Bringing him back was impossible. Not only was there nearly a full day’s gap between them, but given Zhao Cheng’s stubbornness, who could bring him back?

Even Zhao Hu personally going wouldn’t accomplish what his servants couldn’t.

But the steward still sent people to chase after him—not only to make a show of it, but also because they should send some things to Zhao Cheng.

However, just as the people departed, various families came crying to their door. After the steward inquired, he learned, “Old Master, the Young Master didn’t just take the Little Master—he also took several clan youths and students from the school.”

“Now the families are all at our door. Old Master, do you… do you want to hide?”

Would Zhao Hu hide?

Of course not.

Zhao Hu was dumbfounded. After recovering, he flew into a rage. “Hide what? Where’s Zhao Dong? Let’s go find Zhao Dong!”

Among the Zhao clan’s elders, there were plenty of rough characters, but in the old generation, the roughest was definitely Zhao Hu. He went straight out and led the families who wanted him to produce their sons and grandsons directly to storm Zhao Dong’s house, nearly demolishing it.

In the end, only Zhao Ming supporting his father could pacify this conflict.

Zhao Song looked at Zhao Dong’s demolished front hall, furiously pointing at Zhao Hu’s nose and cursing, “What do you think you’re doing? Rebelling?”

“What kind of temperament does Zhao Cheng have—don’t you know? Who can control him? You’re venting your anger, go vent it at your own home!”

Then he berated those who had joined Zhao Hu in making trouble. “The children are all grown now. What they want to do is their own decision. In these times, staying home is the path to death. Going out to strive and struggle—who knows, there might be a future in it. Can you keep your children as nursing babies forever?”

The family heads lowered their heads.

Only then did Zhao Ming speak. “Sanniang can lead troops into battle. They’re all Sanniang’s brothers—why can’t they go to the battlefield?”

He continued, “The students taken away—the oldest is thirteen, the youngest only nine. Compared to them, our clan’s children are older, more learned, and more accomplished. What do you all have to complain about?”

Zhao Hu remained unconvinced, saying the same thing as Zhao Dong. “Fine words! Why don’t you go then? You’re hiding in the clan, standing there talking without your back hurting.”

Zhao Ming was different from Zhao Cheng—would he be provoked into leaving with a flick of his sleeve?

He gazed coldly at Zhao Hu, about to speak, when his father beside him had already exploded with rage, pointing at Zhao Hu and cursing, “How is he hiding in the clan? Do you think he enjoys staying home managing your dog-shit trivial affairs! He’s classified as upper-middle rank scholar-gentry. If not for the clan, he would have entered government service long ago!”

“Every day it’s you causing him trouble. This past year, how many times have clan members and tenant farmers and laborers filed complaints against you? Do you want to provoke him into leaving so you can really turn everything upside down?” Zhao Song was especially furious. “What times are these? The Xiongnu are deployed at Yuzhou’s borders. One by one, people either flee or sit on the fence watching. I’m telling you, you’d better pray Sanniang can hold off the Xiongnu army. Otherwise, from the clan, one by one, you’ll all die for me in Xiping!”

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but support him. “Father!”

“You shut up!” Zhao Song attacked indiscriminately, pointing at him and cursing, “You’re also an unfilial thing. Wanting me to move south—unless you step over my corpse!”

Everyone fell silent, shrinking their heads and not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Hu also quieted down. Zhao Song glared viciously at him and Zhao Ming before turning to leave.

After Zhao Song had gone far, everyone finally gathered around Zhao Ming, all talking at once. “Clan Brother Ming, are we really moving south?”

“Has the situation become this critical?”

“What is the court doing? Didn’t they say reinforcements were sent to rescue Luoyang? Why not drive the Xiongnu army out in one push?”

Zhao Ming let them ask their questions. When they finished, he began answering them one by one.

The southern migration was the clan leader’s proposal. Unless things reached the most desperate circumstances, Zhao Zhongyu would not propose moving the entire clan south. He was the clan leader—he bore responsibility for the whole clan.

Hearing it was Zhao Zhongyu’s proposal, everyone’s hearts sank, realizing the situation had become this critical. Their complaints about their children running off to the front lines without warning disappeared.

At this moment of life and death, it was no time to worry about one person’s survival.

Some fell silent, while others, like Zhao Song, said with tears, “I won’t leave. Even if I die, I’ll die in Xiping!”

“Sanniang is wise, resourceful, and brave. Perhaps she can hold off the Xiongnu.”

“However wise, resourceful, and brave, she’s still only fifteen. That’s the Xiongnu army with cavalry. Even the Prince of Donghai can’t handle them.”

“The Prince of Donghai—hmph! How can you compare them? Didn’t the Great Jin become like this because of people like him?”

“Have the court officials’ heads been soaked in wine? If Yuzhou falls, what good will it do them?”

Zhao Ming let them curse, because he thought the same way. However, as a refined scholar, he didn’t want to speak crudely, but hearing others curse was still satisfying.

At this very moment, even the cultivated Fu Zhi and the Buddha-like Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t help but unleash fragrant curses at the Prince of Donghai in court!

Fu Zhi couldn’t bear to see Yuzhou fall into warfare. He argued hoarsely with the Prince of Donghai, “If Yuzhou falls, the Great Jin will be in danger!”

He couldn’t help but say, “Prince of Donghai, use your brain a little!”

The Prince of Donghai sat steadily in his chair, expressionless, and said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, Secretariat Director Fu is correct. Please order Gou Xi to send troops to aid Yuzhou.”

Yuzhou was Zhao Zhongyu’s homeland. His clan was all within Yuzhou, so naturally he couldn’t sit idle. He asked directly, “Gou Xi should naturally send troops to aid Yuzhou, but his strength alone is insufficient. What about Your Highness? Your Highness still commands two hundred thousand troops. Please send troops to Yuzhou and work together to drive Liu’s Xiongnu out of the Central Plains.”

Officials whose families were also in Yuzhou all stepped forward, bowing and requesting, “Please, Prince of Donghai, send troops to Yuzhou.”

Could the Prince of Donghai be forced by them?

Of course not. He stood up directly and flicked his sleeve to leave. “In the battle to defend Luoyang, I suffered tremendous losses. My soldiers are wounded and dead. They need to rest and recover. How can they fight again?”

He said, “Go find Gou Xi about this matter.”

With that, he left.

Fu Zhi was so angry he nearly fell over backward. He turned to find Wang Yan, only to see him sitting in his seat with eyes closed, meditating. Furious, he grabbed Wang Yan’s sleeve. “Yifu, you’re both Minister of Works and Minister of Personnel. Tell me, how should Yuzhou’s crisis be resolved?”

Wang Yan frowned slightly and pulled his sleeve back. “Since it’s Yuzhou’s crisis, naturally you should ask Yuzhou’s Inspector.”

Fu Zhi: …

The Emperor sitting in the upper seat sighed deeply, knowing that asking Wang Yan was useless. He directly called out to Fu Zhi. “Secretariat Director Fu, Yuzhou is in danger. You shall go to rescue it.”

All the officials’ eyes widened. Fu Zhi also froze momentarily. He did want to go, but he had no men. How could he rescue anyone?

The Emperor had already said directly, “Promote Fu Zhi to Grand General and send troops to rescue Yuzhou.”

As for where the troops would come from, naturally they would be newly recruited. The Emperor had Fu Zhi go to Chang’an, Yongzhou, and other places to recruit soldiers.

Fu Zhi paused before agreeing. Well, this was better than cursing people in court anyway—at least he’d have some power.