After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 802 - 792: Entrusted with an Important Duty

Chapter 802: Chapter 792: Entrusted with an Important Duty

Zhao Hanzhang looked up suddenly, "Shi Le himself is here?"

Zhao Ming nodded and said, "Five days ago, the army was pressing on our borders. I immediately sent someone to deliver a message to you, but it seems we missed each other. I dispatched Mi Ce and Yuan Li to confront the enemy. In five days, they’ve lost six battles, narrowly won two, and have lost two cities."

He said, "The morale is somewhat low right now, so I want you to stay in Yu State first, and leave Luoyang to Tinghan."

Zhao Hanzhang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, updated the military orders, appointing Beigong Chun as the Great Commander of Si Province, overseeing military affairs, and Fu Tinghan as Vice Governor, overseeing administrative affairs.

"Mobilize the troops, I’ll personally meet Shi Le." Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Have the troops I summoned arrived?"

Zhao Ming said, "Xun Xiu and Lu Xiyuan have already received their orders, each leading the Vanguard Army, and set out. The rest of the troops are still being mobilized and will arrive in batches."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, and after understanding the current situation in Yu State, she turned to mobilize the troops without even returning home.

By the time Mrs. Wang learned Zhao Hanzhang was back in Chen County, she had already mobilized the troops and left.

Mrs. Wang chased to the city gates but couldn’t even see the dust anymore.

She could only wipe her tears secretly.

Zhao Song saw her returning weeping and was very displeased, "Third Lady has gone to achieve something great, what’s there to cry about? In the end, women are just not reliable."

Zhao Ming finally finished his duties and came to comfort his father and have dinner, said expressionlessly, "Father, Third Lady is also a woman."

Zhao Song said, "How can she be compared to Third Lady? Third Lady is a lady of the Zhao Family!"

Zhao Ming said, "Third Lady is her daughter."

Zhao Song, angry, slammed the table and said, "You purely came back to provoke me, didn’t you?"

Zhao Hu, who was deep in thought beside them, was startled. He hadn’t even been listening to them and blurted out, "Definitely, Fifth Brother, you should also manage your son."

Zhao Song frowned and looked at him, "Old Seven, why haven’t you left yet?"

Zhao Ming also looked at him coldly.

Only then did Zhao Hu remember his original purpose, "Right, Fifth Brother, you still haven’t said whether we are going back to Xiping?"

Zhao Song frowned and said, "At this moment, it’s a matter of life and death for Yu State. Why would we go back to Xiping?"

"Staying here is useless; going back to Xiping is also to reassure Zi Nian for him to focus wholeheartedly on his work," Zhao Hu saw Zhao Song’s face was not good, quickly added, "Even without this battle, I also intended to go back to Xiping."

He said, "From last year to now, I’ve been traveling between Xiping, Chen County, and Luoyang, especially this year. I went from Chen County to Luoyang, then back to Chen County from Luoyang, then to Zhao Ming, and back to Luoyang, now back again. Even in my youth, I never stayed away from home for so long. Fifth Brother, I really miss Xiping, I want to go home."

Zhao Song’s expression softened, and he lowered his gaze in thought.

Zhao Ming also said, "Father, return home. Xiping needs you to oversee the situation. Third Lady and I cannot return to Xiping for the time being."

Zhao Song sighed and said, "Alright, we will go back to Xiping."

Zhao Hu sighed in relief, still quite frightened, Shi Le had already captured two cities. If they couldn’t hold them, people so brutal, would they have a way out?

It’s better to go back to Xiping.

Xiping is still far from Chen County; Shi Le should find it difficult to reach Xiping.

Zhao Song, after some thought, said, "Take Mrs. Wang and Second Lady, Fourth Lady with us."

Zhao Hu asked casually, "Why take them with us?"

"What do you mean why? You know the clan is safer, why not think about protecting the women and children first?" Zhao Song said annoyedly to him, "You’re already of age, respected by the younger generation in the clan. You should show some responsibility as an elder."

