After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 977 - 962: Figuring It Out

This is one of the reasons for Zhao Hanzhang’s distress, but it’s not the main one. The main issue is whether her brutal execution of the bandit leader can truly intimidate the restive individuals across the land, making them hesitate and dare not offend again.

Various thoughts flashed through Zhao Hanzhang’s mind, and finally, with a solemn face, she said, "For scholars and commoners to be enlightened, you need to think about how to achieve this and write me a memorandum later."

"Perhaps you can write to Luoyang and consult with the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer Zhao Cheng," she paused, then added, "You could also discuss it with Minister Fu."

She believed that the methods for enlightenment from the early days of the nation’s founding were quite effective, but she was really too busy. Fu Tinghan might be able to squeeze out some time.

Quietly, Zhao Hanzhang created a bit of trouble for Fu Tinghan and then slipped away. After a simple wash, she lay down, but the throbbing in her head kept her from sleeping soundly all night.

She only closed her eyes before hearing the sound of a rooster crowing.

She draped a robe over her shoulders and got up.

The night was already cold at this time of year. She dressed properly, washed her face, and went out.

The prisoners outside the city huddled together, shivering, unable to sleep peacefully.

Zhao Hanzhang, along with a squad of trusted aides, exited through the small city gate, watching them closely.

The prisoners, unable to rest well, shrank back upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang and started trembling as they looked at her.

Today, they were all terrified.

For the past three days, they attacked the county government, driven by hot-bloodedness, ignoring everything else. He wasn’t sure if he had killed anyone, but he had definitely beaten someone.

They had seen plenty of corpses and blood due to natural disasters and conflict, but none had shocked them as much as yesterday.

Over two hundred people were beheaded right before their eyes, the blood flowed down the yellow mud to the knees where they knelt. What was most chilling was that Zhao Hanzhang had the bodies hung on the city walls, with their heads displayed in front, some with their eyes wide open, woodenly staring at them.

How... terrifying!

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang appeared almost like Yama in their eyes, rendering all the tales of her virtues they had previously heard almost irrelevant.

The captured rebel soldiers tried their best to avoid Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze, not daring to meet her eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang would not force them to look at her. She simply circled around them, so much so that they felt flustered and their limbs trembled.

Finally, at dawn, a trusted aide came to Zhao Hanzhang, reporting quietly, "They’ve all confessed."

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang stop. She lifted her gaze to look at the prisoners who constantly avoided her eyes, and suddenly she realized something: there was no harm in having them fear her for now. One day, she would replace fear with virtue to earn their respect.

The same applied to others.

Having resolved her internal conflict, Zhao Hanzhang now knew how to handle the families of Wang Heng and the other bandit leaders.

She no longer acknowledged these people, turning her head to walk back into the city, where she encountered Fu Tinghan leading a squad of trusted aides and a group of scribes at the city gate.

Fu Tinghan looked at her in surprise, "What are you doing outside the city so early?"

Could Zhao Hanzhang say that she had been outside the city since the second crow of the rooster?

She calculated; it must have been about an hour, right?

With a light cough, she said, "Just came out for a look; I’m heading back now."

She said, "I’ll leave the matters here to you."

Fu Tinghan nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang then hurried back to the county government office, where Zhao Yigui was already up handling affairs. Wuyi County had just experienced a major battle, and there was much to be done.

Upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Yigui immediately stepped forward to await instructions.

Zhao Hanzhang told her, "Go find Zu Ti; he is the Jizhou Governor."

Zhao Yigui took the order and withdrew.

Only then did she review the interrogation records of her trusted aides.

After a night of questioning, they had dug out everything possible, but the problems were quite trivial, lacking the clarity and detail of Yuan Li’s reports.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed softly. While her trusted aides had decent martial skills and were competent in other tasks, they were not very skilled in such interrogations.

It seemed more personnel needed to be trained in criminal case investigations. Yes, they could be selected from the scouts.

In ancient times, scouts were essentially reconnaissance soldiers. Over the years, military management had been somewhat chaotic, especially in intelligence departments, where power lay with her and Ji Yuan, but was normally managed by Ji Yuan.

Yet, this intelligence department neither belonged to the military nor to civil affairs; it was independent, managed by Ji Yuan. As a result, there were issues in message transmission and information sharing.

The intelligence provided by Ji Yuan, with basic information, was primarily given to Fu Tinghan and Fan Ying. Once they had mastered it, they reported to her, while particularly confidential information was directed to her directly. The two sets of information converged at her end and were then forwarded to various military commands.

The constant warfare and lack of time had delayed Zhao Hanzhang’s plan to reorganize it.

Still, the root of the problem was a shortage of talent, especially in critical reconnaissance roles. Establishing a comprehensive system was still quite difficult.

Nonetheless, she believed they could set up a preliminary framework.

In the current special situation, cooperation between the military and local authorities was viable, with some information able to be shared.

Previously, garrisons were only stationed at key points, with most areas relying on local self-reliance.

However, under the current upheaval, establishing garrisons to cover a certain range would be prudent. Should such incidents occur again, the military and the local authorities could communicate promptly to prevent a recurrence.

Even if conflicts arose, nearby garrisons could respond quickly, reducing casualties.

Once stability returns, this measure can be adapted.

While reviewing the interrogation reports, Zhao Hanzhang’s mind gradually clarified the chaotic thoughts about garrisons and military reforms; conscription was not feasible, but a military farming system could be tested, with soldiers serving during wartime, farming during peace, and training during idle periods.

When peace was established, their military status could be revoked, allowing them to return to farming or settle nearby.

Zhao Hanzhang pulled out a notebook to jot down these ideas, intending to discuss them with Ji Yuan when possible.

Having finished recording, she proceeded to review the remaining two interrogation reports.

Her trusted aides had asked thoroughly, even extracting details about their family sizes and locations.

Shi Bai and Gao Tong were minor aristocrats reliant on the Wang Family. It’s ironic that in the First Year of Yongjia, just after the former emperor’s ascension, Wang Han had led the clan to migrate with Sima Rui to Jianye, while Wang Yan was still serving as the Grand Commandant in Luoyang.

Oh, by the way, although Sima Rui relocated the strategic point to Jianye, he spent half his time residing in Langya, a short distance away.

Jianye served as the governing seat of Yangzhou, whereas Sima Rui’s fiefdom was in Xuzhou Langya. Indeed, around the time of the War of the Eight Princes, Xuzhou was effectively under Sima Rui’s control.

The Wang Family really spread their bets wide. Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but suspect that Wang Dao’s recent restraint of Wang Dun from meddling in Jingzhou’s affairs might be because they had placed a bet on her as well.

Zhao Hanzhang snorted lightly. However Wang Dao and Wang Dun might think, she only judged by actions, not intentions!

As for Wang Han, she had long been displeased with him; otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen to start from Xuzhou.