Qiao Xi was one of Liu Yuan’s great generals. His death resolved most of Guan City’s crisis. Zhao Hanzhang assisted Beigong Chun in quickly consolidating the nearby villages and towns, driving back the Xiongnu troops gathered around them, and occupying several key transportation routes.
It was also through these battles that Zhao Hanzhang’s newly recruited Jie Hu quickly became familiar with the Zhao Family Army. Although they weren’t very close yet, the mutual hostility had lessened considerably.
Indeed, the battlefield was the fastest place for people to become familiar with each other.
Even Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun grew closer, which led Beigong Chun to frequently cast his gaze toward Fu Tinghan. He also wanted such an advisor or deputy.
Who could refuse a deputy with extensive knowledge who had mastered all terrain and troop data?
After looking at Fu Tinghan, when he looked at Huang An again, he felt very dissatisfied.
Huang An seemed to sense this and had been hovering around Beigong Chun recently, reminding him whenever possible, “General, do you think we can return to Xiliang after this battle?”
So please stop coveting Fu Tinghan.
Could Fu Tinghan possibly return to Xiliang with you?
Beigong Chun felt disappointed but kept his face expressionless as he told Huang An, “We’ll definitely return. The soldiers are homesick. Once Yuzhou’s crisis is resolved, we’ll return to Xiliang immediately.”
This time, he decided not to notify the court first. He’d tell them after returning home.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know about Beigong Chun’s plans. She was currently watching Fu Tinghan draw maps, or rather, watching him create maps.
These past few days they had taken several key transportation points, and Fu Tinghan had gone to survey them. He was drawing simple maps—all of Yuzhou’s territory that they might use in the future.
When Inspector He passed away, he left word that Zhao Hanzhang was to be the next Inspector. Although whether she could firmly hold this position remained to be seen, she had already automatically placed herself in the role of Yuzhou’s master.
So now watching Fu Tinghan draw, she felt as if he were drawing her own home. “Guan City is in an excellent position, but this location is also critical. The city walls could be extended outward to here.”
Fu Tinghan glanced at it and said, “That’s an enormous project. Do you have that many people and that much money?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s finger tapped that spot thoughtfully. “Then we’ll station troops here and make this entire area military farmland.”
That was feasible. Fu Tinghan nodded.
The two were discussing the future construction and development direction of this area when Beigong Chun came looking for them. “I’ve received word that Liu Yuan’s armies from several directions are all sending troops toward Guan City.”
He looked at Zhao Hanzhang with a slight frown. “Did you lure them here?”
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan exchanged glances. She straightened up and smiled. “Isn’t this perfect? We can form an encirclement with General Gou and Chen County, attacking from inside and out.”
Beigong Chun reminded her, “If Gou Xi doesn’t deploy troops, relying only on us and Chen County won’t win this battle. By then, Yuzhou might be the one destroyed. This is a vicious plan—who proposed it?”
“I did.” Zhao Hanzhang’s expression became more serious as she said formally, “General Gou is an upright man. Since he promised me, he won’t go back on his word. I trust him!”
Beigong Chun stared at Zhao Hanzhang for a long moment, his face showing little expression, then nodded and turned to leave.
Fu Tinghan watched his retreating figure disappear, then looked at Zhao Hanzhang. “What’s this about? Do Beigong Chun and Gou Xi have a conflict?”
“Beigong Chun came to support Luoyang and had to follow Wang Yan’s orders. As everyone knows, Wang Yan is the Prince of Donghai’s man. Moreover, Beigong Chun is brave but also a Xiliang native. Gou Xi must be very wary of him.” Zhao Hanzhang narrowed her eyes. “If you hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have thought of it. Logically, Guan City isn’t very far from where Gou Xi’s main force is stationed. As fellow Jin troops, Beigong Chun must have sought aid from Gou Xi, but from the looks of it…”
Gou Xi hadn’t provided support to Beigong Chun. No wonder he felt bad about it. It wasn’t surprising that Beigong Chun didn’t trust Gou Xi.
