Fu Tinghan looked at Zhao Ming with puzzlement. “Our goals are the same.”

Zhao Ming had a question that had been weighing on him for a long time. “Sanniang wants to secure Runan Commandery because the Zhao family is here. She’s planning for Erlang and the Zhao family. What about you?”

Fu Tinghan replied matter-of-factly, “Because she’s here, and I’m here too.”

Fu Tinghan looked at Zhao Ming with bewilderment. “Why are you suddenly asking this, Uncle Ming?”

*Because my father suspects you’re planning rebellion, and I have similar suspicions.*

Zhao Ming swallowed the words at his lips, paused, and said, “Tinghan, our Zhao family has been loyal for generations. Sanniang’s grandfather cherished and respected himself, accumulating our current good reputation over many lifetimes. I don’t want anyone to destroy this reputation.”

Fu Tinghan wasn’t skilled at administrative work, but his intelligence was sound. Hearing Zhao Ming’s implication, he raised an eyebrow slightly. Soothing his restlessly pawing horse, he looked at Zhao Ming with equal seriousness. “Uncle Ming, we have no intention of rebelling.”

But Zhao Ming remained uneasy. “You have no reverence for the imperial house.”

Fu Tinghan replied, “Does Uncle Ming?”

Good question. Zhao Ming didn’t either!

The two men looked at each other. Finally, Zhao Ming calmly looked away and said gravely, “I don’t care what you plan to do, as long as you don’t tarnish our Zhao ancestors’ reputation.”

Fu Tinghan responded with an “Mm.” Never mind that he and Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t considered rebellion—even if they did rebel and failed, they could bear all responsibility. But if they succeeded? Well, then it wouldn’t be tarnishing—it would be adding glory.

When they reached the military camp, Zhao Hanzhang was conducting formation drills with the soldiers, engaging in mock combat. She and Zhao Erlang each led a unit of troops, holding spears with red cloth wrapped around the tips. They charged at each other, and anyone touched by the red cloth tips was considered fallen.

Zhao Erlang loved this game and wanted to play it every day. Though he usually lost more than he won against his elder sister, it was truly enjoyable.

Zhao Erlang fought with increasing fervor, shouting as he charged toward Zhao Hanzhang. She didn’t even let him get close—she directed her formation to shift.

Two cavalry riders stepped forward from either side, positioning themselves in front of Zhao Hanzhang. One moved quickly, his spear sweeping horizontally. Zhao Erlang leaned back to dodge, but Zhao Hanzhang’s spear somehow struck from an unknown angle, hitting him in the waist. Zhao Erlang cried out in pain and tumbled from his horse…

Zhao Hanzhang raised her spear high and shouted, “Your commander is dead! Surrender now!”

Her troops immediately joined her clamor, loudly shouting to lay down weapons and spare lives. When Zhao Erlang climbed up from the ground clutching his waist, more than half his troops had already surrendered.

He couldn’t help but stomp his feet. “Didn’t I tell you—even if I die, you can’t surrender…”

Zhao Hanzhang dismounted and slapped him on the head. “I’ve told you so many times—use strategy in battle, don’t charge recklessly. You’ve suffered so many losses; why haven’t you learned?”

Zhao Erlang batted away Zhao Hanzhang’s hand and said indignantly, “I’m just not as clever as you, but in single combat I’d definitely beat you. Do you dare fight me one-on-one?”

“You already lost in single combat!”

“I’ve learned new techniques. Let’s compete again!”

Seeing the siblings about to come to blows, with the accompanying soldiers also seeming ready to join in, Zhao Ming couldn’t help but call out, “Sanniang!”

Hearing his voice, Zhao Sanniang looked over and finally noticed the two men. Wiping sweat from her face, she approached with her spear. “Uncle Ming, why do you have time to come here?”

*If I hadn’t come, how would I know you’d dumped all administrative work on Ji Yuan and Chang Ning while running here to fight?*

Ting He, who had been waiting nearby, immediately rushed forward with a damp cloth to wipe Zhao Hanzhang’s sweat.

Zhao Ming’s gaze swept over the soldiers forming ranks nearby. After forming up, they began training.

Zhao Hanzhang wiped her sweat and tossed the cloth back to Ting He. Following his gaze, she couldn’t help but feel proud. Chuckling, she said, “Uncle Ming, aren’t my troops well-trained?”

“Very good.” *Too good.* The suspicions Zhao Ming had just suppressed came bubbling back up.

He couldn’t help but tell Zhao Hanzhang, “Do you know Liu Yuan’s army is now pressing toward Luoyang?”

“I know. We received that news ages ago. Even Gou Xi and the Prince of Donghai have temporarily ceased hostilities.”

Zhao Ming asked, “If the court orders you to send troops to aid the king, would you go?”

Zhao Hanzhang pointed at her own nose. “Me?”

Zhao Ming nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Uncle, what are you thinking? I only have these two thousand men—how could I go to Luoyang to aid the king?”

Zhao Ming snorted coldly. “Whether you truly only have two thousand men—we both know the truth.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt indignant. “Uncle, although the people in the settlement are called retainers, their main duty is still farming. They basically don’t do military training. How can they be called soldiers?”

“The only troops I’m truly training are these two thousand. If I were to go aid the king, surely you wouldn’t have me lead my people to their deaths?” Having said this, Zhao Hanzhang paused and frowned. “What’s this about? Does the court want me to go aid the king? Why haven’t I received any word?”

Zhao Ming replied coolly, “There isn’t any. I’m just supposing.”

He asked, “Have you considered that if you don’t go aid the king, should the Xiongnu army breach Luoyang, the Great Jin will fall, and we’ll all become subjects of a fallen state?”

*The Great Jin falling is part of the general trend. Once it falls, it falls—one less mountain weighing on my head, making things easier.*

However, she couldn’t say this to Zhao Ming. Instead, Zhao Hanzhang said, “Don’t worry, Uncle. The imperial Sima clan has so many members scattered everywhere—they won’t fall so easily.”

Inspector He seemed to smile but didn’t as he said mockingly, “With such chaos, whether the Zhao family can bring Runan Commandery under control remains uncertain. After all, they’ve pushed a woman to the forefront.”

Fu Tinghan stood to the side listening to their conversation. When Zhao Ming went to inspect other areas of the camp, he told Zhao Hanzhang, “Uncle Ming is worried you’re planning to rebel.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “…Just because I’m training troops? I’m not training that many.”

Fu Tinghan: “Because of attitude. We have no reverence for the imperial house and court. He’s somewhat concerned.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “I’ll go reassure him shortly.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s method of reassurance was simple. She told him directly, “Uncle Ming, how desperate would I have to be to rebel? That means fighting both heaven and man. Right now, managing three counties already exhausts me. If it weren’t for Liu Yuan’s threatening presence, I wouldn’t even have considered raising so many retainers.”

Zhao Ming stared at her for a long while before finally nodding. “Fine, I’ll take you at your word for now.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled cheerfully and told Zhao Ming, “If I ever truly do rebel someday, you just expel me from the Zhao family. Then the court probably won’t make things difficult for the Zhao family or you, Uncle.”

Zhao Ming: “Shut up!”

“All right.” However, Zhao Hanzhang fell silent for less than a moment before adding, “Uncle, if the court issues an edict to aid the king, do you think Inspector He will go?”

Zhao Ming asked her in return, “What do you think?”

“I think he won’t!”

Zhao Hanzhang was right. Inspector He indeed wouldn’t send troops.

The court had already issued the edict to aid the king, but the official document went directly to the Inspector’s office. Inspector He suppressed the document without making it public.