Fu Tinghan said, “For them, the Emperor is a prize morsel, but for us, he isn’t—especially since many of our policies are newly instituted. The Emperor represents the court, and with so many old officials around him, every policy requires lengthy discussion. Yet what we lack most is time.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “These past few years have seen not only warfare but natural disasters. I have a feeling the coming years will be even harder. So we have no time to waste on internal strife. Though Gou Xi is an obstruction that annoys us, he can restrain the court.”
“It’s just hard on Great-Uncle,” Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “At his advanced age, navigating between Gou Xi and the Emperor, his days won’t be easy.”
Thinking of what the letter described, Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flashed coldly. “Though I’m willing to yield to Gou Xi, that doesn’t mean he can treat Great-Uncle with the power of life and death. This time he strangled Great-Uncle unconscious. If I say nothing, won’t he use a blade next time?”
Ji Yuan nodded repeatedly, also angry. “Yes, we should do something to let him know that the Zhao clan leader isn’t someone he can treat however he wishes.”
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought. After a moment, she looked up. “We need to send someone to Jizhou.”
Ji Yuan asked, “To help Liu Kun? But we’ve already deployed troops here to contain the Xiongnu forces, which is a great help. I hear Liu Cong has already led his great army back in aid, leaving only part of his forces at Jinyang.”
“No, to see Wang Jun,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Right now, Liu Kun can focus entirely on dealing with Wang Jun. He truly lacks talent in commanding troops, but he has great reputation among the people, making others naturally incline toward him…” and then leave him.
“Zhongshan Jun is his homeland—siding with him is understandable. But Dai Jun, Shanggu Jun, and other prefectures sided with him because of his reputation,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “If Wang Jun wants to compete with Liu Kun for prefectures in Jizhou without relying on military force, it’s basically impossible.”
Fu Tinghan asked, “What if he relies on military force?”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Then Liu Kun is no match for him.”
Historically, Liu Kun’s younger brother Liu Xi was killed by Wang Jun in this competition. Wang Jun’s military strength was formidable, second only to hers and Gou Xi’s.
Moreover, he was ambitious, like her harboring the heart of an emperor—completely unlike Gou Xi, who only wanted to control the emperor and enjoy himself.
Their greatest difference was that Zhao Hanzhang could extend the timeline for ruling the realm indefinitely. She wasn’t anxious about ten years or even twenty—she didn’t care about the title of emperor. As long as she could make decisions in her territory, having the emperor’s authority was enough.
Wang Jun, however, was impatient. When Prince Donghai had just died, he was already restless. If something happened to the Jin Emperor, he’d probably proclaim himself emperor immediately.
Such a person was both difficult and easy to persuade.
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Send someone to convince him—what’s the point of taking Jizhou? Half of Jizhou is in Shi Lei and Liu Yuan’s hands. Can he defeat Shi Lei, or can he defeat Liu Yuan?”
“Better to turn east and take Qingzhou instead,” she said excitedly. “If he’s willing to take Qingzhou, I’ll support him with money, grain, and weapons!”
Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan: …
Ji Yuan quickly caught on and mused, “How confident is my lady that we can convince him?”
“I have no confidence at all, but I’m sure someone does. We can present facts and reason with him,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “How can he be certain that continuing to fight will defeat Liu Kun?”
“Tell him I support Liu Kun!”
No need to tell him—everyone under heaven already knew Zhao Hanzhang supported Liu Kun.
Ji Yuan asked, “But how can we make him believe he can conquer Qingzhou?” This was the key.
Zhao Hanzhang sneered. “If he fights for Jizhou, Gou Xi won’t give him money, grain, or weapons. At most, he can only take half before having to cross swords with Shi Lei and Liu Yuan.”
“But if he attacks Qingzhou, I’ll give him money, grain, and weapons. He once concurrently served as Qingzhou Inspector. Though the court appointed Gou Chun as Qingzhou Inspector, they haven’t revoked his position. So taking Qingzhou is perfectly legitimate,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “It’s been several months since Gou Chun went to Qingzhou, hasn’t it?”
