After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 654 - 648 Revenge

Gou Chun was extremely furious. He rushed into the General’s Mansion to question his brother, "Zhao Hanzhang is simply using excuses to shirk responsibility, brother, are you just going to let Ming Yu and Zhao Hanzhang off like this?"

"If this matter ends unresolved, who else will respect brother in the future?"

Gou Xi looked up at him and asked, "Did you not cross the line and plunder the people of the Yu State?"

Gou Chun loudly denied, "I did not!"

He said, "Those are our people in the Yan State, those lowly people, daring to play such tricks on us, should have been killed back then."

Gou Xi slammed the table, angrily asking, "Do you think I don’t know what you did at the border, that the court knows nothing? Not yet, although the complainants have not reached Yun City, rumors have already spread throughout Yun City!"

Not to mention the emperor and the officials wouldn’t trust Gou Chun, even Gou Xi wouldn’t believe him.

"The court provides you with sufficient provisions, along with what you gain from stationing troops, it should be enough to support your soldiers, why do you still allow soldiers to loot the people’s food, even crossing the boundary?"

Gou Chun: "I don’t acknowledge that boundary, originally the Yu State was under our control, when He Ci Shi was around, nearly half of Yu State was in our hands. Zhao Hanzhang, a mere woman, how could she become the inspector, and we ended up giving away our rightful land?"

Gou Xi’s face turned gloomy, coldly stating, "Are you blaming me for not being able to hold the territory?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Gou Chun’s momentum weakened, bowing his head, "I didn’t mean it that way, just feeling indignant for brother."

"No need for you to feel indignant for me," Gou Xi coldly said, "This is a transaction between me and her, it’s the cost of Your Majesty moving the capital."

She arrived in Luoyang first and was the one who repelled Liu Cong and killed Wang Mi, the emperor was in her hands, if she disagreed, he wouldn’t be able to take the emperor away.

One Prince East Sea left, then Zhao Hanzhang came, he essentially made a futile trip.

Returning Yu State was his compromise, only then could he replace Zhao Hanzhang as the person beside the emperor.

Proven by facts, his choice was correct, with the emperor here, the whole world had to listen to his command.

Did you really think Gou Xi, despite having a strong army wouldn’t lack money?

He was also very poor, the soldiers below him were living with hunger as a daily routine, only able to eat fully when going to battle.

Yet, even so, their days were somewhat better, at least they were far better off than the commoners outside who were starving to death.

But since the emperor arrived in Yun City, various places had to support the emperor, Jiangnan, the two lakes, Yu State, even the semi-independent Shu and Xiliang, the emperor issued edicts, they also had to send supporting materials and troops.

The Gou Family Army had improved living conditions significantly over the last few months; before, even Gou Xi had to live frugally to prepare food, now, it was funded by the court, along with what the Gou Family Army originally had, the soldiers’ food provisions were ample, they could even receive some military pay.

Gou Xi also relied on the emperor’s support and the flattery of officials to live a luxurious life.

However, Gou Chun was also envious of his brother’s current comfortable life. Who would want to go out and drill troops under the scorching summer sun, lying in a gentle land?

Coming through the wind and rain, still needing to sweat under the sun?

Yet, without officials’ flattery, if he wanted beautiful concubines, highly skilled performers, valuable horses, and precious swords, he had to buy them himself.

Where does the money come from?

Naturally from the soldiers’ military pay and food provisions.

He took over the military pay and food provisions allocated from above; the lower-level soldiers were living worse than before. Why did they join the army if not for a meal?

If joining the army could still lead to starvation, why would they risk their lives fighting on the battlefield?

Gou Chun naturally understood this point, so to prevent the soldiers from rebelling, he first raised taxes, collecting money and grain under proper reasons.

But as summer harvest was just beginning and the early year’s donations had already emptied the ordinary people, this additional heavy tax not only affected common households but even small wealthy families had to empty their houses, leading the people to resist taxes in secret.

There were private rumors in a few counties near the border, calling this not just miscellaneous taxes, but ruinous taxes.

Secretly spreading a saying "Little Gou is harsher than Big Gou."

Whether Gou Chun heard this rumor or not is unknown, anyway, with poor tax collection results, to prevent soldier rebellion, he directly ordered the soldiers to take knives to the fields to snatch wheat and other grains.

This led to the current conflict.

Yan Heng suddenly cursed him so much, Gou Xi believed it was because of Gou Chun, hence he was somewhat resentful, and told Gou Chun, "I will assign someone else to guard the Yu State border, you return to Qingzhou."

Gou Chun pursed his lips, chest heaving frantically, he felt his brother was bowing to Zhao Hanzhang, he was deeply resentful.

Gou Xi said, "You are originally the Qingzhou Governor, it’s time to take office, go to Qingzhou and get along well with King Langya."

Gou Chun responded reluctantly.

The next day, during the morning assembly, seeing Zhao Zhongyu, he gave him a cold look, Zhao Zhongyu kept his gaze straight ahead, pretending not to see.

Gou Chun was so angry his fists were clenched, upon leaving the palace that day, he met Zhao Ji on the street, and Zhao Ji was beaten up, with the excuse that he obstructed his vehicle.

Zhao Ji was beaten very badly, though he was left with a life, he would probably need to lie in bed for several months to recover. Upon hearing this in the palace, Zhao Zhongyu felt overwhelmed.

He immediately rushed back to his residence, seeing his son beaten with a bruised face and covered in blood, noticing his hand was limp, knew it was broken.

Zhao Zhongyu’s face was livid, while sending someone to fetch several doctors, he directly went to the palace to find the emperor, "Your Majesty, Gou Chun’s dissatisfaction with the court’s arrangements shows resentment towards us. Many civilians have died because of him; Your Majesty barely punished him by sending him back to Qingzhou, which is already a great benevolence, yet he thought not of returning the favor but resented us instead;"

"While resenting us, he dares not report to Your Majesty, nor contradict me, so he vents his anger on my son. Your Majesty, can you entrust Qingzhou to someone like him?"

He continued, "General Gou can’t even restrain his own brother, Your Majesty handed palace affairs and defense to him, how can you be at ease?"

Everyone knew Zhao Zhongyu’s son Zhao Ji was severely injured, various officials expressed their agreement.

They looked down on Zhao Ji, but in this matter, what was Zhao Ji’s fault?

He wasn’t even involved, Zhao Zhongyu united with Zhao Hanzhang and the Gou brothers in political maneuverings, if you have the guts, deal with Zhao Hanzhang directly, don’t dare to attack her, wasn’t Zhao Zhongyu still available?

Involving family doesn’t count much for anything.

Moreover, Zhao Ji was still Shangcai Marquis, he held a noble title, though his official rank was lower than Gou Chun’s, his title was higher.

His family status far surpassed Gou Chun’s.

Gou Chun’s action could be considered insubordination.

Following Zhao Zhongyu, several ministers and imperial censors entered the palace, all impeaching Gou Chun.

But after beating Zhao Ji, Gou Chun fled, directly taking people to Qingzhou to assume office, giving no chance for people to criticize him.

What could be done then?

People could only turn their attention to Gou Xi.