After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 905 - 891: Assigning the Veterans

The soldiers below slowly responded, an old soldier with graying beard and tattered clothes walked out, his murky eyes fixed on the military advisor, "Are you really going to release us, or is it demobilization?"

Demobilization is a policy that has emerged in the military in recent years to clear out old and injured soldiers. Of course, it’s not written down, but it’s a tacit agreement.

There are always some old disabled soldiers in the army whose roles are no longer significant, yet they consume food daily. Some armies want to get rid of such people and will send them to die on the front lines during war;

Or simply throw them away in unison to reduce consumption, commonly known as demobilization.

Zu Ti counted the old and disabled soldiers, indeed not intending to keep them, as it was not meaningful, yet he did not want them to be sent to die on the front lines or directly abandoned, so he wrote to Zhao Hanzhang, informing her of the counted number of old and disabled soldiers, seeking a fund to release them.

But Zhao Hanzhang really had no money left.

Now, the entire country is at war, coupled with severe drought and locust plagues, all regions are asking her for money. Where could she spare money to release the old and injured soldiers?

But she couldn’t ignore it either.

If she didn’t know it was one thing, but since she knew, she naturally wouldn’t allow the army to send them to die.

So after weighing the options, she made this arrangement.

Made nearby arrangements for the old and injured soldiers.

Simultaneously, she also instructed Fan Ying, Chen Si Niang, and others to deploy personnel from various parts of Yu State to Qingzhou to help with construction, mainly to set up workshops, accommodate the orphans, widows, old and injured soldiers there.

The military advisor knew what they were thinking, suspecting that Lord Zhao, like the former generals, would abandon them. He then said sternly, "Lord Zhao cares about the people and has a kind heart, unlike the old generals. This isn’t abandonment, but release, arranging a way out for you!"

He lifted his chin and said, "Lord Zhao has already sent people over, and by then Qingzhou will also have brick workshops, glazed workshops, book bureaus, and paper workshops. These places all need people, and you have the priority right to work in the workshops."

"Besides that, the released old and injured soldiers can each receive twenty mu of permanent occupation land. During busy farming times, the army will try to help with farming," the military advisor said, "I know things are tough for you, but today, the world is in chaos, natural disasters are rampant, the country is also very difficult, and Lord Zhao is also very difficult. In such difficult times, she still thinks of us, so we must do our best to ease her worries and solve problems."

The old soldiers were still half-convinced, mainly because they were not from the Zhao Family Army or even Zu Ti’s soldiers, but originally from Qingzhou and Youzhou. Would that Lord Zhao be so kind?

Fact proved, Zhao Hanzhang is indeed so kind.

The military advisor said they would be given land, and the county magistrates from various county governments honestly brought the booklets to lead them, with the booklet showing the land parcels.

The military advisor decided directly, selecting several parcels of land from those booklets to arrange for them. The land for these old and disabled soldiers was all arranged in one place, each family had twenty mu, with both fields and land, seemingly well-distributed with more fertile land and less barren land.

The county magistrates and the brought chief clerks transferred their registration on the spot, henceforth changing them from soldiers to ordinary citizens.

Not only that, but the army also represented them to negotiate with the county magistrates, securing a lot of settlement policies for them.

For example, the county government must support them with some supplies as they need to build houses and need food and drinks...

That new military advisor, although young, was harsh and even demanded that some county governments provide people to lay foundations and build houses for them.

While negotiating, the old and injured soldiers were lining up for registration and land distribution, listening all over, their hearts were jumping around nervously.

It seemed those county magistrates were a bit afraid of that new military advisor, although their expressions were not so good, they agreed to most of his demands.

So, do they have land, wood, and straw to build houses?

Zuo Min saw it all and couldn’t help but go to Zu Ti, "General, that Zhao Shi is too much. In just two days, the soldiers in the army are loyal to Zhao Hanzhang, especially those old and injured soldiers. They know only Zhao Hanzhang, where do they still know the General?"

Zu Ti looked at him briefly and said, "In a few more days, talents drawn from various counties in Yu State by Lord Zhao will arrive, these are the people supporting Qingzhou."

"Zuo Min, you must remember, although Lord Zhao holds the position of Yu State Governor, she is not just a governor, whereas I, the new Qingzhou Governor, am just a governor," Zu Ti said, "Change your perspective on her, and you’ll understand."

Zu Ti said meaningfully, "A country only needs one ruler."

If one sees Zhao Hanzhang merely as Yu State Governor, they’ll naturally feel unbalanced, after all, they’re both governors, why should Zhao Hanzhang interfere in Qingzhou’s affairs?

Moreover, let the soldiers and civilians only know her, and not know Zu Ti, the Qingzhou Governor. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

But what if viewed from a different angle?

Zhao Hanzhang is the ruler, he is the minister. The people knowing the ruler but not the minister, isn’t that very normal?

Zuo Min was startled and stuttered, "Is she going to rebel?"

Zu Ti sternly glanced at him and said in a serious tone, "Stop talking nonsense. The current emperor is the young lord, but I do not recognize the Sima family, only Zhao Hanzhang as my lord."

Zuo Min understood.

Zu Ti simply did not regard the Sima family, he originally intended to go to Yu State to join Zhao Hanzhang, now he is just more firm in his thought.

Zuo Min stopped bothering about Zhao Shi.

Though Zhao Shi was young, he had been brought up well. He sensed the changes in the army atmosphere, and recently, the previously conflicting Zuo Min was very friendly towards him, so friendly it gave him goosebumps.

So he wrote letters to Zhao Kuan, Zhao Xin, and other siblings to express his troubles, and felt that he should send more, it seemed wasteful to send so little, and maybe the siblings aren’t smart enough to solve his troubles.

So he pulled out the letter paper again to write to Zhao Cheng and Zhao Ming, hoping the elders could also give him some advice.

Oh dear, since he was asking elders, it seems inappropriate not to ask Third Sister, so Zhao Shi also wrote a letter to Zhao Hanzhang.

The next day, one of his servants carried a package and went out with one of his personal soldiers to deliver the letters.

Zuo Min saw this, although he had mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but feel envious. Having connections is really good, directly linking up to talk with the boss’s boss.

It was still a long time before Zhao Hanzhang received the letter, as she had just followed the army to garrison in Anping Country.

Shi Le was also in the army, he was heavily injured, temporarily unable to make big moves, so Zhao Hanzhang took him wherever she went.

As for Shunyang County, Zhao Hanzhang let Fan Ying go to accept the surrender, Zhao Kuan departed from Luoyang, leading officials and the army to respond.

By then, Shi Le’s strategist Zhang Bin would come to meet Zhao Hanzhang and Shi Le.

Honestly speaking, Zhao Hanzhang had long coveted Zhang Bin.

As they were talking, Ting He came in and reported loudly, "Miss, Mr. Ming has returned."