After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 927 - 912: Sincere Advice

Zhao Hanzhang rolled up the blueprint and looked at Shi Le: "General Shi, hand over those people. This case must be thoroughly investigated. It’s not only to bring justice to the arrested, but also to the victims, and even to General Shi yourself."

Shi Le paused for a moment and asked, "What about the items?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "You hold onto them first."

Shi Le decided he would spend everything once he returned.

Thinking about Zhao Hanzhang’s words, Shi Le suppressed the urge to misuse those items. Forget it, doing more good deeds is beneficial. Later, he would distribute half to relieve the refugees.

As for the remaining half, it would naturally be used as military pay.

Ordinary people in the Shi Army lived quite harshly too. Poor supply of provisions was a common occurrence.

Shi Le wanted to act immediately, so he went back to confer with Zhang Bin.

After Zhang Bin heard Shi Le recount Zhao Hanzhang’s words, he immediately praised: "Governor Zhao is indeed favored by heaven; her words are extremely sensible."

He also advised Shi Le: "Master, you should have done this long ago. If we desire long-lasting prosperity, we must conform to the will of heaven, whose virtue is in fostering life. Thus, we must reduce the killing."

He continued: "Among renowned ministers whose legacy persists, some may not love the people, but absolutely none are wantonly slayers. Master, in future, you not only need to change the habit of killing prisoners and citizens, but also restrain the army, ensuring no violations throughout the ranks."

Zhang Bin earnestly urged, "Zhao Hanzhang is different from Liu Yuan, and the Zhao Family Army is different from the Xiongnu Army. Since the Zhao Family Army set out from Xiping to fight everywhere, no matter how difficult times were, a peasant robbery was never heard of, showing the strict discipline of the army. Although Zhao Hanzhang always wears a smile, her character is very strong. Even if the master holds a large army, if you break the military rule she established, I fear there will be no leniency."

"You’ve already served under three masters, changing again would harm your reputation," Zhang Bin said. "So you must not commit a major fault that touches her bottom line."

Shi Le, proudly, scoffed, "If we can’t find a master to serve, then I’ll establish myself as king. Why bother honoring them as masters?"

Zhang Bin was helpless, thinking: If he had said this a month ago, Zhang Bin would have wholeheartedly agreed. If spoken today, he could have organized an enthronement ceremony the next day. But now they are under Zhao Hanzhang’s command, with their territories all taken. If he established himself now, he would either wander the world or become a bandit king on a mountain.

That’s not what Zhang Bin wanted.

Shi Le also realized this; he frowned and said, "We still need our own territory."

Otherwise, if there was a quarrel with Zhao Hanzhang, there wouldn’t be a place to go, it would be too frustrating.

"It’s infuriating that Shangdang was taken by Zhao Hanzhang; among the many counties in Bingzhou, only Jinyang is not under her control now." If Zhao Hanzhang weren’t in Jinyang now, Shi Le would have considered killing Liu Kun to take Jinyang.

This place is easy to defend and difficult to attack; with Liu Kun’s pig-like military talent, he managed to hold Jinyang for so many years. Shi Le was confident he could hold it even longer.

Perhaps, with Jinyang’s development for a few more years, they could even devour other areas of Bingzhou to the south.

Just thinking about it made Shi Le’s blood boil, but any thought involving Zhao Hanzhang quickly quelled the excitement.

Forget it, Zhao Hanzhang has even figured out Jinyang’s iron mines; could she leave Jinyang to Liu Kun?

If she wouldn’t leave Jinyang to Liu Kun, how could Shi Le snatch it from her?

Having pondered over it, Shi Le finally gritted his teeth and said, "We’ll have to seize Youzhou as soon as possible. Zhao Hanzhang promised me, if Youzhou is captured, it’ll be mine in the future."

Zhang Bin reminded him, "You’re supposed to lead troops to Youzhou to take office. You are the Youzhou Governor, Youzhou still belongs to Great Jin, it’s not yours,"

Zhang Bin said, "You only have the right to use it."

The ownership is still in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands.

Shi Le didn’t mind: "Having the right to use is enough. After using it for a long time, who really knows whose it is?"

He said, "By then we should follow what you advised: treat the people well, win their hearts, and make them know only Shi Le in Youzhou, not Zhao Hanzhang of Yu State, nor Great Jin’s Emperor."

Then, wouldn’t Youzhou be his inside and out?

Zhang Bin felt it would be hard for Shi Le to achieve this, but people always need encouragement, so he nodded with a smile, showing agreement.

Shi Le rubbed his fists eagerly, "How long will Zhao Hanzhang linger in Jinyang? When will she go to fight Wang Jun?"

Zhang Bin thought for a moment and said, "Lord Zhao should be waiting."

Shi Le frowned, paused, and asked, "Waiting for the Xiongnu Army to fully withdraw into Youzhou?"

Zhang Bin nodded.

"To Lord Zhao, Wang Jun is not a threat. What’s noteworthy is the Eastern Xianbei behind Wang Jun. She’s trying to pull Wang Jun and Eastern Xianbei, who have always stayed independent, into the fray. The muddier the water, the better it is to fish," Zhang Bin said. "Lord Zhao is indeed kind; this way, the losses of Zhao Family Army will be greatly reduced."

If Eastern Xianbei allied with Wang Jun to first resist the Xiongnu, Zhao Hanzhang might indeed become the fisherman, striking when all three have worn each other down.

Shi Le: "If things happen as Zhao Hanzhang anticipates, what purpose will we serve? Charging into battle? Regardless of the merit, if we exert such minimal effort, what if Zhao Hanzhang regrets it later and doesn’t give me Youzhou?"

Zhang Bin laughed, "Even if you don’t become Youzhou Governor, there will be another governorship for you. With the forces in your hands, you’re bound to be a governor."

Otherwise, where could accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers?

"If she wants me to go south, would you be willing?"

Zhang Bin immediately shook his head, "No way, master, the Jie Clan in your army constitutes more than half; they are not suited to the southern climate. Also, the Jiangnan aristocratic family stands strong, with local clan power exceeding that of the court. Given your temperament, going south would be nothing but harmful and unprofitable."

Zhang Bin suspected either Shi Le would end up attacking all the Jiangnan aristocrats or that the Jiangnan aristocrats would tear Shi Le apart.

Shi Le: "Exactly, in the current situation, except for Bingzhou, only Youzhou is most suitable for our development."

So how to make Zhao Hanzhang use him to take Youzhou, achieving significant merits so she has no choice but to grant him Youzhou?

Zhang Bin was also pondering, then his eyes slightly brightened after a moment, and he whispered, "I have an idea, but it’s particularly risky for the master. It depends on whether the master dares to try."

Shi Le asked, "What idea?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Zhang Bin whispered, "Feigned surrender!"

Zhang Bin’s suggestions always reached Shi Le, so even though this idea was too bold and inconceivable, Shi Le wasn’t too shocked but immediately contemplated its feasibility.

Surrendering to Wang Jun seemed not impossible.

Shi Le and Zhang Bin exchanged looks, immediately deciding to find Zhao Hanzhang.

They had to act before the Xiongnu Army completely withdrew into Youzhou; otherwise, by then, Wang Jun might lack the energy to entertain him and could even be suspicious.