After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

"That is not a worldly genius, but a god of dreams," Zhao Ming sneered, "Fools won’t listen to smart people’s advice, let alone other fools. So unless it’s a deity, no one can make the Prince East Sea retreat his troops."

Zhao Hanzhang was conflicted; the Prince East Sea must be the fool Uncle Ming was talking about. So, is Mr. Ji a wise person or a fool?

Zhao Ming had already coldly laughed and said, "Gou Xi is smart, but he’s too smart for his own good."

As they were speaking, someone came in to report, "General, General Gou has sent someone over, specifically asking to see you."

Zhao Ming’s face became even more stern, and he said coldly, "See, he’s much smarter than the Prince East Sea. You just got back, yet he already knows, while you came from the Prince East Sea’s side, having crossed a river, and he knows nothing at all."

Zhao Hanzhang lightly coughed and said, "Uncle, could it be that I’m too clever and managed to sneak past the Prince East Sea?"

"Then how do you explain it to Gou Xi?"

"Oh, I sent someone to inform him."

Zhao Ming slightly lifted his eyelids to look at her, "Really?"

Of course it’s fake. Upon her return, she naturally wanted to see Zhao Ming and Ji Yuan, her own people, first, then meet the Generals and officials of Yu State, and finally think about meeting allies.

Unfortunately, Gou Xi is indeed too formidable. She had just sneaked into the camp and hadn’t even sat down before he summoned her.

It seems their scouts are impressive, and they need to practice more on their side.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled ingratiatingly at Zhao Ming and turned her head, "Please let the envoy come in."

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She added, "Please invite the Generals over, and also Yu Sheng from Inspector He’s side."

Those are Inspector He’s aides and team. Zhao Hanzhang wanted to replace them but didn’t want to do it rashly, so she needed to see what kind of people they were first.

The soldier responded and left.

Zhao Ming stood up, gave the upper seat to her, and casually found a place to sit down on the side, asking, "Where did you pursue them to? Where is General Beigong now? Have all the Xiongnu retreated?"

Zhao Hanzhang answered one by one from behind, "They’ve all retreated cleanly. General Beigong has returned to Xiliang. We chased them to the edge of Shangdang, and it became difficult to pursue further, so we sent someone to inform Liu Kun and then returned."

Zhao Ming frowned, "Why did you let General Beigong return to Xiliang? His ability to lead soldiers is comparable to Gou Xi. If we could keep him..."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "How could I not know? But he is eager to return home, and by putting myself in his position, I wouldn’t want to force him."

Her home is far in the future, and she longed to return, going through all these things for even a glimmer of hope to jump back, let alone Beigong Chun whose homeland is merely in Xiliang.

He can’t be held back like Zhang Gui’s political opponents who obstruct return home.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ming fell silent and did not mention it again.

He looked at Fu Tinghan, who was seated opposite, and displayed a faint smile, warmly asking, "Tinghan, have you adapted well on the way? Any injuries?"

Fu Tinghan shook his head and said, "I’m fine, no injuries."

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help feeling a little jealous, "Uncle Ming, take a look at me, I’m your real niece."

Zhao Ming glanced at her with displeasure, his face full of disdain.

Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, just as he was about to speak, the soldier had already led Gou Xi’s envoy in.

As Ming Yu entered and saw the harmonious scene, he was momentarily stunned. When he came back to his senses, he hurriedly bowed to Zhao Hanzhang, who was seated at the upper position, and addressed her, "Governor Zhao."

Zhao Hanzhang was quite satisfied with his address, nodded to waive the courtesy, and immediately invited him to sit down, "Mr. Ming, please sit. Did the General have any instructions that made you come personally?"

Ming Yu smiled and said, "The General learned that Governor Zhao was heading west all the way and was concerned you might collide with the Prince East Sea’s troops, so he specially dispatched me to visit you and also to inquire whether the promise you once made to the General still stands?"

Zhao Hanzhang immediately said seriously, "Of course, it stands. Would I, Zhao Hanzhang, be someone who breaks promises?"

She explained, "General Beigong and I pursued the Xiongnu all the way to Shangdang and learned from Liu Yuan that the Prince East Sea sent troops to surround Fu Zhongshu, who was supporting Yu State."

She sighed, "If it were someone else, it might have been okay, but since the one leading the troops is my grandfather, I couldn’t just stand by, so we had to go west to find people to rescue. Unexpectedly, within a few days, the General was already confronting the Prince East Sea. Alas, this was Hanzhang’s mistake."

Ming Yu then showed a face of sudden realization, glanced at Fu Tinghan, and said, "So it was Mr. Fu’s grandfather, Fu Zhongshu, who was leading the troops?"

Fu Tinghan was quite helpless with their feigned ignorance. He lacked such acting skills, so he merely nodded expressionlessly.

Ming Yu hastily asked, "Then where is Fu Zhongshu currently stationed? Our General wishes to pay him a visit, and also to ask him to convey greetings to Your Majesty."

Everyone knew Gou Xi had channels to contact the emperor, so why bother going through Fu Zhongshu?

Zhao Hanzhang considered that although Fu Zhi had left some time ago, he was not adept at leading troops and mostly had new recruits, and even at a fast pace, it wouldn’t be very swift.

If the Prince East Sea learned of this, he would likely send troops to pursue them.

Gou Xi might not be fond of the emperor having his own forces, so to prevent Gou Xi from backstabbing, Zhao Hanzhang gave Ming Yu a meaningful smile, "Fu Zhongshu wants to persuade the General and the Prince to restrain themselves, but in my view, it’s difficult for both the General and the Prince to hold back. To avoid breaking his heart, I convinced him to hide his troops first, hoping to use words to persuade the General and the Prince later. If that doesn’t work, with troops in hand, he can follow his own will."

Ming Yu squinted his eyes, asking, "But whose side is Fu Zhongshu’s will on?"

"I might not know whose side Grandfather Fu’s intentions lie with, but I think, given the Prince East Sea’s arrogant and reckless control over the court, insulting the emperor multiple times, Fu Zhongshu, known for his loyalty and righteousness, his intentions surely wouldn’t align with the Prince East Sea."

Ming Yu’s lips slightly turned up, continuing to press, "Then whose side is Governor Zhao’s will on?"

Zhao Hanzhang laughed heartily, "Mr. Ming, are you asking about public affairs or private?"

She chuckled, "If it’s private, my intentions naturally lie with Mr. Fu here. If it’s public," Zhao Hanzhang’s smile faded into a cold and even slightly chilling expression, "I’ve made a promise to the General; the Prince East Sea has ignored Yu State’s plight and allowed the Xiongnu to wreak havoc in Yu State. Could I still bow and scrape to flatter Sima Yue?"

Ming Yu sensed Zhao Hanzhang’s displeasure and anger and tactfully did not pursue the matter further, instead smiling warmly and saying, "Our General certainly trusts Governor Zhao."

He noted, "The General was delighted to hear about Governor Zhao’s safe return and laughed several times with joy. He specially sent me to invite Governor Zhao to meet with you in front of the troops."

Now, with three armies confronting each other, bringing numerous troops, Gou Xi certainly could not risk entering another’s camp alone, even if Zhao Hanzhang was an ally, for who knows if she might suddenly betray him?