After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 619 - 613 Printing Money Yourself

Zhao Erlang couldn’t understand their words, but he sensed his sister’s emotions and quickly stepped forward, "Sister, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just lamenting my poverty."

Zhao Erlang pursed his lips and asked confusedly, "Mr. Xie said our grandfather was the best at making money and saving wealth. I, I also have many treasures, why is Sister poor?"

Zhao Hanzhang struck with understanding and turned to look at him, "Erlang, are you serious about having money?"

Zhao Erlang nodded earnestly, "Yes, I have a lot of treasures in my room, all trophies I seized from battles."

Zhao Hanzhang understood, "Mr. Xie used your room as a warehouse, eh?"

She patted his shoulder and said, "Not bad, not bad, you can even support an army now."

Poor her, who not only has to support several armies but also the common people and officials.

Zhao Erlang whispered, "Sister, if we aren’t as capable as grandfather and can’t make money, then we should go rob."

Zhao Hanzhang casually asked, "Where to rob?"

"To Bingzhou," he said, "That place is Shi Le’s territory now. The summer harvest just ended there, and their winter wheat has been harvested and dried; they should be collecting millet now. If we go, we’re sure to seize a lot."

Zhao Hanzhang walked slowly and asked, "Do you know what kind of people farm in Bingzhou?"

"Farmers, of course."

"Han people!" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Bingzhou might be occupied by barbarians, but half of the population remaining there are Han people. The rest consist of Xiongnu, Jiehu, Xianbei, and other ethnicities."

"Most of those who farm are Han people and Jiehu, whereas the Xiongnu and Xianbei still mainly herd," Zhao Hanzhang said, "If you send troops to rob them, you’re mostly robbing Han people."

"Even though Bingzhou is occupied, the Han people inside wish to return, and the court has always wanted to reclaim Bingzhou. Liu Yueshi is still in Jinyang. If you send troops to loot the common people now, aren’t you pushing them into the arms of Shi Le and Liu Yuan?"

"No one will love a person who robs their food and kills their family, even if that person is a well-reputed general reclaiming the land," Zhao Hanzhang said, "They will hate you, their descendants will hate you, and their hatred will spread to friends and neighbors, so one day, the people of Bingzhou will hate you, hate me, hate the Zhao Family Army, and may even hate Jin State."

"Because of this hatred, they will join Shi Le and Liu Yuan to fight us, and we may never reclaim Bingzhou; because of this hatred, even if we do reclaim it, they won’t adhere to our rule, and Bingzhou will remain as it is now, seemingly held by Shi Le and Liu Yuan, but never truly owned by them."

Zhao Erlang looked bewildered, barely remembering a point, "So we can’t rob Han people."

"You can’t rob anyone," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Is Mr. Xie teaching you about this yet? Doesn’t he have a book called ’Huainanzi: Military Strategy’? He should teach you about what justice is."

"Justice?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "To send troops, there has to be a just cause. As they say: ’An army without moral guidance weakens, gains strength with guidance; a general without moral strength is clumsy, excels with strength; a state survives with moral guidance, perishes without it.’ We can attack Bingzhou and take it back, but we can’t plunder civilians, including Han people, Xiongnu, Jiehu... everyone living in Bingzhou."

Fu Tinghan quietly walked beside them, listening as Zhao Hanzhang gave Zhao Erlang an impromptu lesson on ’Military Strategy.’ She was truly remarkable, even more so than he had known.

As they entered the palace, Zhao Hanzhang temporarily spared Zhao Erlang, who was trying hard to remember her words, looked at the still majestic palace, and sighed, "I’m tired from walking, I’ll rest here for a bit and wait to watch the sunset."

Zhao Erlang immediately said, "Then Sister, you watch while I take a stroll around. I won’t rob the people of Bingzhou anymore; I’ll just search around this palace, and if I find anything, I’ll give it all to Sister."

Zhao Hanzhang gave him an approving look and waved, "Go ahead."

Feeling lonely by himself, Zhao Erlang called out to Fu An and Ting He, "Come help me quickly."

Ting He and Fu An each looked at their master, eager to try, as this was the Imperial Palace, and they’d never imagined entering it before.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded generously, "Go ahead."

Fu Tinghan also nodded at Fu An, and the three excitedly rushed into the grand hall...

Zhao Hanzhang disliked the dirty steps, but she was tired from walking and standing, so she thought to just sit on a random step and ignore it. Fu Tinghan stopped her, pulling up a corner of his robe to place underneath her.

Zhao Hanzhang paused, saw him pat the padded corner, and then moved forward to sit down.

Fu Tinghan sat beside her, turned to look at her profile, and asked, "Do you still want to go back?"

Zhao Hanzhang was silent for a long while before saying, "Do you have a way to go back?"

Fu Tinghan shook his head, "The existing astronomical books and records are limited. When they moved the capital, they took everything they could, calculating the next alignment of the seven stars is quite difficult."

Fu Tinghan had never forgotten his promise to her; whenever he had the chance, he consulted records and observed the stars, but he was still at a loss, with very limited means.

Zhao Hanzhang was silent for a moment, then smiled wryly, "The scope is too large; if I leave now, I fear I would be very uneasy." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Fu Tinghan’s lips curled slightly, nodding, "I understand."

He reached out to hold her hand, and when she looked over, he smiled and gently asked, "Are you short of money now?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Very short."

"Indeed, Luoyang went through several battles, and with Prince East Sea leaving the capital and the emperor relocating, they took away a lot of money. Now Luoyang’s copper coin mostly relies on the influx afterward, but the speed is too slow, severely compressing Luoyang’s purchasing power."

"Hm?" This seemed different from what she was talking about.

Fu Tinghan said, "Then we’ll refine copper and mint our own coins."

Zhao Hanzhang widened her eyes.

That felt like saying she was too poor, then Fu Tinghan telling her, don’t worry, we’ll print our own money.

Zhao Hanzhang swallowed and subconsciously asked, "Can I print my own money?"

"No, I seem to be able to mint my own. I heard Xiliang is doing that now, oh no, they are minting coins. They make their own five coin money, which not only circulates in Xiliang but also trades with merchants from the Central Plains and Xianbei, so it seems I can do the same..."

All inspectors, who has a lower status than anyone else?

This idea opened a new path for Zhao Hanzhang due to Fu Tinghan’s suggestion. She stood up excitedly, spinning in place, "Yes, yes, I can mint my own money. But how much should I mint? Not too much, wait, do we have copper?"

Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Tinghan.