Proud as Xun Xiu was, when Zhao Hanzhang approached with the wine jar, he couldn’t help but stand up holding his bowl.
Zhao Hanzhang poured him a bowl of wine, saying with a smile, “I heard that when General Xun retook Xuchang, he led only eight hundred warriors and charged into the city. You achieved first merit in recapturing Xuchang!”
Xun Xiu became quite pleased with himself, but facing Zhao Hanzhang, he still showed some modesty. “This was also thanks to General Zhao drawing away the Xiongnu troops stationed in Xuchang. The defending officer was one of Qiao Xi’s subordinates. With Qiao Xi dead, they were demoralized. Plus they sent out large forces to chase General Zhao, so I simply took advantage from behind.”
Mi Ce pushed forward with a smile. “Speaking of which, which of us didn’t benefit from General Zhao’s efforts? Half of Yuzhou’s Xiongnu forces were drawn away by General Zhao and General Beigong.”
Mentioning this, the warriors remembered to ask, “General, where is General Beigong?”
Zhao Hanzhang said regretfully, “General Beigong was homesick and has returned to Xiliang.”
Xun Xiu probed, “In this Yuzhou campaign, General Beigong gets first merit, right?”
All the warriors pricked up their ears. Although they were now essentially independent of court control, if they could accumulate military merit and receive court appointments, they would still be very pleased.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded. “That’s right. General Gou and General Beigong deserve first merit. Without the two of them, Yuzhou’s predicament wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.”
She clinked her bowl against theirs. “Let us honor General Beigong and General Gou from afar.”
Zhao Hanzhang drained her cup in one gulp.
The warriors were genuinely convinced of Gou Xi and Beigong Chun’s achievements. Seeing that Zhao Hanzhang had set the tone, they also raised their bowls. “Let us honor General Beigong and General Gou from afar.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at them. “But all you generals also deserve considerable credit. I’m keeping track of it all. Once this matter is settled, I’ll petition the court to request appointments for you generals.”
Everyone’s eyes brightened, and they happily agreed one by one.
Governor Zhang had been left behind. Seeing them all acting as if Zhao Hanzhang were already the Governor, he couldn’t help feeling frustrated. He drained the wine in his bowl in one gulp and turned to leave.
He had already secretly sent someone that afternoon to contact the Prince of Donghai. There was still no news.
Zhao Hanzhang glanced over and saw him turning away. She immediately picked up the wine jar and moved forward to block him. “Governor Zhang, the warriors are celebrating together—why are you upset? Come, come, let me pour you three bowls of wine.”
She said cheerfully, “I only learned today that wine truly is a wonderful thing—it makes joy even more joyful and dispels gloom. It’s truly an excellent thing.”
Hearing her say this, the warriors laughed heartily. “The General has grasped wine’s true essence!”
Zhao Ming, sitting and drinking, curled the corners of his mouth and turned to Ji Yuan. “In this one respect, she does take after me.”
Ji Yuan didn’t want his Lady to become an alcoholic, but drinking could indeed help build relationships with the warriors. So he remained tactfully silent.
Fu Tinghan wasn’t drinking alcohol—he just sat quietly to the side drinking water.
After Zhao Hanzhang made a round of drinking, she returned still quite spirited. She urged everyone to eat, “Wine is delicious, but drinking too much harms the body. You should eat more meat! Come, everyone eat meat!”
Everyone happily began eating meat.
Governor Zhang, who had been pulled back, found himself unable to leave for the moment and grew even more depressed.
Zhao Hanzhang genuinely wanted to speak with Governor Zhang, so she firmly held onto him and even poured him three bowls of wine consecutively, thanking him for his magnanimity and tolerance. She sighed, “That Governor Zhang was willing to set aside grievances and first join me in expelling the Xiongnu shows that the Governor’s heart still holds the common people. Just for this alone, I should honor you, Governor.”
Having said this, she poured herself and Governor Zhang another bowl of wine.
Whether Governor Zhang was moved or not was unclear, but the generals surrounding them were moved. Xun Xiu sighed, “That General Zhao can think this way shows an even broader mind.”
Governor Zhang’s mood, which had just improved slightly, immediately soured again.
Zhao Hanzhang found this awkward. She had genuinely meant to praise Governor Zhang. After all, she was about to dismiss him. Sigh, the man had worked in Ruyin Jun for quite a few years. For her to dismiss him as soon as she took office was somewhat embarrassing.
So she thought to praise him first, then discuss the dismissal later—the atmosphere might be more harmonious. Who knew it would backfire again.
Zhao Hanzhang had a headache. She really had no experience with this sort of thing. Previously she’d only read about it in books—she’d actually been a teacher and librarian. No matter how rich her theoretical knowledge, she’d never actually practiced it.
Speaking of which, when she dismissed him later, there wouldn’t be any bloodshed, would there?
Governor Zhang really seemed to dislike her intensely.
While she was troubled, a soldier carefully avoided the crowd to reach Ji Yuan’s side and handed him a letter.
Ji Yuan opened it to read. His usually gentle expression instantly turned cold and stern.
Fu Tinghan, sitting nearby, couldn’t help turning to look. “What’s wrong?”
Ji Yuan handed him the letter.
Fu Tinghan took it and scanned through it quickly. His expression also turned somewhat grim.
Glancing at Zhao Hanzhang, who was still struggling with her dilemma about explaining things to Governor Zhang, he directly stood up and walked over.
Ji Yuan was startled and quickly said, “Young Master, this matter can be handled later. Tonight is…”
But Fu Tinghan had already reached Zhao Hanzhang’s side. He pulled her hand and drew her aside. “No need to struggle anymore.”
“Hm?”
Fu Tinghan handed her the letter. “Someone has made the decision for you.”
Zhao Hanzhang was already slightly drunk. Hearing this, she took the letter with a laugh and read it. She burst out laughing with a snort, so amused that tears nearly came to her eyes.
She thrust the wine jar into Fu Tinghan’s arms, stepped forward, and clapped Governor Zhang on the shoulder with one hand, saying cheerfully, “Governor Zhang, you still want to be Yuzhou’s Governor?”
Governor Zhang’s heart leaped. His gaze fell on the letter in her hand, though his face remained impassive. “The position of Governor is currently vacant. Anyone with both virtue and talent can take it…”
“But do you have virtue and talent?” Zhao Hanzhang looked at him with a smile. “First, you lack the people’s strong recommendation. Second, you have no ability to quell disorder. Third—well, everyone in Yuzhou knows that I paid an enormous price to invite Gou Xi out. He helped our Yuzhou expel the Xiongnu. Even if we Yuzhou people can’t repay peach for plum, we surely wouldn’t kick him when he’s down at this time, right?”
Zhao Hanzhang waved the letter in her hand with one hand, asking Governor Zhang with a grin, “Governor Zhang, which of the two qualities—virtue or talent—do you possess?”
Though she was smiling, the soldiers surrounding her all sensed her anger. Meeting her cold gaze, Governor Zhang felt a chill run down his spine and tried to shake off Zhao Hanzhang and leave.
But Zhao Hanzhang pressed down on his shoulder, preventing him from moving. “Don’t move.”
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her voice, saying softly, “I’m angry right now and can’t guarantee my hand will be controlled. Governor Zhang, do you still want to keep this arm?”
Governor Zhang felt the pain and immediately didn’t dare move.
Xun Xiu and the others had also heard. They looked at each other in bewilderment. Then they pushed at each other—you push me, I push you. Finally, Zhao Kuan, who had become familiar with them and also achieved considerable merit this time, was pushed to the front.