After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Zhao Cheng straightened up, while the others dared not move and instead sneaked glances at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and raised her hand slightly, only then did the others rise and stand properly.

Zhao Cheng frowned, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the palace has been tidied up a bit, ready to welcome Your Majesty into the palace."

Zhao Hanzhang also invited the Emperor to enter the palace.

The Emperor agreed, then turned and got into the carriage.

When Zhao Hanzhang leaped onto her horse, the people let out thunderous cheers, and then, amidst the people’s acclamations, the group entered the city. The officials following them felt the people’s enthusiasm, and couldn’t help but smile.

Most of the officials promoted by Zhao Hanzhang knew this enthusiasm was directed at Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family Army, and as members of the Zhao Family faction, they felt honored;

A few of the original court officials also realized this, though they did not show it on their faces, they were deeply worried inside.

With Zhao Hanzhang holding such public support, can the Great Jin still be maintained? Can the Little Emperor really reclaim power from her grasp?

Mencius once said, "He who wins the people’s hearts wins the world." Of course, not many truly believe this, but history still has a successful example - Wang Mang.

Wang Mang was elevated by people’s support, and it was due to losing this support and the mandate of heaven that he failed.

But that was because there was Emperor Guangwu, now...

They secretly glanced at the quiet carriage, worried in their hearts, for up to now, the Little Emperor had not demonstrated the means or magnanimity to control the world, nor even the patience and wisdom to learn.

If he cannot maintain the legitimacy of the Great Jin, who else can take his place?

The image of Prince Yuzhang flashed in some people’s minds but was quickly dismissed, for Prince Yuzhang seemed even less capable than the Little Emperor.

Now in the Great Jin royal lineage... only King Langya from Jiangdong remains.

King Langya?

No, no, Sima Rui is not of the Ancestor Emperor’s bloodline, just a collateral relative, how can he become Emperor?

Amid these entangled thoughts, they entered Luoyang, heading toward the Imperial Palace amid the people’s welcome, and then, as they walked, they were astounded.

On one side lay the ruins of broken walls and collapsed courtyards, yet inside the wild grass was lush; sharp-eyed officials even saw goats craning their necks to graze inside, and chickens flapping about under the feet of the sheep...

The officials widened their eyes, this, this, this is the inner city near the Imperial City, why is there such a large area of dilapidated houses?

Oh, so, officials who had escaped from Luoyang explained to those unfamiliar with Luoyang: "This was burned during the Han Kingdom’s Emperor Li’s attack on Luoyang."

At this point, the officials sighed and said, "At that time, it was the Great General who came to the rescue."

But surprisingly, after all this time, these houses still haven’t been rebuilt?

Rebuild what? In the past two years, although Luoyang City has received refugees daily, the city is so vast, plus with large areas outside Luoyang that need organizing, it’s more land than people, not enough people to fill it properly.

Land was distributed, and the government organized labor to build new houses or have villages help each other; new houses were quickly erected, and of course, people lived near their fields—who would senselessly spend money to buy a house in the city?

Oh, right, Zhao Hanzhang nationalized all unowned houses in Luoyang City; newcomers, unless they could prove they were original homeowners with property, would have to rely on their skills to become specially recruited talents to be allocated housing or rent-free housing.

Other than that, anyone wanting to own property in Luoyang would have to buy or rent.

Zhao Hu bought quite a few houses and shops (tricked by Zhao Hanzhang), and he particularly wanted to buy the burnt houses, saying that although none of the houses here were habitable, the location was excellent, equivalent to buying land.

Unfortunately, Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t sell.

After Zhao Hanzhang left, he approached Zhao Kuan to buy, but Zhao Kuan wouldn’t sell either.

When he heard in Xiping that Zhao Kuan left Luoyang and affairs in Luoyang were temporarily handled by his son Zhao Cheng, he, despite the danger, specially sent a steward to venture north to Luoyang.

Of course, he dared not directly ask Zhao Cheng for the land; he wanted the steward to leverage Zhao Cheng’s influence to directly buy the land from the Chief Clerk of the Luoyang County Government.

Unfortunately, after the war, communication between the two sides was cut off, and he hasn’t received a letter from the steward, not knowing how much land was bought or if he followed orders to buy half.

He didn’t want much, just half would be good.

Zhao Hu wasn’t interested in entering the palace with the Emperor, so upon entering the inner city, he went straight home, of course taking his people with him.

Aside from a portion of the Zhao Family Army and officials, the others dispersed as well.

Most of the Zhao Family Army was stationed outside the city.

They had received orders on the way, splitting into four divisions - east, west, south, and north - to garrison in four different camps, while those accompanying Zhao Hanzhang consisted of the reorganized Imperial Guards.

All were selected from the Zhao Family Army, many having served as Zhao Hanzhang’s trusted aides.

They would follow into the palace to guard the Imperial City and palace gardens.

Oh, Zhao Hanzhang herself assumed command of the Imperial Guards, with Zeng Yue appointed as Deputy Commander, mainly handling affairs.

Isn’t it surprising, the first guard the Emperor meets when he goes out was from the Zhao Family Army, and those standing on duty in the court were also from the Zhao Family Army.

Of course, Zhao Hanzhang renamed them and forbade them to publicly call her ’Miss’; she wanted to understate the Zhao Family Army label on them in front of the court officials and the Emperor, keeping certain things in their hearts and not showing them.

So after escorting the Emperor into the palace, Zhao Hanzhang respectfully cupped her hands in farewell and withdrew from the palace. If seeking an audience again, she would have the guards notify first and only enter with permission, quite humble indeed.

More humble than when in Chen County.

Only the Little Emperor was having a hard time, because palace attendants were few, and eunuchs... totaled just over twenty, all leftover from the old palace.

There weren’t many palace maids either, with over ten being handmaidens sent by Zhao Hanzhang while in Chen County, and the rest survivors from the flight for their lives.

Since they’d all undergone special training and had impeccable manners, Zhao Hanzhang kept them.

However, for such a vast palace, these personnel were still too few, so Eunuch Dong ran to Zhao Hanzhang, suggesting, "The palace lacks people, I request the Great General to add more."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "With only Your Majesty and Prince Yuzhang in the palace, is sixty-eight people serving two masters not enough?"

Eunuch Dong was taken aback, and seeing Zhao Hanzhang’s slight frown, hastily amended, "It is enough, but with such a large palace, it needs maintenance. When Your Majesty marries and expands the harem, staff will be needed, and palace attendants take time to train, so..."

Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head in thought; she hadn’t considered the Emperor marrying and still living in the palace. She thought of herself and Fu Tinghan, believing that with just a helper and kitchen staff, they’d manage, though key secretaries were indispensable, but that talent should be cultivated in the front court, not the harem. So she waved her hand, "The treasury is empty, let’s temporarily inconvenience His Majesty as long as you manage palace affairs well and don’t wrong His Majesty."

This was a polite refusal, and Eunuch Dong smoothly complied, immediately responding respectfully.