After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 692 - 684: Starvation Corpses

She stepped forward and brushed aside the remaining half of the straw, revealing the pair of eyes behind it.

It was a child who appeared to be about five or six, but Zhao Hanzhang guessed his actual age was older, only so emaciated due to hunger.

His eyes were wide open, and his head seemed large, especially when compared to his body.

His body was very small, with tiny hands and feet, covered only by a thin layer of skin over bones, and livor mortis had already formed, indicating he had been dead for some time.

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to close his eyes. As she moved the body, his head slumped to the side, but the hand tightly grasped a root-like object that was so tightly held no one could see it clearly—it bore teeth marks, showing it had been bitten.

Zhao Hanzhang tried a couple of times but couldn’t pry it away, and helplessly had to give up.

Fu Tinghan, seeing she hadn’t come out for a while, went in himself and, upon seeing the small body huddled in the corner, paused briefly before checking it.

After a while, he spoke in a low voice, "There is no foreign object in the throat, nor any external injuries; he must have died of hunger."

Even with food in hand, he starved to death; perhaps he found the root too late, and the bite he took couldn’t stop death, nor did he have time to take another bite.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes burned. She turned her head slightly and forced the tears back before bending down to carry the child outside.

Zeng Yue saw this and immediately asked someone to dig a pit. Then he and the trusted aides who had been inside checking knelt on the ground, asking Zhao Hanzhang for punishment.

The way is filled with cold bones, and corpses of the starved, in these past years they often encountered the dead on the road. Not even mentioning the distant past, even on this journey, they frequently saw bodies lying on the ground and scattered bones.

Because there were too many, unless they stopped to rest, otherwise, they paid no heed and certainly did not dig graves.

But this house was where the master’s tent was placed, and they didn’t notice a corpse inside; this was certainly their negligence.

Zhao Hanzhang did not plan to be lenient. She gently placed the child on the ground and said coldly, "When we return to Luoyang, go to the army and receive your punishment."

Zeng Yue responded, bowing his head, "Yes."

Wei Jie stood quietly at the doorway, watching as Zhao Hanzhang personally covered the corpse with earth. His gaze then shifted to Fu Tinghan standing beside her.

Fu Tinghan was standing there in a daze, lips tightly pressed together, with a somewhat cold aura all around him.

In the past three years, he had seen many dead, and many pitiful individuals, but never had he felt such anger and helplessness as he did now.

"You once said that the world belongs to the people, and Jin no longer has the virtue or talent to continue holding it. Therefore, if possible, you don’t have to follow my grandfather’s words. I will explain and take responsibility for the promises made to him before."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at him and lowly replied, "I know, it’s just that now is not the time, nor will it be for many years to come."

Accumulate grain extensively, claim the title of king slowly.

Now, the priority is internal governance and military training to amass enough strength.

Zhao Hanzhang constructed a small grave for the child. Unfortunately, not knowing his name, they couldn’t even put up a wooden plaque.

Zhao Hanzhang bowed deeply, and as she turned, met the gaze of Wei Jie standing at the doorway. Wei Jie nodded to her and turned back inside.

Wang Yu hurriedly followed, seeing Wei Jie sitting cross-legged by the fire again, looking calm. He was a bit anxious, "Didn’t you hear what Fu Tinghan just said?"

Wei Jie nodded calmly, "I heard."

"You heard and you’re still so composed. What’s his meaning? What does it mean the world belongs to the people, and Jin lacks the talent or virtue to continue owning it?" Wang Yu was anxious, pacing around, "Zhao Hanzhang saw us. Do you think she’ll silence us to keep the secret?"

Wei Jie looked at him curiously, "Cousin, we came to Yu State to join Zhao Hanzhang, and she has accepted us. We share common interests; why would she silence us?"

Wang Yu paused, "We’ve allied with her, but above her is still the emperor. Now that they intend to rebel, isn’t she afraid we will report it? If worried, wouldn’t she kill us to silence us?"

Wei Jie, unconcerned, said, "If we report, would the emperor believe? And if he does, would he deploy troops to fight Zhao Hanzhang, tearing his face with her?"

Of course not, the current forces under the emperor are not worth mentioning. He even relies on General Gou, and even if Gou Xi deploys troops in the emperor’s name, it’s uncertain who will win or lose against Zhao Hanzhang.

The emperor might even kill the informer to appease Zhao Hanzhang’s anger and send her the head for reconciliation.

Wang Yu’s shoulders slumped instantly, waving his hand weakly, "Never mind, let’s just warm ourselves by the fire."

Wei Jie retracted his gaze and said lightly, "Moreover, what Fu Tinghan said isn’t wrong; indeed, Jin lacks the talent and virtue to continue owning this world."

Wang Yu never knew his celestial-like cousin held such thoughts, his mouth agape, somewhat at a loss gazing at him.

Wei Jie remained calm, saying, "Many hold the same thought as I do, that amidst the chaos, ever since Emperor Wu, the aristocratic families have been slaughtered numbers unknown. Many have accustomed themselves to silence on state affairs, but the swords in the world can stop tongues but not capture thoughts."

"I believe many in this world are pondering ways to save the country, wanting to save the collapsing grand house. This grand house is not the Jin Dynasty, but the vast multitude of the realm, the great Huaxia."

Wang Yu looked at him, amazed, "I thought cousin only had insightful views on philosophical debates, but never expected you... to have thoughts on these matters."

Wei Jie lowered his eyes without a word.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped in, saying, "Matters concerning the world have only become trivial tasks in this Great Jin for a few decades. Who would previously classify affairs of great state and governance as trivial?"

Wang Yu was startled, shrinking his neck and instinctively lowering his head.

As they were listening, with everyone present being close allies, Zhao Hanzhang did not hide her ambition. Sitting by the fire, she glanced at Wang Yu, who sat across from her with his head lowered, guilty. She said, "When Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang thrice, Zhuge Liang spoke of the great affairs of the world. Lord Cao was able to stabilize the world because the strategists by his side discussed state matters with him. Nowadays, esteemed names consider proper governance and state affairs as banal, tedious works, and the country already fell apart completely since the Eastern Han."

Hearing this, Wang Yu felt somewhat ashamed.

Zhao Hanzhang continued, "I don’t care how you act in front of the emperor, General Gou, and others, but under my governance, one must perform their due duties. If unable to fulfill the responsibilities in their position, better go home early to farm, making way for the capable."

Wei Jie slightly bowed in acknowledgment, and Wang Yu, realizing, quickly followed suit, also bowing in acknowledgment.

Only then was Zhao Hanzhang satisfied, ordering, "Tomorrow, speed up the pace, strive to reach Luoyang before dark."

Everyone agreed.

In the other half of the house, where Zhao Hu had laid down and then sat up, he glanced at his son, then turned to Zhao Zheng and said, "Zheng’er, in the future, you should serve your third sister more often, don’t always run around outside, understand?"

Zhao Zheng didn’t understand why his grandfather said this but agreed nonetheless.

Zhao Cheng frowned at his father, unwilling to argue about the child’s education in front of outsiders, with Zhao Hanzhang and others sitting not far away.