CHAPTER 508: CHAPTER 502 AMBITION

Ting He brought porridge and side dishes to Zhao Hanzhang, who sat up from bed and sighed at the sight of the food, "No meat to eat, at least give me a cake?"

Ting He placed the porridge and side dishes on the table and arranged them, saying, "Miss, fill your stomach first. I’ll make noodles for you tonight."

Zhao Hanzhang made a request, "Add two eggs."

Ting He hesitated for a moment, then agreed, though she wondered where to find eggs since they seemed to have run out in the army.

Zhao Hanzhang ate the porridge and couldn’t help but ask, "Has Mr. Ji returned?"

"He has returned and said he wants to see you, but the young master stopped him, saying you shouldn’t be disturbed from your rest. He’s currently discussing matters with the young master." Ting He realized after speaking and urged, "Miss, don’t worry about these things and get some rest."

"Got it, got it, I’ll rest now." Zhao Hanzhang sat for a while, then obediently lay back down on the bed, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

Fu Tinghan arranged matters and returned to see her. Seeing her eyes closed, he gently pulled up the blanket, only to see her bright eyes open.

The two locked eyes, both silently observing each other.

Fu Tinghan withdrew his hand and stared at her bright eyes, "You didn’t fall asleep this past hour?"

Zhao Hanzhang felt a bit embarrassed, "Seems like I have a little insomnia."

Fu Tinghan silently looked at her for a moment, then helplessly helped her sit up and said, "Most of the civilians in the city have evacuated. By tomorrow midday, they should all be out. Those who are hiding and can’t be found, we can’t do anything about."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Fu Tinghan continued, "With the Second Son and Xie Shi at the front line, we’re not afraid they’ll attack outward, but there’s little we can do about the Imperial Palace."

Zhao Hanzhang furrowed her brows, "When they launch an attack on the city, can our counterattack on our side alleviate the pressure on the Imperial Palace?"

"The streets are narrow, and they have twenty thousand in there, fully deployed, not afraid of your rear attack." Fu Tinghan said, "In terms of cavalry combat capability, you can’t beat them, so a forceful assault won’t work unless you can lure them out for alley battles, otherwise it’s not worth it."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "Even if we win the alley battle, it might be a pyrrhic victory."

This was not the outcome Zhao Hanzhang wanted, she sighed, "If only we could negotiate."

Fu Tinghan said, "There’s just a wall between the Emperor of Great Jin and them. Liu Yuan sent troops twice to attack Luoyang, aiming to destroy Jin—this is the third time. Who can resist this temptation and negotiate with you now?"

Indeed, Liu Cong’s faction is impossible. Zhao Hanzhang was moved, deep in thought, "Wang Mi... it’s not impossible."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help rubbing her fingers, with a myriad of thoughts flashing through her mind.

Wang Mi has long been ambitious, loving nothing more than power. Knowing his status didn’t match the Sima family, and his talent and reputation were not as good as those like Wang Yan, his quickest way to accumulate power had to be through rebellion and chaos.

So his entire life has been tumultuous.

But what if Zhao Hanzhang offered him a path to rise high?

"Was it said earlier that Wang Mi’s and Liu Cong’s armies clashed in the city, resulting in over a thousand casualties?"

Fu Tinghan nodded, "Yes, today they captured a few Xiongnu in the city. I asked, and it was actually Liu Cong’s men who initiated it."

"To be precise, it was Liu Cong’s subordinate Liu Yao who initiated it. They entered the city one step behind Wang Mi. When they entered, Wang Mi had already ordered a great looting, seizing as much treasure and population as he could in the south city, killing what they couldn’t take. Liu Yao, worried Wang Mi would seize all Luoyang’s wealth, killed the leading Yamen General on the other side, sparking the conflict, resulting in over a thousand casualties."

"In the end, it was Liu Cong who forbade Wang Mi from looting Luoyang’s people because the Imperial Palace was yet to be breached, which is why this matter remained unresolved."

"Liu Yao is Liu Cong’s subordinate, Wang Mi must be dissatisfied," Zhao Hanzhang contemplated for a moment, then said, "Order Xun Xiu to speed up; don’t come here, go to the east of the city, rest briefly and take down the ten thousand troops Liu Cong has amassed outside the suburbs!"

Zhao Hanzhang pressed her thumb against her index finger, saying, "Instruct the city troops to avoid Wang Mi’s men if conflicts arise, and to only kill Liu Cong’s people."

Fu Tinghan was stunned, "You want to provoke Wang Mi to rebel? Liu Cong isn’t foolish, will he take the bait?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Who knows, there’s no harm in trying, right, get pen and ink, I’ll write a letter to Wang Mi, after all, we have some connections. His grandfather once served as the Ru Nan Governor, and my Zhao Family has always been a prominent clan in Ru Nan. The two families surely have some ties, help me fabricate a bit."

Fu Tinghan: "...Fabricate?"

"Ah, these old family stories, I can only ask Uncle Ming and Granduncle, but one is far away in Chen County now, and the other is trapped in the Imperial Palace. Even if I wanted to ask, there’s no time. Anyway, it wouldn’t be wrong to say we’re confidants, shared meals, drank at the same table."

Fu Tinghan quietly looked at her for a while, then turned to call a soldier, "Go call Zhao Liang."

"Zhao Liang? Isn’t he in Xiping, how did he come here?"

Zhao Liang was one of the Zhao Family disciples who studied with Zhao Cheng, and while Zhao Kuan and the others followed Zhao Hanzhang, he stayed in Xiping’s school. Zhao Hanzhang recalled that he basically managed the school there now.

Fu Tinghan said, "Uncle Ming sent him here to train in the army, so he wouldn’t become dull from reading at home."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang immediately said, "Then hurry, please bring him here."

As Zhao Cheng’s disciple, he should know a thing or two about family matters, right?

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t exactly sure.

And, in fact, Zhao Liang really did know.

Although Zhao Kuan was more capable, when it came to genealogy and ancestral affairs, Zhao Liang was the one to ask. That’s also why Uncle Ming sent Zhao Liang right away when he learned Zhao Hanzhang wanted to vie for someone with Prince East Sea.

Fu Tinghan said, "Uncle Ming said that noble families are proud. You aren’t good with genealogies and don’t know many people, so in conversations, you might suffer. That’s why he specifically sent Zhao Liang to offer you guidance."

Zhao Hanzhang: "...Why didn’t Uncle Ming directly tell me, but wrote a letter to you?"

"Because you’re busy, and he didn’t want to disturb you with these things, so he wrote to me to arrange for Zhao Liang." Fu Tinghan said, "Zhao Liang doesn’t have the capability to lead troops, so I’ve kept him by my side to help with some logistical tasks."

Zhao Liang soon arrived, having heard rumors of Zhao Hanzhang’s injury, he came quickly. As soon as he entered the tent, he looked for Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her sitting on a low seat wrapped in a cloak, he anxiously asked, "Third Lady, are you injured?"

"Thank you for worrying, cousin," Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "I’m fine, please sit down. There are some things I want to ask you, cousin."