News came from the northern lands. The new Xiongnu Emperor Liu He had led his court ministers to escape the encirclement and successfully joined Liu Cong, but reportedly the brothers were at odds. For the past half month, Liu Cong hadn’t even sent troops to seize territory. Beigong Chun and Zu Ti had gained time to rest and recover.
Beigong Chun even requested orders to return to deal with Shi Le.
Thinking the northern situation was still unstable and Ming Yu was still in the enemy camp, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t let him return but had him continue staying in Jizhou. If the Xiongnu truly fell into chaos, they might as well seize Jizhou too.
Zhao Hanzhang was full of ambition. She had already demanded in Emperor Jin’s name that all regions rally to the king, destroy the Xiongnu, and rescue Emperor Jin. However, apart from Jingzhou, few other prefectures and commanderies responded.
Zhao Ming wrote to her: “You’re merely Yuzhou Inspector. Commanding the realm in the Emperor’s name lacks proper legitimacy. With the Emperor trapped among the Xiongnu and the Crown Prince deceased, as a Jin minister, you should establish a new heir for Jin.”
Zhao Hanzhang suppressed this letter for a long time without replying. Not until responders were scarce and Wang Dao used the Langya Prince’s name to coerce Jiangdong and Jiangnan, with voices gradually emerging in Yangzhou and other areas advocating for making the Langya Prince emperor, did Zhao Hanzhang finally reply to Zhao Ming: “Do your utmost to find direct blood relatives of Emperor Shizu.”
When Zhao Ming received the letter, the counterattack time was already very near. He replied while thinking it might not arrive before battle. If not, sending letters during battle would be difficult.
Neither knew the person they sought was in nearby Ningling County.
Yuan Li held a child in his arms with eight people following behind. One of them also carried a child. They hurried into a village. Two guards dispersed to search, then returned to Yuan Li. “The village is empty, no people.”
Another added, “No food either.”
Xun Fan and Xun Zu, surrounded in the middle, were elderly. As soon as they stopped, they couldn’t help but sit heavily on the ground, exhausted and disheveled.
Yuan Li put down the child he’d been carrying, his face stern. “Search more carefully for cellars.”
He took out a flatbread from his clothing, broke it in two, and gave the pieces to the two children.
The others swallowed and looked away. Two people stayed on guard while the others went to search for food.
Actually there weren’t many guards. Besides Yuan Li, there were only five. Two children—one was the nine-year-old Prince Yuzhang, one was the ten-year-old Prince Qin.
Xun Fan and Xun Zu were the Prince of Qin’s maternal uncles. There was one other person… Yuan Li’s gaze turned heavy as he looked up—Yan Ding.
Yan Ding was a former Yuzhou official. After Zhao Hanzhang took office and continued employing previous officials, he was called an old official in Yuzhou, contrasting with the new officials Zhao Hanzhang personally appointed and used.
At the year’s beginning, his mother died. He petitioned Zhao Hanzhang to resign and return home for mourning.
Zhao Hanzhang agreed, but somehow he lingered in Mi County without leaving, even gathering many skilled fighters. When Jun City fell and the Prince of Qin and Prince Yuzhang fled together in confusion, under their palace guards’ protection, they escaped together.
On the road they happened to meet the Prince of Qin’s two maternal uncles, Xun Fan and Xun Zu.
The two led the two princes fleeing toward Yuzhou. Halfway there, before even entering Yuzhou, they encountered Wang Pi, Liu Chou, Li Xin and others, also fleeing.
Everyone traveled together.
Because refugees were everywhere and their baggage scattered, relying on just two ox carts and their own feet, they couldn’t run fast. They first heard the Emperor had been captured, then received news that Gou Xi had surrendered to Shi Le.
Liu Chou and others pondered and felt Jin had reached this point and was finished. Next, the likes of Zhao Hanzhang would merely resist a few years. When Liu Yuan attacked again, it would be the process of unifying the realm.
So while everyone was starving, they directly drew swords and killed the two princes’ guards, attendants, and others, wanting to take both princes to pledge allegiance to Liu Cong.
Xun Fan and Xun Zu desperately resisted. In panic, they fled with the two young princes to Mi County, where they happened to encounter Yan Ding. Yan Ding counterattacked and killed them, also joining the ranks protecting the two young princes.
As soon as he joined, he demanded the group head west to Chang’an, expressing willingness to escort them.
His reasoning was: “Now the Central Plains are full of warfare, with chaotic troops and refugees everywhere. The Prince of Qin and Langya Prince are in great danger here. Better to go west to Chang’an. Secretary Fu is there. Secretary Fu can establish a temporary government to command the realm’s stability.”
But Xun Fan and Xun Zu held opposing views.
Mainly Xun Fan. He believed since they weren’t far from Chen County, there was no need to go to Chang’an. They could go directly to Chen County to find Zhao Hanzhang’s people.
Yan Ding said seriously, “As a Yuzhou official, I’ve watched these years with cold eyes. Zhao Hanzhang’s actions show considerable disloyalty. Sending the two princes to her now would be like sending sheep into a tiger’s mouth. Absolutely not.”
But Xun Fan was over sixty years old. At his age, what kind of person hadn’t he seen? With one glance, he saw through Yan Ding. Moreover, he’d recently met Zhao Hanzhang at court.
He didn’t know if Zhao Hanzhang harbored disloyal intentions, but her respect for the Emperor surpassed Gou Xi’s. Her heart was softer than Gou Xi’s, and she was more normal than the powerful ministers who’d previously controlled the government. So even if she had such intentions, currently she would do her utmost to protect the two princes.
Going to Chang’an not only meant chaotic troops and refugees on the road with difficult travel, but Chang’an was also far west, making it difficult to command the realm. So they should still go to Chen County.
Xun Fan insisted. Unfortunately, they were just a few people, old and young, completely powerless to refuse.
Yan Ding coerced them toward Chang’an.
Yuan Li pursued all the way, finding them halfway. He and Yan Ding fought, nearly both sustaining serious injuries. Finally Xun Fan intervened, arguing that even for the two young princes’ sake, they couldn’t fight among themselves now.
Yuan Li joined the group and strongly demanded they turn back to Chen County.
Before Yan Ding could object, they encountered one of Shi Le’s units. Not many people—they were out foraging for provisions and happened to see this group who clearly weren’t ordinary commoners.
In the chaotic battle, Yuan Li didn’t forget his purpose. While fighting and retreating, he still headed toward Chen County.
As a result, they went off course and accidentally fell into Ningling. With Shi Le’s main army attacking Ningling, they didn’t dare enter the city. The county territory was full of Hu people plundering wealth and fleeing refugees everywhere. It was extremely difficult.
They had no food left and could only compete with the refugees.
Shortly after, the guards returned, bringing back five wild taro roots, just slightly bigger than a small child’s fist. But they were very pleased. “General, we’re extremely lucky. There’s a patch of wild taro behind that house. Unfortunately, they’ve been mostly dug up. I searched a long time to find these five.”
Yuan Li nodded slightly, signaling him to build a fire and roast them.
He stepped forward to check on the pale-faced Prince Yuzhang, respectfully consoling him: “Prince, rest assured. The Zhao Family Army has surrounded Ningling. We only need to endure a bit longer before we can meet the Inspector.”
“Once we meet the Inspector, you’ll be safe. You can eat whatever you want then.”
In Yuan Li’s view, the most suitable person to be the next emperor was Prince Yuzhang. He was the Crown Prince’s younger brother, younger than Prince Qin, and had a weak temperament—perfect for manipulation.