After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

With a couple of jokes exchanged, they returned to the main topic. Zhao Hanzhang spoke in a serious tone, "We will soon have the money, but we still need to purchase grain. Currently, grain can only be bought from Jiangnan and Shu."

Ji Yuan said, "The Governor worries that King Langya might obstruct us from buying grain from Jiangnan?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Ming Yu suggested, "We can try a different approach from Jingzhou. Governor Wang has been operating there for a year, he should have avenues."

Ji Yuan added, "Jiangnan isn’t monolithic either. King Langya used to manage affairs in Xuzhou. He brought a large entourage to Jiangnan, encroaching on the interests of the Jiangnan Aristocratic Family. Few truly submit wholeheartedly to him."

In recent years, many Northern aristocratic families migrated southward, and upon reaching Jiangnan, they dispersed into various regions, ruling independently. However, they still struggle against the local aristocrats.

After King Langya fled to Jianye, Wang Dao suggested that he liaise with all migratory Northern aristocrats and simultaneously cultivate good relations with the local Jiangnan gentry, merging as one.

Under Wang Dao’s efforts, they did indeed form a collective, uniting the scattered Northern aristocratic families. Simultaneously, he leveraged the prestige of Northern aristocrats by hosting various banquets to make connections with Southern aristocrats. During Zhao Hanzhang’s battles with Shi Le and the Xiongnu, Southern aristocrats had already begun to lean towards King Langya. Wang Dao was on the brink of success.

Then Shi Le surrendered, Zhao Hanzhang seized control of the Shi Army, causing the Jiangnan aristocrats to immediately become spectators once again, adjusting their attitudes towards King Langya to be neither distant nor close. They initially agreed to expel Zhao Hu’s commercial fleet and calculation money, but halted their actions, passively allowing Zhao Hu’s fleet to operate in Jiangnan.

Once Zhao Hanzhang defeated the Xiongnu and returned triumphantly, a declaration "To the Citizens" spread across the land. Half of the Jiangnan aristocrats now regarded King Langya with indifference; those willing to associate with him mostly did so out of respect for Wang Dao. But after discovering the cooling relations between Wang Dao and King Langya, the aristocrats willing to stick by him dwindled.

Hence, Ji Yuan believes there is great potential in Jiangnan.

He said, "Besides Wang Yifeng, Seventh Grandfather’s caravan can also be utilized. His caravans have traveled back and forth to Jiangnan several times, known by many aristocrats there. If they are inclined, they might express themselves through Seventh Grandfather’s caravan."

Zhao Hanzhang contemplated, "And there’s Yuan Li. He’s also in Jiangnan."

Ming Yu asserted, "Deploy all three strategies simultaneously; let’s hasten them. Not mentioning that Youzhou, Jizhou, and Bingzhou need relief aid as people are starving daily, even the army’s provisions are running low."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, about to speak, when Ji Yuan preemptively stated, "I’ll contact Yuan Li."

Intelligence matters have always been handled by Ji Yuan. Yuan Li is currently under his charge and apart from Ji Yuan, Zhao Hanzhang is aware of these matters, so Ji Yuan can directly contact Yuan Li.

Upon hearing this, Ming Yu promptly said, "I’ll draft the documentations and tally the funds to be sent to Jingzhou."

Ji Yuan then smiled at Zhao Hanzhang, "Seventh Grandfather will need your involvement, Governor."

Zhao Hanzhang: ... Thus, her relationship with Seventh Ancestor is always a blend of rivalry and... affection.

Zhao Hanzhang smirked, deciding at this moment she loves Seventh Ancestor.

Ever since Zhao Hu moved the money out of the treasury, his chest felt an incessant pain, lying at home to recuperate.

Supposedly recuperating meant lying on a soft couch in a pavilion, accompanied by a maid gently fanning with a banana leaf, while two other maids served fruit and tea. Not far away, performers entertained on a stage.

When Zhao Hanzhang visited with a packet of pastries to check on his health, this was the scene she encountered, prompting her to pause briefly and showing envy in her eyes.

Upon seeing her arrival, Zhao Hu frowned and asked, "Have I not submitted the calculation money? What brings you here?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised the package of pastries, "I’m here to visit you during your illness."

