Zhao Hanzhang rolled up the drawings and looked at Shi Lei. “General Shi, hand over those people. This case must be investigated thoroughly. This isn’t just about giving justice to those arrested, but also to the victims, and to you, General Shi.”
Shi Lei only paused briefly before asking, “What about the property?”
Zhao Hanzhang replied, “Keep it for now.”
Shi Lei decided that once he returned, he’d spend it all.
Remembering what Zhao Hanzhang had just said, Shi Lei suppressed the urge to misappropriate those assets. Fine, if doing good deeds means doing good deeds, he’d take out half to provide relief for refugees.
As for the other half, naturally it would become military provisions.
Life was hard for ordinary people in the Shi army too—shortages of grain and supplies were common.
When Shi Lei decided on something, he acted immediately. Upon returning, he consulted with Zhang Bin.
After hearing Shi Lei relay Zhao Hanzhang’s words, Zhang Bin immediately praised, “Inspector Zhao is truly favored by heaven. These words are extremely reasonable.”
He also advised Shi Lei, “My lord should have done this long ago. If we want lasting prosperity, we must follow heaven’s will. Since heaven values life, we should minimize killing.”
He continued, “Among famous ministers whose names endured through history, there may be some who didn’t love the people, but absolutely none who killed indiscriminately. My lord, from now on you must not only reform your own habit of killing captives and civilians, but also restrain the army so that the entire force commits no violations.”
Zhang Bin earnestly instructed, “Zhao Hanzhang is different from Liu Yuan, and the Zhao Family Army is different from the Xiongnu army. Since the Zhao Family Army left Xiping to campaign everywhere, even in the most difficult times, we’ve never heard of them plundering civilians. This shows how strict their military discipline is. Though Zhao Hanzhang always smiles, her character is extremely strong. Even if you command a great army, my lord, if you violate the military discipline she’s established, I’m afraid she won’t let it go lightly.”
“You’ve already changed masters three times. To change again would look bad,” Zhang Bin said. “So you absolutely must not commit major errors and cross her bottom line.”
At this moment, Shi Lei was still quite proud. He snorted coldly, “If I can’t find a lord worth serving, I’ll establish myself as king. Who needs to serve them as master?”
Zhang Bin felt helpless, thinking privately: If he’d said this a month ago, Zhang Bin would have happily agreed with both hands and feet raised. The very next day he could have organized a coronation ceremony. But now they were already under Zhao Hanzhang’s command, and their territory had been completely taken over. To declare himself king now would mean either wandering the land or becoming a mountain bandit, a hill chieftain.
This wasn’t what Zhang Bin wanted.
Shi Lei also thought of this and frowned. “We still need our own territory.”
Otherwise, if they argued with Zhao Hanzhang, they’d have nowhere to go—too frustrating.
“It’s hateful that Zhao Hanzhang occupied Shangdang. Among all the commanderies in Bing Province, only Jinyang isn’t under her control.” If Zhao Hanzhang weren’t currently in Jinyang, Shi Lei would really want to kill Liu Kun and seize Jinyang.
This place was easy to defend and hard to attack. Even with Liu Kun’s pig-level military talent, he’d managed to hold Jinyang for so many years. Shi Lei could certainly defend it even longer.
Perhaps after developing here for several years, he could even move south to swallow up the rest of Bing Province.
Just thinking about it made Shi Lei’s blood boil. However, once he thought of Zhao Hanzhang, that heat immediately cooled.
Forget it. Zhao Hanzhang had even mapped out Jinyang’s iron ore deposits—would she leave Jinyang to Liu Kun?
And if she didn’t leave Jinyang to Liu Kun, could he seize it from her hands?
After thinking in circles, Shi Lei finally gritted his teeth. “We still need to seize You Province as soon as possible. Zhao Hanzhang promised me that once we take You Province, it will be mine in the future.”
Zhang Bin reminded him, “She’s sending you to take office in You Province as its Inspector. You Province still belongs to Dajin, not to you.”
Zhang Bin continued, “You only have usage rights.”
Ownership still lay in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.
Shi Lei didn’t care. “Usage rights are enough. After using it long enough, who can say clearly whose it really is?”
He said, “By then we’ll use the method you mentioned—treat the people well, win their hearts, and just like Zhao Hanzhang, make the people of You Province know only me, Shi Lei, not Zhao Hanzhang of Yu Province, and certainly not the Emperor of Dajin.”
That way, wouldn’t You Province be completely his from inside out?
Though Zhang Bin felt Shi Lei would have difficulty achieving this, people always need encouragement. So he smiled and nodded, expressing agreement.
Shi Lei eagerly rubbed his hands together. “How much longer will Zhao Hanzhang dawdle in Jinyang? When exactly will we attack Wang Jun?”
Zhang Bin thought for a moment. “Inspector Zhao should be waiting.”
Shi Lei frowned, paused, then asked, “Waiting for the Xiongnu army to completely withdraw into You Province?”
Zhang Bin nodded.
“For Inspector Zhao, Wang Jun isn’t formidable. What deserves attention is the Eastern Xianbei behind Wang Jun. She wants to drag Wang Jun, who has remained neutral, and the Eastern Xianbei into the water. The murkier the water, the easier it is to fish.” Zhang Bin said, “Inspector Zhao is truly kind-hearted. This way, the Zhao Family Army’s losses will be greatly reduced.”
If the Eastern Xianbei united with Wang Jun to first resist the Xiongnu, Zhao Hanzhang might truly become the fisherman, waiting until all three suffered mutual losses before sending troops to reap the benefits.
Shi Lei asked, “If things develop as Zhao Hanzhang predicts, what use are we? Charging into battle? Leaving aside the size of our merit, if we only contribute this little effort, what if Zhao Hanzhang changes her mind again and doesn’t give me You Province?”
Zhang Bin smiled. “Even if my lord doesn’t become Inspector of You Province, someone else will. Given your current military strength, my lord, becoming an inspector is appropriate.”
Otherwise, what place could accommodate over a hundred thousand soldiers?
“What if she sends me south—would you be willing?”
Zhang Bin immediately shook his head. “No. The Jie people comprise over half of our army. They’re not suited to southern climates, and the southern gentry families have deep roots—local clan power exceeds court authority. Given my lord’s character, going south would bring a hundred harms with no benefits.”
Zhang Bin suspected that either Shi Lei would slaughter all the southern gentry, or the southern gentry would dismember Shi Lei.
Shi Lei said, “Exactly. In the current situation, besides Bing Province, only You Province is most suitable for our development.”
So how could he make Zhao Hanzhang use him to conquer You Province, and after establishing unparalleled merit, feel compelled to grant him You Province?
Zhang Bin also pondered. After a moment, his eyes brightened slightly as he whispered, “I have a method, but it’s extremely dangerous for my lord. The question is whether you dare try it.”
Shi Lei asked, “What method?”
Zhang Bin whispered very quietly, “False surrender!”
Zhang Bin’s suggestions could always get through to Shi Lei, so even though this idea was too bold, too audacious, Shi Lei wasn’t too surprised. Instead, he immediately contemplated its feasibility.
False surrender to Wang Jun—it didn’t seem impossible.
Shi Lei and Zhang Bin’s eyes met, and they immediately decided to find Zhao Hanzhang.
They needed to start before the Xiongnu army completely withdrew into You Province. Otherwise, Wang Jun wouldn’t have the energy to receive him, and might even become suspicious.
—