After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 748 - 738: Generous Gift

Zhao Hanzhang felt that Jin would not last long, but she didn’t intend for it to fall right now. So, she needed to defend what needed defending, and what she had to give, she would still give.

Because once Jin falls, the world would enter into an eighteen layers of hell mode. Not only the people from other regions, but also the people under her rule needed a breather.

So as long as Jin could be preserved, she had to preserve it.

It wasn’t for the Sima family, but to suppress the chaos and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

So after leaving Fu Zhi, Zhao Hanzhang returned to outside Pingyang City.

Just as the Xiongnu Army began to grow suspicious of the camp outside Pingyang City and wanted to send people to investigate, they saw Zhao Hanzhang leading a team to the city outskirts, dropping off a small box saying it was a gift for Liu Yi, then turned around and left.

Liu Cong was arranging his men when his face suddenly darkened, watching the small box carried back by the soldiers guarding the city gate, breathing heavily. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His subordinate generals looked at each other, asking, "Great General, should we still send someone to investigate?"

"Investigate what? Didn’t you see clearly the person on the horse just now?" Liu Cong yelled angrily, "Zhao Hanzhang dares to come to our city gate, smoke rises from the opposite camp daily. What is there to investigate? Your Majesty wouldn’t move against Zhao Hanzhang who has an army of a hundred thousand!"

The subordinate quickly reminded him, "Great General!"

Only then did Liu Cong hold back his resentful words, but his dissatisfaction grew even stronger.

The soldiers stood aside holding the box, waiting for Liu Cong’s instructions.

Liu Cong stepped forward, opened the box, and to his surprise, it contained books. He flipped through them and pulled out a thick envelope from between the books.

Liu Cong held the letter and paused for quite a while, finally putting it down, closing the box, and said: "Take the box to King of Beihai."

The soldiers received the order and immediately sent the box to the gate of the Imperial Palace, where a palace guard would deliver the items to King of Beihai.

Indeed, King of Beihai had not yet moved out of the palace to live independently. However, Liu Yuan loved him dearly, and when he conferred titles on several sons and allocated estates, he also allocated a mansion for Liu Yi, which was not far from the Imperial Palace.

But he cherished his youngest son, and always let him live in the palace. Liu Yi was among his sons except for the Crown Prince who could live in the Imperial Palace.

In the palace, nothing could be hidden from Liu Yuan.

So he quickly knew about a box brought in from outside the palace, which was a gift from Zhao Hanzhang for Liu Yi.

Liu Yuan had people send the box to him, and also sent to call Liu Yi, while inquiring about the movements of the Zhao Family Army Camp.

"Was the box sent by Zhao Hanzhang’s people?"

The guard went out to investigate and returned saying, "It was delivered personally by Zhao Hanzhang to the city gate."

Liu Yuan was startled upon hearing this, "Delivered personally by Zhao Hanzhang?"

The guard affirmed with a "yes."

Liu Yuan’s face turned grim, "Send someone to investigate why Zhao Hanzhang chose to deliver the gift personally."

It’s just a gift, anyone could be sent to deliver it. Why would Zhao Hanzhang have to deliver it personally? Was there something happening that he was unaware of?

Liu Yi came running over, sweating profusely, wearing workout clothes, evidently having run over from the training ground.

Liu Yuan smiled as he pointed to the box warmly saying, "Zhao Hanzhang has brought you a gift."

Liu Yi, the young prince, without much guile, immediately opened it up, and Liu Yuan curiously stepped forward to see.

Inside were a few books, Liu Yi took one out and flipped through it, instantly delighted, "Father, it’s ’University,’ and there are annotations on it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan immediately stepped forward, taking it to look.

After reading a few pages carefully, Liu Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "These annotations, are likely made by Zhao Changyu. This book is worth a thousand gold."

Although Liu Yi had been studying with Han people since young, he couldn’t match Liu Yuan. He couldn’t help but lean in closer, asking, "Is it very rare?"

