Chapter 135 - Honest

Chapter 135: Chapter 129 HonestZhao Ming saw her look surprised and continued, "I guessed you would choose to return home, but I didn’t expect you to choose to live in Shangcai. Given your ability to support yourself in Shangcai, why would you bring Fu Tinghan back to Ru Nan, a place you’re not familiar with? Luoyang or even Chang’an could have been options."

Zhao Ming looked at her and said, "The chaos of war is just an excuse. With your ability, you should be able to see that the court’s departure from Luoyang is only temporary. If you follow the army, with the Zhao Family’s prestige and the Clan Leader’s current power, the glory you would receive would be no less than what you have now, and Fu Zhongshu is also among the army."

Initially, Zhao Ming hadn’t thought of these things because he didn’t know Zhao Hanzhang well enough, but after yesterday, he realized that his niece was even smarter and more formidable than he had thought, so he had to consider these possibilities.

"So I suspect that you want to achieve something using the Zhao Family," Zhao Ming said, "And since you returned home, the Clan Leader’s family’s prestige within the clan has gradually declined, while you, though residing in Shangcai, have slowly taken over the prestige your grandfather had in the clan. Third Lady, hasn’t it crossed your mind to take revenge for how your Seventh Ancestor’s family once treated you?"

Zhao Hanzhang fell silent for a moment before beaming a brilliant smile at Zhao Ming. She said, "Indeed, someone deliberately lured Song Erlang outside the city, and I remember this grudge too. But I know that the enemy wasn’t Uncle Ancestor and Great Uncle."

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes and said, "Even though I was injured, fortunately, I didn’t die. I’m not at the point of becoming mortal enemies with them. Moreover, I was taught by my grandfather from a young age. Although I can’t be as devoted to the clan as my uncle, I won’t disregard the family’s interests over personal vendettas."

"What concerns Uncle is not my original intent."

Zhao Ming looked at her seriously, and Zhao Hanzhang also looked back at him earnestly. "As for Uncle Ancestor’s family’s declining prestige," she smiled and said, "shouldn’t this question be directed at Uncle Ancestor and Great Uncle?"

Zhao Ming said nothing more.

"Although the position of Clan Leader has always been held by our direct line, the clan is vast, and the affairs are complicated. Managing the clan’s affairs is like governing a country; the loyalty of the clan members is akin to the people’s allegiance, which can’t be achieved by force."

"If the Imperial Family cannot gain the people’s loyalty, then the downfall of the empire is not far off," Zhao Ming said. "Similarly, if the Clan Leader cannot unify the clan, the Zhao Family will be in danger. In these turbulent times, it’s already difficult for a family to survive. If the hearts are divided, the disaster of extinction may be right at the door."

"I share the same view as Uncle," Zhao Hanzhang said. "But even if I leave Xiping, or even Shangcai, can Uncle Ancestor control the Zhao Family and unite everyone?"

"Will Fifth Uncle truly submit to Uncle Ancestor? And what about Seventh Ancestor and the others, can they fully trust Uncle Ancestor?" Zhao Hanzhang asked. "Can Uncle Ancestor really safeguard the Zhao Family?"

Zhao Ming remained silent.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Uncle, you only see my threat to Uncle Ancestor but not the threat the world situation poses to the Zhao Family, or rather, the threat it poses to every person in this world."

"The siege disaster of yesterday will happen again in the future, perhaps even more severely. Can the Zhao Family survive such chaotic times?" Zhao Hanzhang asked him, "If not, what meaning is there to talk about the prestige dispute between me and Uncle Ancestor?"

Zhao Ming was stumped by her questions, and a shiver ran through him. Following her questions led him to realize something significant.

"You..." Zhao Ming hesitated for a moment before finally finding the right words to ask her, "So, how do you intend to protect the Zhao Family?"

Zhao Hanzhang just looked toward Xiping County Government.

Zhao Ming also looked over and immediately said, "The Clan Leader’s family is still in Luoyang. Our Zhao Family is also descended from loyalty and righteousness. We absolutely cannot rebel."

Zhao Hanzhang: "...Who said I want to rebel?"

She wasn’t foolish. At a time like this, to rebel, not to mention the Xiongnu, Prince East Sea would be the first to refuse her, and any group claiming to be the righteous army could annihilate her.

How desperate would she have to be to place herself in such danger?

She said, "Uncle, when outsiders mention Xiping, they think of our Zhao Family. Even within the entire Ru Nan County, our Zhao Family is one of the foremost great clans."

"What does it mean to be interconnected in prosperity and decline? It means if Xiping falls, our Zhao Family loses its foundation; if our Zhao Family falls, Xiping loses its support," Zhao Hanzhang said. "You have seen today’s plight of Xiping. If Xiping faces danger, the court cannot come to the rescue; we can only save ourselves."

"So, I believe we need to develop Xiping well. As long as Xiping is strong enough, even if we face another situation like yesterday’s, the Zhao Family wouldn’t be isolated and on the brink of extinction again."

Zhao Ming: "You want to carve out your own territory in Xiping?"

No, she wanted to carve out in Ru Nan County, but saying that would make her ambition seem too grand, so she said, "How could it be carving out our own territory? We remain loyal to the Jin Dynasty. However, if Xiping were managed by our Zhao Family, it would certainly be better than having another unfamiliar County Magistrate. When it develops, it would also protect Zhao’s Fortress."

Zhao Ming was no stranger to regional division; in this era, how few wealthy families haven’t carved out local territories?

Zhao Ming was extremely conflicted. His mind was divided into two people: one agreed with everything Zhao Hanzhang said, and the other realized that Zhao Hanzhang’s purpose might not be so simple.

So the question arose, Zhao Hanzhang had dragged the boat over to him; should he jump on board, or should he kick it away?

Boarding the boat not only meant the Zhao Family would take a different path than previously planned, but he would naturally stand on Zhao Hanzhang’s side, opposing the Clan Leader.

This was something he had always been wary of.

Kicking away the boat...

Zhao Ming glanced at Zhao Hanzhang. Rationally, he agreed with Zhao Hanzhang’s views; emotionally, he trusted Zhao Hanzhang’s abilities and insights more.

He clearly came to question Zhao Hanzhang, so why was he the one being cornered by her in the end?

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t rush him, she just informed him about the situation in the county city, "The Song Family and the Chen Family have suffered huge losses. Even Song Erlang is dead, and I’ve heard many clansmen have been killed."

The Song and Chen Families were quite significant families within Xiping County City, although they couldn’t compare to the Zhao Family.

But the three families were considered relatives by marriage, as people from Zhao’s Fortress had married daughters from both families. Upon hearing that both families suffered such great losses, Zhao Ming frowned.

"But those two families are still relatively fortunate because they avoided the threat in time; most of their family members were saved. Other middle-income families in the city almost faced annihilation."

They neither had enough household guards to protect themselves, nor were they wealthy enough, so they naturally became prime targets for looting by the chaotic troops.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "In this world, life is difficult even for families with a bit of wealth, let alone ordinary people. Uncle, since I was small, I’ve been studying at Grandfather’s knee, and I’ve always believed that the people are the foundation of the nation. If we have the ability to protect one family, we protect one family; if we have the ability to protect the people of a county, then we protect the people of that county. What do you say?"

Zhao Ming’s inner balance was completely tipped.