CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 479: FLEEING FROM THE CAPITAL

There are no longer twenty thousand men, there’s not even ten thousand.

After Fu Zhongshu brought back twenty thousand men, Prince East Sea withheld their military rations, and with various threats and temptations, many people ran away.

Fu Zhongshu was intent on training and disciplining the troops, but the national treasury was controlled by Prince East Sea, and they couldn’t get a single cent from him.

So these twenty thousand troops had to sustain themselves.

Fu Zhi sold off a lot of family property for this, even the emperor had to cut back on food and expenses to support them, but how easy is it to support twenty thousand men?

Neither of them was skilled in management, and in less than half a year, many of these twenty thousand men had already run away. With the small conflicts that occasionally broke out with Prince East Sea, the losses were even greater.

Now, they have less than ten thousand men left.

This time, when Prince East Sea left, he took away everything from the treasury before leaving.

The emperor looked at the empty storeroom and felt dizzy.

Not many were willing to stay with the emperor, but quite a few remained, all left by Prince East Sea to keep an eye on the emperor.

Though he took the troops away, he did not take all his subordinates. Everyone knows what he was planning.

Fu Zhongshu, whose hair had turned white, walked to the emperor’s side and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we should relocate the capital. Luoyang is suffering from famine, if we stay, not to mention the eight thousand soldiers, even Your Majesty will have difficulty getting food."

"No, if Your Majesty abandons Luoyang now, wouldn’t that lose the people’s support?"

"Shut up!" Fu Zhongshu finally couldn’t suppress his anger, pointing at their noses and cursing, "You want to trap the emperor in Luoyang to fulfill Prince East Sea’s desire to become emperor, don’t you?"

"Don’t talk nonsense, Prince East Sea has never had such rebellious intentions, it’s Gou Xi who’s like a wolf with wild ambitions."

"And your granddaughter-in-law, Zhao Hanzhang, who occupies Yu State, dares to appoint and dismiss officials there without imperial sanction. Fu Zhongshu, do you dare say you were not behind this?"

Fu Zhongshu was furious, turning to the emperor, "Your Majesty, there’s no more room for hesitation, we have little grain left, if we don’t leave now, we might really be trapped here."

"Moreover, Prince East Sea has left with nearly thirty thousand people. If Liu Yuan finds out, he will surely send troops. By then, Luoyang, without a barrier or defense forces, is doomed."

The emperor shivered and finally realized, hurriedly saying, "Quick, pack up, we must relocate the capital immediately."

Though immediate, it wasn’t that fast. They had to take concubines and palace attendants, as well as the families of leftover officials, which took two to three days just to pack.

Moreover, many were reluctant to relocate the capital, so there were various obstructions. It was only five days later that they were ready to leave the city.

By this time, news of Prince East Sea’s departure had spread across the land. Not only did Liu Yuan in Pingyang know it, but so did Zhao Hanzhang in Chen County.

Zhao Hanzhang felt a chill when she heard the news and exclaimed, "This is bad, Liu Yuan will definitely send troops!"

Ji Yuan: "Young lady, are you going to save His Majesty?"

"No, not the emperor, it’s Prince East Sea."

Ji Yuan thought he misheard, digging his ear and asking, "You’re going to save Prince East Sea?"

"It’s to rescue the three hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who left with Prince East Sea," Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and commanded, "Invite all the generals and subordinates."

Fan Ying acknowledged and turned away.

Ji Yuan frowned deeply, "He has over two hundred thousand people; even if Liu Yuan sends a large army, it won’t be easy for him to handle them. Isn’t the emperor the one in most danger now?"

"He’s trapped alone in Luoyang, if the Xiongnu send a large force, Luoyang will have no resistance."

Zhao Hanzhang certainly knew the emperor was in danger, but Prince East Sea was also in danger. Historically, the over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who left with Prince East Sea were all massacred, and only then did Luoyang fall.

When all the generals and subordinates arrived and heard Zhao Hanzhang wanted to send troops to save Prince East Sea, they were momentarily puzzled, "Governor, we don’t get along with Prince East Sea, do we really have to save him?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded seriously, "Of course, he has taken away the majority of the Great Jin’s officials and wealth, along with two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. We are not to save him, but to save the court."

She said with righteous integrity, "Mobilize the troops, we’ll rescue Prince East Sea and his people first, then turn to Luoyang."

The generals objected, "Governor, Prince East Sea has over two hundred thousand men. Liu Yuan may not send troops against him, even if he does, with so many troops in hand, he won’t be afraid. It would be better to first save the emperor in Luoyang."

They believed the emperor was in greater danger, and moreover, "If the governor can bring His Majesty to Yu State, wouldn’t the world then follow the governor’s command in the future?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at them, and then became involved in endless internal strife like the Jin Dynasty?

Of course, she couldn’t say that, so she declared righteously, "We are subjects of His Majesty, naturally we only heed His Majesty’s command, stop talking nonsense."

Seeing everyone opposed to saving Prince East Sea, she had to reveal a bit, "The emperor has soldiers protecting him in Luoyang City now. It would take some time for Liu Yuan to attack there, but the over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians Prince East Sea took away are rootless and helpless."

She said, "Of course His Majesty is important, but the people of the world are even more important."

The generals: ... After all that, you want Prince East Sea’s people?

The people were speechless for a long time before they found their voices, advising, "People can be obtained anytime, the urgent task should be to protect His Majesty."

Beigong Chun, however, shared Zhao Hanzhang’s thoughts, "The people are also important. If those over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians fall into the hands of the Xiongnu, they would likely be massacred. His Majesty is temporarily safe, so we can save the people first, then the emperor."

"It is not yet certain if Liu Yuan will send troops against Prince East Sea, and even if he does, Prince East Sea may not lose."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Those who have fled are dispirited, let alone have the will to fight. Prince East Sea has repeatedly retreated in front of the Xiongnu. It’s fine if he doesn’t encounter Liu Yuan’s forces, but if he does, he’s doomed."

Zhao Hanzhang directly made a unilateral decision, "This matter is resolved, immediately mobilize troops and head to Guan City!"

The scouts reported that Prince East Sea and his group were now in Guan City.

Everyone exchanged glances, had to lower their heads in agreement.

Ji Yuan had been quietly listening, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to leave, and immediately went after her, dragging Fu Tinghan along.

"Young lady, are you going to Guan City to seek revenge?"

Zhao Hanzhang paused, looked back at Ji Yuan, and smiled, "Why do you say so, sir? I’m going to save people."

Ji Yuan sighed, "There’s no need to pretend in front of me, young lady. The death of the old master was caused by Prince East Sea. You are going to rescue those over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians as a pretext, but seeking revenge for the old master is the real reason, right?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded, she quietly looked at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan said, "Young lady, Prince East Sea has over two hundred thousand in his hands, and nearly a hundred thousand civilians left after them. This means, even if he loses the two hundred thousand, he can still recruit a hundred thousand troops on the spot. Are you planning to take these two thousand to fight them head-on?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Sir, am I so impulsive in your mind?"

She said seriously, "I truly am going to save people. Of course, if I have the chance to kill Prince East Sea and avenge my grandfather, I won’t hesitate."

Ji Yuan: ... Harder to believe her now.

He then pulled Fu Tinghan, "Eldest Young Master, please advise the young lady."

Fu Tinghan looked at Zhao Hanzhang and then said, "She means it."

Ji Yuan: ... Wake up, don’t just believe whatever the young lady says.