CHAPTER 480: CHAPTER 474: I HAVE MORALITY

Zhao Hanzhang took wine to find Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan didn’t expect that his lord would bring back a jar of wine for him after going out for an appointment and was deeply moved, "Where did Miss go today?"

"Zhenxiu Building, Dashun Zhai, and You Ran Residence."

Why are they all eating establishments?

Ji Yuan slightly frowned but still dutifully said, "Zhenxiu Building is opened by Zhao Hu, who invited Governor Zhao to write an inscription at the time. Dashun Zhai was opened by a Lu native. The Chen Family has a recipe for fine wine, and You Ran Residence belongs to Miss."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and asked, "Is the steward, Cao Shu, from my family?"

Ji Yuan replied, "He is a migrant who came to Shangcai. Miss doesn’t know him. His family used to run a restaurant, and he has read some books and can do accounting. I think he is quite loyal, so I entrusted You Ran Residence to him."

He said, "You Ran Residence is not like Treasure Pavilion; it does not aim to profit but is mainly used for gathering information. Many scholars, travelers, officials, and wealthy gentry from north and south like to gather there and talk, and one can learn a lot of news from them."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Is there any news from Chang’an?"

Ji Yuan shook his head and said, "No news from Chang’an."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed. She calculated the time, and since Wu Erlang had gone to Chang’an for a while but brought no news, it seemed evident that Beigong Chun was unwilling to surrender.

Her fingers lightly tapped on the table. In the end, she gritted her teeth and made up her mind to send another batch of goods to Chang’an and have Wu Erlang negotiate to send Beigong Chun back to Xiliang.

Ji Yuan was surprised and quickly asked, "Miss, why do this? As long as Beigong Chun is trapped within the pass, Miss still has a chance. Once he returns to Xiliang, I’m afraid he can never be used by Miss again."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "A twisted melon is not sweet. The situation in Chang’an is not good. The Xiliang army has great favors toward the country, Yu State, and me. I cannot sit by and watch them get trapped in Chang’an out of personal desire."

The last letter from Wu Erlang, while not detailed, did mention the situation of the Xiliang army in Chang’an. Such a brave Xiliang army now couldn’t afford a full meal.

Since Beigong Chun does not want to surrender, so be it. Rather than let them be tormented in Chang’an and eventually forced to rely on Liu Cong, I might as well use my resources to send them away.

"Is it Prince Nanyang’s subordinate general guarding the pass now?"

"Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment and said, "Bring more money. If the things we bring do not catch his eye, we’ll use money to pave the way. I refuse to believe we can’t smash through this checkpoint."

Although Ji Yuan did not agree with Zhao Hanzhang’s expenditure for Beigong Chun, he still agreed.

Geng Rong took on the task voluntarily, leading a team of soldiers to escort three carriages of treasures, heading straight to Chang’an.

Meanwhile, news from Luoyang and Chang’an just arrived in Chen County. As soon as Ji Yuan got the news, he immediately asked, "Where is Geng Rong?"

"He left the city for Chang’an yesterday."

"Oh dear, quickly call him back. No, no need to call him back, I must send him an additional letter. Where is Miss? Quickly go and invite Miss!"

Zhao Hanzhang, just back from drilling soldiers, was sweaty and about to head to the backyard for a bath. Upon hearing Ji Yuan’s voice while passing the office, she turned her step and came over, poking her head through the window to ask, "Sir is looking for me?"

Ji Yuan was overjoyed to see her and hurriedly approached with two letters, "Miss, Beigong Chun can be won over!"

Zhao Hanzhang, still holding a long spear, took the letters with one hand and opened them, "Is it a letter from General Beigong?"

That was, of course, impossible; it was news from Luoyang and Chang’an.

The news from Luoyang was an appointment, appointing Imperial Attendant Yan Yu as Governor of Liangzhou, requesting him to take office as soon as possible.

Zhao Hanzhang was stunned, "What happened to Zhang Gui? Why choose another Governor of Liangzhou?"

"It’s heard that Zhang Gui had a stroke and is already disabled."

Zhao Hanzhang clenched the letter tightly, "With Beigong Chun’s character, he would likely be more eager to return to Xiliang."

"Yes, but there’s more," said Ji Yuan. "The letter from Chang’an states that the court initially appointed Jia Kan as Governor of Liangzhou, but for some reason, he refused, and that’s why they appointed Yan Yu. Zhang Gui has already submitted a resignation letter, intending to return to Yiyang to retire. Miss, the Jin Dynasty is unjust, Beigong Chun must be disheartened, and now is the perfect time to bring him over."

Zhao Hanzhang finally remembered this matter, shook her head after a long while, "Zhang Gui’s resignation won’t succeed; he remains the Governor of Liangzhou. Well, let Geng Rong go and join Wu Erlang in clearing obstacles for General Beigong, sending them back to Liangzhou; let this be my repayment to them."

Ji Yuan couldn’t help stomping his foot, "Miss, at this moment, with just a little maneuvering, you could bring him over..."

"How to maneuver? Have Fu Zhongshu and my granduncle force Zhang Gui out of Xiliang together?"

Ji Yuan said, "Zhang Gui indeed had a stroke, staying in Xiliang does more harm than good..."

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "It’s just a temporary illness; how do we know he won’t recover?"

She said, "I want General Beigong because I admire his talents and want him to work for me, but not to the extent of disregarding righteousness. Now, if we don’t lend a hand, then fine, but how can we add insult to injury?"

Ji Yuan’s heart gradually cooled, lamenting infinitely, "What a good opportunity."

Zhao Hanzhang handed the letter to him with a smile, "Perhaps our fate isn’t meant to be; it’s also good for General Beigong to return to Xiliang, he can also guard against the Xianbei for the Central Plains."

Ji Yuan sighed in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to leave, not knowing that at this moment, the struggle over Liangzhou in Chang’an was just beginning.

Beigong Chun, during the New Year, received the gifts sent by Zhao Hanzhang, and he developed thoughts of defecting to her. After the New Year, he began selling the glazed goods she sent, exchanged some money, the majority of which he used to buy grain and a small portion to bribe the general guarding the pass.

He was not someone who could not adapt; he hadn’t used this method before simply because he had no money. Now that he had some money, he wanted to see if he could bribe the general to let them out of the city.

However, the other party refused. Beigong Chun felt the other party was very upright, and this way seemed impassable.

Huang An thought they had offered too little money, but it was indeed their entire savings and did not dare to speak out.

The last attempt also failed, Beigong Chun finally gave up, planning to take his people to defect to Zhao Hanzhang. Just then, a major change occurred in Liangzhou.

Concerned for his former lord, Beigong Chun stayed on.

Beigong Chun knew that the one stopping him from returning to Xiliang was Governor of Qinzhou, Jia Kan. He disliked Zhang Gui and had always wanted to replace him. When Zhang Gui’s condition worsened, he immediately acted to make himself Governor of Liangzhou.

Huang An, lowering his head, reported the news he had gathered, "Jia Kan was about to accept the decree, but his brother, Jia Yin, rushed to Qinzhou to stop it, saying he was unworthy of the Governorship of Liangzhou, so Jia Kan did not accept the decree and declined the position of Governor of Liangzhou."

The assistant general beside, hearing this, angrily said, "Is this person insane? He did so much just to become Governor of Liangzhou, but now he doesn’t want it; then open the pass and let us return to Liangzhou!"

Beigong Chun frowned and asked, "And then?"

"And then, the court appointed Imperial Attendant Yan Yu to take office on an appointed day."

Beigong Chun pursed his lips and asked, "How did Chang’an and Luoyang come to know of our lord’s severe illness?"