Chapter 385 - 379: Meeting the Governor
Zhao Kuan was pushed to the front and stammered, "Sir... Master, what does the letter say?"
Zhao Hanzhang lifted her eyelids and glanced at him, smiling lightly, and handed the letter to Governor Zhang, "Would you like to see it, Governor Zhang? This is the reply from Prince East Sea to you."
Fu Tinghan explained for her, "Governor Zhang offered Yu State to Prince East Sea in pursuit of the position of Yu State Governor, and Prince East Sea agreed. This is the official letter appointing him as the Yu State Governor, carrying not only Prince East Sea’s seal but also the Jade Seal."
This indicates that the Jade Seal is in Prince East Sea’s hands, allowing him to act on behalf of the Emperor.
Indeed, with this letter, Governor Zhang’s legitimacy surpasses even Zhao Hanzhang’s.
Governor Zhang also realized this point. He grabbed the letter from Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, disregarding her hand on his shoulder, with great joy, "I’m the Governor!"
He glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, then swept his gaze over Xun Xiu and others, his face darkened, "What, do you only recognize the words of He Ci Shi and not the appointments of the court?"
Xun Xiu and the others glanced at each other, feeling uncertain for a moment, but they weren’t all brainless. Mi Ce couldn’t help but say with a green face, "Governor Zhang, your action is roasting Yu State over fire. We stand with Gou Xi because he helped us expel the Xiongnu; repaying him is only right. By having us side with Prince East Sea, you plunge Yu State into strife and cast us into injustice!"
"Indeed," Xun Xiu also felt displeased, and he didn’t submit. If Governor Zhang could become Governor, why couldn’t he? He had considerable military merit this time.
Zhao Hanzhang becoming the Governor was acceptable, firstly because she was the person selected by He Ci Shi. They were all confidants of He Ci Shi, who handed them over to Zhao Hanzhang before his death; secondly, Zhao Hanzhang had the most significant contribution to resolving Yu State’s crisis, so her appointment was accepted. But why Governor Zhang?
Xun Xiu wanted to shout, if Governor Zhang could do it, then so could he!
However, after looking around, he swallowed his words.
With a smile on her face, Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her hand from his shoulder, seriously answering Governor Zhang’s question, "Recognize! Yu State is the court’s Yu State; how could we not recognize the court’s appointments?"
Behind Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Tinghan closed his eyes, then drew the long sword strapped to his waist and handed it to her.
It was the sword Zhao Changyu gave to Zhao Hanzhang, later refined by Fu Tinghan, but Zhao Hanzhang seldom used it afterward, preferring the long spear. Hence, Fu Tinghan wielded the sword.
Zhao Hanzhang took the sword, and a bad feeling instantly arose in Governor Zhang’s heart. He retreated continuously but was blocked by someone behind him, a hand pressing on his shoulder.
Without any delay, Zhao Hanzhang directly stabbed towards his heart. Governor Zhang didn’t anticipate her not giving him any time to react or defend, his eyes widening instantly, "You, you..."
The soldiers were startled too, retreating collectively, leaving only a few people in the center, offering a clear view.
Standing beside Zhao Hanzhang, Fu Tinghan had just handed her the sword; behind Governor Zhang stood Zhao Ju, a man who also received significant accolades, holding a wine jar in one hand and pressing Governor Zhang’s shoulder with the other, preventing his retreat...
Next to them was Zhao Kuan, looking bewildered and pale.
Behind Zhao Hanzhang, Sun Linghui stood at some point, leaving only these few in the center.
Zhao Hanzhang pulled out the sword, not avoiding the splashing blood. She inclined the sword tip downward, allowing the blood to drip along the groove. Her facial expression remained largely unchanged, still gentle, with a smile, "I heed the court’s appointments, but if the new Governor dies, can’t another be appointed?"
Governor Zhang wasn’t completely dead; his mind lingered. He clutched his chest, slowly falling to the ground, his lips trembling as he ordered those nearby, "Come, come, kill Zhao Hanzhang to avenge me..."
General Cai and General Qiao, who accompanied Governor Zhang to the banquet, immediately drew their swords. Seeing this, Sun Linghui first drew her sword, aiming at them, shouting, "How dare you! You’re in the Yu State Military Camp. The soldiers have long accepted my lady as the Governor. Are you rebelling with Governor Zhang?"
General Qiao and General Cai angrily retorted, "It’s you who are rebelling. Our Governor is the one appointed by the court!"
Zhao Hanzhang spun the sword behind her, turning to face them, smilingly asking, "Do you wish to side with Governor Zhang?"
Her smile gradually receded, adopting a cold demeanor, "Today’s banquet celebrates the army’s achievements and serves as a memorial for all comrades who perished this past year. Yu State’s peace today was secured with their lives; anyone disrupting Yu State’s peace will face my wrath."
Zhao Hanzhang eyed the pair, "Do you wish to be Governor Zhang’s loyalists, betraying the tens of thousands of civilians and comrades who died for the Yu State battle?"
General Qiao and General Cai exchanged glances, hesitating slightly, when Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan’s dispatched bodyguards arrived, with countless blades and spears aimed at them.
General Qiao and General Cai exchanged another look and reluctantly lowered their swords.
The not-quite-dead Governor Zhang noticed with lifelessness, pressing his chest, slowly collapsing to the ground.
Zhao Hanzhang asked General Cai, "Where is Lu Xiyuan? Hasn’t he been consistently alongside Governor Zhang, inseparable?"
General Cai, feeling upset, replied with resentment, "Mr. Lu is ill and resting in the camp."
Zhao Hanzhang sensed something amiss, immediately ordering, "Find Lu Xiyuan and bring him to me."
Ji Yuan also sensed the oddity and hastily instructed, "Dispatch someone to the camp entrance to find him; don’t let him escape."
Lu Xiyuan knows many military secrets, and he’s familiar with Ruyin County. Zhao Hanzhang would face resistance taking over Ruyin County after killing Governor Zhang, but with Lu Xiyuan’s assistance, it would be different.
The bodyguards ran off to search for him, while the swords on General Qiao and General Cai were removed. Not only them, but Zhao Kuan smilingly told Xun Xiu and others, "Generals, tonight is a banquet; there’s really no need for weapons. Would the generals hand their swords to their attendants?"
Everyone’s gaze fell collectively on Zhao Hanzhang’s blood-dripping sword, and Sun Linghui’s sword in her hand, but Zhao Kuan pretended not to see, smilingly gazing at them.
Seeing this, the soldiers could only silently remove their weapons and hand them to the attendants.
Sun Linghui was satisfied, sheathing her sword.
Zhao Hanzhang isn’t fond of killing; seeing blood at a celebration dampened her mood. After accepting the sword sheath from Fu Tinghan, she secured the sword and seated herself at the principal position, lifting her chin to ask them, "Who among you is dissatisfied with my appointment as Yu State Governor?"
The soldiers silently bowed their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.
Zhao Ming turned and stood in the center, deeply bowing to Zhao Hanzhang seated above, calling out, "The underling pays respects to the Master!"
Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan promptly snapped out of it; first the Zhao Family Army members collectively saluted, shouting, "Greetings, Master!"
Then followed Xun Xiu and others. After exchanging a glance, they respectfully bowed, "The subordinate pays respects to the Master!"