Just as Zhao Hanzhang was about to speak, Zhao Erlang and Xie Shi returned happily, carrying Liu Cong’s corpse.
This was Liu Kun’s first time meeting Zhao Hanzhang’s younger brother, Zhao Yong. Of course, most people, including readers, probably hadn’t remembered his formal name and only remembered he was called Zhao Erlang.
But Liu Kun remembered. He thought the spirited youth on horseback didn’t seem at all like someone with mental problems. Hadn’t it been said he resembled Emperor Hui? He didn’t look like it at all.
Zhao Erlang saw his elder sister, immediately jumped off his horse, and ran over cheerfully, saying happily, “Elder Sister, I’ve already beheaded Liu Cong!”
Liu Kun’s expression became solemn. He was certain now—though not like Emperor Hui in his foolishness, he wasn’t particularly bright either.
Zhao Hanzhang tapped his head. “Don’t misuse a new word just because you learned it. Beheading is a punishment—severing the head and hanging it from a tree. Emperor Liu’s corpse is intact, showing your courtesy toward him. How can you call it beheading?”
Zhao Erlang said, “Elder Sister, shouldn’t I have shown him courtesy? He was the enemy, but Master Xie told me to treat his corpse well.”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, “Though we have the enmity of him killing our kin, he was after all a sovereign of a state. Now that he’s dead, he should have a sovereign’s rites. Give him a proper burial.”
Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t a psychopath. Even if she had great enmity with Liu Cong, with his death, all grudges were settled. She wouldn’t vent her anger on his corpse. Moreover, she had quite a few surrendered Xiongnu soldiers here. Even if just to give them face, she wouldn’t do something so hurtful to people’s hearts.
Back then, when Liu Cong poisoned the Jin Emperor, it provoked a backlash from Han Chinese noble families. Just in these past days, Yuzhou had recruited over three hundred talented individuals because of this, including many people of high talent.
So Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t do something that, apart from venting anger and satisfying perverse psychology, served no purpose.
She had someone prepare a good coffin for Liu Cong.
It was ready-made. She found it in the conquered Hunu County.
Seeing her show such courtesy to Liu Cong, Liu Yi and others couldn’t help but cry out in grief. They immediately went to pay respects to Liu Cong and wept bitterly, saying, “Elder Brother, if only you had heeded my advice earlier, how would you have ended up like this today? With Zhao Hanzhang’s magnanimity, she would certainly have treated you with courtesy.”
Zhao Hanzhang, who had come to offer incense to Liu Cong, silently inserted her incense and thought to herself: Actually, not really. If Liu Cong had truly surrendered alive, she would still find an opportunity to eliminate him.
Liu Cong wasn’t like Liu Yi. Even if he surrendered, he was full of rebellious spirit—sooner or later, a disaster. Moreover, he carried the status of an emperor. So his death on the battlefield was actually quite good.
For this, Zhao Hanzhang praised Zhao Erlang for two consecutive days, and in front of everyone, promising to grant him the title of Great General when they returned.
This wasn’t a momentary impulse but rather Zhao Hanzhang’s need for Zhao Erlang to have a certain prestige in the military. This was also why she had him ambush Liu Ji’s route.
Shi Lei and others also suspected that Zhao Hanzhang had guessed early on that Liu Cong was hiding in Liu Ji’s forces, which was why she had Zhao Erlang conceal his movements and ambush him midway.
Shi Lei couldn’t ask directly, but Liu Kun had no such reservations. When he had doubts, he asked directly, “Did Hanzhang know early on that Liu Cong would be concealed in Liu Ji’s forces?”
Shi Lei, Beigong Chun, and others all pricked up their ears to listen.
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and smiled, saying, “I didn’t know. However, of the four routes, I guessed he was either hiding in Liu Ji’s army or in Liu Yao’s army. Of course, the remaining two routes were also possible, but only thirty percent likely.”
“Liu Ji and Liu Yao each had a forty percent chance. If I guessed correctly, this merit would go to either Erlang or General Shi.” Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly and said, “So our two armies faced the greatest pressure. I wanted General Beigong to attack the eastern route because General Beigong and Uncle Qianli have cooperated many times. If Uncle Qianli encounters problems attacking Hunu County, you can provide support at any time. With you two there, our rear is secure.”
