Ting He brought Zhao Hanzhang rice porridge and side dishes. Zhao Hanzhang sat up from the bed, saw the porridge and side dishes, and sighed. “No meat to eat, but at least give me some flatbread?”

Ting He placed the rice porridge and side dishes on the table. “Nulang, fill your stomach first. I’ll cook noodles for you tonight.”

Zhao Hanzhang made a request: “Add two eggs.”

Ting He hesitated before agreeing. It seemed the army’s eggs had run out. Where could she find eggs now?

Zhao Hanzhang finished the porridge and couldn’t help asking questions again. “Has Mister Ji returned?”

“He has. He even said he wanted to see Nulang, but the young master stopped him, saying it would disturb your rest. Right now he’s discussing matters with the young master.” After speaking, Ting He realized what had happened and urged, “Nulang, please stop worrying about these things and rest quickly.”

“I know, I know. I’ll rest right away.” Zhao Hanzhang sat for a while longer, then obediently lay back down on the bed. But she just couldn’t fall asleep.

Fu Tinghan returned after arranging everything. Seeing her eyes closed, he gently pulled the covers up. Then he saw her open her bright, shining eyes.

Their gazes met, and they both quietly looked at each other for a moment.

Fu Tinghan withdrew his hand, staring at her bright eyes. “In this whole hour, you haven’t slept at all?”

Zhao Hanzhang felt somewhat embarrassed. “I seem to have a bit of insomnia.”

Fu Tinghan silently watched her for a while before helplessly helping her sit up properly and volunteering: “The civilians in the city have mostly been evacuated. Tomorrow, with another half day, everyone should be out. Those hiding that we can’t find—there’s nothing we can do about them.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Fu Tinghan continued, “With Erlang and Xie Shi at the front line, we don’t need to worry about them attacking outward. But there’s limited we can do for the palace.”

Zhao Hanzhang frowned. “When they launch their siege, can our counterattack from here reduce the pressure on the palace?”

“The streets are narrow. They have twenty thousand men inside and can arrange them perfectly well without fearing your attack from behind.” Fu Tinghan said, “In terms of cavalry combat ability, you can’t match them. So a frontal assault won’t work. Unless you can lure them out for street fighting, it won’t be worth the cost.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Even if we win the street fighting, it will probably be killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of our own.”

This wasn’t the result Zhao Hanzhang wanted. She sighed. “If only we could negotiate.”

Fu Tinghan said, “The Emperor of Dajin is separated from them by only one wall. Liu Yuan has sent troops to attack Luoyang twice, aiming to destroy Jin. This is the third time. Do you think anyone could resist this temptation and negotiate with you at this moment?”

That’s right—Liu Cong’s faction was impossible. Zhao Hanzhang’s heart stirred with sudden insight. “Wang Mi… is not entirely impossible.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help rubbing her fingers together as many thoughts flashed through her mind.

Wang Mi had been jumping around causing trouble for so many years, and what he loved most were the two words: power and influence. But he knew his identity couldn’t compare to the Sima clan, and his talent and reputation couldn’t match people like Wang Yan. If he wanted to accumulate power and influence most quickly, his only option was to rebel and cause chaos.

So his entire life had been spent making trouble.

But what if Zhao Hanzhang offered him a path to success?

“Earlier it was said that Wang Mi and Liu Cong’s forces clashed in the city, with over a thousand casualties?”

Fu Tinghan nodded. “Yes. Today we captured several Xiongnu in the city. I questioned them—it was Liu Cong’s people who attacked first.”

“To be precise, it was Liu Cong’s subordinate Liu Yao who struck first. They entered the city later than Wang Mi. By the time they entered, Wang Mi had already ordered widespread looting—stealing whatever wealth and people they could from the south of the city, and killing what they couldn’t take. Liu Yao worried that Wang Mi would plunder all of Luoyang’s wealth, so he killed the opposing commander, a garrison general, which triggered the conflict and resulted in over a thousand casualties.”

“In the end, Liu Cong intervened, strictly forbidding Wang Mi from plundering Luoyang’s people because the palace hadn’t yet been breached. So the matter was dropped.”

“Liu Yao is Liu Cong’s subordinate. Wang Mi must be resentful,” Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment before saying, “Order Xun Xiu to speed up. Don’t come here—go to the east of the city. After a brief rest, take down Liu Cong’s ten thousand troops stationed in the suburbs!”

Zhao Hanzhang pressed her thumb against her index finger. “Tell the soldiers in the city to pay attention. If there are conflicts, avoid Wang Mi’s people and only kill Liu Cong’s men.”

Fu Tinghan’s mouth fell open. “You want to turn Wang Mi against them? Liu Cong isn’t stupid—will he fall for it?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Who knows? There’s no harm in trying. Oh, bring me writing materials. I’ll write Wang Mi a letter. Come to think of it, we have some connection—his grandfather once served as Prefect of Runan, and the Zhao clan has always been a prominent family of Runan. Our families must have had some relationship. Let me fabricate something.”

