Zhao Hanzhang got ready at the fastest speed and sat across from Zhao Ming.
Ting He lowered her head and brought out a plate of buns, a plate of flatbread, a plate of eggs, and a pot of milk.
Zhao Ming looked on woodenly. “You eat this much for breakfast?”
Zhao Hanzhang picked up the pot and poured a bowl of milk for both Zhao Ming and Fu Tinghan. “Aren’t Uncle and Tinghan here too?”
Zhao Ming said, “I’m not eating.”
Zhao Hanzhang poured herself a bowl. “Eat some. Consider it refreshments.”
“Eating at odd hours like this, neither breakfast nor lunch—be careful of ruining your appetite,” Zhao Ming said. “When eating, you should always stop when you’re seventy percent full, understand? This way your stomach has capacity left and strength to process the food. If you eat gluttonously like this…”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’m not eating gluttonously, Uncle. I’m still growing.”
She continued, “I also practice martial arts and need to maintain my strength, so my appetite is a bit larger. But today’s amount accounts for you and Tinghan. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
Fu Tinghan took an egg, cracked it open, and nodded at Zhao Ming.
He peeled the egg and handed it to Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him embarrassedly and accepted it. “I can do it myself.”
Zhao Ming fell silent for a moment, then skipped this topic. “Liu Yuan has proclaimed himself emperor.”
Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t very surprised. Since he could attack into Luoyang in the first year of Yongjia, what was impossible about proclaiming himself emperor now?
“Will he send troops to Luoyang again?”
Zhao Ming pondered. “The news says he’s assembled an army of two hundred thousand to attack Luoyang. This time it shouldn’t just be for plunder. He’ll not only send troops to Luoyang but also to our Yuzhou.”
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment. “Last time they were unprepared. Knowing they couldn’t hold Luoyang even after taking it, they withdrew. This time, since he’s come prepared, he clearly wants to completely take Luoyang.”
“The Prince of Donghai isn’t a pushover either,” Zhao Ming said. “At that time, it happened suddenly and his main forces were elsewhere. Plus, he was in internal conflict with the emperor and wanted to diminish his prestige, which is why he withdrew from Luoyang. This time, whether for himself or for Dajin, he won’t retreat again. Liu Yuan may not be able to break in.”
“But this means our Yuzhou won’t have any reinforcements either. Right now Quyang is still under siege.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked curiously, “The governor is besieged in Quyang. Won’t the other commanderies and counties come to his aid?”
Zhao Ming thought for a moment. “Perhaps his prestige is insufficient. A month ago, Governor Zhang was recalled to Luoyang and led troops to Jingzhao Commandery. Governor He was promoted to become Governor of Yuzhou.”
In other words, the new governor had been in office less than a month and was directly promoted from their Runan Commandery governor. The other commanderies and counties might be unhappy in their hearts, so they stood by and watched.
Zhao Hanzhang clicked her tongue twice. “Even at this time, they’re still engaged in internal strife. Once the Xiongnu move south into Yuzhou, no one will be safe.”
Zhao Ming looked at her and asked, “If the governor’s deployment order arrives, will you send troops or not?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ll send them, as long as he gives me conscription rights. I’ll go save him without hesitation.”
Zhao Ming was stunned. “You’ll really go to the rescue?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Of course I’ll really go. Uncle, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Before the Xiongnu troops move south, we must drive out the Xiongnu forces that have infiltrated our territory. Otherwise, if we let them rampage within our borders, we’re the ones who will suffer.”
Zhao Ming agreed in his heart, but he still felt some pain. “The troops we’ve raised aren’t easy to come by.”
Zhao Hanzhang drank a mouthful of sheep’s milk. “That’s why I need a conscription order.”
Although Xiping County was now in her hands and no one would jump out to say “no” if she recruited soldiers, it still didn’t comply with principles or law. This wasn’t suitable for her image as a law-abiding citizen, so she needed procedural justice.
Zhao Ming looked at her silently. “You’ve already raised so many private soldiers and retainers without authorization, yet you still insist on a conscription order?”
“Uncle, don’t wrong me. I only have a hundred or so retainers, and they were all given to me by Grandfather. They comply with the rites and regulations. As for the rest, they’re all long-term workers and tenant farmers from the estate. They came to Xiping to protect the clan members and the estate. They’re not even Xiping people—they’re Shangcai people.”
Zhao Ming was shocked by her shamelessness.
However, he was also relieved. Waving his hand, he said, “As long as you know what you’re doing. If I were the governor, I’d definitely issue orders demanding all commanderies and counties send troops to Quyang. But not many will comply. Don’t rush to the front out of a moment’s passion. The Xiongnu forces must be driven out, but you can’t use Zhao family lives to fill the gap.”
Zhao Hanzhang indicated her understanding. “Rest assured. I’ll definitely play it safe.”
Zhao Ming asked, “What?”
“Ahem, I mean, I’ll definitely be careful and prudent, absolutely not reckless.” Zhao Hanzhang immediately gave him a piece of flatbread. “Uncle, try our household’s flatbread. The cook made it according to my description. It has a meat filling inside and is very delicious.”
Zhao Ming looked down. The flatbread was golden on both sides and cut into triangular shapes. From the cut edge, he could vaguely see the minced meat inside. It indeed smelled fragrant.
Zhao Ming took a piece and tasted it. It was crispy on the outside, then came the salty fragrance of meat and scallions. He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Sprinkling some sesame seeds on top would make it even better.”
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and gave a thumbs up. “Uncle is amazing. How did I not think of that? Ting He, have the cook make another one, this time sprinkle some white sesame seeds on it.”
Zhao Ming felt completely at ease. At this moment, he finally understood why his father so enjoyed talking with Zhao Hanzhang, even though he knew she was deliberately flattering him.
“Uncle, with the Xiongnu forces moving south, can we still send out our letters?”
Zhao Ming said, “It shouldn’t be a big problem. Even if he moves south, he can’t cut off all the roads. I’ve already sent a letter to Luoyang. In four more days at most, the clan leader should receive it.”
Zhao Ming had no connection with Liu Yueshi and could only go through Zhao Zhongyu.
Liu Yueshi, named Liu Kun, with the courtesy name Yueshi, also had a very capable older brother, Liu Yu, with the courtesy name Qingsun. Like Zhao Zhongyu, both brothers were among the Twenty-Four Friends—famously dissolute nobles in their youth.
But they were also truly intelligent, especially Liu Yu. It was said he had thoroughly studied all military registers, warehouses, oxen, horses, equipment, and waterways across the realm. As long as it was recorded in archival documents, there was nothing he didn’t know.
He was a talent Zhao Hanzhang dreamed of obtaining.
However, she could only dream. This person was currently the Left Chief Clerk to the Prince of Donghai and was considered one of his most trusted confidants.
Moreover, Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Fu Tinghan and thought to herself—she now had Professor Fu. What Liu Yu knew, Professor Fu would definitely surpass him in the future.
Liu Kun could serve as Governor of Bingzhou because of his brother Liu Yu’s recommendation. Although Bingzhou would soon become an isolated city, there was no denying that Liu Kun also became a renowned minister of his generation by holding Bingzhou.
Zhao Hanzhang coveted the Xianbei forces behind Liu Kun. The Central Plains rarely had access to good warhorses in large quantities, but nomadic peoples like the Xianbei were different—they had many horses, many cattle, and many sheep.