After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 839 - 827: Alliance

The main gate of the Wei Family residence was being knocked on loudly. Instantly, the Wei Family members huddled in the main hall shrank back. Mrs. Wei nervously curled up, frantically looking around for a place to hide herself.

Wei Chao tightly embraced his mother, and turned to his hesitant father, saying: "Father, please, go out and surrender. Governor Zhao is known for her leniency; she will forgive us."

Mr. Wei clenched his fists nervously, "But if she finds out our family is related to Shi Le, how could she spare us?"

Wei Chao stomped his foot and said, "What kind of in-law are we? Sister was taken as a concubine by force. With Governor Zhao’s vision and magnanimity, she surely wouldn’t blame us for this. Father, if we keep waiting, and the Zhao Family Army thinks we’re resisting and storms the mansion, do you think these household guards can hold them off?"

A young man beside them fervently agreed, "Brother, she managed to capture such a large city like Zhencheng within half a day. How could she not take down our small Wei Mansion?"

Only then, trembling, did Mr. Wei get up and go with the steward to open the door.

Wei Chao entrusted his mother to his aunt and grandmother and followed them.

The gate swung wide open. Although the Zhao Family Army outside was somewhat resentful that they took so long to open the door, and their expressions were grim, they didn’t make things particularly difficult. They simply said with sullen faces, "Where is your Family Head? Governor Zhao summons him. Prepare yourselves to come with us."

Mr. Wei’s knees went weak, almost causing him to kneel down.

Wei Chao hurriedly stepped forward, paid his respects, and asked, "May I know why the Inspector is summoning us?"

"How would we know that? You’re told to come, so come. So much nonsense. Hurry up, we’ve got other families to call upon," they replied.

They needed to call on three families and had already spent too much time at the Wei family.

Seeing his father’s immense fear, Wei Chao asked, "I am the son of the Family Head, may I accompany them?"

The Zhao Family Army casually waved their hand, "Sure, come along."

They didn’t much regard the pale Mr. Wei, thinking that if the Inspector was looking for someone to discuss matters with, it should naturally be someone capable and courageous.

This unit led the father and son to knock on the next family’s door.

Their knocking was rough, with loud banging sounds, as if they might break the door down. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Yet, the people inside didn’t open the door for a long while, and the soldiers did not hurl insults or break in.

When they reached the third house, the Yan Family, things almost escalated to a fight, but the Zhao Family Army didn’t kill anyone. They simply beat down their household guards and dragged the Family Head, Yan Qing, away.

The gentry and village elders of Zhencheng were difficult to summon because Shi Le had once stationed here for a period.

At that time, perhaps to survive or perhaps seeing potential in Shi Le, many families sided with him. This allegiance wasn’t like in Dunqiu, where they simply gave money (or plunder) and goods; they even contributed people.

Now, many families had members serving in Shi Le’s Army, making them fear Zhao Hanzhang’s reckoning.

However, Zhao Hanzhang merely listened and then asked if they were committed to following Shi Le.

Everyone naturally shook their heads. If Shi Le didn’t invade, how could these families who are only relatively wealthier than ordinary people consider allying with him?

It was merely to survive and have a slightly less difficult life.

Zhao Hanzhang then smiled at them and said, "That’s good. If you are determined to follow Shi Le, I would have no choice but to ask you to leave Zhencheng. After all, a city can only have one master."

Everyone subtly exhaled a sigh of relief, but still kept their backs straight, awaiting Zhao Hanzhang’s next words.

Zhao Hanzhang took a sip from the tea bowl and said to them, "As for family members working for Shi Le, that doesn’t concern me. It’s common for fathers and sons, or even spouses, to have differing political views. Everyone should just follow their heart."

"However, since you’ve chosen me, Zhao, then you must remain loyal to me and to Jin State," Zhao Hanzhang said sternly. "I can forgive your tactical interactions with the enemy for survival, but you must not lose your principles and bottom line."

Everyone lowered their heads and agreed, and seeing that Zhao Hanzhang truly wasn’t going to hold them accountable, everyone breathed another sigh of relief.

Zhao Hanzhang met with these gentry and village elders individually and also saw the younger family members they brought along. No one knew what she discussed with them privately.

Anyway, by the next morning, Zhao Hanzhang had chosen a new County Magistrate for Zhencheng.

It was Wei Chao, just seventeen years old, especially young among the gentry and village elders, leaving everyone puzzled as to why she chose him, including Mr. Wei.

To be honest, Mr. Wei felt a bit envious.