After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 643 - 637: An Obscure Opponent

Gou Chun was very angry, but he had to suppress his anger and kept urging Yun City to make Gou Xi decide whether to fight or not. He felt so stifled being stuck there.

Zhao Ju’s archers were ready, but then the aggressive Yan State Army halted.

After waiting for a long time, the Yan State Army indeed did not move, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, instructing people to remain on guard while continuing to write to Zhao Hanzhang, urging her to make a decision quickly. If a fight broke out, to what extent could they fight, and could they really not kill Gou Chun?

He really wanted to kill him; Zhao Ju still held a grudge against Gou Chun for injuring Zhao Hanzhang with a secret attack.

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was squatting by the fire, roasting a rabbit while pondering over ways to quell the anger on both sides.

Ji Yuan had specifically come from the city to the barracks, watching her train soldiers for an entire afternoon. Now that she was finally free, he sat on the grass beside her, shaking the fan in his hand, "Did you catch this rabbit, my lady?"

"The soldiers have been training here, running back and forth; where would there still be rabbits?" Zhao Hanzhang lifted her chin and pointed at Zhao Erlang, who was wrestling with someone in front, "He brought it when he came."

Ji Yuan looked up in the direction and couldn’t help but smile, "Did Erlang hand over all military affairs to Xie Shi, that he keeps running back and forth to Luoyang every few days?"

"As long as he is leading the troops in training, it doesn’t matter how he trains them; as long as there’s progress, it’s all good."

Ji Yuan nodded and asked, "Have you decided how to handle the matter with Yan State?"

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes, turning the rabbit, and said, "Mr. Ming’s condition has stabilized, let them escort him to Luoyang."

She said meaningfully, "Since Zhao Ju claimed their trespass was to save the people of Yu State, then it’s for saving the people of Yu State. However, accepting Ming Yu has indeed hurt the relationship between me and him, so I want to send him something to appease him."

Ji Yuan nodded, thinking the same, "But what treasures has Gou Xi not seen? What does Your Excellency plan to send him?"

"That’s exactly what I’m troubled about," Zhao Hanzhang said vexedly, "Previously seized treasures have all been handed over to the caravan; now, there’s only copper coins in the treasury, and I really can’t think of what I can give."

If Gou Xi still considered the people’s welfare like before, she might give him a water mill or something. He would be happy, the people would benefit, and her craftsmen would get promoted, wouldn’t that be great?

Unfortunately, now he indulges in pleasure, it’s feared such things wouldn’t interest him at all.

To quell the other side’s anger, the gift must naturally reach his heart.

Ji Yuan said, "I heard he accepted five or six hundred servants and over a dozen concubines within half a year; why not send him one or two beauties?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied without hesitation, "Sending things is fine, but not people."

For others, it might be okay to select willing individuals to send, spreading happiness all around once a gift is sent and accepted.

But Gou Xi...

He is too harsh, even a minor mistake by a subordinate could result in death, so she wouldn’t commit such a sin.

Zhao Hanzhang turned the rabbit, pondering, and after a long time, gritted her teeth and said, "Otherwise, let’s buy it; there should be good things in Luoyang City."

Seeing her reluctance to part with money, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle, then said seriously, "Ming Yu is worth such an expense from Your Excellency; with Gou Xi’s current loss of support, one day, the things you send out will return to you."

Zhao Hanzhang could only console herself with this thought.

The next day, word spread from Zhao Mansion that she wanted to buy treasures. Anyone with goods comparable to tributes could invite her to take a look; she would not mind spending a lot of money.

Originally, searching slowly would save quite a sum, but the border situation wouldn’t allow for leisurely searching, hence the high-profile announcement.

If a fight broke out, the losses would be even greater.

Sure enough, Zhao Mansion’s high-profile stance attracted many people, and many stealthily brought things to Zhao Hanzhang. Of course, Zhao Hanzhang didn’t see everyone; Ting He filtered them first.

She was not just Zhao Hanzhang’s personal maid, but also her chief steward, her discerning eyes trained from a young age, with better taste than Zhao Hanzhang. Things had to pass her assessment first, and Zhao Hanzhang would see the selected items.

Though many came, there were few worth seeing.

By the following evening, Zhao Hanzhang was frowning, almost considering writing back to Yu State to ask Zhao Ming for ideas, when Ting He entered with news, "My lady, the Pei Family has brought something."

"What is it?"

"A Jade Ruyi," Ting He paused, then said, "It’s the finest I’ve ever seen."

Ting He was young, but had seen many fine items; if she said it was the best, it must be good. So Zhao Hanzhang put down her pen and went with her to the front hall, asking, "Which Pei Family?"

Ting He replied, "The son of the former Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Pei Kai, and the Northern Middle Lang General, Pei Xian."

"Oh, I know him," Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "Let’s go meet him; he surely isn’t here just for money?"

Zhao Hanzhang knew Pei Xian not because he was famous historically, in fact, she hardly remembered him from history, but she remembered his father.

His father, Pei Kai, was a renowned scholar, on par with Wang Yan; people often compared the two, believing Pei Kai to rival Wang Yan.

This was good reputation, meant kindly. Zhao Hanzhang thought Pei Kai was much stronger than Wang Yan, a true scholar.

Wang Yan was great at rhetoric, unbeatable in arguments, but Pei Kai was known for his broad-mindedness and reason, called a gentleman of the Central Court.

He was much older than Wang Yan, though compared, they weren’t contemporaries, but both were very handsome, especially Pei Kai, reputed to be as beautiful as jade, his elegance shining through even in unkempt states.

She was curious about how his son turned out.

Oh, back on track, she knew Pei Xian not just because he was Pei Kai’s son, but because... she usurped his Inspector position.

Hahaha, indeed, Pei Xian was the court’s (former) acknowledged Yu State Inspector.

After He Ci Shi died, the court didn’t recognize Zhao Hanzhang; Prince East Sea appointed an Inspector for Yu State, which was Pei Xian.

However, Zhao Hanzhang domineered, directly taking the Inspector role, also controlling the Yu State Army. While Pei Xian held the appointment, he dared not assume office. Prince East Sea, helpless, appointed him a Northern Middle Lang General instead.

Though retaining Yu State Inspector’s title, he held dual positions, and until this spring, he was the court’s acknowledged Yu State Inspector, until Zhao Hanzhang saved the emperor in Luoyang, formally receiving appointments, officially replacing him as Inspector.

Many might not notice this fact, but Zhao Hanzhang knew she displaced him, so she paid some attention.

Curious she asked, "Was he in Luoyang before? How come I hadn’t heard?"