Zhao Hanzhang stared at them for a while before speaking coolly, “Rise.”

Everyone then straightened up.

After brief consideration, Zhao Hanzhang called out, “Zhao Kuan.”

Zhao Kuan immediately stepped forward. “Your subordinate is here.”

“Zhao Ju.”

Zhao Ju immediately stepped out of formation, bowing in salute. “This general is here.”

“I order you two to go rally the Ruyin Jun forces. Staff Officers Qiao and Cai will assist you.” Zhao Hanzhang looked toward the two staff officers and asked, “The Xiongnu just left. I don’t want internal conflict. Can you two help Zhao Kuan and Zhao Ju subdue the Ruyin Jun forces?”

Ruyin Jun only had thirty thousand troops here, while the Yuzhou army numbered over a hundred thousand, with the Zhao Family Army alone accounting for nearly half. How could they dare refuse?

Staff Officers Qiao and Cai lowered their heads in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang then had the four of them leave with their personal guards.

Ji Yuan waved his hand, and immediately attendants came forward to carry Governor Zhang away.

Zhao Hanzhang turned her wine bowl, a smile returning to her face. “Everyone, let’s continue drinking.”

The warriors immediately smiled—forced smiles—and drank with Zhao Hanzhang. But their hearts were unsettled, their mood no longer as relaxed as before.

Fu Tinghan was also unhappy. Anyone having to kill someone on such a day would be unhappy—except for killing maniacs.

But this was after all a special place and special time. After two bowls of wine, the atmosphere became lively again. Everyone relaxed and began picking up wine jars to toast each other around the gathering.

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew the smile from her face and turned to leave.

Fu Tinghan, Ji Yuan, and the others quickly followed.

They didn’t go far—just stood in the shadows to talk, surrounded by Zhao Family Army personal guards.

“Lu Xiyuan still hasn’t been found?”

Ji Yuan said, “He’s not in his tent. The guards asked around and said that before dark, someone saw him and his attendant heading toward the camp gates.”

Zhao Hanzhang rubbed her forehead. She’d drunk a bit too much wine, and now she had a bit of a headache. She asked, “Is Governor Zhang dead?”

Ji Yuan said, “…Dead. Right through the heart—your swordsmanship is superb, my Lady.”

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t particularly pleased. She said, “Have him properly prepared for burial and sent back to Ruyin Jun to be given to his family.”

Ji Yuan acknowledged.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang look toward Fu Tinghan. “The camp’s defenses…”

“I put Qiu Wu in charge. Many people were drinking tonight, so his unit is on patrol and didn’t participate in the banquet.”

Zhao Hanzhang finally felt relieved. “That’s good. Once drinking starts in the military, it’s easy for camp disturbances to occur. Everyone work a bit harder tonight.”

Even Zhao Ming agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang saw it was getting late and went out to end the banquet, having each general’s personal guards escort them back to their tents.

Apart from the truly foolish ones, most people weren’t drunk. As soon as they returned to their tents, they became clearheaded. Xun Xiu even poked his head out through the tent flap, confirming that the surrounding area was filled with his own people before pulling his head back in and exhaling. “Tonight really scared your grandfather to death.”

His personal guard had also been frightened—his face was still somewhat pale. After all, that sword had been so close to their general, and it was thrust out without warning.

“General, should we still stay? Should we run?”

Xun Xiu struck his guard on the head. “Are you stupid? Running now—do you want to become the second Governor Zhang?”

He swallowed and said, “Just stay put obediently. Before, I thought that being a woman, she would be more gentle and kind. But seeing today, she’s still ruthless and decisive. Sure enough, anyone who can become Governor is no good person.”

“Are you saying Governor He was also…”

Governor He had shown Xun Xiu the grace of recognition. He certainly couldn’t speak ill of Governor He. So he glared at his guard angrily. “When did I ever say such a thing? Get out, get out, go fetch water. You have no perception at all…”

No wonder he couldn’t become Governor—it was all because his subordinates couldn’t keep up. Look at Zhao Hanzhang’s people—Zhao Kuan need not be mentioned, but even that Sun Linghui was more clever than his guard.

That night, many people in the Yuzhou military camp couldn’t sleep. Several people died in the Ruyin Jun camp, but overall it could be considered a smooth transition.

From today forward, there was no more Governor Zhang in Ruyin Jun—only Governor Zhao. They would take orders directly from Governor Zhao.

Lu Xiyuan was captured in the latter half of the night. He had run too hastily and was somewhat disheveled. His attendant had fought and struggled with the Zhao Family Army, so there was blood on him. But even bound up, he still glared at them fiercely, looking as if he wanted to bite them to death.

Zhao Hanzhang had been waiting for news, so even while sleeping, she hadn’t slept deeply. As soon as someone was captured, she woke up.

She immediately had them bring—oh no, invite him in.

Lu Xiyuan and his attendant were invited to kneel on the floor. Zhao Hanzhang sat cross-legged on a mat. Since she’d just woken up, Ting He thoughtfully brought her a bowl of sour sobering soup.

She drank it with a grimace, then casually set down the bowl and leaned forward to look at Lu Xiyuan. “Why did you run?”

Lu Xiyuan said nothing. After a long while, he finally asked sourly, “General Zhao, where is my Governor?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Dead.”

She said it calmly. Lu Xiyuan felt a pain in his heart. After all, this was someone he had known and followed for many years. Tears streamed down his face as he said to Zhao Hanzhang, “The General may kill or execute me as she pleases.”

“Won’t you fight for yourself?”

Lu Xiyuan said, “I am Governor Zhang’s trusted advisor and confidant. How could the General tolerate me? If you would tolerate me, you would have let me run. Why bother going to such lengths to send people to capture me?”

“I was curious,” Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help slapping her leg. “I’m just curious—why did you run? You ran when the sky had just darkened. At that time, Governor Zhang was still alive, and the Prince of Donghai’s letter hadn’t been delivered yet.”

Having reached this point, Lu Xiyuan had nothing to hide. He said directly, “Governor Zhang wrote to the Prince of Donghai recommending himself as Yuzhou Governor.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, indicating he should continue.

Lu Xiyuan said, “But the position of Governor already belongs to General Zhao. General Zhao is exceptionally capable and has the Zhao Family Army at hand—how could you easily yield it?”

He continued, “I believed the Governor’s plan would fail, so I advised him to give it up. But he wouldn’t listen to me, so I could only leave.”

Indeed, Governor Zhang was now dead.

However, even Lu Xiyuan hadn’t expected him to die so quickly. He thought he could at least last two days. That way, he would have run far enough.

He understood Governor Zhang. If he ran, Governor Zhang wouldn’t send people to catch him. Even if Zhao Hanzhang wanted to catch him, that would be two days later. By then, he would have long since disappeared without a trace.

But unexpectedly—unexpectedly—Governor Zhang couldn’t even last one night.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected it either. “Do you know whose hands the Prince of Donghai’s reply fell into?”

Lu Xiyuan’s eyes widened.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “That’s right—it’s in my hands. But Governor Zhang could send his letter to the Prince of Donghai on the opposite shore without anyone knowing. Why couldn’t the Prince of Donghai’s reply reach Governor Zhang’s hands in the same way? Instead, someone specifically delivered it to me.”

Lu Xiyuan’s eyes bulged as he immediately concluded, “The Prince of Donghai is using a borrowed knife to kill!”

Zhao Hanzhang sneered coldly. “He wanted me and Governor Zhang to erupt into chaos tonight. Unfortunately, this time I can’t let him have his way.”