Zhang Gui’s health had improved considerably, but he still tired easily. So now he handed most matters to his son Zhang Shi, only personally overseeing some important issues.

An official entered and bowed, “Governor, Huang An and the others have brought all the military families. There’s also a letter from Luoyang.”

The letter was personally written by Zhao Hanzhang. She not only received Zhang Gui’s letter but also a letter from Zhao Xin that came back together. He described Xiliang’s situation in detail, as well as his observations from the journey from Luoyang through Chang’an to Xiliang.

It could be said that in comparison, Xiliang’s situation was much better. The Central Plains, especially the stretch from Luoyang to outside Yumen Pass, was full of refugees displaced by famine and war.

Even though Zhao Hanzhang repeatedly issued proclamations asking people to return to Luo and settle down, many refugees would rather wander than return.

The past two years in Luoyang had been too difficult.

Zhao Xin traveled west all the way, seeing only countless white bones. He personally witnessed refugees walking and walking until they collapsed, never to stir again. Then their fellow refugees would drag the corpse into the woods, ultimately leaving only white bones.

Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t seen such scenes, but just hearing Zhao Xin’s description made her shudder. This fear wasn’t of those refugees who ate human flesh, but of the hardship of this era.

This was what Zhao Xin’s eyes saw. In places they couldn’t see, how many such incidents occurred, or even more extreme things?

As for beyond the pass, Zhang Gui had just quelled internal unrest. Last year he defeated Zhang Zhen and killed Cao Qu and others. Right after quelling the internal chaos, he began focusing on pacifying the people.

Like Zhao Hanzhang, he first gathered people scattered by war, then had officials tell stories of loyalty and righteousness to win the people’s hearts. Finally, he pardoned rebels who hadn’t been sentenced to death. Until now, the work of pacifying the people continued.

Zhao Xin’s words were full of admiration for Zhang Gui. In terms of pacifying the people and stabilizing territory, Zhang Gui was the second person after Zhao Hanzhang to earn Zhao Xin’s respect.

He wrote, “It’s a pity the two governors couldn’t meet face to face, or they would surely become friends.”

He believed Zhang Gui and Zhao Hanzhang’s measures were largely the same, and the other party’s achievements were outstanding. The two could learn from each other.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t see Zhang Gui, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t become friends with him.

After seeing off Beigong Chun and the others, she began carefully pondering her reply to Zhang Gui.

After learning about Xiliang’s situation, Zhao Hanzhang wanted even more to cooperate with Zhang Gui.

Her current capabilities were limited, but she still hoped to preserve more of the people.

Zhang Gui opened the letter and read it slowly.

After a moment, he sat up slightly straighter, his eyes glistening with tears, growing brighter and brighter.

He stood up and paced in the room for a while, then took out the letter to read again.

Though Zhang Gui had always supported the court’s rule, he actually lacked confidence in his heart.

He was so afraid – afraid that one day he would wake up to find the emperor had changed again, and changed to a different surname.

By then there would surely be great chaos under heaven. At that moment, should Xiliang submit or rebel?

He had always felt lonely, but at this moment, he felt he had found a fellow traveler.

Zhang Gui couldn’t care that it was late at night. He immediately summoned his trusted aides and told them, “I’ve decided to build relay stations all the way from Dunhuang Commandery to Chang’an and station troops to guard them, ensuring the safety of merchant caravans coming from the Central Plains.”

Administrator Zhang Lang was shocked and quickly asked, “Governor, why this sudden expenditure?”

Zhang Gui said, “Zhao Hanzhang of Yuzhou is truly an excellent minister. I’ve decided to open trade routes from the Central Plains to Xiliang with her, to exchange what we need.”

“Didn’t the governor already agree with Envoy Zhao before? Now there’s already a trade route from Chang’an to Xiliang, which is sufficient. Stationing troops to guard such a long trade route would be enormously costly.”

Zhang Gui sighed and said, “The Central Plains are devastated. Many people have left the Central Plains wanting to come to Xiliang. I heard Chang’an and Luoyang both suffered famines. We can’t just watch the people starve and freeze to death.”

He said, “So I’ve decided to divide part of Wuwei to establish Wuxing Commandery, and divide Xiping Commandery to establish Jinxing Commandery to gather refugees.”

Zhang Lang and the others looked at each other, “This… to establish two commanderies to receive refugees, Governor, how many refugees do you plan to gather?”

Zhang Gui said seriously, “As many as I can.”

“But the grain…”

“Duke Zhao said she would help me. As long as I’m willing, she’ll send a batch of grain, and besides that, weapons to strengthen our army and prevent Xianbei invasion.”

Zhang Lang looked doubtful, “Zhao Hanzhang is really this good? She’s willing to give grain for free to help us feed people?”

These people, once in Xiliang, would become their Xiliang people.

Zhang Gui sighed and said, “She’s just like me, wanting peace under heaven and for the people to live in peace. How could she care about those power struggles?”

His trusted aides fell silent, unable to help feeling admiration, “Someone who can make General Beigong willingly stay in Luoyang truly wouldn’t be a treacherous person.”

Everyone tacitly accepted Zhang Gui’s decision.

Zhang Gui thought of Beigong Chun, still feeling some heartache. He hadn’t been able to bring the man back. For these Xiliang generals who went out, he actually felt guilty.

So when Huang An brought people back to receive the military families, he agreed without hesitation.

“Tomorrow send someone to invite Envoy Zhao. I want to meet him in person.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang felt that given Zhang Gui’s character, he would definitely agree to her proposal and accept large numbers of refugees from the Central Plains.

So she began counting her money.

The more she counted, the more her heart ached.

Regarding her assets, Fu Tinghan was even more familiar than she was. Though he didn’t manage the accounts, he would occasionally help her calculate to prevent wasteful spending.

Especially after Gao Hui first brought back the gold, silver, and jewels from trade.

Seeing her frowning face full of heartache and headache, he asked, “Regretting sending grain to Zhang Gui?”

“Not quite regret, just pain,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Heartache.”

Fu Tinghan smiled and said, “You can’t even feed or clothe yourself now. Why did you think of giving him grain?”

“There’s no choice. Although Xiliang holds the Hexi Corridor, they occupy extremely vast territory and their days aren’t easy either,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Without external aid, even if Zhang Gui wanted to gather refugees, he couldn’t gather many.”

“And Yumen Pass is controlled by the Prince of Nanyang. Don’t look at how the emperor and court officials always praise Zhang Gui – actually they’re very wary of him too. Yumen Pass will absolutely not be given to Zhang Gui.”

“Zhang Gui knows this himself too. To avoid making the Jin Emperor and court officials suspicious, he never does anything improper. Otherwise, given his military power and authority, when Beigong Chun led the Xiliang army to Chang’an, he could have just charged through Yumen Pass to bring them back. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “There are few in this world who could stop Beigong Chun and his men.”

“So it’s not that he couldn’t, but that he didn’t dare,” she said. “The Central Plains are miserable now, but actually as long as we have money, we can buy grain from Shu, the Two Rivers, and south of the Yangtze. But Xiliang – with just Yumen Pass blocking them, they can neither get in nor out.”

“With so many refugees, neither I nor Grandfather Fu can control them. We can’t just ignore them either and let them go to Xiliang – that’s one path to survival.”