After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 730 - 720 Threat
Little Prince Liu Yi was speechless, he feared exactly this, hence he came for peace talks.
Even if they couldn’t prevent it in the end, if a battle was inevitable, it shouldn’t be tonight, and preferably not tomorrow either. Wait for their army to be well-rested before engaging.
But will Zhao Hanzhang listen to her?
Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fan Ying, who was stirring the fire, and asked, "What hour is it now?"
Fan Ying replied, "Quarter past the hour of You."
Six fifteen in the evening.
Zhao Hanzhang said to the young prince, "Another two hours and a quarter, but from here to relay messages to the ambush forces, even with my special messaging methods, it will take time, so the young prince has an hour’s time to consider."
Liu Yi’s eyes widened.
His guards were also shocked, rising one by one, hands on their sword hilts.
They didn’t expect Zhao Hanzhang really planned to launch a night attack on Pingyang City tonight. They could follow the young prince into the enemy camp and die here, but they absolutely couldn’t remain indifferent after receiving such crucial information.
The Guard Commander looked at Liu Yi, wanting to rush out to report, but if they took the young prince, they surely couldn’t get out.
In the darkness, a dull and orderly sound rose; Liu Yi looked up, only to find that they were surrounded by a large army.
The Guard Commander clenched the hilt of his sword, veins bulging, his face pale.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, waved to the surrounding troops, and they sat down on the spot in unison, watching them from afar.
Liu Yi and the Guard Commander: ...
"Do not worry, they are merely preventing your guards from suddenly rebelling and escaping," Zhao Hanzhang smiled and added two pieces of roasted meat to his plate. "You are guests; we will only treat you well and not harm you."
Liu Yi slowly sat down, looking at the meat on his plate, losing his appetite.
He put down the half-eaten white bread, asking, "What must I do for Lord Zhao to be willing to negotiate peace with me?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "That depends on what the young prince can offer me."
Liu Yi smiled bitterly, "I am but a prince only, though titled King of Beihai, yet due to my young age, neither possess military power nor participate in governance. I’m afraid I cannot offer what you desire."
Such honesty prompted Zhao Hanzhang to also ask frankly, "Then how could the young prince dare to come to negotiate peace with me?"
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang neither angry nor questioning, he explained, "Merely brave and foolish, my father is sleepless due to your northern attacks, and the people in Pingyang City are anxious. I do not possess the foresight of my Crown Prince brother to relieve worries for the Han Kingdom; nor the valor of my fourth brother to achieve great deeds. Thus, I simply wish to fulfill filial duty, easing my father’s burden somewhat."
Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but to scrutinize him, realizing his genuine sincerity, sighed, "If your father knew you’re fulfilling filial duty in such a way, he would likely be infuriated."
She sincerely advised, "Little prince, if you can neither avert disasters nor possess the courage and abilities, best not place yourself in danger, otherwise if your body suffers harm, that would truly worry your parents."
Liu Yi gazed at her earnestly, pleaded, "Governor Zhao is evidently a filial child as well, I ask of you to fulfill my sincere intentions."
Zhao Hanzhang went into deep contemplation.
Liu Yi looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Zhao Hanzhang seemingly was softened by his gaze, sighed, "I can ponder it."
Liu Yi immediately said, "If Governor Zhao is willing to negotiate peace, I cannot offer anything now, but I owe you a favor. In the future, if I gain capability, as long as it doesn’t harm the Han Kingdom’s interests, within my ability, I will surely repay."
Zhao Hanzhang pondered for a moment, Then smiled at him and replied, "The King of Beihai surely is truly filial, but Hanzhang is impressed. Just for your filial piety, I shall give you a step, how about that?"
Liu Yi rejoiced, "Really?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded and then turned to Fan Ying right before him, "Relay the messages to the front lines; have them retreat twenty li, no action will be taken tonight."
Fan Ying seriously complied, got up, and retreated.
Liu Yi was overjoyed, shifted his seat closer to Zhao Hanzhang, lifted the wine jar, filled her glass, raised his wine bowl, and said, "From now on, Governor Zhao shall be a friend of mine, Liu Yi."
Zhao Hanzhang clinked the bowl with him, laughed heartily, "Friends!"
Sitting beside, Fu Tinghan: ...
Ji Yuan withdrew his gaze, picked up the fire tongs and prodded the wood, the campfire crackled, and the flame roasting the lamb instantly rekindled brightly.
Wang Si Niang, who came over to watch the scene, was dumbstruck. As a logistics officer, she hadn’t prepared dry food yesterday nor today, the quantity and time of cooking in the camp followed regulations, and there were no exceptions, so when did the night attack troop set out?
Or maybe...
She stared at Zhao Hanzhang’s face.
Fan Ying, wandering outside and returning, saw her standing blankly by the side and approached saying, "Wang Liangcao, why not sit down by the fire?"
Wang Si Niang turned to glance at her, silently advanced and found a vacant spot to kneel and sit, watching as Zhao Hanzhang and Liu Yi become close friends after three bowls of wine.
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I, Zhao Hanzhang, respect filial sons and daughters most in my life. If one cannot even be filial to their parents, what virtues can one expect of them?"
The Xiongnu value strength; because of power, it’s normal for sons to kill fathers, and brothers to kill each other. However, Liu Yi accepted Han governance education since childhood. He felt Zhao Hanzhang spoke rightly and looked at her as if he had met a confidante, "Meeting Governor Zhao is the fortune of my life."
This trip to the Zhao Family Army Camp was not in vain!
Zhao Hanzhang clinked bowls with him, downed her wine, then gently rotated the bowl, "Seventh Prince, it’s not that I don’t wish to negotiate peace with you, but the situation forces my hand. Otherwise, who would want to wage war?"
She said wistfully, "The world is in chaos now, livelihoods are desolate, Luoyang is still abandoned. I also wish for peaceful stability for the people to recuperate."
Liu Yi: "Then why are you attacking us?"
Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Liu Kun of Jinyang is my close friend, and that place is the last breath of Han people in Bingzhou. Your Han Kingdom’s attack on Jinyang left me no choice but to encircle Wei to save Zhao."
The people of Han Kingdom also called Han people, but they all knew Zhao Hanzhang’s mention of Han people wasn’t referring to the citizens of Han Kingdom. The latter mostly referred to Xiongnu and other barbarians.
Han people held low status in the Xiongnu Kingdom, akin to slaves.
Liu Yi confessed with some shame, "My father wishes that whether barbarians or Han people, everyone be treated equally. Many Han officials are in the court too, but it’s unfortunate that the Grand Tutor dislikes Han officials, excluding them."
He continued, "Especially after Wang Mi’s rebellion, the Grand Tutor became even more wary and hostile towards Han officials. Previously, they would participate in court discussions, but they have vanished now."
Zhao Hanzhang sighed alongside, saying, "Wang Mi himself was a fickle and despicable person; we Han people also disdain him greatly. How can your Kingdom’s important ministers deny all Han people based on one person’s character? Look ahead, how many sages have us Han people produced?"
Liu Yi nodded repeatedly, "That’s what my father said too, but unfortunately, they are stubborn and won’t listen; however, I believe this is temporary and will surely improve in the future."
He suggested, "The counties that your troops occupied this time, my father has no intention to pursue, I believe in the future we should delineate boundaries to govern separately but not invade each other, how about it?"
