Each location saw the solar eclipse at different times, and most places couldn’t see it at all.

Chen County was not far from Luoyang, so they could also see it, though what they saw was a partial eclipse—the sun was never completely obscured.

Even so, this was Zhao Ming’s first time seeing a solar eclipse, and the shock to his soul was indescribable.

The city was filled with clamor. Zhao Ming had already dispatched soldiers to maintain order, fearing civil unrest might arise, but the common people didn’t riot. Like the people of Luoyang, after their initial panic, they couldn’t help but beat things, beating out the fear in their hearts and driving away the heavenly dog. Everyone became cheerful.

Zhao Ming stood on the city wall looking down at the cheering and leaping common people, then couldn’t help but raise his head again to look at the sky. His tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed. When Heaven offers and one refuses, one suffers the consequences instead!

Zhao Ming turned and descended from the city wall, beginning to organize the army and wait for news from the capital.

Inside the imperial palace, all was solemn.

Long after the solar eclipse had disappeared, the Observatory remained silent, no one daring to speak.

All the civil and military officials lowered their heads, waiting uneasily for the person on the platform to speak.

The young emperor swallowed, opening his mouth several times wanting to speak, but couldn’t make a sound.

Everyone thought: it will be today, won’t it?

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze swept over the officials below who had changed from sitting to kneeling, and she asked leisurely, “Why the silence? Regarding this solar eclipse, do you all have nothing to say?”

Yuan Li’s eyes flickered. He very much wanted to step forward and request that Zhao Hanzhang depose the emperor and ascend the throne herself to eliminate the heavenly calamity, but remembering Zhao Hanzhang’s instructions, he didn’t dare step forward.

Since he didn’t come forward, Zhao Shen, who hadn’t received special instructions, stepped out. He said, “The sun represents the ruler. At this time, a solar eclipse appears, showing that the monarch is incompetent and Heaven is extremely displeased. I request that Your Majesty issue an edict of self-reproach to comply with Heaven’s will.”

Could just issuing an edict of self-reproach appease Heaven?

Wouldn’t he need to be killed as a sacrifice to Heaven?

The young emperor’s lips turned pale as he looked toward Zhao Hanzhang, his eyes pleading.

Zhao Hanzhang remained unmoved, asking in a deep voice, “Is there more?”

With these words, ministers who agreed with Zhao Shen successively stepped forward, making up about half the court, all believing someone needed to acknowledge guilt.

Xun Fan became anxious and quickly said, “General, this is not His Majesty’s fault. Since ascending the throne, he has been diligent and studious. If Heaven sends down punishment now, it must be for the errors of his predecessors.”

If there was truly guilt, it belonged to the elders who had caused the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, not the young emperor.

Zu Ti sneered. “Since he inherits the surplus blessings of his ancestors, naturally he must bear the calamities they left behind. This is the nature of rights and responsibilities.”

Xun Zu said angrily, “It may not necessarily be His Majesty’s calamity. Perhaps the world is in darkness, so Heaven uses the solar eclipse as warning. As long as we eliminate the petty persons, we can avoid calamity.”

“Oh?” Zhao Hanzhang asked with a half-smile, “But who might these petty persons be?”

Xun Zu really wanted to say the three characters “Zhao Hanzhang,” but under her gaze, he ultimately didn’t dare speak them aloud. His eyes slid away and fell upon the Prince of Langya, who was quietly kneeling to the side.

People followed his line of sight, suddenly awakening. This candidate… wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

The Prince of Langya sensed the gazes falling on him becoming sharper and more numerous. Cold sweat broke out from his forehead and dripped down, and his body began trembling slightly.

This development was something even Zhao Hanzhang herself hadn’t anticipated.

Her gaze also fell on the Prince of Langya. Seeing him so frightened in the cold weather that he broke out in a sweat, with the young emperor beside her also looking unwell, she stopped letting them continue freely.

Zhao Hanzhang said coolly, “You all think this is man-made calamity, but I believe this is Heaven warning of disaster. Calamity is descending, and Heaven cannot bear to see the common people once again displaced and the realm plunged into chaos again, so it uses the solar eclipse as warning.”

The officials were startled, clearly not expecting Zhao Hanzhang would give up such a great opportunity, but… what calamity was there now?

Everyone’s hearts jumped, then shuddered. Could there really be a calamity?

Ji Yuan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. “What calamity might it be?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Guo Pu.

Guo Pu pondered, struggling internally for a moment, but still followed Zhao Hanzhang’s instructions. “This spring will see much rain. The Yellow River valley may experience flooding.”

Ji Yuan said, “The Yellow River dredging just concluded. The civilian workers and soldiers from various places have successively returned home, and Minister Fu will also return to the capital soon. The flooding should be controllable.”

Guo Pu shook his head. “That will only reduce the disaster. All of you should still make early preparations for disaster response.”

With Guo Pu saying this, everyone became uneasy.

Regarding his abilities, after the solar eclipse incident, no one questioned them anymore, so how severe would this flood be?

Last year, right after the autumn harvest concluded, Zhao Hanzhang had disregarded opposition to conscript large numbers of civilian workers and soldiers to dredge the Yellow River. At that time, had she already calculated this solar eclipse and the subsequent flooding?

While everyone was mentally reviewing events, the Prince of Langya, having narrowly escaped disaster, carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead. Zhao Hanzhang said, “Spring plowing is imminent. Wheat cannot withstand flooding, so this year we should persuade the common people near both banks of the Yellow River to plant flood-resistant crops like sorghum and millet, while also paying attention to dredging ditches and waterways and repairing houses, lest natural disasters become man-made ones. This matter requires someone to take overall charge. Who is willing to go?”

Ming Yu, who had been silent all along, said, “This subject is willing to go.”

Zu Ti also said, “This subject is also willing to go.”

Ministers successively stepped forward to volunteer.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Hanzhang appointed Ming Yu. “This matter will be overseen by Secretary Ming. Zu Ti, Zhao Shen, and Xun Fan—you three will assist Ming Yu. You must stabilize the situation and not allow the people to be displaced again.”

The four bowed and acknowledged.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang turn to look at the emperor. “Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?”

The young emperor came to his senses and quickly said, “No, nothing more.”

“Then this subject will escort Your Majesty back to the hall.”

The young emperor nodded, quietly breathing a sigh of relief, and stood up with Zhao Hanzhang’s support before leaving.

The civil and military officials silently followed behind.

Watching the young emperor and Zhao Hanzhang walking side by side, the ministers couldn’t help but wonder whether Zhao Hanzhang truly had ambitions to replace him.

If so, today had been such a good opportunity. With this celestial omen and surrounded by the Zhao family army, why didn’t she rally support?

Even if there would be opposing voices, with her abilities she could completely suppress them. Why didn’t she seize the opportunity?

After leaving the palace, Ji Yuan asked her the same thing. “If the General had made up her mind today, we subjects would certainly have followed. You’ve kept Zu Ti in the capital all this time—wasn’t it for this very matter?”

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Teacher also said I could rally support. Since I have such prestige and ability, why must I rush this one moment?”

“Court transitions inevitably involve deaths. If we transition now, not only will people die inside the palace, but many more common people along the Yellow River banks will die outside.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I dredged the Yellow River to save their lives. Now to put a blade at their throats again—what would be the point?”

“I don’t mind waiting a bit longer. I also ask Teacher to wait patiently a while more.” She said softly, “I know what I’m doing. I also ask Teacher to temporarily shift his gaze from inside the palace and look at the people outside. The people are the foundation of the nation—those are living, breathing lives.”

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