A map marked with important roads and geographical features gradually took shape under Fu Tinghan’s pen. Zhao Hanzhang was grinding ink for him on the side while morizing the finished map.
She looked up at the stars for a mont, identified the direction, compared it to the map, and pointed to a spot with only one official road drawn. She asked, "Is there a fork in the road here?"
Fu Tinghan closed his eyes to think for a bit, then picked up his pen to sketch out a mountain there before drawing a small path and a dot next to it. "If I’m not mistaken, there should be a gathering point here. I’m not sure if it’s a small county town or a large village."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Continue."
Fu Tinghan didn’t draw the entire map, only focusing on the areas west of Luoyang, towards Nanhe, and eastwards, which covered all of Henan and parts of Hebei and Shanxi.
Of course, these areas now belong to Yu State and Si Province.
The two of them huddled together over the map. Fu Tinghan traced his finger along the map and said, "If we take this detour, we can avoid Yingchuan and replenish supplies along the way, but..."
Zhao Hanzhang continued, "But this stretch isn’t an official road, so it might be difficult to traverse."
"That can’t be determined from the map; we’ll have to see for ourselves. If it’s unsuitable, we can change routes temporarily."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and called over Zhao Ju, "Uncle Qianli, I plan to return ho with the coffin. We’ll change route to Ru Nan tomorrow and won’t join up with Great-Uncle. As for Zhao Dian..."
Zhao Ju whispered, "I tried to persuade him, but he doesn’t seem willing to co with us to Ru Nan."
These soldiers were initially raised by Zhao Changyu for the Zhao Family, and Zhao Dian had always been subordinate to Zhao Ju.
Zhao Ju was raised by Zhao Changyu since childhood and given the Zhao surna. Zhao Changyu instructed him to remain loyal to the Zhao Family, so he did; and when told to be loyal to Zhao Hanzhang, he did just the sa;
Unlike Zhao Ju, Zhao Dian was smarter and more shrewd. His loyalty was only to the Zhao Family, or rather, currently, his loyalty was to the Zhao Family.
Although Zhao Hanzhang felt regretful, she didn’t force it, "Everyone has their own ambitions. It was natural for Grandfather to leave them to Great-Uncle, and it’s normal for them to have this choice."
But she still decided to give it a try, so she went to find Zhao Dian.
Zhao Hanzhang tempted him: "Zhao Dian, if you escort to Ru Nan, I’ll pay you double your monthly wages. Once we reach Ru Nan, I’ll even allocate you so land, and your children can co under good registration and choose not to be soldiers."
The offer was enticing, and the soldiers around Zhao Dian seed eager, but Zhao Dian remained unmoved and refused directly, "Third Sister, I am a soldier of the Zhao Family, and currently, the Zhao Family is led by Second Master and the Young Master."
If Zhao Erlang were a normal person, Zhao Dian wouldn’t mind defecting to Zhao Hanzhang, but he wasn’t.
Zhao Erlang was a fool.
Zhao Dian also wanted to make achievents, and given the current unrest, the future and circumstances of following the second division and the main division were vastly different, and the present wealth couldn’t sway his heart.
Zhao Hanzhang was already ntally prepared, so she wasn’t disappointed. She looked at the soldiers around who were eavesdropping and announced loudly, "What I promised Zhao Dian also holds true for all of you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Dian hurriedly stopped her, "Third Sister, how can I face Second Master and the Young Master if you poach people like this?"
He continued, "The main army is not far ahead. If we speed up tomorrow, we’ll catch up within a day. At that ti, you and Second Master can discuss our future together, so why give us a hard ti now?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied seriously, "Zhao Dian, this isn’t about giving you a hard ti. It’s a sincere invitation for everyone to co with to Ru Nan."
"Since we’re on the topic, let’s be straightforward," Zhao Hanzhang said. "In these turbulent tis, today’s dangers are evident to all. The road ahead is not safe. Inviting you to Ru Nan is actually asking you to escort safely back to Ru Nan."
"Returning ho with Grandfather’s soul is his last wish, and I must fulfill it. But our group, with only Uncle Qianli and so twenty others, won’t be safe on the road."
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes turned slightly red, "You were all nurtured by Grandfather. This ti, consider it my personal request, just wanting to safely return to Ru Nan."
The soldiers had always been supported by Zhao Changyu, and they had little interaction with the second division. It was only in the past several months, due to Zhao Changyu’s illness, that Zhao Ji began to have contact with them.
But honestly, the soldiers didn’t have much goodwill towards Zhao Ji, especially after seeing Mrs. Wang and Zhao Erlang abandoned mid-journey today.
In many eyes, Zhao Erlang and Mrs. Wang, or Third Sister Zhao, were their true masters. They hadn’t fully accepted the situation yet, and Zhao Ji’s move directly pushed their dissatisfaction to the peak.
Although their superior didn’t want to go with the main division, wasn’t there still Zhao Ju?
Zhao Ju was the team leader, the head of the soldiers. Seeing him standing behind Zhao Hanzhang, you could tell.
So many soldiers stepped forward to pledge allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Sister, I’m willing to go with you to Ru Nan."
"I’m willing, too."
"Count in, I want to go too."
Seeing so many respond, Zhao Dian’s expression changed slightly. He hurriedly said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Sister, there’s no need to rush. If you’re taking them, at least let them say goodbye to their families. Just one more day, returning ho with Elder Master’s body is a significant event. You should inform Second Master and the Young Master."
Zhao Hanzhang looked at him steadily for a mont, then suddenly sighed deeply, "Do you think I don’t want to say goodbye to Great-Uncle in person? But you all heard what Mother said today. I can’t disobey Mother nor dare resent Uncle. Seeing him would hurt us both, so it’s better not to."
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at everyone, "Of course, if you want to say goodbye to your families, you can. But today is so chaotic; who knows if they’ve been scattered."
So soldiers with family in the accompanying team thought of the miserable scenes they had seen today and felt heartbroken.
Zhao Ji had even abandoned Mrs. Wang and Zhao Erlang. How could a young lady like Third Sister be left behind to fend off pursuers, and how might their families have been treated?
Most soldiers were dejected, deciding to leave with Zhao Hanzhang. If they caught up with the main army, they wouldn’t be able to leave.
Theoretically, they were soldiers of the Zhao Family, and now the Zhao Family was led by Zhao Zhongyu and Zhao Ji, so they naturally had to follow their orders.
So who hadn’t intended to follow Zhao Hanzhang felt empathy after her words. Moreover, if even figures as important as Mrs. Wang and Zhao Erlang were abandoned, how could they expect any different?
Thus, over a dozen more people stood out, deciding to follow Zhao Hanzhang.
The commotion caught the attention of Mr. Chen and his daughter lying nearby. Chen Erniang was dumbfounded, "Father, is this the virtuous and extrely filial Third Sister Zhao you spoke of?"
Mr. Chen: "... Isn’t this even better? We can approach the main army tomorrow with more ease."
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