After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 779 - 769 Flying Arrow

Zhao Hanzhang entered the territory of Yan State, and since it was still early, she wanted to take a look at the situation in Yan State, so she didn’t travel quickly.

Despite this, when she arrived at Yun City, only King Langya, King Wuling, and other dukes had arrived, while the Inspectors from Yangzhou, Yizhou, and other states, who also promised to come, had not yet arrived, though it was said they were already on the way.

Liu Kun was willing but unable, and Wang Jun didn’t want to come mainly because he feared Gou Xi would settle scores with him regarding Qingzhou. Conveniently, there was a severe drought in Youzhou, so he directly found an excuse to refuse.

Guangzhou Governor Wang Dun also promised to come and was reportedly about to arrive.

Zhao Hanzhang was still quite eager to meet this famed minister of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in history, though whether he would have the chance to become an Eastern Jin minister remained unknown.

As for King Langya, Sima Rui, Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t very curious.

Since Wang Dao didn’t come, she wasn’t too interested in Sima Rui. Most of the Sima family were about the same, except his son showed some promise; the others were similar.

Oh, and the current emperor, he’s actually somewhat unjustly blamed.

Of course, at this time, she hadn’t entered the city yet; these were all the news provided by the Ministry of Rites officials who came to receive her.

Zhao Zhongyu was the Chief of Staff, and the Ministry of Rites was under his jurisdiction, so the officials who came were very courteous to Zhao Hanzhang. After meeting her outside the city, they said, "Initially, Your Majesty intended to personally come to receive Governor Zhao, but unfortunately, with the grand ceremony approaching, there are many ceremonial matters Your Majesty needs to discuss, making it impossible to leave the palace. We hope the Governor doesn’t mind."

Zhao Hanzhang humbly replied, "How dare Hanzhang trouble Your Majesty? The matters of the grand ceremony are more important."

Upon learning that she was the first among the invited Inspectors to arrive, they smiled and inquired, "With less than five days before the summer solstice, will the others make it on time?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites replied, "With Governor Zhao and the Great General here, it is already sufficient. If others are delayed due to official duties, Your Majesty will be understanding. However, they should arrive in time. Guangzhou isn’t far; Governor Wang should be able to arrive by tomorrow."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded her head.

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites rode beside Zhao Hanzhang, introducing the arrangements for this time as they approached the city gate, "Your Majesty highly values Governor Zhao and has arranged a room for you at the post station, but would you prefer to stay at the post station or at the Chief of Staff’s residence?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I have always lived in Yu State, far from Yun City, unable to fulfill filial duties before my granduncle. Now that there’s an opportunity, naturally, I want to serve my granduncle."

She asked with a smile, "Is the post station far from the Zhao Mansion?"

"Not far, not far, just three streets away."

That was indeed quite a distance, so Zhao Hanzhang instantly made her decision, "I will also have my people stay at the Zhao Mansion. The post station can be left for other Inspectors. I will disturb my granduncle."

"Yes, yes," the Minister of the Ministry of Rites wiped the sweat off his forehead. As the city gate came closer, he had to speak, "Governor Zhao, with so many soldiers entering the city, it might alarm the public. How about having them camp outside the city?"

Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, pulling her horse to a halt, "Is Yun City not large enough to accommodate even a thousand people?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites offered an embarrassed smile, "Well, Governor Zhao, this is the Great General’s wish, so..."

Zhao Hanzhang slightly raised an eyebrow and graciously said, "Alright."

She turned and instructed Zeng Yue, "Have them camp outside the city gate. You bring a squad of personal soldiers to enter the city with us."

"Understood!"

The Minister quickly asked, "How many people is the Governor bringing into the city?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and then said, "Not many, just two sections."

Two sections, which is twenty people, constitute the personal soldiers, but there were also servants, soldiers escorting the gifts, officials from Zhao Hanzhang’s entourage, and others, amounting to around a hundred people entering the city.

The Minister’s gaze swept over these people; it wasn’t too crazy for a governor to bring a hundred people into the city. He hurriedly moved his horse two steps forward to lead the way for Zhao Hanzhang.

Because of his presence, the city gate did not need to be inspected. Everyone knew he was representing the emperor to receive the Yu State Governor, and the city gate was cleared early, waiting for the party to enter.

The Minister rode in the front. As they approached the city gate, a raggedly dressed man stumbled out of the city, and an arrow whooshed after him from behind, flying over the man’s head straight at the Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze sharpened, the smile on her face slightly faded, and she looked in the direction the arrow came from. Her hand quickly moved; she grabbed the Minister’s back collar and pulled, causing him to fall back uncontrollably. The arrow flew past him, missing by three inches. Her personal soldier behind drew his sword and chopped off the arrow. Simultaneously, Zeng Yue had drawn his bow and shot an arrow towards the opposite direction.

The scene fell into chaos, and the soldiers at the city gate drew their swords in panic, glancing inside and then looking out at Zhao Hanzhang, their faces drained of color.

The thousand-strong Zhao Family Army was not far off, still watching them.

The citizens watching the commotion at the city gates also started to stir, their faces pale, and some had already turned to flee, fearing being caught in the incident.

Zhao Hanzhang merely glanced at those running away without caring, instead holding out a hand to support the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, smilingly saying, "Minister, be careful not to strain your back."

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites was trembling, pale-faced. Just a moment ago, he was a hair’s breadth away from being hit by the arrow.

He shakily grasped the reins, forcing a smile at Zhao Hanzhang and whispered, "Thank you, Governor Zhao."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and nodded, then looked towards the city gate archway.

A lone rider emerged from the city gate, carrying a broken arrow in hand—exactly the same one Zeng Yue had shot in return.

When the two sides met, tensions ran high; Zeng Yue, furious, clenched his fists and reached for his sword handle, ready to strike on Zhao Hanzhang’s order.

However, Zhao Hanzhang was not angry, instead smiling, "Little General Gou, long time no see, I trust you have been well."

Gou Chun stared at her with a stern expression, holding up the arrow, "Zhao Hanzhang, this is your Zhao Family Army’s arrow, what is this, treating Yun City like Chen County, and Yan State like Yu State? Your subordinates discharged an arrow, injuring people here—what audacity!"

With a loud shout, Gou Chun’s men poured out behind him, drawing weapons and facing Zhao Hanzhang.

The officer guarding the city felt his head throb. He called a soldier over, whispered something, and sent him off immediately. Then, forcing a smile, he boldly placed himself between the two, "Generals, let’s talk this over calmly, calmly..."

Gou Chun glared fiercely at the city gate officer, "What are you, daring to stand between us?"

"As the City Gate Officer, failing to guard the gate, allowing an outsider to shoot arrows into the city—you showed no response to the enemy at all! This warrants execution!"

With that, he drew his long knife and swung it towards the City Gate Officer’s head, but Zhao Hanzhang’s face turned cold. She spun her spear and thrust it forward, blocking Gou Chun’s knife with a clang.

The city gate officer turned pale but remained in place, urging Gou Chun, "General, this is Governor Zhao you’re dealing with. Think twice before acting."

"I might need to think twice about killing her, but you? You’re not worth thinking twice about," snapped Gou Chun. "Men, he violated military orders, failing to guard the city gate. Take him down and execute him!"