The emperor’s death was sudden, and with Zhao Zhongyu also killed, Zhao Hanzhang truly had no mood for an elaborate enthronement ceremony for the new emperor. Therefore, she merely proclaimed it to the world, then had someone rush to make a dragon robe for the new emperor. Without even selecting an auspicious date, she had the new emperor ascend the throne immediately.
The new emperor had barely sat on the imperial throne, his posterior not yet adjusted to the hardness of the chair, when Zhao Hanzhang issued three consecutive edicts in his name.
First: The late emperor and all Jin ministers were murdered, causing grief throughout the nation. Starting from the day news was received, commoners nationwide would observe mourning for three days, while scholars would observe mourning for three months. During these three months, banquets, marriages, becoming monastics, and similar activities were forbidden…
Second: Liu Cong is our Jin state’s great enemy, and anyone may punish him. Zhao Hanzhang broadly issued military orders commanding the nation’s people and soldiers to jointly attack him.
Third: At this time of national vengeance, anyone who creates local chaos shall be judged as treacherous rebels. Once she, Zhao Hanzhang, had time to spare, there would be no mercy!
With this last point, Zhao Hanzhang all but directly named the Prince of Langya.
This was a national edict, promulgated to all under heaven.
There was also a private letter to the Prince of Langya—though called a private letter, it was actually an official document. After writing it, Zhao Hanzhang had it delivered to Wang Dao.
In the letter, Zhao Hanzhang unreservedly gave the Prince of Langya a thorough scolding, saying he was even more foolish and worse than the Prince of Donghai.
Now the nation was united in purpose—this was the critical moment for recovering lost territory. Since the first year of Yongjia, when Liu Yuan rebelled and proclaimed himself emperor, the nation had been divided. Now the emperor had died at Xiongnu hands—this was both national and family vengeance.
Even commoners, who received the least state protection and benefited least from the sovereign, still thought of repaying the nation and sovereign with their lives. Yet Prince of Langya, you who received heaven’s blessing and from birth enjoyed ancestral favor and protection from sovereign and country, allowing you to possess the people and wealth of one region—now when the nation and sovereign face calamity, you think only of personal gain, bringing shame to ancestors and harming the interests of nation and sovereign. You are utterly unworthy of being called human!
These were extremely harsh words. Never mind the Prince of Langya—even Wang Dao turned red-faced with shame and anguish upon opening the letter.
The letter was addressed to the Prince of Langya but delivered directly to Wang Dao. That’s right—Zhao Hanzhang was being this direct in sowing discord.
After Wang Dao read the letter, he would naturally pass it to the Prince of Langya.
However, neither Wang Dao nor the Prince of Langya initially realized this. Not until the Prince of Langya finished reading the letter, becoming aware of his difficult position and losing popular support, did resentment toward Wang Dao grow in his heart. Only then did he realize that such vicious insults had been seen by Wang Dao.
Who would want subordinates to see them in such a wretched state?
Once suspicion took root in the heart, thoughts multiplied.
The Prince of Langya gradually realized that Wang Dao directly made decisions on many matters, or influenced him to execute things according to Wang Dao’s wishes.
Wang Dao was an intelligent and gentle person—at least superficially. Interacting with him felt like a spring breeze.
He handled matters extremely skillfully. After they fled to Jianye, the local aristocratic families and gentry didn’t particularly like them. Although their status meant acceptance was unavoidable, so many new elites coming in meant directly competing for resources.
It was Wang Dao who gradually resolved conflicts, getting them to transform from unwelcoming to actively joining in mutual cooperation for both sides’ interests.
Therefore, the Prince of Langya greatly trusted Wang Dao. Moreover, his army was basically handed over to Wang Dun. Oh, right—although Wang Dun had killed Wang Cheng, when he angrily wanted to punish Wang Dun to answer to Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Yifeng, in the end he had only demoted his official position with a painless scolding.
Wang Dun still commanded his army.
This wasn’t because the Prince of Langya didn’t want to punish Wang Dun, but when he tried to severely punish him, he discovered he couldn’t.
Most people around him were Wang clan members. In Jianye, the Wang clan’s words were even more effective than his own. Not only that, Zhao Hanzhang also had considerable influence in Jianye. After all, her status and position were established there, plus she had a crown prince of legitimate birth in hand.
So quite a few aristocratic families supported her.
Oh, now it was the new emperor. The Prince of Langya could imagine that afterward, even more people would support Zhao Hanzhang.
The Prince of Langya felt somewhat panicked. He suddenly grew fearful. If one day the Wang brothers also chose Zhao Hanzhang, wouldn’t he be powerless as a trussed chicken?
Zhao Hanzhang, who had only meant to warn the Prince of Langya to behave recently and not cause her trouble, never imagined that this one letter would directly drive the Prince of Langya and Wang Dao to a dead end in their relationship.
Having completed all arrangements, Ji Yuan came to report. “The grain and supplies you requested are all prepared and departed today. The provisions can supply the army’s needs for half a month. Jingzhou has allocated a batch of grain coming up. Delivery to the front lines requires at least twelve days. Various localities are still collecting provisions. Accounting for transport time, it may take eighteen days…”
So the grain supplies connected very tightly. During warfare, anything could happen. If grain supplies were intercepted, burned, or lost to other causes, they would be placed in a passive position.
But this tested the commanding general’s and logistics’ coordination abilities.
Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “The people’s lives are still difficult, and national strength is poor. This half year has seen both warfare and drought. This grain collection will probably empty everyone’s reserves.”
Ji Yuan: “Therefore you must achieve results to justify what the people have contributed.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
Ji Yuan paused, carefully observing Zhao Hanzhang’s expression before asking, “Is Your Excellency feeling somewhat better now?”
Zhao Hanzhang paused before nodding, her expression relaxed. “Thank you for your concern, Scholar. I’m fine.”
Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and sighed. “Since the late emperor and Duke Zhao were captured, the court has made preparations. Actually, the late emperor should have died for his country earlier.”
If he hadn’t been captured but died directly in battle, or committed suicide after capture, the dozen-plus cities in Yanzhou and Jizhou wouldn’t have fallen so easily.
Zhao Hanzhang also nodded. “Civil and military officials can become prisoners, but the emperor cannot.”
Ji Yuan then consoled her. “Duke Zhao’s name will resound throughout the realm this time. He has not dishonored the old master and can be considered to have fulfilled his wishes.”
Ji Yuan had been Zhao Changyu’s advisor and understood the relationship between the two brothers better than Zhao Hanzhang.
The brothers harbored resentment toward each other, yet Zhao Zhongyu also admired Zhao Changyu.
He had always felt inferior to his elder brother, harboring resentment in his heart. But at this moment, at least his place in Chinese history wouldn’t be much inferior to Zhao Changyu’s.
Ji Yuan said these things to persuade Zhao Hanzhang not to overthink.
Zhao Hanzhang was somewhat saddened but not to the point of dwelling obsessively. She said very calmly, “I will lead the army to pursue Shi Lei.”
Ji Yuan: … After saying all that, his purpose was to dissuade her from taking risks.
He said, “A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall…”
Zhao Hanzhang said gravely, “With the late emperor murdered, morale is at a point of either advancing to invigoration or retreating to depression. Therefore, I cannot retreat—I must go to the most dangerous place.”
She said, “Scholar, you just reminded me not to fail the people.”
Ji Yuan fell silent, only able to say, “I only fear Your Excellency will face grain shortages, so you’d best bring a logistics coordinator to manage provisions.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’ll bring Tinghan.”
Ji Yuan had no objections.
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