With Zhao Hu’s help, the Ministry of Revenue quickly gathered provisions. Most were collected in Yuzhou. Zhao Hu contacted grain merchants and landlords of all sizes in Yuzhou. With Zhao Hu’s guarantee, they were all willing to extend credit to the government.
That’s right—even though Zhao Hanzhang had an excellent reputation among the people and good credibility, in the eyes of merchants and landlords, the court’s credibility was still not high—at least not high enough to make them hand over their stored grain.
But Zhao Hu could.
Though Zhao Hu was aggressive in business, loved pleasure and boasting, all merchants and landlords who had dealings with him believed in his integrity. Most importantly, if he defaulted, they had methods and ability to divide his assets and recover compensation. But as for Zhao Hanzhang…
If Zhao Hanzhang didn’t repay, they had absolutely no way to deal with her.
So the bottom line for selling or lending was whether the buyer could pay and whether they could afford to repay.
In their eyes, Zhao Hu was someone who could pay and afford to repay, while Zhao Hanzhang—who in the world didn’t know she was poor?
After calculating the grain obtained on credit and borrowed, Zhao Hu immediately handed the accounts to the Ministry of Revenue.
Chang Ning calculated and, adding the two batches of grain he had secured, it could support two hundred thousand troops fighting until next April.
He breathed a sigh of relief and immediately handed the ledger to Zhao Hanzhang.
After flipping through it, Zhao Hanzhang ordered local county offices to take charge of the provisions, then had them figure out ways to transport provisions to the front lines.
Those escorting provisions included local garrison troops, conscripted corvée laborers, and hired civilian workers. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t care what methods they used—they must complete the provision transport before the eighth day of the twelfth month.
Only then did she begin mobilizing troops.
The civil and military officials at court held different opinions about this military expedition, with intense clashes because supporters and opponents were roughly evenly split.
Both sides actually made valid points. The opposing ministers believed that civilian strength had only just begun to ease, but there were still large numbers of refugees in the wilderness who hadn’t returned, still holding a skeptical attitude toward the court. At this time they should continue prioritizing stability, reducing taxes and corvée to attract refugees and mountain bandits back.
Moreover, no one knew how long this war would last. Popular sentiment was still fragile and easily collapsed. They believed the priority should be stability. Since Zhao Hanzhang had already sent Liu Kun to persuade the Prince of Langya, why not wait a bit longer? If that didn’t work, they could also wage diplomatic warfare first, stalling for a year to let civilian strength recover more before taking action.
Zhao Hanzhang thought they made very valid points. Before the southern secret department’s incident, this had been her plan. Hadn’t Zhao Shen requested to fight several times only to be rejected by her?
But circumstances changed.
The southern secret department was destroyed and Yuanli captured. Just sending people to rescue might not bring him back—troops must be sent.
If they didn’t act this time, the south would become even more emboldened and would test them again during their next probing.
The ministers supporting her troop deployment also believed they couldn’t retreat: “Morale is very important. If we don’t counterattack this time, outsiders will think we’re all show and afraid of the south. Then not only will southern morale soar greatly, but other ill-intentioned people will also harbor delusions.”
“Better to take this opportunity to subdue the south and truly unify the realm.”
Zu Ti even personally wrote requesting to fight.
After considering, Zhao Hanzhang appointed Zu Ti as Grand Marshal for the Southern Expedition, Zhao Shen as vanguard, and Zhao Ju and Wang Yifeng as Northern Route and Western Route Generals respectively, all under Zu Ti’s command.
Drawing forces from Jizhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Yuzhou, and Jingzhou, Zhao Hanzhang also transferred twenty thousand troops from Luoyang’s Zhao army to give to Zhao Shen, able to assemble four hundred thousand troops to march south.
“You can transfer twenty thousand troops from Luoyang to go south,” Zhao Hanzhang told Zhao Shen. “Whether you can secure your position as Vice Minister of War depends on this campaign’s achievements.”
Zhao Shen excitedly accepted the order.
Once Zhao Hanzhang decided, the deadlocked situation was immediately broken. Even opposing ministers could only give their all to ensure this southern expedition’s success.
