CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 503: LETTER OF SURRENDER

Zhao Liang carefully examined her complexion, seeing it was only slightly pale, he calmly sat down and nodded reservedly, "What does General wish to inquire about?"

Zhao Hanzhang, however, smiled and said, "It’s not military affairs, clan brother, no need to be constrained."

She asked, "I wonder if clan brother knows Wang Mi’s grandfather?"

"Wang Qi? Of course, I do," Wang Mi’s insurrection is known to all; before, apart from people in the Qingzhou area knowing the Wang Mi brothers, how many people in the world knew him?

But ever since he turned traitor, and later even sought refuge with Liu Yuan, everyone dug into who his ancestors were, and being his grandfather, the closest and most prominent official relative, he naturally was repeatedly brought up for discussion.

Thus, Zhao Liang finds it difficult not to know.

Zhao Liang asked, "Why is Third Lady asking about him?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "I’m curious whether our family ever had dealings or a close relationship with Wang Qi?"

Zhao Liang snorted coldly, "Ancestor of a traitor, our Zhao Family remains loyal and unwavering, how can we be close to him?"

He bluntly said, "No!"

Zhao Hanzhang: "...Actually, I think our family might have some connections with Wang Qi."

Zhao Liang frowned and looked at her.

Off to the side, Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh, seeing Zhao Hanzhang look over, he turned his head away, avoiding her gaze.

Zhao Hanzhang then gently explained to Zhao Liang, "I want to induce Wang Mi to surrender, we must establish some connections."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liang became anxious and promptly said, "Wang Mi is a wolf and tiger, how can he be trusted? If such a person is not killed, he will bring disaster to the world, why do you instead think of pacifying him?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "I don’t want to either, but now Your Majesty, my granduncle, and Grandfather Fu are trapped in the Imperial Palace, apart from this plan, others would result in heavy casualties. Clan brother, we cannot disregard their lives due to personal likes or dislikes, especially Your Majesty’s."

Zhao Liang’s anger cooled slightly, he asked, "But what would you offer to persuade Wang Mi?"

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang with skepticism, "Can you really persuade him?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "It’s worth a try, isn’t it?"

Zhao Liang stared at her for a moment, then seriously pondered, "To speak of interactions, there definitely are some. Wang Qi served as Ru Nan Governor, while our Zhao Family is a distinguished family in Ru Nan, neither side can completely avoid the other."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded in deep agreement.

"But speaking of good relations, there really aren’t any." Seeing the accusatory look in Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes, Zhao Liang said, "Our Zhao Family held a status even more prestigious than his. At that time, Third Lady, it was your great-grandfather who was clan leader, serving as an official in the capital with outstanding achievements, eventually titled as Shangcai Marquis. Although Wang Qi had military merits, there wasn’t much to say between him and your great-grandfather, not even much conversation, let alone good relations."

"Oh, if you really want to find a point, does your great-grandfather mocking his arrogance count?"

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh again.

Zhao Hanzhang glared at him, and asked Zhao Liang, "Did my great-grandfather do this? Is this widely spread?" This isn’t helping her establish connections with Wang Mi.

Zhao Liang replied, "Not widely spread, I heard it from my grandfather. Actually, it should’ve been the former clan leader who mocked him, then the great-grandfather chimed in."

Oh, it was her grandfather’s doing, that’s quite close, maybe Wang Mi knows about this.

"My great-grandfather was cheerful and generous, while the former clan leader was frugal and disliked extravagance. That was when Wang Qi erected a monument to commemorate achievements before assuming the role of Ru Nan Governor, a costly endeavor that the former clan leader didn’t like, and mocked him during a banquet in Shangcai, and the great-grandfather pampered his son and agreed." Zhao Liang said, "Thus, our family and Wang Qi’s family don’t interact much; there’s no need to try establishing connections here."

It seems her grandfather was also a child who grew up pampered.

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, shaking such untimely thoughts out of her mind, already forming an idea, she asked, "So there are only minor intersections between the two families, no major conflicts or fights, right?"

Zhao Liang: "Even if the great-grandfather and former clan leader dislike Wang Qi, he’s still Ru Nan Governor, why would they deliberately offend him?"

"That’s good, I understand. Clan brother, you may go and rest."

Zhao Liang stood up, hesitated a moment, but still said, "Third Lady, Wang Mi is unpredictable and ambitions of a wolf and beast. If you introduce him to the court, it might bring great trouble."

Zhao Hanzhang said meaningfully, "How do you know, clan brother, that I’m sure to succeed in inducing him to surrender?"

Success has its ways to be handled, and failure also has its benefits. Her aim is to sow discord among the two people in the city; if Wang Mi defects, that’s best, if not, she doesn’t lose.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately moved forward clutching her chest, asking Fu Tinghan to grind the ink for her, now she will write a letter to Wang Mi.

"Why not have Mr. Ji draft it?"

Usually, for letters and memorials requiring literary flair, she would request Ji Yuan to draft them.

Zhao Hanzhang refused, "If I don’t personally choose the words, how can I show my sincerity?"

Who says there’s no connection between the two families? The camaraderie of colleagues serving in the same court, the kinship of a governor and local distinguished families helping each other, fabricate a story easily, ancestors once dined at the same table and drank together, isn’t that a relation?

She doesn’t believe Wang Mi will completely disregard reputation.

Previously, he didn’t care because he was already a traitor, thoroughly bad, for power he can give up esteem.

But what if currently facing him is both power and fame?

For this, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t hesitate to send him big news; she told him that Prince East Sea died at Shi Le’s hands, and now Shi Le is consolidating Prince East Sea’s two hundred thousand troops, and among the generals heading south from the Han Kingdom this time, Shi Le should be credited foremost.

You want to rush into the Imperial Palace and claim credit for eradicating Jin State, but Liu Cong, the son Liu Yuan favors most, is here, beside him there’s a clansman, Liu Yao, would they allow an outsider to claim this credit?

Would Liu Yuan grant such immense credit to you?

Liu Yao has killed so many of your people due to plunder, were they punished by Liu Cong? You surely complained to Liu Yuan too, but how was Liu Yao dealt with?

Zhao Hanzhang tells Wang Mi, in the Han Kingdom, you can’t just be second, you can’t even retain third place.

Don’t you want power?

Jin State can give you that too.

Zhao Hanzhang tells him, Prince East Sea is dead, Wang Yan was captured by Shi Le, now in Jin State, besides me, only Gou Xi remains.

Zhao Hanzhang states she’s just a woman, wishing only to live peacefully in Yu State for life; she’s loyal to the emperor and nation, and uninterested in courtly power.

So currently, across the nation, only Gou Xi can influence the emperor.

Shi Le struggles against Gou Xi, it’s not because Gou Xi is particularly formidable, but rather because Shi Le lacks study, is unskilled in deploying and arranging troops, only using brute force.

But you’re different, like Gou Xi, you are born from an aristocratic family, not lacking in talent or martial skills, and you currently have the advantage, being right outside the Imperial Palace; if you wish, you can always stand by the emperor’s side, becoming the next Prince East Sea.

At that time, all power in the world will be in your hand.