Zhao Hanzhang carried the wine to find Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan hadn’t expected that his lord would bring him back a jar of wine from going out on a date. He was moved beyond words. “Where did Miss go today?”

“Zhenxiu Tower, Dashun Studio, and Youran Residence.”

All food-related?

Ji Yuan frowned slightly but still dutifully reported, “Zhenxiu Tower was opened by Zhao Hu. At the time, he even asked Commandery Governor Zhao to inscribe it. Dashun Studio was opened by people from Lu—the Chen family has a fine wine recipe. Youran Residence belongs to Miss.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and asked, “Is that steward Cao Shu someone from my household?”

Ji Yuan said, “He’s a refugee who came to Shangcai. His family used to run a restaurant. He’s read some books and can do accounts. I saw he was fairly loyal, so I gave Youran Residence to him to manage.”

He continued, “Youran Residence isn’t like Treasure Pavilion. It’s not primarily for profit but mainly to gather intelligence. Youran Residence attracts many traveling scholars and literary men from north and south, and officials and gentry also love to gather there to talk. Much information can be gleaned from their conversations.”

Zhao Hanzhang then asked, “Is there any news from Chang’an?”

Ji Yuan shook his head. “No correspondence has been received from Chang’an.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. She calculated the time—Wu Erlang had been in Chang’an for quite a while. Since there was no news, clearly Beigong Chun was unwilling to come serve her.

She tapped her fingers on the table and finally gritted her teeth to make a firm decision: send another batch of items to Chang’an and have Wu Erlang appear in person to make arrangements and send Beigong Chun back to Xiliang.

Ji Yuan was shocked and hurriedly asked, “Miss, why do this? As long as Beigong Chun is trapped in the capital, Miss still has an opportunity. Once we let him return to Xiliang, I fear he’ll never be of use to Miss again.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “A forced melon isn’t sweet. Chang’an’s situation isn’t good. The Xiliang army has rendered great service to the state, to Yuzhou, and to me. I cannot sit idly by and watch them trapped in Chang’an for my own selfish desires.”

Last time, though Wu Erlang’s letter hadn’t written in detail, it had indicated the Xiliang army’s situation in Chang’an. That valiant Xiliang army couldn’t even afford a full meal now.

Since Beigong Chun was unwilling to come serve her, so be it. Rather than have them worn down in Chang’an and ultimately be forced to submit to Liu Cong, it was better for her to exert some effort to send them away.

“The one currently guarding the passes is a subordinate of the Prince of Nanyang, correct?”

“Yes.”

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Hanzhang said, “Take more money. If the items we bring don’t catch his eye, then use money to open the way. I don’t believe we can’t break through this checkpoint.”

Though Ji Yuan didn’t approve of Zhao Hanzhang expending so much for Beigong Chun, he still acknowledged the order.

Geng Rong volunteered for this mission. He led a team of soldiers escorting three carts of treasures as they departed, heading straight for Chang’an.

At this time, news from Luoyang and Chang’an had just arrived in Chen County. As soon as Ji Yuan got his hands on it, he immediately asked, “Where’s Geng Rong?”

“He left the city yesterday, heading for Chang’an.”

“Oh no! Quickly call him back—no, don’t call him back. I need to send him an additional letter. Where’s Miss? Quickly go invite Miss first!”

Zhao Hanzhang had just returned from military training, covered in sweat. She was about to return to the rear courtyard to bathe when she passed the office building and heard Ji Yuan’s voice. She changed direction and approached, poking her head through the window to ask, “Master, you’re looking for me?”

When Ji Yuan saw her, he was overjoyed. He hurried over with two letters. “Miss, we can get Beigong Chun!”

Zhao Hanzhang was still holding her long spear. She took the letters with one hand and opened them to read. “Is this a letter from General Beigong?”

That of course was impossible. It was news from Luoyang and Chang’an.

The one from Luoyang was an appointment—the court had appointed Palace Attendant Yuan Yu as Inspector of Liangzhou, ordering him to take up his post as soon as possible.

Zhao Hanzhang was stunned. “What happened to Zhang Gui? Why are they selecting another Inspector of Liangzhou?”

