After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times
Chapter 172 - 167: Inspector He

Chapter 172: Chapter 167: Inspector He

He underestimated her. Governor Zhang glanced at Assistant General Qiao and couldn’t help but sigh again. He had thought this battle would be extremely tough. He was already prepared to charge into Yu Yang City if he couldn’t hold out, but unexpectedly, Zhao Hanzhang not only boosted morale but also kept a tight grip on Liu Jing, preventing him from making any impact in this battle.

Right, Governor Zhang remembered and quickly asked, "Third Lady, the army was shouting earlier that Liu Jing is dead. Is it true?"

Assistant General Qiao was just about to ask this question and immediately looked at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "I’m not sure. I shot an arrow into his heart, but his guards rescued him, and I didn’t see the body, so I can’t confirm he’s dead."

"Shot in the heart, he’s probably dead," a person beside them congratulated Governor Zhang and Zhao Hanzhang, "This is thanks to the efforts of both the governor and Miss Zhao."

Assistant General Qiao stepped aside and said, "Governor Zhang, Miss Zhao, please, the governor invites you."

So, the group followed Assistant General Qiao into the city, while the army remained outside.

Qiu Wu and Ji Ping, whose presence was uncertain, appeared. They looked around, saw that the army was staying outside and that most of the attendants of the assistant generals and prefectural governors were also left outside, so they left their subordinates as well and followed Zhao Hanzhang into the city.

Assistant General Qiao glanced at them. Zhao Hanzhang said indifferently, "They are my two guards. The elders at home were worried and ordered them to follow me at all times. If it’s inconvenient for the governor for them to enter, I’ll have them stay outside."

It wasn’t that the Inspector wouldn’t be inconvenienced, but even if he was, Assistant General Qiao wouldn’t dare to say it in front of so many people.

They were all part of the Jin Army, and if it was inconvenient, what was the Inspector planning to do?

Would Governor Zhang and the others still dare to enter the city?

They had at least twenty thousand men left, and if these two thousand men caused a commotion...

Assistant General Qiao forced a smile and said, "Since they are Miss Zhao’s personal guards, they may come along."

During the skirmish, he was watching from the city wall, as was the Inspector. They both saw Zhao Hanzhang’s martial prowess and abilities, not believing she ever needed guards around her.

Yu Yang County was not small and looked about the same as Shangcai County, but it was very desolate at this moment. The roads were almost empty, and every household’s doors and windows were tightly shut. Some houses near the city gates were even abandoned.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang look at the dilapidated houses along the road, Assistant General Qiao said, "The Xiongnu Army’s siege brought rocks that damaged the houses. Is this the first time Miss Zhao has seen this?"

"No," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "It was the same when Xiping County was breached, if not more ruined than this."

Assistant General Qiao was surprised, "Xiping County was breached?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled gently, "Yes, but fortunately, the rebellious forces have been driven away, and the city gates and walls are currently being repaired."

Although Yu Yang was under siege, information could still be relayed, and court documents could be delivered inside. Otherwise, how could He Ci Shi issue orders for increased taxes from each county or command each county and district to send reinforcements while being besieged? She didn’t believe Assistant General Qiao wouldn’t know.

Assistant General Qiao did know, but since the Inspector didn’t want him to know, he could only pretend not to know.

He Ci Shi was waiting for them in the county government.

When they arrived, He Ci Shi was sitting on the couch eating. Upon seeing them, he immediately dragged his shoes and went to greet them, saying after welcoming them in, "You are all great contributors. I should have come to greet you personally, but my old illness acted up, and I get dizzy if I haven’t eaten past mealtime, so I had to return home for a meal first."

He Ci Shi invited everyone to sit down, asking people to bring food and drink, "Everyone has fought courageously, you must be hungry. Let’s eat first, and we can talk after we’ve finished."

Governor Zhang, looking troubled, said, "Governor, we’re dirty from the battlefield and too unkempt to meet you like this."