Liu Yuan studied under Shangdang people like Cui You, and while held hostage in Chang’an, he had a fondness for reading, particularly ’The Book of Documents,’ which he read most thoroughly. Among Confucian classics, he read whatever he could get his hands on.

Only someone like him, who had struggled a lot for his education, knew how rare books were. It’s difficult to find more than a few copies of ’Mao’s Poetry’ in external bookshops. Such shops primarily sell paper, ink, and inkstones, with very few actual books available, especially annotated ones.

At present, a significant portion of books are still in the form of bamboo slips, with annotated ancient texts primarily on silk cloth and bamboo slips. Who would willingly sell books with their ancestors’ annotations?

The concept of sharing couldn’t be even mentioned, unless the families were extremely close. Without that, reading, let alone touching them, was impossible.

Liu Yuan caressed the books’ covers, after an internal struggle, gritted his teeth and said, "Didn’t you want to see Zhao Hanzhang? If you want to go, then go."

Liu Yi’s eyes sparkled, "Father no longer holds me back?"

Liu Yuan looked at him with a smile saying, "I used to think that Xiongnu and she could never be friends, but now it seems that while I might not be able to become friends with her, you can."

Liu Cong found out that Liu Yi brought generous gifts to the Zhao Family Army Camp, got angry, and kicked over the table, "Has Father forgotten the deep vengeance against Great General Liu Jing?"

Liu Jing was also a Xiongnu, a close confidant of Liu Yuan, and quite competent. Back then, when attacking Yu Yang, he was hit by an arrow from Zhao Hanzhang and only managed to see Liu Yuan once before dying from his wound.

Since then Liu Yuan had wanted to kill Zhao Hanzhang to avenge Liu Jing. Yet now, he was yielding for Liu Yi, causing Liu Cong to feel jealous.

Liu Yi happily headed towards Zhao Family Army Camp, within the camp, Zhao Hanzhang was startled, and upon hearing the scout’s report, she quickly led people out to greet him.

She was incredulous, "Why is he here?"

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps because you sent him a gift and a letter, he might come to reciprocate?"

"I was just trying to let Liu Yuan know I hadn’t fled, Zhao Family Army is still here, urging them not to cause trouble..." Zhao Hanzhang widened her eyes, "Liu Yi coming is one thing, but why did Liu Yuan agree to let him come out?"

"Maybe you can ask Liu Yi after you meet him," Fu Tinghan glanced at the sky and said, "You need to intercept him twenty miles away and think of an excuse to prevent him from getting close to the camp. If you don’t leave now, you won’t make it."

Zhao Hanzhang could only get on a horse and sprint, successfully intercepting Liu Yi twenty miles away.

Liu Yi didn’t expect to see his new friend on the way, feeling delighted, "Governor Zhao, I was just about to visit you, unexpectedly meeting you here."

Zhao Hanzhang tried to steady her elevated heartbeat, smiled at Liu Yi while sitting on her horse, and said, "King of Beihai, I am honored that you’re willing to visit me again, but I cannot invite you to the camp again."

Liu Yi was puzzled and asked, "Why?"

"Last time having you as a guest caused misunderstandings. If I let you stay at the camp again, Grand Commandant Liu might be uneasy once more."

Liu Yi quickly said, "This time I have Father’s approval. We received your generous gift and know you wouldn’t do something like detaining me as a hostage again."

During this time, Liu Yi had been educated by others, and after hearing much in court, he understood that although he stopped Zhao Hanzhang’s night raid on Pingyang City, it also gave Zhao Hanzhang leverage in negotiations.

Moreover, his fourth brother said there were no signs of a large army stationed outside Pingyang City, suggesting Zhao Hanzhang might have been deceiving him about the night raid.

But this didn’t affect his friendship with Zhao Hanzhang in any way; Liu Yi, with sparkling eyes, looked at her, feeling deeply moved, "You willing to give me books annotated by Mr. Zhao shows you truly regard me as a friend. Since you are sincere, I, Liu Yi, will definitely not fail you."