After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 530 - 524: Rewards and Honors

Chang’an is impossible. There is famine in Chang’an, and the one guarding Chang’an is the Prince Nanyang, the brother of Prince East Sea. Having just broken free from Prince East Sea, how could he go to Prince Nanyang?

Chang’an is also too close to the Xianbei.

As for Chen County, the emperor glanced at Zhao Hanzhang.

Compared to Zhao Hanzhang, he trusts Gou Xi more.

Gou Xi is a minister worthy of receiving his secret edicts twice. Although their communication was mostly through letters, the emperor admired his character and trusted his abilities.

But Zhao Hanzhang, although he heard much about her deeds, the emperor didn’t much trust her, especially after her ruthless dealings with Wang Mi, where one moment they were allies and the next she killed him without blinking an eye.

Thus, the emperor chose Gou Xi, and naturally, he also chose Yun City.

The emperor persisted, but the court ministers were divided into two factions: some supported the emperor’s move to Yun City, while others suggested moving to Chen County, and a few advocated staying in Luoyang.

"Relocating the capital is a major state affair. Luoyang is surrounded by natural defenses. Though currently desolate and in ruins, as long as Your Majesty rules with benevolence, I think the people will come to settle, and then prosperity can be restored."

Surprisingly, this was Fu Zhi’s proposal.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Fu Zhi on the opposite side and immediately said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, rebuilding Luoyang consumes much, and although Liu Cong retreated, the Xiongnu are still too close to Luoyang. Moreover, the Xianbei occasionally cross south of Chang’an, so residing in Luoyang is inappropriate."

Xiahou Yan immediately followed, "Your Majesty, I also think rebuilding Luoyang is better, or moving the capital to Chang’an, if not then to Chen County."

Gou Xi and Gou Chun cast skeptical looks at Zhao Hanzhang on the opposite side, with deep suspicion that this was her feigned refusal, pretending to decline.

Seeing their gaze, Zhao Hanzhang secretly spat a mouthful of blood and simply ignored them, "If Your Majesty is willing to go to Chen County, I will follow and protect, but staying in Luoyang is not advisable."

The emperor also didn’t want to stay in Luoyang. Whether before or after ascending the throne, the memories left to him by Luoyang were not good.

So he directly said, "My lords, you need not persuade me further, I must move the capital. It was because of constant hesitation before that resulted in the troubles of Luoyang."

He questioned Fu Zhi, "Fu Aiqing, you have always advocated moving the capital, why have you changed now?"

Fu Zhi said, "Different times, different situations. At this moment, Your Majesty staying in Luoyang is of great use to both the state and the people, and it is a great good."

"Exactly," Xiahou Yan said, glancing meaningfully at Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi, "Staying in Luoyang with the support of General Zhao and General Gou, I believe Luoyang will soon revive."

Xiahou Yan hinted to this extent, but the emperor was frightened by the Xiongnu. This time Liu Cong and Wang Mi attacked, and they were only a door away from him.

At that time, he was even prepared for being killed or captured, so he was unwilling to stay in Luoyang no matter what.

Seeing this, Xiahou Yan sighed, glanced at Fu Zhi, and said no more. He was just a minor official and was unlike Fu Zhi, so he only made suggestions. If the emperor did not listen, he would only feel a little regret and think that it is truly heaven’s will to destroy Jin.

But Fu Zhi is different.

Seeing Fu Zhi’s temples frost-covered, there will be much to worry about in the future.

Looking once more at Fu Tinghan sitting beside Zhao Hanzhang, Xiahou Yan shook his head, sighed, and raised his cup to Fu Zhi, indicating a toast, then finished his own cup without waiting for a response.

He put down his cup and said no more, but Fu Zhi could not remain silent. He continued to insist on staying in Luoyang or moving to Chang’an.

"Prince Nanyang is mediocre in ability and cannot hold Chang’an. Chang’an, like Luoyang, is a barrier to the Central Plains, and as the sovereign, Your Majesty should guard the gates for the country," he added, "Moreover, Chang’an is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with the Central Plains as a backup, and with General Zhao and General Gou there, Your Majesty can rest assured."