Fu Tinghan: “…Fabricate?”

“Ah, for these old family matters, I’d need to ask Uncle Ming or Uncle Shuzu. But one is far away in Chen County now, and the other is trapped in the palace. Even if I wanted to ask, there’s no time. Anyway, it’s nothing more than old friends who ate at the same table and drank together. I can fabricate something without going wrong.”

Fu Tinghan quietly looked at her for a while, then turned and called a soldier. “Go summon Zhao Liang.”

“Zhao Liang? Isn’t he in Xiping? How did he come here?”

Zhao Liang was one of the Zhao clan members studying under Zhao Cheng. When Zhao Kuan and the others ran off with Zhao Hanzhang, he stayed at the school in Xiping. Zhao Hanzhang remembered that the school there was basically managed by him now.

Fu Tinghan said, “Uncle Ming sent him here, telling him to gain experience in the army rather than becoming foolish from reading at home.”

Hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “Then quickly invite him in.”

As one of Zhao Cheng’s disciples, he should know something about family matters, right?

Zhao Hanzhang herself wasn’t very certain.

As it turned out, Zhao Liang really did know.

Although Zhao Kuan was more capable, when it came to the family genealogy and ancestral matters, that had to be Zhao Liang. This was also why Zhao Ming immediately sent Zhao Liang when he learned that Zhao Hanzhang was competing with Prince Donghai for people.

Fu Tinghan said, “Uncle Ming says that aristocratic families have proud bones. You don’t know the genealogy well and don’t recognize many people. Once you start conversing with them, you’ll probably be at a disadvantage. So he specifically sent Zhao Liang to guide you more.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…Why didn’t Uncle Ming tell me directly but instead wrote to you?”

“Because you’re busy. He didn’t want these matters to disturb you, so he wrote to me and had me arrange for Zhao Liang.” Fu Tinghan said, “Zhao Liang also has no ability to lead troops, so I kept him by my side to help with some logistics matters.”

Zhao Liang soon arrived. He had vaguely heard that Zhao Hanzhang was injured, so he came very urgently. As soon as he entered the great tent, his gaze went to find Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her sitting on a low seat wearing a cloak, he couldn’t help feeling anxious. “Sanniang, you’re injured?”

“I’ve worried my cousin,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I’m fine. Please sit down quickly. I happen to have some matters I’d like to ask you about.”

# Chapter 503: Letter of Recruitment

Zhao Liang carefully examined her complexion. Seeing it was only somewhat pale, he sat down more calmly and nodded reservedly. “What does the General wish to ask?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “This isn’t military business. Cousin needn’t be so formal.”

She asked, “I wonder if cousin knows of Wang Mi’s grandfather?”

“Wang Qi? Of course I know of him,” Once Wang Mi rebelled and caused chaos, everyone in the realm knew of him. Previously, aside from people in the Qingzhou area who knew of the Wang Mi brothers, how many people under heaven knew him?

But once he became a bandit, everyone dug up who his ancestors for eight generations were. As his grandfather, being the closest relative who held the highest official position, he was naturally dragged out for discussion repeatedly.

So Zhao Liang would have found it hard not to know.

Zhao Liang asked, “Why does Sanniang ask about him?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “I’m just curious whether our family had dealings with Wang Qi, and whether we were close?”

Zhao Liang snorted coldly. “The grandfather of a traitor—our Zhao clan is loyal and steadfast. How could we be close with him?”

He stated directly, “We weren’t!”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…Actually, I think our family could have had some connection with Wang Qi.”

Zhao Liang furrowed his brow and looked at her.

Fu Tinghan beside them couldn’t help laughing out loud. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang look over, he turned his head away.

Zhao Hanzhang spoke warmly to explain to Zhao Liang: “I want to recruit Wang Mi. I need to establish some connection.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liang became agitated and quickly said, “Wang Mi is like a wolf or tiger—how can he be trusted? This kind of person should be killed, not allowed to continue harming the realm. Why would you think of recruiting him instead?”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I don’t want to either, but right now His Majesty, Uncle Shuzu, and Grandfather Fu are all trapped in the palace. Other than this method, all others would result in heavy casualties. Cousin, we cannot sacrifice their lives based on personal preferences, especially His Majesty’s.”

Zhao Liang’s anger subsided somewhat as he asked, “But what do you have to persuade Wang Mi to surrender?”

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang skeptically. “Can you really recruit him?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “We must at least try.”

Zhao Liang looked at her for a long while, then seriously considered. “Speaking of dealings, there were definitely dealings. Wang Qi served as Prefect of Runan, and our Zhao clan is a prominent family of Runan. Neither side could bypass the other.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded deeply in agreement.