Zhao Hanzhang escorted Zhao Shen to the gate. When no one was around, she whispered instructions: “Find a way to save Yuanli. I’m sending palace physicians with you. After you get there, contact Wang Yifeng—she’s more familiar with Yangzhou and Wang Dun.”
Zhao Shen acknowledged, though actually somewhat unwilling. He joked: “Ministers at court say Yuanli is a treacherous petty man with cruel methods, not fit to associate with. If he dies at Wang Dun’s hands, it could be considered dying as deserved.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “If today I followed others’ words, Cousin Shen would be the one most frightened. I don’t know if Yuanli is treacherous—I only know he’s utterly loyal, of great use to me, and of great merit to the state. Please help me save him, Cousin Shen.”
Zhao Shen’s heart jumped, instantly understanding. If today Zhao Hanzhang would abandon Yuanli to death in the enemy camp because others called him treacherous, then one day she could remain unmoved by the Zhao clan’s difficulties because of others’ slander against them, or even add fuel to the fire.
Zhao Shen took a deep breath, cupping his hands: “This general receives the order and will exert all effort to rescue General Yuan.”
Zhao Shen assembled his troops in Luoyang and marched south through Yuzhou, while Zu Ti also led part of the army south through Yanzhou to Xuzhou. Finally both forces converged at the junction of Xuzhou, Yuzhou, and Yangzhou.
Zhao Ju, Zhao Ming, Mi Ce and others also mobilized. Zhao Ming was responsible for provisions and logistics, while Mi Ce led Yuzhou’s army south under orders.
This was also Zu Ti’s first time commanding so many troops and being responsible for such a major campaign. But Zhao Ju and Mi Ce were veteran generals; though Zhao Shen had less experience, he was clever and intelligent—his military ability was not inferior to Zhao Ju and Mi Ce. Wang Yifeng could also independently command Jingzhou operations, and their cooperation efficiency was particularly high.
Most importantly, Zhao Hanzhang absolutely trusted Zu Ti. She gave sufficient provisions, and even military equipment—whatever she could give, she gave. The entire army was united. After all these years, Zu Ti had never fought such a well-supplied, such a satisfying battle.
He held back tears, quietly telling his subordinate general Zuo Min: “I really never imagined the Great General would trust me so much. If I don’t take down the south, I’ll repay her with my life.”
Zuo Min also felt this campaign was very satisfying. In the past, whenever they sent troops, before even arriving at their destination, they first had to endure local people’s curses while forcibly requisitioning a batch of provisions from them—otherwise the army couldn’t move an inch.
Even though they fought for the state, many common people still resented them.
But this time, they had provisions going ahead, no need to forcibly requisition local grain. Military orders were strict, not harming common people in the slightest. The troops carried the Zhao and Zu banners and were welcomed with crowds lining the roads wherever they went. There were even common people and local gentry voluntarily giving them grain, vegetables, meat, and eggs.
Of course, they wouldn’t take people’s things for free—they paid for everything they accepted.
That’s right!
Their army actually had emergency money to supplement medicine and provisions locally if needed after battles. How touching—they actually had backup funds to buy medicine and grain!
Zuo Min: “The Great General is truly good. We’re just marching, yet the army can eat two semi-dry meals a day. I heard from the logistics officer that when actual fighting starts, we can eat three meals, all dry. The Great General calculated provisions at court based on this, and prepared accordingly.”
Zuo Min couldn’t help whispering: “If I’d known Zhao the Great General was so generous, I should have joined Zhao’s army years earlier.”
“…That’s only this year. Have you forgotten last year when fighting the Xiongnu, everyone gnawed grass roots and ate tree bark?” Zu Ti said. “The Great General has personally suffered hardship, so now that conditions allow, she doesn’t want the soldiers to suffer again. You keep a close watch recently—there must be no incidents of embezzling provisions in the army. If I discover any, I won’t wait for the Great General to act—I’ll deal with it through military law first!”
Zuo Min solemnly acknowledged and was about to withdraw when he thought of something, stopped, and asked: “General, where should Zhao Shi be positioned?”
Zu Ti said: “Have him serve as vanguard general for the left army. The Great General wants to use Zhao clan members, so they must fight with their lives.”
Zuo Min acknowledged, grinning as he went to relay the orders.