CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 333 FAITH AND TRUTH (EXTRA CHAPTER FOR MYSELF)

Zhao Hanzhang returned directly to the backyard with the box, instructing Ting He, "Go find Wu Erlang, and have him invite Mr. Ji to the backyard. I have important matters to discuss."

Ting He said, "My lady, Mr. Ji is currently in the backyard, dining with Mr. Ming in the garden."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

Zhao Hanzhang directly went to the garden, where only Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan sat facing each other in the pavilion; Fu Tinghan was not present.

Ting He said, "The young master is busy. He accepted the tea we brewed but was unwilling to sit in the garden drinking with Mr. Ming. Mr. Ji happened to return from outside, so the young master left the task of entertaining Mr. Ming to Mr. Ji."

Zhao Hanzhang then said, "Please invite him here, saying I have important matters to discuss with them."

Fu Tinghan arrived very quickly, and once everyone was present, Zhao Hanzhang placed the box at the center of the low table and said, "This is Inspector He’s private seal."

Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan both raised their eyebrows.

Fu Tinghan asked directly, "What does it mean for it to be given to you?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly and said, "He said if I send military aid, I would be the next Inspector."

Zhao Ming: "What if you die? What good is an Inspector position then?"

Ji Yuan asked, "What’s the situation at the front line? How many troops does he currently have? Was such a seal given solely to you, or do other Prefectural Governors have it as well? He should have ordered each county to dispatch troops for aid. What has he promised the other Prefectural Governors?"

Zhao Hanzhang did not answer their questions but turned to Fu Tinghan and asked, "What do you think?"

Fu Tinghan asked, "Do you want to fight?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, her expression solemn, "Even if not for the Inspector position, I must send troops."

She spoke of the reluctance and laziness of the various armies, saying, "So now only Inspector He is resisting the Xiongnu army. If he can no longer resist, how can Ru Nan County survive under the Xiongnu’s advance?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Although Liu Yuan’s army has besieged Luoyang for so long, they have failed to breach it. They have accumulated a lot of frustration, and if they enter Yu State, they may massacre the city."

Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan both had a change in expression, and Fu Tinghan’s face turned even darker.

"By then, no one will be spared," she said, "So Inspector He’s policy is correct; we must keep the Xiongnu out of Yu State."

Zhao Ming stood up, paced for a couple of circles, and then asked her, "How confident are you?"

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes and said, "I have no confidence."

Zhao Ming pressed his lips and said, "Are you willing to risk so many people when you’re not confident?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Uncle Ming, it’s merely a difference between an early or late death. If we can’t stop the Xiongnu, we might just die a few days earlier standing in front. But if we’re fortunate enough to stop them, we might live several more years, even decades. Doesn’t that make this gamble worth it?"

Zhao Ming remained silent.

Zhao Hanzhang became more serious, sitting up straight and saying, "Uncle Ming, if we can’t stop the Xiongnu, please listen to the Grand Uncle and lead the clan south."

Zhao Ming looked at her mockingly, "Over a thousand elderly, women, and children, do you think we can outrun the world-famous cavalry of the Xiongnu?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Then simplify matters, let them blend into the refugees to survive."

She sighed bitterly before saying, "By then, they would already be refugees; there would be no need to blend in intentionally."

She was silent for a moment but still added, "By then, please also look after my mother."

This time Zhao Ming did not mock further but sized her up before asking, "I always thought your ultimate goal was to protect your mother and Second Son. If you wanted to preserve yourself, there are many ways. You need not send troops, preserve your strength. If the Xiongnu really move south, you could use your power to escort your family and clan south..."

"Does Uncle Ming want me to do that?" Zhao Hanzhang looked intently at him.

Zhao Ming fell silent, pondering for a long time.

Fu Tinghan stood up and said, "I’ll calculate the number of troops you can send and the required provisions."

After nodding to Zhao Ming, he turned and left.

Watching him leave, Zhao Ming suddenly realized that Fu Tinghan never opposed any of Zhao Hanzhang’s decisions. He initially thought it was because he loved her, that he supported her because she made the decisions.

But now it seemed, did Zhao Hanzhang’s decisions align with his intentions, hence he never thought to oppose?

Ji Yuan also found Zhao Hanzhang’s actions dangerous, but believed wealth and honor often came with risks, so he proposed, "My lady can send reinforcements but doesn’t need to personally lead the troops. You can have Zhao Ju lead the troops for backup."

This would allow for both offensive and defensive strategies.

However, Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and said, "If I don’t go, the morale will be low, and their capability won’t even reach one or two-tenths. Since we’ve decided to act, we should strive to do our best."

Seeing her insistence, Ji Yuan knew it was hard to persuade her otherwise. Sighing, he agreed and stood up, "I’ll go prepare the provisions."

Soon, only Zhao Ming and Zhao Hanzhang remained in the pavilion.

At this time, one stood while the other knelt, obviously Zhao Ming was taller, but Zhao Hanzhang’s presence was in no way inferior to Zhao Ming’s, even subtly overwhelming.

Zhao Ming quietly watched this niece of his. He thought he knew her well enough, but looking at her now, it seemed all his previous notions and impressions were all wrong.

For the first time, he examined her closely. Zhao Hanzhang calmly let him, poured herself a cup of water, and upon tasting, smiled bitterly, "Uncle, you really do love your wine too much; even the teapot is filled with wine?"

Zhao Ming glanced briefly without saying, "It’s not a teapot; it’s a wine jug."

Alright, if you say it’s a wine jug, it’s a wine jug.

Zhao Hanzhang put down the cup, slightly raised her head to look at Zhao Ming, and smiled softly, "Uncle, feel free to speak your mind."

Zhao Ming thought for a moment, then walked over to her, knelt down in front of her, facing her kneeling, "I... have always thought you were ambitious, too absorbed in power, and feared you’d bring great disaster to yourself and the Zhao Family."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Is Uncle worried I’ll rebel?"

Zhao Ming: ...

He couldn’t help but glance around.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled softly, "Rest assured, there’s no one here in the garden, and even if someone overhears, I’m not afraid."

Could the emperor or Prince East Sea send people to behead her?

Both are barely managing to survive themselves, aren’t they?

Zhao Ming asked, "Are you?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head directly, "I’m not."

She admitted, "I do indeed wish to control Yu State, but that’s truly for the sake of my mother, Second Son, and the clan."

"Then why are you sending troops this time, not considering your mother, Second Son, or the clan?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed long and said, "Uncle Ming, I’m now the Prefectural Governor of Ru Nan County, I have a responsibility to Ru Nan County. Fulfilling one’s duties while in a position is a truth I’ve always pursued. If I abandon Ru Nan County to escape alone, I’d be dead, even if I lived."