After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 751 - 741: Reply to the Letter
Zhao Xin and Wei Jie stayed in Jizhou. They facilitated the collaboration between Wang Jun and Liu Kun and were there to receive supplies sent by Zhao Hanzhang to achieve a three-party cooperation.
The letter was written by Zhao Xin. At the time of writing, they had already deployed troops to occupy Xian County and Guangrao County in Qi County, Qingzhou. Some troops even bypassed Linzi County, heading straight to Beihai County.
Linzi is the administrative seat of Qingzhou, where Gou Chun is located.
The letter stated that Wang Jun’s demands for armaments and provisions had doubled, and he also requested troops from Zhao Hanzhang. If she believed that the Zhao Family Army couldn’t reach Qingzhou, he could provide some troops to recruit on their behalf.
In plain words, he wanted the Zhao Family Army’s banner to be raised and to join them in the campaign for Qingzhou.
After reading, Zhao Hanzhang casually tossed the letter aside and picked up another one to read.
This was a letter from Gou Xi in Yun City, accompanied by a letter from the Emperor and an official inquiry from the court.
Zhao Hanzhang decided to open them all at once.
Gou Xi scolded her, and the Emperor was probing her intentions. She merely glanced at them but read the court’s inquiry document twice.
Since the court had sent an official inquiry, she decided she would write a memorial to defend herself. As for the letter to the Emperor, she already had an idea of how to write it while making her decision, but the defense memorial had to be written in response to the official inquiry, so she hadn’t started yet.
Zhao Hanzhang skimmed through the four letters and then looked up to see Fu Tinghan still reading the letter from Yu State. She couldn’t help but be surprised, "So thick? Who wrote it?"
Fu Tinghan raised his head, eyes filled with undeniable amusement, handed it to her, and said with a restrained smile: "It’s not really thick, it’s just that the literary style is extraordinary. I couldn’t help but read it again. It was written by Uncle Ming."
Though he said it’s not thick, it was the thickest of all the letters, composed of several pages.
Zhao Hanzhang took it, glanced down, and recognized the familiar regular script. The brush strokes were ancient and vigorous, yet slightly different, sharper than she remembered.
Zhao Hanzhang settled down to read, and indeed, it began with questioning.
Zhao Ming learned in Chen County about Wang Jun and Liu Kun joining forces to attack Qingzhou, inducing a sense of panic akin to a nation-destroying chaos. As chills crept halfway up his spine, someone informed him that Zhao Hanzhang had orchestrated it all and was involved.
A cold shock hit him, drenching him inside and out before the cold could fully ascend, leaving him chilled all over.
He didn’t dare let Zhao Song know. While concealing this information, he contacted Zhao Ju, Xun Xiu, and other generals to mobilize troops to guard the Yan State borders against Gou Xi.
Only after handling all this did he find time to write a letter scolding Zhao Hanzhang.
Calculating carefully, since Zhao Hanzhang’s appointment as Yu State Governor, Yu State had not been stable for a year, with battles every year.
Last year, although Yu State didn’t become a battleground, it sent troops to save Luoyang and occasionally clashed at the Yan State borders mid-year. At the year’s end, it assisted Zhao Hanzhang in recapturing various counties in Si Province. In other words, Yu State hadn’t rested for a year.
However, Zhao Hanzhang did not disturb the people nor increase taxes for provisions, so the residents of Yu State didn’t feel it deeply.
But if another battle were to ignite, especially against Gou Xi, it would mean that Great Jin would face disintegration again. He is aware that Zhao Hanzhang’s savings, along with the income from workshops over the years, have been drained by these wars. Any further conflict would necessitate extracting military funds and provisions from the people.
Doesn’t this mean that the recently stabilized Yu State would be disrupted once more?
They had clearly discussed before that Yu State needed several years of stable development. Why did she suddenly provoke Gou Xi?
Unfortunately, this is a letter, and he’s afraid it might end up in others’ hands, so he couldn’t speak plainly and could only subtly scold her, remind her, and warn her.
