After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 728 - 718: Rookie Against Rookie

Liu Yi, the young prince, led about twenty guards and ran out of the city, heading south from Pingyang City straight for Zhao Hanzhang’s camp.

The emperor and the courtiers of Pingyang City were busy and didn’t notice their young prince running off to the enemy’s main camp. It wasn’t until dusk, when dinner was being served, that Empress Shan remembered she hadn’t seen her son all day. Only then did they realize he was missing.

Upon learning that her son had left the palace, Empress Shan wasn’t worried, thinking he was annoyed by the palace’s boredom and went out to play. So she sent someone out to call him back for dinner, calmly waiting for his return.

As the sun set on the horizon and the last ray of sunset disappeared, her son had still not been found, and she began to worry a little.

In the first month in the north, the sky still darkens early. When night falls, the whole city quiets down, shops close, leaving only the music halls with lanterns lit.

By this time, most people who went out have returned home, while those who haven’t...

Empress Shan didn’t think her son would encounter danger in Pingyang City, only thought he was following his father and older brothers and learned bad habits, causing trouble at such a young age by going to such a place.

So she sat angrily without moving, demanding someone bring a whip, waiting for her son to come back.

Meanwhile, Liu Yi, the young prince, was galloping madly and finally saw the Zhao Family Army camp before the sky was completely dark.

Scouts in the shadows quietly watched them run towards their camp without concealment, and one scout had already run back to report ahead.

But... Liu Yi’s riding speed was not slow either, almost following the scout closely as they approached the camp. A smoke signal rose in the slightly dim sky, followed by another not far away...

Because of the dim sky, if you weren’t paying attention, it would be easy to miss it.

Seeing the signal, Guard Commander Shi Hongtu, who was beside Fu Tinghan, exclaimed, "Chief of Staff, look!"

Fu Tinghan turned to look, frowning slightly at the smoke in the dim night, "It’s so vague, if it gets darker, you won’t be able to see it. It seems the warning tools need improvement to be more noticeable."

Shi Hongtu: ...

Is this the time to discuss this?

Shi Hongtu and Guard Lu Daxuan exchanged glances, moving forward together to lift Fu Tinghan’s arm and start running back...

They didn’t bring many guards with them, and now they are some distance from the camp; they should have known not to let the Chief of Staff come out to find water.

Fu Tinghan, being carried by them, faced toward Pingyang, saying, "Don’t run, they’re already close. The scouts should have reported back, and the camp must have seen the smoke signal. Alas, starting a fire takes time; the warning tools must be convenient to use and fast."

He thought it might be worthwhile to try signal flares, which shouldn’t be difficult to make.

He wasn’t good at making bombs, but isn’t it possible to make fireworks?

At this time, there were firecrackers but no fireworks yet. Signal flares are a different kind of fireworks. He could set up something flammable within the device, and once it contacts enough air, it would self-ignite and trigger the signal flare...

As the idea crossed his mind, Liu Yi, the young prince, galloped over and saw Fu Tinghan and them, shouting as he approached, "I am the King of Beihai of the Han Kingdom, I want to see your Great General!"

A person can’t outrun a horse, so Shi Hongtu immediately set Fu Tinghan down, and along with the guards, drew swords to stand defensively in front of Fu Tinghan, watching them warily.

Fu An ran to position himself behind them, using their stout bodies as a shield, pulling Fu Tinghan further behind, cautiously looking at Liu Yi.

Despite the dim night, Fu Tinghan could still make out the approaching Liu Yi, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old kid, still carrying traces of childishness, like a typical junior high schooler.

He brushed aside Fu An, asking Liu Yi, who had pulled his horse to a stop not far from them, "Are you Liu Yuan’s Seventh Prince?"

Liu Yi, slightly unhappy at hearing his father’s name directly, still nodded, "Yes, that’s me."

He glanced past Shi Hongtu and others at Fu Tinghan, seeing his tall stature and outstanding demeanor, protected by people behind him, making it clear he held an unusual status. He then asked, "Who are you?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "I am Fu Tinghan."

Liu Yi’s eyes lit up, "You are Zhao Hanzhang’s fiancé Fu Tinghan?"

Fu Tinghan nodded.

Liu Yi was overjoyed, "Then you can surely take me to see Zhao Hanzhang."

Fu Tinghan nodded, not particularly troubled, merely curious, "Why do you want to meet her?"

"I wish to negotiate with her!"

Fu Tinghan: ...

He looked up and down at the boy on horseback and after a while said, "You... Shouldn’t you first send a national letter before negotiating? Where are your Han Kingdom envoys?"

"I am the envoy."

Fu Tinghan looked at the confident boy; it seemed that troublemaking kids exist in every era. He kindly reminded him, "Does your father know you’re here to negotiate?"

Liu Yi reckoned he had already reported to his father, so he nodded directly, "Of course. I came here per orders."

Being so assertive, Fu Tinghan believed him.

Although the kid seemed young, wasn’t Zhao Erlang this age when he went to the battlefield?

People in these times matured early, and many fought in battles and politics by the age of ten or something.

So Fu Tinghan asked Shi Hongtu and the others to sheathe their swords and invited Liu Yi to dismount and return to the camp with him.

"This is the Zhao Family Army camp, and the King of Beihai isn’t a fool; if things turned against me, he wouldn’t leave alive, so why bother?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yi gave him a glance, then scanned Shi Hongtu and the guards, confidently saying, "I am not one to break faith and commit treachery."

Only then did Shi Hongtu and the others sheathe their swords, guarding Fu Tinghan on both sides.

However, Liu Yi’s guards were quite assured, showing no concern as their young prince approached Fu Tinghan, merely dismounting and following behind.

Considering they were already at the gate of the Zhao Family Army camp, they couldn’t turn back and run away, so why cause trouble?

About twenty guards followed their master, boldly going forward with Liu Yi towards the Zhao Family Army camp.

After taking just over ten steps, Zhao Hanzhang received the news and hurried over, followed by panting scouts.

Zhao Hanzhang reined in her horse, looking down at the boy standing beside Fu Tinghan, baffled, she gazed at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan introduced them, "Hanzhang, this is the Seventh Prince of the Han Kingdom, the King of Beihai."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Liu Yi?"

Liu Yi immediately responded, "Indeed, I am the King."

He raised his head to look at Zhao Hanzhang, curiously inspecting her, "Are you Zhao Hanzhang?"

She was quite different from the image he’d imagined. Was she really the one who killed Liu Jing?

Liu Yi remembered Liu Jing; he was his father’s confidant and one of the Five Tribes of Xiongnu. His father had once said Liu Jing could be his Great General, and if he hadn’t died at Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, he could have become the Right Prince after the kingdom was established.

At this moment, Liu Yi could recall Liu Jing returning to Pingyang, lying in the military tent with his father, delivering his dying words. He’d said that Zhao Hanzhang must be killed; otherwise, she would become a great threat to the Han Kingdom.

Indeed, she had now become a great threat.

He thought a woman capable of killing a great hero like Liu Jing would also be a mighty figure, but while she lacked the weakness typically associated with women, she wasn’t imposing either. Instead, she was slim with a trim waist, but she appeared energetic, had a rosy complexion, and an impressive presence.

While he scrutinized Zhao Hanzhang, she also sized him up, occasionally glancing at Fu Tinghan, both understanding each other without saying a word.

Unable to help herself, Zhao Hanzhang smiled broadly, dismounting her horse and handing it to Zeng Yue behind her, laughing, "Exactly, I am Zhao Hanzhang. Very welcome, King of Beihai, to our Zhao Family camp as a guest. Please—"