After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 810 - 800

Zhao Hanzhang stormed into Lu County, heading straight for the Inspector Mansion and ordered people to guard all city gates, "Bring Zhi Hei and others, find Shi Le’s wife and children."

Zhao Hanzhang paused and then said, "Treat them with courtesy, don’t frighten them."

Originally, Yuan Li was filled with killing intent, but upon hearing the order, he immediately restrained his demeanor, bowed his head and acknowledged, then led people to investigate.

Shi Le currently has two sons; his biological son named Shi Xing, who is also the Princely Heir, and his adopted son named Shi Kan, his wife Liu. When Zhao Hanzhang broke into the Inspector Mansion, everyone had already fled, leaving only a dozen servants who hadn’t had time to escape in the large mansion.

Zhao Hanzhang did not make things difficult for them. After confirming their identities, she treated them as captives, screened them, keeping the skilled ones, and those without skills were transferred to civilian status and given land to farm.

She waited in the main hall for news, and until nightfall, Yuan Li came to report, "Shi Kan is captured, but he covered Liu and the Princely Heir Shi Xing’s escape and was severely injured, barely clinging to life."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Can you find out their whereabouts?"

Yuan Li bowed his head.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed and said, "Try to save him; if he can’t be saved, bury him properly. Send a team to pursue; we must capture Shi Xing."

"Yes." Yuan Li was about to leave when Zhao Hanzhang suddenly called him back, "You personally lead the pursuit."

Zhao Hanzhang’s expression was serious, "They don’t have many places to go. To the south... all occupied by me, they likely headed towards Pingyang or to Guangping County."

Yuan Li solemnly agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang: "Capture them alive!"

After Yuan Li left, Ming Yu said, "Do you plan to use Shi Xing to trade for the Emperor? Shi Le and Liu Cong probably won’t agree."

"Ah?" Zhao Hanzhang said: "I plan to trade for my elder cousin, they certainly won’t use the Emperor for exchange. To trade for the Emperor..."

Zhao Hanzhang suddenly had an idea, speaking softly, "It must be the Emperor."

"Oh, how did I forget Liu Yuan," Zhao Hanzhang murmured, "If we can capture him, perhaps we can exchange for the Emperor and court officials."

Ming Yu: ...

He endured but couldn’t hold back, "Are you serious?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, "Trying won’t hurt, since Your Majesty is already captured, dwelling on it is useless, better to think about how to maximize benefits."

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze was deep, saying quietly, "For instance, we can reclaim lost territories in Bingzhou and Jizhou."

Ming Yu paused then asked, "And then, do you plan to establish a new Emperor?"

If she really reached Pingyang City, why establish a new Emperor, just inviting trouble?

Zhao Hanzhang deflected, "We’ll address that when the time comes."

Ming Yu was not loyal to Jin State, understanding Zhao Hanzhang’s implications, hoping for it as well, and nodded.

From Shangdang County westward, one could attack Pingyang County. Zhao Hanzhang instructed Mi Ce and Li Tian to recover Guangping County by heading east, while she proceeded to Pingyang to join Fu Tinghan, traveling and fighting through to meet.

Shi Le and Liu Cong never imagined Yu State wouldn’t be threatened by Emperor Jin, leaving Liu Cong feeling the Emperor in his hands useless.

Liu Cong’s gaze toward Emperor Jin grew increasingly shadowed, so Shi Le didn’t kill Gou Xi and Gou Chun.

Even the Emperor’s life couldn’t make Zhao Hanzhang retreat a step, what’s the point of killing Gou Xi?

Hence, Shi Le directly appointed Gou Xi as Left General, planning to use him to seize Yan State and Yu State.

Yun City fell, most of western and northern Yan State regions were occupied by Shi Le and Liu Cong, leaving only parts of the southern and eastern cities holding on, Shi Le planned to take Gou Xi, the former Governor of Yan State, to subdue these cities, before attacking Yu State.

