Ming Yu’s lips curved slightly as he asked, “Is Administrator Zhao so cautious because she’s constrained by reputation?”
“Not so,” Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “It’s because our current great enemy is Zhao-Han. To secure the interior, we must first repel the exterior threat. So unless necessary, I absolutely won’t compete with internal ministers, letting Liu Yuan and Shi Lei profit from our conflict.”
“What constitutes ‘necessary’?”
“If someone, no matter how much I advise them, refuses to listen and insists on harming the people under my governance and my interests, then I can only send troops to quell the chaos.”
Ming Yu smiled faintly and asked again, “What does the young lady think of Dajin’s future?”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Its lifespan is numbered.”
Meaning Dajin’s days were numbered—it would certainly fall.
Ming Yu then lowered his voice slightly and asked, “Will the young lady rebel?”
Ji Yuan suddenly raised his head, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the other party.
Zhao Hanzhang remained calm and composed, shaking her head. “I will not rebel against Jin.”
Ming Yu’s lips curved up as he asked, “Since the young lady sees Jin’s numbered days, why not seize the opportunity to establish yourself as king?”
Zhao Hanzhang looked up and smiled slightly at him. Before formally deciding to recruit Ming Yu, she had learned about this famous strategist through various channels.
Like Yan Heng—no, actually the two of them, like Ji Yuan, all looked down on the Jin court.
Previously, they had no path to office. Though their status seemed humble, their spirits were not low.
As literati, they had their own pride. They looked down on the promise-breaking Sima clan and scorned Emperor Wu of Jin who handed the state over to a fool. Therefore, they had no loyalty to the Jin court—none whatsoever.
In this respect, even the aristocratic families and great clans who had been constraining the Jin court couldn’t compare to them. At least the aristocratic families and great clans acknowledged the Jin court—they were just somewhat dissatisfied with the Sima family.
For people like Ming Yu and Yan Heng, like Ji Yuan, they wanted to find an enlightened ruler to rebuild order, leave their names in history, and also restore clear skies for the common people.
So when they spoke of rebellion, it was as casual as drinking water. Because of this, Zhao Hanzhang dared to discuss this directly with Ming Yu.
She was also very candid, speaking directly. “Although the world is in great chaos and Jin’s prestige has been swept away, as long as the Jin emperor exists, the chaos in the world still has limits.”
She continued, “Currently, I lack the strength to resist external enemies and lack the capability and prestige to pacify the realm in one stroke. Establishing myself as king would only make myself a target for all under heaven to attack together.”
Ming Yu’s eyes brightened. She hadn’t denied the matter of claiming kingship—she only said she currently lacked the capability to do so.
Ming Yu thought of Gou Xi, who always claimed to be loyal, upright, and incorruptible, and his current appearance. Then looking at Zhao Hanzhang, who made no effort to conceal her ambitions, he couldn’t help but laugh loudly.
As he laughed, tears came to his eyes.
“I was mistaken. We were all mistaken. Those who appear humble on the surface may not truly be humble. Those who appear loyal, upright, and incorruptive may also be cowardly and extravagant. But you, young lady,” he looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down and asked, “You are full of ambition yet don’t rush to accumulate wealth. Instead, you reduce taxes, encourage agriculture and sericulture, build roads and bridges. Aren’t you afraid that one day this territory will be forcibly seized by others, and you’ll end up making wedding clothes for someone else?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I will do my utmost to hold this territory and not let it be taken. But if one day it is seized, I won’t regret what I’ve done today.”
She continued, “At least the people of this land will have experienced stability. Their current accumulation will give them more capital to survive in future warfare. We can’t stop eating for fear of choking.”
Ming Yu said, “I’ve observed the young lady’s governance over these three years. You seem quite sympathetic toward the people, but I wonder if you can remain as you are today when you one day hold great power like Prince Donghai or General Gou.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression grew solemn as she said seriously, “I will never forget my original intention. Mister Ming and Mister Ji can supervise me from the side. If, for the sake of the world’s people, I act foolishly, you may… beat me?”
