After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 591 - 585: Angry

Ting He ran in hastily, sweat on her forehead, "My lady, something terrible has happened. The Xiao Family has cornered the eldest son outside, and they’re about to take him away."

Zhao Hanzhang sprang to her feet, and Ji Yuan couldn’t sit still either, immediately asking, "How did they manage to corner the young master? Where are the people with him?"

While Ji Yuan was anxious, Zhao Hanzhang remained calm, sat back down, and asked, "Is the young master unharmed?"

Ting He replied, "They were blocked by the guards, so they didn’t get close. They’re just kneeling around the young master, making it impossible for him to advance or retreat."

Zhao Hanzhang furrowed her brows slightly, pondering for a moment before asking, "Is Wang Hufeng in the city?"

Ting He hesitated for a moment before saying, "She should be at the county government."

After appointing a new County Magistrate for Guy City, Zhao Hanzhang moved Wang Hufeng and Wang Si Niang, the sisters, back to Luoyang.

Their status was too high for the new County Magistrate to handle.

It wasn’t about suppressing them; it’s that due to their high status, the new County Magistrate wouldn’t assign them tasks. Keeping them in Guy City would be a waste, so she recalled them.

There are many affairs in Luoyang.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Go invite her over."

Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, "My lady, don’t be anxious. Wang has authority; the Xiao Family will likely respect her."

However, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t plan to hide. She stood and headed towards the side door.

Fu Tinghan now had quite a few people by his side, having his own trusted aide personally selected from the Zhao Family Army by Zhao Hanzhang.

Besides, because Fu An was secretly in charge of the dark division and sometimes wasn’t with Fu Tinghan, there were two more servants beside him.

They were sent from Xiping, capable not just of serving but also skilled in martial arts, able to do arithmetic and literate, far superior to Fu An. However, they had to follow Fu An’s orders as his subordinates.

At this moment, the group was blocked outside the east gate of the Zhao Mansion, a side door Zhao Hanzhang rarely used.

Unexpectedly, a trap awaited here today. Fu Tinghan was cornered just as he stepped out of the carriage. The opponents couldn’t get close, blocked by guards seven or eight steps away.

Seeing they couldn’t approach, they wisely kneeled directly to block him.

Fu Tinghan seeing this, chose not to leave either. He stopped because the opponents cried pitifully, curious about the incident. He said, "Stand up and speak."

The old madam kneeling didn’t rise, seeing Fu Tinghan’s gentle nature, deeply bowed, "This old body is Xiao Wei’s mother from Xin’an. We beg Lord Zhao to spare the Xiao Family, allow Xiao Wei and the clan to return to Wu Castle. We pledge allegiance to the Lord."

Fu Tinghan asked immediately, "What crime has the Xiao Family committed?"

The old madam quickly replied, "The Xiao clan failed to recognize greatness and offended the Second Son of the residence."

Her face bitter, she continued, "At the time, we weren’t aware he was the Second Son. Even if we knew, we wouldn’t dare offend him even if we had ten lives."

Fu Tinghan frowned slightly. Although Second Son was reckless, he was not one to be unreasonable; rather, he was naïve and soft-hearted.

With a slightly cold face, he asked, "How exactly did they offend?"

The old madam paused, seeing Fu Tinghan’s displeasure, forcing a bitter smile and bowing, "Mr. Fu, in these chaotic times, each tribe needs to build Wu Castles and watchtowers to defend against enemies."

Fu Tinghan nodded, showing recognition.

Starting from Cao Wei, constructing Wu Castles became popular, especially post-Emperor Hui of Jin, to resist the Xiongnu, Jiehu, and refugee armies; countless Wu Castles were built across regions.

Now the imperial prestige dwindles, and regions possess their own military forces. Even some larger clans secretly maintain retinues as private soldiers; this is normal.

Not only does Zhao Hanzhang not wish to cause trouble over this, but even wanting to, she would hesitate.

She herself engages in this.

So what else is there?

Fu Tinghan stood silently, waiting for her to continue.

The old madam said, "They’re just young, eager gentlemen, unable to resist flaunting when they have some people, even gathering more. Who knew they’d run into the Second Son?"

Fu Tinghan pursed his lips, a bit displeased, and glanced at Fu An.

Fu An stepped forward and reported, "My Lord, the Xiao Family relied on Wu Castle’s power to continuously plunder passing refugees and merchants. Xin’an is rife with bandits, and the Second Son occasionally leads men to suppress bandits, and happened upon a group plundering ordinary people seeking refuge in Luoyang, treating them as bandits to be eliminated."

Fu Tinghan nodded, and Fu An continued, "Reportedly, in just the past six months, the Xiao Family seized over a hundred beautiful women from outside. The number of merchants and refugees killed or injured while passing through is countless. When Second Son captured the Xiao Family’s Wu Castle, he freed over six hundred maids and slaves, whereas the Xiao clan barely numbers a thousand."

Fu Tinghan’s face darkened, glancing over, finding only women and children kneeling, and asked, "Where are the Xiao Family’s men?"

"They’ve been conscripted into the military, tattooed as slaves by Second Son."

Fu Tinghan’s mind eased slightly, asking, "Did many die?"

Fu An glanced at the Xiao Family, "Yes, they enslaved refugees, abused them at will. When they died, they died. Xiao Family claimed slaves were worthless as grass; simply capture more, as refugees outside are more than grass."

The old madam’s complexion changed drastically, quickly saying, "These are rumors, Mr. Fu. Every festival, my Xiao Family distributes rice grain. The common folk around Xin’an are under Xiao Family’s protection. Even when Luoyang faced difficulties, Xiao Family donated significant resources, contributed to the state, begging Lord Zhao and Mr. Fu for leniency."

"Merit cannot offset guilt. If people are killed, then they are killed. The good deeds don’t reach the victims," Fu Tinghan said in mild anger, turning to Fu An, "With so many killed, how can they just be tattooed as military slaves?"

He commanded, "Have Second Son execute the ringleaders."

Fu An acknowledged, immediately sending a guard to deliver the message.

The old madam was shocked, realizing her plea failed, instead would cost her son’s life, her gaze towards Fu Tinghan turning hateful. She rose from the ground, pointing at Fu Tinghan’s face, and cursed, "You’re just a petty man relying on your wife’s family to show off, daring to be impudent in front of me. I kneel only out of respect for Zhao Hanzhang, you..."

"Such grandeur from the old madam," Zhao Hanzhang interrupted, stepping forward.

The trusted aides hurriedly pulled away the kneeling Xiao family blocking Fu Tinghan.

The old madam’s furious expression instantly retracted, turning gentle, and she bent down to kneel before Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t stop her, standing to receive her kneel.

With her head lowered, the old madam said, "My lord, this old body spoke foolishly out of anger. Begging my lord to spare the Xiao clan, in the future, the Xiao Family will be willing to sacrifice for the lord and the Zhao Family."

Ji Yuan hesitated a moment, approached Zhao Hanzhang and whispered, "Perhaps pull them under your wing."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him, Fu Tinghan overhearing, pursed his lips, and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "I’ve already instructed Fu An to say the ringleaders must be killed."

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression remained unchanged, "Kill them if they must be killed. Many deaths indeed call for execution."

The Xiao Family’s women and children paled instantly, frightened and trembling.