After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 653 - 647: Exploiting Loopholes

Only ten qing, this is too little, even with money you can’t buy land, Zhao Hu was a bit worried, and couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Zhao Kuan asked, "Are you still transferring the household registration of Zheng’er?"

After some hesitation, Zhao Hu nodded and said, "Transfer it."

Although the profit is smaller, it’s still a good start. Besides the land, other houses and shops can also be put under his grandson’s name. In the future, if Zhao Hanzhang gets any preferential policies, he can also enjoy them.

Zhao Kuan called over the Household Department’s clerk and leisurely handled the paperwork while saying, "Seventh Ancestor, there’s another decree in Luoyang. Newly purchased land, if left uncultivated for three consecutive years, the government has the right to reclaim it at the original price. If the owner can’t be found, the land becomes state-owned."

He looked up at the shocked Zhao Hu and said, "So, Seventh Ancestor, have you found someone to cultivate the land?"

Zhao Hu slowly closed his mouth. Although Zhao Hanzhang blocked many of his paths, this one didn’t really stump him.

It’s just about finding people, isn’t it?

Quite simple.

Zhao Hu transferred his grandson’s household registration to Luoyang. Meanwhile, the father and son Zhao Cheng at the Imperial College were still in the dark, and by the time they found out, the new documents were already prepared.

Zhao Cheng couldn’t understand, "Just for these ten qing of land, you let Zheng’er register in Luoyang?"

Zhao Hu said, "What’s the problem? If you don’t like Zheng’er’s registration in Luoyang, when I return to Xiping, I can transfer it back."

Anyway, by then, the land would be in hand, and the government couldn’t take it back.

Zhao Cheng was left speechless, but he didn’t like his father’s calculations and left in anger.

Zhao Hu sneered and loudly said behind him, "You blame me, but why don’t you blame Zhao Hanzhang? If she hadn’t enacted such a rule to earn more from the extra household levy, I wouldn’t have to do this."

Zhao Hanzhang, who lived in the neighboring courtyard, was speechless for a long time after hearing Zhao Hu’s shout.

Sitting below, Ji Yuan took a sip of tea as if he hadn’t heard anything, "Miss, Miss?"

Zhao Hanzhang returned to her senses, "Where were we? Oh, Gou Chun has withdrawn his troops, right? What about Ming Yu, has he been sent to Luoyang?"

Ji Yuan smiled faintly, "He’s already on the way, he should arrive in a couple of days. How do you think we should settle him, Miss?"

"Appoint him as a strategist," Zhao Hanzhang paused and then said, "Find a house near mine for him to stay."

Ji Yuan shook his head and said, "Since he is a strategist, he should naturally be by your side. How about setting aside a part of my courtyard for him to stay with me?"

"That would be too inconvenient," Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "Isn’t there an empty courtyard near yours, sir? If you wish to live with Mr. Ming, let him stay in the guest courtyard next door."

Ji Yuan agreed with a smile.

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her eyes in thought, "Zhao Xin hasn’t returned yet, I wonder about the situation in Yun City, and whether Gou Xi is truly appeased."

Gou Xi was feasting with Zhao Xin, drinking, enjoying music, and... beautiful women.

Gou Xi sent him two beauties, sitting close to him on either side. Zhao Xin sat calmly, neither rejecting nor indulging in the women’s charms.

As he drank, Gou Xi observed his expression and said with a smile, "Envoy Zhao, are these beauties not to your liking? I can have them replaced."

The two beauties turned pale at his words, their bodies trembling slightly against Zhao Xin, who remained indifferent, "They’re very nice, good-looking, and considerate. Changing them would make little difference."

He said, "Beauties are largely the same, not as interesting as wine. General Gou, the wine in your family is truly excellent. Let me toast you."

Gou Xi then laughed, his mood improved, "Great! Since Envoy Zhao loves wine, I’ll send you two jars when you return to Luoyang and have you deliver one to General Zhao as thanks for the gift."

Gou Xi’s corner of his mouth twitched as he said, "I’ll accept this generous gift, and when we meet next year, I must have a drink with her."

Zhao Xin raised his glass with a smile in agreement.

After drinking for half a night, Zhao Xin was finally sent back to Zhao Mansion, drunk.

Zhao Zhongyu had been waiting for him, even dozing off in the study, and woke up immediately at the commotion outside.

Zhao Xin drank a bowl of hangover soup to barely sober up and went to meet Zhao Zhongyu, "Clan Leader."

Zhao Zhongyu waved off his salute and asked, "How did Gou Xi behave, is he appeased?"

Zhao Xin said, "Not necessarily appeased, but the magistrate gave him a way to de-escalate, along with Your Majesty mediating, he took the steps down."

Zhao Zhongyu breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and said, "That’s not bad. Yu State has been stable for a year, and Luoyang even less so; we must avoid any more conflicts."

Zhao Xin agreed, "But after this incident, the clan leader and the Duke will have a rough time in Yun City."

Zhao Zhongyu waved his hand, "There’s still the emperor. I’m at least the Chief of Staff; he can’t do much to me."

Zhao Xin kept silent.

Zhao Zhongyu said, "It’s late; you should rest. After your audience with the emperor tomorrow, you should depart. News from the border claims Gou Chun has already withdrawn."

Zhao Xin agreed, turned to leave, but stopped to ask about the border matter, "Clan Leader, how does the court plan to handle Gou Chun?"

This time the turmoil was significant, Zhao Hanzhang had sent two letters: one directly to Gou Xi, and one directly to the emperor.

Regardless of the recipient, Zhao Hanzhang directly pointed out Gou Chun’s grain robbery from the people and directly concluded the case, asserting that Zhao Ju’s crossing the border was provoked by Gou Chun’s plundering of Yu State’s people.

The border between the two regions had suffered greatly.

Originally, this matter was always suspected and impeached against, but because Gou Xi suppressed it and the emperor didn’t want to offend the other side, no investigation was sent out.

It remained in the realm of rumors, without evidence.

Even when Zhao Hanzhang had submitted a memorial accusing Gou Chun of cross-border plundering in Yu State, Gou Xi had downplayed it as a border misunderstanding conflict, and the emperor didn’t delve further.

But now, Zhao Hanzhang had stripped away the fig leaf that covered it, making it impossible for Gou Xi and the emperor to feign ignorance, especially since the emperor himself didn’t wish to do so anymore.

Zhao Zhongyu said, "Gou Chun has been recalled to Yun City. If I’m not wrong, he should arrive the day after tomorrow at the latest. So, I hope you will also bid farewell when you see the emperor tomorrow and leave promptly."

He continued, "Gou Chun is vindictive and hot-tempered. If he knows you’re Hanzhang’s envoy, he might target you."

Actually, Zhao Zhongyu wasn’t afraid of Gou Chun scheming, he feared that Gou Chun wouldn’t scheme, and instead directly rush in with people, leaving him without any way to deal with it.

Therefore, when facing a foolish and impulsive opponent, the best strategy is to avoid confrontation rather than meet it head-on.

Zhao Xin also cherished his life. Before coming, he thoroughly researched Gou Chun. Gou Chun wasn’t very intelligent and acted impulsively, willing to send assassins just because he suspected that Zhao Hanzhang might rise in the future, completely disregarding the current alliance between the two armies and the issues Gou Xi would face from breaking the agreement.

With such an impulsive person, Zhao Xin wanted to avoid him as much as possible.

Thus, when Gou Chun angrily returned to Yun City, Zhao Xin had already left half a day before, perfectly missing him.