Chapter 410 - 404: Too Anxious
The epitaph was personally written by Zhao Hanzhang, and she wrote it quickly, as if there was a thousand sorrows in her heart, pressing her to the point she couldn’t breathe.
Since entering Chen County, she had seen too much displacement and life-and-death separation.
Especially after driving out the Xiongnu and returning to Chen County, the tragic scenes along the way made her silent and sad.
She knew that deep down for Chinese people, the hometown had a unique significance; even though it was ruins, they still wanted it to exist.
Moreover, it indeed held great meaning. When it stood there, the travelers returning home would remember the happy days they had there, think about how it became the ruins it is today, and this could always inspire them to strive hard, to protect more of the places and people they cared about.
Yesterday’s hardships can ultimately become today’s teacher.
Zhao Hanzhang started writing from her own feelings and the cause of events.
"In July of the second year of Yongjia, the Xiongnu Khanate invaded from the south, Yu State bore the brunt of it, and Song City being east of Yu State, Han Kingdom divided its forces into three routes moving south... One in ten of the population survived, forced to flee their homeland for survival, to this day, driving the Xiongnu beyond Yu State, yet the people’s livelihood is decayed, Song City has become ruins."
"Hanzhang decided to select a new county site and rebuild Song County. Given the massive amount of timber and stone required, the cold winter and imminent spring plowing, it was necessary to hurry time. Hanzhang boldly had people dismantle the old county to fund the new one. The deceased are gone, and the living are so. May all the people of Song County rise from sadness, take the lessons of yesterday as today’s guide, to work hard in agriculture, in life, strengthen themselves, defend their homeland, and no longer let foreign enemies invade..."
Zhao Hanzhang finished writing the epitaph, checked for errors, and handed it to Chen Yin, "Find some craftsmen, find a big stone, and inscribe it. Zhao Ze, take people to the old county to dismantle structures, save what is usable."
Zhao Ze and Chen Yin bowed in agreement, "Yes."
Zhao Kuan finished reading the epitaph, his eyes a bit wet, and after saluting Zhao Hanzhang, he also withdrew.
Zhao Hanzhang calmed her emotions, reached out, and took the stack of official papers placed on her left, spreading them open to read.
These were requests from various counties in Ruyin County for relief grain. Places once occupied by the Xiongnu all faced hardships; not just people, at least not a piece of property is left unclaimed.
This time, the Xiongnu Khanate took away a large amount of wealth from Yu State.
Without retrieving these things, she could not be at ease.
Zhao Hanzhang pondered briefly and then picked up the pen to write to Ji Yuan, saying, "The trade expedition you’ve been preparing for can make a trip to Bingzhou."
Having received the letter, Ji Yuan called Wu Sheng over while sorting out letters, official papers, and messages to send to Zhao Hanzhang.
He also believed they should make a trip to Bingzhou, not only to do some business with the Xiongnu Khanate but also to get in touch with Liu Kun.
This time Yu State managed to expel the Xiongnu, Liu Kun also deserves some credit for it.
When Zhao Hanzhang combined forces with Gou Xi for a major counterattack, Liu Kun requested the Xianbei army to join in attacking the Xiongnu Khanate, capturing five cities from the opponent, performing a relief operation by surrounding Wei to save Zhao.
And precisely because Liu Yuan felt surrounded by threats, he retreated so decisively.
When Liu Yuan’s Xiongnu army withdrew, Liu Kun led the Xianbei forces back, rescuing all the Han people from those five cities back to Jinyang, leaving Liu Yuan with almost five empty cities.
Zhao Hanzhang appreciated Liu Kun’s kindness, and after the fighting ended, she sent him a letter of thanks, to which Liu Kun replied. Both sides have always wanted to strengthen economic and political exchanges.
Liu Kun is considered part of Prince East Sea’s faction, but many of his ideas contradict Prince East Sea. It can be said that he is more willing to acknowledge the emperor’s legitimacy, maintaining the rule of Great Jin.
