After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 714 - 704 Acting

Correct!

Zhao Hanzhang aims to win through the people’s support.

Born in the new China, growing up under the red flag, having been raised with socialist values, could Zhao Hanzhang ever follow a path of exploiting the masses to satisfy personal desires?

Of course not.

She is a good person!

Yes, indeed, she is a good person.

So for the future, she already has a basic blueprint.

Zhao Ming and the others listened to her vision for the future, essentially equivalent to how she plans to rule the empire after conquest, and what kind of nation she wants to build.

When scrutinizing the various major forces, each has its shortcomings. The only visible drawbacks on their side are two: first, Zhao Hanzhang is a woman; second, they are poor.

The first drawback, in Ji Yuan’s view, is no longer a drawback. In today’s world, who would dare underestimate her simply because she is a woman?

And who, eager to pacify the chaos, would forgo choosing her merely because she is a woman?

The only drawback is poverty.

But if you look long-term, as Zhao Hanzhang said, enduring poverty now is very worthwhile when considering the decades ahead.

Ming Yu glanced at Zhao Hanzhang. Since the lord is willing to endure hardship and live frugally, as a straightforward advisor with great ambition, he could only be delighted.

The barbecue lasted until late at night, dispersing only after the third watch was sounded outside.

Fu Tinghan was so sleepy his eyes were about to close, while the other four were still quite excited.

As they left the pavilion, the early winter’s cold wind blew, forcing Fu Tinghan to barely open his eyes.

Zhao Ming turned his head and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Tomorrow, let people see me. Let’s end this quickly."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed. After he left, she immediately turned and called out to Ting He and Fu An, who were napping against the wall, "Tomorrow, get up early and replace all the household cups, porcelain, and anything fragile with cheap goods."

Ting He: "Ah?"

Fu An had already agreed: "Yes."

Ting He turned to look at him, seeing his eyes half-closed, knowing he was responding without processing.

Zhao Hanzhang had already said: "If the cheap porcelain isn’t enough, then temporarily replace it with tiles."

The cold wind revived Fu Tinghan slightly, and he whispered, "Isn’t it too shabby? Wouldn’t Uncle Ming be even more upset if things are broken?"

Ming Yu looked at him in surprise, "Mr. Fu, you’ve been listening all along? I thought you were asleep."

Fu Tinghan said, "I wasn’t asleep, just very tired."

Although he didn’t participate in the conversation, he still heard and remembered everything they said.

Zhao Hanzhang said: "It’s just to make a sound. Who would bother showing them the broken pieces?"

Ji Yuan, however, thought she was being too stingy and said, "Lady, even if we are poor, we should be poor with dignity. Ting He, tomorrow, replace the porcelain that Lord Zhao and the lady would encounter with a lesser grade."

Ji Yuan shared his experience with her, "You don’t have to smash all the porcelain. You can also knock over a desk to make noise for the people in the front to hear. A desk, even when scraped, can still be used. It’s not easily broken."

Zhao Hanzhang thought he had a point and instructed Ting He to do as Ji Yuan suggested, and then everyone went to their rooms to sleep.

It was already "tomorrow."

Zhao Song and Zhao Hu were completely unaware. When they woke up, the brothers went to the parlor to have tea, planning to chat with Zhao Ming. As soon as they touched it, they noticed something was wrong.

Zhao Song didn’t react yet, while Zhao Hu frowned first. He looked down at the teacup in his hand, scrutinizing it for a moment, then said, "Why has the parlor’s teacup been changed? This color..."

Zhao Hu wore a face full of disdain, "The color is poor, and the cup’s wall is not smooth enough. What’s going on? Where are the previous teacups?"

Zhao Ming drank his tea expressionlessly, raised his head, and said to the two, "Father, didn’t you say you wanted to visit the Imperial College? Why not let Seventh Uncle accompany you?"

Zhao Hu instinctively wanted to refuse, but Zhao Ming already looked at him and said, "How long has it been since you saw Zheng’er?"

Zhao Hu swallowed his words. It had indeed been a long time since he last saw Zheng’er. Taking this opportunity to visit the child wasn’t a bad idea.

Usually, Zhao Hu wouldn’t visit the Imperial College, and if he did, he was likely to argue with Zhao Cheng. However, this time with Zhao Song there, Zhao Cheng wouldn’t dare defy him.

Zhao Hu changed his mind and agreed.

Once Zhao Hu and Zhao Song left, Zhao Ming began his performance.

The officials who came to work at Zhao Mansion that day were first surprised to find Zhao Ming and then overheard Zhao Ming angrily petitioning.

They didn’t want to eavesdrop, but the lord’s office was in the adjacent courtyard, and Zhao Ming was so furious that his voice was hard to ignore, even if they pretended not to hear.

Though not every word was clear, they could piece together that Zhao Ming probably learned that some noble families in Luoyang had fled due to intolerable taxes, and some scholars in Yu State also had grievances against Zhao Hanzhang’s strict taxes.

For commoners, Zhao Hanzhang’s taxes were not heavy at all and could be considered light, but for the gentry, who were used to privileges, her taxes were quite unfriendly.

Especially since the tax checks at the county government offices were particularly stringent.

Previously, even without high-ranking officials in the family exempting them from taxes, they could still use other connections to conceal some land and population to avoid taxes.

But since Zhao Hanzhang became the master of Yu State, that convenience disappeared for them.

Even the fields and population secretly hidden by Seventh Grandfather of the Zhao Family were discovered and taxed according to the law. Could they have more influence than Zhao Hu?

Everyone was enduring Zhao Hanzhang.

But from Zhao Ming’s words, it seemed that some scholars in Yu State were no longer willing to endure.

And Zhao Ming also believed that the tax system should be changed, or else some families’ burdens were too heavy by paying taxes on registered land acreage.

Someone raised their ears to listen and heard the sound of cups shattering on the ground. They couldn’t help but whisper, "It seems the lord is angry."

"Is it Governor Zhao who’s angry?"

"Didn’t the lord mention in the county government that the taxes were to be changed? Why hasn’t anything happened recently?"

"I heard it’s because we’re too poor. If we change it, we’ll be even poorer. By then, we might not even get our salaries."

This voice sounded familiar. Everyone turned to see Zhao Kuan and felt a sudden shock, immediately standing upright.

Seeing them full of worry and fear, Zhao Kuan sighed and leaned against the wall, listening as he asked, "Where did they stop arguing?"

Seeing that Zhao Kuan didn’t scold them, the two leaned back and whispered, "Governor Zhao mentioned Mr. Zhao’s past care for the Yu State gentry. County Magistrate Zhao, do you think Governor Zhao can persuade Lord Zhao?"

Of course, it would be possible. It wouldn’t even require Uncle Ming to persuade, as Lord Zhao would convince himself. Otherwise, why would he come to Zhao Mansion so early in the morning?

It was because he received Zhao Hanzhang’s letter early in the morning.

He sighed inwardly but showed a troubled expression on his face, shaking his head and sighing, "I don’t know. The lord is willing to adjust the taxes, but life is tough for everyone. Especially not knowing if there will be a war next year. Supporting so many people requires a lot of resources. If we reduce taxes here, life will become even harder."

"That’s true."