Zhao Zhongyu returned to his residence, and Zhao Ji and Tan Zhong immediately came out to greet him.

Thanks to his connection with Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Zhongyu received the best treatment among all the Jin officials. Not only were his son and advisors still with him, but even his steward and guards remained.

They were just under heavy surveillance.

Zhao Zhongyu entered the house with a stern face. Zhao Ji and Tan Zhong silently followed, while Zhao Dian swept his eyes over the Xiongnu soldiers who had escorted Zhao Zhongyu back. He didn’t follow inside but stood guard at the entrance.

As soon as they entered, Zhao Ji hurriedly asked, “Father, what did the Great General say?”

What Zhao Zhongyu least wanted to hear right now were those three words “Great General.” When it came from his own son, his anger was instantly ignited. He asked furiously, “Which Great General are you asking about? The one who surrendered, Gou Xi, or the one who captured us, Liu Cong?”

Zhao Ji’s face flushed red. He lowered his head but still spoke defiantly, “Father, we’ve already been captured. You still keep the Zhao clan and Zhao Hanzhang in your heart, but do they think of you?”

Zhao Zhongyu sneered coldly, “That you’re still alive now is because you’re borrowing the influence of the Zhao clan and Zhao Hanzhang. Otherwise, you would have been killed along with Lu Zuo and the others long ago.”

When Yuncheng was breached, Zhao Zhongyu was in the palace while Zhao Ji was outside. He had recovered considerably from his injuries, and with Zhao Hanzhang gone and battles raging everywhere, no one was watching over him.

The accumulated resentment from when Zhao Hanzhang was present left him with nowhere to vent, so he went to find his fair-weather friends to drink and make merry together, taking the opportunity to complain about Zhao Hanzhang.

A night of revelry, and while he was sleeping peacefully, the Xiongnu army broke into Yuncheng, storming into the tavern to kill and plunder. Those aristocratic young masters were cut down just like performers and servants, and only the beautiful women could survive.

Zhao Ji survived because he shouted that he was Zhao Hanzhang’s uncle.

At that time, everyone in the building, regardless of status, was killed.

He was escorted to Zhao Zhongyu’s side also because of Zhao Hanzhang.

Were it not for borrowing Zhao Hanzhang’s influence, as a powerless Marquis of Shangcai, even if he had survived by chance, he would now be living with the other low-ranking Jin officials and nobles in the sheep pens.

Thinking about how his future was uncertain, his life or death unclear, Zhao Zhongyu felt irritable. He looked at his son with heavy eyes, still not quite trusting him. After driving him out, he discussed matters with Tan Zhong. “The emperor refuses to take his own life. Liu Cong will most likely use us to threaten Hanzhang.”

Hearing this, Tan Zhong sighed. “All people fear death. This is human nature. What does my lord plan to do?”

Zhao Zhongyu said, “I cannot escape, but you, sir, can try.”

He continued, “Zu Ti is Hanzhang’s man. Find a way to contact him. If we can rescue the emperor, that would be best. If we cannot rescue the emperor, then flee if you can. If you’re fortunate enough to see Sanniang, ask her on my behalf to take good care of the Zhao clan and my children.”

Tan Zhong tearfully agreed.

While Zhao Zhongyu and his people were closely guarded, with their lives hanging by a thread, they had plenty of idle time each day.

Occasionally, Zhao Zhongyu would be dragged out to attend banquets, where he and Emperor Jin would be mocked and ridiculed by the Xiongnu people together. As for Zhao Ji, no one bothered to pull him out for humiliation. He had quite a leisurely time, but he too felt very uncomfortable.

As long as he didn’t leave their small courtyard residence, it was fine. But once he stepped outside, anyone could look at him with contempt. Even servants could humiliate and slight him.

So Zhao Ji was very uncomfortable.

But his discomfort was not even one-tenth of what Zhao Zhongyu and the other Jin officials suffered.

They too were humiliated, but they had already learned to maintain composed expressions while being insulted. What they couldn’t bear was watching Emperor Jin being humiliated before their eyes by the Xiongnu people.

Watching their sovereign being mocked and berated by the Xiongnu, the Jin officials felt as if their hearts were being gnawed away. Only at this moment did they realize how right Zhou Chang had been to take his own life.