"Report——"

A messenger raced over holding a letter, shouting, "Great General, urgent report from eight hundred miles, Lu County has fallen!"

Shi Le’s face changed color, he grabbed the letter, tore it open, inside stating Zhao Hanzhang had captured eight cities, already occupying Lu County, his vision darkened, hurriedly asking, "Where is the Princely Heir?"

The messenger, panting, said, "The Princely Heir and the Lady’s whereabouts are unknown, Mr. Kan is captured, severely injured, living or dead remains uncertain."

Shi Le crushed the letter.

Zhi Xiong anxiously said, "Great General, we should quickly return to Shangdang."

"We cannot return!" Zhang Bin hurried over, speaking to Shi Le, "General, do not forget our original plan, we predicted Shangdang’s fall, returning doesn’t help now, better to seize Yan State, Yu State, then counterattack."

Shi Le slowly shredded the letter to pieces, expressionless saying, "Sir is right, what man fears having no sons? Men, mobilize, we’re heading to Yu State!"

This time, he wouldn’t initiate from Meng County, but to attack from Yan State’s border!

Moreover, he had allies.

Shi Le was a subject of the Han Kingdom, Shangdang wasn’t merely Shi Le’s Shangdang, it was the Xiongnu Khanate’s too.

Especially given Shangdang’s strategic location, Liu Cong couldn’t just watch Shangdang be lost, so upon Shi Le’s report, the pair devised a new plan.

Shi Le would forcefully attack Yu State, compelling Zhao Hanzhang’s troops to aid, while Liu Cong invaded Jizhou, regaining the lost cities in Jizhou and Bingzhou.

Liu Cong took Emperor Jin northward, numerous Jin ministers, seeing the Emperor captured, either for him or sensing hopelessness deep inside, surrendered cities one after another.

With Yan State’s northern regions, Jizhou’s southern regions, even Qingzhou’s southern areas occupied by Xiongnu, Zhao Zhongyu was deeply grieved, couldn’t help but approach the Emperor, "Your Majesty, if this continues, Jin will surely perish."

The Emperor wore plain clothes, his treatment was even inferior to Zhao Zhongyu and other Jin ministers, although not imprisoned, confined to a fixed area, sometimes summoned to amuse and humiliate by Liu Cong. Upon seeing Zhao Zhongyu, he couldn’t hold back tears, asked chokingly, "As hostages, what can we possibly do?"

Zhao Zhongyu said, "Your Majesty, you should end your life."

The Emperor trembled lips, shocked, looked at Zhao Zhongyu, speechless.

Zhao Zhongyu kneeled before him, cried, "Only through Your Majesty’s demise can they no longer feel threatened, furthermore, grief might spark a counterattack, I beg Your Majesty to take your life."

The attendants beside the Emperor hearing this, all kneeled, trembling in fear.

Zhou Neijian stepped forward on his knees, pushed Zhao Zhongyu aside, trembling saying, "Minister Zhao, how dare you!"

The Emperor’s legs trembled, shakingly knocked the teapot on the table to the ground, picked up a porcelain shard, tried to raise his hand but couldn’t, handing it to Zhao Zhongyu instead, "My dear courtier, do it."

Zhao Zhongyu’s face turned pale, repeatedly shaking his head, "How dare I slay the Emperor?"

The Emperor bitterly smiled, couldn’t help but mock, "My dear courtier, forcing me to end my life, what difference does it make with you killing me?"

Zhao Zhongyu tearfully said, "Your Majesty’s words are deadly upon me, I never intended to survive alone, on the path to the netherworld, I would still serve Your Majesty, but indeed I dare not kill you."

The Emperor and Zhao Zhongyu both wept, in the end, the Emperor couldn’t muster the courage to end his life, Zhao Zhongyu naturally dared not kill him, thus the matter was let go.

Yet seeing Liu Cong’s triumphant advance, sweeping through territories effortlessly, he was anxious, knowing earlier under his hand the realm might fall, four years ago he shouldn’t have ascended to the throne to become Emperor.