After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1187 - 1169: Reminder

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Wang Hao can record many things every day and can see some of the chronicles and historical records of the previous dynasty and this dynasty from previous years, wandering among various official and private records, feeling delighted.

He feels that today he will record another significant event, happy!

Song brocade quietly withdrew, Zhao Hanzhang stepped over the threshold and looked down at Li Tian, who was kneeling in front of the hall door.

Among the four, Li Tian has the highest rank and the greatest power, one of the followers left to Zhao Hanzhang by Zhao Changyu. He appeared in her sight even earlier than Zeng Yue. Among the centurions, he is relatively smart and nimble, learns words quickly, and calculates quickly, so she released him early, believing he could be independent.

What a pity, only upon release did she discover he had small wisdom but lacked great insight.

Zhao Hanzhang stood in front of the four and looked at them firmly. The four were kowtowing with their heads down, not daring to look up, but they all felt the gaze cast upon them, causing their hair to stand on end.

After a long time, Zhao Hanzhang finally asked in a deeply disappointed tone, "Do you know where you went wrong?"

Li Tian’s forehead was tightly pressed to the ground, muffled, "We know, we shouldn’t have bullied Doctor Shen and Dr. Yu."

"Raise your heads."

Li Tian and the four raised their heads and then discovered Zhao Hanzhang had sat down on the threshold, looking at them coldly.

The four’s hearts sank, and they lowered their heads again.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at their eyes, seeming to see into their depths, shaking her head, "You still don’t know."

The four’s skin tightened, and they said nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed softly, asking, "Why did I let Imperial Censor Lu leave, but let you come here injured to see me?"

Because they exerted more effort in blocking Shen Ruhui and Yu Cong? Besides, they are martial men; they can walk after receiving five lashings, while Imperial Censor Lu had to be carried away?

The four cautiously glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, not daring to answer.

Zhao Hanzhang sneered coldly, "You and I have fought on the battlefield together, we are comrades, a deeper feeling than ordinary people. Imperial Censor Lu is merely my censor. If he makes a mistake, I can replace him. There are many talents in the world; I can use any of them."

"And you, because of personal feelings, I am willing to take time to teach you," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Do you wish for me to overlook past feelings, take sides, and let you go?"

Li Tian and the four hastily replied, "No dare."

"You dare not, but not do not wish," Zhao Hanzhang coldly laughed, "Then let me tell you, I will not take sides. Zhao Hu provides a lot of grain and fodder for my Zhao Family Army, his contributions are great, and he is my kin, yet when he made mistakes, I did not show leniency."

"If I favor you, then who can the wronged plead to after you have harmed them? You have personal relations with me, hence you can kneel here, while they don’t even have the chance to kneel here." Zhao Hanzhang said disappointedly, "When you join the army, the least experienced soldier has read for four years, haven’t you?"

Most recent addition to Zhao Family Army, Qi Hou replied, "Yes, I was enlisted into the army on the road during the defense of Yu State, to this day, it has been over four years."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Even the new recruits who joined a month ago can recite the military regulations of Zhao Family Army. Zhao Family Army fights for the people, fights for peace in the country. The total military regulations are only sixty-eight articles, yet after reading for four years in the army, you are still not up to their level!"

"Not to mention Shen Ruhui and Yu Cong have merits for the nation, even if they were common folk, you shouldn’t have bullied and oppressed them this way. Li Tian, remember, an official must have ability, and also character!"

Li Tian and others lowered their heads in shame.

Zhao Hanzhang said enough, waved, "Retreat."

The four answered, kowtowed once, then got up and retreated.

Their backsides injured, the four descended step by step, finally seeing Zeng Yue standing by the stairs, arms folded.

Li Tian’s complexion changed, turned his head aside and didn’t speak.

Back then among the ten centurions, he disliked Sixth Centurion Zeng Yue the most, feeling he spoke little but was sneaky, deeply scheming. Otherwise, after Qiu Wu, it should have been his turn as Fifth Centurion to become Zhao Hanzhang’s personal aide, so why did Zhao Hanzhang bypass him in selecting Zeng Yue?

Among the eleven of them, apart from the four centurions who have died in battle, the surviving ones are Zeng Yue and Zhao Ju with the highest power and status.

Nothing to say about Zhao Ju; after all, he was already a head above them, their team leader, but Zeng Yue, what is his qualification?

During the tenure of the former team leader, he was not highly regarded.

Li Tian grasped his waist, limping past him forward.

Zeng Yue dropped his arms and followed beside him, Qi Hou and the other three hadn’t expected Zeng Yue to witness these events, their faces flushed, lowering their heads silently following.

Zeng Yue looked straight ahead, saying, "The Lady hates abusing power the most, especially using her power."

Li Tian sneered, "If you hadn’t relied on power, could you be head of the Imperial Guards today?"

Zeng Yue was too lazy to argue, saying, "Seems you still don’t realize your mistake, Li Tian, relationships can be worn away. In the Nine Provinces of Northern Land, the effort you contributed doesn’t even surpass Zhao Hu. The Lady tolerated this Seventh Grandfather less, how many more times do you think she will tolerate you?"

Li Tian’s expression changed repeatedly, saying nothing.

Zeng Yue saw his face gray and pale; after all, they grew up together, fellow trained comrades. He couldn’t help but sigh, saying, "Li Tian, the Lady is different from Gou Xi and Shi Le, different from generals passed down through the ages. She lets all soldiers in the army learn to recognize words, learn numbers; do you know why?"

Li Tian was expressionless, "Because the Lady is kind-hearted."

Zeng Yue: "At first, I thought so too, but then I realized the Lady does this not only for kindness, but more for a force entirely hers but different from others."

"Teaching soldiers to recognize words, learn numbers, and read maps, judge direction, even teaching them tactics is to improve combat power. Veterans from Zhao Family Army can independently form a centurion, then a team, and pull all these people back to Zhao Family Army to expand the force;"

"Teaching them regulations and laws, and caring for civilians is to gain civilian support; strict adherence to military rules, fiercely implementing regulations is to ensure absolutely following orders." Zeng Yue said, "One command like directing an arm, this is the reason Zhao Family Army can always win."

Zeng Yue: "Zhao Family Army stationed in the East and West camps in Luoyang, Assistant General Yang Rui of the East Camp and Assistant General Lu Shao of the West Camp all joined the Lady after the defense of Yu State, because of their talents, they were promoted to team leaders as soon as they enlisted. At that time, you were of equal status with them, on par, why after years they surpassed you, becoming Assistant Generals beside the Lady while you were merely an Assistant General in the Ministry of War?"

"Was it that the Lady didn’t promote you? Didn’t give you a chance?" Zeng Yue shook his head, "None of it, Li Tian, your chance is actually the best among us, better than me, Ji Ping, and Qiu Wu, Yuan Li."

Li Tian sneered, full of disbelief, "You all have been the Lady’s trusted aides, naturally the relationship is extraordinary, now turn around to say my opportunity is the best?"