After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 965 - 950: Reassurance
About a month ago, he fought his way to Shanggu County. County Magistrate Li personally led officials and generals from the county to greet him at the city gates, along with Zhao Kuan.
After Zhao Kuan received the surrender letter from Shanggu County, he hoisted the "Zhao" banner upon the city tower.
Things went so smoothly that Tuoba Yilu was puzzled about Zhao Hanzhang’s reasons for sending him to Shanggu County, then the Duan Xianbei army pressed forward. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
They quickly passed through Beiping County, their massive army standing dark and threatening on the border between Beiping County and Shanggu County, poised to descend.
Zhao Kuan and County Magistrate Li immediately asked Tuoba Yilu to suppress the Duan Xianbei, keeping them outside Shanggu County.
Only then did Tuoba Yilu realize that Zhao Hanzhang’s aim was not to have him capture Shanggu County but to defend it, preventing the Duan Xianbei from advancing south and disrupting her plans to conquer Youzhou and destroy the Xiongnu.
In that moment, his inner turmoil felt like a fire, for Tuoba Tribe’s long-term interests, he shouldn’t be blocking the Duan Xianbei. Once Zhao Hanzhang unites the north, he will be useless, and the Tuoba Tribe will lose the nutrient for development. Only with Youzhou, Jizhou, and Bingzhou remaining in a state of chaos, as before, can the Tuoba Tribe seize the opportunity to grow.
Not to mention, the money and grain Liu Kun pays the Tuoba Tribe every year for hiring them is enough to keep them well-off for over half a year. Raise some sheep, let the horses roam, and they’ll have no worries for a year.
But Zhao Kuan and County Magistrate Li put him on the spot, and along with the promise he made to Zhao Hanzhang before departing, he couldn’t lift his foot to leave.
He racked his brains for a solution, secretly damaging a batch of grain supplies, and when he was about to leave, using the excuse of insufficient rations, County Magistrate Li had ten carts of grain sent over.
Tuoba Yilu then claimed insufficient military strength, to which Zhao Kuan said he would petition Zhao Hanzhang to call for reinforcements from nearby Zu Ti and Zhao Ju.
Having heard that Zu Ti and Zhao Ju were nearby, he refrained from leaving forcefully, choosing to stay quietly; and sure enough, it wasn’t long before Zu Ti arrived, thus the three armies faced each other across the river.
Tuoba Yilu didn’t want to fight, just wanted to leave, so he didn’t move; neither Duan Xianbei nor Zu Ti made a move for unknown reasons, and so they all remained there silently, depleting their provisions.
Until recently, Shi Le arrived, bringing news of Zhao Hanzhang’s great victory, and the annihilation of the Xiongnu Kingdom.
At that moment, Tuoba Yilu felt no joy, only shock and a slight chill.
The mighty Xiongnu had fallen to Zhao Hanzhang; would Youzhou and Bingzhou indeed have room for Tuoba Tribe in the future?
Yet, amidst these apprehensions, there remained a ray of hope—Liu Kun—with whom he shared a good rapport, hopefully relying on Liu Kun, Tuoba Tribe’s future wouldn’t be too bleak. But he didn’t foresee Zhao Hanzhang moving Liu Kun away.
Oh, he had always known this, but Liu Kun kept refusing, how did he suddenly agree?
Beigong Chun, Beigong Chun—a formidable general that even Shi Le and Wang Mi couldn’t defeat, while he could only match Shi Le evenly in a fight, translating to him losing against Beigong Chun in comparison.
Although you can’t calculate battles this way, given the many factors on the battlefield, he couldn’t help it but didn’t think he could overpower Beigong Chun.
At this moment, Tuoba Yilu sorely missed Liu Kun.
As for whether Zhao Hanzhang was aware of his schemes, it depended on Zhao Kuan’s perspective and report.
With a shiver, Tuoba Yilu tossed his sword to the guards and, together with Tuoba Yulu, managed a smile and went out.
Zhao Kuan stood amidst the autumn wind, hearing footsteps, he turned around, cupping his hands with a smile, saying: "General Tuoba, the Commander is already waiting, please."
