Everyone moved behind the screen to see Governor He.

Governor He’s complexion was somewhat pale, with a faint greenish tinge showing through. He looked toward Yu Sheng and asked, “Did you tell Fu Tinghan those things?”

“No,” Yu Sheng said with a bitter expression. “Some of what he said, even I didn’t know.”

For instance, their current grain supplies and military equipment quantities—he hadn’t been in Chen County during this period, so how would he know how much grain and equipment remained?

However, the amount of empty pay the various generals were embezzling was similar to what he knew, but…

He swallowed and said, “He only looked at some military reports, information the scouts had gathered, and some of the army’s account books. He flipped through them extremely quickly—I thought he couldn’t have memorized much, but who knew…”

Xun Xiu expressed doubt, “How could anyone be so capable? Could it be that Zhao Hanzhang had someone investigate in advance and is just putting on a show for us?”

Governor He raised his eyes and glanced at him. He had spent a long time investigating their embezzlement of military pay—how long had Zhao Hanzhang been back in Runan Commandery?

Even if the Zhao family supported her, Governor He didn’t believe she could plant such personnel in his army.

Governor He lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then suddenly relaxed. “Vice General Zhao wants to go up to the city tower to observe the Xiongnu’s great army. If you don’t go now, you won’t catch up with her.”

Xun Xiu and the others were startled and quickly bowed to take their leave, hurrying after Zhao Hanzhang at a trot.

Yu Sheng thought for a moment and stayed behind.

After they left, Governor He looked at Yu Sheng. “These next few days, stay with Fu Tinghan. See if he truly has this ability, or if it’s because of Zhao Hanzhang.”

Yu Sheng acknowledged the order, then asked with concern, “Your Excellency, your health…”

Governor He reached up to touch his chest, his eyes darkening. “My days are numbered. When I die, the army’s morale will surely suffer a great blow. Xun Xiu and the others are all unreliable. You must help Zhao Hanzhang bring them under control. No matter what, we must hold Yuzhou.”

He paused, silent for a long while, then still squeezed his eyes shut fiercely. When he opened them again, they were much colder. “If we cannot hold it, then drive the common people away in advance. Implement a scorched earth policy!”

Yu Sheng was shocked. “Your Excellency, this… this is a poisonous strategy that will bring eternal infamy.”

Yet Governor He’s eyes flashed with a cold light as he said ruthlessly, “If Yuzhou is certain to fall, that thief Liu Yuan shall not get a single grain from my Yuzhou either. Only if we are even more ruthless than they are can we stop their southern advance.”

Yu Sheng felt chilled to his core.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang had already reached the city tower.

On the official road facing the city gate, banners flew high. Zhao Hanzhang’s eyesight was quite good—she could faintly make out the character “Han” on the banners. A detachment of Xiongnu troops was stationed there. Since they weren’t currently attacking the city, they were camped at a distance.

“How many men are there?”

Xun Xiu, who had just run up, was about to look for the scouts when Fu Tinghan already said, “Based on last night’s smoke columns, we estimate around fifty thousand men. However, the scouts have difficulty getting close, so we don’t know their deployment.”

Zhao Hanzhang turned to ask Xun Xiu, “Do you have a topographical map of that area?”

Only then did Xun Xiu find something to say. “Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly and asked, “Who is leading the troops on the opposite side?”

“Liu Yuan’s fourth son, Liu Cong.”

Zhao Hanzhang gave a meaningful “Oh.” “So it’s him.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked deeply at the distant encampment. The people there seemed to have also noticed someone on the city tower watching them, so many soldiers ran out and shouted mockingly in their direction.

Unfortunately, they were too far away to hear what they were saying.

Those barbarians were thoroughly crude. They pulled down their pants right there and urinated in their direction, taking insult to its utmost extreme.

Zhao Hanzhang watched silently. Fu Tinghan’s face darkened. He stepped sideways to block her view and said to her, “Let’s go. You should meet with the three armies’ officers and men.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, looked once more into the distance, then turned to go downstairs.

At such a distance, aside from seeing their movements, what else could one make out?

But she had received this insult. Zhao Hanzhang’s hands itched somewhat, and she decided to return the favor.

She spoke of three armies, but actually only a portion of the soldiers were present. Most were still guarding the various frontline positions, not daring to relax in the slightest, so the soldiers who could form up and let Zhao Hanzhang review them were not many.

Zhao Hanzhang only meant to meet them briefly. Before them, she had no battle achievements—meeting them would only make them less confident.

So after meeting them, Zhao Hanzhang went straight into a meeting with her own people to discuss. “I’ve decided on a night raid.”

Zhao Kuan was startled and quickly said, “Commandery Administrator—no, Commandery Governor, we’ve come from afar and are precisely at our most fatigued. If we launch a night raid now, aren’t we afraid they’ll meet our exhaustion with their freshness?”

“If it were Wang Mi or Shi Le leading the troops, I naturally wouldn’t make this decision. But Liu Cong—we can fight this battle,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If I want to command Yuzhou’s troops, I need to produce battle achievements. If we don’t strike first, we’ll have to wait for them to besiege the city and then counterattack.”

“But fighting a defensive battle won’t have a very good effect on morale. Even if we hold out, our losses won’t be small,” Zhao Hanzhang lowered her voice. “Right now morale is very low. If we lose one battle, it will be very difficult for me to win them over again—there might even be large numbers of deserters.”

Zhao Hanzhang said all this not only for Zhao Kuan to hear, but for everyone else as well.

Zhao Ju immediately nodded and said decisively, “This general is willing to lead troops personally on the night raid.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and said, “I’ll go with Uncle Qianli.”

She looked at Sun Linghui and asked, “Did you obtain the topographical map?”

“Yes.” Sun Linghui immediately took it out and spread it open for everyone to see.

Fu Tinghan walked over and frowned. “Why is this map so crude?”

“We’ll make do with it,” Zhao Hanzhang said. Though the map was indeed very crude, after studying it for a long while, she pointed to one spot. “Uncle Qianli, we’ll divide our forces into two routes. You’ll support me from here—how about it?”

Zhao Ju looked and then agreed. “Good.”

Fu Tinghan asked, “How many troops do you plan to deploy?”

“Two thousand,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “One thousand cavalry—I’ll lead them to raid and kill. Another thousand led by Uncle Qianli will provide support.”

Fu Tinghan pointed to the map. “Then attack from here. I just looked—although half the camp is hidden behind the forest, this spot should be where their forces are weakest.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart stirred. “We need to determine where their grain supplies are located.”

Fu Tinghan looked at her.

“The Xiongnu have come from afar to attack. Their grain supply certainly can’t keep up. If we can burn their grain, once winter arrives, they’ll have no choice but to withdraw.”

Zhao Kuan said, “I’m afraid they’ll plunder from nearby cities and villages.”

Zhao Hanzhang said expressionlessly, “Governor He said they’ve broken through four cities in succession, slaughtering one of them. The grain left for them in those cities probably won’t be much. As for outside…”

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze turned cold as she said icily, “Have the Governor’s Office contact the other cities and the village heads in the countryside. Tell them to implement a scorched earth policy—everyone should leave their current cities, either withdraw into the county seat or head south or west to avoid the Xiongnu army.”