After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 765 - 755: Seizing Power

Gao Sheng said, "Not everyone can redeem themselves, but for things like brawling, resulting in less than a three-month sentence, one can pay money to redeem themselves."

In fact, the law allowing redemption with money has always existed, and it exists in our dynasty as well.

However, due to Zhao Hanzhang’s urgent need for people and the need to curb the sudden increase in security cases due to the war, she ordered the cancellation of all laws allowing redemption with money. Those who should be beheaded would be beheaded, and those who should be exiled would be tattooed and sent to the military.

At that time, the order only involved serious criminals and was meant to deter the incessant bandits within Yu State and incidents like landlords and gentry forcibly taking refugees as slaves. The cancellation of money redemption was a major order without detailed stipulations.

This caused people like Zhou Wenshi, who were sentenced to ten days of detention for brawling, to be imprisoned. In the past, they could redeem themselves with money.

This way, not only would the county government have some income, but it would also reduce the pressure on the prisons.

It must be noted, the number of prison cells is limited, and they also have to provide food and lodging for those who are imprisoned. For those who stay long-term, uniforms need to be prepared, and the expenses are not insignificant.

Recently, many wealthy people have been arrested for minor offenses. Gao Sheng felt that a few detailed rules could be added. For example, for fighting, how much ransom should be paid to be released; for quarreling and insulting, how much ransom should be paid to be released...

In fact, activities like riding fast horses on the street, violating curfews, not following traffic rules with carriages, public nudity, etc., could all be redeemed with money.

Most violators of these are wealthy people, and such fines would suit them well, also freeing up some prison space.

Zhao Ming thought Gao Sheng’s idea was good, but since this order was given by Zhao Hanzhang, to supplement details, her approval and order were needed.

So Zhao Ming mentioned it during lunch with Zhao Hanzhang, and after a brief thought, she nodded, "It’s feasible, but we must clearly stipulate which crimes can be redeemed and which cannot, and set clear amounts of money and grain needed. Let County Magistrate Gao draft a document and submit it."

Zhao Ming nodded, noticing a letter by Zhao Hanzhang’s side, and from the envelope, he could tell it was Zhao Zhongyu’s handwriting.

He glanced at it but then looked away, yet Zhao Hanzhang noticed and, with a smile, handed the letter to Zhao Ming, saying, "A letter from Uncle Zhongyu. Your Majesty wants to perform a heaven worship ceremony at the summer solstice, and at that time, all the dukes and inspectors from various regions will go to Yun City to worship, and also..."

She looked up at Zhao Ming, slightly raised her lips, and said, "To discuss the major matter of moving the capital."

Zhao Ming: "...The Emperor wants to move the capital back to Luoyang?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Zhao Ming was speechless for a while, "Then... did you agree?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "The key is not with me, but with Gou Xi."

Gou Xi would definitely not agree.

Zhao Ming also did not want to agree. With Zhao Hanzhang away from the Emperor, the situation was still controllable. It was clear that most of her thoughts were now focused on stabilizing Yu State and Si Province and developing the economies of both regions. Even if she sometimes thought of reclaiming lost territory, it was always under the name of Great Jin.

If the Emperor were to return to Luoyang, Zhao Hanzhang would become a "Regent King." Even if they still wanted stable development, the situation would not allow it.

Not to mention anything else, just the various new regulations she added in the past two years. Although she selected talents from self-recommendations or recommendations by others, the policy of evaluating and selecting officials had long been in name only. In the three years she was in power, Yu State never held a single evaluation banquet;

Now, most of the people she uses are selected from recruitment examinations.

She employs people regardless of gender or family background. If the Emperor returns to Luoyang, these matters will definitely be brought up for repeated deliberation.

Zhao Ming, just by thinking with his toes, could imagine how chaotic the situation would be then. Zhao Hanzhang was used to giving orders; could she accept so many people pointing fingers at her?

Occasionally, when her strategies were opposed, she would coax them into agreement, but with those ministers in court, would she coax them?

Nobody knew her better than Zhao Ming. She coaxed them only because she was willing to. If she wasn’t willing, there wouldn’t have been a shortage of people who were executed for opposing her policies these past two years.

Otherwise, why would she cancel the money redemption policy?

These past two years, have there been few sentenced to death for kidnapping refugees, murder, land encroachment, etc.?

She didn’t, like other generals, allow troops to pillage, kill the rich and take their wealth, so the people all over praised her, calling her benevolence-minded.

But ever since discovering her great ambitions, Zhao Ming realized she was strong-willed, decisive in action, and strict with the law. No, it should be said that she was strictly above and lenient below. She was quietly setting up her own system, like cutting flesh with a blunt knife, with subtlety.

Though painful, the pain wasn’t obvious, and occasionally there was even some relief. She even gave out treats, and those slow to react wouldn’t notice.

By the time they realized, the cut had already become fatal, they might not even have the energy to struggle.

Now, all the officials in Yu State and Si Province were appointed by Zhao Hanzhang after a thorough screening. With everyone united, even if someone noticed, they wouldn’t publicize it.

But the court ministers were different. Each had different stances, and regardless of whether they could realize Zhao Hanzhang’s intentions, once they felt pain or felt they weren’t benefiting, they would certainly oppose, or want to return to the past. Once chaos ensued, could she continue cutting slowly with a blunt knife?

With her temperament, once annoyed, she would probably decisively chop them down like melons.

So Zhao Ming also disagreed with the Emperor moving back to Luoyang. This was not only for the good of Zhao Hanzhang and Yu State but also for the good of the Emperor and the court ministers.

He didn’t want to see Great Jin drenched in blood again due to internal strife.

He thought for a moment and said, "The Clan Leader mentioned that in private, Your Majesty has contacted several generals in the Gou Family Army, and they are willing to show loyalty to Your Majesty. In that case, why not help the Emperor to free himself from Gou Xi’s control and manage Yun City’s affairs independently?"

Once the Emperor tastes what it’s like to truly be in charge, would he still be willing to return to Luoyang as Zhao Hanzhang’s puppet Emperor?

Although it’s a delaying tactic, the potential issues are also significant, but it’s still better than intensifying the conflict now.

Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows at Zhao Ming, picked up the teapot, and poured him a cup of tea, smiling, "Uncle Ming, is this what they call a tacit understanding?"

It was what she intended too.

With the new news from Yun City, Gou Xi was once again lost in his indulgences and could not extricate himself. He’s considered ruined. While having a muddled opponent is good, Gou Xi is not just her opponent but also her ally. Their greatest adversaries remain Liu Yuan and Shi Le.

The proverb goes, it’s better to fear a foolish ally than a godlike opponent.

Liu Yuan and Shi Le are both godlike opponents. Originally, Gou Xi was also a godlike ally, but now that he’s become a fool, such an ally should be replaced promptly.

The Emperor could barely be a qualified ally, so she needed to make the switch.

This was a case of killing two birds with one stone.

But it’s too complicated to execute, so she must proceed slowly.

Certain words cannot be written brightly in a letter; they must be understood subtly, or who knows if the letter might be lost or seen by a third party?

So Zhao Hanzhang first wrote a memorial to the Emperor, stating she would definitely attend the summer solstice ceremony, then wrote to Zhao Zhongyu, saying they, as Jin Ministers, should urgently address what concerns the monarch, blah blah blah.

After two and a half years of correspondence with Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Zhongyu was already able to follow her pace and, with some difficulty, achieve a tacit understanding. Thus, he repeatedly read her letter, faintly understanding her plan.

She intended for the Emperor to seize power from Gou Xi.