He Ci Shi laughed, "There’s no such formality on the battlefield. Look at me; I have bloodstains too. Let’s eat. There’s nothing more important than eating."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing her, He Ci Shi’s smile widened, and he asked in a softened voice, "What is this young general’s name? I saw you bravely confronting the enemy from the city wall earlier, and it was truly inspiring."

Zhao Hanzhang bowed respectfully, "I am Zhao Hanzhang from Xiping, at your service, Governor."

"Xiping? Then you must be a member of the Zhao Family. May I ask who your father and grandfather are?"

He Ci Shi had just been promoted to Yu State Governor this year. Before that, he served as Ru Nan County Governor for ten years, being quite familiar with the Zhao Family.

So familiar that Zhao Hanzhang might not be as familiar as he was. He looked Zhao Hanzhang up and down but couldn’t find a memory of this person, though there was a slight familiarity.

As he was pondering, she said, "My family’s patriarch was named Qiao."

He Ci Shi’s smile froze, as he turned his head to look at her, "Zhao Qiao, Zhao Changyu is your grandfather?"

Zhao Hanzhang respectfully replied, "Yes."

He hadn’t heard of Zhao Changyu having illegitimate children outside the family, or that his children had illegitimate ones outside.

He examined Zhao Hanzhang up and down again and then said softly after a while, "You’re a young lady."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and affirmed.

He Ci Shi thought of the recent news and couldn’t help but laugh, "Good, good, well done! Women can achieve as much as men. We are ashamed, come, sit here. You should call me Grandfather in terms of relationship."

Zhao Hanzhang obediently said, "Grandfather He."

He Ci Shi laughed heartily, responding repeatedly, "Good, good. Sit down; you must be hungry after fighting for so long. I’ll have them cook you some big meat. Someone, quickly serve the food!"

The attendants hurried to call for the meal, and soon food was brought up.

He Ci Shi seemed to like Zhao Hanzhang a lot. He not only let her sit on the lower left, facing Governor Zhang but also gave her two dishes from his table.

For a younger generation and subordinates, this was significant favor and recognition.

And Zhao Hanzhang was not only a junior now but also his subordinate. She gladly accepted, but her heart was always wary, never relaxing.

From what she knew, although the Zhao Family appeared to have a good surface relationship with He Ci Shi, interacting amicably, digging deeper revealed that Zhao Changyu had apparently tricked him before, and it seemed quite severely.

He Ci Shi smiled as he watched Zhao Hanzhang eat, while internally feeling satisfied with himself, thinking: Zhao Changyu, Zhao Changyu, you wouldn’t have expected this, would you? That one day your own granddaughter would not only call me Grandfather He but also work under my command.

He Ci Shi’s smile grew bigger, and he asked Zhao Hanzhang, "Who is in charge of Xiping County now? I heard the County Magistrate position was given to Zhao Ming, but why is the County Magistrate position empty?"

Originally, the County Magistrate and Chief Clerk positions should have been decided by He Ci Shi, while the County Magistrate was appointed by the court. Unfortunately, He Ci Shi was besieged in Yu Yang at that time, overwhelmed and unable to deal with the affairs of a small county.

The Zhao Family also took advantage and directly sought the appointment from Luoyang, bypassing him.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t tell if he was planning to settle scores or genuinely just gathering information and intending to send someone over, so she paused.

But she quickly figured it out. If he really sent a County Magistrate over, she would still have ways to govern Xiping County, so she calmly said, "Currently, Hanzhang is in charge of Xiping County."

Upon saying this, everyone, including Governor Zhang, frowned.

If she had said this yesterday, everyone would have just thought it was a joke or a strategy by the Zhao Family to hide something. But after what had happened earlier, nobody underestimated her anymore and subconsciously believed what she said.

He Ci Shi also believed her. He scrutinized Zhao Hanzhang, seeing her sitting cross-legged, her back straight, wearing a faint smile, confidently and firmly looking at him.

For a moment, He Ci Shi felt like he was looking at Zhao Changyu and his mood darkened considerably.