After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Zhao Kuan’s father is in Xiping, so he doesn’t need this at all. He insisted on leaving the ointment and asked with concern, "How is Brother Shen’s injury?"

Zhao Shen was seriously injured that day, with the most severe being a cut on his back, almost down to the bone. He fainted due to excessive blood loss. Fortunately, Zhao Hanzhang had a skilled military doctor, so when they received him, they sutured the wound and stopped the bleeding. Zhao Shen had a strong constitution, so he survived.

However, even though he lived, his body didn’t recover immediately. Restoring his vitality and blood was not easy, so for a time, he was mostly in a deep sleep. One day, he thought he had taken a short nap, but when he woke up, he was already in Chen County.

His short nap lasted two days.

Far away in Xiping, Zhao Song heard that his grandson was severely injured. He quickly brought skilled doctors and precious medicinal materials northward. A few months ago, Zhao Hu fled back to Xiping fearing Chen County would be overrun, but seeing that Zhao Hanzhang had returned to Chen County, he merrily followed along.

At this time, Zhao Hanzhang and two uncles gathered in Zhao Shen’s room, looking at him with care.

Zhao Shen lay weakly in bed, constantly glancing at Zhao Hanzhang, and softly said to Zhao Song, "Grandfather, I don’t need so much medicine here, give some to Father. He’s injured too."

Zhao Song replied gently, "Your father is in good health and doesn’t need these. You take them with ease. If you need more, I’ll have someone buy it."

After saying this, he glanced at Zhao Hu sitting nearby and said with a smile, "Your Seventh Uncle is now in the medicinal material business, and many medicines are easy to obtain."

Zhao Hu nodded repeatedly and generously said, "Whatever medicine you need, just tell me. Uncle will give it to you."

Zhao Shen: ... Thank you all, but it’s really not necessary.

He looked at Zhao Hanzhang, hoping this powerful cousin would speak on his behalf. However, Zhao Hanzhang’s attention was elsewhere. She turned her head and asked Zhao Hu, "Seventh Uncle, when did you get into the medicinal material business?"

Zhao Hu raised his chin slightly and said proudly, "A few months ago. Didn’t you need a lot of medicinal materials for the war? Profit is profit, no matter who earns it. So I sent people to buy medicinal materials."

At this point, he glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and said, "You really are, with such a profitable business in hand, and you didn’t consider the clan. Instead, you let the outside drug merchants benefit. If I hadn’t accidentally seen Fan Ying handing a drug list to the merchants, I wouldn’t have known you needed so many medicinal materials."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "War inevitably leads to casualties, and injuries require medicinal materials."

Zhao Hu nodded and said warmly to her, "Next time you need medicinal materials for a war, buy from me. Although my business fleet has been established for less than half a year, all the managers and staff were poached from other drug merchants, so the channels are secure, and the herbal farmers are all experienced farmers. You can trust the herbs they dig."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, then glanced at the sky, immediately got up, "It’s getting late. Brother Shen, take a good rest. Fifth Uncle, Seventh Uncle, I’ll go back to work."

Zhao Song quickly said, "Go ahead with your work. We don’t need you to accompany us here."

Yet Zhao Hu had some serious matter unspoken, so he quickly said, "I have something to say, Third Lady. Now that the war is over, when will you pay the remaining balance for the medicinal materials?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression remained unchanged, and she said warmly, "Did you place the order with Fan Ying?"

Zhao Hu nodded.

Zhao Hanzhang: "Only they know about these matters. I only sign the orders, but you can ask her about it."

Zhao Hu, unhappy, said, "Isn’t this something you can decide with just one word? Just let her pay me the balance."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded: "Alright, I’ll tell her when I see her."

Only then did Zhao Hu let her go. He had just arrived in Chen County and was unaware that Fan Ying was not by Zhao Hanzhang’s side, not even in Yu State at that moment.

Zhao Shen, on the side, vaguely felt something was wrong. He looked at Zhao Hu, then at Zhao Hanzhang, but said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly left, and when she reached the courtyard, Zhao Kuan and Zhao Ming were still pulling at each other. She stopped for a moment, turned around, and went over, "Uncle Ming."

Zhao Kuan immediately stood up, not daring to push the box into Zhao Ming’s arms anymore.

Zhao Ming restrained his expression, nodded at Zhao Hanzhang, and asked, "Have you seen him?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, sat down in the spot Zhao Kuan vacated, thought for a moment, and said, "I want to establish a Medical Department under the Ministry of Industry to oversee medical matters across the country."

Zhao Ming said, "Wouldn’t that be redundant? The Ministry of Industry can handle such matters, why create an additional department?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Currently, there are too few military doctors, so more doctors need to be recruited. With the world in chaos, there are still doctors in the counties south of Yu State, but north of Yu State, not even in counties, it’s challenging to find a single doctor or a fully functional medical clinic."

"Therefore, I want to set up medical bureaus in various states and counties. These bureaus will be directly under the Medical Department of the Ministry of Industry, which can fund the purchase of medicinal materials and even cultivate medical talents, providing doctors to various places and the army."

Zhao Ming frowned tightly, paused for a long time, and then said, "Hanzhang, global unity is not easy, especially now when life is hard for everyone, with no food available. It might be a bit early to start on this."

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "It’s not early at all. I’m not aiming for free consultations right now. The medical bureau’s treatment is for a normal fee."

She said: "Clothing and food are essential for life, and so is medicine. What I’m doing now is ensuring that when people fall ill, they can find a doctor, and when they want treatment, there are medicinal materials available."

Is the North’s Six States problem a lack of money?

No, their problem is that even with money, they can’t buy food, find doctors, or purchase medicine. What Zhao Hanzhang is doing now is to provide them with food, doctors, and medicine, establishing a channel for them to obtain these things through official means.

This matter is not early at all.

Zhao Ming was persuaded by her and then asked softly, "How much can the national treasury allocate for this?"

Zhao Hanzhang was stumped for a moment, then humbly asked, "Uncle Ming, where do you think the treasury should get the money now?"

Zhao Ming: "Taxes."

He glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and said, "Isn’t the treasury’s money all from taxes? Just in time for the autumn tax collection."

Collecting autumn taxes now... a great burden suddenly weighed on Zhao Hanzhang’s shoulders. She gritted her teeth, "I’ll find a way."

Zhao Ming snorted, leaving the headache to her. Wanting to eat big pancakes yet unwilling to provide flour, is that possible?

Zhao Hanzhang turned to Zhao Kuan standing nearby, "Why are you still here? Haven’t you gone to Qingzhou to take office?"

Zhao Kuan, still pondering over the treasury’s lack of funds, snapped back and quickly said, "I’m departing tomorrow. Today I came to bid farewell to Uncle Ming."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, was about to leave, thought of something, turned to Zhao Kuan, and said, "Come with me. I have something to tell you."

Zhao Kuan pointed to the backyard, "I still need to pay respects to the two uncles..."

"They’re concerned about Brother Shen now, they’re not in the mood to deal with you. Come with me."

Zhao Kuan followed silently.