Yuan Li watched the letter burn completely, then stepped forward to ask the communications soldier, “Tell me, how does this message travel from us to the Grand General thousands of miles away?”

The communications soldier looked bewildered. “I, I don’t know. Master Fu said it works, so it works. We just need to learn and follow along.”

Yuan Li frowned deeply. Not knowing the reason why?

What if something went wrong?

Xue Hong beside him quickly said, “I know. The young master said the wave bands sent by this machine reflect and propagate through heaven and earth, and the speed is extremely fast. Right, just like light—lightning flashes a hundred miles away, and we can see it here. So those wave bands transmit and transmit, and people thousands of miles away can hear them.”

“When we send these wave bands, they have patterns. When they receive them, they can translate the patterns according to the codebook we agreed upon beforehand. This way, what we want to say, they will receive exactly.”

Yuan Li frowned, seeming to understand but not quite. But since this was something Fu Tinghan had created, he still trusted it very much. Although he still wanted to know the principle, seeing that Xue Hong himself wasn’t very clear about it, he stopped making things difficult for him.

When he eventually met the young master, he could ask then.

Yuan Li said, “Teach me. I need to know how to convert this message.”

Good things should be held in one’s own hands; good skills should naturally be mastered oneself.

While Yuan Li earnestly learned communications, he also observed the capable staff members around the Prince of Langye, his gaze gradually shifting from those around him to Jiankang, then to all of Jiangdong, calculating whom he could coax to Luoyang.

My lady had said she urgently needed all kinds of talent—not only soldiers who could fight, capable ministers and staff who could govern, but also those in commerce, craftsmen, especially medical and carpentry-type craftsmen and blacksmiths. She wanted to recruit as many as possible. For those with great ability, she was willing to seek them with high ministerial positions.

All kinds of technological development required craftsmen’s support. Relying solely on Fu Tinghan, industrial development was still too slow. He had started things, but people needed to continue them to make further progress.

Therefore, she needed all kinds of master craftsmen.

Over these years, as northern aristocratic families migrated south in large numbers, they had taken away many craftsmen from the north. Zhao Hanzhang could issue recruitment orders nationwide, but that wasn’t enough, because many craftsmen in Jiangdong might not even hear about this, and even if they heard, it would be very difficult for them to reach Yuzhou or Luoyang to find her.

So she needed an intermediary, a channel to get them to Yuzhou, to Luoyang.

Yuan Li was that channel.

Yuan Li treasured this machine, stroking it. Having this device meant he and my lady could exchange information promptly. Heavens, this meant that if he could place people in every prefecture and county of Jiangdong, she could control all of Jiangdong through him.

Then would this Jiangdong belong to the Prince of Langye, or to my lady?

Even more, my lady could control any place through it. With this advantageous device, what worry about conquering the world?

Master Fu was indeed one of my lady’s most important right arms. No wonder my lady placed so many personal guards and trusted subordinates around him.

Yuan Li couldn’t help but laugh heartily, feeling that great achievements were about to be realized.

Xue Hong and the ten soldiers silently watched him, completely unable to comprehend his current state of mind.

Learning to use a radio—was it really that exciting?

The next day, the procession saw Luoyang’s city gates. Zhao Hanzhang sat on horseback, looking from afar at Luoyang’s city gates wide open, with officials from the city waiting at the gate.

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curved slightly. She rode to a carriage and said, “Your Majesty, we have arrived.”

The young emperor leaned out from the carriage to look outside, gazing at distant Luoyang city. He shouldn’t have felt anything, but his small heart couldn’t help but feel sour and astringent.

He had been young then. Being trapped in Luoyang city, his greatest feelings had been hunger and panic.

During Luoyang’s famine, even as imperial family, they lacked grain. At that time, money couldn’t buy food. He could only watch his father go begging to those aristocratic families, occasionally able to buy some grain from them.

They also had to be especially careful, couldn’t get close to the emperor, couldn’t get close to the Prince of Donghai, otherwise they would very likely get dragged into some struggle and die without burial.

Later, the Prince of Donghai left with most of Luoyang city’s people. When the Xiongnu attacked, they had no choice but to enter the palace and defend the city with the emperor. At that time, blades were already at their throats. When he followed his father and the court relocating to Yun City, he was only eight years old. At that time, he had no attachment to Luoyang whatsoever, hadn’t even retained much impression of this city.

He thought he would have no feelings toward it.

But now, looking at Luoyang city’s walls and gates, the young emperor couldn’t help but shed tears, his heart unbearably sour. Of those who left together back then, very few were still alive. The late emperor was dead, his father was dead, his brothers were all dead…

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and saw his tear-stained face. Meeting her gaze, he immediately shrank back like a wounded young beast, avoiding her eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, her heart softening involuntarily. She reached out to lower the curtain for him. As they approached the city gate and she saw Zhao Cheng and others standing at the front, she reminded him, “Your Majesty, Luoyang’s subjects have come to welcome you.”

