After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 560 - 554: Deal with It Sincerely

Ji Yuan had the same thought; he curled his lips and replied, "Yes."

"Liu Kun didn’t agree to go to Jizhou with Gou Xi, did he?"

"Yes," Ji Yuan showed more delight as he spoke about this, "Once Liu Kun leaves, Jinyang won’t be held. He can’t let go of the people of Jinyang, so he refuses to go to Jizhou and insists on staying in Jinyang."

Zhao Hanzhang’s lips curled, pleased, "I knew it."

Liu Kun is a very complicated person. He is loyal to the monarch and loves the country, cherishing the people, yet he is also jealous of the capable, likes pleasure, but regardless of his many shortcomings, he is indeed a person with sentimentality. He cannot let go of the Jin State, nor can he let go of Bingzhou and Jinyang.

Leaving Jinyang and going to Yun City to join Gou Xi, then becoming the Jizhou Governor, would indeed hold more prospects. But he also knows that once he leaves Jinyang, Jinyang would no longer be the Great Jin’s Jinyang; it would become Liu Yuan’s Jinyang.

By then, the Han people in Jinyang City would either be slaughtered or reduced to lower-class citizens, which he cannot accept; thus, he will not leave.

Zhao Hanzhang thought that taking advantage of his determination, she should meet the envoy from Jinyang.

But it’s late at night, so she decided to meet the next day.

After Ji Yuan finished speaking, Xie Shi finally spoke up, "Lord, Beigong Chun and Mi Ce are forcing the refugees to relocate back, causing much complaint. How should we handle this matter?"

This evening, Zhao Cheng’s words had quite an impact on her, giving Zhao Hanzhang many insights. Her thoughts were somewhat different now, and she said, "This matter was at my behest."

Xie Shi: ...How could he not know?

But he couldn’t punish her, so they had to find a scapegoat. Beigong Chun and Mi Ce were the best candidates for such conventional handling.

Outwardly punish Beigong Chun and Mi Ce, and secretly compensate them, making the forced returnees feel content, and neither Beigong Chun nor Mi Ce would suffer much—everyone would be happy.

That was indeed what Zhao Hanzhang thought earlier, but now she changed her mind.

She said, "Tomorrow I shall write a letter of self-criticism; the fault is mine, not the two generals’."

Ji Yuan and Xie Shi widened their eyes and exclaimed in unison, "Impossible!"

The two exchanged glances, and Ji Yuan said, "Such an act would damage the lady’s dignity."

Xie Shi was more direct, "Wouldn’t that transfer their resentment onto the lord? It would be extremely detrimental to governing Luoyang."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Even if I don’t admit it, can’t they guess it was at my command?"

Ji Yuan frowned slightly and said, "The lady has already punished Beigong Chun and Mi Ce; that’s sufficient to explain it."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Earlier during dinner, Uncle Cheng suggested I recruit talents from the aristocratic families. Since then I’ve been thinking, when the emperor was in the capital, they were all negligent and indifferent to their duties. Now that the emperor is no longer in Luoyang, I am merely an Inspector and a Duke. On what grounds would they obey me?"

"I forced them back to Luoyang to suffer along with the masses; wouldn’t they only hate me for that?"

Ji Yuan and Xie Shi fell silent and said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed quietly and said, "I’ve always wondered why the stability of the Great Jin is so fragile and wars are endless."

"I used to firmly believe it was due to people like Wang Yan who held undeserved positions, neglected state affairs, and were utterly inactive. But looking back now, the root calamity should stem from Emperor Xuan and Emperor Wen."

Ji Yuan and Xie Shi’s faces changed dramatically, and they quickly interrupted her, "Lord, be cautious with your words!"

Zhao Hanzhang casually waved her hand, "This study is filled with our own people; what’s there to not speak of?"

She said, "Emperor Xuan and Emperor Wen usurped the throne with schemes, erratic and ever lowering their standards, causing people to be wary and unwilling to wholeheartedly support the Jin Dynasty. People like Ji Kang secluded themselves from disaster. By the time of Wang Yan, he pretended not to love power while actually yearning for it to dodge calamities. Do I have to emulate them?"

Ji Yuan opened his mouth and then said, "This is just a minor matter. It has always been handled this way and never reached the level of Emperor Xuan and Emperor Wen."

Zhao Hanzhang curled her lips and said, "Even if everyone knows that punishing General Beigong and General Mi is just self-deception, it makes us a laughing stock."

She said, "My decision is made; I will issue the self-criticism letter tomorrow."

Ji Yuan then asked, "If you issue the self-criticism letter and those people want to leave Luoyang?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Not allowed!"

Ji Yuan stared, "You are..."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will order them not to migrate!"

Ji Yuan and Xie Shi were momentarily speechless, not knowing what to say. Isn’t this the classic case of knowing you’re wrong but steadfastly refusing to change?

Ji Yuan opened his mouth and after a while said, "As long as the lady has thought it through, it’s fine."

Xie Shi, however, visualized the Xie Family’s position for a long time, then raised his hand in a deep bow and said, "Lord, after the self-criticism, I am willing to go as a lobbyist to persuade each family to stay."

Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth curved into a slight smile. She quickly came out from behind the book stand, supported Xie Shi, and said, "Then I entrust this to Mr. Xie. Please tell them that I am willing to govern Luoyang with them."

Xie Shi accepted the task.

Ji Yuan glanced at Xie Shi’s expression and suddenly calmed down, standing aside with ease to watch the mutual understanding between the lord and her ministers.

Fu Tinghan was already drowsy, nearly closing his eyes. At this moment, he propped his head and quietly watched their conversation.

Zhao Hanzhang praised Xie Shi for a good half hour. Ji Yuan thought that the eldest young master was still too indulgent towards the lady, so he lightly coughed, hinting, "Lady, it’s getting late."

"Oh, right, it’s late at night. Gentlemen, please go back to rest."

Fu Tinghan then got up unhurriedly and, along with Zhao Hanzhang, accompanied the two to the door. Then they too turned back to rest. On the way, Fu Tinghan asked, "Who are Emperor Xuan and Emperor Wen?"

"I thought you were asleep?"

"Almost, but I still heard it."

Zhao Hanzhang explained, "They are Sima Yi and Sima Zhao."

Fu Tinghan waited for her to tell the story.

Zhao Hanzhang also slowed her pace and roughly recounted the historical accounts she had just mentioned, "During Sima Yi and Sima Zhao’s struggle for Cao Wei’s throne, their means were not honorable, leaving significant repercussions."

Fu Tinghan said, "Isn’t it always full of plots and schemes when it comes to seizing the throne? Why is it not okay for the Sima family?"

"Perhaps because they broke the limits," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Conducting matters is like conducting oneself. There must be a bottom line. In vying for power, schemes and ruthlessness are acceptable, but to seize it entirely through conspiracy as Sima did, they’re the only ones. Moreover, other families after gaining power, always achieved something or contributed in some way to this world in return, didn’t they?"

"So that when future generations assess their merits and faults, they could at least say a word or two of praise. But frankly, their family after taking power didn’t achieve accomplishments to cover their guilt; rather, they used plot to cover another plot. Hence, since the Sima family took over, the world has been in constant turmoil."

She said, "See, the gentry and clans fear the Sima family and disdain them. The Sima family with little legitimacy and authority, even their descendants state directly, with such a seized world, the dynasty’s luck won’t last long."

Fu Tinghan’s understanding of this piece of history mainly came from Zhao Hanzhang; for more detailed knowledge, he was even less informed, so he directly asked, "What did they do?"