After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 543 - 537: Progress Is to Challenge Oneself
Fu Zhi moved into the Zhao Mansion, Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Tinghan to take care of him, so the grandfather and grandson could have a chat. She then took Ji Yuan to find Xiahou Yan.
The Xiahou Residence had also been burned, so he found an empty house nearby to stay in temporarily, planning to leave tomorrow.
He had only three attendants, a follower, a driver, and a guard.
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan visiting, he was startled for a moment but then invited the two of them to sit down and asked straightforwardly, "What brings General Zhao to see me?"
Zhao Hanzhang sat upright and respectfully said, "Sir, you have great talent, which makes Hanzhang happy. I would like to invite you to serve as the Chief Historian in Ruyin County of Yu State."
Xiahou Yan shook his head directly, "I am old and do not enjoy traveling, so I’ll have to decline the General’s kind offer."
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Ji Yuan, who then persuaded, "Mr. Xiahou, now the Xiongnu and Xianbei are eyeing covetously, and the world is in chaos. Controlling the Central Plains would give the Han people a respite."
"But Yu State has endured several hardships and is quite difficult. It’s precisely when we need you," Ji Yuan said. "Your Majesty has retreated to Yun City, leaving Luoyang vulnerable. The first to bear the brunt is Yu State. If we don’t strengthen it in time, I’m afraid that should the Xiongnu and Xianbei move southward again, they will drive straight in."
Xiahou Yan slowly shook his head, still refusing.
Going to Yu State, would he be serving the Jin Minister, or would he be a subordinate to Zhao Hanzhang?
Even when the emperor summoned him, he didn’t go; why would he go at Zhao Hanzhang’s invite?
This world is beyond saving, so there’s no need to worry. Let nature take its course. Thus, Xiahou Yan just pretended to be in poor health and too old to take office.
No matter how Ji Yuan and Zhao Hanzhang persuaded, he simply wouldn’t relent. Seeing she couldn’t sway him, Zhao Hanzhang could only regretfully say, "I heard you are going to join Mr. Zhang Jingyang?"
Xiahou Yan looked at her warily, "Who told General Zhao that?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "When my grandfather passed away, it was thanks to Mr. Zhang’s righteous speech that Hanzhang has always remembered. When I had no choice but to leave the capital back then, I intended to properly thank Mr. Zhang but never found the opportunity. Would Mr. Xiahou be willing to introduce me?"
Xiahou Yan pondered. He knew about the events from over two years ago when Zhang Xie, after scolding Prince East Sea, could no longer stay in the capital and decided to return to the mountains, living in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs.
This time, Xiahou Yan was going to accompany him.
He thought for a moment and agreed. This was Zhang Jingyang’s good karma; there was no need to shut her out.
Zhao Hanzhang, seeing that at least one matter was settled, left satisfied.
Ji Yuan and she led their horses back slowly. "My lady, seeing Xiahou Yan’s firm resolve, I’m afraid he won’t easily agree."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "It’s okay. It’s not necessary for him to go to Yu State. Knowing where they live, as long as it’s not too far, I can visit often in the future."
"When Zhao Kuan arrives, have him go get acquainted too, so if there are things we don’t understand in the future, we can go up the mountain to seek advice from these two elderly gentlemen," Zhao Hanzhang said. "Sometimes, their single word is more useful than ten things we do."
Ji Yuan chuckled, "The young lady understands worldly matters well."
Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at him, "Sir, feel free to speak openly."
Ting He, who followed behind, also felt that Ji Yuan’s praise was a bit insincere. Would their lady, being so socially adept, really need such compliments?
"My lady hasn’t spoken much with Mr. Fu today; is it because of the lord’s admonitions yesterday?" he said. "With Fu Zhongshu living in the Zhao Mansion, it would be better to be kinder to Mr. Fu; otherwise, how can he feel at ease entrusting Mr. Fu to you?"
"Moreover, regarding yesterday’s matter, even if the lord hadn’t advised me, I would have urged it anyway, and Mr. Fu..."
"Stop, stop, stop," Zhao Hanzhang quickly interrupted him, asking, "When did I speak less with him? Do you think we’re having a spat?"
"Not so?" Ji Yuan said, "I saw that this morning, my lady didn’t speak much with Mr. Fu. I thought it was because of Mr. Fu’s frank words yesterday, which displeased my lady."
Zhao Hanzhang: "Am I such a narrow-minded person?"
Ji Yuan laughed, "Of course, my lady isn’t, but people around the world like to hear pleasant words; who wishes to hear words that don’t align with their heart’s intent?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "But often, words of contradiction are the most beneficial to a person."
Ji Yuan laughed, "My lady, you are making things too difficult for yourself. There are many strategists in the world who speak and act in compliance with their sovereigns."
"Compliance? Those are ideas even I could think of. Why should they trouble themselves with such thoughts? That just shows they are not on par," Zhao Hanzhang suspiciously looked at Ji Yuan, "Mr. Ji, you often refute my words. Why suddenly bring this up today? Are you afraid I can’t hear dissenting words?"
Ji Yuan just burst into laughter, "Of course not. I know my lady has a big heart and won’t mind our occasional impertinent words. But Fu Dafu, after all, is different. This is the first time he’s opposed your words since being by your side."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand indifferently, "Learning is about constantly challenging oneself, contending and merging with this world, which is the essence of education. Ting Han is helping me. I’m not ungrateful."
Ji Yuan said, "Reading and learning should be a joyous thing. Why does my lady describe it like suffering?"
"It is a joyous thing, but that’s after gaining results. Haven’t you suffered during the learning process?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Copying books in the cold winter, memorizing in the sweltering summer, it’s a constant struggle with oneself. Gaining something is joyous, but undeniably, these gains also come after effort and suffering."
Ji Yuan was momentarily stunned.
This was the first time he’d heard such a view.
He reflected, "So as long as you gain something, you are willing to endure any hardship?"
"That too must be proportional to the hardship; otherwise, I would be dissatisfied, as if suffering in vain."
Ji Yuan said, "Then I must tell my lady something."
"What is it?"
"Those twenty thousand or so people you left in Xiang City, now only about ten thousand remain. The news came yesterday; two days on the road, and now maybe not even ten thousand are left."
Zhao Hanzhang: "...Where have they gone?"
"Some have banded together and gone to Yu State, some have gone south to join relatives, and some... they’ve gone to Yan State," Ji Yuan said. "There were too many people, Fan Ying and the others could only handle the big picture. They missed many details, and some people in the crowd learned of His Majesty’s plan to move the capital. Coupled with Gou Xi’s renown, many took their belongings and went to Yan State."
Zhao Hanzhang’s mind raced with thoughts like a herd of llamas.
Ji Yuan looked at Zhao Hanzhang and sighed, "Some of your methods are too gentle, my lady. I say, when you first saved those twenty thousand people, you should have immediately confiscated their belongings. Without money, they’d think twice about leaving."
Zhao Hanzhang: "...Mr. Ji, that’s a rather brutal suggestion."
Mr. Ji said, "Luoyang is impoverished, my lady. You don’t have much money now. To rebuild Luoyang and ensure Yu State’s stability, money is essential."
Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Where is Shi Le now?"