She moved forward, "Rest assured, Seventh Ancestor, I haven’t come to urge the remainder of the calculation money."

Zhao Hu’s eyebrow twitched, feeling slightly guilty, he did not stop her and instead lay back on the couch, turning his head to watch the performers play music.

Zhao Hanzhang handed the pastries to a maid slicing fruit for him, instructing her to set them out, then lifted her robe to kneel on the mat, watching him.

Zhao Hu felt somewhat uneasy, enduring her gaze, he ultimately rose and impatiently waved away the performers and servants.

Coincidentally, the maid served the pastries, Zhao Hu glanced at them with mild disdain, "You’re indeed stingy, visiting the sick with only a bag of osmanthus cakes?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Fifth Uncle said you liked osmanthus cakes."

Zhao Hu: "You actually believe your Fifth Uncle’s memory? Osmanthus cakes were my childhood favorite; since adulthood, I no longer fancy such overly sweet items."

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She nudged the plate closer to him and smiled, "Really? I feel people’s tastes rarely change. Seventh Ancestor, why not try them, you might rediscover your childhood flavors."

Now Zhao Hu was rendered speechless. He directly asked, "Just say what you’re here for?"

Zhao Hanzhang lifted her eyes to meet his gaze; Zhao Hu felt his heart thump wildly, akin to being caught skipping class by a teacher in his youth.

This made Zhao Hu’s expression ugly. Before she could speak, he held up his hand, rushing to spill out, "Do you know how much calculation money I submitted yesterday? Twelve million eight hundred seventy-eight thousand four hundred in total. If you think that’s insufficient, then just have someone arrest me today. I’ve no money, just my life."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Seventh Ancestor, you’re not a person who cherishes money over life, alright? I know you haven’t reported the exact amount, but my visit today isn’t about the remaining calculation money, I have other matters."

With this, Zhao Hu exhaled, his wildly beating heart calming, and he lazily reclined back onto the couch, asking, "What matter, my chest hurts now, I have no desire to worry about anything."

Zhao Hanzhang inquired, "No interest even in matters of making money?"

Zhao Hu snorted, "The money earned isn’t mine, it’s yours. I have to pay taxes, and once the money enters the treasury, I have to pay the calculation money again, paying double portions. Where’s the fairness in that?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Calculation money became routine during the Han, and persisted in Cao Wei. Seventh Ancestor might not have experienced it, but you should’ve heard about it from the family?"

"My family isn’t in commerce, nor do we lend at high interest. What’s this money got to do with me?" Zhao Hu said, "Only you are indiscriminate, collecting from anyone."

Quite resentful.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang merely chuckled without taking offense, instead asking, "Since making money doesn’t pique your interest, might losing money intrigue you? Your caravans and shops in Jiangnan combined must be worth nearly ten million?"

Zhao Hu was startled, instantly sitting upright, "What are you up to? Threatening me?"

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "Seventh Ancestor, after all these years, do you still not understand me? Am I the type who threatens?"

Inwardly, Zhao Hu scoffed, she threatened him within Zhao Song’s sight just days ago for the calculation money. Yet a few days later she had already forgotten?

"You’re aware that Jiangnan is now under King Langya’s rule. He targets me, and many Jiangnan aristocrats support him. In this scenario, isn’t your caravan and storefront in Jiangnan a sitting duck?"

Zhao Hu was momentarily dumbstruck, "Is this an innocent calamity for me?"

Zhao Hanzhang sneered, "Don’t forget, whom do you rely on for your standing in Jiangnan? You only think of me when things go wrong, but push me out of mind when I contribute positively?"

Zhao Hu halted for a moment, then asked, "Are you suggesting I withdraw from Jiangnan to preserve my assets?"

"Withdraw? No," Zhao Hanzhang responded, "The more they aim to suppress you, the more I’ll support you. Jiangnan has many aristocratic families, surely there’s one that favors me?"

Zhao Hu slapped his thigh, "Exactly, we’ll confront them head-on!"

Anything obstructing his financial paths, he intended to crush and grind into the earth.