"Why are you scolding me for no reason?" Zhao Hu unhappily shouted, "How am I disrespecting as an elder?"

Zhao Ming no longer bothered with them, turned and ordered the servant, "Serve the meal quickly. After dinner, I need to return to the government office."

By the time Zhao Ming finished his meal and returned to the government office, Qiu Wu had already rushed back. Upon seeing Zhao Ming, he immediately stood up straight, "Prefectural Governor, let me lead troops to support the Inspector."

"No need for you. You stay behind to arrange and escort the provisions," Zhao Ming said, "Remember, in war, you look half to the front, half to the rear."

Qiu Wu was internally unwilling, "But the provision arrangement should originally be the responsibility of General Mi."

Zhao Ming looked up at him and said, "Qiu Wu, you need not only to prepare provisions but also weapons. Don’t forget, the weapon workshop of the Zhao Family Army is under your control, and only Zhao Family Army can enter these places."

Mi Ce and Xun Xiu can be trusted, but aren’t valuable enough to be entrusted with such secrets.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Wu’s eagerness to request battle dissipated, and after calming down, he nodded forcefully, "I will prepare now."

Watching him walk away, Zhao Ming shook his head and spoke to Yu Sima, "Qiu Wu is still too young, not steady enough."

Yu Sima smiled and said, "But with the Prefectural Governor steering the course, and he’s capable, it wouldn’t be a problem."

"Just lacking comprehensiveness," Zhao Ming thought for a moment and said, "Appoint Chen Huiniang as Granary Envoy, immediately assist Qiu Wu in arranging provisions."

Chen Huiniang, also known as Chen Si Niang, went to serve as county magistrate two years ago. She thought the name Si Niang wasn’t good, so she gave herself the name "Huiniang."

She is the second female county magistrate after Zhao Hanzhang, and has earned the locals’ trust with her strong political achievements. Zhao Ming and Zhao Hanzhang discussed her promotion to the Governor Mansion after her three-year term to see her overall performance.

Zhao Ming thought she was meticulous and steady, wanting her to handle duties like being a secretary, but Zhao Hanzhang preferred her to gain experience on the local level.

Both Yu State and Si Province recruited many female officials and female clerks, but most served in positions like clerks, chief clerks, and secretaries, rarely in positions that could govern a region.

Despite her gentle appearance, Chen Si Niang is innerly strong, making her more suitable than Fan Ying, Zhao Yunxin, and others for local experience.

She wishes to cultivate several female officials capable of governing a region.

Yu Sima then asked, "Should we ask the Inspector before transferring people?"

"In urgent matters, action can be taken without waiting, write the transfer order. I’ll inform the Inspector."

Zhao Hanzhang received this letter while traveling to the frontline, directly responded "Noted," and then sent the letter back to Zhao Ming.

Mi Ce and Xun Xiu were stationed in Ningling and Meng County, Lu Xiyuan was still on his way, facing Shi Le’s army, which claimed to be 150,000 strong.

Zhao Hanzhang first arrived at Meng County, and before entering the city gates, saw a large crowd gathered there loudly demanding to leave the city.

Zhao Hanzhang reined in her horse, Li Tian ran to greet her, "Commander!"

Zhao Hanzhang halted the horse and asked, "Where’s Xun Xiu?"

"General Xun has gone out to battle. Yesterday, they occupied a large parcel of our land, and General Xun said we must take it back."

Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "What about the civilians inside?"

"They all moved into the city in advance."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Then let them have the land."

"Ah?"

"It’s a plain; we can retake it but can’t hold it. What’s the use in fighting it? Call him back." She then turned to the people clamoring at the city gates and asked, "What’s happening with these people?"

Li Tianh and, embarrassed, said, "Two days ago, Meng County was taken by Shi Le’s Army. Though we quickly retook it, they were all terrified and wanted to flee south. General Xun ordered the city gates closed, not allowing civilians out."

Zhao Hanzhang pursed her lips, scanning the people yelling to leave, and told Li Tian, "I brought an army of 20,000. Let’s go to the camp."

"Yes!"