Zhao Hanzhang happily went to look at the jade ruyi scepter. She held it in her hands to admire it. Returning from finding Fan Ying, Ting He saw this and couldn’t help saying, “If Nulang likes it, why not keep it?”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at her. “That would be too wasteful. Although it’s beautiful, it can neither be eaten nor used. What’s the point of keeping it?”

This wasn’t yet the time for spiritual enjoyment. Such things were like a museum visit—seeing them once was enough.

Besides, wasn’t this better than putting it in a museum? At least she could hold it in her hands and play with it. Think about it—if it were in a museum, this item would only be viewed through glass. Could you even touch it?

Zhao Hanzhang was already quite satisfied. She put the jade ruyi scepter back in its box.

This box was custom-made for it, crafted from fine wood with silk lining inside. Honestly, just this piece of silk alone was worth quite a bit.

So she changed nothing, simply closed the box and said, “Go find Zhao Xin. I need him to make a trip to Yuncheng.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang pulled the inkstone toward herself and took the ink stick to slowly grind it. So the question was, how should she write this letter to Gou Xi?

By the time she had finished grinding the ink, Zhao Hanzhang barely had her thoughts together. She unfolded a sheet of paper. Regarding Gou Xi, she still had some understanding of him.

Previously, he was someone who accepted neither soft nor hard approaches. Now he didn’t accept soft approaches, but even less so hard ones.

So she couldn’t take a hard line with him, or it would anger him more and backfire.

No problem. Wasn’t it just verbally yielding? Zhao Hanzhang thought through gritted teeth. A great woman could bend and stretch—she didn’t mind!

After completing her mental preparation, Zhao Hanzhang lifted her brush to write to Gou Xi.

Naturally, even while yielding, she absolutely couldn’t lose face for Zhao Family Army and the Zhao clan.

Regarding the two major conflicts between current Yuzhou and Yanzhou, she explained each one. She admitted that Zhao Ju crossing the border privately was his error, but hadn’t the Yanzhou army crossed the border privately before?

Moreover, Zhao Ju crossed the border to rescue Yuzhou common people who had been abducted.

Zhao Hanzhang wrote: “Since the two territories divided governance, border disputes have been constant. I never intervened precisely because I have a personal grudge with Gou Chun, to avoid being accused of using it for personal revenge.”

She continued: “General Gou is upright and selfless. I regret not knowing him earlier. His Majesty also relies on your assistance, so I’m willing to make many concessions. But that doesn’t mean Gou Chun can act with impunity.”

“He has violated the border several times and allowed soldiers to forcibly harvest my Yuzhou common people’s grain. Simply because the people wouldn’t comply, he abducted entire villages. As the general stationed at the border, if Zhao Ju still took no action, he might as well be relieved of his post. Therefore, regarding his crossing the border to rescue Yuzhou people, I won’t be too harsh.”

“If General Gou insists on punishing Zhao Ju, then he’ll have to share the same punishment as Gou Chun.”

The meaning was: if you punish Gou Chun, then I’ll punish Zhao Ju. Otherwise, this matter is settled, and from now on, no one is allowed to bring it up again.

This was the first matter. When writing about the second matter, Zhao Hanzhang’s brush turned, sighing to indicate that Ming Yu was indeed currently in Luoyang. He had arrived in Luoyang five days ago, escorted by several knights, carrying Yan Heng’s ashes, coming in tears…

Zhao Hanzhang wrote: “He is the Grand General’s strategist. Naturally I dare not employ him. But he suffers from serious illness and has wasted away to skin and bones, so I’m temporarily sheltering him.”

Writing this far, Zhao Hanzhang paused and began persuading Gou Xi, using the fifteen years of relationship between Yan Heng and Ming Yu following him, expressing that even if they had made errors, they shouldn’t be pursued to the bitter end. Now that Yan Heng was dead, why not give Ming Yu his freedom?

“If the Grand General shows magnanimity, the soldiers and officers will feel somewhat more at ease.” She indicated that Luoyang wasn’t hers alone—it was the Emperor’s Luoyang, All Under Heaven’s Luoyang. So as long as Ming Yu didn’t break the law locally, he could remain in Luoyang.

She wouldn’t expel him. But if he willingly returned to Yuncheng, she naturally wouldn’t obstruct him either.

Although she felt she had done nothing wrong, this action had still hurt the Grand General. Especially since—judging from the many soldiers you sent to search for Ming Yu—you clearly still had deep feelings for him.

However, she also had a duty to protect everyone entering Luoyang. So unless he was willing, she couldn’t allow you to take Ming Yu from Luoyang.

Between law and you, Grand General, I can only reluctantly choose the law.

Though this is so, deep in my heart I know I’ve deeply hurt you. Therefore, I’m sending you a jade ruyi scepter, hoping you’ll be more cheerful.

Zhao Hanzhang also encouraged Gou Xi to write to Ming Yu, persuading Ming Yu in the letter to blah blah blah…

Setting down her brush, Zhao Hanzhang raised her head and only then discovered Zhao Xin had long been waiting in the hall.

Oh my, she got too carried away writing and forgot for a moment, not even hearing any sound.

Zhao Hanzhang handed him the letter. “Take a look.”

Zhao Xin stepped forward to receive the letter. Because it was so thick, he read for quite a while before finishing.

After reading, he silently raised his head to glance at their Regional Inspector before lowering his head again.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “What do you think?”

Zhao Xin asked with difficulty, “When Ming Yu arrives in Luoyang, won’t the Governor appoint him to office?”

“No,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “I’ll hire him as my strategist.”

Zhao Hanzhang had many people under her command, but truly worthy of being called her strategist, there had only ever been Ji Yuan alone.

Don’t look at how many strategists there seemed to be. The one with real power could command Zhao Hanzhang’s many generals and officials besides Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang was only Ji Yuan.

Even, to a certain extent, he surpassed Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang. If all three issued orders simultaneously and they conflicted, more people would likely choose to follow Ji Yuan’s command.

This was a strategist.

Oh, not long ago there was a particularly famous strategist—Sun Xiu.

This strategist who died eight years ago could be called the greatest of all time. He was Sima Lun’s strategist, powerful enough that All Under Heaven might not know Sima Lun but would definitely know Sun Xiu.

Using Prince Zhao, he killed Empress Jia and also killed Zhang Hua and many other ministers, controlling the government…

Having said all this, Zhao Hanzhang was telling everyone that being a strategist in this era was a career with great potential, no worse than being officially appointed.

Of course, considering past precedents, Zhao Hanzhang would never give a strategist such tremendous power.

Effective constraints were actually a way of valuing strategists.

Zhao Xin understood. He carefully put away the letter and solemnly said, “This subordinate will work hard to persuade General Gou to eliminate warfare and calm the disputes between the two territories.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Although I’ve said this, he may not believe it. When you go this time, see Uncle Zufu and ask him to be very careful.”

Zhao Xin acknowledged.

Zhao Xin asked, “The Governor sent a gift to General Gou. Won’t you send anything to His Majesty?”

Zhao Hanzhang was startled. “I still need to send to His Majesty?”

Zhao Xin said tactfully, “It would be better to send something. If General Gou is unwilling to restore friendly relations, I’m afraid we’ll still need His Majesty to mediate.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s money pouch was in tears, her heart bleeding.