Governor He tried to conceal it, but Zhao Hanzhang still noticed something amiss, especially during their private conversation at the end when she could smell a faint, fresh scent of blood emanating from him.
As for why she waited until now to mention it?
“If he can still pretend nothing happened and entertain us, that means he won’t die immediately. As long as he didn’t drop dead on the spot, this matter isn’t that urgent,” Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “I’m just informing you all. It’s late at night—Gentleman and Uncle Qianli, please go rest.”
Ji Yuan pondered this and said, “He’s injured, so his people’s attention will all be focused on him, meaning their control over external matters will certainly be less than usual. My lady, should we select a few people to have them follow along to Shuochun?”
Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t thought of this initially, but hearing this, she immediately turned to the side. “Come, come, Gentleman, let’s go back into the tent and discuss this further.”
Ji Yuan glanced at her and turned to go inside with her.
Zhao Ju: …So are we sleeping tonight or not?
The intelligence network Ji Yuan previously controlled had all been handed over to Zhao Zhongyu. He was the clan head, and this was built with the Zhao clan’s resources, so it naturally should go to him.
Moreover, Zhao Hanzhang was intentionally separating herself from the Zhao clan, which meant she needed to cultivate people who belonged entirely to her.
This opportunity was quite rare.
“With Quyang besieged this time, there will certainly be many gaps around him, making it the perfect time to insert people.” Ji Yuan said, “We need to select several candidates. Unfortunately time is tight and we can’t choose carefully. Qianli, do you have any good candidates?”
As the former leader of the Zhao clan’s retainers, Zhao Ju had naturally been ordered to select spies before and was very familiar with this process, so after thinking it over he said, “The retainers we brought this time aren’t quite suitable. We can only select from the lower ranks.”
Ji Yuan said, “But they were all just recently recruited—they may not be loyal.”
Zhao Ju replied, “I know a few who are fairly clever and came together with their families.”
Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. “What are their characters like?”
“The time has been too short to really tell, but judging from their attitude toward their families, they do value relationships.”
“Then they can be used.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “First bring the people here and we’ll talk to them one by one. For sending them to work as spies, it’s better if they’re willing.”
But working as a spy was extremely dangerous, and being alone among enemy forces presented great challenges both physically and mentally.
If they wouldn’t use coercion, they could only use inducement.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “The people we recruited this time all seem quite reluctant to accept land grants, so we’ll distribute houses, money, and grain instead, and promise one reading quota for their household.”
Even Gentleman Ji couldn’t help being tempted by such generous treatment.
He asked, “With such heavy benefits promised, what does my lady want them to do?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “First have them infiltrate and lie low. They don’t need to do anything special—just act as if they truly are Governor He’s people. Normally they only need to pass along some information about Governor He and Shuochun. When we need them to do something different in the future, someone will naturally go notify them.”
Ji Yuan said, “Then we need to choose these candidates very carefully—not only must they be loyal and clever, they also need to be smart enough.”
Zhao Hanzhang played the hands-off boss. “I entrust this matter to Gentleman Ji.”
Ji Yuan snapped back to attention. “How many days will the army be stationed in Quyang?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I don’t mind staying a few more days, but I’m afraid Governor He won’t be willing.”
“I understand. I’ll have the candidates selected by tomorrow.”
So Ji Yuan took Zhao Ju back and selected people he considered suitable, trying to thoroughly investigate their backgrounds as much as possible. The two of them barely slept all night.
Early the next morning, they called the people they’d spent all night selecting to come meet them one by one.
Zhao Hanzhang got up, washed her face, and hadn’t even had time for breakfast when Qiu Wu came looking for her. “My lady, someone from the city has come, saying Governor He invites you to have breakfast together.”
He lowered his voice and said, “They also want to discuss withdrawing the troops.”
Zhao Hanzhang decided to save everyone a meal’s worth of rations and said, “Give my breakfast to Gentleman and Uncle Qianli. You all don’t eat either. Come on, let’s go into the city and mooch off the wealthy.”
Qiu Wu happily agreed and, along with Ji Ping, protected Zhao Hanzhang on both sides as they clip-clopped into the city.
Governor He was very generous, having the kitchen prepare a sumptuous breakfast for everyone.
Zhao Hanzhang had her own low table. Qiu Wu and Ji Ping were kept outside and taken away to eat as well.
Magistrate Zhang and the others had already arrived and were sitting on cushions directly across from her.
Since she was staying outside the city, she arrived latest. After sitting down, she noticed Magistrate Zhang looking at her and raised her hand to bow to him.
Magistrate Zhang smiled and returned the gesture, asking, “The Governor prepared rooms in the courier station for everyone. Why didn’t Hanzhang stay in the city last night?”
Zhao Hanzhang explained, “This is my first time leading troops, and I lack experience. I was worried they might cause trouble outside, so I went out to check on them.”
Here it comes again—this strange kind of humility made Magistrate Zhang’s heart catch, and his smile became strained.
He smiled ambiguously and said, “You’re quite diligent.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him.
Only then did Governor He enter. He sat in the host’s seat and smiled, “Everyone must be hungry. Come, come, let’s eat breakfast first. The morning meal is very important.”
Everyone smiled and agreed. After Governor He picked up his chopsticks, everyone else took theirs and began eating, with no one mentioning the army outside still waiting eagerly to be fed.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mention it either.
In everyone’s eyes, she was now considered one of Governor He’s people. Having just received benefits from him, she naturally couldn’t undermine him. Besides, the provisions she’d brought were sufficient.
Adding what they’d just recovered from the Xiongnu army camp, Zhao Hanzhang was in no hurry, so she first picked up a steamed bun and ate it with relish.
Governor He ate a little, glanced at everyone, and seeing that no one was bringing up the matter of military provisions, could only bring it up himself. With a face full of apology, he said, “I’ve truly wronged all the officers and soldiers. The military provisions given to the army yesterday and today weren’t very much. It’s just that Quyang has been besieged for so long, and grain couldn’t be transported in. Our coffers are now quite bare.”
Since Governor He put it this way, what else could everyone do?
They could only express understanding.
So Governor He smoothly brought up the matter of the army’s departure. Basically: you have no provisions to eat if you stay anyway, and now the Xiongnu army has retreated, so when do you think you’ll leave?
Magistrate Zhang said nothing, leaving the question to everyone else.
Everyone looked at each other, unable to decide for the moment. This was different from what they’d expected, and different from what Magistrate Zhang had promised them.
So after this trip where they’d consumed military provisions and lost soldiers, they had to go back hungry?
Never mind going back—they couldn’t even explain things to their soldiers now.
Zhao Hanzhang kept her head down and ate quietly. After finishing her steamed bun and drinking half a bowl of congee, she began picking at the meat cakes cut into pieces on her plate.
Governor He, seeing they were reluctant to leave, could only call on Zhao Hanzhang by name. “What about Hanzhang? Xiping isn’t far from Quyang. If you set out today, you can arrive by evening.”
Zhao Hanzhang wiped her mouth with a cloth, took a sip of water, and then smiled and nodded. “Yes, so after the army has breakfast, we’ll set out. Our purpose in coming to Quyang has been achieved. Since Quyang County and the Governor are safe, we can be at ease.”
Governor He was overjoyed and immediately said, “When you depart, I’ll personally see you off.”