The army rendezvoused in the bandits’ den, and Zhao Hanzhang could finally return comfortably to the camp.
She decided to make Zu Ti the Governor of Qingzhou, and wanted to put it in motion imdiately. Just as she was pulling out so paper to write a letter, Zhao Ming leisurely approached, ignoring her diligent work despite her injury, and sarcastically remarked, "I’ve seen soldiers fall behind in battle, and children go missing on a journey, but it’s my first ti seeing a commander lagging behind, and a head of a family missing. You, Milord, have truly opened my eyes."
Zhao Hanzhang: ...
She imdiately put down the pen, deciding to hand over the task of writing the letter and docunts to Zhao Ming.
With a serious expression, she said, "Uncle Ming, Wang Jun disregards the national interest, disobeys the royal edict, and instead, during the nation’s crisis, seizes land and power, feigning loyalty when in fact he rebels. I request Uncle Ming to write a letter of admonition."
Zhao Ming snorted, "I am rely a Prefectural Governor, where do I have the qualifications to admonish a Governor?"
Zhao Hanzhang then appointed him as the Governor of Si Province, adding the title of Imperial Censor, to supervise all officials.
Zhao Ming, hearing the appointnts given so casually, his face darkened at once, fixed his gaze on Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang also looked up at him, smiling friendly, she said, "Uncle Ming, His Majesty is young and does not understand many things, needing all ministers to support him. From now on, matters of the court will trouble Uncle greatly."
She clearly wasn’t talking about the new emperor, but about herself.
Zhao Ming snorted again, now the Zhao Family is so tied with Zhao Hanzhang that they can’t be separated, let alone these past two years have seen him involved more, understanding more, his mindset has also changed.
Zhao Ming did not refuse.
Zhao Hanzhang cheerfully handed the letter to him to write.
Zhao Ming, picking up the letter she just started, glanced sidelong at her, "I heard you were injured?"
The matter of Zhao Hanzhang’s injury did not spread, only a few people knew.
She wanted to dismiss it lightly, but before she could speak, Fu Tinghan ca in, followed by Ting He carrying dicine.
Zhao Ming glanced over, and Zhao Hanzhang could only say, "It’s just a small injury, a small injury."
Zhao Ming snorted coldly, "Who cares whether your injury is big or small? But as a commander, putting yourself in danger, ignoring the overall situation and the country, have you thought about what would happen if you died halfway? What about the Second Son, the Zhao Family, and Great Jin? Foolish to the extre!"
After scolding Zhao Hanzhang, he turned to reprimand Fu Tinghan, "You are not a general, just take care of logistics, leave the fighting to them, why chase the enemy?"
"Just a re Shi Le, a nobody even if brave, cannot compare to the importance of your safety," Zhao Ming knew the treasure that is Fu Tinghan, sternly said, "In future similar situations, preserving yourself is paramount."
Fu Tinghan did not agree with this viewpoint, Shi Le was still very important, they paid such a price to surround him outside Wu’an County, if it were to happen again, he would still pursue Shi Le.
As he was about to speak, Zhao Hanzhang, who had been watching him, imdiately nodded, responding on his behalf: "Uncle Ming, he said he knows he was wrong and will definitely change next ti."
Zhao Ming was not a fool, how could he not see the unspoken words?
He snorted coldly, cast a cold glance at her, and said, "No need for you to embellish things here with your glib tongue, I am not blind. In short, you two rember, at this stage, your lives no longer belong solely to you, take care of yourselves!"
Fu Tinghan obediently agreed.
Zhao Hanzhang: ... So after all the scolding, she was the only one who got it?
Zhao Ming left with the letter and docunt, Zhao Hanzhang took the dicine bowl, swallowed the bitter-looking dicine in one gulp, and asked, "How is Shi Le?"
Fu Tinghan replied, "Nothing much, the military doctor said although his injury is severe, he is recovering fast. He wants to live, so being angry is just a surface show."
Shi Le fainted with anger when he found out Shi Jian secretly sent a letter to Ma Jun, having them ambush the Zhao Family Army and "rescue" him out.
When he found out that Zu Ti had killed all Ma Jun who ca to "rescue" them, and Zhao Hanzhang had soone send the heads to Shi Jian, he fainted with anger again.
Until they returned to the camp, Shi Le hadn’t woken up. Naturally, Shi Jian wasn’t dealt with, just escorted back for imprisonnt.
Zhao Hanzhang, being particularly conniving, had him imprisoned next to Shi Le.
As soon as Shi Le woke up, right in the next room, Shi Jian was there bawling his eyes out, loudly crying, acknowledging his mistake.
Shi Le: ... Really wanted to faint again.
But noticing the change of living place, along with doctors and apparent servants guarding left and right, Shi Le knew he had been taken to the Zhao Family Army Camp.
Sure enough, after asking he knew it was in Wu’an County.
Shi Le lowered his gaze in thought for a mont, took a deep breath, and had Shi Jian brought over.
Zhao Hanzhang did not deal with Shi Jian directly, generously saying it could be left to Shi Le to handle.
So Shi Jian had been kept locked up.
Shi Le rely slept for a day, yet Shi Jian had changed drastically, with sunken eyes, dark circles underneath, looking as if he hadn’t slept for three consecutive nights, showing how tornting his day and night had been.
After drinking dicine, Shi Le dismissed the doctor and servants, leaving only two soldiers by his side.
These two soldiers were originally left for him by Zhao Hanzhang in the Shi Army.
Shi Jian knelt crying on the ground; Shi Le silently looked down at him for a while, though very much wanting to kill him, after weighing the situation, Shi Le restrained his murderous intent for the ti being and asked, "Do you know where you went wrong?"
Shi Jian bowed his head, "This subordinate shouldn’t have acted on his own initiative."
Shi Le snorted coldly, "So you do realize it was your own initiative? Shi Jian, do not forget, you are a Shi, of the Shi Army, you must listen to my orders, there will not be another next ti."
Shi Jian quickly lowered his head in acknowledgnt.
Shi Le then allowed him to rise, asking, "Do you know where you lost this ti?"
Shi Jian, sowhat unsure, said, "The General has already pledged to the Zhao Family, this subordinate could not be as far-sighted as the Great General..."
Shi Le sneered, "You lost because you underestimated Zhao Hanzhang."
"Pulling tricks under her nose, secretly sending out letters, did you take her for those deaf and blind outsiders?" Shi Le said, "Your letter hadn’t even been sent yet when she had already mobilized troops. Did you really think it was after reading the letter that she arranged for Zu Ti to ambush?"
"I’m afraid from the first sight of you, she had a plan in her heart. Without your sincere submission, she used you as bait to lure them out for an all-encompassing strike," Shi Le said, "Luckily, you called for the Ma Jun. Had you dared to summon the Shi Army to their deaths, even if Zhao Hanzhang spared you, I would have torn you to pieces."
Following Shi Le’s words, Shi Jian turned deathly pale, cold sweat pouring, realizing Zhao Hanzhang really was cunning, calculating him without a single word.
Shi Le said, "Go make your preparations, I will write a few letters for you to personally lead n with the Zhao Family Army to receive the surrender. Rember, you are going to pick up the Shi Army, our people must be in our hands."
If it weren’t that he had no one to use now, Shi Le would never keep Shi Jian. Seeing him taking matters into his own hands showed a significant selfishness; where once Shi Le thought him loyal, now there was much doubt.
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