He led the people all the way out from there, even without bandits on the way, they lost nearly half of their population, with two and a half percent dying from hunger and one and a half percent dying from the difficult journey. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

This was because he took out those who were native to Shu, accustomed to climbing hills and crossing valleys since childhood; outsiders entering Chu Shu would have an even higher death rate.

Zhao Shen said, "If the Great General wants to send troops to Shu, I am the best choice for the position; no one in the court knows Shu as well as I do."

However, Zhao Hanzhang was thinking, "Would the people of Shu wish for me to send troops?"

Zhao Shen was stunned for a moment.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Would Fuling, Ba County and other places prefer my rule, or King Cheng’s? How different am I from him?"

Ji Yuan said, "In terms of governance, the General is certainly above him."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then what price must I pay to govern the three counties, and what price and time must the people of the three counties pay to be ruled by me?"

The courtiers were silent.

Zhao Hanzhang let out a sigh.

Ming Yu said, "Great General, one should not only look at immediate benefits; for grand strategy, immediate interests can be temporarily discarded."

Zhao Hanzhang: "But would the people of Shu willingly be sacrificed by us now?"

If it were one person or two, it would be fine; Zhao Hanzhang is not soft-hearted, she would abandon even while facing pain directly.

But this is the life and death of the people in three counties, and could even affect the entire Ba Shu region. To fight for these three counties, troops must be sent; even if those places are conquered, it will be difficult to transport supplies there from outside, their development still relying on the Cheng Country near Guanghan.

If they cannot connect with the outside world, when will their famine be relieved?

Solely relying on self-sufficiency, what is the meaning for them to submit to Zhao Hanzhang?

Just to maintain Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation for "not abandoning territory," in order to recover Shu more smoothly in the future?

Is it more costly to abandon the three counties now, making the future recovery of Shu more expensive, or is it costlier to occupy the three counties now, causing the people under our rule to fall into poverty, famine, and war?

Zhao Hanzhang never thought war was the most terrifying.

Natural disasters, hunger, cold, and scarcity of resources are the most terrifying.

The former leads to quick death, seemingly with a high war casualty rate;

The latter leads to slow death, seemingly with a low fatality rate, but having been on the battlefield and mingled with the refugee army, she knows how false these official statistics can be.

Those who starved or froze to death, who died from cold-related diseases are either underreported or not reported, attributed to refugee conflicts, robberies, or illnesses of the elderly.

The reported data appears pretty and reasonable.

Only those who have experienced it know that each figure is heart-wrenching, how dare Zhao Hanzhang ignore this when aware of the truth?

Therefore, after long consideration, she said, "Let Zhao Xin agree with him. Except for retaining Han Zhong, the area south of Guanghan in Ba Shu will belong to King Cheng."

"Great General, you cannot!" Ming Yu disagreed, "You are selling out the country!"

Zhao Hanzhang’s face was resolute, "Cheng Country is my vassal state, where is the talk of selling the country?"

"A vassal state is still a foreign country unless directly managed by the court; otherwise, it remains foreign," Ming Yu said solemnly, "Is the Great General neglecting the country just to bring back Princess Hongnong?"

Ji Yuan originally stood on Ming Yu’s side, but upon hearing this, he was displeased, retorting, "Ming Zhongshu, the Great General is clearly acting for the people of Shu, what does it have to do with Princess Hongnong?"

"How does it not? If not to bring back Princess Hongnong, why would the Great General send Zhao Xin to negotiate?" Ming Yu said, "Even if we do not intervene now, Li Xiong will struggle to capture other counties in Ba Shu, let them deplete each other, and in the future, we can reap the benefits..."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "They deplete each other, but who is being depleted?"

Ming Yu opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Of course, the depletion is of Shu’s military and finances, why did so many Chu Shu refugees flood into Jingzhou and Poyang Lake areas? It’s because they couldn’t survive in Shu anymore.

Some can escape, but more cannot, or lack the courage to escape.

Are these people destined to be dragged to death within Shu by war?

Ming Yu opened his mouth several times but couldn’t argue.

Zhao Hanzhang already made the decision, "It’s settled. Zhao Yunxin, draft a telegram."

Zhao Yunxin responded, drafted the telegram on the spot, and handed it to her.

After taking a look, Zhao Hanzhang passed it to Ji Yuan, who also read it, took out a small seal and stamped it, then handed it over to Ming Yu.

Ming Yu: ...

He took it, under the watchful eyes of everyone, thought for a long time, and still stamped it with his seal.

Zhao Yunxin received the returned order and immediately sent it to be transmitted by the telegraph office.

Seeing everyone’s serious expression, Zhao Hanzhang laughed, "Don’t be too serious, gentlemen; I am still confident in recapturing Shu."

Ming Yu reminded her, "Li Xiong is in his prime, aged thirty-seven this year; I believe he can live a long time. From the past few years’ decrees, he appears mild and nurturing, cares for the people, and is talented in employing others; I’m afraid twenty years hence, the people of Shu will only know King Cheng and not Your Majesty."

Of course, nor would they know Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang laughed heartily, "Rest assured, Mr. Ming, I am younger than him, will live longer than him, and care for the people and employ talents more than him. In the future, Mr. Ming must remind and encourage me not to falter, so as not to fail in reclaiming Shu today released."

Ming Yu’s face brightened considerably after hearing this, and other ministers breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Hanzhang’s resolve was reassuring, indeed worthy of being an exemplary tale between monarch and minister—no, among ministers.

After receiving the reply, Zhao Xin frequently entered the palace to negotiate with the Cheng Country Court, arousing Li Xiong’s suspicion.

He couldn’t help but ask Fan Changsheng, "Strange, his letter just sent out, how is it he is negotiating with us with such certainty that Zhao Hanzhang will agree?"

Fan Changsheng remained silent, while an official beside him said, "Maybe it is simply within his diplomat’s rights."

Li Xiong looked to Fan Changsheng.

Fan Changsheng shook his head, "No, he likely contacted Zhao Hanzhang and received instructions."

Li Xiong, "But we just made progress two days ago, soon sent out the letter, surely it has only reached Han Zhong now? How can there be a response?"

Fan Changsheng said, "I have long been puzzled; Zhao Hanzhang’s sudden advancement into Han Zhong seems unprepared. Yet, she already sent Zhao Xin as an envoy, dispatched troops without receiving his reply, which does not fit her character..."

"So I suspect she received Zhao Xin’s information, understood our terms, and urgently moved to occupy Han Zhong."

Li Xiong, "Impossible, everything was decided suddenly in the court that day; Zhao Xin could not have received advance news."

"What if he transmitted the news immediately upon learning?"

"Does Zhao Hanzhang have Qianli ears?" Li Xiong asked, "How could she receive news so quickly?"

Fan Changsheng mused, "What if she indeed has Qianli ears?"

He said, "Is it not widely rumored outside that the Zhao Family Army possesses a Divine Artifact that breaks through city gates like thunder and transmits sound over kilometers like lightning?"