, he still mounted his horse and rode to the Grand General’s Mansion.

The young emperor’s Prince An Manor was under renovation. However, he had sensibly moved out of the main hall and found a random side hall to live in.

The Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites were assisting Ting He in replacing and adding things to the main hall. Because the main hall renovation also required time, Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t moved into the palace, still residing at the Grand General’s Mansion.

When Yuan Li arrived late at night, Ting He had no choice but to gently knock on the door.

Zhao Hanzhang was a light sleeper. As soon as Ting He knocked once, she opened the door. Ting He was slightly surprised and lowered her head to report: “My lady, Yuan Li has arrived.”

Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “What time is it?”

“Just past the Hour of the Ox.”

Zhao Hanzhang then knew something major had happened. “Have Yuan Li wait for me in the study.”

Ting He complied.

Zhao Hanzhang returned to the room to fetch her outer robe and put it on. Fu Tinghan had already heard the commotion and gotten up. “What happened?”

“You sleep first. At this hour, it’s probably a vassal king’s situation that’s changed.” Zhao Hanzhang reassured him: “It’s nothing major.”

One o’clock in the morning was when people slept most deeply. Fu Tinghan only briefly awakened before falling asleep again.

Zhao Hanzhang dressed and went to see Yuan Li.

As soon as Yuan Li saw her enter, he immediately stood and reported: “Your Majesty, there’s been a change in Dai Kingdom.”

He handed her the just-received intelligence.

There was a lot of information, and each item challenged her nerves.

Zhao Hanzhang flipped through it all, truly not expecting that so much could happen in Dai Kingdom in just a few days.

She slapped the intelligence report on the desk with a sharp sound, her expression very displeased. “Must he have his two sons fight over the heir position at precisely this time?”

Couldn’t he wait until after her enthronement to fight?

Yuan Li also felt Tuoba Yilu was poorly timed.

Zhao Hanzhang took a deep breath, pushing all the curses in her mind aside, and pondered: “If I send troops to attack Dai Kingdom at this time, will it make me seem difficult to get along with, making people think I’m already征讨 vassal kings before even ascending the throne?”

Yuan Li asked: “Your Majesty is worried about Western Liang and Shu?”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “Also the Duan clan Xianbei. But compared to these three places, I’m more afraid Shi Le will overthink things.”

Yuan Li said: “Then have Shi Le send troops. The Dai Kingdom that Dai King occupies originally belonged under Youzhou jurisdiction. Or support Tuoba Liuxiu, order him to inherit the Dai Kingdom throne. Father dies, son succeeds—this would also appease the Tuoba Xianbei.”

Zhao Hanzhang said: “That’s a moderate approach.”

A transition wouldn’t be bad, but she didn’t want Dai Kingdom’s governance rights to remain outside her control for long. Since troops were being sent anyway, better to seize it in one stroke, avoiding having to scheme for削藩 and power seizure in the future.

Zhao Hanzhang instantly made her decision. “Forget it, I won’t be angry. This may be heaven’s will. No need to care what outsiders think. Order people to closely monitor Tuoba Yilu’s movements. As soon as he sends troops, immediately have Beigong Chun接应 Ji Dan and Wei Xiong and relocate all thirty thousand households to Bingzhou.

“Have our people contact Tuoba Liuxiu. As soon as he requests court assistance, immediately order Shi Le to send troops to reclaim Dai Kingdom.” Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes. “Tuoba Yilu cannot die, especially not at Tuoba Liuxiu’s hands.”

Yuan Li said: “Your Majesty believes Tuoba Liuxiu can defeat Tuoba Yilu?”

Zhao Hanzhang sneered. “Tuoba Yilu is too arrogant. He’s a heaven-sent genius, but his son is no slouch either. Most importantly, Tuoba Liuxiu is younger than him and more beloved by ordinary tribe members.”

Yuan Li acknowledged the order and asked: “What about the Central Secretariat and the Chancellery…”

“They’re busy with the enthronement ceremony. When Tuoba Liuxiu’s request for aid arrives, they’ll naturally know.”

In other words, she was deciding this herself without needing court discussion.

Yuan Li understood. If this matter went to court, there would be endless debate, and it would affect the enthronement ceremony.

Right at the time of enthronement, everything should be auspicious. Such an incident could hardly be called a good omen.

Of course, once Dai Commandery was actually recovered, public opinion would be quite different.

Yuan Li then understood that this battle was extremely important—they absolutely could not lose.

He acknowledged the order and withdrew.

As soon as he left, Zhao Hanzhang gathered up the intelligence and locked it in the hidden compartment. She snorted in the direction of the north before returning to her room.