After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 665 - 659: Hanging Carrot

Zhao Cheng said, "He is not someone who will abide by an agreement. If he insists on having his way, you..."

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and said, "Uncle Cheng, that’s a misunderstanding you have about Seventh Ancestor. He’s indeed not a good person, but when it comes to business, he will adhere to agreements. If he doesn’t, then he’d have to compensate me with a penalty fee."

She continued, "If he pays the penalty fee, I won’t lose out."

Zhao Cheng: ...

He was doubtful, "He would pay a penalty fee?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, "He will."

Zhao Cheng suddenly got stubborn with her, "What if he refuses to pay?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Seventh Ancestor might not be a good father or a good person, but he is definitely a good businessman. Relying on the Zhao Family’s reputation, he managed to accumulate a fortune second only to my grandfather’s. How could he have accumulated such wealth without keeping his word?"

"I trust him. If he breaks his promise, he will definitely pay the penalty fee." Zhao Hanzhang paused and then looked at Zhao Cheng, "It’s actually Uncle Cheng who has many misunderstandings toward Seventh Ancestor. Why not take this opportunity to resolve them?"

Zhao Cheng said, "I have no misunderstandings with him."

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head slightly and said, "Confucianism places filial piety first. Uncle Cheng, you’ve read the classics and admire Confucian and Daoist teachings the most among the families. Even if Seventh Ancestor has faults, if he is willing to change, why not give him an opportunity?"

Zhao Hanzhang thought of Zhao Hu’s character and paused, then smiled bitterly, "I’m advising Uncle Cheng not for Seventh Ancestor, but for you. People only see you treating your father coldly. They won’t think about what Seventh Ancestor has done or what kind of person he is to make you act like this; instead, they’ll think you’re unfilial for treating your father this way. They’ll judge your character and even question the upbringing of Zheng’er, as well as the education of your other students."

Zhao Cheng frowned and pursed his lips. These words were similar to those by Zhao Ming, and although he’d kept them in mind, he still couldn’t change.

But now Zhao Hanzhang was also saying them, and with Zhao Kuan and others successively entering officialdom, he couldn’t entirely disregard these children.

Zhao Cheng’s heart felt like boiling water, hot and uncomfortable.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed to understand, patting him on the shoulder, not as a junior, but like a brother, "I understand your feelings, but have you considered that by treating Seventh Ancestor coldly, you’ve not really let go? It’s not just Seventh Ancestor who suffers; you and Zheng’er do too."

She smiled slightly, "If you’ve already come to terms with it, why care about the external form? You’re cold and harsh to him, so your heart is unmoved. Yet if your heart is unmoved, why care about speaking kindly to him?"

Zhao Cheng was silent for a while and then said, "I heard people say that when you first returned to the clan, you opposed him fiercely. But now, you seem warm and gentle with him. Have you never changed within?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him slightly and didn’t answer.

Zhao Cheng understood at once, she really had never changed.

He fell into silence.

Zhao Hanzhang stood beside him for a while and, seeing him seem to figure it out, smiled and said, "Come on, Mr. Ji and the others are still waiting for us."

Zhao Cheng finally asked, "Aren’t you going to persuade me to leave Zheng’er behind?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, winked at him, and smiled, "It’s hard for an upright official to adjudicate family matters. Uncle Cheng, you should make the decision yourself on such family affairs; I won’t meddle."

Frankly speaking, Zhao Cheng was more important to her than Zhao Hu. If she had to choose, without matters of justice involved, she would still side with Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng suddenly felt much relieved and entered with Zhao Hanzhang.

Everyone pretended not to hear Zhao Hu, though his voice was so loud it was hard to ignore, so they continued their discussion.

By the time they finished discussing matters and exited the study, it was past lunch. Zhao Hanzhang, though quite poor now, still invited them to stay for a meal before leaving.

It was just a bowl of noodles with some greens and an egg. The noodles were mixed with wheat bran.

While eating, Zhao Hanzhang boasted, "Ground by the water mill, very fine. Try it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang said to Guy City County Magistrate Tan Jize and Chen Wu, "A river flows through Guy City; we could also build a water mill along the banks for convenience."

Tan Jize agreed warmly, while Chen Wu asked, "Should the county government build it, or should we?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, "That’s something you can discuss with County Magistrate Tan."

Chen Wu glanced around at Beigong Chun and others, hesitated, but still said, "Lord Zhao, for this water management project, can the Qihu Army be paid like the hired short-term workers?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow.

Chen Wu felt a bit guilty but earnestly looked at her and said, "We’re not like the Zhao Family Army and Xiliang Army, which have elite soldiers and regular soldiers. We all do the same heavy labor; it’s hard to be full on just the grain rations."

After thinking for a while, Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "For water management not within your farming areas, I’ll pay you like short-term workers."

Chen Wu realized that if the water management was within their farming areas, they would benefit, so he agreed.

Both sides were happy.

After eating, everyone bade farewell and prepared to leave.

Tan Jize stayed a bit longer and asked Zhao Hanzhang, "Lord Zhao, why did you agree with Chen Wu? He works for us and should follow our instructions."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Other garrisons have been receiving some military pay and rewards for military achievements, and their share of farming land is more, so they live better than the Qihu Army. This time, building water facilities is indeed labor-intensive, so there’s no need to be too harsh on them."

Zhao Hanzhang advised him, "Be gentle with them. When you assign tasks this time, have the county government staff interact with them more, and mention the treatment of regular soldiers in the Zhao Family Army. Tell them they’re welcome to join the Zhao Family Army."

Tan Jize: ...

Zhao Hanzhang continued, "Also, once they’ve improved the irrigation on their land, let it be known that if I ever stop hiring them, they would have to return the farming land and leave Guy City, which would be distributed to the new garrison troops."

Tan Jize: ...

He swallowed his saliva, suddenly thinking of himself and his older brother.

His elder brother originally wanted him to try winning Zhao Hanzhang over with charm, but Zhao Hanzhang didn’t seem interested, not even sparing him a glance, and he truly didn’t want to sell his looks.

So even when coerced by his brother, he still diligently participated in the recruitment exam, trying to stay away from Zhao Hanzhang while seeking a position.

But he didn’t expect to be assigned to Guy City, causing his brother to have another bad idea, running to Luoyang just to help increase his influence, making trips between Luoyang and Guy City, painstakingly managing Guy City for him.

Today, he feels there’s uncanny similarity in her methods of winning over the Qihu Army.

Tan Jize couldn’t help but look at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan was calm, raised his eyes to glance at him, and then said to Zhao Hanzhang, "I’m going back to pack my things."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded at him, her smile warmer and a bit more dazzling, "Alright."

They are returning to Chen County tomorrow.