The two guards saw the stranger and couldn’t help tensing, their hands quietly moving toward their sword hilts.
Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him, her gaze sweeping over his face, clothes, and shoes. She smiled slightly. “Governor Wang, please sit.”
Wang Dun hadn’t expected her to recognize him. He lifted his robe and sat down, then felt around and said, “This stall uses tables and stools modeled after Yuzhou’s, doesn’t it?”
Looking along the street, he noticed quite a few stalls had tables and stools set out, and felt somewhat envious. “Qingzhou is isolated, so we don’t have such tables and stools. Therefore, food stalls along the road require people to eat standing, and only in spacious areas can low tables and mats be set out. Though the barbarians lack proper etiquette, these barbarian stools and barbarian tables are convenient.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Indeed. Besides these tables and stools, some of their barbarian clothing and weapons are also very suitable for traveling. If Governor Wang is interested, after returning you could have craftsmen study them. These things aren’t difficult.”
The two of them conversed pleasantly as if they’d known each other for years, without any awkwardness of a first meeting. The stall owner watching from the side was dumbfounded. Coming to his senses, he hurried to cook the dumplings.
He’d never imagined his small stall would suddenly host two governors.
While stirring the dough, he couldn’t help glancing at Zhao Hanzhang. Male governors were common, but female governors were rare!
Zhao Hanzhang finished her dumplings and slowly sipped the remaining broth, waiting for Wang Dun to state his purpose.
Wang Dun had come on a whim, mainly wanting to make more connections.
Supposedly, Gou Xi’s banquet would have been the best place to network, but he disliked their debauched lifestyle and looked down on those indulging in sensual pleasures, so he’d left.
He hadn’t expected to actually encounter Zhao Hanzhang near the tavern.
Wang Dun said, “Governor Zhao saved my nephew and two nieces, and collected my brother’s remains. For such great kindness, I must offer Governor Zhao a toast.”
He had his attendant go to the tavern across the street to buy fine wine.
He continued, “My niece becoming Jingzhou Governor owes much to Governor Zhao’s recommendation. I ask that you continue to look after her.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “I recommended Siniang because she has the capability. Governor Wang needn’t blame me for taking Wang Cheng’s official position.”
Wang Dun snorted coldly. “No need to worry about him. He was unworthy of being governor anyway.”
Though he and Wang Cheng were both placed by Wang Yan in sinecure positions, he looked down on Wang Cheng greatly. And Wang Cheng, even more arrogant and conceited than Wang Dun, looked down on Wang Dun even more. Yet Wang Yan still considered Wang Cheng the world’s finest, superior to Wang Dun.
In any case, Wang Dun was unconvinced by him from body to soul.
Mentioning Wang Cheng reminded Wang Dun of Liu Kun. Liu Kun was Wang Cheng’s good friend. Wang Dun disliked his brother Wang Cheng but greatly admired Liu Kun, being Liu Kun’s devoted fan.
He leaned forward, asking with interest, “Has Governor Zhao met Liu Yueshi?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “Never.”
Wang Dun frowned. “But I heard Liu Yueshi considers Governor Zhao a kindred spirit?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “We’ve met through correspondence.”
Wang Dun perked up. “I heard Governor Zhao once sent Liu Yueshi a musical score. What was it?”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Who told Governor Wang this?”
“News from Jinyang! Liu Yueshi holds you in highest regard. The musical score you sent was one of the reasons. You didn’t know?”
She didn’t know! She’d thought Liu Kun was impressed by her military and political abilities. Turns out he was impressed by her musical talent?
Zhao Hanzhang fell silent.
Wang Dun grew nervous but still asked, “Though Governor Zhao hasn’t met Liu Yueshi, you two must correspond, right?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
If she shook her head, he wouldn’t believe it anyway.
Wang Dun immediately said, “Last night I wrote several pieces of calligraphy. Would Governor Zhao care to examine them and compare them to Liu Yueshi’s?”
He added, “I also play the qin. Why not listen and compare to Liu Yueshi?”
Zhao Hanzhang understood—this was a true devoted fan who wanted to compare everything to Liu Kun.
The problem was, she knew Liu Kun’s calligraphy but had never heard Liu Kun’s music!
Even for calligraphy, there was a difference between artistic calligraphy and ordinary correspondence.
Zhao Hanzhang was about to decline when her ears twitched. She couldn’t help raising her head to look toward the city gate.
Wang Dun curiously turned back, following her gaze but seeing nothing unusual. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard a great shout: “Six-hundred-li emergency report! Everyone clear the way…”
People walking on the street heard the shout and immediately scattered like birds and beasts, running to both sides of the street. They’d barely taken cover when a horse came thundering through, charging down the street behind them without pausing. The rider on the horse whipped it desperately while shouting, “Six-hundred-li emergency report! Everyone clear the way—”
Watching the courier gallop toward the palace, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help glancing at Wang Dun, their eyes meeting.
Both immediately stood, urgently calling out, “Prepare horses to enter the palace!”
Wang Dun grabbed his own horse and leaped onto it. Zhao Hanzhang also took her horse and mounted. Seeing the stall owner had just brought out three bowls of drop dumplings, she grabbed a handful of copper coins from her robe and tossed them to him. “Keep the change.”
The guards wanted to mention that he’d already paid for their dumplings when they first ordered, but seeing Wang Dun had already followed their Governor and run off, they could only follow.
How stingy—older than our Governor, senior in rank, yet holding a lower position, and meeting for the first time he has our Governor treat him to noodles.
Wang Dun had sharp instincts. He hadn’t reacted at first, but running to the city gate he thought of it. He couldn’t help glancing at Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing that upon reaching the palace gate she immediately dismounted, handing her horse to the palace guards and even removing her sword to hand over, not making things difficult for the palace guards at all, he came forward and also removed his sword to hand it over.
Wang Dun said, “Governor Zhao’s reputation is well-deserved indeed.”
Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head in confusion. “Hm?”
“It’s nothing,” Wang Dun said. “Let’s go. People are already coming out from the palace.”
Palace eunuchs and guards were filing out in pairs, rushing toward them. The leading pair, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, were delighted and immediately ran up. “Governor Zhao, perfect timing! Urgent military report—His Majesty was just about to summon you.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded slightly. Seeing Wang Dun still standing there, she gestured between him and the eunuch. “This is Governor Wang of Guangzhou.”
The eunuch reacted, immediately bowing. “Governor Wang, please come inside quickly. His Majesty has also summoned you.”
Actually, the Emperor had summoned everyone he could think of.
Zhao Hanzhang heard this and knew something major had happened. While hurrying toward the main hall, she asked, “Where is the military report from?”
“From Yanzhou!” the eunuch said. “The Xiongnu suddenly attacked southward, taking five cities in succession. They’ve already advanced close to Yuncheng.”
Zhao Hanzhang cried out in disbelief, “How is that possible?”
Wang Dun also found it impossible. “What about the defending garrison? How could five cities fall before we received news?”