Chapter 485 - Fleeing from the Capital
Chapter 485 of "After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times" opens showing suspense: There are no longer twenty thousand men, thereâs not even ten thousand.After Fu Zhongshu brought... Continue the adventure!
There are no longer twenty thousand men, thereâs not even ten thousand.After Fu Zhongshu brought back twenty thousand men, Prince East Sea withheld their military rations, and with various threats and temptations, many people ran away.
Fu Zhongshu was intent on training and disciplining the troops, but the national treasury was controlled by Prince East Sea, and they couldnât get a single cent from him.
So these twenty thousand troops had to sustain themselves.
Fu Zhi sold off a lot of family property for this, even the emperor had to cut back on food and expenses to support them, but how easy is it to support twenty thousand men?
Neither of them was skilled in management, and in less than half a year, many of these twenty thousand men had already run away. With the small conflicts that occasionally broke out with Prince East Sea, the losses were even greater.
Now, they have less than ten thousand men left.
This time, when Prince East Sea left, he took away everything from the treasury before leaving.
The emperor looked at the empty storeroom and felt dizzy.
Not many were willing to stay with the emperor, but quite a few remained, all left by Prince East Sea to keep an eye on the emperor.
Though he took the troops away, he did not take all his subordinates. Everyone knows what he was planning.
Fu Zhongshu, whose hair had turned white, walked to the emperorâs side and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we should relocate the capital. Luoyang is suffering from famine, if we stay, not to mention the eight thousand soldiers, even Your Majesty will have difficulty getting food."
"No, if Your Majesty abandons Luoyang now, wouldnât that lose the peopleâs support?"
"Shut up!" Fu Zhongshu finally couldnât suppress his anger, pointing at their noses and cursing, "You want to trap the emperor in Luoyang to fulfill Prince East Seaâs desire to become emperor, donât you?"
"Donât talk nonsense, Prince East Sea has never had such rebellious intentions, itâs Gou Xi whoâs like a wolf with wild ambitions."
"And your granddaughter-in-law, Zhao Hanzhang, who occupies Yu State, dares to appoint and dismiss officials there without imperial sanction. Fu Zhongshu, do you dare say you were not behind this?"
Fu Zhongshu was furious, turning to the emperor, "Your Majesty, thereâs no more room for hesitation, we have little grain left, if we donât leave now, we might really be trapped here."
"Moreover, Prince East Sea has left with nearly thirty thousand people. If Liu Yuan finds out, he will surely send troops. By then, Luoyang, without a barrier or defense forces, is doomed."
The emperor shivered and finally realized, hurriedly saying, "Quick, pack up, we must relocate the capital immediately."
Though immediate, it wasnât that fast. They had to take concubines and palace attendants, as well as the families of leftover officials, which took two to three days just to pack.
Moreover, many were reluctant to relocate the capital, so there were various obstructions. It was only five days later that they were ready to leave the city.
By this time, news of Prince East Seaâs departure had spread across the land. Not only did Liu Yuan in Pingyang know it, but so did Zhao Hanzhang in Chen County.
Zhao Hanzhang felt a chill when she heard the news and exclaimed, "This is bad, Liu Yuan will definitely send troops!"
Ji Yuan: "Young lady, are you going to save His Majesty?"
"No, not the emperor, itâs Prince East Sea."
Ji Yuan thought he misheard, digging his ear and asking, "Youâre going to save Prince East Sea?"
"Itâs to rescue the three hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who left with Prince East Sea," Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and commanded, "Invite all the generals and subordinates."
Fan Ying acknowledged and turned away.
Ji Yuan frowned deeply, "He has over two hundred thousand people; even if Liu Yuan sends a large army, it wonât be easy for him to handle them. Isnât the emperor the one in most danger now?"
"Heâs trapped alone in Luoyang, if the Xiongnu send a large force, Luoyang will have no resistance."
