A map marking important roads, mountains, rivers, and towns gradually took shape under Fu Tinghan’s brush. Zhao Hanzhang ground ink for him while memorizing the drawn map in her mind.

She looked up at the stars for a while, determined the direction, then compared it with the map, pointing to a place with only one main road marked. “Are there any side roads in this section?”

Fu Tinghan closed his eyes to think, then took up his brush to sketch a mountain range there, then drew a small path and a dot beside it. “If I remember correctly, there should be a settlement here. I just don’t know if it’s a small county town or a large township.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Continue.”

Fu Tinghan didn’t draw the entire map. He only drew parts extending from Luoyang westward, southward, and eastward—equivalent to all of present-day Henan and portions of Hebei and Shaanxi.

Of course, these regions now belonged to Yuzhou and Sizhou.

The two huddled together looking at the map. Fu Tinghan traced a route on the map and said, “Going around from here, we can avoid Yingchuan and resupply along the way. However…”

Zhao Hanzhang continued, “However, this section isn’t a main road, so it probably won’t be easy to travel.”

“We can’t tell from the map. We’ll have to assess the situation on the ground. If it’s not suitable, we can change routes temporarily.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and beckoned to Zhao Ju. “Uncle Qianli, I plan to escort the coffin home. Tomorrow we’ll turn toward Runan and won’t rendezvous with Great-Uncle. As for Zhao Dian…”

Zhao Ju said in a low voice, “I advised him, but he doesn’t seem to want to go to Runan with us.”

These retainers were all raised by Zhao Changyu for the Zhao family. Zhao Dian had always been subordinate to Zhao Ju.

Zhao Ju had been raised by Zhao Changyu since childhood and given the Zhao surname. When Zhao Changyu told him to be loyal to the Zhao family, he was loyal to the Zhao family. When told to be loyal to Zhao Hanzhang, he was loyal to Zhao Hanzhang.

Unlike Zhao Ju, Zhao Dian was more clever and more adaptable. He was only loyal to the Zhao family—or rather, at this stage, he was only loyal to the Zhao family.

Although Zhao Hanzhang felt regret, she didn’t force it. “People have their own aspirations. When Grandfather left them to Great-Uncle, it’s natural they would make this choice.”

However, she still decided to make one more attempt. So she went to find Zhao Dian.

Zhao Hanzhang offered inducements. “Zhao Dian, if you escort me to Runan, I’ll double your monthly pay. When we reach Runan, I’ll also allot you land. In the future, your children can enter free status and choose not to be retainers.”

The conditions were very attractive. The retainers around Zhao Dian were stirred, but Zhao Dian remained unmoved and directly refused. “Third Miss, this subordinate is a retainer of the Zhao family. Currently, the Zhao family is headed by Second Grand Master and the Young Master.”

If Zhao Erlang were a normal person, Zhao Dian wouldn’t mind bringing his men to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang. But he wasn’t.

Zhao Erlang was a fool.

Zhao Dian also wanted to establish merit and build a career. Now, in these chaotic times, following the second branch and following the first branch offered completely different prospects and circumstances. Money at this stage couldn’t sway his heart.

Zhao Hanzhang had been mentally prepared and wasn’t disappointed. Instead, she looked around at the retainers who had their ears perked to listen to their conversation and called out loudly, “Everyone, you just heard my promise to Zhao Dian applies to you all as well.”

Hearing this, Zhao Dian hurriedly stopped her. “Third Miss, if you poach people like this, what face will I have left to see Second Grand Master and Young Master?”

He said, “The army is not far ahead. Tomorrow we’ll speed up, and we can catch up within a day at most. Then you and Second Grand Master can discuss where we go—why must you make things difficult for us now?”

Zhao Hanzhang said seriously, “Zhao Dian, this isn’t making things difficult for you. I sincerely invite everyone to go to Runan with me.”

“Since we’ve come to this point, I’ll speak plainly,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “In these chaotic times of military disaster, you all saw today’s dangers. The road isn’t safe. I’m inviting you to Runan because I’m actually asking you all to escort me back to Runan.”

“Returning my soul to my homeland was Grandfather’s dying wish. I must fulfill Grandfather’s last wish no matter what. But in our group, the old are old and the young are young. With only Uncle Qianli and these twenty-some men as escort, the road isn’t safe.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes reddened slightly. “You were all personally trained by Grandfather. This time, consider it my selfish request—I just want to safely return to Runan.”

The retainers had always been supported by Zhao Changyu, and their contact with the second branch had actually been quite limited—just over half a year. Because Zhao Changyu’s illness had worsened, they only began letting Zhao Ji interact with them.

But truthfully, the retainers didn’t have much fondness for Zhao Ji, especially after seeing Wang Shi and Zhao Erlang abandoned on the road today.

In many people’s eyes, Zhao Erlang, Wang Shi, and Zhao Sanniang were their true masters. They hadn’t yet adjusted to the change, and Zhao Ji’s action directly pushed their dissatisfaction to its peak.

Although their superior was unwilling to go with the first branch, wasn’t there still Zhao Ju?

Zhao Ju was the squad commander, the actual leader of the retainers. Seeing him constantly standing behind Zhao Hanzhang made it clear where he stood.

So many retainers stepped forward and pledged loyalty to Zhao Hanzhang. “Third Miss, I’m willing to follow you to Runan.”

“I’m willing too.”

“And me—I want to go too.”

Zhao Dian saw so many responding and his expression changed. He quickly said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Third Miss, why the rush? Even if you want to take them, you should let them bid farewell to their families. Just one day—the Old Master’s return home is no small matter. You should at least inform Second Grand Master and Young Master.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him steadily for a while, then suddenly sighed deeply. “How could I not want to see Great-Uncle and bid him a proper farewell? But you all heard what Mother said today. I cannot disobey Mother, nor dare I resent Uncle. If we meet again, my heart will be troubled and Uncle will likely feel ashamed beyond measure. Better not to meet.”

She looked at everyone with tearful eyes. “Of course, if you want to bid farewell to your families, you may. It’s just that today was so chaotic—I don’t know if they’ve been separated or not.”

The retainers whose families were in the traveling group thought of the horrific scenes they’d witnessed today, and their hearts felt pierced by knives.

Zhao Ji had even abandoned Wang Shi and Zhao Erlang. Third Miss, an unmarried young woman, had been left behind to resist the pursuing soldiers. How could their families possibly have received proper care?

Most retainers felt as if their hearts had died, and they decided directly to go with Zhao Hanzhang. If they went to catch up with the army, none of them would be able to leave.

Theoretically, they were retainers of the Zhao family. Now that the Zhao family was headed by Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji, naturally they could only obey them.

Some who hadn’t planned to follow Zhao Hanzhang, upon hearing her speak this way, felt the sorrow of seeing their kind suffer. Moreover, Wang Shi and Zhao Erlang’s importance surpassed theirs. Even they had been abandoned—what about them?

So another dozen or so people stepped forward, deciding to follow Zhao Hanzhang.

The commotion here fell within the sight of Master Chen and his daughter, who were lying not far away. Chen Erniang was dumbstruck. “Father, is this the Third Miss Zhao you said had excellent character and was extremely filial?”

Master Chen replied, “…Isn’t this better? Tomorrow when we go to catch up with the army, we can be more at ease.”

—