After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 592 - 586: Expulsion

Wang Hufeng hurriedly arrived. When she got there, the Xiao family was surrounding Zhao Hanzhang, sobbing and refusing to disperse.

If it weren’t for placating the gentry, Zhao Hanzhang would have left in a huff.

As soon as Wang Hufeng arrived, Zhao Hanzhang breathed a sigh of relief.

She nodded to Wang Hufeng and said, "Wang, you persuade Old Madam Xiao and the others to leave."

Wang Hufeng bowed her head and responded, "Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang pulled Fu Tinghan inside, while Ji Yuan looked around but didn’t leave, just standing aside watching the spectacle.

Despite being only twenty-five or six years old, Wang Hufeng appeared dignified and authoritative in front of Old Madam Xiao, lowering her gaze toward her.

Old Madam Xiao indeed didn’t dare act presumptuously before Wang Hufeng; she’s not only the Grand Commandant’s daughter but also the former Crown Princess Consort. Now, inside and outside Luoyang City, she holds the highest status. Even Zhao Hanzhang, if Wang Hufeng hadn’t lowered herself to be a clerk, would have to be very respectful to her.

"Stand up, Old Madam," she said coldly, "Lord Zhao has already shown leniency. Although the world is chaotic and the court finds it hard to prohibit the castles from rearing private soldiers, this is no excuse for you to loot the common people."

"Those who kill should know they will be killed in turn. The corpses dug out from your Xiao’s Fortress have piled up into a small hill," Wang Hufeng, being straightforward, even dared to resent her own father, not to mention these outsiders from the Xiao family. "According to the law, everyone in the Xiao family should be imprisoned, and the main culprits executed. But Lord Zhao, considering your past minor contributions, has remained silent, leaving it to Second Son’s mercy."

"Since you show no appreciation, then according to the law, let’s sentence the main culprits," seeing Old Madam Xiao wanting to speak, Wang Hufeng raised her hand to stop her, and coldly said, "Old Madam, currently, the boys under twelve and all the women in the Xiao family haven’t been punished. If this case were strictly investigated, would the remaining members of your Xiao family survive the scrutiny?"

Old Madam Xiao’s face changed drastically, implying even the women and remaining boys would be implicated.

Seeing Old Madam Xiao wisely silent, Wang Hufeng said, "Please leave, Old Madam."

Old Madam Xiao stood up with her daughter-in-law’s support, but after two steps, she felt dizzy and fell straight down, frightening her daughter-in-law who attempted to catch her.

However, when a person really faints, they collapse limply, making their body very heavy. Her daughter-in-law failed to catch her, and both fell to the ground with a thud.

The women of the Xiao family rushed up, helping to lift Old Madam Xiao and sending her back to the inn, with one running to call a doctor.

The news of this incident spread quickly throughout Luoyang.

"It seems Zhao Hanzhang really values Fu Tinghan. Even the person Zhao Erlang didn’t kill, he said he would kill."

Fu Tinghan issued an order, and his reputation quickly spread throughout Luoyang, and then from Luoyang to Xin’an.

Upon entering, Fu Tinghan worriedly asked, "Do you have other arrangements?"

Otherwise, given Zhao Hanzhang’s character, how could she not kill the culprits?

Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head with a smile, "No."

Fu Tinghan frowned slightly, "So you originally planned to let the Xiao family off? Because of the gentry?"

"Originally, I intended to have them killed," Zhao Hanzhang chuckled, "but not by me, rather by Second Son."

Fu Tinghan was taken aback, asking, "Why have Second Son do it?"

"To establish authority," Zhao Hanzhang said, "the Xiao family is in Xin’an, and now Second Son is stationed in Xin’an. It’s better to have him order the execution than for me to do it."

From the moment Zhao Erlang subdued Xiao’s Fortress, Zhao Hanzhang planned this. However, the boy is single-mindedly thinking that Zhao Hanzhang once said the army lacks laborers and food, and military slaves perform labor better and consume less food than soldiers.

But they cannot rob civilians, so only capture bandits. Those less guilty can be incorporated as ordinary soldiers like refugees, and those more guilty, especially those who have killed, are tattooed and made military slaves according to severity, with a prescribed service period allowing them to atone through military achievements.

The boy remembered this and focused on catching bandits to do hard labor, not sparing anyone over twelve years old among the male members of the Xiao family.

Naturally, the main culprit was tattooed as a military slave without being executed.

Fu Tinghan understood, "So I snatched Second Son’s merit for establishing authority?"

Zhao Hanzhang dismissively waved her hand, "It’s fine; that boy doesn’t mind these things. In the military, there are plenty of ways to establish authority."

Fu Tinghan relaxed.

"You’ve been very busy lately; did you return to the city today for the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Fu Tinghan nodded, "Fu An said the Xiliang Army dependents have arrived, and there might be guests at home, so he asked me to come back."

"There will be a banquet for guests, but not today. General Beigong just reunited with his family, so we temporarily won’t disturb them. Tomorrow I’ll visit, and then host a banquet at the residence. You should attend with me."

Fu Tinghan had no objections.

The two chatted for a while, then Ji Yuan came in with a smile, "Lady, Young Lord, the matter is resolved."

He smiled and said, "Lord Zhao is indeed wise to invite the former Crown Princess Consort to be a clerk. With her stepping in, the gentry and common folk in the city have greater faith in Lord Zhao."

Although Wang Yan had a bad reputation in some people’s eyes, it’s undeniable that his reputation was immense among most of the gentry and common folk.

Wang Hufeng not only has Wang Yan’s family background but also the status of former Crown Princess Consort, and because she previously ran everywhere to save the former Crown Prince, she gained a reputation for loyalty. This made up for Wang Yan’s reputational shortcomings, boosting her fame among the people.

Wang Hufeng and Wang Si Niang held minor official positions under Zhao Hanzhang, signaling many discontented scholars to reconcile. They either participated in this year’s talent recruitment exam or sought Zhao Hanzhang to directly recommend themselves.

Zhao Hanzhang selected many talents and was inwardly pleased.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Have the Xiao family members left?"

"Yes, Old Madam Xiao fainted, and it seemed genuine."

"It’s good they left. The Xiliang Army dependents have arrived, and there will be a banquet at the residence tomorrow. If they didn’t leave, what would it look like for them to weep outside my residence?"

Ji Yuan: "Congratulations, Lady, for gaining a capable general. Now that General Beigong has moved his family here, it seems he’s here for life."

Zhao Hanzhang held the same view, exchanging smiles with Ji Yuan like two foxes.

Fu Tinghan quietly watched them from the side.

Ji Yuan never let a conversation cool; he immediately addressed Fu Tinghan, "Young Lord, how is the watermill construction going?"

Fu Tinghan said, "Only halfway done. It will take quite a while to complete."

Ji Yuan was surprised, "So long?"

In the past, other workshops were built swiftly, within a few days, yet this one, despite starting nearly a month ago, is only halfway.

Furthermore, it was said Fu Tinghan had been preparing the blueprints long before, seemingly having drawn them since last year.

"The value of the watermill is still far below that of the Glass Workshop. Could it be consuming too much of your energy, Young Lord?"

"No," Fu Tinghan shook his head, "The watermill’s value far surpasses the glass. The watermill’s value is incomparable to the Glass Workshop."