Zhao Hanzhang was someone who listened to advice. What Zhao Cheng said made sense, so she decided to adopt it.
Having said what he wanted to say, Zhao Cheng withdrew from the courtyard. Zhao Kuan and the others who had been waiting outside were called back in. Zhao Hanzhang asked them, “What’s the current situation in Luoyang?”
Zhao Kuan said, “Shi Le captured quite a few officials and scions of great families. Those left behind were mostly family members and collateral branches. After they returned to Luoyang, they wanted to return to their respective homes, but many houses were burned down, and others were occupied, so conflicts keep arising. Fortunately, they don’t dare make too much trouble, so it’s still controllable.”
“Who occupied the houses?”
“General Beigong, General Xun, and General Mi,” Zhao Kuan raised his head to glance at her before saying, “The Governor and Erlang also occupied a few.”
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow and turned to ask Fu Tinghan, “Did I occupy any?”
The Zhao residence still stood—she had a house to live in. Why would she need to occupy others?
Fu Tinghan thought for a moment, then said, “You mentioned finding a place for Teacher Ji and Uncle Qianli to stay.”
“Oh, I remember now,” Zhao Hanzhang said without changing expression, “Can they produce property deeds?”
“Some can, some cannot.”
Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment, then asked, “Have all the returning people been registered and recorded?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should be able to find registration documents in the county office. Check which places in the northern and eastern parts of the city are ownerless. I need them.”
This was no small undertaking, but Zhao Kuan looked at the serious Zhao Hanzhang and still agreed.
Zhao Hanzhang paused, then said, “Give it to me within three days.”
Zhao Kuan agreed.
Zhao Hanzhang remembered something, raised her eyebrows, and smiled at Zhao Cheng, “Uncle, fortunately the Imperial Academy is in the eastern part of the city. The fire didn’t damage it at all. I’m entrusting it to you—run a school in the Imperial Academy.”
The Imperial Academy in Luoyang had been repeatedly expanded during the Han Dynasty and could accommodate over thirty thousand students.
Hearing this, Zhao Cheng immediately sat up straight, his eyes lighting as he asked, “What about the books inside?”
Zhao Hanzhang said directly, “They’re all yours.”
Zhao Cheng tried hard to suppress his upturning lips, “This doesn’t seem right.”
Although he was very happy inside, he genuinely felt it wasn’t right, so after thinking, he said, “The Imperial Academy is after all an official school. I hold no official position…”
“Now His Majesty has relocated the capital, so the Imperial Academy naturally transferred as well. Right now it’s just an abandoned building. Our using it is recycling waste. Uncle needn’t feel any psychological burden,” Zhao Hanzhang said to the clan brothers below, “If you brothers are free tomorrow, accompany Uncle to the Imperial Academy to take a look and lend a hand.”
Including Zhao Kuan, they immediately bowed and acknowledged.
The Imperial Academy—a place they couldn’t easily enter before. Now it was wonderful—not only could they enter freely, but they could use it for their own purposes.
This meal lasted until late at night. Zhao Kuan and the others could go rest, but Zhao Hanzhang still couldn’t.
She moved to the study to meet with Ji Yuan and Xie Shi.
Zhao Erlang was already so sleepy he couldn’t keep his eyes open, so he left with Zhao Kuan, returning to his room to sleep sprawled out.
Fu Tinghan knew that her handling of this matter had significant impact. If not done well, Luoyang might erupt in rebellion again, so he followed her to meet Ji Yuan and Xie Shi.
Ji Yuan’s report was much more detailed. Besides Luoyang’s situation, there was also news from various quarters.
“His Majesty has safely entered Yanzhou. Gou Xi’s main army met him at the border between Yanzhou and Yuzhou. Zhao Ju personally watched them pass. Ji Yuan said, “Gou Xi’s people are withdrawing from the Four Commanderies. Zhao Ju is waiting to receive them. He’s written asking whether to divide the troops.”
Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment, then said, “Don’t divide them. I’ll have Ji Ping and Qiu Wu lead troops to take over—one person per commandery. With Uncle Ming taking over Pengcheng Commandery, that should be sufficient. Have Zhao Ju keep an eye on Gou Xi—no, keep an eye on Gou Chun.”
“Although Gou Xi is becoming increasingly arrogant, he still keeps his promises and has His Majesty at his side, so he definitely won’t break his word. But the people around him are another matter.”
Ji Yuan agreed with this assessment, “Gou Chun is narrow-minded and has a cruel temperament. I’m afraid he won’t willingly return the Four Commanderies to us.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze darkened as she said, “Tell Zhao Ju that Gou Xi’s people can withdraw and take as much wealth as they want—we won’t interfere. But people—they must not take anyone, and they must not harm anyone in the Four Commanderies.”
Ji Yuan acknowledged, then brought up another matter, “The news about Shi Le killing the captives hasn’t been released yet. When does the young lady think it best to inform Luoyang’s common people?”
Those officials and scholar-officials who were killed had many relatives who were forced to return to Luoyang. Once the news spread, there would certainly be wailing.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Post the announcement first thing tomorrow morning.”
She paused, then said, “Tomorrow I’ll ask Uncle to write a notice.”
Ji Yuan’s lips curved slightly upward, “There’s no one more suitable than Master Cheng.”
Zhao Cheng came from a great family background and could empathize most. The surviving members of great families also recognized him, his literary talent wasn’t lacking, and he could persuade people’s hearts better than a strategist like himself who came from humble origins.
Ji Yuan paused, then said, “Young lady, has Master Cheng mentioned to you the way of employing people?”
Zhao Hanzhang hummed in acknowledgment, lifting her eyelids to look at him, “Teacher Ji had a plan in mind long ago. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ji Yuan looked ashamed, saying, “It was I who failed to think things through. If Master Cheng hadn’t brought it up, I would have ruined the lord’s great undertaking.”
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t believe it. This matter was definitely planned in advance by Ji Yuan and Zhao Ming, who then tricked Zhao Cheng into being the one to broach it.
Only her Uncle Cheng was foolish enough to be straightforward with her about everything.
Ji Yuan quickly changed the subject, “Regarding Shi Le killing the captives, shouldn’t you personally write a letter to His Majesty?”
He added, “They’ve already passed through Yuzhou and entered Yanzhou.”
Although Gou Xi and the Emperor should have already received the news by now, Zhao Hanzhang still nodded, deciding to personally write a letter to inform them both.
It would also be good to make clear to the Emperor that it wasn’t that she didn’t keep her promise, but that there really wasn’t enough time, and Shi Le had acted too quickly and ruthlessly.
Besides news from Gou Xi, there was news from other provinces and commanderies.
With Luoyang in danger, there were still people who wanted to come to the capital to defend the Emperor—none other than Bingzhou Regional Inspector Liu Kun, whom Zhao Hanzhang had long wanted to meet but hadn’t been able to.
Taking advantage of Liu Yuan sending troops toward Luoyang, Liu Kun also wanted to lead troops to break out, hoping to head south to Luoyang to rescue the Emperor. Of course, he couldn’t break out, but he took advantage of the situation to recapture several counties near Jinyang and established contact with Ji Yuan here in Luoyang.
Ji Yuan couldn’t help but admire this Regional Inspector Liu’s tenacity, “This time, they opened up a trade route. Information can be transmitted through this commercial route.”
Zhao Hanzhang was dumbfounded, “Is it reliable?”
Ji Yuan sighed, “Regional Inspector Liu spent three years developing this trade route. It’s just that there was one section he couldn’t figure out how to get through. This time, taking advantage of Liu Cong and Wang Mi’s southern campaign, which took away one of the leaders, putting another person in charge of that city, he was able to spend money to open it up.”
He said, “I don’t know about the future, but right now it’s open. We’ve already established contact with Jinyang.”
Zhao Hanzhang excitedly clenched her fist, “Liu Kun is on good terms with the Xianbei. He must have channels for horse trading. Have Wu Erlang prepare himself to go to Jinyang with Liu Kun’s envoy.”
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