Avoiding others, Inspector He met Zhao Hanzhang alone. He opened his inner robe to show her the old wound on his chest.

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth fell open.

Inspector He grasped her hand and cried, “Sanniang, of all the commanderies and counties, only you came to help. Don’t you know that facing the Xiongnu army means more danger than safety? Ultimately, it’s your kind heart that won’t abandon Yuzhou to fall into Xiongnu hands.”

Inspector He’s tears flowed freely. “Outside Chen County there are four more counties, all conquered by the Xiongnu. They slaughtered one city, and three more cities remain where barely one in ten of the people survived. I dare not relax for a moment. If the Xiongnu army breaks through my defenses into Yuzhou, I truly cannot atone even with ten thousand deaths. I’d be recorded in the history books for people to revile through the ages.”

“Now you see—my life is nearly over. Today I’m entrusting Yuzhou to you. Please defend Yuzhou—you must defend Yuzhou.”

Zhao Hanzhang opened her mouth, agreeing with difficulty, “Hanzhang will do her utmost.”

Inspector He released a breath, tears in his eyes, with relief.

The two emerged together. Before everyone, Inspector He announced, “Zhao Hanzhang is exceptionally talented and of noble character. I’m promoting her to Runan Commandery Governor and appointing her as Deputy Commander of Yuzhou forces and vanguard. From this moment, aside from my orders, the three armies shall all obey Zhao Hanzhang.”

All the soldiers and Inspector’s Office officials were shocked, turning to look at the young woman beside Inspector He.

Zhao Hanzhang still wore full armor with a long sword at her waist. Her gaze was calm as she met the eyes looking at her—not startled, not panicked, neither humble nor arrogant, without anxiety or joy.

Everyone paused before raising their hands in salute, responding in unison, “Yes!”

Both Zhao Ju and Sun Linghui grew excited, especially Sun Linghui. Her fists clenched as she gazed at Zhao Hanzhang with shining eyes.

Inspector He was straightforward. After announcing Zhao Hanzhang’s promotion, he had her act on his behalf with the military.

Zhao Hanzhang agreed but didn’t immediately meet with the Inspector’s Office officials and Yuzhou soldiers. Instead, she had Zhao Ju bring in their people. Sun Linghui followed him—she needed to arrange their ten thousand troops properly.

Fu Tinghan found a seat below her and asked, “What’s wrong with Inspector He?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “He’s dying.”

Her voice was flat but carried regret she herself hadn’t detected. “The wound on his chest isn’t just an old injury—he must have been wounded there again. It’s festered. He’s at the end of his strength and won’t live much longer.”

Fu Tinghan fell silent. After a moment he said, “This makes our situation even less favorable.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “External enemies surround us, and we’re suddenly changing commanders. Though I’m confident in myself, I know that with my age and experience, it’s hard to convince Yuzhou’s soldiers and officials. To truly lead them, we need a victory.”

Fu Tinghan’s brow furrowed tightly. After a moment he stood. “I’ll go look at the intelligence the scouts have gathered.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, summoning Yu Sheng and saying, “Please, Master Yu, escort Lord Fu to view the military reports.”

Yu Sheng was Inspector He’s trusted aide and held considerable influence in the Inspector’s Office. With him leading the way, no one would dare stop Fu Tinghan.

Yu Sheng thought of Inspector He’s instructions and his current physical state. He respectfully agreed and gestured for Fu Tinghan to go first.

Fu Tinghan nodded to Zhao Hanzhang and turned to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang remained calm for a long while before finally pulling at her mouth corners, forcing out a smile. Lifting her chin slightly with confidence, she walked outside.

Zhao Ju brought in her people. She formally received the Inspector’s Office officials and soldiers.

After both sides met, the Inspector Office’s commanders and officials looked down somewhat on Zhao Hanzhang’s team.

Among them, probably only Zhao Ju commanded some respect. As for the rest—whether Zhao Kuan and the others, or Fu Tinghan standing beside her, they all looked too young. Not to mention Sun Linghui.

Not only young, but female!

There weren’t many military reports at the Inspector’s Office. Fu Tinghan looked through them once and memorized everything. He also reviewed various intelligence reports the Yuzhou scouts had gathered. After both sides exchanged names and met, he began reporting on the situations of both sides.

“Liu Yuan’s army claims to number two hundred thousand, but based on these recent engagements and intelligence from various locations, they likely have only around one hundred twenty thousand. The rest are either logistics personnel who don’t fight, or ordinary civilians who’ve been pressed into service.” Fu Tinghan continued, “Our side has even fewer combat-ready troops.”

Fu Tinghan raised his head to sweep his gaze across the Inspector’s Office commanders. “The claim is eighty thousand, but actual combat personnel number less than fifty thousand. This is entirely due to inflated numbers.”

The commanders were displeased. Xun Xiu shouted on behalf of his comrades, “Lord Fu, watch your words! Are you saying we’re embezzling funds?”

Fu Tinghan showed no emotion. “Does the court even have embezzled funds for you? If you’re embezzling anything, it’s Inspector He’s funds. But these numbers are calculated from the provisions Inspector He supplied you, meaning he knows about your ’embezzlement.’ Since the one supporting you knows, it hardly counts as embezzlement.”

Xun Xiu: …

Inspector He hiding behind the screen eavesdropping: …

Zhao Hanzhang lifted her eyelids to glance at them, gesturing to Fu Tinghan. “Continue.”

Next, Fu Tinghan began reporting other situations by memory—the current state of Yuzhou’s granaries and military supplies, the approximate troop numbers under each commander, the horse situation…

He even included weather forecasts for the coming days.

The commanders gaped in shock, turning to look at Yu Sheng.

They suspected Yu Sheng had coached Fu Tinghan.

But Yu Sheng was also astonished, unable to recover for some time.

Everyone was deeply shaken, momentarily unable to think how to question Zhao Hanzhang’s abilities.

The remaining half-day passed with Fu Tinghan’s report.

Hearing Fu Tinghan say that the Xiongnu army was currently divided into four parts surrounding Yuzhou, with their central force besieging Chen County itself, Zhao Hanzhang immediately stood with interest, wanting to go up to the city walls to see.

Everyone naturally followed, but before leaving, Xun Xiu and the others pulled Yu Sheng aside. Several key commanders and officials fell to the rear.

Xun Xiu asked unhappily, “You didn’t tell us such important matters, yet you told Fu Tinghan. When did you pledge loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang?”

Yu Sheng: “…I only just learned such important information myself. General Xun, you never told me you actually only have eight thousand men. Didn’t you claim fifteen thousand?”

Xun Xiu’s gaze wandered before he grew righteous again. “I’m not the only one inflating numbers. This isn’t the main issue. If you didn’t tell them, how did they know? Though what he said isn’t quite right—actually I do have nine thousand men…”

Xun Xiu’s voice lowered, becoming less confident. “Master Yu, the Inspector is too biased. Though Zhao Hanzhang came to help, she only brought ten thousand troops. How are we inferior to her? Besides, we’ve followed the Inspector for so many years.”

Inspector He hiding behind the screen coughed heavily. Everyone who had been pestering Yu Sheng froze.