After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 974 - 959: Zhao Jiashi

Zhao Yigui, the best female student in Class Yi, was appointed as the County Magistrate of Wuyi County by Zhao Hanzhang one month ago. Together with Zhao Yicheng, Zhao Jiashi, and others, she traveled south from Yan Country to take office, having only been in her position for half a month.

These three, all orphans, had already forgotten their original surnames, so when they performed excellently in school and received rewards, they chose to take Zhao Hanzhang’s surname, Zhao.

Many other orphans in the school chose to take the Zhao surname. Zhao Hanzhang knew that this was Mr. Ji’s way of solidifying loyalty to her, but because of this bond, she genuinely cared for these children even more.

She also knew that Zhao Yigui and Zhao Yicheng had mutual feelings for each other and speculated that in a few years they might become a family, which is why she specifically arranged for them to be in Lin County to facilitate their communication.

Upon entering the county government, Zhao Yigui immediately knelt down, weeping, "Miss, Zhao Jiashi and Zhao Yicheng died unjustly. The rebellion broke out swiftly and violently, far beyond the capability of a spontaneous uprising."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, allowing her to stand and speak, then asked, "What have you discovered?"

Zhao Yigui stood up and wiped her tears, saying, "The rebel army moved very quickly, from their uprising to reaching Wuyi County, it took only three days. It was because of warnings from Zhao Jiashi and Zhao Yicheng, as well as the alerts from Fucheng, that I managed to defend Wuyi County."

Though the three had previously interned in government offices, it was their first time being independent County Magistrates. Being classmates from the same school and all having taken the Zhao surname, they shared a unique bond and frequently communicated.

The three counties form a triangular shape, all located near Lin County, not far apart. The three frequently exchanged experiences, but when the atmosphere in Tiao County seemed off, Zhao Jiashi sensed something amiss. He wrote to Zhao Yicheng and Zhao Yigui, "The food relief strategy has been largely accepted by the majority, though few receive aid, which allows laborers to survive. However, daily provisions are hardly enough to feed one’s family beyond oneself, and the seeds distributed are often stolen or eaten. I can only punish strictly and reason with them, but with little effect. Discontent persists, compounded by daily deaths from starvation in the county, heightening public anger day by day."

"I’ve exhausted my options, but after the locust invasion, vegetation was wiped out entirely, even the hair of cattle and horses was nibbled away by locusts. In such dire circumstances, I am powerless. In Youzhou, the situation is even worse. Miss has already provided us with disaster relief grain, but asking for more would only shift the burden onto her; six states are afflicted, and the military chaos has just subsided. From where could she magically produce grains to aid us?"

Zhao Jiashi wrote, "I can only repeatedly explain and reassure them, hoping the people will bear with us until beans, melons, and vegetables mature, at least providing temporary relief. They seemed to understand and their anger reduced slightly, but inexplicably, it surged again the next day. I suspect someone is exploiting the disaster to manipulate people’s hearts."

Writing this letter, Zhao Jiashi hoped Zhao Yicheng and Zhao Yigui could offer him some advice, and also wanted them to watch closely over the situation within their counties.

Zhao Yigui wiped the tears from her face, and said to Zhao Hanzhang, who was intently reading the letter, "Shortly after receiving the letter, sudden chaos erupted in Tiao County. Zhao Jiashi, while trying to calm the agitated rebellions outside the city, was killed by a minor official named Wang Heng. Tiao County has rebelled."

"I knew then that his suspicions were correct, someone must have been exploiting the disaster to stir unrest. He must have discovered something. I organized people to rescue Tiao County but didn’t anticipate that they could swiftly gather an army of twenty thousand rebels, striking Fucheng on the same day."

Twenty thousand—it’s unfathomable, especially since Wuyi County just suffered a disaster and there aren’t even twenty thousand people within the county. Most reside in scattered villages and hamlets outside the city, and currently, only eight thousand are officially registered within the city.

In the vast fields, you could walk half a day without encountering a single person. Yet Wang Heng managed to muster twenty thousand rebel troops in such a short time.

Feeling uneasy, Zhao Yigui immediately dispatched people to Fucheng and sent others to Xindu for reinforcements.

Previously during the warfare, Zu Ti did not station troops in Jizhou, so each county only had less than a hundred government officials and soldiers for daily operations.

Zhao Yicheng defended the city for two days before instructing the officials to evacuate many women and children to Wuyi County. Shortly after leaving the city, the rebels broke through the gates, leaving Zhao Yicheng to die defending the city.

Zhao Yigui seized the two days Zhao Yicheng won her to rally the people and quickly formed a city defense force. She reinforced the city gates and prepared numerous stones and arrows needed for defense, holding on until Zhao Hanzhang arrived.

It was also her luck to encounter Zhao Hanzhang upon their return south.

Zhao Hanzhang folded the letter, placed her hand on Zhao Yigui’s shoulder, and spoke softly, "You all have done well. Rest assured, I won’t let those inciting unrest behind the scenes escape unpunished."

While she spoke, Fu Tinghan had already counted the rebels and searched them thoroughly. He flipped through the submitted letters, feeling his heart race with a sense of foreboding.

He turned with the letters to Zhao Hanzhang, "Look at these."

Zhao Hanzhang reached out to take them, realizing they were letters she had written to Zhao Ming and Mr. Ji.

She furrowed her brows and asked, "Where are the couriers?"

"They’re all dead. Starting from the letter we sent upon returning from the north, all letters destined for Yu State were intercepted."

Zhao Hanzhang laughed, though angry, "Well then, it’s like peaches ripening; here comes someone to pick the peaches."

Fu Tinghan was worried about Yu State, "I’m afraid the Emperor’s situation might change."

Zhao Hanzhang lowered her gaze, considered for a moment, then said, "They are currently in Meng County, not far from Chen County. With Xun Xiu there, there shouldn’t be any trouble, and Uncle Ming and Mr. Ji certainly aren’t easy targets."

Pausing here, Zhao Hanzhang’s expression grew tight, "Xun Xiu..."

Fu Tinghan looked at her, and Zhao Hanzhang lifted her gaze to meet his, both feeling uneasy.

Clenching the letter in her hand, Zhao Hanzhang coldly snorted, "No matter who it is, I’m not just capable of laughing, without anger."

She turned and asked her aides, "Where is Fan Ying at this moment?"

The trusted aide accompanying Zhao Hanzhang immediately bowed and responded, "Fan Changshi is still in Bingzhou."

Zhao Hanzhang instructed, "Ask her to change her route to Jizhou. In the six disaster-stricken states this year, grant her the authority to inspect, not only examining officials but also gathering public opinions and monitoring social dynamics."

"Yes!" The trusted aide noted down the orders.

Thinking of the two she hadn’t dealt with earlier, Zhao Hanzhang turned to Fu Tinghan, "You’re exhausted, go back and rest. I have two more people to see."

Fu Tinghan knew what she meant but didn’t request to accompany her. He nodded and advised, "Anger damages the body, don’t get too worked up."

"I understand," Zhao Hanzhang replied casually, but upon seeing those two men suspended, her anger couldn’t help but surge repeatedly. She approached them with a cold smile, circling to inspect them, and asked her aides, "Have they confessed yet?"