Ming Yu’s lips curved slightly as he asked, "Lord Zhao, are you cautious because you are burdened by your reputation?"
"Not so," Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and said, "It’s because our current great enemy is the Zhao Han. We must first secure the interior to ward off external threats, so unless necessary, I absolutely will not engage in disputes with internal ministers, letting Liu Yuan Shile and others reap the benefits like fishern."
"What constitutes a necessity?"
"If soone refuses to listen to reason and is determined to harm the people under my governance and my interests, then I shall have no choice but to deploy troops to quell the chaos."
Ming Yu gave a shallow smile and asked again, "What does the lady think about Great Jin’s future?"
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "Its lifespan is predetermined."
It ans that Great Jin’s days are numbered and it is bound to be overthrown.
Ming Yu then lowered his voice slightly to ask, "Does the lady intend to rebel?"
Ji Yuan suddenly raised his head and squinted as he looked at the other party.
Zhao Hanzhang remained composed and shook her head, "I do not rebel against Jin."
Ming Yu lifted the corner of his mouth and asked, "Since the lady perceives the lifespan of the Jin Dynasty, why not seize the opportunity to establish herself as king?"
Zhao Hanzhang looked up and gave him a slight smile. Before deciding to recruit Ming Yu formally, she had already understood this famous strategist through various ans.
Much like Yan Heng, or rather, they both, along with Ji Yuan, have little regard for the Jin Dynasty.
In the past, they had no avenue for official employnt and seed lowly, but their aspirations were by no ans low.
As scholars, they had their own pride and looked down on the Sima Family that broke promises, and despised handing the nation over to a fool, Emperor Jin Wu. Hence, they had no loyalty towards the Jin Dynasty, not in the slightest.
In this regard, the aristocratic families that have always controlled the Jin Dynasty could not compare, as they at least acknowledged the Jin Dynasty, though they were not very impressed by the Sima Family.
People like Ming Yu and Yan Heng, however, were akin to Ji Yuan, looking to find a wise lord to rebuild order, making their nas in history, and to return the people a clear sky.
Therefore, when they talked about rebellion, it was as commonplace as drinking water, which gave Zhao Hanzhang the courage to discuss such matters directly with Ming Yu.
She was candid too, directly saying, "Though the world is chaotic and the prestige of the Jin Dynasty has been shattered, as long as Emperor Jin is present, the calamity in the world remains limited."
She said, "At present, I neither have the strength to resist external enemies nor the capability and prestige to pacify the land and establish myself as king, which would only set as a target for all the world to strike."
Ming Yu’s eyes sparkled as she did not deny the notion of claiming kingship but rely stated she currently lacks the ability to do so.
Ming Yu thought of General Gou, who always claid loyalty and integrity but now appeared quite different, and then looked at Zhao Hanzhang, who unabashedly displayed her ambition, and he couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
As he laughed, tears ca out.
"It’s my mistake, our mistake, those who seem modest are not necessarily humble, those who appear loyal and honest may also be weak and sumptuous. But the lady," he observed Zhao Hanzhang up and down and asked, "The lady is ambitious yet does not rush to gather wealth, instead, she reduces taxes, encourages farming and sericulture, and builds roads and bridges. Are you not afraid that one day this land will be forcibly seized, leaving you to dress another’s bride?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will do my utmost to protect this land and prevent it from being taken away. But if one day it is robbed, I will not regret what I’ve done today."
She continued, "At least the people of this land once lived in stability, and today’s accumulations will give them a little more capital to survive subsequent wars. One cannot stop eating for fear of choking."
Ming Yu said, "Observing the lady’s governance over the past three years, it seems quite compassionate towards the people. But will you still be the sa if one day you hold great power like Prince East Sea or General Gou?"
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression beca solemn, and she said earnestly, "I must not forget my original intent, Mr. Ming, and Mr. Ji can supervise from the side. If for the people’s sake I beco muddled, you may strike ."
Ming Yu imdiately seized the opportunity, saying, "But if the lady has great power in her hands, Mr. Ji and I are powerless even if we have the heart to act. I’m afraid we would lack the ability?"
Sweet words are easy to co by. Previously, when he and Yan Heng were under General Gou, Gou treated them as very close, often saying they were closer than his own family. Yet what happened?
Now, General Gou did not hesitate to kill Yan Heng, who was said to be closer than family.
It shows that the words of a lord are deceiving ghosts; speaking them without truth, he believes none of them.
Mr. Ji’s gaze flickered as he sat calmly by the side, although he did not think Zhao Hanzhang would be such a person, Ming Yu’s actions were considerate of both of them, so he didn’t find it necessary to disrupt.
Indeed, Ming Yu is worthy of the title famous strategist; with just one word, he drew this old strategist away from Zhao Hanzhang’s side, truly impressive.
Ji Yuan leisurely looked at Zhao Hanzhang, waiting for her to respond.
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a mont, got up, went out, and brought back her most frequently used whip to hand to them both, "This is my usual whip. I give it to both of you, gentlen. In the future, if I beco muddled like Prince East Sea and General Gou, you can use this whip on , which will also serve as your protection talisman. If because of advising , I or soone else intends to kill you, this whip grants pardon."
Ming Yu’s pupils shrank, not expecting Zhao Hanzhang to go this far. He thought having witnesses called to swear an oath would have already been the greatest concession.
Ming Yu couldn’t help but look at Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan also put down his wine bowl and seriously looked at Zhao Hanzhang, "Is the lady serious?"
Zhao Hanzhang laughed and said, "A ruler’s word is never light!"
Ming Yu and Ji Yuan exchanged glances, then respectfully straightened up, shifting from sitting on knees to kneeling, and accepted the whip with both hands, glancing at it before handing it to Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan paused for a mont, hurriedly refusing, "This whip is given to Mr. Ming, Mr. Ming should take charge."
"Mr. Ji’s words are mistaken; this whip is clearly for both of us."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, it’s for both of you, gentlen. If I beco muddled in the future, you both may wield the whip to awaken ."
Ji Yuan said, "But it should be Mr. Ming who should keep it."
Ming Yu persisted in offering it to him, "Mr. Ji is the lady’s backbone, so you should keep the whip."
He argued, "If you don’t take it, I will doubt if it has offended the lady, whether this whip is genuine or false."
Zhao Hanzhang followed to persuade, "Mr. Ji, please accept it."
After all, what does it matter who keeps it?
It’s all for whipping .
Only then did Ji Yuan accept it with both hands, looking at Zhao Hanzhang with an ambiguous smile, "Then the lady must be careful in the future, not to make significant mistakes."
Zhao Hanzhang quickly folded her hands and said, "Yes, yes."
Having received assurance, Ming Yu also saw Zhao Hanzhang’s breadth of mind and sincerity, becoming refreshed at once. He then took out a copper coin that he had been keeping in his bosom, "Lady, is this the new coin you’ve minted?"
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at it and said, "Indeed."
"So does the lady have a copper mine now?"
Now they are all allies, even though newly joined, Zhao Hanzhang trusts him completely and directly shares their faction’s secret with him, "Yes, I have a copper mine, though it’s quite small, currently being mined."
"Is the lady planning to use this new coin solely in Luoyang or to distribute it throughout the world?"
"Naturally, to spread it widely," Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "Comrce needs circulation, naturally the broader the better, especially now when Luoyang is lacking in population and resources. It is precisely the ti for comrce to circulate."
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