Other Jin officials also began seeking death, but dying like this left them unwilling. So they began trying to unite with the captured soldiers, attempting to escape with the emperor.

Some people also came quietly to find Zhao Zhongyu. “I have a subordinate who surrendered to Gou Xi. Recently, he secretly sent me a letter saying that the Gou brothers and Wang Zan are planning to rebel and escape. Why don’t we form an alliance with them?”

Upon hearing it was Gou Xi, Zhao Zhongyu’s face showed disgust. “Gou Daojia is no longer the Great General of former days. Do you think he can successfully rebel and escape?”

“I think he can. Shi Le rampaged through Jizhou back in the day but was defeated by Gou Xi.”

“That was the Gou Daojia of the past, not of today,” Zhao Zhongyu said. “If he still had his former resolve, he wouldn’t have surrendered to Shi Le a month ago. These past two years have spoiled him. His schemes will surely fail.”

He then spoke of Wang Zan. “Though loyal, he lacks strategy and is not someone we should associate with. If you want to provoke Liu Cong into killing His Majesty and us, I’m willing to go along. But if it’s just for self-preservation, I advise you to stay far away from them.”

The other person was displeased. “How could I want to provoke Liu Cong into killing His Majesty?”

The emperor could take his own life or die on the battlefield, but he couldn’t be wrongfully killed after being captured. That way, who would still believe Jin had a chance to rise again?

If employees see no future in a company, everyone will naturally jump ship.

Although the path ahead was dark now, there was still a thread of hope holding on. The Jin officials, accustomed to drifting with the wind and waves, would continue to stay in this pit. Jin wouldn’t be completely destroyed all at once.

Zhao Hanzhang was still nominally a Jin official, and she governed quite a few subjects loyal to Jin. Zhao Zhongyu feared they would become disheartened and disappointed, defecting to the Xiongnu. So he would never let the Xiongnu kill the emperor.

The emperor could commit suicide, but he couldn’t be killed after being captured.

They still needed to establish a new emperor. Had they found a suitable candidate outside yet?

Zhao Ming was searching. Although Zhao Hanzhang said she wouldn’t establish a new emperor, he still needed to find a member of the imperial clan to keep in hand. This way, he could advance or retreat as circumstances required.

Many people were searching. Inside and outside the battlefield, treacherous currents swirled. No one could see clearly the future hidden in the clouds and mist.

Originally, when in Yuncheng, various regional inspectors had promised to send troops in support, but once they left, they never returned. Even Inspector Wang Dun of Guangzhou fled. He took Guangzhou’s troops and provisions and ran directly to Xuzhou, escorting the Prince of Langya and the Wang clan relatives to Yangzhou together.

Not long after news of Emperor Jin’s capture spread, rumors began circulating among the people that all descendants of Emperor Yan’s line had perished in Yuncheng, even the Crown Prince had died. The emperor was captured, and no member of the imperial clan escaped alive.

Therefore, the Inspector of Yangzhou, the Inspector of Guangzhou, and the Administrator of Xuzhou jointly submitted a memorial requesting that the Prince of Langya become the Great Alliance Leader, commanding the nation’s military forces and organizing allied armies to resist the Xiongnu.

Wang Dao said to the Prince of Langya, “Zhao Hanzhang now dominates the Central Plains. Her attitude is crucial. Your Highness should send her a letter to gain her consent. We can further appoint her as Deputy Commander, overseeing affairs in the northern territories.”

This was meant to divide the north and south, with them first securing control of the south.

The Prince of Langya had the advantage of status—he was of the imperial clan, so becoming the Great Alliance Leader was more legitimate for him than for Zhao Hanzhang. But in terms of power and prestige, the Prince of Langya was far inferior to Zhao Hanzhang.

Therefore, the Prince of Langya felt uncertain.

However, Wang Dao said, “Your Highness has the Wang clan. Our Wang clan is willing to spare no effort to assist Your Highness.”

The Prince of Langya suppressed his uncertainty and, following Wang Dao’s guidance, wrote a sincere and heartfelt letter to Zhao Hanzhang.