Tuoba Yilu responded with a smile and went with Zhao Kuan to see Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan directly went to Zu Ti’s army, then notified Shi Le and Tuoba Yilu to meet her.
With the two armies over twenty miles apart, not close but not too far, Tuoba Yilu and Zhao Kuan rode quickly and arrived at Zu Ti’s main camp, just as Shi Le arrived. They met at the camp gates, casting challenging glances at each other.
Zhao Hanzhang came to negotiate with the Duan Xianbei, calling the three to inquire about the Duan Xianbei’s military strength and the results of recent conflicts.
Learning that their engagements had been mere taunts and shoves, with no actual casualties, Zhao Hanzhang was silent for a considerable period.
Then she felt more confident about the negotiations.
She immediately instructed Zhao Kuan to draft a national letter and have it delivered to the Duan.
To Tuoba Yilu, she smiled and said, "I’ve brought good wine, brother, stay and we’ll drink heartily tonight."
With that, she left Zu Ti to entertain Tuoba Yilu, while she stayed to speak with Shi Le.
Before leaving, Tuoba Yilu couldn’t help but glance at the smiling Zhao Hanzhang, feeling restless inside.
Zhao Hanzhang did not remain in the main tent but went out with Shi Le to enjoy the breeze, riding directly to the riverbank to gaze across at the Duan’s encampment.
She pointed her chin across the river, saying: "Don’t be deceived by Beiping County’s coldness, it has expansive plains, large swaths of land, suitable for cultivating wheat and beans. Managed well, it can support many people."
Shi Le, with keen eyes, gazed across and asked, "But Beiping County is currently occupied by the Duan Xianbei. Is the Commander planning to dispatch troops against the Duan?"
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "Although we have converged three armies here, our forces are insufficient. You have ten thousand men, Zu Ti twenty thousand, and Tuoba Tribe has at most thirty thousand soldiers."
"If a battle were to happen, the opposing Duan could deploy nearly a hundred thousand troops. Moreover, Tuoba Yilu might not commit fully, potentially bringing disaster upon us," Zhao Hanzhang chuckled, shaking her head, "It’s unwise, unwise."
But these seemed like mere excuses in Shi Le’s view, the real issue being, "The Commander can’t provide provisions."
Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "Shi Long truly sees through things, yes, I can’t afford provisions for another battle, and Youzhou’s people are at their limits. So, for now, we must step back, waiting for the future..."
Shi Le, with bright eyes, softly added, "In the future, I wish to reclaim Liaoxi County."
Liaoxi County also belongs to Youzhou, though Wang Jun granted it to the Duan, even securing a title of Duke Liaoxi for Duan Wumuchen from the court. Like Liu Kun, temporarily compromising, they reaped the benefits, leaving Zhao Hanzhang with the trouble.
Oh, now bearing the trouble with her is an added Shi Le.
Zhao Hanzhang’s hurt soul was somewhat comforted, about to offer encouragement to Shi Le, when she heard him ask quietly, "And what about Dai County, Commander? Dai County also belongs to Youzhou."
Zhao Hanzhang: ...
She reconsidered her previous thoughts, feeling her wounded heart pierced once more.
Zhao Hanzhang briefly pondered then said, "Dai County is to be changed into Dai Country, temporarily as Tuoba Yilu’s fief."
Shi Le raised an eyebrow, temporarily?
This implied that she intended to reclaim it later?
Of course, Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t openly state her intentions to reclaim the fief, she simply told Shi Le, "I’ve promised Tuoba Yilu, won’t go back on it. General Shi, under my governance, I also won’t allow private conflicts among you."
This sizable territory’s true owner is herself, Shi Le is merely Youzhou Governor, Tuoba Yilu is also just the City Lord of Dai Country, only vested with management rights, not ownership. She strictly forbids the occurrence of territorial conflicts and thefts as before.
If not changed, where would the people find stability and space for agricultural development?
Sensing Zhao Hanzhang’s warning, Shi Le pursed his lips and agreed, indicating he would act according to commands.
Only then did Zhao Hanzhang retract her imposing aura, smiling as she said to him, "General Shi, with the court as your backing, I hope in the future we can cooperate to build Youzhou well."
