The adjutant stood with hands on hips, boasting to them, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. The Administrator said this time going with us will be a group of officials from Yuzhou. They’ll speak with the Provincial Governor so that Xiliang and Luoyang can exchange letters and goods in the future. Letters from home will all be able to reach us.”
“Can Chang’an permit this?”
“Exactly—they wouldn’t let us leave the pass before. Now they’re willing to let us leave once, but can they agree to long-term passage?”
The adjutant learned Zhao Hanzhang’s manner, slightly raising his chin. “What’s there to fear? If they refuse, neither Luoyang nor Xiliang will stand for it!”
At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was meeting with her carefully selected clan brother Zhao Xin. She handed him the letter she’d written. “I’m entrusting our friendly relations with Xiliang to Clan Brother Xin.”
Zhao Xin respectfully received the letter and agreed, “Xin will do his utmost.”
He paused before asking, “If Chang’an blocks the passes, what should be done?”
He needed to know the bottom line before he could negotiate properly with Xiliang.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly. “Chang’an may have the passes, but it also needs Xiliang and Luoyang’s assistance. Otherwise, once they lose Xiliang as their front door and have no Luoyang as rear support, if the Xianbei depart in the morning they can arrive by evening—do you think the Prince of Nanyang can hold Chang’an?”
Zhao Xin immediately understood and said seriously, “Xin will visit the Prince of Nanyang when passing through Chang’an to ensure the western route remains open.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction. This was why she’d chosen Zhao Xin—not only because he was intelligent and understood things at a hint, but also because once he thought of something, he dared to do it.
After thinking briefly, she said, “You’re currently just a clerk—your rank isn’t sufficient. I’ll grant you ambassadorial authority to act as you see fit when away.”
The corners of Zhao Xin’s mouth lifted as he bowed in acknowledgment.
Zhao Hanzhang had no more instructions and said, “Clan Brother, go bid farewell to Uncle and the other brothers. We depart at dawn tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Xin withdrew and strode out. He currently lived at the Imperial Academy, as did Zhao Cheng, so the people he’d brought all lived together there.
As soon as he entered the Imperial Academy, clan brothers who’d been about to leave immediately surrounded him. “Brother Xin, how did it go?”
Zhao Xin smiled slightly. “The Administrator gave me authority to act as I see fit. We depart at dawn tomorrow.”
The clan brothers were extremely envious. “Brother Xin, you’ll be a clerk as soon as you leave. Though it’s a military clerk and you’re taking the military route, it’s for the convenience of the diplomatic mission. Once you return from Xiliang, you can transfer to become a county magistrate—that’ll make you second only to Brother Kuan in official rank among us.”
“Not so. Have you forgotten Yun Xin? I heard from Brother Kuan that the Administrator is transferring her to Luoyang to work as a secretary at her side.”
A secretary’s rank was no lower than a county magistrate’s, and moreover, being at Zhao Hanzhang’s side meant even greater authority.
“The Administrator’s side is indeed more convenient for women to come and go.”
“That’s not quite right. I think the Administrator values talent more. Though Yun Xin is mischievous, she’s meticulous. She did well working under Clerk Fan before—we’ve all seen the documents she recorded. Her conciseness matches ours and she can grasp the key points.”
“Ah, I used to see her as just a child. Who knew she’d now surpass us? Meanwhile, we still struggle to find a path forward.”
Zhao Xin couldn’t help saying, “Brother Xiaodi, watch your words. Compared to others, we’ve already gained great advantages. The Administrator plans to hold examinations to recruit talent in Luoyang. Besides that, you and I are both currently working at the Imperial Academy and are the Administrator’s clansmen. If you’re willing, you can recommend yourself anytime. How can you say there’s no path forward?”
Zhao Shi: “That’s right. I’m even thinking of writing home to have my mother send my cousin here. She’s been better at studying than me since childhood. If she’s willing to serve in office, her achievements will surely be no less than Yun Xin’s.”
Someone who knew his cousin asked, “Your cousin isn’t young anymore—hasn’t she discussed marriage?”
The half-grown youth raised his neck high. “With the realm still unsettled, how can one start a family?”
Seeing the youth so proud, the clan brothers couldn’t help laughing. “You’re talking about yourself, aren’t you?”
The youth said, “I still have this aspiration—how much more so my cousin? It’s just a pity my younger sister is still small. Otherwise, if she came too, the honor wouldn’t be Brother Kuan’s but ours as siblings.”
“Have her study well now. In a few years when she takes office, it won’t be too late.”
As Fan Ying, Zhao Yunxin and other female officials were promoted and entrusted with important positions, the Zhao clan’s attitude toward women serving in office also underwent tremendous change. Indeed, as long as there was fame and profit involved, people’s attitudes could change.
Moreover, this was the late Jin period when anything seemed possible.
This was both the worst of times and the best of times.
The pain and darkness brought by war and political struggle caused intense clashes in the era’s thinking. People dared to question and dared to think, and would do their utmost to seize every possible opportunity to quell the chaos.
Zhao Hanzhang’s demonstrated ability and the power she wielded led those around her to begin accepting women serving in office and stepping from behind the scenes to the forefront.
China’s political stage had never been exclusively male. Women rarely stepped to the forefront, but anyone with some knowledge knew women had always participated.
The inner palace, the inner quarters—they were never absent. Even after Empress Lü, though the Han Dynasty proclaimed female interference in politics was the nation’s misfortune and hens crowing at dawn, female interference in politics never decreased.
The most recent was Empress Jia. When she held power, hadn’t court politics been in her grasp?
Now, women were merely stepping from behind the scenes to the forefront. Some men felt uncomfortable for a while but had no choice but to accept it. Even more people didn’t even feel uncomfortable—they accepted it quite naturally.
Especially for the Luoyang people who’d long been trapped in warfare, the gender of those in power didn’t matter at all to them. What mattered was whether they could provide peace and stability.
After the initial grief and anger, they gradually accepted the reality of returning to Luoyang and began struggling for their daily livelihoods.
Zhao Hanzhang sat down at a tea stall, took a pair of chopsticks and waited for food. Ting He went to find the proprietor to refill the water skin—she’d quickly drunk all the water at midday when they left.
The proprietor brought up several bowls of noodles, and the one given to Zhao Hanzhang had an extra egg.
She raised an eyebrow. “Since when has Ting He become so generous, even ordering me an extra egg?”
The proprietor’s wrinkled face broke into a flower-like smile. “This is a gift from me to the Administrator.”
Zhao Hanzhang paused in surprise. “Why?”
The proprietor’s face bloomed with smiles. “Thanks to the Administrator’s blessing, my grandson got into the Imperial Academy. I’m just waiting for him to complete his studies and someday work as a minor clerk under you, Administrator.”
Zhao Hanzhang said cheerfully, “If he could get into the Imperial Academy, he’s clearly a clever child. Coming out from there, he shouldn’t settle for just being a minor clerk—he should at least become a county official.”
The proprietor’s eyes crinkled with delight. “That would truly bring glory to our ancestors. Administrator, wait here—I’ll add another egg for you.”
“No need, no need,” Zhao Hanzhang quickly stopped him. “One is enough—no need to add more.”
The proprietor smiled. “My eggs are delicious. The Young Master comes to my shop for noodles every time and always eats one. You don’t come often, so you should try more.”
“Tinghan comes often?”
“Often, often,” the proprietor said with a beaming smile. “There are several shops around here, but mine has the best cooking. The Young Master comes to my place every time.”