Zhao Hanzhang led Liu Yi in a grand procession to the center of the main camp and very generously had the mess hall prepare good meat and good dishes.

The logistics department had dried pork and also some live pigs and sheep, but not many.

So Zhao Hanzhang was very frugal and didn’t want to eat alone. If they didn’t have a guest today, they’d have to wait another two days to have meat, and even then not much – with fifty thousand troops in the entire army, they’d be lucky to get a bowl of soup with oil droplets in it.

The mess hall received Zhao Hanzhang’s order and immediately went to the logistics department to select a fat sheep and slaughtered it on the spot.

They moved with practiced efficiency, and the mess hall happened to have water boiling. Catching the sheep, killing the sheep, and draining the blood took only a quarter hour.

The head cook’s knife slid across the whetstone, then he pressed down the sheep’s head and with smooth yet gentle movements made a circuit. In less than half a quarter hour, he had peeled off a complete sheepskin.

The soldier holding a torch to provide light couldn’t help but clap his hands, “Head cook is amazing!”

The head cook raised his head proudly, “I’m not good at other things, but skinning sheep is child’s play. Back in Luoyang, I skinned all the sheep in the army. The sheepskins I peel have no excess meat and aren’t torn or damaged. The boots the Commissioner is currently wearing are made from sheepskin I peeled – very warm.”

The onlookers immediately joined in praising him.

The head cook’s face turned oily and red from being praised. He pretended to be modest with a wave of his hand, calling to his subordinates, “Hurry and process the mutton and lamb legs properly and send them to the Commissioner for roasting. Don’t neglect our guest.”

Everyone acknowledged and set about rubbing legs and slicing meat. Before long, they were carrying things off to find Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang invited the young Prince Liu Yi to sit by the fire and had people invite his guards to sit and rest on the other side.

Except for the captain of the guards, everyone else went along.

Ji Yuan hurried over, and what he saw was Zhao Hanzhang sitting happily by the fire. He didn’t know who had a bigger heart – she who dared to let the other side’s guards bring weapons close to her, or Liu Yi who dared to bring just twenty people into an enemy army camp.

Ji Yuan silently stepped forward.

Seeing him, Zhao Hanzhang immediately introduced them happily, “Master Ji, this is the Han Kingdom’s Prince of Beihai. Prince of Beihai, this is Master Ji from my staff.”

Liu Yi looked up at Ji Yuan again. He had heard of Ji Yuan too. According to people around his father, this was the most capable person beside Zhao Hanzhang.

Her current achievements were due first to Ji Yuan, second to the Zhao clan, and some also said second to Fu Tinghan, though this latter claim was quite controversial.

People around his father had once proposed sending people with money and beautiful women to bribe Ji Yuan, but supposedly all those who went never returned – they were all arrested as spies, and the money they brought all went into Zhao Hanzhang’s pocket.

So his father stopped sending people to Yu Province to bribe those around Zhao Hanzhang.

Liu Yi greatly admired this kind of principled and honorable strategist. Therefore, he immediately stood up and bowed, “Master Ji.”

Seeing this young prince be so polite and gentle, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly, telling Ji Yuan to sit down quickly so they could all roast mutton together.

The mess hall brought up a stone slab, brushed it with a layer of soybean oil, and then left, letting them roast the meat themselves. On another side, a lamb leg was also hanging.

Zhao Hanzhang turned the meat slices while asking, “Prince of Beihai, coming from Pingyang City, did you eat on the way?”

Liu Yi honestly shook his head.

Zhao Hanzhang then gave him the roasted meat to eat and had people bring up a basket of white flour steamed buns.

These were good things even she couldn’t afford to eat often. But she couldn’t show weakness in front of her opponent, so she had the good things brought up.

Zhao Hanzhang had him eat while asking, “The Prince of Beihai said he came to negotiate peace with me?”

Liu Yi took a bite of steamed bun and a bite of roasted meat, eating with great relish, and nodded, “Yes, my great Han has abundant military strength. You can’t capture Pingyang, so why waste soldiers’ lives for nothing? Why don’t we negotiate peace instead?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at his youthful face, fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly smiled and readily agreed, “Alright. Only, Prince of Beihai, what conditions can you offer for peace negotiations with me?”

Liu Yi was startled, and his hand holding the steamed bun froze as he asked, “What conditions are needed? You withdraw your troops and leave, we don’t attack you, and we won’t reclaim the commanderies and counties you forcibly occupied…”

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, interrupting him, “That won’t do. The Prince of Beihai came only to speak of peace negotiations, yet shows no sincerity at all. I’m beginning to suspect the Han court is deliberately making fun of me.”

Liu Yi hurriedly said, “The matter of peace negotiations was personally approved by my father. Commissioner Zhao, I think you must know that my fourth brother will be returning soon. When the main army arrives, you’ll have no choice but to retreat anyway.”

“While there haven’t been casualties yet, leaving early and avoiding disaster – wouldn’t that be good?”

Zhao Hanzhang narrowed her eyes, smiling as she said, “For Liu Cong to retreat from Jinyang back to Pingyang is quite a distance. Since the Prince of Beihai has come today, to show sincerity, I won’t hide it from you – I had planned to launch a night attack on Pingyang City tonight.”

Liu Yi was shocked and alarmed, “What? You’re going to night attack Pingyang City? Have the troops already departed?”

Zhao Hanzhang only smiled without speaking.

Liu Yi hurriedly said, “You mustn’t, you mustn’t! If you dare attack Pingyang, General Shi will certainly send troops to defend the sovereign. At that time, you definitely won’t survive.”

“If I die, shouldn’t your Han Kingdom be happy? Why is the Prince of Beihai so anxious?”

Liu Yi opened his mouth, and after a long moment said, “I, I admire Commissioner Zhao’s character and don’t wish to see you throw away your life for nothing.”

Seeing him so flustered, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh heartily. She slapped his shoulder hard with delight, saying, “Just for the Seventh Prince’s words, this meal of meat I’m serving is well worth it.”

She had people bring up wine.

There was even less wine in the army than meat – this was used to ward off the cold. Zhao Hanzhang poured him a bowl, then poured one for herself. After clinking bowls with him and drinking it all in one gulp, she looked at him with a half-smile, “But I don’t think Shi Lei’s reinforcements can reach Pingyang City.”

“My General Beigong is no pushover – Shi Lei is no match for him at all,” Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile. “And to take a detour, would your five Xiongnu tribes and other tribes be willing to let Shi Lei’s main army pass through their territory?”

Liu Yi was shocked, a chill running down his spine. How did she know they were unwilling?

Zhao Hanzhang, seeing his expression, had her speculation confirmed. She became even happier, though her face showed little change. She smiled, “Shi Lei is brutal, comparable to your fourth brother. His subordinate generals killing and eating people is commonplace. Letting him pass through your territory – what he might take with him when he leaves is uncertain. He might even stay and refuse to leave. At that time, your losses would be even greater than my attacking Pingyang City.”

Liu Yi pressed his lips together and defended Shi Lei, “That’s only his subordinate generals’ doing. General Shi himself is unwilling to act thus.”

He added, “My father has shown him kindness in recognizing his worth. He will remember my father’s favor.”

“Is that so?” Zhao Hanzhang asked. “If Shi Lei were grateful, why would he seize Shangdang Commandery?”

Liu Yi couldn’t come up with a defense. He was still young, and his character wasn’t firm enough. He was quickly led astray by Zhao Hanzhang.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang say slowly, “As for Liu Cong, returning from such a long journey, the main army will be exhausted. Do you think he can withstand my Zhao family army, which has been well-rested and conserving our strength?”

—