Fu Zhi understood. Hope reignited in his heart, but he was still worried, “But this way, Your Majesty will have no one useful at your side.”

The emperor said, “I intend to bring Zhao Zhongyu with me.”

With slight consideration, Fu Zhi understood. With Zhao Zhongyu in the emperor’s hands, the entire Zhao clan would have to be cautious. For the sake of the Zhao family, Zhao Hanzhang would have to restrain herself and would also need to support the emperor.

Fu Zhi couldn’t help but smile and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty is wise.”

The emperor convinced Fu Zhi, and because of Zhao Hanzhang’s opinion, Zhao Zhongyu also had no objection to the capital relocation. With both Gou Xi and the emperor insisting, the matter was decided.

Zhao Hanzhang’s merit request memorial was smoothly approved, but the matter of Zhao Kuan becoming Luoyang County Magistrate remained undecided.

Zhao Hanzhang knew this and wasn’t anxious, waiting for the emperor and Gou Xi to state their conditions.

Soon, the emperor summoned Zhao Hanzhang privately. Upon meeting, he couldn’t help but shed tears and said to Zhao Hanzhang, “During Luoyang’s crisis and the Jin court’s peril, I ordered regions to come to the king’s aid. In the end, only you, General Zhao, and General Gou came to Luoyang. I and all the officials owe our survival from this disaster entirely to my cousin.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly said, “This is all what I should do. When Your Majesty is secure, the Great Jin can be stable, and the common people of the realm can have a home.”

The emperor wiped his tears and said, “But the pillars of our Great Jin are now in Shi Le’s hands. He swept away half of the Great Jin’s noble families. Whenever I think of this, my heart aches unbearably. I wonder if General Zhao would be willing to lead troops to rescue them?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked hesitant, “This…”

She said with difficulty, “Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m evading, but we’ve come from afar and it’s inconvenient. Provisions are insufficient. As for Luoyang, which faces difficulties both internally and externally, if I want to requisition grain locally, I lack proper justification and legitimacy.”

“I shall immediately order Zhao Kuan to become Luoyang County Magistrate. Before his arrival, my beloved minister may act in his stead. This way, you can requisition grain from the people in the Luoyang area.”

Where could grain possibly be requisitioned from the people in the Luoyang area?

However, Zhao Hanzhang still agreed immediately.

This was just a pretext, and both sides knew it well.

Zhao Hanzhang promised the emperor she would send troops against Shi Le to rescue the officials and noble families, and the emperor handed over the official seal of Luoyang County to her.

The emperor personally escorted Zhao Hanzhang to the hall entrance. After waving away the attendant eunuchs beside him, he said meaningfully, “Grand Commandant Wang is advanced in years. After such a long journey and all the shocks, I fear this time it’s more ominous than fortunate.”

Zhao Hanzhang curved her lips and said, “Your Majesty speaks truly.”

Zhao Hanzhang was very sincere. After taking the official seal and leaving the palace, she immediately summoned Xun Xiu, “Search to the northwest of Luoyang and find Shi Le. Spread the word that I will revive the court for His Majesty and rescue these officials and noble families.”

Xun Xiu didn’t understand, “Commander, sending troops to rescue them isn’t worthwhile. How many of our men would have to die to save those people? Haven’t most of the people in Shi Le’s hands already been ransomed by you?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said, “Just go when I tell you to. Why all this nonsense?”

Xun Xiu could only acknowledge and went to muster troops.

Ji Yuan, sitting to the side, said, “I’m afraid Xun Xiu’s message won’t spread fast enough. Leave this matter to me.”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t have asked for more.

She lowered her head to look at the official seal in her hand and said, “Once the emperor and his party leave, immediately begin gathering refugees and announce to the realm that willing people should come to Luoyang.”

“Yes!” Ji Yuan paused before asking, “What about the northern city? The great fire destroyed most of it. Rebuilding it will likely cost quite a bit.”

