After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 667 - 661: Eliminating Extravagance

The crowd also looked up at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang put down the steamed bun and said to the servant, "In the future, add some wheat bran to my meals. Although it’s not as fluffy, it’s quite filling and can last longer."

Zhao Ming also put down his steamed bun, looking at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang said warmly to everyone, "This year’s harvest is quite good, and it seems life is improving. However, due to the development of water conservancy, a lot of labor has been invested in water construction, reducing labor in agriculture and textiles, so the people are still lacking clothing and food."

Xun Xiu said, "Inspector, not to mention now, even back during Han Wu’s Golden Age, there were impoverished people. Can we really endure hardships just because of those few poor people in the populace?"

Many agreed in their hearts. They had the ability to eat well. How could they endure rough grains just because someone else was starving?

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled and said, "Your family is wealthy, naturally you can, but I cannot."

She said frankly, "I’m poor."

"I need to conscript labor; when the people under my governance live in poverty, how can I stomach this refined flour?" Zhao Hanzhang originally planned to start next time, but seeing so many not mind, she simply put the white-flour bun into the basket and said to the servants, "Go to the kitchen and bring a basket of rough grain buns, like those you eat. Take this basket away."

The servant was uneasy and couldn’t help but look at Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming nodded slightly.

The servant immediately stepped forward to lift the basket of buns.

Zhao Cheng also dropped his white-flour bun and said, "Change mine too."

Zhao Ming leisurely placed the bun into the bamboo basket and nodded to the servants.

The servants hurried forward to take away the buns of the three.

Ji Ping and others, who were close confidants of Zhao Hanzhang, naturally followed suit and wanted a change.

The remaining Xun Xiu and others wanted to act indifferent, but looking at the white steamed bun in hand, they couldn’t bite down and threw it down with slight annoyance.

Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t consider their feelings, as the servants brought up the gray-black buns, she expressionlessly picked one, broke it open, and put it into her mouth, saying to everyone, "Though coarse, chew more and it’s quite sweet."

She said, "Now life is much better than before. I remember the bean cakes and wheat meals during marching and war tasted worse."

Xun Xiu and others’ expressions improved somewhat, and they too took a bun and bit into it hard.

While eating, Zhao Hanzhang asked Xun Xiu, "Do the soldiers have their provisions secured for this year?"

Xun Xiu’s army was not from the Zhao family, so the Yu State provided part of the provisions, and for the rest, they farmed and found ways themselves.

Xun Xiu said boldly, "No, Inspector, please favor us and allocate more provisions."

He said, "This year’s army was deployed to support Luoyang, leaving few soldiers behind to farm. By the time we return from Luoyang, we miss the farming season, so this year’s yield is average, just enough for the army’s three months consumption."

Zhao Hanzhang doubted him very much. But even if he reported a shortened time, it wouldn’t be much longer; their provisions should only suffice for four or five months.

Zhao Hanzhang pondered, "This year, allocate thirty percent of Yingchuan County’s taxes to the Inspector Mansion, while the remaining seventy percent you can discuss with the Governor Mansion. My only requirement is that Yingchuan County must fill up two granaries as reserves. The rest you can distribute among yourselves."

Xun Xiu’s eyes flashed with excitement.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "These taxes come from the people. They live frugally and, in the end, it is used for us and the soldiers. We receive their support, and naturally have the responsibility to protect them. Now all counties need to develop water conservancy to prevent disasters in the coming years. I know that the people will live very hard in the coming times, but I hope everyone can endure hardships with them and overcome this difficult period together."

She raised her eyes earnestly to look at each of them, saying, "It’s not the people eating rough grains while we indulge in luxury."

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat under her gaze, and they couldn’t help but respond, "Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction.

She hoped they could change their mindset, not to vie for power and use the people for their own goals; but to be reciprocating to their nourishment, sharing joys and hardships with the people under their governance.

This meeting continued until evening. With limited time, Zhao Hanzhang disliked delays, setting key points in one meeting, then adjourning, and everyone would take her signed documents to their counties the next day to prepare for conscripting labor.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only the Zhao Family in the hall.

Zhao Ming stood up and said, "Inspector, the family has prepared dishes and wine, let’s go eat."

Zhao Hanzhang rarely sat kneeling for so long, her legs felt numb, so she didn’t move.

Fu Tinghan seemed to understand her difficulty. He supported himself to stand up from the mat and reached out to her.

Zhao Hanzhang held his hand and slowly stood up.

Zhao Ming, seeing this, looked away disdainfully and said, "Kneeling can improve circulation and relax muscles, why bring a high chair? Only this long and your legs are numb."

Was this just a while? They sat for two and a half hours, over five hours. Even sitting on a chair hurts the bottom, not to mention kneeling.

Zhao Hanzhang tried not to argue with Zhao Ming over such trivial matters, holding Fu Tinghan’s hand, and walked down slowly, "My mother has also prepared meals. How about going to my house?"

Zhao Ming said, "I don’t mind, but will Seventh Uncle go?"

He said, "Let Mrs. Wang also join us. We can’t make father and Seventh Uncle move."

Zhao Hanzhang thought so too and called a servant, "Go back and invite mother for the meal."

Zhao Ming also dismissed the remaining servants. He led them towards the dining hall, though his expression did not look well.

"What’s wrong between you and Seventh Uncle?"

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Zhao Cheng and said, "I took Uncle Cheng back to Chen County, and Seventh Ancestor was angry."

Zhao Ming scoffed, "And you indulge him?"

He looked sharply at her, "Remember indulgence kills; you always tell me to restrain the clan, yet now you let him be, even in front of all the counties, flattering him. Remember, he’s not someone who restrains himself. If he causes trouble, can you still treat him like now?"

He suspected she did it deliberately, to let Zhao Hu get carried away and then make a mistake, thus giving her an excuse to make him suffer.

Zhao Hanzhang just turned to him and smiled, "Uncle Ming can share your guess with the Seventh Ancestor."

Zhao Ming frowned deeply.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind, "Seventh Ancestor knows I’m no good person. He will surely believe you."

Zhao Ming stopped in his tracks, "What are you doing?"