Zhao Hanzhang certainly knew the emperor was in danger, but Prince East Sea was also in danger. Historically, the over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians who left with Prince East Sea were all massacred, and only then did Luoyang fall.
When all the generals and subordinates arrived and heard Zhao Hanzhang wanted to send troops to save Prince East Sea, they were momentarily puzzled, "Governor, we donât get along with Prince East Sea, do we really have to save him?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded seriously, "Of course, he has taken away the majority of the Great Jinâs officials and wealth, along with two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians. We are not to save him, but to save the court."
She said with righteous integrity, "Mobilize the troops, weâll rescue Prince East Sea and his people first, then turn to Luoyang."
The generals objected, "Governor, Prince East Sea has over two hundred thousand men. Liu Yuan may not send troops against him, even if he does, with so many troops in hand, he wonât be afraid. It would be better to first save the emperor in Luoyang."
They believed the emperor was in greater danger, and moreover, "If the governor can bring His Majesty to Yu State, wouldnât the world then follow the governorâs command in the future?"
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at them, and then became involved in endless internal strife like the Jin Dynasty?
Of course, she couldnât say that, so she declared righteously, "We are subjects of His Majesty, naturally we only heed His Majestyâs command, stop talking nonsense."
Seeing everyone opposed to saving Prince East Sea, she had to reveal a bit, "The emperor has soldiers protecting him in Luoyang City now. It would take some time for Liu Yuan to attack there, but the over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians Prince East Sea took away are rootless and helpless."
She said, "Of course His Majesty is important, but the people of the world are even more important."
The generals: ... After all that, you want Prince East Seaâs people?
The people were speechless for a long time before they found their voices, advising, "People can be obtained anytime, the urgent task should be to protect His Majesty."
Beigong Chun, however, shared Zhao Hanzhangâs thoughts, "The people are also important. If those over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians fall into the hands of the Xiongnu, they would likely be massacred. His Majesty is temporarily safe, so we can save the people first, then the emperor."
"It is not yet certain if Liu Yuan will send troops against Prince East Sea, and even if he does, Prince East Sea may not lose."
Zhao Hanzhang: "Those who have fled are dispirited, let alone have the will to fight. Prince East Sea has repeatedly retreated in front of the Xiongnu. Itâs fine if he doesnât encounter Liu Yuanâs forces, but if he does, heâs doomed."
Zhao Hanzhang directly made a unilateral decision, "This matter is resolved, immediately mobilize troops and head to Guan City!"
The scouts reported that Prince East Sea and his group were now in Guan City.
Everyone exchanged glances, had to lower their heads in agreement.
Ji Yuan had been quietly listening, waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to leave, and immediately went after her, dragging Fu Tinghan along.
"Young lady, are you going to Guan City to seek revenge?"
Zhao Hanzhang paused, looked back at Ji Yuan, and smiled, "Why do you say so, sir? Iâm going to save people."
Ji Yuan sighed, "Thereâs no need to pretend in front of me, young lady. The death of the old master was caused by Prince East Sea. You are going to rescue those over two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians as a pretext, but seeking revenge for the old master is the real reason, right?"
Zhao Hanzhangâs smile faded, she quietly looked at Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan said, "Young lady, Prince East Sea has over two hundred thousand in his hands, and nearly a hundred thousand civilians left after them. This means, even if he loses the two hundred thousand, he can still recruit a hundred thousand troops on the spot. Are you planning to take these two thousand to fight them head-on?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "Sir, am I so impulsive in your mind?"
She said seriously, "I truly am going to save people. Of course, if I have the chance to kill Prince East Sea and avenge my grandfather, I wonât hesitate."
Ji Yuan: ... Harder to believe her now.
He then pulled Fu Tinghan, "Eldest Young Master, please advise the young lady."
Fu Tinghan looked at Zhao Hanzhang and then said, "She means it."
Ji Yuan: ... Wake up, donât just believe whatever the young lady says.