Zhang Gui’s health has improved significantly, but he still gets tired easily, so he now delegates most matters to his son, Zhang Shi, only personally handling the important ones.
A subordinate ca in, bowed, and said, "Sir, Huang An and others have already brought all the military dependents, and a letter has arrived from Luoyang."
The letter was personally written by Zhao Hanzhang. She not only received a letter from Zhang Gui, but also one from Zhao Xin, who detailed the situation in Xiliang and his experiences traveling from Luoyang and Chang’an out to Xiliang.
It could be said that, comparatively, the situation in Xiliang was much better. In the Central State, especially from Luoyang to outside the Yun Pass, there were refugees everywhere displaced by famine and war.
Even though Zhao Hanzhang repeatedly issued notices urging the people to return to Luoyang to settle, many refugees still preferred to wander and would not return.
The past two years had been extrely difficult for Luoyang.
As Zhao Xin traveled westward, all he saw were piles of white bones. He witnessed refugees walking and then collapsing silently, after which fellow refugees would drag the bodies into the woods, leaving only a skeleton behind.
Zhao Hanzhang had never seen such a scene but felt a chill just from Zhao Xin’s description. This fear was not of the refugees eating human flesh but of the hardships of this era.
This was what Zhao Xin saw with his eyes, so how many such things, or even worse, happened out of sight?
anwhile, outside the pass, Zhang Gui had just quelled internal unrest. Last year, he defeated Zhang Zhen and killed Cao Qu and others, and after the unrest was quelled, he began to pacify the people.
Like Zhao Hanzhang, he first gathered the people scattered by the war and then let officials tell stories of loyalty and righteousness to win the people’s hearts. Finally, he pardoned rebellious parties not sentenced to death. Even now, the work of pacifying the people is ongoing.
In Zhao Xin’s words, Zhang Gui was highly praised. When it cos to pacifying the populace and stabilizing the land, Zhang Gui was the second person Zhao Xin trusted besides Zhao Hanzhang.
He said, "It’s a pity the two gentlen couldn’t et; otherwise, they would certainly have beco friends."
He believed that Zhang Gui and Zhao Hanzhang had similar asures and remarkable achievents, and both could learn from each other.
Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t et Zhang Gui, but that didn’t an she couldn’t beco friends with him.
After sending off Beigong Chun and others, she began carefully pondering her response to Zhang Gui’s letter.
Knowing the situation in Xiliang, Zhao Hanzhang wanted even more to collaborate with Zhang Gui.
Though her capabilities are limited, she still hopes to preserve more of the populace.
Zhang Gui opened the letter and began reading it slowly.
A mont later, he sat up slightly, tears shining in his eyes, which grew brighter and brighter.
He stood up and paced in the room for a mont, then took out the letter and read it again.
Although Zhang Gui had always supported the court’s rule, he wasn’t very confident at heart.
He was so afraid, afraid that one day he would wake up to find the emperor changed again, and to soone from another family.
If that happened, the world would certainly fall into chaos, and then, should Xiliang follow or oppose?
He always felt very lonely, but at this mont, he felt like he had found a kindred spirit.
Zhang Gui couldn’t care about the late hour and imdiately summoned his trusted aides, telling them: "I’ve decided to establish post stations and station troops from Dunhuang County to Chang’an to ensure the safety of caravans coming from the Central State."
Zhang Lang, the chief clerk, was astonished and hastily asked, "Sir, why is this sudden expense?"
Zhang Gui replied, "Zhao Hanzhang of Yu State is indeed a virtuous minister. I have decided to connect the trade route from the Central State to Xiliang, facilitating mutual exchange."
"Previously, you had already agreed with the Zhao Envoy that there is already a trade route from Chang’an to Xiliang, which is sufficient for use. Stationing troops along such a long trade route would be enormously costly."
Zhang Gui sighed and said, "The Central Plains are devastated, and many people have left the Central State, wanting to co to Xiliang. I heard that Chang’an and Luoyang are suffering from famine. We cannot stand by and watch the people die from hunger and cold."
He said, "Therefore, I’ve decided to split part of Wuwei to establish Wuxing County and further divide Xiping County to create Jinxing County to accommodate the refugees."
Zhang Lang and the others exchanged glances, "This... To establish two counties for refugees, just how many refugees do you intend to gather, my lord?"
Zhang Gui said seriously, "As many as I can."
"But the grain..."
"Duke Zhao said she would help , and as long as I’m willing, she will send a batch of grain and also weapons to strengthen our army against the Xianbei invasion."
Zhang Lang looked skeptical, "Is Zhao Hanzhang really that generous? Is she willing to give us grain to support people?"
These people, once they are in Xiliang, will belong to Xiliang.
Zhang Gui sighed and said, "She, like , desires peace in the world and stability for the people, so how can she care about those interests and disputes?"
The confidants were silent and couldn’t help but be moved, "Soone who can let General Beigong stay willingly in Luoyang is indeed not a treacherous person."
Everyone tacitly agreed with Zhang Gui’s decision.
Zhang Gui thought of Beigong Chun and felt a heartache; he hadn’t been able to bring him back. He felt guilty toward those Xiliang soldiers who went out.
So when Huang An ca back to pick up the military dependents, he agreed without a second thought.
"Send soone to invite the Zhao Envoy tomorrow; I want to see him in person."
"Yes."
Zhao Hanzhang thought that given Zhang Gui’s character, he would definitely agree to her proposal to receive a large number of refugees from the Central State.
So she started to count her money.
The more she calculated, the more it hurt her heart.
Fu Tinghan was even more familiar with her assets than she was. Although he didn’t manage the accounts, he occasionally helped her calculate, to ensure no one wasted resources.
Especially when Gao Hui brought back the first batch of traded gold, silver, and jewels.
Seeing her frown in distress and pain, he asked, "Regretting giving Zhang Gui the grain?"
"Not exactly regretting, just painful," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Heartache."
Fu Tinghan chuckled and said, "You’re not cold or hungry now, so why think of giving him grain?"
"There’s no alternative. Although Xiliang holds the Hexi Corridor, the land is vast, and their days aren’t easy," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Without external aid, no matter how much Zhang Gui wants to gather refugees, he can’t gather many."
"And with Yun Pass guarded by Prince Nanyang, don’t be fooled by the emperor and ministers constantly praising Zhang Gui; they are actually very wary of him, and they would never give Yun Pass to Zhang Gui."
"Zhang Gui knows this himself. To avoid suspicion from Emperor Jin and the ministers, he never oversteps. Otherwise, with his military power and influence, if Beigong Chun’s Xiliang Army had reached Chang’an, wouldn’t it have been better to directly rush through Yun Pass and bring people over?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "There are very few in this world who can stop Beigong Chun and his n."
"So, it’s not that he can’t; rather, he fears to try," she added, "The Central State is pitiful now, but honestly, as long as there is money, we can buy grain from Shu, Liangjiang, and Jiangnan. Whereas in Xiliang, it’s one Yun Pass, but no entry or exit."
"So many refugees, neither I nor Grandfather Fu can control them, and we cannot simply let them be; sending them to Xiliang is a path of survival."
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