Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Awei and asked, “Awei, if you become a great general or high official, do you want it to be temporary, ending with your family being raided and exterminated, or do you want it to last your entire life, not only benefiting your clan but also having your name recorded in history for thousands of years?”
Awei replied, “Naturally the latter.”
Zhao Hanzhang continued, “Then you must learn to have a benevolent heart, a heart that loves the people, righteousness, and you must follow the law!”
Awei was loyal in his way. He had learned some things from his grandfather and father, which is why he thought that as a Jin official, Zhao Hanzhang coveting the imperial throne was unrighteous.
But he would also rob innocent common people, operating entirely from his own self-interest.
This limited sense of loyalty was very narrow.
Of course, this was unconscious on his part. He didn’t think he was wrong—unlike Zhao Hanzhang, who knew she was wrong but did it anyway.
She couldn’t point this out. She very shamelessly and unreasonably lectured Awei, “Only officials with benevolent hearts can be loved by the people. Since ancient times, the famous ministers and sages passed down through generations were all people who contributed to the people and to the state.”
Awei looked shocked. “I must hold myself to the standards of a famous minister starting now?”
He said hesitantly, “My father said that people should do what befits their position, otherwise the world will fall into chaos. Right now I’m just a commoner. Shouldn’t I only think about eating my fill and living well?”
So as long as he could eat his fill and live well, any means were acceptable.
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “…Did your father really know this is how you interpreted the principles he taught you?”
If this were her son, she would definitely beat him half to death.
“Doing what befits your position refers to your duties. The premise of all this is following the law. Robbery violates the law, doesn’t it?”
Awei nodded, then casually said, “But Miss, you also robbed, and you even killed someone.”
This kind of unconscious counterattack was most effective.
Zhao Hanzhang said directly, “I can do such things, but you cannot.”
Awei still wanted to ask, “Why?”
Zhao Hanzhang said domineeringly, “Because I am the ruler. I am the law. You must listen to me.”
At these words, Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but look at Awei and the others, thinking they would surely be dissatisfied. Who knew Awei’s eyes would brighten immediately, and he’d nod in acceptance. “You’re absolutely right. From now on, I’ll listen to you!”
He continued, “Fine then. If you say not to rob, I won’t rob. From now on, I won’t rob people anymore—I’ll let you do the robbing.”
Shi Hongtu, standing nearby, even instructed him, “When… when Miss tells you to rob, you still have to rob. Anyway, just listen to Miss and you’ll be right.”
Awei nodded, being quite friendly to Shi Hongtu. He had also seen Shi Hongtu fight and considered him quite capable. Since he’d arrived first, he could barely be considered Awei’s senior.
He listened to his senior’s advice.
Fu Tinghan protested, “…What about the benevolent heart?”
Awei was focused on listening to Shi Hongtu speak. Hearing this, he turned his head. “What heart?”
Zhao Hanzhang was speechless.
Fu Tinghan couldn’t help himself and laughed out loud.
Zhao Hanzhang said irritably to Awei, “Never mind what heart. Just remember this—without my personal order, no one is permitted to plunder the common people.”
Shi Hongtu added, “This is military discipline, a standing order in our army.”
Awei’s eyes brightened greatly. “We have military discipline? Does that mean we also have an army?”
“Naturally,” Shi Hongtu said meaningfully. “You’re going to follow our Miss to conquer the world. How could Miss not have an army?”
Awei asked excitedly, “Can I become a general then?”
Shi Hongtu glanced at the silent Zhao Hanzhang. “You’ll have to work hard for that. Only those who’ve achieved great merit can become generals.”
Shi Lei had opened his eyes at some point, looking at Zhao Hanzhang with a light gaze before saying in a low voice, “You’ve recruited a fool?”
His voice was barely audible. At least Shi Hongtu, who was pushing the handcart, didn’t hear it and didn’t notice his eyes had opened a crack.
But Zhao Hanzhang lowered her head and met his barely-opened eyes precisely.
Shi Lei was now certain—this person had supernatural abilities. At minimum, her hearing must be extraordinary.
Shi Lei wasn’t particularly shocked because he also had unusual traits. He had long arms and legs, great strength, and a voice like a bell. Zhao Hanzhang’s ears were just better than his. Oh, and her strength seemed considerable too.
Perhaps because he was lying down with nothing to do and felt particularly bored, Shi Lei had an unusual desire to talk. Amid the sound of cart wheels, he said to Zhao Hanzhang, “Did Miss Zhao’s strength come from the Xiahou family?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “It should be. In the past, I had to be a proper lady and didn’t dare show my strength in front of people. My younger brother had no such concerns. Grandfather therefore liked his great strength and my intelligence, believing my brother and I each inherited half of Great-Uncle’s legacy.”
Shi Lei pursed his lips. “Even an illiterate person like me has heard that Chancellor Zhao worshiped General Xiahou but still passed the family property and clan business to his younger brother’s family rather than choosing his own grandson to inherit.”
Shi Lei couldn’t quite understand this. Surely the family business you worked hard to build should go to your own children and grandchildren, shouldn’t it?
He actually gave it to his brother’s family to inherit.
Zhao Hanzhang lowered her head and smiled at him. “Where does Shilong think my family fortune came from? Of course, my grandfather did pass part of the family business to my uncle-grandfather, but that’s my blood uncle-grandfather, his own younger brother. Unlike you, Brother Shilong—looking at your physiognomy, it seems in the future your family business will all benefit an unrelated nephew.”
Shi Lei froze, lying rigidly on the handcart. “What?”
Zhao Hanzhang stopped walking. The handcart also stopped. She leaned in close to examine his features, then after a moment straightened up and stepped back to look him over. She made a show of calculating with her fingers before saying, “Shilong, you have a nephew or brother, right? Not a very close blood relative. In the future, he will kill all your descendants and inherit your family business.”
“I calculate that his name also contains the character for dragon, which is why he can replace you.”
Shi Lei didn’t want to believe Zhao Hanzhang, but seeing her so confident and certain, he couldn’t help but doubt. In his mind, he went through all the blood relatives in the Shi family, but there wasn’t a single one with the character for dragon in their name.
After this review, Shi Lei felt relieved. Looking at Zhao Hanzhang, he sneered coldly, “So Miss Zhao can also tell fortunes?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded confidently. “I can!”
Awei nearby couldn’t help but quietly ask Shi Hongtu in a low voice, “Does our Miss come from a very high background? Which General Xiahou?”
Shi Hongtu didn’t answer him. Ever since Shi Lei woke up, he couldn’t help but be on guard, occasionally staring at the back of his head.
Shi Lei was seriously injured. Though he’d awakened, he couldn’t speak much. Zhao Hanzhang’s wounds also hurt, and with both hands carrying things, she didn’t want to talk much either.
So everyone fell silent and continued walking back in quiet.
Fu Tinghan completely ignored their verbal sparring. When the passing refugees gradually decreased until they only encountered one or two people after long intervals, he said, “At Zeng Yue’s speed, even without horses, he should have returned to the main battlefield by now. I just checked the direction. If we return to the official road and retrace our steps, it will waste considerable time. Better to take this small path, cut through the fields, circle around this mountain—we can reunite with them faster.”