Beigong Chun and Zhao Ju, having been praised, both nodded with satisfaction. Although the merit of killing the Xiongnu emperor didn’t fall to them, this arrangement showed Zhao Hanzhang’s trust in them.
Shi Lei’s expression also improved considerably.
Only Liu Kun had a strange expression as he asked, “What about me?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and asked, “Second Brother, do you still remember the wager we made?”
Liu Kun immediately fell silent.
Zhao Hanzhang then nodded to Zhao Ju and Beigong Chun. The two immediately stood up and found an excuse to take their leave, conveniently bringing Shi Lei along as well. “I’ve long heard that General Shi is brave and powerful. Chun would like to spar with you.”
Shi Lei had twice been defeated by Beigong Chun. He acknowledged that his ability to lead and command troops was inferior to Beigong Chun’s, but as for individual martial prowess, Shi Lei was eager to try. He immediately went to spar with Beigong Chun.
Zhao Erlang still sat innocently to the side, waiting for the rabbit on the spit to cook. Xie Shi tried twice to pull him away but couldn’t, so he could only resignedly leave by himself.
Fu Tinghan stood up and said to Zhao Erlang, “Come, I’ll show you something interesting.”
Zhao Erlang knew his brother-in-law always had many strange and unusual things. He reluctantly shifted his gaze from the sizzling, oil-dripping rabbit and stood up asking, “What is it?”
Fu Tinghan pulled him away. “You’ll know when you see it.”
Zhao Erlang followed him while turning back to say to Zhao Hanzhang, “Elder Sister, when the rabbit is ready, save me a leg.”
Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged.
Zhao Erlang said reluctantly, “Along with the meat from the chest.”
Zhao Hanzhang said with distaste, waving her hand, “I’ll save you half.”
Hearing this, Zhao Erlang immediately left contentedly with Fu Tinghan.
In an instant, only Zhao Hanzhang and Liu Kun remained by the fire.
Liu Kun sat uneasily.
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, “Brother~~”
Liu Kun immediately said, “I know. I’m willing to accept defeat. I’ll go to Xuzhou.”
Zhao Hanzhang refused to let it go at that and said to him, “Going to Xuzhou, Brother, do you plan to take General Linghu with you?”
Linghu Sheng was his man. Liu Kun naturally wanted to take him. By convention, the entire Jinyang Army belonged to him. Even if he didn’t take everyone, he would take the elite forces and key personnel. After all, this was his power base.
Zhao Hanzhang counseled him, “General Linghu has followed you in guarding Jinyang for many years and knows Jinyang very well. Although the Xiongnu state has been destroyed, as you know, the world is not yet completely at peace, especially with the Xianbei in Dai Commandery.”
Liu Kun said nothing. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to tell Zhao Hanzhang things like “Tuoba Yilu is our elder brother, we should trust big brother’s words.”
Whether it was Zhao Hanzhang’s sworn brotherhood with Tuoba Yilu or his own past brotherhood with Tuoba Yilu, it was all because of mutual interests. True brotherly affection existed, but not much—at least in Liu Kun’s heart, it couldn’t compare to Jinyang and the Jin state. Similarly, in Tuoba Yilu’s heart, this affection couldn’t compare to the Xianbei’s interests.
Everyone understood this clearly—no need to spell it out.
In matters of national interests, Zhao Hanzhang and Liu Kun’s interests aligned, so they both knew they needed to guard against Dai Commandery, against the Tuoba Xianbei.
“So I wish to request that Brother leave General Linghu in Jinyang.”
Though Liu Kun was arrogant, he truly loved his country. After pondering for a moment, he still gritted his teeth and made the sacrifice, saying, “Very well. I’ll leave Linghu Sheng and the Jinyang Army behind. I’ll only select two thousand men to depart with.”
Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, “Brother, rest assured. I certainly won’t let you struggle as you did when you first came to Jinyang. I’ll give you Ji Ping, having him lead twenty thousand troops to escort you to Xuzhou and station there, under your command.”