After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 897 - 883: Choice

Zhao Hanzhang sat alone in the seat representing the leader, then waved her hand for someone to prepare the meal; her standard of living had barely returned to what it was before.

Indeed, most of the refugees who walked ahead of them were also brought up the mountain. Shi Jian, having followed Shi Le for many years, understood the importance of people, so when they robbed, they either took money if available, or added people when money was absent, directly absorbing them into their ranks.

At this moment, all of this benefitted Zhao Hanzhang.

With Shi Le present, he indicated his compliance with Zhao Hanzhang, so the Shi Army naturally followed, and Zhao Hanzhang met with each one, directly reorganizing them into squads.

Due to the small number of people, it was temporarily decided that one squad would consist of five units, each unit having five people, with vacancies to be filled later. This was to leave spaces for newcomers and also to dilute the original Shi Army’s influence.

Therefore, more than two hundred people were divided into ten teams by Zhao Hanzhang, whom she, as the Great General, commanded.

Shi Le watched her organizing and was impressed, "Lord Zhao, you are amazing. Normally it would take a thousand people to fill one team, and you’ve managed with just over two hundred."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and said, "People, they are everywhere, aren’t they?"

She instructed Shi Jian to bring the refugees up the mountain.

Shi Jian couldn’t help but glance at Shi Le, and Shi Le, sensing Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze also on him, put on a stern face and said in a deep voice, "The Great General asked you to go, so go. Why are you looking at me?"

Shi Jian pursed his lips, roughly saluted Zhao Hanzhang, and then retreated to gather the people.

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow slightly and said to Shi Le, who was barely seated, "General Shi, your beloved lieutenant is indeed unruly. However, it is perhaps excusable that he is not submissive to me, but how is he so insolent towards you?"

Shi Le apologized for him with a somber face, "He is a country fellow, uneducated and uninformed of etiquette. I ask the lord to forgive him."

Zhao Hanzhang chuckled and shook her head, saying, "It’s not a matter of etiquette. It’s just that if he truly respected you, General, why would he question your decisions like that?"

Shi Le lowered his gaze and remained silent.

Zhao Hanzhang did not press further and waited for Shi Jian to bring up the refugees.

Quite a number indeed, a total of 58 elderly, sick, and young were gathered. Since they had just been captured, while their possessions were looted, they themselves were not harmed.

However, suddenly being brought to this clearing and stared at by so many bandits, they trembled in fear.

Upon realizing the one seated above was a woman, they paused but quickly complied, kneeling down.

What’s so strange about that?

Isn’t Jin State’s new Great General a woman?

As soon as they knelt, they heard the woman above say, "I am Zhao Hanzhang. This bandit den is now mine, and I’ve called you here to return what was taken from you, and secondly to let you choose your own path."

The refugees raised their heads in confusion, not immediately understanding her meaning.

Standing to the side, A Wei’s head buzzed. From the moment Zhao Hanzhang and Shi Le formally addressed each other, an ominous feeling rose within him.

How many women in this world could be respectfully called Lord Zhao?

Across the land, including the Xiongnu Khanate, only Zhao Hanzhang had that honor.

Upon hearing her disclose her name, A Wei felt as if firecrackers were going off in his mind, and he stumbled, almost falling to the side.

Fu An, quick as a flash, caught him, muttering disapprovingly, "What’s wrong with you? Can’t even stand properly?"

A Wei’s lips trembled, "I-I said Zhao Hanzhang is not a person of loyalty, she has rebellious intentions."

Fu An mumbled, "You weren’t wrong, but Jin State is hardly worthy of our lady’s loyalty."

A Wei’s lips continued to tremble, "I-I also said that Zhao Hanzhang is not worthy of my service..."

Fu An remembered this, his eyes lighting up, he whispered, "Then would you leave?"

He had long been annoyed with A Wei. A Wei kept showing their lord a bad attitude. They’d known each other for just one night, yet Fu An felt as if they held a long-standing grudge. Hmph, leaving would be better. Their lord might be magnanimous, but he didn’t like such people around her.

A Wei shivered all over, his face changing several times before finally gritting his teeth and declaring, "I won’t leave!"

His voice was so loud that it drew the attention of the entire crowd.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced over, and Fu An immediately stood upright and focused on his toes, creating a distance from A Wei.

A Wei’s face flushed red, and after some thought, he simply stepped forward and knelt, looking up, "Lady, Lord, I, A Wei, will not leave, I will follow you."

Zhao Hanzhang: "...I wasn’t asking you, I was asking them. Please step aside for now."

"Oh." A Wei silently got up and returned to his original position.

After this commotion, the refugees relaxed noticeably.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Those unwilling to stay, you may take your belongings and leave. Since you’ve come this far, it’s apparent you don’t wish to travel with the larger group of refugees. Why not go to Wu’an County? There, the Zhao Family Army has just secured control. You can settle, receive land to farm, and with the Zhao and Shi armies’ conflict subsided, it is temporarily safe."

She continued, "Those wishing to stay, this bandit den is just a temporary shelter for us as well. After a bit of tidying, we too will head to Wu’an County."

The refugees were unsettled, and someone boldly asked, "You really let us leave?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, "Once we leave, you may disperse as you wish."

Upon hearing this, Shi Le squinted, realizing the refugees would be allowed to leave only after they themselves moved quickly. Clearly, she was guarding against the refugees spreading word of her presence here?

Zhao Hanzhang, of course, had to guard against it. After all, the news of Shi Le’s surrender to her had not yet been widely advertised, and the Shi Army had not truly submitted.

This wasn’t something that could be accomplished with a decree; it required planning and strategizing. So, although she seemed to offer the refugees two democratic choices, in reality, there was only one.

Indeed, after whispering amongst themselves with their family and companions, the refugees asked, "Lord, we are willing to follow you, but with weak women and young children at home, how can they join the army?"

Zhao Hanzhang laughed heartily, "Following us doesn’t mean all must join the army."

She said, "Building a city requires many hands, weaving and sewing, cooking and tending fires, farming the fields. When we reach Wu’an County, suitable roles will be found for you."

The refugees’ eyes lit up.

Though their hometown was far from the Yu State, Zhao Hanzhang’s name was famous both north and south. They were previously under Han Kingdom’s rule, where the Xiongnu nobility often spoke ill of Zhao Hanzhang, claiming she harbored ill intentions and would one day rebel against Emperor Jin, branding Empress Zhao as cruel and cannibalistic.

But privately, there were other messages spreading. It was said that the people of Yu State lived much better than those in other states, perhaps because Zhao Hanzhang, as a woman, was naturally kind-hearted, especially towards women and children under her rule...

A ruler who sympathizes with the weak is generally not too bad. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Thus, they joined the southward exodus. However, there were many ruthless types among the refugees; much of their belongings were already stolen, and continuing would likely lead to their deaths. Thus, they sought to find a resting place first, dealing with the future later.

Now, with Zhao Hanzhang willing to take them... anyway, they were destined for Wu’an County, and going there with Zhao Hanzhang surely promised better circumstances.

Not only would safety be assured, but perhaps they could even leverage Zhao Hanzhang’s connections?

After all, they had spoken with the Zhao Envoy.