Ming Yu immediately seized the opportunity. “But when the young lady holds great power, Ji Yuan and I are powerless scholars. Even if we have the will, we’ll likely lack the ability, won’t we?”
Sweet words—who couldn’t say them? Previously, when he and Yan Heng were under Gou Xi’s command, he treated the two strategists very intimately, always saying they were the closest people to him—even closer than his parents and brothers. What was the result?
Now hadn’t Gou Xi still killed Yan Heng, who was supposedly closer than his parents and brothers?
It was clear that the master’s mouth was full of deceiving nonsense. Empty words from their lips—he didn’t believe any of it.
Mister Ji’s gaze flickered as he sat calmly to the side. Although he didn’t think Zhao Hanzhang would be that kind of person, Ming Yu’s move was for their benefit, so he had no need to undermine it.
Mm, this Ming Yu truly lived up to his reputation as a famous strategist. With just one statement, he’d pulled him, the old strategist from Zhao Hanzhang’s side, over to his camp. Truly formidable.
Ji Yuan looked leisurely toward Zhao Hanzhang, waiting for her response.
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment, then got up and went out. She fetched the horse whip she used most often and handed it to the two men. “This is my commonly used horse whip. I’m giving it to you two misters. In the future, if I act foolishly like Prince Donghai and Gou Xi, you may use this whip to strike me. This is also your life-saving talisman. If because of admonishing me, I or others want to kill you, this whip can absolve you of guilt.”
Ming Yu’s pupils contracted. He hadn’t expected Zhao Hanzhang could go this far. He thought her maximum concession would be to call several witnesses and make some vows.
Ming Yu couldn’t help but look at Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan also set down his wine bowl and looked seriously at Zhao Hanzhang. “Is the young lady serious?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “A ruler’s word cannot be taken lightly!”
Ming Yu and Ji Yuan looked at each other, then respectfully straightened their waists, changed from sitting to kneeling, and received the whip with both hands. After looking at it once, he turned and handed it to Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan was startled and quickly declined. “This whip was given by the young lady to Mister Ming. Mister Ming should hold it.”
“Mister Ji speaks incorrectly. The young lady clearly gave this whip to both of us.”
Zhao Hanzhang also nodded repeatedly. “Right, right, given to both misters. In the future, if I act foolishly, both misters can hold the whip and strike me awake.”
Ji Yuan said, “Then Mister Ming should still keep it.”
Ming Yu insisted on giving it to him. “Mister is the young lady’s trusted aide and confidant. This whip should be kept by you.”
He continued, “If Mister doesn’t take it, I can’t help but suspect whether this has offended the young lady, and whether this whip is real or fake.”
Zhao Hanzhang then urged along, “Mister Ji, please accept it.”
After all, who kept it didn’t matter, right?
They’d both be using it to whip her anyway.
Only then did Ji Yuan receive it with both hands, looking at Zhao Hanzhang with a half-smile. “Then the young lady must be careful in the future and not commit any great errors.”
Zhao Hanzhang quickly cupped her hands. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”
Having obtained this guarantee and seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s magnanimity and sincerity, Ming Yu immediately felt refreshed and clear-headed. Only then did he take out the copper coin he’d been keeping in his breast and asked, “Young lady, is this the new currency you minted?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at it. “That’s right.”
“So the young lady currently has copper mines in hand?”
They were all on the same side now. Even for someone who had just joined, Zhao Hanzhang trusted him completely and directly told him their faction’s secret. “Correct. I have a copper mine in hand, though it’s rather small. It’s currently being mined.”
“Does the young lady intend for this new currency to be used only in Luoyang, or to circulate throughout the realm?”
“Naturally, to circulate throughout the realm,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Commerce means circulation. Naturally, the broader the better, especially now when Luoyang has few people and resources—it’s precisely when we need commercial circulation.”
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