The young emperor had already dried his tears and straightened his clothing. He was self-aware—among them, very few had come for him; they came for Zhao Hanzhang.

Among those staying in Luoyang, Zhao Cheng held the highest official rank and position. When Zhao Kuan left, Luoyang had been temporarily handed over to him for management. Now, he also led Luoyang’s officials, great and small, to welcome them.

From inside the city to outside, the Zhao family army that had arrived early had already cordoned off the roads. Generally speaking, when city residents saw officials and soldiers appearing, they would avoid them from afar. Few would come to join such excitement, and soldiers wouldn’t allow common people too close to prevent accidents like assassinations.

But when Luoyang city’s common people heard Zhao Hanzhang was returning, they disregarded the soldiers’ warnings and insisted on standing in the streets to welcome her.

Even people from villages and towns outside the city ran over overnight, waiting outside the city gates.

When soldiers tried to drive them away, they would run, then quietly slip back after the roads were cordoned off, standing on tiptoe behind the soldiers, expectantly watching the end of the road.

Field Officer Wen Kang, seeing they weren’t causing trouble, had soldiers verify their identities. As long as there were no suspicious points, they were allowed to wait there.

So when Zhao Hanzhang and her party arrived, Zhao Cheng cupped his hands in salute and loudly proclaimed, “Minister Zhao Cheng leads ten thousand people to respectfully welcome His Majesty the Emperor!”

Soldiers and surrounding common people followed with a rustle of bows, calling out “Respectfully welcome His Majesty the Emperor,” then immediately followed with an excited shout, “Respectfully welcome the Grand General!”

This voice was much louder than the previous one. It carried into the city, where city residents also stretched their throats to shout, “Respectfully welcome the Grand General! Respectfully welcome the Zhao family army!”

The sound reached the sky.

The young emperor, supporting himself on Chamberlain Dong’s hand, descended from the carriage. Hearing this sound, his heart was extremely complicated. At the same time, it strengthened his own conviction—like this, and Third Uncle still thought he could seize power from Zhao Hanzhang. Before he could even contend with Zhao Hanzhang, public opinion would crush him first.

He sighed, glancing at Zhao Hanzhang. After receiving her nod of permission, he raised his hand and said, “Ministers, rise.”

Zhao Cheng straightened up, but the others didn’t dare move, instead stealing glances at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and raised her hand slightly. Only then did the others rise and stand properly.

Zhao Cheng frowned and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the palace has been lightly cleaned and is ready to welcome Your Majesty.”

Zhao Hanzhang also invited the emperor to enter the palace.

The emperor agreed and turned to board the carriage.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang leap onto her horse, the common people erupted in thunderous cheers. The procession then entered the city amid the people’s cheers. The officials following felt the people’s enthusiasm and couldn’t help but smile.

Most officials promoted by Zhao Hanzhang knew this enthusiasm was for Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao family army. As members of the Zhao clan’s camp, they felt honored.

A small portion who were originally court officials also realized this. Though their faces showed nothing, their hearts were deeply worried.

Zhao Hanzhang enjoyed such popular support—could Dajin truly be maintained? Could the young emperor truly seize power back from her?

Mencius once said, “He who wins the people’s hearts wins the world.” Of course, not many truly believed this from the bottom of their hearts, but there had been one successful historical example—Wang Mang.

Wang Mang was pushed up by popular support and also failed due to losing popular support and Heaven’s mandate.

But at that time, there was Emperor Guangwu. Now…

They secretly glanced at the quiet carriage, worried. So far, the young emperor had shown no ability or magnanimity to control the realm, nor even the patience and wisdom for learning.

If he couldn’t preserve Dajin’s state succession, who else could replace him?

The image of the Prince of Yuzhang flashed through some people’s minds, but they quickly dismissed it. The Prince of Yuzhang seemed even less intelligent than the young emperor—even worse.

Now among Dajin’s imperial clan… only the Prince of Langye in Jiangdong remained.

The Prince of Langye?

No, no, Sima Rui wasn’t even descended from Emperor Shizu. He was just a collateral branch of the imperial clan—how could he become emperor?

Amid this inner turmoil, they entered Luoyang. Under the people’s welcome, they headed toward the palace. Then as they walked, they were stunned.

They saw collapsed walls and ruined courtyards on one side, but inside, wild grass grew lush. Sharp-eyed officials even spotted sheep stretching their necks to graze inside, chickens fluttering at the sheep’s feet…

The officials’ eyes widened. This, this, this was the inner city near the imperial palace—why was there such a large area of ruined houses?

