Chapter 359 - 353 Cooperation
Zhao Hanzhang said sternly, "I understand the General’s concerns, so Hanzhang is willing to lend the Yu Province to aid you."
Gou Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly, showing some interest, "Oh?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Currently, it is I who oversee the affairs of Yu Province."
Gou Xi did not refute this point because he had received information that Inspector He was already dead.
He was severely injured, and his wounds had deteriorated to the extreme. On the seventh day after Zhao Hanzhang came out, he fell into a high fever and coma. He awoke briefly midway, summoning Zhao Kuan, Zhao Ju, and Xun Xiu, ordering them to keep his death a secret and to pretend he was merely too ill to appear in public.
All matters in Yu Province followed Zhao Hanzhang’s orders.
Zhao Hanzhang led two thousand troops to lure away most of the Xiongnu soldiers surrounding Yu Province’s defenses, weakening the Xiongnu’s attack significantly. Xun Xiu and others were thus able to hold Yu Province.
Meanwhile, Zhao Hanzhang occasionally sent back information; under her orders, they launched attacks from time to time, winning several battles. The current situation appeared favorable to Yu Province, seemingly a victory for her.
But Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi, knowledgeable in military strategy and current affairs, both knew this was temporary. The longer the time dragged on, the current advantage would slowly disappear and turn into a disadvantage. By then, Yu Province would face a fiercer retaliation from the Xiongnu.
From the information Gou Xi received, it seemed that the military and civilians of Yu Province were united in recognizing Zhao Hanzhang as the legitimate successor, supported by Inspector He’s last words.
The imperial court...
The court had long lost control of the localities, so with or without their orders, it was all the same.
If Yu Province stood on his side...
Gou Xi lowered his eyes and pondered.
Zhao Hanzhang pressed further, "Prince East Sea, though a blood relative of the Jin Dynasty, cannot share the burdens of the state and is disrespectful to Your Majesty. The ministers have long had opinions, my granduncle once wrote that officials from Yu Province in the court were seething with anger but dared not speak up due to Prince East Sea’s power."
"If General Gou needs it, we can all serve at the General’s command," Zhao Hanzhang’s nose tinged with sourness, tears welled up in her eyes, almost crying out loud. She stood up, walked forward, and knelt, looking expectantly as she said, "General, the Hanzhang clan is all in Yu Province, thousands of clan members. Once the Xiongnu break Yu Province..."
Tears ran down, and she kowtowed, "As long as the General saves Yu Province, my Zhao Family will repay with our lives."
This was a heavy promise.
Yan Heng and others immediately looked at Gou Xi, hoping he would agree.
Ming Yu further said, "General, the Xiongnu have been out for a long time; after a few more defeats, they will surely grow weary of war, and the weather is about to turn cold."
Zhao Hanzhang looked up, disregarding tears on her face, nodding repeatedly, "General, when reinforcements sent by Fu Zhongshu arrive, what fear is there of the Xiongnu?"
"As for Prince East Sea, Hanzhang always believed there is no need to worry; he lacks the ability to lead troops, and now he has lost the people’s support. Even when Your Majesty sent Fu Zhongshu to Chang’an to recruit soldiers, not even Wang Situ opposed it, showing that many ministers also have opinions. If he doesn’t make a move, fine, but if he does, all can attack."
Zhao Hanzhang said meaningfully, "It is evident that Your Majesty can no longer endure, otherwise why the secret edict, and now sending Fu Zhongshu to Chang’an to recruit and purchase horses?"
Gou Xi’s heart was stirred, finally remembering a crucial point, the Little Emperor sent Fu Zhi to Chang’an to recruit soldiers, once recruited, he will no longer be an emperor unable to bind a chicken.
Gou Xi’s eyes narrowed, making a quick decision, "Good! When Yu Province is in difficulty, we indeed should aid them."
The advisors did not expect Gou Xi to agree so quickly, though they had the same inclination, this was too fast.
