After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 655 - 649: The Biggest Beneficiary

But Gou Xi returned to the General’s Mansion, closing the doors and living a pleasant life.

He naturally heard the outside debates, but what could he do? He couldn’t just drag Gou Chun back, could he?

So he sent people with medicinal herbs and gifts to apologize to Zhao Zhongyu, and submitted a plea for forgiveness on behalf of Gou Chun, thus letting the matter fizzle out.

Not to mention whether Zhao Zhongyu and his son would accept it, Gou Xi’s handling of the matter left many people feeling cold, including the soldiers under his command.

This was also because Gou Xi’s reputation had been too good before, so the soldiers under him had a higher sense of morality than those under others.

So when Gou Xi’s integrity fell below their expectations, their beliefs collapsed, and their hearts scattered.

For those with steadfast willpower, belief can be rebuilt after a collapse, but such people are rare; most people in this world, after suffering a blow, go with the flow or give up on themselves.

If at this time someone appeared to support them, to point out a path, even if that person had flaws, they would be willing to follow.

The Emperor appeared at Zhao Hanzhang’s guidance, and immediately won over three of Gou Xi’s subordinate generals, taking away nearly a third of his military power.

Of course, this all happened in secret. Those three generals defected quietly and did not make it public. Gou Xi didn’t know, not even Zhao Zhongyu could know everything.

Though the Emperor acted according to Zhao Hanzhang’s suggestion, he still subconsciously guarded against her.

But he forgot, the idea came from Zhao Hanzhang, and now she had Ming Yu by her side, who was very familiar with Gou Xi and his subordinates.

Zhao Zhongyu didn’t know, but that didn’t mean Zhao Hanzhang didn’t know.

With the introduction of the three subordinate generals, the Emperor secretly contacted a military general, who replied with a vague expression of willingness to defect. The Emperor was overjoyed and couldn’t help but share his joy with the Huang Men beside him, "What Zhao Hanzhang said was true, Gou Xi’s personality changed drastically, and his generals are divided. As long as I show favors, they will pledge allegiance."

Actually, they had little confidence in the Emperor, but he had the natural advantage of his status. When Gou Xi was well, the generals naturally ignored the Emperor and only listened to Gou Xi’s orders;

But when Gou Xi wasn’t doing well, the Emperor was a relatively better choice.

Otherwise, what could they do?

Would they directly rebel against Gou Xi to defect to Liu Yuan Shile or Zhao Hanzhang?

Look, just one Ming Yu defecting, and Gou Xi and Zhao Hanzhang were already so stirred up; if they really took their soldiers to defect, both sides might directly start fighting.

This incident seemed to have ended on the surface, but its impact continued.

This seemed like Zhao Hanzhang conceding defeat, Gou Xi saving face, and even receiving a heavy gift from Zhao Hanzhang, apparently gaining both in public and private, but in reality, everyone knew the essence belonged to Zhao Hanzhang.

After all, she had obtained Ming Yu.

Ming Yu was Gou Xi’s trusted advisor. Having him in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands meant she knew all of Gou Xi’s trump cards.

Of course, what the world didn’t know was that the Emperor was the biggest winner of this incident.

He didn’t sacrifice anything; he just mediated the conflict between the two generals and gained three or four subordinate generals, quietly taking away a third of Gou Xi’s military power.

He also greatly enhanced his prestige in the Nine Provinces, letting the world know that he wasn’t just a figurehead, but had some use.

See, the almost confrontational Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi were mediated by him.

The only person left hurt in this whole world was Zhao Ji.

Because of the pain, he couldn’t help but moan while lying on the bed, and Zhao Zhongyu, who had returned from the palace, came to see him, frowning deeply, both angry and distressed, "How many times have I told you not to run around recently, stay obediently in the palace. I’ve assigned you so much work, why are you still outside the palace?"

If Zhao Ji had been in the Imperial Palace, would Gou Chun have dared to lay a hand on him?

The palace in Yun City was renovated and wasn’t large; it wasn’t only the living area for the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Concubine but also the place where all the ministers worked.

So the offices were very close to each other, full of officials.

Even though Gou Chun was bold, he wouldn’t dare to act under the Emperor’s nose, there were also imperial guards. To act in the palace, the imperial guards could define it as a threat to the Emperor and then execute the opposing party.

Zhao Ji was beaten on the street outside the palace.

Zhao Ji’s eyes were still swollen, almost unrecognizable, he barely opened his eyes, asking bitterly, "Father, has Gou Chun been captured?"

Zhao Zhongyu didn’t tell him that Gou Chun had escaped and that no punishment was given, but instead said, "Rest assured, Gou Chun and his brother will not have a good time. You should recover first, and go out less in these coming months."

Zhao Zhongyu stood up, glanced at the ice basin at the foot of the bed, frowned slightly, and said, "You’re seriously injured, you can’t catch cold, have the ice basin removed. If it’s hot, have someone fan you."

He continued, "Now that His Majesty advocates thrift, we at home cannot be overly extravagant."

Zhao Ji, filled with resentment, asked, "Thrift? Is the money saved to be squandered by Gou Xi or to support Zhao Hanzhang?"

Zhao Zhongyu was suddenly furious, "Shut up! In this Yun City, mention the Third Lady less!"

"Why not mention her? Why can’t I mention her? You’ve come here to be her hostage, and I can’t even say her name?" Speaking of this, Zhao Ji was very angry. At first, he didn’t know that Zhao Zhongyu had come to Yun City to be a hostage. He thought it was a path his father chose, one that could contend against Zhao Hanzhang.

After arriving in Yun City, he was even given a position. The gentry slowly accepted him, and life was even better than when they were in Luoyang. He thought his father’s choice this time was correct.

Until he heard the words of two drunken officials, who patted him on the shoulder, praising his bravery, saying that they had previously misunderstood him, perhaps it was truly a misunderstanding when they accidentally lost Mr. Zhao’s coffin; it wasn’t intentional.

"If intentional, how could Shangcai Marquis come to Yun City to be Governor Zhao’s hostage today?" One official, swaying drunk, patted him and laughed in a daze, "With Zhao Hanzhang in your Zhao Family, you will have no worries for ten years. Unlike our family, with our clan scattered, we don’t even know where they are now, whether alive or dead, wondering if we can see each other again in this life."

As he spoke, he started crying, clutching Zhao Ji and sobbing, "Oh, Cai Bo, your Zhao Family is so fortunate, with Mr. Zhao paving the way before, and now talents like Zhao Hanzhang. Minister Zhao is not restricted by the authority of the Clan Leader and is willing to sacrifice for the younger generation. Even if you die, you will have no regrets in this life."

Finishing, ignoring Zhao Ji’s blank face, he poured himself a bowl of wine, boldly saying, "Come, I toast you with a bowl, if you die someday, even if I can’t visit, this bowl can be considered a tribute."

Zhao Ji, both angry and shocked at the time, was scared enough to push the man away.