After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Shi Le’s experience visiting the Capital City this time was very good; all the officials welcomed him and did not look down on him because he was born a slave;

The emperor also treated him well, not suppressing or guarding against him just because he had been an adversary, and even gave him many good things;

The matter of opening the mines has been finalized. This time when Shi Le left, he not only took several officials from the Ministry of Industry but also over ten craftsmen from the Observing Things Department and a large pile of tools.

Just the tools alone filled over a dozen carts, plus two boxes of books.

This time, Shi Le was truly convinced from his heart.

Wei Jie, being keenly perceptive, was the first to notice the change in Shi Le.

This man always had an aura of violence and ferocity, giving the impression that he would raise a rebellion if anything displeased him.

It has been two years, during which Zhao Hanzhang has often rewarded and praised him, but this feeling never dissipated. Yet this time leaving the Capital City, Wei Jie surprisingly felt restraint and submission in him.

Wei Jie couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look at the more than a dozen carts following behind. Was it really because of these tools?

Zhang Bin also quickly noticed the change in Shi Le, and he was very pleased, as he finally felt at peace.

Zhang Bin and Shi Le were actually quite similar in heart.

Half of Shi Le’s achievements in life could be credited to Zhang Bin, whether in the original progression of history or now.

The major turning points in his life were all suggested by Zhang Bin, and they all turned out to be correct.

In history, when he was beaten by Gou Xi to the point of looking for his head on the ground, Zhang Bin reminded him that they couldn’t stay in Jizhou and needed to find a strong person to follow, so he chose Liu Yuan;

He and Wang Mi became Liu Yuan’s top generals. Due to his poor background, the officials and generals of the Xiongnu Khanate looked down on him and targeted him everywhere, with Wang Mi openly insulting him many times.

Zhang Bin said Wang Mi was ambitious and would eventually kill the General, and Liu Yuan certainly wouldn’t punish Wang Mi for the General’s sake, so they should strike first.

So Zhang Bin personally wrote a letter to lure Wang Mi into the tent and killed him on the spot, annexing Wang Mi’s forces and territories, and Liu Yuan did not punish Shi Le for Wang Mi’s death.

Later, when Liu Cong ascended the throne, he wouldn’t confer a royal title on Shi Le, suppressing his power, so Zhang Bin suggested Shi Le take matters into his own hands, leading Shi Le to rebel against the Xiongnu Khanate and become the emperor himself, with Zhang Bin becoming his Prime Minister.

But on this line, Shi Le met his formidable opponent Zhao Hanzhang before he could become unique under Liu Yuan’s command.

Moreover, in order to save his life, he accidentally surrendered to Zhao Hanzhang.

So Zhang Bin, initially anxious in history, turned to advise Shi Le to settle down.

Why did he change his attitude?

Was it because he was naturally restless in history?

Of course not.

Like Ji Yuan and Ming Yu, he, although of humble origin, always wanted to find someone who could stabilize the realm and protect the people.

Shi Le was someone he had to choose while fleeing among bandits, and since he had chosen Shi Le, of course, he hoped he could go farther.

Encouraging Shi Le to rely on Liu Yuan was partly because they indeed needed a powerful patron at that time; partly, too, he was evaluating whether Liu Yuan was someone who could stabilize the realm.

The Jin Dynasty was rotten to the core, and the world was in chaos beyond repair. The Jin Dynasty could never stabilize the realm, so new choices had to be made from outside.

Actually, Liu Yuan was Zhang Bin’s first choice.

But soon, Liu Yuan disappointed him; after ascending the throne, he indulged in pleasures, holding onto the ambition to unify the realm, but lacking the temperament and means to manage subordinates.

He couldn’t even adhere to Han governance, how could he rule this country? How could he win the people’s hearts across the land?

The Han people were second or third-class citizens in the Xiongnu Kingdom.

This was not a world Zhang Bin could accept.

And at this time, his master surrendered to Zhao Hanzhang.

After seeing Zhao Hanzhang, witnessing the Zhao Family Army, and experiencing the places and people she governed, Zhang Bin decisively chose Zhao Hanzhang.

She fulfilled all his expectations and fantasies of a ruler, even realizing many of his expectations.

When is a better time to pursue such a ruler?

So, he immediately restrained his ambition, shifting from motivating Shi Le to take the reins himself to moderating his fierceness, setting a goal to become a power minister of the contemporary age for him.

Being a wise minister was out of the question; with Shi Le’s black history, even spending the rest of his life working hard couldn’t cleanse it, so let him aim to be a power or notable minister. As long as there’s a good end, living a full life and benefiting his descendants is enough.

Before leaving, Zhao Hanzhang gave many good items to Shi Le and Wei Jie. As the Changshi of Youzhou, Zhang Bin also received many rewards.

Among them, a white jade enclosed in a sandalwood box was the most esteemed, carved with a sheep implying benevolence and virtue, and jade symbolizing a gentleman.

The gift was delivered by Lai Qing, the Chief Eunuch by the emperor’s side, who personally handed the box to him and whispered, "Zhang Changshi, this piece of jade was personally chosen and carved by Your Majesty."

This meant the gift was specifically for him.

Though he had never met Zhao Hanzhang privately or contacted her before, at the moment of seeing the jade, Zhang Bin realized this new emperor knew him, understood him, and he knew and understood her as well.

There was a tacit understanding between them that required no words.

At this moment, holding the jade pendant hanging from his waist, Zhang Bin was moved to tears, at last finding he had not failed her trust nor his own long-cherished wish.

After wiping away his tears, Zhang Bin stopped the carriage, requested a horse from his trusted aide, and went to catch up with Shi Le.

Shi Le, disliking riding in a cart because of the many items, was traveling slowly and went ahead to explore.

Zhang Bin caught up with him, and soon the two stopped in an open area. Seeing that it was getting late, their trusted aides laid out lunch on the ground.

Having just left the Capital, they had warm food to eat.

It was a specially made food box with excellent sealing, so the food was still warm.

Shi Le, eating heartily, stuffed food into Zhang Bin’s hand, exclaiming, "The Capital City has so many peculiar things that we didn’t have before."

Zhang Bin laughed, "Your Majesty is generous and open-hearted. New things will surely be published in the papers, and we’ll have our merchants collect newspapers from here to send to Youzhou. The General will know them, and then arrange to buy from the Capital City merchants. It won’t be long before the General can use them in Youzhou."

Previously, even if Shi Le nodded, he wouldn’t be convinced in his heart, thinking Zhao Hanzhang gained advantages from human nature.

With Fu Tinghan by her side and so many capable people under her, naturally, she could invent many good things.

But now, he didn’t think so. "Indeed, the emperor is broad-minded, no wonder she attracts so many talented craftsmen. By the way, is there any news on the Mo Family? It’s a pity there wasn’t enough time, otherwise, I would’ve stayed longer to meet the Mo Family, to see who is more formidable, him or Mr. Fu."

Zhang Bin, in a good mood, smiled slightly and said, "If the General wishes to know, once we return to Youzhou, we can inquire by telegraph. It is also an official matter; the General could use it to foster relations with the emperor."

Shi Le, "How is this an official matter?"

Zhang Bin, "Concerning the development of the nation’s technology of observing things, how could it not be an official matter?"

Shi Le widened his eyes and couldn’t help but give a thumbs up, "The master is indeed formidable."

Zhang Bin stroked his beard, smiling without a word.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!