After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Fu Zhi found it difficult to immediately come to a conclusion, and he had to maneuver between the common people, aristocrats, officials, and the forces left by Prince Nanyang, exhausting his mind.

The situation in Chang’an was complex, as it was the West Pass of Great Jin and could not be taken lightly. Now he lacked money, food, and manpower, and could only balance various forces based on existing resources.

It wasn’t until Zhao Hanzhang quickly sent the second batch of relief grains that the situation began to change.

Even the officials in Chang’an did not expect the second batch of relief grains to arrive so quickly and immediately went to Fu Zhi for salaries and grain.

Fu Zhi seemed to know what they were thinking, and shortly after they arrived, the common people in Chang’an City also became restless, boldly surrounding the Inspector Mansion and pleading Fu Zhi for salvation.

Fu Zhi sent people to occasionally say in the crowd, "This relief grain is sent by the Great General solely to save us disaster victims encountering a food shortage, and the Inspector cannot divert it for the troops due to their lack of food."

"Yes, my family have all starved to death, and now I’m the only one left."

The people surrounded the mansion, refusing to leave, and Fu Zhi said to the officials and generals who came to visit: "You have seen it, the public sentiment is agitated, if I don’t release the relief grains, they might cause unrest."

General Liu’s face was displeased, saying: "If there are people causing unrest, we will suppress them."

Fu Zhi then asked: "How many troops can the General spare to quell the chaos? How many soldiers will remain at Han Valley Pass after that?"

He sighed and said: "There aren’t many people left in Chang’an~"

So, should they really kill off or drive away the remaining people for just a bit of relief grain?

No one spoke, as Fu Zhi watched their expressions soften, he said: "I have already reported to the court, requesting grain and salary. Given the Great General’s ability today, it should arrive soon."

Others were not so optimistic, believing that Zhao Hanzhang was willing to provide relief grain to the people but might not be willing to provide grain for the Chang’an garrison or salaries for officials, as they are not her people.

Thinking of this, someone turned their gaze to Fu Zhi.

Calculating, Fu Zhi had always been a royalist, yet his actions were always inclined toward Zhao Hanzhang, and with the Zhao and Fu families being joined in marriage, it was heard that Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan had always had a good relationship.

Those who thought of this felt their hearts burning, and instantly their tone shifted, saying: "Inspector is right, there are few people left in Chang’an, and we should focus on pacifying them at this moment."

After Fu Zhi sent them off, nearly half of the officials and assistant generals in Chang’an City inclined towards him, combined with those who were already his, he could now command more with less.

Once they left, Fu Zhi immediately issued the pre-drafted order for relief work exchanges, most of the people did not recognize characters, so besides posting notices, he mainly sent officials to the inspector’s door to give speeches and clarify doubts.

The content of relief work exchanges was extensive, for example, he requested cleaning the streets, repairing houses, leveling land, cutting and drying firewood...

There was much to be done, and with winter approaching, if they didn’t take measures for warmth, the people might not starve but freeze to death.

The citizens of Chang’an quickly accepted the relief work exchanges and swiftly listed Zhao Hanzhang as the most revered and beloved person.

Many families began to prepare longevity tablets for her, the more particular ones would choose good wood to enshrine her like an ancestor, and the less particular ones would choose a good board they could find and have her name carved on it.

Stray children wandering in Chang’an City picked up a board from the ruins and painted a female face, as they imagined, to enshrine, with everyone rushing to pay homage to Zhao Hanzhang’s longevity tablet.

In these two years, the late emperor and Zhao Hanzhang respectively gave relief grains to Chang’an, but rarely did much actually fall into the hands of the people, with most first supplementing the army’s grain supplies.

Only on these two occasions were the relief grains completely used for them, and it’s heard more relief grains would come later, how could this not make them love Zhao Hanzhang?

Fu Zhi saw this situation and sighed deeply, feeling conflicted, yet did not step in to correct it.

Unlike Fu Zhi’s dilemma and concealment, Qingzhou and Guangzhou openly promoted Zhao Hanzhang’s benevolence and achievements.

Qingzhou was severely harmed by Wang Jun, and Guangzhou, where Wang Dun fled with the army, fell unchallenged when the Xiongnu soldiers and Shi Army occupied Guangzhou, with the castles in the region all being seized by Shi Le and Liu Cong, and the money thoroughly plundered.

With the castles in such conditions, not to mention the city, anyone with any money in their household had been robbed.

So when the Zhao Family Army arrived, from refugees and beggars to aristocrats and former officials, everyone welcomed them with open arms.

Seeing this, Zhao Kuan did not hold back and directly acted as Zhao Hanzhang’s spokesperson, striving to transform Qingzhou into a second Yu State, becoming a powerful backing for Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family Army.

Guangzhou naturally didn’t fall behind, Sun Linghui simultaneously rebuilt Guangzhou, while competing with Qingzhou in promoting, even conveying messages back to Chen County.

Their propaganda and actions shook Zhao Hanzhang, and Zhao Ming felt they were excessively sycophantic with the potential of becoming treacherous courtiers, thus wrote a letter to inform Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng became quite angry after reading it, and immediately wrote a letter to scold Zhao Kuan, and Sun Linghui was not spared by Zhao Cheng either.

The disciples of the Zhao Family mostly studied under Zhao Cheng, even Sun Linghui, who had visited Zhao’s Castle with her brother as a child, would attend a few lectures, thus Zhao Cheng was not only her uncle but also her teacher. Thus, upon receiving this letter, Sun Linghui and Zhao Kuan both felt embarrassed and somewhat ashamed.

However, they did not change their ways.

Of course, that’s a story for later; at this moment, they hadn’t received Zhao Cheng’s letter yet, and continued their fervent flattery and struggle for public favor.

When Fu Tinghan arrived at Qingzhou, he felt the place was vibrant, with a lively atmosphere at every street corner, though most people also wore coarse cloth and tattered clothes, their spirits were quite different.

In just a few days without seeing him, Zhao Kuan had already lost weight, become darker, with dark circles under his eyes, yet his face remained enthusiastic.

Upon seeing Fu Tinghan, Zhao Kuan grabbed his sleeve and almost cried out loud, "Third brother-in-law, you finally came, you have no idea how I’ve been looking forward to you day and night, the incompetent officials below have mixed-up data in their reports, my eyes are dazzled, and I have to verify them one by one..."

Fu Tinghan apologized, saying: "I’m afraid I can’t help you, as I’ve come for other matters this time."

Zhao Kuan was slightly stumped, asking: "What matter? Could it be that the Great General doesn’t like me buying favor for her, and after scolding me in a letter, specially sent you to scold me?"

Fu Tinghan was momentarily speechless, deciding to abandon the various questions that popped into his mind and said: "I’m here for salt drying and reforming the salt policy."

Zhao Kuan said: "Hasn’t the method not been researched yet? Didn’t you write a method for the craftsmen to slowly ponder? Why have you come in person?"

Fu Tinghan didn’t say much, only replied: "The court urgently needs salt now, we must work out how to extract salt from seawater before next year. Choose a few craftsmen and have them go to the seaside with me."