CHAPTER 301: CHAPTER 295 PEACE OF MIND

Fu Tinghan gave Zhao Ming a puzzled look, "Our goals are the same."

Zhao Ming had a question in his heart that had been suppressed for a long time, "Third Sister Zhao wants to take Ru Nan County because the Zhao Family is here. She’s scheming for Erlang and Zhao Family, but what’s your reason?"

Fu Tinghan naturally replied, "Because she’s here, I’m here too."

Fu Tinghan looked at Zhao Ming with a puzzled expression, "Why is Uncle Ming suddenly asking this?"

Because my father suspects you are planning a rebellion, and I have the same suspicion.

Zhao Ming swallowed the words that were about to come out and paused before saying, "Tinghan, my Zhao Family has been loyal for generations. Third Sister’s grandfather cherished and respected himself, accumulating the good reputation we have today. I hope no one destroys this reputation."

Fu Tinghan was not skilled at managing matters, but he was intelligent and understood the implication of Zhao Ming’s words. He raised an eyebrow slightly, comforted the horse kicking at the ground, and seriously looked at Zhao Ming, "Uncle Ming, we never thought of rebelling."

But Zhao Ming still wasn’t reassured, "You have no reverence for the Imperial Family."

Fu Tinghan: "Does Uncle Ming?"

Good question, Zhao Ming didn’t either!

The two looked at each other before Zhao Ming calmly turned his gaze away and said in a deep voice, "I don’t care what you plan to do, as long as you don’t tarnish our Zhao Family’s ancestral reputation."

Fu Tinghan responded with a "Hmm." Not to mention that he and Zhao Hanzhang had never thought of rebelling. If they truly rebelled and lost, they could bear all consequences, and if they won, it would not be tarnishing but commendation.

When they arrived at the military camp, Zhao Hanzhang was drilling formations with the soldiers and even a confrontation. Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang each led a group of soldiers, holding guns with red cloth wrapped around the ends, charging at each other. Anyone touched by the red cloth was considered dead.

Zhao Erlang loved this game and wanted to play it every day. Although he often lost more than he won against his older sister, it was really fun.

Zhao Erlang, excited, charged at Zhao Hanzhang with a shout. Zhao Hanzhang didn’t let him get close, maneuvering the formation with a command.

Two riders stepped forward from the left and right, blocking Zhao Hanzhang. One of them quickly swung a long spear. Zhao Erlang dodged by falling back, not knowing how Zhao Hanzhang’s spear struck from somewhere, touching Zhao Erlang’s waist, causing him to fall off his horse in pain...

Zhao Hanzhang held up her spear and shouted loudly, "Your commander is dead, surrender or die!"

Her people immediately cheered with her, shouting to drop the weapons and avoid being killed. When Zhao Erlang got up from the ground holding his waist, most of his men had already surrendered.

He couldn’t help but jump and shout, "Didn’t I tell you that even if I’m dead, you can’t surrender..."

Zhao Hanzhang dismounted, slapped him on the head, "How many times have I told you, use strategy in battle, don’t be reckless. Haven’t you learned from losing so many times?"

Zhao Erlang knocked away Zhao Hanzhang’s hand, grumbling angrily, "I’m not as smart as you, but I can definitely beat you in single combat. Dare you to duel?"

"You’ll lose in a duel too!"

"I’ve learned new moves, let’s compete again!"

Seeing the siblings getting heated and the soldiers seeming ready to jump in, Zhao Ming couldn’t help but shout, "Third Sister Zhao!"

Third Lady Zhao looked over upon hearing her name, finally seeing the two of them. She wiped the sweat from her face and approached them with her long pole, "Uncle Ming, what brings you here?"

If he hadn’t come, how would he know Zhao Hanzhang had left governance to Ji Yuan and Chang Ning and came here to spar for fun?

Ting He, waiting at the side, immediately grabbed a cloth towel, rushing forward to wipe Zhao Hanzhang’s sweat.

Zhao Ming glanced at the soldiers in formation not far away. After forming up, they began training.

Zhao Hanzhang wiped her sweat, tossed the towel to Ting He, and followed his gaze, boasting with a chuckle, "Uncle Ming, aren’t my soldiers well-nurtured?"

"Very well," said Zhao Ming, though his thoughts, which had just been suppressed, surged again.

He couldn’t help but tell Zhao Hanzhang, "Do you know Liu Yuan’s army is now approaching Luoyang?"

"I know," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Didn’t we receive this news a while ago? Even Gou Xi has suspended with Prince East Sea."

Zhao Ming asked, "If the court orders you to dispatch troops to aid the king, would you be willing to go?"

Zhao Hanzhang pointed to her own nose with her finger, asking, "Me?"

Zhao Ming nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang: "Uncle, what are you thinking? I only have two thousand people. How could I go to Luoyang to aid the king?"

Zhao Ming snorted coldly, "We both know if you only have two thousand people or not."

Zhao Hanzhang, feeling indignant, said immediately, "Uncle, those people in the resettlement areas may be retinue, but their main duty is farming. They don’t really train, how can they be called soldiers?"

"I really only have these two thousand in training. If I went to aid the king, you couldn’t possibly expect me to lead my subordinates to their deaths, could you?" Zhao Hanzhang paused here, frowning, "Why, does the court want me to aid the king? How come I haven’t received any message?"

Zhao Ming replied coldly, "No, I was just speculating."

He asked, "Have you thought about if you don’t go to aid the king and the Xiongnu army captures Luoyang, then Great Jin will fall, and we will all be ministers of a fallen nation?"

The fall of Great Jin is an inevitable trend. If it falls, it falls. She’d have one less mountain over her head, working more freely.

But she couldn’t say this to Zhao Ming, so Zhao Hanzhang said, "Uncle, rest assured, the Da Jin Royal Family has so many members scattered everywhere. It won’t fall temporarily."

Fu Tinghan stood to the side, listening to their conversation. When Zhao Ming went to inspect other parts of the camp, he spoke to Zhao Hanzhang, "Uncle Ming is worried you’re planning a rebellion."

Zhao Hanzhang: "...Just because I’m raising troops? I’m not raising many troops, am I?"

Fu Tinghan: "Probably because of our attitude. We lack respect for the Imperial Family and the court, and that’s making him concerned."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Later, I’ll go and ease his concerns."

Zhao Hanzhang’s method of easing his concerns was simple; she directly said to him, "Uncle Ming, why would I drive myself to rebellion? Fighting against both heaven and man? I’m already exhausted managing three counties. Had it not been for Liu Yuan’s covetous eyes, I wouldn’t have thought of raising so many retinues."

Zhao Ming stared at her for a long time before finally nodding, "All right, I’ll tentatively believe you."

Zhao Hanzhang, with a mischievous smile, told Zhao Ming, "If one day I really rebel, you can expel me from the Zhao Family. I suppose the court wouldn’t trouble the Zhao Family and you then."

Zhao Ming: "Shut up!"

"Okay." However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t remain quiet for long before saying again, "Uncle, if the court orders aid, do you think He Ci Shi will go?"

Zhao Ming asked her back, "What do you think?"

"I think not!"

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t wrong. He Ci Shi indeed wouldn’t dispatch troops.

The court had already issued the edict for aid, but the document was sent directly to the Inspector’s Mansion, where He Ci Shi shelved it without making it public.