Seeing Beigong Chun angry, Huang An immediately followed closely and complained to him, “General, I told you to be careful of them. These court ministers are all full of schemes. She’s definitely in cahoots with Gou Xi.”
Beigong Chun, hearing this, couldn’t help but turn and slap the back of his head, saying in frustration, “Can’t you grow a brain along with that height of yours? When you’re not practicing martial arts or training troops, read some books too.”
Huang An covered his head aggrievedly, looking at Beigong Chun without understanding.
Beigong Chun said, “I called this a vicious plan—who do you think suffers from it? It’s Zhao Hanzhang!”
He continued, “She’s the bait. It seems Zhao Hanzhang’s recent raids on Xiongnu territory around here have angered Liu Yuan. A few days ago we killed Qiao Xi, but she hasn’t left. Hasn’t this lured the Xiongnu army here?”
“She wants to reduce the pressure on Chen County while coordinating an inside-outside pincer attack with Gou Xi. This plan is excellent, but the prerequisite is that Gou Xi deploys troops on time and in full force. Otherwise,” Beigong Chun sneered, “once Gou Xi breaks his promise, with Chen County far in the rear unable to provide timely support, we and Zhao Hanzhang together will all be swallowed by the Xiongnu army. Whether we can break through and escape will be uncertain.”
Huang An was shocked and asked, “Then what do we do? Isn’t she harming us?”
Beigong Chun thought for a moment and said unconcernedly, “Even if she hadn’t come to save us, we couldn’t have held out much longer anyway. Forget it, let’s just watch. We’ll die sooner or later either way. Now it depends on Gou Xi.”
When Gou Xi received news that the Xiongnu were gathering forces toward Guan City, he lowered his eyes in brief contemplation before having his men muster troops, preparing to deploy as well.
Yan Heng, Ming Yu, and other advisors had no objections and immediately accepted the orders and left. But someone quietly reminded Gou Xi, “General, there’s still Beigong Chun at Guan City.”
Gou Xi frowned. Though he disliked Beigong Chun, thinking of the conditions Zhao Hanzhang had promised him, he said, “Go muster the troops. Chen County is now under Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan’s control. If Zhao Hanzhang doesn’t escape safely, the Zhao clan won’t honor what she promised me.”
However, Zhao Hanzhang’s ability to draw fire still impressed Gou Xi. He hadn’t expected her to be so hated that Liu Yuan would actually dispatch this many men from his various armies to capture her.
This meant Chen County’s pressure suddenly decreased, while he—the one forming a pincer attack with Zhao Hanzhang from the center—would face more enemy troops.
However, the greatest pressure should still be on Zhao Hanzhang.
Gou Xi pondered. Her courage was truly impressive, daring to provoke so many enemy forces.
Liu Yuan didn’t know that during the time Zhao Hanzhang had disappeared in the middle, she had reached a cooperation agreement with Gou Xi. She basically fought in one city then disappeared, moving to the next city.
The Xiongnu had grown accustomed to this, so Liu Yuan naturally wouldn’t suspect anything.
When she appeared at Guan City, killed his great general Qiao Xi, and consolidated several strongholds around Guan City, Liu Yuan understood Zhao Hanzhang’s objective. He said, “She wants to save Beigong Chun, to save Guan City!”
Liu Yuan sneered coldly. “How arrogant of her, thinking she can relieve Guan City’s siege in our Han State’s occupied rear with just two thousand men. Hmph, let’s show her the might of our Xiongnu.”
To prevent Zhao Hanzhang from disappearing without a trace again, Liu Yuan transferred troops from his Xiongnu forces in various directions. To ensure compliance with his orders, he used rather severe language. In any case, this time they must capture Zhao Hanzhang. If they couldn’t take her alive, then kill her.