After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 937 - 922: Change

"After Governor Liu took office, the Zhang Family came to rely on him. Somehow they learned about this mining site, first buying the mountain through the yamen, occasionally pretending to discover copper ore accidentally. For four years, they have been the ones mining it."

Zhao Kuan glanced at Liu Kun and said, "This skeleton pit was reopened and dug down to this layer. The coroners say these are the corpses from within the last three years. It’s only further down that you find the older ones." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

In other words, most of the people in this skeleton pit died during Liu Kun’s tenure.

Zhao Hanzhang clenched her fists, her breathing quickened slightly, and she turned to leave.

Liu Kun stared blankly at the huge pit of corpses, dumbly following behind.

After walking a distance where no one was around, Zhao Hanzhang could no longer suppress her anger and turned to deliver a kick at Liu Kun.

Liu Kun was caught off guard and was kicked in the stomach, causing him to fly backward and roll down the hillside like a drum.

The attendant was shocked, reaching out to grab him but missing. He cried out, "Lord Zhao!" and scrambled down to rescue him.

Zhao Hanzhang also hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly ran down to save him.

Liu Kun collided with a tree with a "thump," and then his body tilted, nearly falling off the tree to continue dropping. At the critical moment, Zhao Hanzhang slid down the slope faster than his attendant, reaching out to grab him.

Zhao Hanzhang braced one foot against the tree, her other foot firmly pressing into the soil, and pulled him towards her. She found his face pale but his eyes wide open, and he was conscious.

She angrily punched him in the face, "Who are you pretending to die for? Don’t think that I won’t hold you accountable like this. So many people died unjustly during your tenure, I, I really wish I could kick you off a cliff!"

Liu Kun finally came to his senses, tears streaming down, "Hanzhang, I am guilty, but I truly did not know of this. If I had known..."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "You are fortunate not to know. If you had known, you would have been beheaded by now."

Only then did the attendant cautiously come down the slope, but he didn’t find a proper footing, trembling uncontrollably as he cried out, "Lord Zhao, please spare our master; he can’t take any more beating."

Zhao Hanzhang saw him about to slip and fall off the cliff the next moment, and irritably said, "Take care of yourself,"

Zhao Kuan came over with the soldiers, tied the rope, and threw it down. Zhao Hanzhang held onto Liu Kun without moving, letting the attendant go up first.

The attendant paused, and after Zhao Hanzhang glared at him twice, he hurriedly grabbed the rope, and the soldiers immediately pulled him up.

Liu Kun also stared blankly, turning to look at Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang gave him a perplexed look, asking, "Are you feeling too guilty to speak?"

Liu Kun was about to speak when the rope dropped down onto him. Zhao Hanzhang, multitasking, was holding onto Liu Kun with one hand and catching the rope with the other, then looped it around Liu Kun.

She tied the rope securely and only then had them pull him up.

By the time Zhao Hanzhang was pulled up, Liu Kun was still lying on the ground motionless. Zhao Hanzhang was furious, intending to kick him again, but saw him suddenly get up, grab her ankle, and burst into tears.

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

She tried to pull her leg free, realizing it wouldn’t budge, so she let him cry.

Liu Kun was filled with emotion, crying for two long minutes. Zhao Kuan could sit on the grass, propping his chin while watching, but she had to stand still, feeling quite exhausted.

Not only was her body tired, but her heart was weary.

Zhao Hanzhang patiently waited until he finished crying, freed her leg, shook off her drenched pants disdainfully, and asked the sobbing Liu Kun, "Yue Shi, do you still plan to obstruct my investigation of this case now?"

Liu Kun’s face was pale, his spirit terribly low, "Setting aside chaotic times, even in peaceful and prosperous times, these families inevitably have blood on their hands. I’ve always believed that if they contribute, saving people from ruin, then more live because of them than die because of them; this is a merit outweighing their faults, which can be tolerated."

"But today I see that I was wrong," Liu Kun couldn’t help but cry again, sobbing, "You were right; how can one who views lives as straw save the people? I was mistaken, mistaken..."

Zhao Hanzhang had planned to wait a while longer to bring this up, but couldn’t help but pat his shoulder and said, "Yue Shi, Jinyang is no longer suitable for you. Come with me to Xuzhou."

Liu Kun stared blankly at her.

Zhao Hanzhang said, "I appoint you as Xuzhou Governor; go to Xuzhou and help me manage it well."

She sincerely urged, "Xuzhou is a prosperous land. After this battle, the nation needs to recuperate, and I require capable ministers to govern Xuzhou properly, allowing the people to rest. You have empathy for the people and can govern; Xuzhou is perfect for you."

Liu Kun was moved yet reluctant, as Jinyang was rebuilt by him alone. Suddenly having to leave...

Liu Kun’s heart was torn, unable to help but say to Zhao Hanzhang, "I intend to rebuild Jinyang. Don’t worry; this time, I will not allow such things to happen again."

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "But Jinyang has many military affairs. Brother, it isn’t to belittle you but rather, you truly lack talent in military affairs."

Liu Kun’s face darkened, unwilling to admit he lacked military skill, "I have learned martial arts from an early age; in terms of swordsmanship, I believe I’m no worse than you. I’ve also studied military strategies like ’Six Strategies’ and ’Sun Bin’s Art of War,’ knowing them by heart. Since coming to Jinyang, I’ve been prepared for battle, defending Jinyang for five years; why am I deemed incapable?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Brother, even Zhao Kuo was unmatched in military tactics."

Liu Kun, offended, "Are you saying I’m all talk and no substance?"

"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, Yue Shi. You may lack in military matters, but your writing is excellent, surpassing not only me but even Zu Ti. And your musical talent is unparalleled. You shouldn’t always try to do what you are not skilled at; focus on what you are good at."

Liu Kun insisted, "You are not me, how do you know I’m not good at it? Just wait; watch me go to war and prove it to you."

With that, he stopped crying, got up, and limped away, clutching his waist.

Zhao Hanzhang: ...

Zhao Kuan stepped up beside Zhao Hanzhang, "If I recall correctly, Liu Yueshi lost his first battle, didn’t he?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

Zhao Kuan continued, "Nor has he achieved a major victory afterward."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded again.

Zhao Kuan then asked, "So where does his confidence come from, thinking he can win a battle?"

Zhao Hanzhang said nothing.

Liu Kun limped home, the people surrounding the Inspector Mansion already persuaded to leave by Fan Ying. Knowing Zhao Hanzhang would uphold justice for them, the citizens and refugees of Jinyang wiped their tears and departed.

But even so, Liu Kun didn’t dare enter through the main gate, instead limped, dirty and disheveled, through the side entrance.

As soon as he entered, the steward hurriedly came up, anxiously saying, "Master, the Old Lord and Old Lady were frightened."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun turned around to see his parents but hesitated after realizing his condition would cause them further worry. He quickly told the steward, "Go fetch a set of clean clothes."

But before the steward could fetch them, the Guo Family and Liu Fan came, supporting each other. Seeing him in such a sorry state, Liu Fan sighed repeatedly.