After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 864 - 850: The Situation in Jibei

Zhao Hanzhang raised the Thousand-mile Eye in her hand and said, "I saw it with this."

Zhao Ming looked at the Thousand-mile Eye and frowned, "Saw it?"

"Yes, I read it from his lip movements."

Zhao Ming: "...You can read lips too?"

"It’s not hard. Just watch a few times and learn for a few days, and you’ll remember it."

Zhao Ming: "He was speaking in the Jie language, right?"

"We have Jie people in the army. I learned the Jie language from them," Zhao Hanzhang said. "Not just Jie, I also speak Xiongnu and can read their lips too."

Seeing Zhao Ming’s somewhat incredulous expression, Zhao Hanzhang eagerly suggested, "Why don’t you test me? You don’t need to make a sound, or I can watch from a distance and still tell what you’re saying."

Zhao Ming knew many languages; it was said he even knew several smaller languages from the Western Regions and a few dialects from the Baiyue, totaling twelve languages altogether.

Zhao Hanzhang had always been good at languages, and after she lost her sight, she became even better, remembering a new language just by listening to it a few times, even if she couldn’t speak, she could understand.

And understanding is not far from speaking.

Zhao Ming studied her carefully, gradually relaxing, with a slight smile, "No wonder you’re a Zhao Family member."

Curious about Zhao Hanzhang’s lip-reading ability, he gestured for her to go a bit further to test it.

Zhao Hanzhang, with her interest piqued, immediately took the telescope and ran to a distant spot.

To let her see his mouth’s movement when speaking, Zhao Ming went to the doorway, checked the distance, then turned and said to Ting He, "Girls like her have become more foolish. I told her to go, and she really went."

Ting He: ...

Seeing it all clearly through the telescope, Zhao Hanzhang: "..."

After finishing a sentence, Zhao Ming paused, then continued in Xiongnu, still speaking to Ting He: "Tell your lady that her marriage with Ting Han has been delayed long enough. After this war is over, she must get married. By now, Ting Han is highly sought after, and many want him."

These years, as Zhao Hanzhang studied various barbaric languages, Ting He also learned a bit from the side. Though her learning ability wasn’t as strong as Zhao Hanzhang’s, she could understand the basics.

So she understood it.

She nodded in deep agreement.

Holding the telescope, Zhao Hanzhang thought: Was she intentionally delaying the marriage? Wasn’t it all because of the war and unexpected events?

This time, without pause, Zhao Ming continued, switching to Jie: "Wang Cheng is dead. No matter how much you disliked him, you should give him a grand burial now. The greater his fame, the more Wang Dun and King Langya will lose popular support."

Zhao Hanzhang put down the telescope, contemplating. She hadn’t thought about giving Wang Cheng a posthumous title or designation, mainly because she didn’t think he deserved it.

But if it were to maximize the benefit of his death, it might not be impossible.

Zhao Hanzhang took the telescope back, immediately called her subordinates, and assigned the matter to them.

Now that she had appointed a new Crown Prince, many official positions were also available for new appointments, allowing her to form a new court.

Previous ministers were either dead or captured by Liu Cong, so the new court positions were empty. Zhao Hanzhang felt no psychological burden, directly using her own people.

As for the Crown Prince, he was still reviewing the Mao Poetry and Analects. Once he revisited them thoroughly, he’d continue studying further.

So all state affairs were entrusted to Zhao Hanzhang.

The officials drafted the posthumous title, and Zhao Hanzhang proclaimed it in the name of the Crown Prince. This was the court’s generous award for Wang Cheng, encouraging those supporting the Northern Expedition that their choice was right.

If they expel the enemy, they could earn merits and recognition. Even in death, they could receive a posthumous title and be honored after death...

Following King Langya, what would they gain?

Information transmission takes time, and fermentation also requires some time. After announcing it to the world, Zhao Hanzhang turned her attention to the Jibei region.

She summoned Fan Ying and said, "Contact General Beigong and the people in Jibei immediately to inquire about the situation there."

Fan Ying responded and left.

Shi Le received the information, and Zhao Hanzhang also received the reports from Jibei the next day, only a day late.

In the past two months, the situation in Jibei has changed drastically.

The Jibei area was initially under Liu Kun’s control. At the beginning of the year, they fought a battle for Jibei, but before he could warm the seat, Liu Cong, with Emperor Jin in tow, retreated all the way through Jizhou.

He fought all the way from Jinan to Jibei.

In battles against Zu Ti in Jinan, he had mixed results. Later, when Beigong Chun came to support Zu Ti, Liu Cong lost more often, so he decided not to stubbornly contest Jinan; having taken just a dozen cities, he turned north.

In Jibei, because Liu Kun’s control over these places was limited, and his direct military presence was insufficient, the cities were relatively easier to conquer.

Especially since they had Emperor Jin and several captured civil and military ministers of Jin State.

When unable to capture a city through prolonged assault, he would parade around with Emperor Jin and the ministers. The resistance’s determination would falter, making the cities easier to conquer.

Some cities didn’t even need fighting. Just pushing Emperor Jin to the front lines would see the city gates opening for them.

This tactic was particularly effective in Jibei. However, some obstinate officials, upon seeing Emperor Jin, instead of softening, rebelled against Jin State, declaring independence.

Thus, in just two months, the Jibei area saw three princes declaring themselves independent kings. Fortunately, they hadn’t declared themselves emperors.

Zhao Hanzhang remained silent, but Liu Cong exterminated them and took their cities.

Besides Liu Cong, Wang Jun, who ignored Zhao Hanzhang’s mobilization orders, also sent forces to Jibei, telling Liu Kun that he wanted passage to attack Liu Cong.

Liu Kun cleared the way for him, but once in Jibei, Wang Jun didn’t attack Liu Cong. Instead, he seized cities and refused to leave.

For this, Liu Kun specifically wrote to Zhao Hanzhang, sending the letter through enemy-occupied zones to complain: "...His heart is malicious, his actions deceitful, truly unique in the world."

Liu Kun said, "He may indeed have treasonous intentions." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Zhao Hanzhang certainly knew Wang Jun had rebellious designs, but there was nothing she could do about him now. In fact, she hoped he would seize more territory, ideally clashing with Liu Cong.

So she wrote to Liu Kun, advising him to withdraw from Jibei and concentrate his forces in Jinyang to primarily protect it.

Ma Jing, who attacked Jinyang, hadn’t fully withdrawn his forces either, making it hard for Liu Kun to defend Jinyang.

Occasionally, Zhao Hanzhang worried that Liu Kun might lose Jinyang. Compared to Jibei, Jinyang’s location was more significant, so she preferred him to temporarily abandon Jibei and focus on defending Jinyang.

Zhao Hanzhang urged him, "Liu Cong aims for Jizhou, and Wang Jun also desires Jizhou, let them contend with each other, and perhaps we can reap the benefits."

However, Zhao Hanzhang’s strategies extended beyond this.

She pinned more hope on Ming Yu.

And Ming Yu didn’t disappoint. Not only did he succeed in fanning Liu He’s hatred for Liu Cong, but he also helped Liu He fight for more troops from Liu Cong, ensuring a fiercer battle between them.

All of this was thanks to the gold and jewels they brought along.