After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 721 - 711 Expansion

Zhao Hanzhang pointed at Hedong County and Henan County, saying, "Isn’t a part of Hedong County and Henan County still in the hands of the Xiongnu? Let Beigong Chun and Erlang gather troops and reclaim these places, and transfer some more troops from Yu State. Once these lost lands are recovered, we will station troops outside Pingyang County."

Fu Tinghan also finished reading the letter, walked to the map, and after a while asked, "What about Hongnong County and Fengyi County?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes flashed. She turned her head to look at him and said, "Attack them together. If we want to tie down the Xiongnu’s forces and make them wary, then naturally, the more places we attack, the better. But be cautious, keep control, and don’t provoke Shi Le to send troops to aid the king."

Ji Yuan frowned, "Do we have enough troops?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Chang’an, "Write a letter to Chang’an. It’s been a year, and the troops Grandfather Fu recruited should be used. Haven’t they been facing famine in Chang’an all along? Expanding outward and capturing the occupied areas of Fengyi County might ease their urgent needs."

There aren’t many places occupied by the Xiongnu in Fengyi County and Hongnong County, especially Hongnong County. The areas marked in red were not conquered by the Xiongnu but were surrendered by local officials and gentry to the Xiongnu during the attack on Luoyang, thus falling under the Xiongnu’s influence.

Several counties in Fengyi County are in the same situation.

Zhao Hanzhang was no longer interested in distinguishing friend from foe; now that Luoyang’s situation was stable, she could manage elsewhere.

So she intended to reclaim these pieces of land, continue gathering refugees, develop wastelands, cultivate, and accumulate grain and fodder.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan wrote a letter to Fu Zhi together. As the letter was sent, they gathered troops.

Beigong Chun and Zhao Erlang were ordered to march towards parts of Hedong County and Henan County. Chen Wu, eager at the sight, came to Zhao Hanzhang, expressing his willingness to serve loyally.

Zhao Hanzhang immediately sent him to Hongnong County to reclaim the two counties that had surrendered. For those that hadn’t surrendered, if he passed by, he should drop in and ask if they would be willing to follow her orders. If they were willing, it would be a joyous occasion. If not, he was to report back, and she would send someone to investigate whether those officials were performing their duties or committing crimes and then find an excuse to replace the county magistrate.

Chen Wu was not expecting Zhao Hanzhang’s words to be so blunt, both rogue and righteous. He was stunned for a moment before nodding and pledging, "Rest assured, Commander, I will definitely reclaim all these places for you."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Discipline the soldiers well, enforce strict military discipline. Do not infringe upon the civilians along the way. As for the rest, act as you see fit."

Act conveniently as necessary. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Chen Wu received the order and left happily.

No one expected Zhao Hanzhang to deploy troops just as the festive season was approaching. While Liu Cong’s army had just surrounded Jinyang, news from the south came one after another.

"Zhao Hanzhang deployed eighty thousand troops, capturing ten counties including Yishi, Jie County, He Yang, and Xia Yang. Fu Zhi from Chang’an deployed twenty thousand troops and is also attacking Fengyi County, advancing towards our Pingyang. His Majesty ordered the Great General to return to the court to guard against Zhao Hanzhang."

Liu Cong’s face changed dramatically, and he asked, "What about the others? Are they just useless?"

"Generals Liu Qin and Liu Yao have both sent troops to resist, but the opposing general is Beigong Chun. The Zhao Family Army has a newly emerging young general, said to be Zhao Hanzhang’s own brother, who is also very brave. After three engagements, they have not been able to defeat him, and with more Han people in Hedong County and Fengyi County, some cities’ residents had already stirred, and those county magistrates opened the gates to surrender as soon as the enemy forces approached."

Liu Cong gritted his teeth in hatred, "Those fence-sitters naturally sway back and forth. When they surrendered to our Great Han, I said they should be killed, but father said it would chill people’s hearts and didn’t allow their execution. Now look, if they could surrender to us, they could naturally surrender to Zhao Hanzhang, and we lost those cities in vain!"

At this time, there were also people suggesting to Zhao Hanzhang to execute these officials and generals who had surrendered, for the same reasons as Liu Cong.

"Yesterday, they surrendered to the Xiongnu because they were strong. Today, they surrendered to us because we have a powerful army. Who’s to say they won’t bring the city and surrender to someone else tomorrow?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "They surrendered to the Xiongnu before to protect the city’s people from slaughter. They are loyal and righteous, how can we malign them with such malicious speculation?"

With a righteous face, she said solemnly, "They have done great service by offering the cities this time, invite them back to Luoyang, I will reward them generously!"

The subordinate generals and officials who suggested decapitating them exploded immediately, "Reward them even more?"

Ming Yu, who also suggested decapitating them, swallowed his words and asked instead, "How does the Commander intend to reward them?"

"Luoyang lacks officials. They are talented and knowledgeable. Besides awarding them estates, they should naturally be given suitable official positions."

Ming Yu nodded in agreement and asked, "Where will the new county magistrates be selected from?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly at him and said, "You all may recommend people to me, and I will choose those with outstanding talents and virtues to appoint."

Only then did others realize she intended to bring people back and replace them with their own, so there would be no fear of further surrenders.

But...

"Will they listen to orders? Even the Xiongnu Khanate didn’t replace them."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Since you suspect them of betraying their lord repeatedly, wouldn’t they be afraid of your suspicions?"

So, they would certainly follow orders.

Zhao Hanzhang guessed correctly. When she sent for the county magistrates and subordinate generals of these counties to return to Luoyang, although they hesitated in fright, they did return.

Zhao Hanzhang treated them with courtesy, even meeting them personally and granting them estates, appointing them as officials in the Inspector Mansion.

As the news spread, some officials and generals who were dragging their feet against going to Luoyang quickly packed up, brought their families to Luoyang, and accepted Zhao Hanzhang’s appointments;

Meanwhile, some former Jin ministers who hesitated and dared not surrender, seeing the Xiongnu Khanate officials open the city gates immediately, also followed suit and surrendered;

The Zhao Family Army swept through like breaking dry weeds, reclaiming more than half of Si Province, putting most of Henan County, Hedong County, Fengyi County, and parts of Hongnong County in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.

When the news reached Yun City, the court was still in a seesaw struggle over the Jizhou Governor’s matter. Upon hearing that Zhao Hanzhang controlled more than half of Si Province, the emperor could not sit still, trembling in fear.

He no longer cared about Wang Jun and Liu Kun’s disputes and privately asked Zhao Zhongyu, "Minister Zhao, is Zhao Qing trying to imitate Uncle Liu, dividing territories to rule alongside me?"

Zhao Zhongyu hurriedly explained on Zhao Hanzhang’s behalf, "Your Majesty, Zhao Hanzhang has no intention of disloyalty. She is assisting Liu Kun in restraining the Xiongnu, forcing Liu Cong to withdraw troops. If you don’t believe me, wait for a while and see if Liu Cong withdraws his troops?"

The emperor still felt uneasy and said, "Zhao Qing is already the Yu State Governor, and Si Province and Yu State are the heart of the world. If she also takes Si Province, then of the nine provinces in the world, two entire states belong to her alone, and that is the core of the world."

As they say of contending for hegemony in the Central Plains, the Central Plains refers to that area of Yu State and Si Province. The most crucial area is occupied by Zhao Hanzhang, while he, the emperor, is instead hiding in a corner. What kind of sense does that make?