After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 611 - 605 Suspicion

The bandits at Hai’er Ridge were quite wealthy, even when dividing evenly, Zhao Erlang received a substantial amount of spoils of war.

Xie Shi couldn’t help but exclaim upon seeing what they brought back to the camp, "How many families of noble merchants have they robbed?"

These possessions weren’t affordable by the ordinary folk.

"It’s a pity their leader escaped," Zhao Erlang was still thinking about the three rabbit nests, "They must have hidden additional treasures elsewhere."

Xie Shi agreed, so he said, "What about the prisoners? Let them draw portraits, issue sea capture notices, and once we catch them, we’ll know where the other treasures are hidden. Even if we don’t catch them, it will scare them off from returning to cause trouble again."

Zhao Erlang waved his hand and called out to his men, "Bring the prisoners up!"

No one behind him moved, Lv Hu stepped forward and whispered, "General, you forgot, we didn’t take any prisoners."

Zhao Erlang was stunned, asking, "Why didn’t we take any?"

Lv Hu replied, "You didn’t say we should, all the prisoners were taken by the Xiliang Army, we... we just returned."

Having divided so much loot, they happily returned to camp at daybreak without thinking about prisoners.

Xie Shi rubbed his forehead and asked, "How many prisoners were there?"

Lv Hu glanced at Zhao Erlang, guiltily whispered, "About seventy or eighty?"

Xie Shi coldly looked at him, "Was it seventy, or eighty?"

Zhao Erlang lowered his voice, whispering, "We didn’t count, probably seventy-something, around eighty..."

Zhao Erlang’s voice faded away.

Xie Shi then called a logistics officer over, "Draft a document, send two squads to Luoyang personally to ask the Xiliang Army to share half of the prisoners with us."

He told Zhao Erlang, "Prefectural Governor, prisoners are assets, valuable ones. Not to mention the beans in the fields ready to harvest, just forty people alone could do much more work in a day."

Xie Shi earnestly said, "These are all money."

Beigong Chun already summoned artists in advance, having them draw portraits of Qiao Sheng and several other escaped bandits.

He called in Zuo Du, instructed him to distribute the portraits, "Let the soldiers remember them, when out training, keep an eye out. They’ve been entrenched at Hai’er Ridge for two or three years, they must know the unrest in this area and it’s impossible they’ve put all treasures in their den; certainly some are hidden elsewhere."

Zuo Du immediately complied.

"Once you all memorize their faces, hand the portraits to County Magistrate Zhao to issue sea capture notices."

Zuo Du complied and was about to leave when Beigong Chun stopped him, "Have the assistant generals come over, the officers’ families have just arrived in Luoyang, distributing the spoils will ease everyone’s mind."

Zuo Du cheerfully complied.

Beigong Chun also set aside part of the spoils, and after the award ceremony, he went into the city to find Zhao Hanzhang with those rewards.

Zhao Erlang knew a portion must be handed to Zhao Hanzhang, so Beigong Chun was aware too, thus Zhao Hanzhang received two shares of spoils in a day, she indeed... had become wealthy.

Zhao Hanzhang circled the two chests, then smiled after a while, "Go and call Fan Ying."

Ting He immediately went to fetch Fan Ying.

When Fan Ying arrived, Zhao Hanzhang was still holding a pen, having spent most of her time outside today, only now was she free to handle official documents. She gestured with the pen at the two large chests beneath the hall, "These are the spoils from the raid on Hai’er Ridge, record them into the books. Keep those hard to sell, and for the rest, sell them all if possible, whether exchanged for gold and silver, or cloth and grain."

Fan Ying opened a chest to look, pondering, "Administrator, these items are quite valuable, won’t be easy to sell."

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her head to finish processing the last document, put down her pen, and walked over, sighing, "Indeed, but no matter, we’re about to start the summer harvest, we can take our time. First store them in the warehouse, when more Shu and Gan merchants come to Luoyang, these items will fetch a price."

"Speaking of, it’s a pity, Qingzhou is also a good place, if Gou Xi hadn’t cut off our transportation, handing these items to Qingzhou merchants would certainly earn a lot."

Fan Ying also thought so, she murmured, "Should we open up a path then?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at her, though she desired the same, she suppressed her urge, "It’s not the time yet. Now we should unite and face external threats together."

Fan Ying frowned and asked, "But they aren’t on the same page with us."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "What’s the harm, as long as they don’t wish me ill, I’m willing to coexist with them, first concentrate on outside threats."

She lowered her gaze, coolly saying, "If coexisting becomes impossible, it won’t be late to make choices then."

Choices can be made temporarily, but preparations can’t be temporary, so the Zhao Family Army in Zhao Ju’s hands is crucial, military readiness and money are essential.

She couldn’t help it and started writing a letter again to Zhao Zhongyu as Fan Ying began recording the items.

If the hydraulic press can be made, the efficiency of iron-making techniques will increase significantly.

Ru Nan now has two iron mines, when the time comes, find nearby water sources to build hydraulic presses...

Wars involve not just the general’s strategy, soldiers’ bravery, but also provisions and military supplies.

Now, most of Central State is under her control, and it’s not just about having three iron mines on this land.

The communication between Luoyang and Yun City is especially smooth, since the emperor is still the master of the realm, now relying on transportation to direct Zhao Hanzhang and others.

Thus Zhao Hanzhang’s letter quickly reached Zhao Zhongyu.

Gou Xi knew Zhao Hanzhang had written to Zhao Zhongyu again, but the letter’s content was unknown.

His thumb rubbed his forefinger, after pondering for a moment, he asked, "Recently, has Minister Zhao mentioned anything to Your Majesty?"

"He mentioned many things, not sure which you’re asking about?"

Gou Xi frowned and asked, "What are they?"

"Minister Zhao opposed recalling Liu Kun, saying once he returns, Jin would completely lose Jinyang and Bingzhou."

Gou Xi nodded, he was aware of this matter, then asked, "And what else?"

Yan Heng then looked up at him and said, "There’s also a memorial to impeach Gou Chun, saying Gou Chun is harsh on soldiers, embezzles provisions, and allows soldiers to seize harvests from commoners."

Gou Xi slightly frowned, "When did this happen?"

"Just these last two days, I reported to the general about Gou Chun allowing soldiers to plunder civilian grain..."

"I’m asking when Zhao Zhongyu wrote to impeach Gou Chun?"

Yan Heng responded forlornly, "This morning."

Zhao Hanzhang’s letter arrived last night, Gou Xi lowered his gaze, what is she planning to do, attack him by targeting Gou Chun?

Yan Heng gave Gou Xi time to think, then said after a while, "General, Gou Chun’s embezzlement of soldiers’ provisions is true, allowing soldiers to seize civilian grain is also true, please punish Gou Chun severely."

Gou Xi frowned and said, "This is Zhao Hanzhang’s ploy to sow discord, Mr. Yan, now Gou Chun is stationed at the border, how can we unsettle his mind instead?"