After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 815 - 805: Change

The prolonged siege of Pingyang is due to the high walls and abundant provisions within Pingyang City. As long as the Xiongnu hold their ground and do not venture out, it is difficult for them to breach the city.

Chen Wu said, "Commander, let’s launch a strong assault and bring the scaling ladders."

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at the moat below Pingyang City and then at the height of the city walls, shaking her head, "No, a strong assault like this would cause many deaths."

Ji Yuan said, "Then we can only besiege the city, forcing them to exhaust their supplies until they have no choice but to come out."

Ming Yu said, "We can also force them to seek reinforcements from their army outside, which might delay their offensive against Yu State. The commander intends to besiege Wei to rescue Zhao; success lies in compelling them to send reinforcements."

Zhao Hanzhang did not oppose this idea and nodded, "Then let’s make a sufficient show of strong assault and force them to seek reinforcements."

Fu Tinghan saw her still frowning and asked, "Once their reinforcements return, can you breach Pingyang City?"

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "I don’t know."

Fu Tinghan: "Do you really want to breach the city?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I want to capture their emperor for use."

Fu Tinghan thought briefly before understanding, "You want to use their emperor in exchange for our emperor?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "They might not agree to an emperor for emperor exchange, but an emperor for the great uncle should not be difficult."

Ji Yuan, on the side, heard this and shook his head, "I’m afraid it’s inappropriate; they might still use Minister Zhao to threaten you. The Xiongnu are different from us; if their emperor is captured, they can simply replace him, unlike us who would be troubled by it."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "To redeem the great uncle, I can also promise them that my emperor won’t die, and I won’t establish a new emperor."

Ji Yuan raised his eyebrows; he had wanted to discuss this matter with Zhao Hanzhang for a while, but she had been too busy after returning. Now that the conversation had arrived at this topic, he asked, "With the crown prince in peril, who does the lady wish to establish as the crown prince?"

Zhao Hanzhang deferred, "Some scions have not yet been found."

"It has been reported that someone saw King Qin in Xiuwu County," Ji Yuan said. "I have already sent people to investigate. Governor Zhao should have also received the news. There has been no news about Prince Yuzhang and Prince Xindu. We believe that those two are missing or dead and are too young, so it would be better to establish King Qin as the crown prince."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Isn’t King Qin also young? He’s only ten years old; can he govern?"

Ji Yuan: "He doesn’t need to worry; isn’t the lady still here?"

Zhao Hanzhang asked: "Sir suggests I seize power and become the second Gou Xi?"

"No, I suggest you become Cao Mengde."

Is Gou Xi a good example?

Ji Yuan cast her a glance; he isn’t foolish enough to suggest she become Gou Xi,

Ji Yuan said, "Only then can you command the whole world to serve you."

Zhao Hanzhang frowned, "But establishing a new emperor involves including old ministers, with prominent families ruling independently. The Jin Dynasty... It’s not that I think highly of them, but they fight far too much, kill far too much. Back then, I let Gou Xi lead the emperor to relocate just to avoid getting caught in this vicious cycle."

"Times change," Ji Yuan said. "Now the empire is in chaos, the emperor is captured; besides you, who else can turn things around?"

He said, "During the battle of Yun City, more than half of the court officials were captured, only two or three tenths escaped, and those in minor positions dare not disobey you."

Zhao Hanzhang, upon hearing this, began to think seriously.

Ji Yuan continued with persuasion, "Commander, the empire is already in such upheaval that even distant relatives like King Langya are daring to self-proclaim as Great Alliance Leader. Who knows what might emerge in the future?"

"Why don’t you establish a legitimate authority, with the emperor in hand; you can command the world, select court ministers as you wish and do whatever you want like before." Ji Yuan lowered his voice, "Someday, when you pacify the world, everything will fall into place like Emperor Wen, and who would dare question you?"

Zhao Hanzhang, being a receptive child to persuasion, rubbed her chin and thought carefully, "Sir makes good sense, but I promised the Fifth Uncle never to overthrow Jin."

Ji Yuan whispered, "The lady is overthinking. By then, if the new emperor earnestly yields, how is it considered overthrowing Jin?"

Ming Yu tossed in as well, "The lady need not worry about this; just let things occur naturally."

During Han’s era, Cao Pi wanted to become emperor; people loyal to Han advised. Now, who craves to be Jin Minister?

Anyway, Ji Yuan and Ming Yu have long disregarded Jin.

Chen Wu hesitated at the side. He is loyal to Jin but not entirely. He is loyal to Han people, and yes, Zhao Hanzhang is also Han. Her ambition is not an issue; whoever becomes emperor, as long as the people can live stable lives, would suffice.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand and said, "First find the person. Your Majesty is still around. Even if a crown prince is appointed, he is still just a crown prince."

Zhao Hanzhang looked worriedly at the distant Pingyang City and said, "How should we take this city?"

Everyone looked anxiously at Pingyang City. In reality, if they had the time to besiege for three to five months, the provisions within the city would dwindle, surely causing chaos.

But the problem is, time doesn’t allow it.

Fu Tinghan lowered his eyes in thought, then took her aside and said, "What about using gunpowder?"

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyebrows jumped, "You said gunpowder shouldn’t be used in warfare."

Fu Tinghan took a letter out from his sleeve and showed it to her, "Once certain things are made, they are no longer under control. This is like Pandora; we thought too simply at the beginning."

Zhao Hanzhang opened the letter; it was from Qiu Wu.

He was in charge of provisioning and equipping each military unit, including the Zhao Family Army in Luoyang, which needed a few catapults and ballistae for sieges.

While preparing, Qiu Wu had a sudden idea: catapults hurling stones lack deterrent power; why not use the explosives designed for mining?

If gunpowder can blast rocks apart, it can surely blast walls apart as well.

The more Qiu Wu thought about it, the more he believed his idea was correct. He even took people to use explosives to blow up a house’s surrounding wall, confirming its collapse before excitedly telling Fu Tinghan about it in an eight-hundred-word essay, suggesting they could thus create new weapons.

So, in delivering catapults and ballistae to Luoyang, he instructed a cartful of gunpowder to be brought along, trailing two miles behind.

Covering such a vast distance, they somehow safely reached Luoyang and then transported it here.

Fu Tinghan said, "I’ve been holding onto this matter, not telling a third person, just waiting for you to make a decision. Should we use this gunpowder or not?"

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at the letter, squeezed her hand tightly, then lifted her head with a composed expression. She smiled, "Use it. It can reduce soldier casualties; why not use it?"

"Since the box is already open, we can’t evade it anymore," Zhao Hanzhang steadied her racing heart and said, "Let’s confront it; if we are to use it, then let’s use it proficiently."

This means going all out in developing firearms.