Magistrate Zhang continued to solicit strategies, and everyone contributed many plans. These strategies were even more unusual than luring the enemy followed by ambush.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even need to question them—the strategists could find a heap of flaws themselves. One person would propose an idea, and the rest would find problems with it. The atmosphere was quite lively.

However, Zhao Hanzhang listened with great interest and even recorded all those methods, thinking perhaps she could use them in future battles. Hahaha…

Ji Yuan noticed their young lady pulling a dagger from her waist. After wiping it with a handkerchief, she began slicing meat. The cut pieces were about to go into his plate, so Ji Yuan quickly reached out to stop her. “Young lady, you eat it.”

Zhao Hanzhang ate it herself, listening while eating, quite content.

Ji Yuan couldn’t help shaking his head, feeling she hadn’t come to support the battle but rather to have fun.

The banquet continued late into the night. Zhao Hanzhang finished all the lamb legs on the table, gnawed on several lamb bones, drank two bowls of soup, and ate quite a bit of vegetables.

In the end, she still didn’t feel full. Perhaps because she was still growing, she raised her hand and called over a soldier standing nearby. “Go fetch some steamed buns, rice, or flatbread. I can’t get full on just vegetables.”

The soldier glanced at the empty plates on her table. Meat wasn’t filling enough?

Nevertheless, the soldier went and soon brought her a basin of rice.

Zhao Hanzhang served herself a bowl, soaked it in lamb broth, and ate.

By the time they finally reached a decision, the rice in Zhao Hanzhang’s stomach had already mostly digested.

After going round and round, the final strategy everyone discussed was still to face the Xiongnu army head-on. Once their side engaged and drew attention, the gates of Quyang City would open for a front-and-back pincer attack.

Once this plan was decided, everyone praised Magistrate Zhang for his excellent strategy, confident that this time they would surely rout the Xiongnu army.

Zhao Hanzhang listened quietly, then began listening to them assign positions.

Magistrate Zhang ultimately looked down on Zhao Hanzhang. He didn’t dare place her in the center army, much less in the vanguard. Therefore, he had her lead her three thousand troops as the right wing, together with another relief force, to encircle the Xiongnu army.

Actually, their main purpose was to guard the flanks of the center army.

The Xiongnu had cavalry, and their cavalry was formidable. She didn’t believe they could achieve encirclement. If they couldn’t encircle them, with this formation, once chaos erupted, it would become complete disorder, unable to coordinate front and rear.

However, since everyone was unfamiliar with each other and lacked unity, this was already the best formation they could devise.

Zhao Hanzhang stood up together with that staff officer and accepted the arrangement, expressing they would follow orders.

Thus, the banquet dispersed, and everyone returned to their respective camps.

Magistrate Zhang indicated he had arranged a tent for Zhao Hanzhang and she could stay for a good rest.

Zhao Hanzhang thanked him, but her encampment wasn’t far from here—just a short horse ride away. There was no need to stay here.

Zhao Hanzhang left with Ji Yuan.

Magistrate Zhang watched her mount her horse and depart, the smile fading from his face.

Seeing this, Lu Xiyuan asked, “My lord, what concerns you?”

“Ji Yuan is well-known. I thought after Zhao Changyu’s death he would follow Zhao Zhongyu, but unexpectedly he came to Runan Commandery.” Magistrate Zhang said, “Is this Zhao Zhongyu’s intention, or is there discord within the Zhao clan, with Xiping snatching him away?”

Lu Xiyuan thought for a moment. “I have heard some things. The one managing clan affairs at Xiping is Zhao’s Fifth Son, who has always been at odds with Zhao Zhongyu. Perhaps Zhao Zhongyu cannot control the clan members.”

The corners of Magistrate Zhang’s mouth curved up. “Then there is discord within the Zhao clan.”

He continued, “Since Zhao Changyu, the Zhao clan has dominated Runan Commandery and acted arrogantly throughout all of Yuzhou. Now that Zhao Changyu is dead, it seems they will fall apart.”

“But Zhao Zhongyu has already been promoted to Minister of Personnel.”

“That’s only because the court had no one available when fleeing Luoyang,” he said. “The court is still dominated by Prince Donghai and Wang Yan. He—hmph—his words carry even less weight than Fu Zhi’s, not to mention compared to Zhao Changyu in his time. No need to worry.”

“Then regarding this Zhao clan relief force…”

“Let them do as they please. Although I don’t know why the Zhao clan sent Zhao Sanniang to lead troops, letting the various commanderies of Yuzhou see the Zhao clan’s current state isn’t bad either.” Magistrate Zhang said, “When prestigious great clans like the Zhao clan lose their prestige, it will be easier for me to govern Yuzhou in the future.”

Lu Xiyuan acknowledged in a low voice.

Zhao Hanzhang returned to camp in the dark.

With so many people, if each person cut one tree they could fell three thousand. Of course, they weren’t that destructive, so they only cleared some trees, enough to build camp shelters.

Night had deepened. Except for patrolling soldiers, everyone was already asleep.

Zhao Ju hadn’t slept yet, waiting all along. Hearing that Zhao Hanzhang and Teacher Ji had returned, he immediately came out to greet them. Glancing behind them, he asked, “Where are the envoys?”

“Eh?” Only then did Zhao Hanzhang remember. “Oh my, I forgot about them.”

She scratched her head. “Though they were envoys looking for me, Magistrate Zhang should arrange lodging for them, right? They went to talk during the day, didn’t they?”

“Yes,” Ji Yuan nodded. “They should arrange something.”

Zhao Hanzhang jumped down from her horse. “Uncle Qianli, come, let’s talk in my tent.”

She told him of Magistrate Zhang’s arrangements.

Zhao Ju said, “So tomorrow we’ll be guarding the right wing?”

“Yes,” Zhao Hanzhang replied. “Watch the situation and act accordingly. Remember, don’t charge recklessly. If the center army can hold, we fight. If they can’t, you lead the men away.”

Zhao Ju: “…That doesn’t seem right, does it?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Preserving our effective forces is what matters. They’re all new recruits—charging recklessly would just dull the Xiongnu army’s blades. It’s not worth it.”

Ji Yuan nodded and added, “When retreating, maintain order. Otherwise, once routed, it will be difficult for us to reorganize the army afterward.”

Zhao Ju looked conflicted. “We haven’t even fought yet. Why is the young lady only thinking about defeat?”

Because the allied forces lacked unity! If their hearts were united, determined to rescue Quyang, she would naturally have them fight with all their might. No matter how many died, for the sake of saving all of Yuzhou, it would be worth it.

They would at least die with purpose.

But their hearts weren’t united. If the center army broke and fled, the left and right wings would become abandoned pieces. Unable to save Quyang, what meaning would the soldiers’ deaths have?

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Zhao Ju with utmost seriousness. “Soldiers can be unafraid of death, but they cannot die meaninglessly. I cannot let them die without value.”

Zhao Ju fell silent.

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Uncle Qianli, I’m entrusting them to you.”

Zhao Ju also became serious. “Young lady, rest assured.”

Only after speaking did he realize, “Won’t the young lady be with us?”

Ji Yuan also looked at her.

“I’m going to the center army,” she said. “To join the excitement and also let them see what the Zhao clan is capable of.”

Her lips curled in a cold smile. “I can’t let our soldiers go fight desperately, but we also can’t come all this way for nothing, right? Teacher, didn’t you say this is my first time appearing publicly before others? Then I can’t do nothing.”