Oh, and so some officials who had escaped from Luoyang explained to colleagues who had never been to Luoyang, “These were burned when the tyrant emperor of the Han state attacked Luoyang.”

Speaking of this, the official sighed, “At that time, it was the Grand General who came to rescue the emperor.”

But very strangely, after all this time, these houses still hadn’t been rebuilt?

What reconstruction? Although Luoyang city had refugees arriving to settle every day these past two years, Luoyang city was so large, plus there was vast land outside Luoyang that needed settling. It was completely a situation of much land and few people—not nearly enough people.

After dividing farmland, the government would organize labor service to help them build new houses, or have villages help each other. New houses were quickly built. Since everyone farmed, they naturally lived close to their fields. Who would be brain-dead enough to enter the city and spend money to buy a house?

Oh, right, Zhao Hanzhang had reclaimed all unclaimed houses in Luoyang city as state property. People entering the city, unless they could prove they were original property owners with houses here, otherwise had to rely on their abilities. Only specially recruited talented people could be allocated houses or have rent-free housing.

Besides that, anyone wanting to own a house in Luoyang had to buy or rent.

Zhao Hu had bought many houses and shops (tricked by Zhao Hanzhang). He especially wanted to buy this area of burned houses. In his words, although every single house here was uninhabitable, the location was excellent—it was equivalent to buying the land.

Unfortunately, Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t sell.

After Zhao Hanzhang left, he went to Zhao Kuan to buy, but Zhao Kuan also wouldn’t sell.

When he heard in Xiping that Zhao Kuan had left Luoyang with affairs temporarily handled by his son Zhao Cheng, he even sent a steward north to Luoyang despite the danger.

Of course, he didn’t dare directly ask Zhao Cheng for land. He wanted the steward to use Zhao Cheng’s influence to go directly to Luoyang county government’s chief clerk and buy the land.

Unfortunately, after the war, communications between the two sides were cut off. He had never received word from his steward and didn’t know how much land he had bought or if he had listened and bought half.

He didn’t want much—half would be good.

Zhao Hu had no interest in following the emperor into the palace, so after entering the inner city, he headed straight home. Of course, he took his own people with him.

Besides a portion of the Zhao family army and officials, everyone else dispersed.

Most of the Zhao family army directly encamped outside the city.

They had already received orders on the road to be reorganized into four armies—east, west, south, and north—stationed at four military camps. Those following Zhao Hanzhang into the palace were the newly reorganized Imperial Guards.

All were selected from the Zhao family army, and many had been Zhao Hanzhang’s personal guards.

They would follow into the palace to guard the imperial city and palace grounds.

Oh, Zhao Hanzhang had taken command of the Imperial Guards herself. Zeng Yue was appointed deputy commander, mainly handling the actual work.

Quite surprising, wasn’t it? The first guard the emperor encountered when going out was from the Zhao family army, and those standing guard at court were all from the Zhao family army.

Of course, Zhao Hanzhang gave them a new name and forbade them from calling her “my lady” in public. She wanted to downplay their Zhao family army label before court ministers and the emperor. Some things were better kept in the heart than displayed openly.

So after escorting the emperor to the palace, Zhao Hanzhang very respectfully cupped her hands in farewell and withdrew from the hall. When requesting another audience, she would have guards announce first and ask permission before entering—quite humble indeed.

More humble than when in Chen County.

The young emperor had it a bit rough though, because there were extremely few palace servants. Eunuchs… counting generously, there were only twenty-some, all old servants left from the previous palace.

There weren’t many palace maids either. Over ten were servants Zhao Hanzhang had sent over when in Chen County. The rest were also survivors from when they fled before.

Because they had all undergone special training with proper etiquette and were hard to come by, Zhao Hanzhang kept them.

But these few people were still too few for the vast palace. Chamberlain Dong ran to catch up with Zhao Hanzhang and suggested, “The palace lacks people. Please, Grand General, add more.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “The palace currently only has His Majesty and the Prince of Yuzhang as masters. Are sixty-eight people serving two masters not enough?”

Chamberlain Dong was stunned. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s brow furrow slightly, he quickly changed his tune, “Naturally it’s enough. It’s just that the palace is so large, it always needs maintenance. And in the future, when His Majesty marries and opens the harem, expansion will be needed. Palace servants cannot be trained in a day…”

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head to think. She had never considered the young emperor living in the palace after marriage. She was thinking of herself and Fu Tinghan—she felt that as long as they had helpers and kitchen staff, it would be sufficient. As for confidential secretaries and the like, they were essential, but those were talents cultivated by the front court, not the harem. So she waved her hand and said, “The national treasury is empty. Let’s inconvenience His Majesty for now. Just manage the palace affairs well and don’t slight His Majesty.”

This meant no additions for now. Chamberlain Dong accepted this gracefully and respectfully agreed.