There weren’t twenty thousand anymore—not even ten thousand.

After Minister Fu brought back the twenty thousand troops, Prince Donghai had consistently withheld military provisions for this contingent. Combined with various threats and temptations, many had deserted.

Minister Fu did want to train and organize the troops, but the national treasury was completely controlled by Prince Donghai, and these twenty thousand couldn’t get a single coin from him.

So these twenty thousand troops could only be supported by them.

For this, Fu Zhi had sold off quite a bit of family property, and the Emperor also practiced frugality to support them. But twenty thousand people—were they so easy to support?

Neither of them was skilled at business management. In less than half a year, many of these twenty thousand had fled. Combined with Prince Donghai occasionally creating small conflicts with them, the losses grew even greater.

By now, they only had fewer than ten thousand remaining.

And this time when Prince Donghai left, he cleaned out the treasury completely before going.

The Emperor looked at the empty treasury and felt his vision swimming.

Few people were willing to stay and accompany the Emperor, but quite a few still remained. These were people Prince Donghai had left behind to watch over the Emperor.

Although he had taken all his troops away, he hadn’t taken all his subordinates. Everyone could clearly see what he was planning.

Minister Fu’s hair had already turned white. He walked to the Emperor’s side and bowed. “Your Majesty, let us relocate the capital. Luoyang is experiencing famine. If we continue staying, not to mention our eight thousand soldiers, even Your Majesty’s household will struggle to maintain food and drink.”

“Impossible! If His Majesty abandons Luoyang now, won’t he lose the people’s hearts?”

“You shut up!” Minister Fu finally couldn’t contain his fury and pointed at their noses to berate them. “You want to trap the Emperor to death in Luoyang so you can fulfill Prince Donghai’s ambition to become emperor, don’t you?”

“You mustn’t speak nonsense! Prince Donghai has never harbored such rebellious intentions. Rather, it’s Gou Xi who has the ambition of a wolf.”

“And your granddaughter-in-law Zhao Hanzhang, who occupies Yuzhou alone and appoints and dismisses officials within Yuzhou without court approval—Minister Fu, dare you say this isn’t done with your guidance?”

Minister Fu was furious beyond measure. He turned back to the Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, we cannot hesitate any longer. We don’t have much provisions left. If we don’t leave now, I fear we truly won’t be able to.”

“Moreover, when Prince Donghai departed this time, he took nearly three hundred thousand people. Once Liu Yuan discovers this, he will certainly send troops. Then Luoyang will have no barrier, no defending army—certain death awaits.”

The Emperor’s whole body went cold. Only now did he remember this matter and quickly said, “Quickly, quickly pack our things. We depart immediately for the capital relocation.”

Although he said “immediately,” it wasn’t actually that fast. They had to bring imperial consorts and palace attendants, and also had to bring the families of officials who had been left behind. Packing alone required two or three days.

Not to mention that many people were unwilling to relocate the capital, creating all sorts of obstructions. By the time they finally finished packing and could leave the city, five days had already passed.

By this time, news of Prince Donghai’s departure with his people had finally spread throughout the realm. Not only did Liu Yuan in Pingyang learn of it, but Zhao Hanzhang in Chen County also found out.

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang heard the news, her whole body went cold as she exclaimed, “This is bad! Liu Yuan will certainly send troops!”

Ji Yuan: “Does Young Lady want to rescue His Majesty?”

“No, not the Emperor—Prince Donghai.”

Ji Yuan thought he had misheard and dug at his ears. “You want to rescue Prince Donghai?”

“I’m going to rescue the three hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who left with Prince Donghai,” Zhao Hanzhang turned to give orders. “Summon all the generals and officials.”

Fan Ying acknowledged and turned to leave.

Ji Yuan frowned deeply. “He has over two hundred thousand people. Even if Liu Yuan sends a large army, they won’t be able to handle him easily for a while. Isn’t it the Emperor who’s in the most danger now?”

“He’s trapped alone in Luoyang. Once the Xiongnu send a large army, Luoyang will have no power to resist.”