The emperor frowned, also glancing at Fu Tinghan beside Zhao Hanzhang, slightly displeased, "Fu Zhongshu previously clearly favored moving the capital to Yan State, why has this changed?"

Because within just half a day, Fu Zhi realized that Gou Xi was no longer the upright minister he once was, but in front of Gou Xi and the court officials, he couldn’t say these things.

Fu Zhi lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang picked up the wine jug and poured herself a cup, her lips slightly curved.

Fu Tinghan glanced at her and then said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, relocating the capital is a significant decision, which requires discussion with the court officials, and it cannot be decided at once. Since today is a feast, shall we set aside this matter for now?"

Zhao Zhongyu immediately said, "Yes, today’s palace feast is to celebrate the cessation of Luoyang’s troubles; on such a joyful day, why bring up these vexing matters?"

The emperor’s serious expression softened, showing a smile again, "Yes, today let’s just drink and talk about happy things, not these worrying ones."

Empress Liang then smiled and said, "Since this is the case, why not take this opportunity to reward General Zhao?"

She said, "This time, General Zhao resolved Luoyang’s crisis and had merits in rescuing, deserving of a grand reward."

The emperor also, eager to leave Luoyang, wanting to deal with these affairs swiftly, immediately asked, "General Zhao, what reward would you like?"

Zhao Hanzhang politely said, "This is my duty, I dare not ask for a reward, but my subordinates’ generals deserve recognition, as it was thanks to them that the Xiongnu army was driven off, so I request rewards for them."

This was already a tacit understanding, so the emperor asked, "What kind of achievements does General Zhao want to recognize for them?"

Zhao Hanzhang took out the memorial she had prepared, which the eunuch took down and presented.

The emperor unfolded it; the memorial was not short, obviously quite long. He carefully read through it and found that even the merits of ordinary unit leaders were included.

It seems Zhao Hanzhang wanted to seek recognition for her subordinates on a large scale, which was not a decision to be made immediately at the palace feast.

The emperor put away the memorial and said, "I understand. I will consider it carefully."

Zhao Hanzhang slightly smirked, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"These are their achievements, but General Zhao’s merits are above theirs. Don’t you want anything?"

Zhao Hanzhang hesitated before saying, "Your Majesty, I am loyal to my homeland. Yu State is my home, where my family and clan reside, so I only wish for the people of Yu State to live and work in peace under my governance, loyal to the monarch and patriotic." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Zhao Hanzhang wanting Yu State was something Fu Zhi and Zhao Zhongyu had discussed with him beforehand; asking this today was merely a formality.

The emperor was straightforward and immediately said, "Appoint Zhao Hezhen as Yu State Governor and confer the title of Ru Nan County Duke! Zhao Qing, I entrust Yu State to you, so govern it well."

Zhao Hanzhang immediately stood up, left her seat, knelt in the hall, and thanked, "I will not disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations!"

Zhao Hanzhang’s deference made the emperor happy, and he immediately offered wine, laughing, "You and I, if we talk kinship, you should call me cousin."

Noticing Fu Tinghan sitting to the side, the emperor’s smile deepened, joyfully saying, "But if we consider from Tinghan’s side, you should call me grand uncle."

Fu Zhi immediately said, "Family relations should be calculated from closer ones, not from distant ones. If starting from Emperor Jing, that’s too far, so it should be from the Princess."

Fu Changrong’s mother, Princess Hongnong, is the daughter of Emperor Hui, and Emperor Hui and the current emperor are brothers. So the princess should call the emperor ’uncle,’ and Fu Tinghan calls him... grand uncle.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind being a lower generation but was quite concerned about dropping two generations at once. However, if calculated from Zhao Changyu’s generation, the relations on both sides are not only more distant but lack blood ties; it would be closer indeed from Fu Tinghan’s side. She pulled a smile and raised a cup to the emperor, calling him, "Grand uncle."