He hoped Gou Xi and Prince East Sea could coexist peacefully, jointly assisting the emperor in governing Great Jin, but even Zhao Erlang knew such a naive thought was impossible, right?
Therefore, he wanted to unite more people to force Prince East Sea and Gou Xi into peaceful negotiations and cooperation. Frankly, he’s wearing Prince East Sea’s skin but is actually seeking sponsorship for the emperor.
This is all his one-sided wish, whether Prince East Sea, Gou Xi, or the emperor, none of them wished to coexist.
Zhao Hanzhang also didn’t agree with his political views but admired his methods. If Zhao Hanzhang were to comment, this Liu Kun is more of a true gentleman than the renowned celebrity Wang Yan.
Ji Yuan called Wu Sheng over, entrusting the trade expedition matter to him, "Aside from in front of Liu Kun, do not mention the lady’s name outside. I will select a team of troops to escort the trade expedition, treating them as its guards."
Wu Sheng listened attentively, asking, "Then what will we primarily sell?"
"Glassware and porcelain," Ji Yuan said, "The Xiongnu love luxury, especially Liu Yuan’s several sons and major generals, they all like the luxurious items of the Central Plains, and the rarer the items, the more they’re willing to spend everything."
Ji Yuan said, "They just took a wave of wealth from the Central Plains and left, so this time going there, aside from exchanging gold, silver, and copper coins, involves swapping these treasures back."
Wu Sheng nodded, though he still didn’t understand, "But didn’t the lady say what we lack most is grain, not luxury goods? Isn’t using glassware and porcelain to exchange those treasures still just luxury goods for luxury goods?"
"Southern noble families also love the treasures from the Central Plains, and these things can be exchanged for grain with them. Moreover, you’re not just exchanging some treasures but also gold and silver, and in this world, gold and silver can buy anything."
Wu Sheng understood, immediately nodded, "I’ll go prepare now."
"Go ahead, I’ll have someone prepare the goods for your trip," Ji Yuan’s face turned stern, said in a deep voice, "Regardless of the circumstances, you must not reveal that you belong to the lady."
Wu Sheng solemnly agreed.
Ji Yuan quickly gathered the goods Wu Sheng needed for travel, various types of glass mirrors, glass bottles, glass pots, and glass cups - there is nothing the Xiongnu can’t think of, there’s nothing they can’t make.
In addition to that, there are porcelain and soap, all things the Xiongnu would like.
When Ji Yuan prepared these items, the package for Zhao Hanzhang also arrived in her hands.
She first opened the letter written by Ji Yuan, which informed her that he would have Wu Sheng lead the trade expedition to set out on a chosen day, followed by various messages.
For instance, Gou Xi’s forces were on the verge of Luoyang City, forcing Prince East Sea out for a battle, and the emperor, having the twenty thousand troops brought back by Fu Zhi, had more confidence; he did not mediate between Gou Xi and Prince East Sea, instead actually let Prince East Sea go out to negotiate with Gou Xi.
Now Prince East Sea is besieged, feeling very uneasy.
Zhao Hanzhang, reading this, couldn’t help but sigh, and wrote to Fu Tinghan, "Emperor Jin acted on impulse after all. If I were him, I would step forward to mediate between Gou Xi and Prince East Sea, prohibit Gou Xi from raising troops against Prince East Sea, then persuade Prince East Sea to allow Gou Xi into the capital and appoint him as Great General."
"Rather than letting them raise troops and fight outside, it’s better to keep an eye on them. He has the twenty thousand troops of Fu Zhongshu, and with Gou Xi’s assistance, Prince East Sea cannot move against him," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Gou Xi loves fame, and with Prince East Sea eyeing from the side, he would surely support many of the emperor’s decisions. In this way, his orders could leave the capital, reach local areas, and slowly cultivate his own forces."