However, the court didn’t really take his memorial seriously. After flipping through it, they tossed it aside and didn’t even bring it up at the morning court. They only mentioned it briefly when the Prince of Donghai was discussing matters: “The retreating Xiongnu army fled south to the Xiping area of Runan Commandery. The Xiping County Magistrate and Chief Clerk died defending the city.”
The Prince of Donghai didn’t care and asked, “Is Quyang still under siege?”
“Yes, the Runan Administrator is still holding Quyang and requesting aid from the court.”
Everyone looked at the Prince of Donghai. So would they send troops to rescue or not?
The Prince of Donghai thought for a moment and discovered he couldn’t spare any forces, so after looking around, he said, “Order the Yingchuan Administrator to go rescue.”
Everyone: …
Yingchuan had suffered disasters last year, and this year life was extremely difficult. Many common people had fled, and quite a few disaster victims had joined roving armies, rebelling and becoming bandits everywhere. Send Yingchuan to rescue?
The Prince of Donghai continued, “Have Runan provide military provisions to Yingchuan.”
Everyone thought about it and realized it could actually work. Runan currently lacked people, while Yingchuan lacked grain—perfect.
So no one objected.
Fu Zhi felt his forehead twitching, but thinking about Gou Xi currently stationed outside Luoyang and having recovered most of Jingzhao Commandery, he didn’t oppose this suggestion either. He only said, “Your Highness, the retreating Xiongnu army must be cleared out. If we don’t drive them from Jiangnan, everything east of Luoyang will be lost.”
The Prince of Donghai asked simply and bluntly, “Do I still have troops to deploy? Or perhaps you could ask His Majesty if the Imperial Guards can be sent out to quell the rebellion?”
Fu Zhi said, “Why doesn’t Your Highness persuade the Prince of Chengdu and Administrator Gou to first unite against external enemies?”
The Prince of Donghai had been under enormous pressure recently and was extremely irritable. He said directly, “Don’t I want to? Unfortunately, I don’t have a silver-tongued strategist among my staff. Why don’t you, Director Fu, make the trip on my behalf?”
Fu Zhi fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement, expressing his willingness to meet with Gou Xi.
The Prince of Donghai didn’t think he would succeed and sneered as he let him go.
Zhao Zhongyu saw they had finished discussing this matter and said, “The Xiping County Magistrate died defending the city. We should send them a new County Magistrate. Does Your Highness have a suitable candidate?”
The Prince of Donghai was currently short of people. How could he send someone to a small county like Xiping surrounded by Xiongnu forces?
It wasn’t even an important strategic pass, so he waved his hand dismissively. “You ministers can decide.”
The others knew Xiping was Zhao Zhongyu’s hometown, so they were happy to do him a favor and asked one after another, “Does Minister Zhao have a recommended candidate?”
Zhao Zhongyu said, “I don’t have a candidate for County Magistrate, but I do have one for County Magistrate…”
Zhao Zhongyu recommended his nephew Zhao Ming.
Someone then said, “I remember Zhao Ming was assessed in his early years and received a mid-ranking assessment. That would be more than sufficient for him to serve as County Magistrate. Why only set him as County Magistrate?”
Zhao Zhongyu said, “He lacks experience and currently only has the ability to serve as County Magistrate.”
But once he became County Magistrate, who else would dare go to Xiping as County Magistrate?
Not to mention that the Zhao Family was a prominent clan in Xiping, just considering Zhao Ming’s rank—he was already mid-ranking. So whoever served as his County Magistrate would need to be at least mid-ranking or high-ranking, right?
But whether mid-ranking or high-ranking, who would go to a small Xiping County to be County Magistrate, and possibly be controlled by the local gentry?
Everyone felt the Zhao Family was being too pretentious. Just take the County Magistrate position directly—who were they putting on this humble act for?
However, everyone still gave face and after some complimentary remarks, agreed. The appointment of Ji Yuan as Chief Clerk was just a matter of course, and few people paid attention.
Among those who did pay attention was one named Fu Zhi.
It was already strange enough that Zhao Ming would serve as County Magistrate, but Ji Yuan actually ran off to be Chief Clerk. So who exactly was the vacant County Magistrate position for?
