After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 729 - 719 Biased Guidance

Zhao Hanzhang led Liu Yi grandly to the center of the camp, generously ordering the kitchen to prepare good meat and vegetables.

The logistics department had some dried pork, and a few live pigs and sheep, but not much.

Thus, Zhao Hanzhang was very frugal and unwilling to be the only one indulging. If not for having guests today, it would have been two more days before they had any meat, and even then, it wouldn’t be much. For an army of fifty thousand people, getting a bowl of soup with a bit of oily broth was considered fortunate.

Upon receiving Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, the kitchen immediately went to the logistics department and picked a fat sheep, slaughtering it directly.

They were quick with their hands, and since the kitchen was already boiling water, catching the sheep, killing it, and bleeding it took no more than a quarter of an hour.

The cook’s knife swept across the sharpening stone, then pressed down on the sheep’s head, going around swiftly and gently. In less than half a quarter-hour, he peeled off a whole sheepskin.

The soldier beside him, holding a torch to provide light, couldn’t help but applaud, "The cook is remarkable!"

The cook raised his head with pride, "I’m not good at other things, but skinning sheep is a piece of cake. Back in Luoyang, all the military’s sheepskins were skinned by me, and there wasn’t a shred of excess meat on them, nor were they torn or damaged. The boots on the governor’s feet now are made from the sheepskin I skinned, and they’re very warm."

Those observing immediately followed with praise.

The cook’s face became oil-shiny red from the compliments. Trying to appear modest, he waved his hand and called to his subordinates, "Hurry up and handle the sheep meat and legs; send them to the governor to roast. Don’t keep the guests waiting."

The crowd responded, massaging legs for some, slicing meat for others. Before long, they carried the items to find Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang invited Liu Yi, the young prince, to sit by the fire and had his guards sit down to rest on the other side.

Except for the guard commander, everyone else followed.

Ji Yuan hurriedly arrived, seeing Zhao Hanzhang happily sitting by the fire, unsure whether to comment on her or Liu Yi for being carefree.

One dared to enter the enemy camp with about twenty people; the other dared to allow the opponent’s guards close with weapons, unafraid of an assassination attempt.

Ji Yuan quietly stepped forward.

Zhao Hanzhang saw him and immediately happily introduced them, "Mr. Ji, this is the King of Beihai from the Han Kingdom. King of Beihai, this is Mr. Ji, who is close to me."

Liu Yi looked up at Ji Yuan. He had heard of Ji Yuan before, from the people around his father, who said Ji Yuan was the most capable person by Zhao Hanzhang’s side.

Her achievements today relied on Ji Yuan first, the Zhao Family second, and some even argued second on Fu Tinghan, although this claim is quite controversial.

Someone from Father’s side had once suggested sending wealth and beauties to bribe Ji Yuan, but it was said that those who went never returned, getting caught as spies, and all the wealth ended up in Zhao Hanzhang’s pockets.

Thus, Father no longer sent people to Yu State to buy off Zhao Hanzhang’s associates.

For such principled strategists, Liu Yi greatly admired them, and he immediately rose to salute, "Mr. Ji."

Seeing the young prince so polite and gentle, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but glance at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang, with a smile, urged Ji Yuan to sit down quickly and join them in eating roasted lamb.

The kitchen brought up a stone slab, brushed a layer of soybean oil on it, and then left, letting them roast the meat themselves, with a lamb leg hanging on the other side.

While turning the meat slices, Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Has the King of Beihai had a meal on the way from Pingyang City?"

Liu Yi shook his head honestly.

Zhao Hanzhang then gave him the roasted meat and had someone bring a basket of white steamed buns.

Those were the good things she couldn’t afford, but she couldn’t show weakness in front of her opponent, so the goodies were served.

As she let him eat, she asked him, "Is the King of Beihai here to negotiate peace with me?"

Liu Yi, enjoying the meal with a mouthful of buns and roasted meat, nodded, "Yes, we in the Great Han have mighty forces, you cannot capture Pingyang, why waste the soldiers’ lives? It’s better for us to negotiate peace."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at his young face, and after a moment of silence, she suddenly smiled and agreed readily, "Sure, but King of Beihai, what conditions do you have to offer for us to negotiate peace?"

Liu Yi froze, hands paused with the buns, and asked, "What conditions still need to be offered? You withdraw your troops and leave, and we will not attack you. The counties that you forcibly occupied, we will not reclaim..."

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, interrupting, "That won’t do. The King of Beihai came simply to propose peace without any sincerity. I’m beginning to suspect the Han Court is deliberately mocking me."

Liu Yi hurriedly added, "The peace negotiation was personally approved by my father, Governor Zhao. I suppose you are aware that my fourth brother is returning soon. Once the army arrives, you will have to retreat."

"Wouldn’t it be wise to leave early and avoid chaos, while there haven’t been any casualties?"

Zhao Hanzhang squinted her eyes, smiling, "Liu Cong returning from Jinyang to Pingyang is quite a journey, and since the King of Beihai has come today, to show sincerity, I will not hide it from you. I plan to launch a night raid on Pingyang City tonight."

Liu Yi was shocked, "What? You plan to raid Pingyang City at night? Have your men already set out?"

Zhao Hanzhang only smiled without speaking.

Liu Yi quickly replied, "No, no, if you dare attack Pingyang, General Shi will surely mobilize to aid the king. Then you won’t survive."

"If I die, shouldn’t your Han Kingdom be happy? Why is King of Beihai so anxious?"

Liu Yi opened his mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "I... I admire Governor Zhao’s character and don’t wish to see you lose your life in vain."

Seeing him in such distress, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but laugh heartily. She heavily slapped his shoulder and exclaimed, "For the Seventh Prince’s words alone, I’m not losing money treating him to this meat."

She had them bring wine.

In the army, wine was even rarer than meat, used to ward off the cold. Zhao Hanzhang poured him a bowl, then poured herself one, clinked his bowl, and drank it all in one go, looking at him with ambiguous expressions, "But, I don’t think Shi Le’s reinforcements can reach Pingyang City."

"My Beigong General is no pushover. Shi Le is no match for him," Zhao Hanzhang said with a smile, "Moreover, would your Xiongnu Five Division and other tribes be willing to let Shi Le’s army pass through their territories on a detour?"

Liu Yi was startled, chills running down his spine. How did she know they were unwilling?

Sensing his expressions, Zhao Hanzhang felt further confirmed in her speculations. She grew more cheerful internally, but her face didn’t change much. She smiled, "Shi Le is brutal, just like your fourth brother. Subordinate generals killing and eating people is common. Letting him pass through your territories, who knows what he might take away or even refuse to leave? At that time, your losses might be greater than if I attacked Pingyang City."

Liu Yi pursed his lips, defensively speaking for Shi Le, "That was done by his subordinate generals, General Shi himself is unwilling to act like that."

"Moreover, my father has shown him favor and kindness. He will surely remember my father’s benevolence."

"Really?" Zhao Hanzhang questioned, "If Shi Le were grateful, why would he seize Shangdang County?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Liu Yi couldn’t find words to defend. He was still young and lacked firm resolve, quickly led astray by Zhao Hanzhang.

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang leisurely remark, "As for Liu Cong, he’s returning via long travel, the army’s weary. Do you think he can withstand my well-prepared Zhao Family Army?"