They couldn’t help but look at each other without speaking for a moment.
Sitting behind the low table with a solemn face, Fu Tinghan, who had been clenching his fists tightly, relaxed slightly, looking at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang was deeply moved, repeatedly bowing in thanks.
Gou Xi’s mouth twitched slightly, seeing her face full of tears, he waved his hand, "But the matter of dispatching troops still needs detailed discussion, it’s late today, how about Governor Zhao staying first, and we will discuss it tomorrow."
Zhao Hanzhang agreed, following the arrangements to rest.
Upon entering the guest room, Ting He immediately fetched a basin of hot water for her to wash her face. Zhao Erlang, with a pained look, watched his sister, "Sister, I will wipe your tears."
Saying so, he lifted his clothes to wipe her tears, but he was wearing armor and couldn’t get his sleeves out.
Zhao Hanzhang disdainfully slapped his hand away, and Fu Tinghan offered a handkerchief.
Zhao Hanzhang took it, wiping the dirt and tears from her face first, then washing her face when the water arrived. She asked Fu Tinghan, "How was my performance just now?"
Fu Tinghan nodded, "Very moving."
Zhao Erlang looked at his sister, who showed no sign of sadness, utterly confused.
After wringing the handkerchief dry, Zhao Hanzhang casually hung it on the rack and said to Fu Tinghan, "When Grandfather Fu arrives, we must tell him to keep a tight grip on his troops, lest Gou Xi take them."
Fu Tinghan: "Were you serious when you said the Zhao Family is willing to repay him with their lives?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Of course it’s true, I’m not one to deceive, but the Zhao Family has its integrity too. We may be willing to repay with our lives, but on the premise that he is doing the right thing."
She said, "For matters like driving out foreign invaders, our Zhao Family would unquestionably oblige."
Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head, "As long as you’re happy."
Zhao Hanzhang was certainly happy, having won over Gou Xi meant expelling Liu Yuan’s army was only a matter of time.
Zhao Erlang mumbled, "Sister, a messenger could say these things, why did we come in person? Going through so many detours and wasting so much time, wouldn’t it be better to directly fight the Xiongnu."
"Fool, what do you think convinced him?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "It was not because he was upright and clean, nor that the Zhao Family was willing to repay him with their lives, but because the Yu Province, under my control, was willing to stand on his side; besides, Your Majesty has started to have his forces, Prince East Sea has already lost the people’s support in the court."
Most of the words indeed could be conveyed by an envoy, but the notion that Yu Province could be at Gou Xi’s disposal had no weight when spoken by an envoy, and they wouldn’t believe it.
Only she or Inspector He presenting the promise to Gou Xi personally would make it count.
Gou Xi didn’t trust any inspector, and Inspector He wouldn’t have the determination to hand Yu Province over to Gou Xi, otherwise...
Thinking of the people of Yu Province currently suffering from the impacts of war, Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded slightly, "Tomorrow, we will discuss the battle plan. Tinghan will go with me, we must strive for more opportunities for the people of Yu Province."
Fu Tinghan nodded, "I know what to do."
Liu Yuan was still looking for Zhao Hanzhang, and after realizing he couldn’t find her whereabouts, he finally decided not to let her lead him by the nose, but... without capturing her, their rear was constantly attacked.
The soldiers were fighting in the front, but there was always a knife hanging behind their necks, no one could fight well like this.
Morale was severely affected.
Especially since Zhao Hanzhang had repeatedly seized and destroyed their grain supplies, this left them somewhat short of food in the army.
After thinking it over, Liu Yuan could only grit his teeth and order, "Collect food locally, let each army figure out its own way."
This was the last thing Liu Yuan wanted to see because he still hoped to manage the Han people and Xiongnu together, wishing they could be as close as family, so he always ordered his subordinates not to plunder excessively.
Of course, they rarely listened, and among them, the one who plundered the people’s property and killed the most was Wang Mi.