If Zhao Ming were in front of her, he would certainly ask directly if she was openly declaring her ambition to become a rebel and traitor for the ages.
Because he couldn’t ask directly, he could only indirectly and scholarly question in the letter.
Fu Tinghan found it quite enjoyable. Not understanding some allusions, he felt the letter was especially eloquent.
Zhao Hanzhang set the letter aside and picked up the one from Luoyang. Ji Yuan informed her that the army had returned to Luoyang, and provisions and military supplies needed for Qingzhou had been prepared to be sent. He asked if preparations for twice the supplies and provisions demanded by Wang Jun were necessary.
Zhao Hanzhang snorted, tossing all the letters aside, and told Ting He, "Prepare ink and paper; I’m writing a few replies."
Ting He acknowledged, pausing what she was doing to prepare ink, paper, and brushes for Zhao Hanzhang.
Fu Tinghan asked her, "Are you going to deploy troops to Qingzhou?"
"No," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "With Zhao Xin and Wei Jie merely in Jizhou, both the court and Gou Xi had such big reactions. If I deploy troops to Qingzhou, everyone will condemn me."
"When discussing collaboration, it was agreed that I would only support with provisions and military supplies. Wang Jun is unreasonable and unpredictable. Hmph, if he wants me to deploy troops, fine, I want Donglai County and Beihai County!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Providing provisions and military supplies is one thing; deploying troops is another. Her troops, once out, couldn’t return empty-handed. If Wang Jun is willing to give her Beihai County and Donglai County, she would... decide later.
Hmph, at worst, she would just demand another county.
However, knowing Wang Jun well, she’s certain he wouldn’t agree.
Zhao Hanzhang replied to Zhao Xin first, then to the Emperor and Gou Xi, telling them that she was just as baffled by Wang Jun and Liu Kun attacking Qingzhou.
She sent an envoy to persuade Wang Jun to stop attacking Liu Kun and had no clue why they turned to attack Qingzhou. Perhaps they should write to Wang Jun and ask?
To Zhao Ming, she expressed that this was an unavoidable move, as Wang Jun was unyielding both softly and harshly, leaving her no choice but to divert his attention. Otherwise, Liu Kun might indeed be killed.
As for attacking Qingzhou...
Even if Wang Jun didn’t attack Qingzhou, she intended to petition the Emperor to replace the Qingzhou Governor. Ever since Gou Chun became Qingzhou Governor, the people have been living in deep waters and misery...
She assured Zhao Ming that she had it under control, and there would be no conflict with Gou Xi. She knew that stability was paramount at present and wouldn’t make it difficult for Emperor Jin.
Only then did she begin writing the defense memorial for the court.
This letter was for all officials to see, requiring her to carefully ponder how to shirk responsibility and deflect blame to appease anger while gaining some trust.
Not many in the court believed her, and given that Wang Jun and Liu Kun were fighting each other, how could they suddenly turn to attack Qingzhou?
Someone must have mediated, and coincidentally, Zhao Xin and Wei Jie arrived in Jizhou at the time. How could it have nothing to do with them?
Even Liu Yuan in Pingyang City wouldn’t believe it!
Having received the news of Liu Kun and Wang Jun attacking Qingzhou three days later, Liu Yuan immediately sent someone to investigate the Zhao Family Army Camp, only to find it empty.
There were only dozens of tents facing Pingyang City; the rest had already been cleared. A scout touched the soil stove and found it still slightly warm, immediately saying, "They haven’t gone far, chase!"
They pursued for fifty miles before spotting the Zhao Family Army, but they only had a few hundred men and couldn’t possibly catch up.
Additionally, the traces didn’t seem right. How could ten thousand troops retreat with so little commotion? They could only send someone to report back.
Liu Yuan immediately understood that Zhao Hanzhang and her troops had already withdrawn in batches, regretfully declaring, "The opportunity is lost."
Since pursuing further was futile, Liu Yuan had to call them back and instructed to keep a close watch on the situation in Qingzhou. "It would be best if Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi turn against each other. Only when both are severely weakened can we deploy our troops."
