Zhao Hanzhang took the list. Seeing the rows of numbers on it, she nearly crumpled the paper. “No matter how much they offer, such evil deeds absolutely cannot be pardoned.”

Liu Kun behind her quickly snatched the list. After just one glance, he said, “Why not let them redeem their crimes? So much money—this could all be provisions and military pay. Not to mention the Zhao Family Army—if you could provide Shi Lei with enough provisions, would he have fled?”

The anger Zhao Hanzhang had accumulated over the past two days finally erupted. She shifted her foot, saying, “Does elder brother want to experience my kicking strength again?”

Liu Kun’s stomach ached. After a day, it had turned even more bruised and increasingly painful. But he still stiffened his neck, saying, “They deserve to die, but there are many ways to make them die. Just consider this money as redeeming their lives. Send them to hard labor in the army.”

“How many brave soldiers die before battle lines? Not to mention military slaves,” Facing Zhao Hanzhang’s furrowed brow, Liu Kun said righteously, “They’re all going to die anyway. Letting them atone more and contribute more before death—what’s wrong with that?”

Zhao Kuan nodded repeatedly, pushing the list forward again, “Magistrate, Uncle Ming and Master Ji are about to tear their beards out over provisions. Not only is military grain scarce, there’s also relief grain for refugees. Large numbers of refugees from Youzhou and Jizhou are migrating south, mostly flooding into Yanzhou. Without grain relief, the rear will likely descend into chaos.”

Zhao Hanzhang had confiscated these people’s household assets, but they still had marriage relatives and friends. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t practice guilt by association—those who didn’t participate were fine. If they were willing to pay large sums to redeem lives, in the face of the greater situation, this money might seem insignificant. But when calculated in terms of grain it could buy and people it could save, it became an enormous number.

So Zhao Kuan believed they could be flexible.

He advised Zhao Hanzhang, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.”

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take the list, her fingers applying slight pressure as she said in a heavy voice, “Double the amounts. If they’re still willing to redeem people, change the sentence to exile—exile to hard labor!”

Zhao Kuan immediately lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Zhao Hanzhang turned and left, emanating fierce intensity.

Liu Kun quickly followed, supporting his waist and limping, “Are you just going to let Shi Lei escape? You only have twenty thousand men, all new recruits. Without using Jinyang’s army, how can these people catch Shi Lei?”

Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at him, frowning, “Second brother, have your waist and buttocks healed? Going after Shi Lei like this, could you withstand even one of his moves?”

“You!” Liu Kun’s face flushed red with anger, “I intended to take shortcuts to intercept him ahead, coordinating with you from north and south…”

“At Shi Lei’s pace, he’s nearly out of Jinyang by now. Can you intercept him within Jinyang’s borders?” Zhao Hanzhang rattled off questions, “And beyond Jinyang is the vast grassland plains. How would you coordinate from north and south?”

“You also know my twenty thousand are new recruits. So tell me, could Shi Lei turn and slaughter us? Forget my twenty thousand recruits—even facing your Jinyang army in direct assault, could you defeat Shi’s army?”

Liu Kun opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “Yueshi, offensive warfare and defensive siege are different. Guard Jinyang well. I leave tomorrow.”

Liu Kun snapped out of it, quickly asking, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to fight Wang Jun!”

Liu Kun grew anxious, “How will you fight? Your main forces are being held down by the Xiongnu. Are you really going with just these twenty thousand new recruits?”

Zhao Hanzhang was about to mention Tuoba Yilu when, seeing Liu Kun’s anxiety and remembering their agreement to rendezvous in Zhongshan Kingdom, her heart stirred. She lowered her eyes, “I was just thinking of borrowing twenty thousand from elder brother.”

“Certainly,” Liu Kun agreed immediately, then said, “I’m going too!”

Zhao Hanzhang’s breath caught in her throat.

Liu Kun was very insistent, his gaze determined. He absolutely had to show Zhao Hanzhang and his parents his capabilities!

Zhao Hanzhang took a deep breath and nodded, “Fine, you go!”

Go if you want. The Shi army would arrive later, having cleared out scattered fleeing Xiongnu soldiers again. Now all territory south of Jinyang had been recovered by the Zhao Family Army, and north to Dai Commandery had also been retaken during this time. New county magistrates were appointed by Zhao Hanzhang, so Jinyang was relatively safe. At least, if the front lines held, Jinyang wouldn’t be in danger.

Since Liu Kun was also going, twenty thousand men weren’t enough. Zhao Hanzhang requested fifty thousand from him—she would lead twenty thousand while he commanded thirty thousand himself.

With a large army to manage, they couldn’t just leave at will. They still needed to prepare provisions and supplies, causing further delays.

During this time, Shi Lei crossed Changshan Commandery and successfully reached the borders of Zhongshan Kingdom. Going deeper, he refused to proceed.

To welcome him, Wang Jun personally came to Zhongshan Kingdom.

The two didn’t meet immediately but instead communicated through letters across sixty li.

Shi Lei wanted Wang Jun to guarantee his treatment in Youzhou. Wang Jun also needed to ensure his surrender was sincere.

Although scouts had verified that Shi Lei and Zhao Hanzhang had truly fallen out, with advisors constantly whispering in his ear, Wang Jun couldn’t help harboring additional suspicions.

But he also had advisors urging him to trust Shi Lei, such as Sima Youtong. Though he hadn’t always been at Wang Jun’s side—he was a general stationed elsewhere—Wang Jun had only recently recalled him to receive Shi Lei’s army as a precaution.

He told Wang Jun, “Shi Lei raided Xiping and attacked the Zhao family fortress. Many of the Zhao clan died by his hand. How could Zhao Hanzhang truly accept him? Shi Lei must have been marginalized, which is why he’s seeking the General’s protection.”

He also said, “He originally defected from the Xiongnu. In the current world situation, Zhao Hanzhang holds one portion, the Xiongnu hold one portion, and the General holds the remaining portion. Besides seeking your protection, whom else could he turn to?”

Wang Jun felt his words made sense and struck right at his heart.

Sima Youtong, watching his expression, continued more earnestly, “The Xiongnu are also in Youzhou now. With Shi Lei joining us, the Xiongnu will surely be no match. Speaking of which, we’ve rarely engaged the Xiongnu and have no blood feuds with them. Since the General can gain support from the Duan Xianbei and Wuhuan, you certainly can also obtain Xiongnu support. When the world is divided into three parts, at least two parts will be in the General’s hands.”

Wang Jun’s eyes brightened further, his heart swelling with excitement until he felt like floating.

He was fifty-eight this year, approaching his sixtieth birthday. During the Rebellion of the Eight Princes, he had felt Jin was finished, but he never had his opportunity. He could only gradually encroach southward from Youzhou, bit by bit.

Now the court had only a ten-year-old child, and court politics were controlled by a woman from outside. He could completely replace them.

The Sima family could kill an emperor in the streets and still become emperor themselves, proving the Son of Heaven wasn’t truly heaven’s son. So why couldn’t he do the same?

Emperors take turns—it should be his turn now.

Wang Jun grew urgent, telling Sima Youtong, “Quickly send someone to meet Shi Lei. Tell him I’ll host a banquet by the water tomorrow and invite him to attend. I agree to all his demands.”

He couldn’t wait to win over Shi Lei today, win over Liu Cong tomorrow, and ascend the throne the day after.