The provincial governors and officials who came to attend the sacrifice had at most brought a few hundred soldiers for escort. Zhao Hanzhang brought the most people—over a thousand—and that was because she was Gou Xi’s most important opponent and feared he might take the opportunity to kill her.
These few hundred or thousand people meant nothing before the two hundred thousand Xiongnu army.
Conversely, if the Xiongnu could quickly surround Yuncheng, trapping them like they had the Prince of Donghai’s party, and directly capture Dajin’s Emperor, court officials, and visiting regional officials in one net, Dajin would certainly fall completely and thoroughly.
Among the Dajin imperial family currently in the city were quite a few. Oh yes, the founding emperor of Eastern Jin, Sima Rui, was here too.
At this time, Sima Rui was just an ordinary Dajin imperial clansman, his status far below Crown Prince Sima Quan, Prince of Wu Sima Yan, Prince of Qin Sima Ye, and others.
Because Sima Rui was only a distant branch of the imperial family, not a direct descendant of Emperor Wu of Jin.
Except for Zhao Hanzhang, no one knew he would eventually surpass all of Emperor Wu’s descendants to become legitimate ruler. Not even he himself knew.
However, Sima Rui valued his life. He agreed to provide provisions and, upon returning, would lead troops to support—on the condition that he had to return. So he stood forth in court to take his leave from the Emperor, stating he would immediately return to arrange for military provisions and recruit troops.
Once Sima Rui took the lead, other governors and regional officials also stepped forward to take their leave.
They all accepted the tasks Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had just assigned, but the prerequisite was returning home first!
Gou Xi’s expression was terrible. He couldn’t help looking at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang’s face also looked bad, but she still nodded slightly and quietly told the Emperor standing between her and Gou Xi, “A forced melon isn’t sweet. Forcing them to stay won’t help—it would only cause trouble. Let them go.”
Gou Xi heard this too. He bit his lip, and seeing the Emperor look over, nodded slightly.
Zhao Hanzhang said in a low voice, “Have Your Majesty personally see them off.”
Gou Xi’s eyes flashed. He bit his teeth. “Let me change into plain clothes and accompany Your Majesty in seeing them beyond the city.”
This was Gou Xi asking for forgiveness.
Zhao Hanzhang showed no opposition.
The Emperor was deeply moved and immediately agreed, consenting to their requests to depart.
He led all the civil and military officials in seeing them to the city outskirts, personally clasping their hands one by one. “We and the Grand General will hold firm here, awaiting your reinforcements.”
Governors and officials who had originally planned to flee were touched to tears hearing this, pledging, “Your Majesty, rest assured—we will definitely come!”
Gou Xi, dressed in plain clothes, stepped forward and bowed to all in apology. “These past two years I’ve been muddled, greatly mismanaging state affairs. This is my crime. When this matter concludes, I will beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness and the people’s forgiveness. I only ask that you all set aside past grievances—resisting the enemy is paramount. Whatever resentments you have, settle accounts with me after this battle.”
Many people secretly glanced at Zhao Hanzhang.
Originally standing at the Emperor’s side and rear, Zhao Hanzhang stepped forward two paces and, turning sideways, returned Gou Xi’s bow before responding, “Agreed. Let’s set aside our enmities for now. Grand General, let us work together wholeheartedly to resist the enemy first.”
Seeing this, everyone followed suit in returning the bow and agreeing.
After the ceremony, they boarded carriages or mounted horses, took their staff and officials, and fled.
The Emperor watched them depart, his lips trembling. He instinctively felt that once they left, they would never return. He couldn’t help looking at Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi standing to the side. “Beloved ministers, will they truly return?”
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression was calm. “Unwilling and reluctant, they would not help here but dispersed can serve as kindling.”
She paused, seeming to feel her words were too pessimistic.
Gou Xi glanced at her and told the Emperor, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Your servant will certainly protect you.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “As will this subject!”
With the people gone, there was no need to argue about whether to sacrifice to Heaven.
After discussion, everyone decided they should still defend Yuncheng.
Yuncheng’s geographical position was crucial. Once captured, all of Yanzhou would be lost. Then the Xiongnu army could attack Yuzhou not only from the north but from the east as well.
So this was a matter of shared prosperity and adversity.
Zhao Hanzhang’s order summoning Zhao Ju’s army to reinforce had already been dispatched. She also needed to leave and return to Yuzhou to manage the overall situation.
Most important was Luoyang.
Gou Xi also said, “Governor Zhao, Luoyang cannot be lost, nor can Chen County fall.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s face was solemn. “Grand General, rest assured. As long as I stand, Chen County stands.”
Chen County was the Central Plains’ last line of defense. If Chen County fell too, she would truly have to consider relocating her family south—and this was the catastrophe she’d worked so hard these past years to avoid.
Thinking of Gou Xi’s actions in history, Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyes to look at him and said earnestly, “Grand General, I am your backup. Please trust me, and don’t speak lightly of victory or defeat.”
Gou Xi immediately nodded.
The Emperor standing to the side watched them and realized they’d discussed everything between themselves.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at the Emperor and personally escorted him back to the palace, quietly telling him, “Please trust the Grand General, Your Majesty. Work together wholeheartedly to resist the enemy.”
The Emperor asked her in a small voice, “Beloved minister, if Yuncheng should fall, where should I go?”
Zhao Hanzhang met the Emperor’s tear-filled eyes, paused, and softened somewhat. After all, the Emperor was only twenty-seven years old. From when he was made Crown Prince at twenty-one, he’d been constantly manipulated as a puppet, unable to control his own fate.
Zhao Hanzhang pressed her lips together and said quietly, “Your Majesty may go to Chen County. If Luoyang still stands, return the capital to Luoyang. If Luoyang no longer exists, I will welcome Your Majesty into Chen County, to Xiping, or to Jiangnan or Huainan…”
The Emperor’s eyes filled with tears.
Zhao Hanzhang continued, “But at this moment, Your Majesty is Jin’s anchor. Please hold Yuncheng and settle the hearts of the realm’s ten thousand people.”
The Emperor nodded vigorously. “Very well!”
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang raise her hand in farewell.
The Emperor hurried to see her off. Zhao Hanzhang stopped him. “Your Majesty just returned from outside the city. Why make another journey? This subject can leave on her own.”
She said, “Your Majesty, rest easy here. The Grand General will certainly protect you. This subject will definitely lead the army to reinforce.”
The Emperor nodded repeatedly. He could only stand in place watching her walk away. After a moment he remembered something and quickly called over Zhou Neijian. “Quickly summon Minister Zhao and have him see off Governor Zhao.”
Zhou Neijian bowed his head in acknowledgment and ran to the side hall to find the busy Zhao Zhongyu.
Zhao Zhongyu hurried from the palace back home. Zhao Hanzhang was having people pack, preparing for an emergency march.
Ming Yu had just learned the full story from Zhao Hanzhang. “The Prince of Langya also left?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
Ming Yu frowned slightly and asked, “I recall you once told Master Fu that should Dajin one day face great calamity but not perish, the only option would be to retreat southward. At that time, the person most likely to inherit the throne would be the Prince of Langya. This is Dajin’s battle for survival. Why did you let him go?”
Since Zhao Hanzhang had ambitions, why not take this opportunity to eliminate him?
With Zhao Hanzhang’s current power and position, killing one relatively unimportant imperial clansman—well, he’d just be dead.