Zhao Hanzhang pointed to an area behind a grove of trees. The trees in front could serve as cover, while behind stood a small hill that could serve as a barrier.
Lu Xiyuan was about to say that camping in the woods would be inconvenient—what if someone set fire—but Zhao Hanzhang had already continued, “We don’t yet know when the attack will begin. We may need to camp for some time. Have people cut down those trees to build shelters. With the weather turning cold, we can’t have everyone freezing at night.”
Zhao Ju acknowledged the order.
Seeing he understood, Zhao Hanzhang then brought Ji Yuan and the two envoys to follow Lu Xiyuan to the main camp.
This was an open area where the camp had been built against the hillside. As they arrived, soldiers were lounging about listlessly on the ground. Seeing people approach, they lazily lifted their eyelids for a glance, then lowered them again, exchanging crude jokes with their companions nearby.
The patrolling soldiers also merely glanced at them. Seeing Lu Xiyuan, they paid no more attention, allowing them to enter the camp.
Lu Xiyuan led them directly to the central tent, only then reining in his horse. He smiled and invited them inside, lifting the tent flap. “Provincial Governor, the relief forces from Xiping have arrived.”
The people sitting and talking inside the tent all turned their heads to look.
Zhao Hanzhang removed the sword from her waist and held it in her hand, striding in confidently. Lifting her eyes, she met everyone’s gazes. She swept her gaze lightly across them before looking toward the person seated in the place of honor.
This was quite a large tent. The place of honor had low tables and mats laid out, behind which sat a middle-aged man with a gentle expression. He sported a small mustache, and his overall bearing was refined and scholarly. Hearing Lu Xiyuan’s report, he had just looked up.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, he hesitated slightly. “Which young master of the Zhao family is this, or perhaps…”
Zhao Hanzhang revealed a smile, stepped forward, clasped her fists, and bowed. “Honored Elder, this junior is Zhao Hanzhang from the senior branch of the Zhao family, third in the family line.”
The senior branch of the Zhao family—that would be Zhao Changyu’s line, wouldn’t it?
They only have one grandson, don’t they?
And isn’t he second in line, not third?
The third in line would be…
Prefect Zhang silently observed Zhao Hanzhang for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile. Rising to his feet, he said warmly, “It’s Sanniang, isn’t it?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled back. “Indeed. Sanniang pays her respects to Honored Elder.”
“Please, no need for such formality.” Prefect Zhang had her sit down. Though Xiping County’s status wasn’t high, the Zhao family’s position was considerable. So considering her Zhao family background, her seat was specially arranged just below Prefect Zhang’s. Yet no one had expected her to be female.
However, Zhao Hanzhang showed no awkwardness whatsoever. Without declining or demurring, she brought Ji Yuan forward and sat down.
Only after the two were seated cross-legged did Prefect Zhang ask with a kindly expression, “Why is Sanniang leading the troops? Where is Uncle Ming?”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Xiping County has just suffered a great calamity, and Uncle is temporarily unable to get away, so it could only be Sanniang.”
Could it be that aside from Zhao Ming, the Zhao family had no other men, such that they needed a young woman to lead troops?
Someone immediately expressed dissatisfaction, snorting. “For such an important matter, the Zhao family treats it far too lightly—sending just a woman? “
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him with contempt and didn’t bother responding. Instead, she turned to ask Prefect Zhang, “Honored Elder, when will we attack? Have we managed to contact those inside Quyang?”
Prefect Zhang hadn’t expected her to be so direct, immediately asking such crucial questions. He hastily reassured her, “War cannot be rushed. If you rush, mistakes happen. The Xiongnu forces are also brutal. We should proceed steadily.”
That does make sense.
However, Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “I must inform Honored Elder—we cannot remain outside too long.”
“Why not?”
Zhao Hanzhang wore a worried expression. “Honored Elder may not know, but Xiping just suffered a great calamity. The grain from the summer harvest was almost entirely plundered, so we didn’t bring much in provisions this time. That’s why I hope for a quick battle and quick resolution, so I can take them back soon.”
Prefect Zhang: …He truly hadn’t expected the first person to ask him for grain would be the newly arrived Zhao Hanzhang.
At her words, those below exchanged glances, then immediately began pleading poverty. “Provincial Governor, when we set out, we were in such haste to provide relief that we didn’t bring much provisions…”
“We’re the same.”
Prefect Zhang looked toward the two envoys standing with lowered heads, and said irritably, “Rest assured, once we defeat the Xiongnu forces and enter the city, the Provincial Governor surely won’t shortchange us.”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “So when do we attack?”
Prefect Zhang: “This cannot be decided in a moment. We’ll wait until news returns from Quyang before discussing.”
Zhao Hanzhang obediently agreed, indicating she would follow Prefect Zhang’s lead entirely.
Prefect Zhang quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then after some thought said, “All the relief forces should have arrived by now. Tonight I’ll host a banquet so everyone can meet one another and get acquainted, and also discuss strategies against the enemy.”
Everyone rose and agreed, expressing no objections.
Only then did Prefect Zhang ask Zhao Hanzhang, “How many troops did Sanniang bring?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Only three thousand men.”
Prefect Zhang was mildly surprised. Three thousand was quite a number—among all the relief forces, it could rank in the top five.
He didn’t believe a small Xiping County could provide so many men. Hadn’t even the larger Shangcai County sent no one?
So these must be Zhao family troops, right?
It seemed Zhao Changyu’s death hadn’t damaged relations between the Zhao family and the Prince of Donghai. They were still willing to heed the Prince’s commands.
Prefect Zhang now had a clear picture. Smiling, he had them go rest first while he went to prepare for the evening banquet and to meet with the two envoys from Quyang. He needed to find a way to contact those inside Quyang.
Zhao Hanzhang departed with a cold, aloof expression, leaving Ji Yuan behind.
Ji Yuan rose with effort, smiling and bowing to everyone before taking his leave. One person stopped him, asking hesitantly, “I just heard Zhao Hanzhang address you as Mister Ji. Could you be the Mister Ji who served under Administrator Zhao?”
Ji Yuan smiled. “Indeed, that is Ji Yuan. I’m surprised anyone here still knows of me.”
“It truly is you! Your reputation precedes you. But how did you come to serve a young woman?”
Wasn’t that opening the conversation perfectly?
Zhao Hanzhang had left Ji Yuan behind to gather intelligence, while she herself took two retainers to wander aimlessly around the camp. Wandering here and there, she eventually found her way to the provisions stores, then went to check on her horse and incidentally surveyed the horses in the adjacent stables.
One could tell the allied army wasn’t very wealthy. With so many people, they had only this much in provisions. There weren’t many horses either. It seemed everyone was uniformly poor.
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and led her guards toward those soldiers lounging about lazily.
At her current age, wearing armor, she truly appeared androgynous. Without saying so, no one could really tell she was female.
So she quickly sat down among those soldiers. She pulled out a pouch containing roasted beans from her bag and, after sharing some with them, struck up conversation.
Seeing food, the soldiers eagerly gathered around. Even though each only received a dozen or so beans, they were quite pleased.
Having eaten from her hand, they decided to like her. So as long as her questions didn’t involve military secrets, they answered everything.
“You arrived three days ago? And haven’t fought a single battle?”