“By now, the Qingzhou people probably resent him deeply. If Wang Jun attacks Qingzhou, the people there might even help him.”
Ji Yuan said, “If my lady went to persuade him personally, you should be able to convince him.”
His eyes sparkled as he laughed heartily. “Let’s do it this way. I just don’t know who would be suitable to go?”
Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan exchanged glances. Ji Yuan smiled. “I have a candidate in mind. From my lady’s expression, you also have someone in mind. Why don’t we write our choices in our palms and see if we’re of one mind?”
At this time, they had camped in the wilderness, sitting around a fire. Fan Ying, hearing this, was about to rise to fetch writing materials. Fu Tinghan stopped her. “I have some here.”
He took a bamboo tube from his cloth bag, unscrewed it, and poured a little into the lid—it was ink.
As he was about to search his pockets for a brush, Zhao Hanzhang had already dipped her finger in the ink, saying carelessly, “Washing hands is more convenient than washing a brush.”
Fu Tinghan: … He hadn’t asked her to wash anything.
Ji Yuan laughed heartily and also dipped his finger in ink to write on his palm. After a moment, they both displayed their palms. Everyone curiously leaned in to look.
On Zhao Hanzhang’s palm was written “Xin, Jie,” while Ji Yuan’s read “Jie, Xin.”
Fan Ying couldn’t help muttering, “Didn’t you say one person?”
Ji Yuan said, “This is my lady’s cunning. You clearly said to write only one person, yet you wrote two names?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Back at you, back at you.”
Ji Yuan laughed heartily. After laughing, he became serious. “Zhao Xin has eloquence and can represent my lady and the Zhao clan in stating our position. Wei Jie has reputation and is equally talented in debate. Wang Jun is the type who fishes for fame and reputation. Even for Wei Jie’s sake, he won’t make things too difficult for Zhao Xin. And with him present, Wang Jun will believe the conditions Zhao Xin promises.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “I thought the same. Only, Wei Jie’s health is poor. I don’t know if he can endure the journey.”
Ji Yuan said, “If he could travel from south of the Yangtze to Luoyang to join my lady, he can naturally go from Luoyang to Jizhou. If my lady is worried, we can send more people to protect him.”
Bandits ran rampant along the way, so they did need more personnel.
Moreover, traveling from Luoyang to Wang Jun’s location in Jizhou required passing through Shi Lei’s territory—they needed to be even more careful.
Zhao Hanzhang was pondering when a clerk carrying a pile of documents came running up. “Inspector! Inspector! Let me go with them too. I can protect Young Master Wei.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked up and raised her eyebrows. “Zhao Shi? How did you get to the battlefield?”
Zhao Shi glanced at Fan Ying and replied, “Reporting to the Inspector, I was selected from the Imperial Academy to accompany the army on campaign. I was originally going to the battlefield, but Attendant Fan selected me as a clerk.”
He was in the rear. Zhao Hanzhang had been leading troops at the front, recovering lost territories. Often, by the time they arrived at a location, Zhao Hanzhang had already taken the city and left. They could only handle the aftermath behind her.
When they caught up again, Zhao Hanzhang had already moved on. They could only communicate through courier soldiers, exchanging messages and receiving orders. If it weren’t for their siege of Pingyang Jun without attacking, he probably wouldn’t have seen Zhao Hanzhang today.
Zhao Shi looked at Zhao Hanzhang expectantly. “Inspector, please let me go along. I’ve been practicing martial arts diligently. I’m only a year younger than Cousin Yong. Look, he can already attack cities and seize territory.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked him up and down, even reaching out to squeeze his arm. After a moment, she smiled broadly. “Very well. Our Zhao clan has a qilin—we can’t keep him confined indoors. Go ahead.”
Zhao Shi happily acknowledged, set down the documents, and solemnly bowed. “Shi will not fail the Inspector’s trust.”