After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Zhao Hu muttered, "Just now, you were saying there was no Zhao Family Army, only the court’s army, and now it’s the Zhao Family Army again..."

Even so, thinking about the expansion speed of the business over the years, he was ultimately reluctant to lose this backing and agreed with a sullen face.

Zhao Hu came in aggressively but left silently.

Zhao Song stayed behind and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Third Lady, you have always been kind-hearted and have a high reputation among the people. Even so, some still criticize you, especially the scholars. They feel you are too harsh on the noble families and have lost a sense of leniency." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"In the past, the calculation money only targeted merchants, craftsmen, and usurers, never included the noble families," he sighed. "Even your Seventh Ancestor finds it hard to accept, let alone others. You need to be mentally prepared."

To Zhao Song, Zhao Hanzhang was willing to speak in more detail, saying, "Fifth Uncle, there are people in this world who regard wealth as dirt. I am self-aware and never expect everyone in the world to love me."

"Especially in my position, no matter how great my achievements, they might be met with mixed reviews, even more criticism than praise. I don’t care about any of that," Zhao Hanzhang said sternly. "I just need to have a clear conscience and not forget my original intention."

She said, "I know what I want, and I will steadfastly move towards my goal."

"The scholars you mentioned are only those you come into contact with. Most of them come from wealthy homes, but in my view, all learned people in the world can be called scholars. Uncle Ming is a scholar, Ji Yuan Ming Yu and Chang Ning are also scholars," she said. "I believe my initiatives will make all scholars better, offer them better prospects, and help them realize their aspirations."

"If so, and the scholarly class still sees me as an enemy, then I have nothing to say."

Zhao Song felt a shock in his heart, vaguely grasping her meaning. His mind went blank for a moment before he said, "You’re in a high position of power and influence, so you can suppress all opposing voices. But what about after you? The Little Emperor doesn’t have this prestige, and with you gone... I’m afraid the world will fall into chaos again."

"Reform is not easy," Zhao Song said earnestly. "Historically, all reformers, even powerful ones like Wu Qi and Shang Yang, met tragic ends, implicating even their families."

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression remained unchanged, only more resolute, "Fifth Uncle, though Wu Qi perished, his reforms allowed Chu to drink from the Great River, pacify the Baiyue in the south, and annex Chen and Cai in the north. Though Shang Yang died, the new laws didn’t fail, and Qin grew strong because of them, leading to Emperor Shi’s unification of the realm. For my reforms, as long as the new laws endure, they will be a great good for the country and the people. I have no regrets."

Zhao Song opened his mouth but couldn’t voice any opposition.

After a moment, he got up to leave, stopped at the door, and turned back slightly to ask, "Now that the war has ceased, when will you and Ting Han plan to marry?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled lightly, "Once we’ve consulted Grandfather Fu, we can start preparing."

Only then did Zhao Song sigh and leave.

As he stepped out of the Zhao Mansion, Zhao Hu was still there, but Mr. Chen and the other two had already left, regretting having come with Zhao Hu to confront Zhao Hanzhang. After all the fuss, Zhao Hu himself couldn’t even hold his ground.

Not only was there no change, but they also made a poor impression on Zhao Hanzhang.

When Zhao Song came out, Zhao Hu was tugging at the returning Fu Tinghan, talking to him. Zhao Hu was sitting on the edge of the cart, and Fu Tinghan was standing loyally beside it, listening.

Zhao Song approached and overheard, "As a gentleman, how can you let your fiancée worry about money? You’re eventually going to get married. Do you intend to live tightly then too..."

Seeing Zhao Song, Zhao Hu swallowed his unfinished words and released Fu Tinghan’s hand, looking uncomfortable from not finishing his thoughts.

Zhao Song glared at him and warmly said to Fu Tinghan, "Ting Han, you’re back. Go on in; the Third Lady is waiting to have a meal with you."

Fu Tinghan sighed in relief, stepped back, and bowed to Zhao Song and Zhao Hu before retreating.

Zhao Hu watched him leave with a sense of regret, thinking if the Fifth Brother had been a little later, he might have convinced Fu Tinghan to become his advisor. He wasn’t hoping for Fu Tinghan to leave Zhao Hanzhang, but just to do some things with him during his spare time, that would be lucrative enough.

He was well aware that several of the lucrative industries Zhao Hanzhang had in hand bore Fu Tinghan’s influence.

Zhao Song settled into the cart and said to Zhao Hu, who was still looking outside, "Stop looking. No matter how much he has in his hands, it won’t get to you, not with the Third Lady around."

Zhao Hu could only look away disappointedly, sitting across from Zhao Song, and frowned, "What were you talking about with her for so long?"

Zhao Song didn’t tell him and only said, "Old Seven, be more respectful to the Third Lady from now on. She’s no longer just the Third Lady of the Zhao Family, but also the Grand Commandant, the Great General. In her status, the nation comes first, the family second."

"We are of the same clan, allies. Being allies means cooperation, and with cooperation comes contribution. Without it, how can we enjoy the results?"

Zhao Hu was taken aback and frowned, "Haven’t I contributed? Whenever she needed to fight a war or relieve disaster victims, didn’t I contribute money and goods?"

Zhao Song glanced at him and said, "Then you need to curb your temper. Don’t forget the relationship between ruler and subject, master and advisor. Among the various branches of the clan, you’re the one who’s contributed the most resources over the years. But how many people remember your good deeds? Your downfall is all in your mouth. It’s fortunate the Third Lady distinguishes between public and private, seeing things clearly, and hasn’t made you suffer any real losses. If it were someone narrow-minded, just because of your mouth, no matter how much you contributed, they’d still suppress you."

Zhao Hu was so angry that he snorted through his nose, "Fifth Brother, I’m quite old now, older than Zhao Hanzhang. I’ve lived more than half my life, and in the end, I still have to act according to her whims?"

Zhao Song replied coldly, "Do you dare go back in and scold her now?"

Recalling Zhao Hanzhang’s cold expression earlier, Zhao Hu dared not speak.

Zhao Song snorted. He knew it; Zhao Hu was just bluster with no real substance. If he didn’t change his temper, he’d cause big trouble in the future.

Fu Tinghan walked into the main hall and saw her frowning over a document, pen in hand. He stepped closer to take a look—it was a letter from his grandfather requesting funds and grain for disaster relief in Yongzhou.

"Is there no money?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and nodded.

Fu Tinghan then said, "Let me make a trip to Qingzhou and Guangzhou."

Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him, "Won’t it be too tiring? You’ve been traveling outside for more than half a year."

Fu Tinghan shook his head, "The funds from the Calculation Order are limited, only enough for immediate needs, not long-term reliance. From now until next summer’s harvest, it’s half a year away. Tax collection and inventory take time, so you need funds for transition. Salt is the most profitable and suitable."

"Although the basic methods of sun-drying and boiling salt have been documented, researching them takes time. It’s better for me to go; I know how to remove impurities from sea salt faster and at a lower cost, speeding up the research."

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Alright, I’ll have someone escort you there."

Seeing her consent, Fu Tinghan breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Hu wasn’t wrong about one thing—as Zhao Hanzhang’s fiancé, he shouldn’t always let her worry about money, living in such financial strain.