“This matter isn’t urgent,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “First, do the farming well. The northern city’s reconstruction can proceed slowly.”

She sighed and said, “Without two or three years, Luoyang will find it very difficult to restore its former commercial activity. Let it accumulate some money first. Where is Zhao Kuan now?”

“At this time, the letter should have just reached Ruyin Commandery. At his pace, it will probably take another four or five days to reach Luoyang.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, stood up, and paced twice before saying, “Luoyang was, after all, once the Great Jin’s capital. It can’t be too shabby. Write to Zhao Cheng—he should change his teaching location too.”

Ji Yuan: …To be honest, he still felt some sympathy for this Master Cheng. He was constantly persuaded by their young lady to open schools everywhere, and the students he taught were placed wherever needed.

Ji Yuan asked, “Shouldn’t we give Zhao Cheng an official position to make his work more convenient?”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, “If I give him an official position, his work will actually become less convenient, and Uncle Cheng certainly wouldn’t like it.”

Zhao Cheng’s pride came from the depths of his heart. Unlike Wang Yan, he was truly consistent in word and deed. When he said he disliked the Great Jin’s officialdom, he truly thought so in his heart.

If she really appointed him to office, it would instead damage their relationship, and it would be harder to ask him to do things in the future.

Rather than appointing him to office and enticing him through duty, it was better to persuade him with righteousness, as well as concerning the future of the Zhao clan.

Zhao Hanzhang decided to write this letter herself.

While Zhao Hanzhang was writing to Zhao Cheng, people inside and outside the palace were preparing for the capital relocation. Gou Chun learned that Xun Xiu was leading troops to the northwest and immediately ran back to report, “Elder Brother, will Zhao Hanzhang really keep her word and compete with Shi Le for those people?”

Gou Xi said, “Since she promised His Majesty, she will naturally do it.”

Only then did Gou Chun’s unwillingness ease a bit. Fight on, fight on—best if they keep fighting for several years without stopping.

But Gou Xi didn’t think so. “Whether it’s Zhao Hanzhang or Shi Le, neither is foolish. They won’t expend too much time and military strength over these officials and noble families. So in the end, either Shi Le releases them to fulfill Zhao Hanzhang’s success, or he kills them all.”

Gou Chun was shocked, “So many people—that’s most of the Jin court’s officials! And Wang Yan is among them. Would Shi Le dare kill them?”

Gou Xi remained silent, but he also felt Shi Le wouldn’t dare kill them.

“However, Wang Yan definitely won’t return. He has great talent. Shi Le will either keep him for his own use or kill him. Zhao Hanzhang also won’t permit him to return alive.”

Gou Chun breathed a sigh of relief, as did Gou Xi.

Wang Yan’s reputation was too great. If he returned to court, Gou Xi would also panic.

The emperor and his party didn’t have much to prepare. They had already considered fleeing before, so they prepared especially quickly. When Zhao Hanzhang received the news, she indicated she would see them off the next day.

Today, Zhao Zhongyu finally found his way to the Qingyi Pavilion.

Zhao Hanzhang came out smiling to greet him and bowed, “Shuzu.”

Zhao Zhongyu turned around. “It’s really not easy to see you. Your personal guards have surrounded half this residence so tightly that since your uncle returned, he’s tried to see you several times but was blocked outside.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “There are quite a few people who want to kill me nowadays. It’s understandable that they’re a bit nervous. I hope Shuzu will forgive them.”

“Is such caution necessary even in one’s own home?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “In this household, I’m also someone who has died once, so it’s better to be cautious.”

Zhao Zhongyu pressed his lips together and paused for a while before saying, “His Majesty has given your uncle an official position and asked me to bring my entire family to Yuncheng. But your elder brother is still young and hasn’t completed his studies, so I want him to return to Yuzhou with you.”

“Very well,” Zhao Hanzhang agreed immediately and asked, “What about Eldest Madam, Second Madam, and Fourth Madam?”

—