Zhao Hanzhang entered the city after dark, but Zhao Erlang did not.
He entered the city with Zeng Yue at that ti, and many people in the city saw them.
Everyone knew that Zeng Yue was Zhao Hanzhang’s trusted aide, always by her side, and Zhao Erlang had returned too, which ant Zhao Hanzhang had returned.
So many people in the city were waiting, waiting to see how Zhao Hanzhang would deal with those making trouble.
Although they had returned to Luoyang for a few days, they still stubbornly refused to settle. Their husbands, fathers, brothers were taken captive by Shi Le, most of their family assets were plundered or lost, family and clan scattered, with no idea where they were now—what are they staying in Luoyang for?
They wanted to turn to relatives, perhaps they might et their family?
Upon hearing Zhao Hanzhang returned to Luoyang, soone imdiately wrote a petition and sent it to the Zhao Mansion.
The petitions arrived at the Zhao Mansion like snowflakes; several families t at the mansion’s door and imdiately started talking, "Is your family here to pay respect to Lord Zhao too?"
"Indeed, life in Luoyang is hard, my father and brother were taken by Shi Le, my mother wants to take us to Qingzhou to rely on my uncle, we ca specifically to ask for her permission to leave."
"Alas, my family is safe, but our money and possessions were taken; now we don’t even have rice to cook, all that remains in Luoyang is an empty house, we want to go to Yan State to rely on my uncle."
"Luoyang has now burned nearly a quarter of the city, Your Majesty and the royal family are not here, the Xiongnu invade occasionally—isn’t staying here waiting for death?"
"Zhao Hanzhang took us back rely for wealth, but Beigong Chun and Mi Ce took it away already, why keep us here?"
"Worried she values more than wealth alone—what if she doesn’t let us go, what can we do?"
"Then I will starve to death in Luoyang, see how she resolves that!"
They spoke unrestrainedly, making it hard for the soldiers at the gate to pretend not to hear, thus these words got delivered to Zhao Hanzhang along with the petitions.
As Zhao Hanzhang flipped through the petitions, she murmured, "Planning to starve? Tsk, do they have a lot of food right now?"
The soldier remained silent, indeed they didn’t. Beigong Chun and Mi Ce were harsh, Zhao Hanzhang allowed them to plunder these noble clans; they took whatever they saw, now their food and supplies were arranged by Ji Yuan after they returned to Luoyang.
Starvation is a cruel way to die, few in this world choose to starve, let alone truly achieve it.
Those who manage are undeniably people with great perseverance.
However, although she did not believe they truly could starve themselves, Zhao Hanzhang treated the matter seriously, drawing out a blank sheet to ponder and write a self-reproach letter.
In Great Jin, Luoyang is a city of suffering; since Emperor Hui ascended the throne, Luoyang has been plagued by constant warfare, inside and out.
Today, Empress Jia killed this prince, implicating many; tomorrow, this prince kills that prince, similarly implicating many.
Officials, noble clans in Luoyang were slaughtered one after another, so families fled from Luoyang, others moved their entire families in.
Since the current ruler took throne, Prince East Sea turned ruthless and successfully beca the eighth prince to take Luoyang, in just under three years, no prince contended with him for Luoyang or the emperor, but the situation in Luoyang worsened.
Famine!
Three Xiongnu invasions!
Not counting this last ti, the previous two invasions, although they didn’t break into Luoyang, they reached Luoyang’s walls. Every Xiongnu raid ant villages outside the city got looted, if there was any grain in the fields, it got harvested, trampled by horses, sotis outright burned.
Such malicious intent.
Under these circumstances, people fled Luoyang en masse, leaving behind those unable to flee.
This group splits into three: one is ordinary citizens without ans to flee, whose hos are in Luoyang. Leaving Luoyang ans no place to stay, no food or money for fleeing, so they remain.
Another group is those unwilling to leave their holand till death.
The third group has ans to escape but stay because they cannot abandon national interest.
These are mostly Luoyang’s noble clans.
They steeled themselves to follow Prince East Sea in fleeing Luoyang, assuredly planning their future path.
Because they encountered Shi Le, not only did they lose their wealth, but also their family mbers—how many have lost their kin?
She knows they must yearn to follow the plan, depend on relatives, or search for family. If it were her, she’d not wish to return to an empty Luoyang either.
However, Luoyang needs people!
Zhao Hanzhang could only steeling herself to disallow migration, forcibly retaining them in Luoyang.
Zhao Hanzhang understands these intricacies and pens them into the self-reproach letter, telling them this is an act of necessity—they experience, she experiences, those around her likewise.
She’s now separated from her mother and clan, wouldn’t she wish to return to Yu State?
General Beigong and the Xiliang Army, don’t they want to return to Xiliang?
Pausing here, Zhao Hanzhang focuses heavily on Beigong Chun and the Xiliang Army—they ca to save Luoyang, save Great Jin, leaving ho for three years. For hotown return, they’ve tirelessly strived, yet they haven’t.
Is it really that mountain pass blocking them?
Certainly not—it is their responsibilities, their desire to save Luoyang and Great Jin, delaying their return ho.
Zhao Hanzhang implores them to stay, remain in Luoyang, at least for three years; thereafter, they may leave freely.
At the letter’s end, Zhao Hanzhang writes: "The ensuing separations, familial grief shall fall on , I’ll bear the consequences, wishing only Luoyang withstands, deterring the Xiongnu from advancing south and spreading chaos throughout nations."
Zhao Hanzhang finished writing, set down the brush, too weary to review, sighed and gave it up, "Take this letter to Mr. Ji, ask him to edit it once then post it."
A young girl received it with a bow, turning to exit, Zhao Hanzhang noticed her, called out, "Are you... Yigui?"
Zhao Yigui turned back, smiled brightly, perford a big salute, "Yes, milady. I passed the academy exam, teacher allowed us to work in the county governnt, Fan Zhizhong selected , so she let follow her."
Fan Ying went to Guy City, knew she wouldn’t return soon, much to do here too, leaving her to liaise with Ji Yuan, handling sundry tasks.
Fan Ying got promoted, beca Chief of Staff under Zhao Hanzhang, she’s serving under Fan Ying, with Fan Ying absent, she handles docunt dispatch and processing, a lot she doesn’t know yet but can help deliver and organize.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at her with approval, nodding, "Work diligently, the world’s governance relies on you all."
Yigui couldn’t help smiling shyly, resisted, yet couldn’t, looked up with starry eyes at Zhao Hanzhang, "Milady, I have good grades, teacher allowed to take Zhao’s surna, now I’m Zhao Yigui, sa Zhao as you, milady."
Zhao Hanzhang was slightly stunned, then stood to pat her head, smiling, "Go then, deliver the draft to Mr. Ji."
"Yes!"
Watching her leave at a trot, Zhao Hanzhang’s heavy heart from the morning lightened—at least, what she’s done has yielded results, hasn’t it?
Even if it’s just changing one person’s fate, it is worthwhile.
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