After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 617 - 611 Ambitious

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him approvingly and said, "That is indeed the Winter Official. I have decided to entrust the Ministry of Industry to Ting Han, so currency and unified weights and measures will also be managed by the Ministry of Industry."

In Zhao Hanzhang’s current team, apart from her, Fu Tinghan now ranks second in power.

Although Fu Tinghan originally held considerable power, he had no official title.

Ji Yuan was intensely shaken inside and, in a flash of insight, lowered his voice to ask, "Are you planning to contend for control of the Central Plains?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly glanced outside, then whispered, "Mr. Ji, please don’t speak such nonsense. Contending for control of the Central Plains? I am a Jin Minister!"

She continued, "Am I not already here in the Central Plains?"

Indeed, the most central part of the Central Plains was currently under her control.

But...

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but doubt, his expression conflicted, but he eventually suppressed his thoughts and nodded, "Your plan is excellent. Yu State is our home, and now Luoyang is also our home. If we manage well, one day Si Province will be our home too."

Si Province, which included Luoyang, encompasses Henan County and eleven other counties, including Xingyang, Hongnong, Shangluo, and Hedong County, acting as the barrier to the Central Plains, linking with Yu State. Indeed, she was encompassing the entire Central Plains.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at Ji Yuan meaningfully, sensing his ambition. She lightly coughed and said, "It’s too early to speak of this. Let’s focus on governing Henan County and Yu State well first."

Currently, there are still several counties in Henan County that are not under her jurisdiction.

Oh, she recently met with Zhao Kuan to discuss with the county magistrates of Henan County, where they initially reached agreements of friendly cooperation. Zhao Hanzhang is now patiently settling them in Luoyang.

Since establishing a Ministry of Industry requires an office location, and her administrative seat cannot remain at the Zhao Mansion, it was unfortunate that the Inspector Mansion of Si Province was burned down.

Zhao Hanzhang mused for a moment, then said, "The houses in Luoyang that were burned down should also be rebuilt."

Ji Yuan reminded her, "This is the busy time of the summer harvest."

"I know," Zhao Hanzhang said, "but let’s put it on the agenda first. Stone and timber also need to be prepared, and we can wait until the farming offseason to mobilize labor, or hire people to build." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Ji Yuan reminded her, "The money..."

Zhao Hanzhang’s heart ached. She gritted her teeth and said, "Let’s build the Inspector Mansion and the Ministry of Industry first. They don’t have to be built too well, just enough to house people and conduct business."

That’s impossible, and once construction begins, it cannot be stopped and rebuilt later. So, even if it’s not excellently built, it cannot be too poor, lest it damage authority.

Ji Yuan calculated Zhao Hanzhang’s public finances and found them insufficient, especially since they needed to guard against the Han Kingdom and the Xianbei people moving south every autumn and winter, needing to reserve some resources.

Hence, he suggested, "What if the Young Master made some small sacrifices and found a temporary residence in the city?"

"I wish we could, but which residence would be suitable?"

Ji Yuan pondered, "Actually, there’s one place that’s most suitable. It can accommodate the Ministry of Industry and any number of departments you wish to establish..."

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows at him, "You’re not talking about the Imperial City, are you?"

Ji Yuan perked up, "You’ve thought about it too?"

"Indeed, and I thought of it quite early on," Zhao Hanzhang said. "As soon as His Majesty left, when half of the Zhao Mansion was being used as an office, I considered it. Guess why I didn’t utilize it then?"

Since the Emperor left, Zhao Hanzhang had closed the gates of the Imperial Palace.

Ji Yuan smiled at her but did not mention the well-known reason, "Then I’ll look around and see if there’s a suitable house for the Young Master to use as the Ministry of Industry."

"Since you’re looking, find four official residences as well. Hmm, where did Shen Ruhui and the others live when they stayed in Luoyang before? Are their homes still there? If they are, have someone clean them up," Zhao Hanzhang said. "They’ve come from afar to join me; we can’t let them be mistreated."

Ji Yuan agreed and decided to have someone investigate shortly.

After discussing the matter, Ji Yuan stood up to leave, and as he reached the door, he thought of something, then slightly turned his head to ask, "Establishing a Ministry of Industry requires quite a number of people, doesn’t it?"

Zhao Hanzhang smirked and nodded, "Indeed, which is why the people from Yu State need to migrate here."

Ji Yuan responded with a smile, feeling relieved to leave.

Zhao Hanzhang called Ting He to grind some ink and propped her chin as she pondered how to trick Zhao Hu into coming to Luoyang.

After pondering for a while, Zhao Hanzhang started drafting appointment letters, naming many people and ordering them to take office in Luoyang, permitting them to bring their families and clans...

Once she finished writing the list, she began to pen a letter to Zhao Ming.

Luoyang was still somewhat empty, as many traders coming from the north and south gravitated towards the safer Yu State. Zhao Hanzhang hoped both places could develop together.

As the shield of the Central Plains, Luoyang needed their attention, so she hoped Zhao Ming could find a way to persuade Zhao Hu to come to Luoyang.

Nothing could be a better promotion than having members of the Zhao Family come to Luoyang to do business and attract wealth, and Zhao Hu was undoubtedly an excellent symbol.

She believed that if he was willing to come to Luoyang, merchants from Xiping would undoubtedly follow him there.

After completing the letter and ensuring everything was in order, Zhao Hanzhang sealed it and handed the list to Ting He, "Pass the list to Fan Ying. Have her issue the official appointments according to the list and positions. Deliver them to me by sunset today; the post station needs to send them out tomorrow."

"Understood." Ting He took it and delivered it to Fan Ying in the next courtyard.

The adjacent courtyard had already been tidied up, with each room opened, tables and chairs set up, and Zhao Hanzhang’s subordinates working there, with about twenty people coming and going.

Ting He entered and went directly to the largest room, which was Fan Ying’s office.

Fan Ying took the list, glanced over it, and then went next door to find Wang Hufeng and others.

"Everyone stop for a moment and write these transfer orders first."

At Fan Ying’s words, the three people in the room immediately laid down their pens and stood up to listen to instructions.

Ting He returned to the main hall, where Zhao Hanzhang was resting her chin as she pondered, turning the letter in her hand over and over.

"Do you think I should write a letter personally inviting Seventh Uncle to come to Luoyang?"

Ting He said, "I think you should write to Madam, ask her to reach out to Seventh Grandfather, it would be more sincere."

"Forget it," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Why make Mother suffer such indignity?"

Mrs. Wang couldn’t persuade Zhao Hu and might even be humiliated, so she preferred not to trouble Mrs. Wang.

But...

"Come to think of it, the person Seventh Uncle most fears is Uncle Ming, and if not him, it would be the Fifth Uncle."

Zhao Hanzhang perked up and sat straight, "Here, grind the ink further. I’ll write a letter to Fifth Uncle."

Ting He smiled and agreed, "Yes."

After finishing the letter, Zhao Hanzhang felt she had accomplished enough for the day. She stretched her sore neck, went to the door, looked around on both sides, and finally headed towards the Imperial City.