Or rather, who was it convenient for?
Fu Zhi felt he hadn’t corresponded with his grandson in quite a while. It was time to write a letter to inquire.
Zhao Zhongyu returned home and told Zhao Ji, “Write a letter telling Zinian that the matter he entrusted has been accomplished. The court’s official documents will reach Xiping shortly.”
Zhao Ji acknowledged. He was also very puzzled. “Father, why doesn’t Zinian just serve as County Magistrate directly instead of County Magistrate?”
How would he know?
Zhao Zhongyu said, “You can write and ask him.”
Zhao Ji didn’t want to ask—it would make him look stupid.
Zhao Zhongyu wearily rubbed his forehead, was silent for a while, then said, “Tell Zinian that the court currently has no troops to aid Runan. Tell him to be very careful. If it doesn’t work out, bring the clan members north and temporarily avoid this warfare.”
Zhao Ji was alarmed upon hearing this. “Is the situation really that serious?”
“There’s news that Liu Yuan wants to proclaim himself emperor in the north. If he can take Yuzhou at this time, that would be establishing his authority before the whole realm.”
Zhao Ji didn’t understand. “Why doesn’t Your Highness send troops to drive out the Xiongnu army?”
“His Highness didn’t expect the Xiongnu army to go south when retreating. He first sent troops to recover Chang’an. Now most of Jingzhao Commandery has been recovered and cannot be abandoned halfway.” Zhao Zhongyu sighed. “It depends on whether Fu Zhi can persuade Gou Xi.”
As long as Gou Xi withdrew his troops, the Prince of Donghai could squeeze out some forces to support Yuzhou.
But none of this could be accomplished overnight. Zhao Zhongyu still hoped Zhao Ming could stand firm and protect Xiping, protect the Zhao Family fortress.
His gaze fell on the letter on the desk. Ji Yuan was serving as Zhao Ming’s assistant—had they won over Ji Yuan?
With Ji Yuan there, they should have some chance of success, right?
Although Xiongnu troops were ravaging Yuzhou, the court’s communications hadn’t been intercepted. Zhao Hanzhang soon received the official documents.
That’s right, the documents were delivered directly to the county yamen, so Zhao Hanzhang received them.
The soldier who delivered the documents was very surprised. He hadn’t expected that the person now in charge at the county yamen seemed to be a woman. He looked around and asked, “Where’s Zhao Ming?”
Zhao Hanzhang said gently and weakly, “Uncle has returned to the fortress. He didn’t know the envoy would deliver documents, so I’ll send someone to fetch uncle back now.”
The soldier didn’t doubt her and asked, “Will it take long? I still need to return and report.”
“Not long. Our Zhao Family isn’t far from the county seat.” The soldier then assumed Zhao Hanzhang was Zhao Ming’s family member, probably managing the inner residence, though he didn’t know why she had come to the front courtyard.
Zhao Hanzhang stood up and left, having Qiuwu entertain the guest. “Keep a close eye on him. Don’t let him wander around, and don’t let him hear things he shouldn’t hear.”
Qiuwu bowed. “Yes.”
Zhao Hanzhang had someone go to the fortress to fetch Zhao Ming. She returned to her study to continue handling official business.
Zhao Ming arrived quickly. After receiving the documents and writing a receipt for him, he handed the documents to Zhao Hanzhang, then patted his rear and was about to leave. At the doorway, he remembered something and turned back. “Ji Yuan… he’s still in Shangcai, right?”
Zhao Hanzhang looked with satisfaction at the documents in her hand, then looked up and smiled at him. “Master Ji isn’t needed here yet.”
Understood. She just wanted to ensure both the County Magistrate and Chief Clerk were her people, so she could control Xiping.
Zhao Ming thought about it and said, “It’s been ten days. You should also return to the fortress to see the clan elders.”
Now that Xiping County had stabilized and everything was back on track, she did indeed need to handle some follow-up matters.
She not only needed to return to the fortress but also to Shangcai. She wondered whether County Magistrate Chai of Shangcai County had been able to sleep these past few days.
—