After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 628 - 622 Still Poor

Zhao Erlang said, "It’s not that I want it, it’s my soldiers. They want to get married, but how can they do it without money?"

The summer harvest was over, and this year’s millet yield in Luoyang was decent. With food, the soldiers were restless, wanting to fulfill their duty to procreate and thrive.

This is a big deal, Zhao Hanzhang perked up and asked, "Are there many who have a partner?"

"Not many, just thirteen," Zhao Erlang replied, "But there are a lot who want to find a wife. I asked around; over three hundred in the army want to get married, but they don’t have money. I checked with the matchmakers, they say it’s hard to find a wife without money."

This is indeed a problem, Zhao Hanzhang pondered, "We need to find a way to distribute some military pay to the soldiers."

Due to poverty, Zhao Hanzhang’s military pay had been distributed sporadically for a few months, mostly back in Shangcai.

Since they left Shangcai, Zhao Hanzhang became poorer day by day, and her military pay was always delayed. Just being able to provide food was already good enough.

Oh, the Zhao Family Army elite soldiers occasionally received some pay, but it was also intermittent.

Zhao Hanzhang increasingly missed Zhao Hu, "How has Seventh Uncle not arrived yet?"

Just as she was speaking, a personal soldier rushed in saying, "My lord, a message from Yun City has arrived."

Zhao Hanzhang quickly reached out, scanned the message rapidly, and didn’t eat, "You all continue eating, I need to write a letter."

Zhao Kuan and Zhao Yunxin were itching with curiosity, wanting to know what the letter said.

They turned glanced at Fu Tinghan, saw him looking not curious at all, and asked, "Does Tinghan know what’s written in the letter?"

"No." But eventually, we’ll find out.

So, there’s no need to rush.

It was a letter from Zhao Zhongyu, asking Zhao Hanzhang to send someone to escort Ming Yu, who had agreed to join her.

The closest state to Yan State was Yu State, and Zhao Hanzhang didn’t have many suitable people around for this task.

So she decided to entrust the task to Zhao Ming.

Once she finished writing, she immediately summoned Yuan Li, handed him the letter, and said, "Take this letter to Yu State to find Zhao Ming and ask him to escort Ming Yu. Remember, ensure Ming Yu’s safety."

Yuan Li solemnly accepted the task and left, exiting the city overnight.

Zhao Hanzhang rubbed her chin in thought, with Ming Yu leaving, it would be easier to undermine the emperor, but it also meant her conflicts with Gou Xi would deepen, leaving Zhao Zhongyu in Yun City somewhat endangered.

She frowned, contemplated for a moment, and still summoned Zeng Yue, "Select twenty soldiers from the army, split them into two squads, let them discreetly enter Yun City and keep an eye on Zhao Zhongyu. If any changes occur in Yun City, immediately escort Zhao Zhongyu back to Yu State."

Zeng Yue acknowledged, paused, then asked, "What about the predecessor?"

Zeng Yue used to be part of the Zhao Family forces, accustomed to referring to Zhao Ji this way.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her gaze in thought, then said, "Prioritize the safety of the grand-uncle."

Zeng Yue instantly understood; Zhao Ji’s life or death was not important and could even be disregarded.

Zeng Yue bowed and left.

The communication between Luoyang and Yu State was frequent, with couriers delivering letters and documents almost every alternate day, as there were occasional matters from Yu State requiring Zhao Hanzhang’s attention.

Unlike Zhao Hanzhang, who was busy training her troops, minting coins, and handling governmental affairs from various locations, Zhao Ming was leisurely in his residence drinking wine with scholars from Yu State and literati visiting from other regions.

A scholar was playing the zither. He reclined against the table, sipping a little sake, listening with a smile.

The servants carefully sidestepped people in the garden and approached the pavilion, whispering into Zhao Ming’s ear, "My lord, a message from Luoyang has arrived."

A letter had arrived just yesterday, yet another came today. Zhao Ming rose without showing any emotion, nodded slightly to his friends, and departed.

The servant followed closely, whispering, "Aside from the letter, there’s a cart of money. The escort is a follower of the lady, named Yuan Li."

"Money?" Zhao Ming paused his steps briefly, then sped up. Would Zhao Hanzhang send him money?

She had been gone for six months, and each time only reached out for money instead. Sending money this time was unprecedented.

Moreover, he knew Yuan Li, ruthless in methods, yet Fu Tinghan didn’t particularly like him. He could sense that Zhao Hanzhang didn’t favor him either, but he was useful, so she relied heavily on him. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Yuan Li waited in the front hall. Upon seeing Zhao Ming enter, he immediately cupped his fists to salute, "In humble service, greets Governor Zhao."

"No need for formalities," Zhao Ming sat cross-legged, reached out. Yuan Li promptly presented the letter respectfully.

Zhao Ming opened it, scanning quickly, felt slight surprise in his heart.

He lowered his gaze for a moment, "Rest for now, I’ll arrange personnel by evening."

Yuan Li asked no further questions, bowed, and left. The items he brought from Luoyang were left at Zhao Ming’s residence.

Zhao Ming rose to inspect the cart of money.

The money was stored in boxes; a cart could only hold a few boxes, and being copper coins, their value merely equated to a piece of gold.

But the significance of this money was different.

Zhao Ming had the boxes lifted down and opened, took out a coin, looked at it under sunlight, flipped it to see the "Zhao" character at the bottom left, he immediately clenched the copper coin, eyes shining.

After a long silence, Zhao Ming waved and said, "Deposit the money in the treasury."

"Yes."

Zhao Ming pondered and said, "Gather all valuable decorations in the residence, starting today, I’ll wear plain cloth, send off the guests properly, and no longer entertain them..."

He held back and sighed, "Put away the wine too. The governor advocates frugality, we should learn from her."

The servants exchanged a look and bowed in response.

Zhao Ming looked down at the copper coin in hand, summoned a follower, and asked, "Has Xiping replied yet? Are Father and the others unwilling to come to Chen County?"

The follower quickly bowed, "Received the news this morning, saying revered father and granduncle began the journey two days ago."

Zhao Ming’s expression relaxed, calculated the travel pace, "They’re old; the pace will be slow. If not by tomorrow evening, they’ll arrive by the day after morning. Have the courtyard ready."

"Yes."

Yet Zhao Ming waited two days without their arrival. Zhao Ju already led troops stealthily to Yan State borders awaiting to escort Yuan Li and others, yet Zhao Song still hadn’t reached Chen County.

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but suspect if they encountered bandits along the way.

But in the past half year, Zhao Hanzhang ordered Xun Xiu and others to suppress banditry, so there shouldn’t be large-scale bandits on the roads, especially since they were Zhao Family members, carrying Zhao Family’s flag, escorted by forces.

Just as he was worried, Zhao Song and others slowly appeared outside the city.

Zhao Ming quickly went out to welcome them, seeing them bring a vast troupe, Zhao Ming was speechless for a moment.

"Is this..."

Zhao Hu seeing him was very excited, didn’t wait for the carriage to stop to stick his head out and waved, "Nephew, my spit..."

Before finishing a sentence, Zhao Hu’s mouth was covered by floating dust. Once the carriage reached Zhao Ming, he unhappily stuck his head out and said, "Zi Nian, the roads are full of dust, as prefectural governor, you should arrange more people to sprinkle water daily, to make merchant travelers feel welcomed. Only then will they enjoy coming to Chen County."

Zhao Ming, with a blank expression, slightly bowed and said, "Seventh Uncle is right, I have learned."