“I heard Zhang Gui suffered a stroke and is now disabled.”

Zhao Hanzhang gripped the letter tightly in her hand. “Given Beigong Chun’s character, he’ll probably be even more anxious to return to Xiliang.”

“Yes, but that’s not all.” Ji Yuan said, “The correspondence from Chang’an states that the court initially designated Jia Kan as Inspector of Liangzhou, but for some reason he refused. Only then did they select Yuan Yu. Zhang Gui has already submitted a memorial to resign, wanting to return to Yiyang to retire. Miss, the Jin court is unjust. Beigong Chun must be disheartened. This is the perfect opportunity to recruit him!”

Finally Zhao Hanzhang recalled this matter. After a long while, she shook her head. “Zhang Gui won’t be able to resign. The position of Inspector of Liangzhou will still be his. Alas, forget it. Still have Geng Rong go and work together with Wu Erlang to clear the checkpoints for General Beigong and send them back to Liangzhou. Consider this my repayment to them.”

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but stomp his foot. “Miss! Right now with just a little maneuvering we could invite him over…”

“How would we maneuver? Have Assistant Director Fu and Great-Uncle together force Zhang Gui to leave Xiliang?”

Ji Yuan said, “Zhang Gui truly has suffered a stroke. If he continues to remain in Xiliang, the harm outweighs the benefits…”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “This is merely a temporary illness. Who knows whether he won’t recover?”

She said, “I do want General Beigong. I value his talent and want him to serve me. But I haven’t fallen so far that I’d abandon moral principles for this. Right now if we don’t help, that’s one thing, but how could we kick someone when they’re down?”

Ji Yuan’s heart gradually cooled, and he said with infinite regret, “Such a good opportunity.”

Zhao Hanzhang handed the letters back to him with a smile. “Perhaps our affinity hasn’t arrived yet. General Beigong returning to Xiliang is also good—he can stand guard against the Xianbei for the Central Plains.”

Ji Yuan sighed and acknowledged the order.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to leave, unaware that at this moment in Chang’an, the struggle over Liangzhou had only just begun.

When Beigong Chun received the gifts Zhao Hanzhang sent at New Year’s, he had immediately conceived the thought of serving her. After the new year, he began selling the glass she had sent, exchanging it for some money. He used most of it to buy grain, while a small portion he dispatched people to use in attempting to buy off the general guarding the passes.

He wasn’t someone who didn’t know how to adapt. Previously he hadn’t used this method because he had no money. Now that he had a little money, he wanted to try whether he could bribe the general to let them leave the city.

But the other party refused. Beigong Chun felt the other party was very upright, and this path probably wouldn’t work.

Huang An thought it was because they’d offered too little money, but this truly was all their savings, so he didn’t dare speak up.

After this last effort also ended in failure, only then did Beigong Chun give up hope and prepare to lead his men to serve Zhao Hanzhang. But just at this time, great changes occurred in Liangzhou.

Worried about his old lord’s circumstances, Beigong Chun stayed behind again.

Beigong Chun knew that the one who had consistently blocked him from returning to Xiliang was Inspector of Qinzhou, Jia Kan. He didn’t get along with Zhang Gui and had always wanted to replace him. This time when news of Zhang Gui’s worsening illness spread, he immediately began maneuvering to become Inspector of Liangzhou himself.

Huang An lowered his head to report the intelligence he’d gathered. “Jia Kan was about to receive the imperial decree, but his elder brother Jia Yin rushed to Qinzhou to stop him, saying he wasn’t worthy of being Inspector of Liangzhou. So Jia Kan didn’t receive the decree and declined the position of Inspector of Liangzhou.”

A subordinate general listening nearby said angrily, “Does this person have brain problems? He did so much just to become Inspector of Liangzhou, but now he doesn’t want it. Then why doesn’t he open the checkpoints and let us return to Liangzhou?”

Beigong Chun’s brows were tightly furrowed as he asked, “And then?”

“Then the court selected Palace Attendant Yuan Yu and ordered him to take up the post at an appropriate time.”

Beigong Chun pressed his lips together and asked, “With our lord gravely ill, how did Chang’an and Luoyang learn of it?”

—