Then they’d just make him commit an offense.

On Zhao Hanzhang’s territory, everything was governed by law, not personal relationships.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even give face to her seventh grand-uncle, let alone an outsider like Liu Kun.

Having spent an entire morning on this matter, Zhao Hanzhang felt it was a waste of time. She rubbed her forehead and asked, “Where’s Shi Le? Is there any news from Wang Jun and the Xianbei?”

Ming Yu replied, “General Shi went into the city. Since the Commander entered Jinyang, there’s been no movement from the Xianbei. Wang Jun’s army took another city in Jizhou today.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “What was Liu Yueshi’s reaction?”

Ming Yu said, “Inspector Liu dispatched General Ming with ten thousand men to support Jizhou, departing in two days.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “With only ten thousand reinforcements, how could they possibly repel Wang Jun?”

Ming Yu lowered his voice. “I went to the Inspector’s residence this morning and heard that Inspector Liu is writing to the Xianbei, hoping to request Xianbei troops for support. I caught a glimpse of the gift list—it includes not only twenty thousand shi of grain but also various gold, silver, and jewels.”

His words carried inevitable envy, and he looked at Zhao Hanzhang with some resentment.

Both were supporting Liu Kun—why did the Xianbei get things while they still had to bring their own provisions?

Zhao Hanzhang began reflecting on herself while feeling frustrated with Liu Kun.

They were supposed to be confidants—she was right here. Why would he seek aid from the Xianbei instead of her?

Zhao Hanzhang felt she couldn’t let the situation develop this way and immediately stood up. “Where’s Shi Le? Have him come. Let’s discuss operations against Wang Jun.”

Ming Yu frowned. “For free?”

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him disapprovingly. “Master Ming, ‘Under all the heavens, every land belongs to the king.’ This is all territory of our Great Jin. Mutual assistance is proper and appropriate. What’s this talk of free or paid?”

She said, “We brought few troops, perhaps insufficient to face Wang Jun. We need to recruit soldiers!”

Ming Yu’s eyes brightened as he immediately said seriously, “The Commander’s lesson is correct. Now that Jinyang’s crisis is resolved, Jizhou’s crisis remains. We must recruit soldiers.”

Why could Liu Kun, by defending a single city, become famous throughout the realm, surpassing many who controlled vast territories to become one of Jin’s most important ministers?

Even Gou Xi, who once controlled the emperor to command the lords, and Zhao Hanzhang, who now wielded power over all under heaven, had to show him courtesy?

It was because of Jinyang’s special position.

Jinyang was a geomantic treasure.

Located in northern Bingzhou at the northern end of the Fen River valley, it was where northern steppe civilization and Central Plains agricultural civilization intersected. The people here possessed both the steppe people’s fierceness and openness and the Central Plains people’s endurance and industrious spirit.

This place had high mountains outside and a great river within, with mountain and river natural barriers as shields. Most wonderfully, the Fen River connected a series of basins. This large basin made the Hedong area a land of fish and rice. Besides this, it had abundant surrounding mineral resources—iron for forging weapons, copper for minting coins, even salt pools.

Even if cut off from outside, this place could be completely self-sufficient. Moreover, due to the terrain, occupying Jinyang allowed rapid southern conquest of Bingzhou. So it could advance to attack or retreat to defend.

This was one reason why Liu Yuan, until his death, kept Jinyang in his heart. Without taking Jinyang, the Han state’s gateway remained occupied by Liu Kun, like a persistent affliction.

The topic has strayed far—bringing it back now. Precisely because of Jinyang’s geographical position, the people here all venerated martial arts, especially in recent years. With chaos under heaven and Jinyang constantly on the verge of being breached, refugees from all directions built up this nearly abandoned city. They—all favored martial pursuits!

Walking the streets now, even three-year-olds wielded wooden swords practicing. As for adults, everyone had a broadsword, long spear, or sickle-sword.

Moreover, Jinyang had universal military service. Each time Jinyang came under attack, when Liu Kun raised his arm and called, the city’s able-bodied men went up to the walls to face the enemy, while elders, women, and children also moved stones, collected arrows, and made arrowheads.

So recruiting in Jinyang wasn’t like elsewhere, where new soldiers required training first. Jinyang’s troops only needed slight adjustment and training to adapt before becoming a formidable army.

Ming Yu had long coveted Jinyang’s people. Unfortunately, Jinyang wasn’t within Zhao Hanzhang’s sphere of influence, so he couldn’t directly speak up.

Zhao Hanzhang sought out Shi Le to discuss recruiting numbers here, then approach Liu Kun for agreement.

Ming Yu followed closely behind. “Commander, will Liu Kun agree?”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “He will certainly agree.”

She sighed. “He cares about Jinyang’s people yet also doesn’t care about them very much.”

The people within Jinyang could come and go freely. Liu Kun didn’t restrict them, so the gate records showed that one day, over four thousand people came to seek refuge with Liu Kun, yet over five thousand left Jinyang.

Jinyang’s people’s livelihood was very difficult.

While lamenting to Ming Yu, Zhao Hanzhang walked outside. Fan Ying hurried to report, “Commander, Liu Kun privately requested to see General Shi.”

Zhao Hanzhang: …

She asked, “How did he privately see him?”

“The messenger bypassed our guards and secretly delivered the letter to General Shi’s hand.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Then how did you learn of it?”

Fan Ying paused before saying, “General Shi sent someone to inform me.”

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows, thought for a moment, then asked, “Where are they meeting?”

“Wangnan Tower.”

Zhao Hanzhang walked toward the camp exit. “Go about your business. Master Ming and I will make a trip to Wangnan Tower. Ask Master Zhang to go to Wangnan Tower as well.”

Ming Yu looked full of words left unsaid. After mounting and riding out some distance, he finally rode to Zhao Hanzhang’s side and asked, “Aren’t Liu Yueshi and you mutual confidants? He knows Shi Le only recently surrendered, his heart not yet settled, and he holds great power. How can he privately meet with Shi Le at this time?”

To meet, he should go through Zhao Hanzhang or openly send an invitation card, right?

Meeting secretly like this made people overthink things.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang seemed unconcerned, even laughing heartily, and said to Ming Yu, “This is like me coveting his Jinyang. How do I know he doesn’t covet my territory and power?”

Ming Yu frowned. “Liu Yueshi doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Of course he’s not that kind of person now. At most he just wants my Bingzhou, wanting to be a true Bingzhou Inspector. But human desires are endless—advancing one step makes one want to advance further.”

So there weren’t many people she could completely trust.

But like Liu Kun, who was sometimes intelligent, sometimes foolish; sometimes pouring his heart out to her, sometimes trying to poach her people and target her—at present, she’d only seen him exhibit this behavior.

Upon entering the city, Zhao Hanzhang went straight to Wangnan Tower.

Though called a tower, it was actually a large garden complex, specifically for Jinyang’s nobility and wealthy to eat, drink, play, and lament spring and autumn. It had only been built in the past two years. Wangnan, looking south—meaning gazing southward, praying for return.

As soon as Zhao Hanzhang dismounted, she headed straight into the building. The manager was naturally no ordinary person and had some discernment. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang, his expression immediately changed. He had someone notify Liu Kun while moving to block Zhao Hanzhang, attempting to delay for a moment.

At this time, Liu Kun was inviting two people out through another door to present to Shi Le—namely Shi Le’s mother and nephew Shi Hu.