Zhao Hanzhang naturally knew that the Emperor was in danger, but Prince Donghai was in danger too. Historically, all the two hundred thousand-plus soldiers and civilians who followed Prince Donghai had been massacred. Only after that did Luoyang fall.

When all the generals and officials arrived and heard that Zhao Hanzhang wanted to send troops to rescue Prince Donghai, they were momentarily dumbfounded. “Governor, we’re not on good terms with Prince Donghai. Do we really need to rescue him?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a solemn expression. “Naturally. He’s taking away most of Dajin’s officials and wealth, plus two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. We’re not rescuing him—we’re rescuing the court.”

With a completely upright expression, she said, “Mobilize troops. We’ll first rescue Prince Donghai and his party, then circle around to Luoyang.”

The generals expressed opposition. “Governor, Prince Donghai has over two hundred thousand people. Liu Yuan may not necessarily send troops against him. Even if he does, with so many troops in hand, he shouldn’t fear them. Why not go to Luoyang to rescue the Emperor first?”

They felt the Emperor was in more danger. Moreover, “If the Governor can bring His Majesty to Yuzhou, then in the future won’t the entire realm follow the Governor’s commands?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at them, thinking: And then fall into endless internal strife just like the Jin house?

Of course, she couldn’t say this. Instead, she declared righteously, “We are His Majesty’s subjects and naturally only follow His Majesty’s orders. Don’t speak such nonsense.”

Seeing everyone oppose rescuing Prince Donghai, she could only reveal a bit more: “His Majesty currently has soldiers protecting him in Luoyang city. Liu Yuan’s troops can’t reach there immediately. But Prince Donghai, leading two hundred thousand-plus soldiers and civilians, is without root or anchor.”

She continued, “His Majesty is naturally important, but the common people of the realm are more important.”

The generals: …So after all this, you want Prince Donghai’s people?

Everyone fell silent. After a long while, they finally found their voices to advise: “Common people can be obtained at any time. The urgent matter is to protect His Majesty.”

Beigong Chun shared Zhao Hanzhang’s thinking. “The common people are also important. If those two hundred thousand-plus soldiers and civilians fall into Xiongnu hands, I fear they’ll be massacred. His Majesty is temporarily safe. We can rescue the people first, then rescue His Majesty.”

“It’s not yet certain whether Liu Yuan will send troops against Prince Donghai. And even if he sends troops, Prince Donghai may not lose.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Those who have left are dispirited and lazy, not to mention lacking fighting spirit. Prince Donghai has repeatedly retreated before the Xiongnu. If he doesn’t encounter them, fine. But once he encounters Liu Yuan’s main force, certain death awaits.”

Zhao Hanzhang directly made an autocratic decision. “This matter is settled. Immediately mobilize troops and head for Guancheng!”

The scouts had reported that Prince Donghai’s party was currently in Guancheng.

Everyone exchanged glances and could only bow their heads in acknowledgment.

Ji Yuan had been listening quietly the entire time. Once Zhao Hanzhang left, he immediately went after her, also pulling Fu Tinghan along.

“Young Lady, is this trip to Guancheng for revenge?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s steps halted. She turned back to look at Ji Yuan and smiled. “Sir, why do you say this? I’m going to rescue people.”

Ji Yuan sighed. “Young Lady need not pretend before me. Back then, the old master’s death—Prince Donghai was the chief culprit. Going to rescue those two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians is false; avenging the old master is true, isn’t it?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded and she looked quietly at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan said, “Young Lady, Prince Donghai has two hundred thousand people. The common people who followed them out of the city number nearly another hundred thousand. That means even if he expends all two hundred thousand, he can still conscript another hundred thousand soldiers on the spot. Young Lady plans to take these twenty thousand to fight them head-on?”

Zhao Hanzhang: “Sir, do I seem so impulsive in your heart?”

With a completely serious expression, she said, “I truly am going to rescue people. Of course, if there’s an opportunity to kill Prince Donghai and avenge my grandfather, I won’t be soft-hearted either.”

Ji Yuan: …I find you even less believable now.

He pulled at Fu Tinghan. “Young Master, please advise her.”

Fu Tinghan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and said, “She’s telling the truth.”

Ji Yuan: …Wake up! Don’t believe everything she says!

—