“But speaking of notable friendships, there were none,” Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s accusing gaze, Zhao Liang said, “Our Zhao clan’s status was even more distinguished. At that time, it was Sanniang’s great-grandfather who was clan leader. He served as an official in the capital with remarkable achievements and was ultimately enfeoffed as Earl of Shangcai. Though Wang Qi had military merit, he couldn’t really speak with your great-grandfather, let alone have any notable friendship.”

“Oh, if you really must find something, does it count that your great-grandfather once mocked him for being vainglorious?”

Zhao Hanzhang: …

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help laughing again.

Zhao Hanzhang glared at him and asked Zhao Liang, “My great-grandfather did this? Was it widely known?” This wouldn’t help her establish a connection with Wang Mi.

Zhao Liang said, “Not widely. I heard about it from my grandfather. By rights, it should have been the former clan leader who mocked him, and then great-grandfather chimed in.”

Oh, so her grandfather did it. That’s a bit close. Wang Mi might know about this too.

“Great-grandfather had an open and generous personality, while the former clan leader was frugal and disliked extravagance. Before Wang Qi came to Runan to serve as prefect, he had erected a stele recording his military achievements at great expense. The former clan leader disapproved, and during a banquet at Shangcai, he mocked him for this. Great-grandfather doted on his son and joined in.” Zhao Liang said, “So our family didn’t have much interaction with the Wang Qi branch. If you want to establish a connection from this angle, there’s no need.”

It seemed her grandfather was also a child raised with affection.

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, dismissing the inappropriate thought. She already had an idea in mind and asked, “So there was just some minor interaction, and our two families had no major conflicts or fights, right?”

Zhao Liang: “Even if great-grandfather and the former clan leader disliked Wang Qi, he was still the Prefect of Runan. How could they deliberately offend him?”

“That’s good then. I understand now. Cousin, you may go rest.”

Zhao Liang stood up. After hesitating, he said, “Sanniang, Wang Mi is uncontrollable and has wild ambitions. If you recommend him to the court, it will likely bring great disaster.”

Zhao Hanzhang said meaningfully, “How do you know I’ll definitely succeed in recruiting him, cousin?”

Success had its own way of handling things; failure also had its benefits. Her goal was to create discord between the two men in the city. If Wang Mi betrayed them, that would be best. If he didn’t, she wouldn’t lose anything either.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately clutched her chest and leaned forward, having Fu Tinghan grind ink for her. She would write to Wang Mi right now.

“Shouldn’t you have Mister Ji write it for you?”

Usually when she needed letters or memorials with literary merit, she had Ji Yuan write them for her.

Zhao Hanzhang refused. “If I don’t personally choose the words and construct the sentences, how can I show my sincerity?”

Who says they had no connection? Being fellow court officials was a collegial relationship; the prefect and the local prominent family helping each other created relationships between parents and children. She could casually fabricate a story—their ancestors once ate at the same table and drank together. Wasn’t that a connection?

She didn’t believe Wang Mi was completely indifferent to reputation.

He was indifferent before because he had already become a bandit—already this bad. For the sake of power and influence, he could abandon his reputation.

But what if what lay before him now was both power and influence, plus a restored reputation?

For this, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hesitate to send him major news, telling him that Prince Donghai had died at Shi Le’s hands, and that Shi Le was now gathering Prince Donghai’s two hundred thousand troops. Among the generals sent south by the Han state this time, Shi Le deserved first merit.

You want to be first to enter the palace and claim the glory of destroying Jin, but Liu Yuan’s own son Liu Cong is here, and beside him is his clansman Liu Yao. Will they allow an outsider to seize this tremendous achievement?

Will Liu Yuan credit you with this heaven-sent accomplishment?

Liu Yao killed so many of your men over looting wealth, and Liu Cong punished him—but you surely also reported this to Liu Yuan. Did Liu Yuan deal with him?

Zhao Hanzhang told Wang Mi: In the Han state, not only can you not be second, you can’t even hold onto third place.

Don’t you want power and influence?

The Jin state can give them to you too.

Zhao Hanzhang told him: Prince Donghai is dead, Wang Yan has been captured by Shi Le. Now in all of Jin, aside from me, there’s only one Gou Xi left.

Zhao Hanzhang claimed she was merely a woman who only wanted to peacefully guard Yuzhou for the rest of her life. She was loyal to the ruler and devoted to the country, with no interest in power at court.

So now in the entire realm, the only person who could influence the Emperor was Gou Xi.

Shi Le found Gou Xi difficult not because Gou Xi was so formidable, but because Shi Le lacked education and didn’t know military strategy—he only knew how to fight recklessly.

But you’re different. Like Gou Xi, you come from the scholar-warrior class. Your talent and martial prowess are no less than his. And now you have Heaven’s favor—you’re right outside the palace. As long as you’re willing, you can serve at the Emperor’s side at any time, becoming the second Prince Donghai.

Then all the great power under heaven will be in your hands.