Zhao Hanzhang flipped through Xuan Yuxiu’s confession and snorted lightly. She handed it to Ji Yuan and said, “Change Xuan Yuxiu’s position and continue his labor reform. He definitely still has other things to reveal. Improve his meals by one grade and let the others see how good Xuan Yuxiu’s days are now.”

Ji Yuan acknowledged. These were all small matters that subordinates would handle. What was important was how they would proceed next. Ji Yuan suggested the army return to provide support. “…The Han state’s capital can be lost, but our Yuzhou cannot be lost. Miss, we are different from them. Not to mention our arrangements in Yuzhou over these years, there’s also the Zhao clan. All our foundations are there. Losing Yuzhou would mean devastating losses for us.”

Ming Yu also nodded. “That’s right. If we lose Yuzhou, even if we ultimately take Bingzhou, it will be useless.”

Zhao Hanzhang naturally knew this. If she abandoned Yuzhou, it would be equivalent to her and Shi Lei and Liu Cong swapping homes, trading places.

If Shi Lei and Liu Cong could manage the local people well, her temporarily losing Yuzhou would not matter much. After all, she was confident that one day she could take it back. But those two could not.

Shi Lei was manageable—though he was cruel, he was only cruel when fighting. When he consciously tried to become a sovereign, he would govern the territory with dedication.

But Liu Cong was not like that.

Apart from military capability and literary cultivation, this person had not inherited any of his father’s other strengths. So Zhao Hanzhang could never let them have Yuzhou.

Her many years of development—Yuzhou would be her inexhaustible granary and talent incubation base. Unless absolutely necessary, she would not give it up.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and asked, “Wang Jun still hasn’t responded?”

Ming Yu shook his head. “No. He has continued to hold his forces still. Liu Kun did send out troops, but the army Liu Yuan sent to attack Jinyang has not withdrawn, so he cannot spare forces to help us now.”

Zhao Hanzhang paced in place, then finally made up her mind. “Have Chen Wu bring the army back. Order him to garrison Pingyang. Erlang and I will bring the main force back to provide support.”

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu both breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and acknowledged in unison.

Just as the two were about to withdraw, Zhao Hanzhang stopped them and asked, “Has General Beigong sent back a letter?”

“Not yet. He is engaged in battle with Liu Cong and has penetrated deep behind enemy lines. His cavalry unit is very mobile, and our messengers have difficulty catching up with him, so information is delayed.”

Zhao Hanzhang then said, “Send the letter to Zu Ti. Tell Zu Ti that if he sees General Beigong, ask him to relay my meaning. Beigong Chun need not return to support Yuzhou. The mission for the two of them is to attack Liu Cong—cripple him, scatter his forces!”

“If they can rescue His Majesty and Shuzu, that would be best. If they cannot, they need not be constrained by the opponent. In any case, just keep attacking.” Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes carried a cold light as she said, “Drive them toward Youzhou and Qingzhou. Wang Jun wants to stay aloof? I must drag him into this!”

If he wanted to reap the benefits while the clam and snipe fought, that would depend on whether she, the clam, was willing.

Ji Yuan and Ming Yu exchanged glances, acknowledged in unison, then went to make preparations.

Zhao Hanzhang began gathering her forces, having people requisition grain and supplies to go ahead. A day later, she had Zhao Erlang and Xie Shi lead the main force back to Ningling.

Ningling had already fallen. This time when Zhao Erlang and his men returned, it was to recover Ningling.

When Chen Wu returned, Zhao Hanzhang handed Pingyang City over to him, then she led the main force back to support Yuzhou.

“Once we leave, the Liu clan remnants will certainly counterattack Pingyang City. You must guard it well, but if you truly cannot hold it, then withdraw.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “We have no development in Pingyang City, so losing it is not regrettable. People are most important—as long as there are green hills remaining, there’s no fear of lacking firewood.”

Chen Wu acknowledged with a face full of emotion. The words were said that way, but he still decided to defend to the death. This city had not been taken easily—how could it be lost lightly?

Moreover, Pingyang City was still the capital of the Xiongnu Han state, of great significance. How could it be easily abandoned?

Zhao Hanzhang brought Liu Yi along with the army, and also brought important Han officials like Xuan Yuxiu.

They were crowded into an ox cart, following along with the supplies in transit. If a cart fell into a pit on the road, they had to get down and push. When they stopped to set up camp and rest, they also had to do hard labor moving things. In just a few short days, they had all lost a significant amount of weight, tasting all the bitterness in the world.

While inspecting the camp, Zhao Hanzhang saw Liu Yi struggling to lift a sack onto his back, trying several times without success.

She tucked her riding crop into her waist, went forward, grabbed the corner of the sack, and with one effort lifted it onto Liu Yi’s shoulder.

Liu Yi knew this easy lifting was only possible with someone else’s help. His head was pressed down so he could not raise it, so he could only stare at the tips of his toes and this small patch of ground as he repeatedly thanked him, “Thank you, brother. Thank you, brother.”

Zhao Hanzhang did not respond. She clapped her hands and, seeing him walk away, simply picked up a hemp sack from the cart and hoisted it onto her shoulder.

The soldier standing guard nearby was startled and carefully extended his hands protectively. “Governor, this, this is wheat.”

A whole sack of wheat—quite heavy.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand to indicate it was fine, shouldered the large sack, and followed behind Liu Yi.

They needed to deliver the grain sacks to the kitchen. When Zhao Hanzhang caught up with him and set down her sack, she could not only put down her own but also reached out to help with Liu Yi’s.

Liu Yi smiled as he turned around, but when he saw it was her, the smile immediately fell from his face.

Zhao Hanzhang moved her shoulders, brushed off the dirt, and asked with a smile, “What, seeing it’s me means no thanks?”

Liu Yi also felt this was improper, so he solemnly thanked her, though the smile was gone from his face.

Zhao Hanzhang walked back with him. Liu Yi could not help but ask, “Why would you, a governor, personally come carry sacks?”

“I was inspecting the camp. I didn’t originally plan to carry anything, but seeing you carrying one, I casually picked up a sack. It’s not some big or difficult matter, just lending a hand.”

Liu Yi: “This is work for slaves.”

“Hey, I disagree with that statement. In the past, the military had no slaves, and it was soldiers who carried sacks.” Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, “This is just a job, and carrying one’s own food to eat at that—where is there any distinction of nobility or baseness?”

Liu Yi stopped talking.

Zhao Hanzhang then asked him, “Have you adapted to things during this time?”

Liu Yi nodded. His face no longer showed his former naivety but was full of deep maturity. “I have already adapted.”

“Then have you seen anything enlightening?”

Liu Yi frowned. “Seen what?”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, “Your position is that of the lowest-ranking guard in the entire army, but the people you can interact with range from me at the top, to staff officers and colonels in the middle, down to slaves at the bottom. Haven’t you noticed anything?”

Liu Yi looked confused.

Zhao Hanzhang helplessly exhaled. “Alright, I thought you too clever.”

Liu Yi: …

Zhao Hanzhang stopped walking and said to him seriously, “In my army, from low-ranking soldiers below to staff officers above, there are people of all ethnicities. Their former identities also vary.”

“There are ordinary commoners, displaced people and refugees, prisoners, slaves, beggars.” Zhao Hanzhang looked at him and said, “These people rely solely on military merit and their own abilities to win position and power in the military. The Zhao Family Army does not judge merit by birth, but by ability and character.”

“So Liu Yi, though you are a prisoner, you can also have a place in the Zhao Family Army. In the future, all the subjects of your Han state can!”

—