Ming Yu rapidly glanced at Ji Yuan, sat up straight, and asked solemnly, “I wonder what matter could trouble the governor to this extent.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I want to ask someone to make a trip to Xihe State to Liu He’s location and help him join forces with Liu Cong’s army.”
Ming Yu was slightly stunned. “Why is this? The Xiongnu military power being divided is good for us.”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “We don’t have that much time to wait for them to slowly exhaust each other. In this world, power comes from military force. Right now, the Xiongnu military strength is divided into several parts—Ma Jing and others attacking Jinyang, the Imperial Guards protecting the imperial court, and then there’s Liu Cong and Shi Lei.”
“Setting aside Shi Lei for now, Liu Cong controls two hundred thousand troops. Nearly all the Xiongnu elite are in his hands. So since he has the troops, he also has the power.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “If we don’t make a move, they will maintain the current state—Liu He being his new emperor in Zhongyang County, Liu Cong continuing to campaign outside, and the other commanders also ignoring the emperor’s orders and continuing to cause chaos everywhere.”
“Given time, Liu He’s prestige will be completely lost. Will he still dare to challenge Liu Cong and gather power?”
Ming Yu’s heart stirred, and he asked, “The governor’s meaning is?”
“Have Liu He go to Anping State to join forces with Liu Cong. He is the emperor of the Xiongnu, and the Han state soldiers should rightfully obey his commands.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Liu He is a person who shows no favor to his subordinates and is very suspicious. He has just ascended as emperor and is precisely at the time when he’s eager to consolidate power. At this time, if someone by his side says a few words, he definitely will not tolerate Liu Cong.”
“As for Liu Cong,” Zhao Hanzhang smiled, “this person is narrow-minded and vindictive. When Liu He was Crown Prince, the brothers already had much discord. If Liu He threatens his life, can he still endure it?”
Ming Yu stroked his beard and said, “The governor is using a stratagem of sowing discord.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “I am merely following the natural course, making their conflict erupt a bit earlier.”
Ming Yu pinched his beard and said, “If the two compete for power, Liu He will certainly recall Ma Jing and Shi Lei’s armies for support. That way, the crisis at Jinyang and Yuzhou can be resolved.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Even if Shi Lei is unwilling to withdraw troops, he will send reinforcements back to defend the emperor. Our pressure can at least be somewhat reduced.”
Ming Yu then asked, “Does the governor believe Liu He will win?”
Zhao Hanzhang thought of the events that occurred in history, as well as Liu He and Liu Cong’s respective personalities and abilities. She shook her head and said, “No, Liu He will lose! His going to Anping State would be like a sheep entering a wolf’s den.”
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand. “Anyway, regardless of who wins or loses, as long as they can fight each other, that’s enough.”
Ming Yu understood—she simply wanted to throw the Xiongnu into chaos.
“Who does the governor think we should approach?”
“Huyan You.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “This person is short-sighted and loves power. Liu He is his nephew. He definitely cannot sit by and watch his nephew lose his power. We only need to hint at things from the side.”
“However…” Zhao Hanzhang paused and said, “The person doing this must be cautious and prudent, so he doesn’t detect it, to prevent our scheme from backfiring.”
Ming Yu lowered his eyes in thought. “Some of Liu Cong’s commanders have met me, but people in Pingyang City have not. I should not be discovered if I go to Xihe State, but under what identity should I go?”
“Although Huyan You has fallen on hard times, he is still the state uncle and a Xiongnu noble. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to approach him?”
“There is a ready-made identity.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “I have a merchant under me named Wu Sheng. For these two years, he has been trading in the northern territories. He has traveled as far as Jinyang and has some prestige in the Xihe State area. Sir, you can follow by his side as one of his advisors and give him some guidance.”
Ming Yu’s eyes brightened slightly as he asked, “Where is he now?”
“He is in Lu County of Shangdang waiting for us.” Zhao Hanzhang stared at him and asked, “Master Ming, this trip is very dangerous. You will be deep in the enemy camp, and I cannot provide you assistance. So if you do not wish to go, you can refuse, and I will absolutely not force you.”
Ming Yu smiled and asked, “Besides me, does the governor have a better candidate?”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “No, sir is currently the most suitable person.”
Originally, Yuan Li would also have been very suitable, but he had now lost contact. It was said he had found the Prince of Yuzhang and others, and when several northern prefectures of Yuzhou fell, they nearly were exposed to Shi Lei’s army. To avoid pursuit, he had gone into hiding.
As the most important advisor by Zhao Hanzhang’s side, Ji Yuan had appeared by her side many times, so many people on the Xiongnu side recognized him.
In comparison, since Ming Yu came to serve her, he had been much more low-key. He rarely appeared at grand occasions. The two times he appeared before the army, he was riding on horseback from a distance, not attracting attention.
And being far away, no one could see his face clearly.
When the time came, if he trimmed his beard, changed his clothes and hairstyle, it would ensure no one could recognize him.
Actually…
Zhao Hanzhang kept looking at his and Ji Yuan’s beards, thinking that if they shaved their beards clean and changed their hats, probably even their own parents would not recognize them.
However, beards were as important to men of this era as their hair, and hair could substitute for one’s head. Rounding it off, beards were equivalent to their lives.
Ji Yuan could not go, so Ming Yu was the best candidate.
Ming Yu agreed in one breath, his eyes showing happiness he himself had not detected as he said, “Governor, rest assured. I will certainly not fail this mission.”
A stratagem of sowing discord—he loved it!
However, stratagems of sowing discord had one characteristic: they were especially expensive, particularly costly in precious gold, silver, and jewels.
Zhao Hanzhang was also generous. Taking advantage of being encamped, she directly brought Ming Yu to several carts, had people take down and open the chests on the carts for him to see. Golden light flashed, pearls gleamed brilliantly. She waved her hand and said, “Choose freely. Don’t be polite.”
This rare display of generosity made even Fu Tinghan look at her a few more times.
Ming Yu indeed was not polite. He carefully selected three chests of gold, silver, and jewels. Apart from one chest without clear markings but with extremely exquisite craftsmanship, the other two chests were all made of good materials but with ordinary workmanship.
Ming Yu said, “Things with clear markings or special styles cannot be brought, to avoid being discovered as to their origin. These gold cakes are very good—they can be used directly or melted and crafted into other things. They’re both precious and won’t reveal their source.”
These items were all confiscated in Pingyang City. They included things from the state treasury, the imperial palace’s private treasury, and also collections from the homes of officials who had fled.
Zhao Hanzhang had plundered everything she could.
In any case, from this battle in Pingyang City, she could basically cover the consumption of this campaign.
The grain and supplies that Zeng Yue had transported away in advance included a batch of treasures, and the rear army still had another batch.
No wonder Liu Cong loved fighting so much. Some battles lost money with enormous consumption, but some battles could make one wealthy.
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, driving away the thought that had emerged in her mind. She said generously to Ming Yu, “Is this enough? Master Ming, would you like to look at treasures from other carts?”
Standing to the side, Ji Yuan coughed lightly twice. Ming Yu glanced at him and smiled in refusal. “No need. This money is more useful in the governor’s hands. I can economize somewhat.”
Zhao Hanzhang felt sympathetic toward him. “Don’t economize too much. A poor family makes for rich travels. Not only is your journey long this time, you’re also going deep into the enemy camp. Having money on you puts my mind at ease too.”
—