Zhao Hanzhang picked up a copper coin to examine carefully. This was something she and Fu Tinghan had designed together. It was generally similar to the current five-zhu coins, but there were many differences in the details.

It had a small “Zhao” character in the lower left corner of the back. The rim was neat and well-formed, all the coins were uniform in weight, around 2.3 zhu, taking the average value of Western Liang’s new currency.

After weighing it, Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “In the future… I must make the five-zhu coin truly weigh five zhu and live up to its name.”

Since the warfare began, although five-zhu coins were still called five-zhu coins, their weight had dropped from five zhu to three zhu, and had continued falling even further.

Fu Tinghan didn’t understand, “Why must it weigh five zhu? When you truly have the ability to issue new currency nationwide, just change the name and create a completely new coin.”

He said, “The new coins we’re making now weigh two zhu and three si, which means ten and a half copper coins weigh one liang. Do you know how much a thousand copper coins weigh?”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t speak. Fu Tinghan said, “I already thought the current copper coins were too heavy. Every time we need to go out to buy expensive things, Fu’an has to carry a bag on his back, and just a few strings of coins inside weigh over ten catties.”

He said, “Commercial activity is still limited now. If the situation stabilizes in the future and commercial activity increases, paper currency would actually be more convenient.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “That requires the country to have sufficient credibility. Otherwise, if the current Great Jin were to print even lighter copper coins than ours, would you dare use them?”

That indeed they wouldn’t dare.

Shen Ruhui and the other three arrived safely in Luoyang. Carrying Zhao Zhongyu’s letter, Zhao Hanzhang valued them highly, not only meeting them personally but also arranging housing for all four.

From the arranged housing, one could see that Zhao Hanzhang cared about them greatly. The houses for all four were their former residences in Luoyang.

However, their family assets were modest, so back then these houses were rented.

But the landlords had long since fled, and now their fate was unknown, so the houses now belonged to Zhao Hanzhang. She directly decided to give them to these men.

For people with real ability and talent, Zhao Hanzhang had always been generous in this regard (since it didn’t cost her own money anyway).

Besides the houses, Zhao Hanzhang’s Ministry of Works was also quietly established. Under the Ministry of Works were departments like the Bureau of Fields and the Bureau of Waterways. Shen Ruhui not only held a position in the Imperial Agricultural Office but also concurrently served as an administrative secretary in the Bureau of Fields. Cao Ping remained in the Bureau of Waterways, with both assisting Fu Tinghan.

But Fu Tinghan still felt there weren’t enough people, especially since the Ministry of Works required too many calculations. So he said, “For the next recruitment announcement, I want to add a separate mathematics examination to specifically screen for talent in this area.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Then I’ll have someone make an announcement now, so those skilled in this area can prepare early.”

This was targeted recruitment. However, these talents would still need Fu Tinghan’s hands-on teaching after being admitted. Zhao Hanzhang looked at him sympathetically and said, “If you’re really desperate for people, you could check the Imperial Academy.”

The Imperial Academy had enrolled over ninety students this year. They were all fairly old, from decent backgrounds, and had studied mathematics since childhood, so there might be suitable candidates.

Fu Tinghan nodded, “I will go.”

Zhao Hanzhang herself also felt understaffed. She turned her head to look at the moon in the sky outside the window, murmuring, “I wonder how Yan Heng is doing.”

Those who didn’t know would think Yan Heng was very close to her, but in fact the two had only met a few times. They had even crossed swords several times through Gou Xi. If one really counted their relationship, they should be enemies, right?

But Zhao Hanzhang was now genuinely worried about Yan Heng, and this concern was sincere. “There’s been no news at all…”

Fu Tinghan said, “No news is good news. If Gou Xi were to kill his closest aide, the news couldn’t be concealed.”

“That’s true.” Zhao Hanzhang felt relieved.

However, at this moment, Yan Heng’s situation was not good at all.

The memorial that he had asked General Pei to submit a few days ago was only delivered today.

General Pei had a good relationship with Yan Heng. Although he didn’t open the letter to read it, knowing Yan Heng’s temperament, he could guess it wouldn’t contain pleasant words.

So he kept looking for opportunities—a moment when the General was in a good mood and relaxed to submit it. That day he went to accompany the General in enjoying singing and dancing, but midway a servant from the General’s mansion broke a bowl, making the General unhappy. General Pei immediately tucked the letter he had already taken out back in.

Two days later when he went again, the General was also in a bad mood. He heard that two counties on the Yuzhou border were causing trouble, even the Emperor heard about it and summoned the General to the palace for questioning.

General Pei could only abandon his plans again. For the next three days, the General remained in a bad mood.

Today was the best mood he’d been in during this period. He had obtained two new concubines who were very beautiful, so he invited everyone to drink together.

At the banquet, seeing him in such high spirits, General Pei finally submitted the memorial he’d been holding.

Then Gou Xi’s mood instantly turned from sunny to stormy. He didn’t say anything to General Pei, but turned around and had Yan Heng arrested, then wanted to kill him.

General Pei and several other generals hurriedly pleaded for mercy, but were angrily driven out of the General’s mansion by Gou Xi. At that moment he was ready to kill, and no one dared to offend him, so they could only temporarily withdraw from the General’s mansion.

Ming Yu, who was ill in bed, heard the news and couldn’t care about his sickness. He immediately got up and rushed to the General’s mansion to intervene.

Zhao Zhongyu, who had already gone to bed, also received the news and immediately climbed out of bed, hurriedly asking, “Has he been killed?”

“The man is in the General’s mansion. We can’t get information out, but he was arrested and taken into the mansion over an hour ago. I fear the worst.”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t care that it was dark outside. He immediately put on his clothes and entered the palace.

Because he was Zhao Hanzhang’s great-uncle, although he and Gou Xi were both court officials, their relationship was neither close nor distant—just superficially peaceful, with no real friendship.

If he went to plead for mercy, it would only strengthen Gou Xi’s resolve to kill. This matter could only be resolved by the Emperor.

Of course, Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t tell the Emperor, “I want to recruit talent for my great-niece, so please save him.”

Zhao Zhongyu met the Emperor urgently late at night and quietly told him about Gou Xi wanting to execute Yan Heng. He said, “Your Majesty, Gou Xi was upright and incorruptible before, but now he indulges in luxury. The generals who formerly followed him are mostly dissatisfied. Yan Heng especially has followed him since his decline and has excellent relations with the generals around him. If he is killed, I fear the generals will develop rebellious thoughts.”

Zhao Zhongyu said, “Currently Your Majesty relies on Gou Xi. If he is stable, then Yuncheng is stable, and Your Majesty is stable. Therefore, please intervene to stop this disaster.”

The Emperor had been getting along fairly well with Gou Xi during this time. Though he was somewhat greedy—different from the Emperor’s perception of him—he was still dedicated, consulting the Emperor’s opinion on many political affairs. The Emperor had gradually gained power. Now even the Jiangdong and Jiangnan regions were slowly pledging allegiance. He believed that given time, he could gather forces and reclaim the lost territories.

So he also didn’t want chaos.

After briefly considering Zhao Zhongyu’s meaning, he agreed and immediately summoned his most trusted eunuch, having him take an imperial edict to the General’s mansion to save the man.

Zhao Zhongyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief, only hoping they would be in time.

Alas, after receiving Zhao Hanzhang’s letter, he had quietly sought out Yan Heng, wanting to persuade him to go to Luoyang. But Yan Heng still held hope for Gou Xi. Before seeing the memorial, he refused to leave no matter what.