The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 10 - Crisis

“Just tell the people that the Prince’s Mansion will only collect ten percent rent on our lands.”

“Ten percent rent!” Liu Fu was shocked. “Your Highness, that’s so low it’s practically letting them farm for free. The regional magnates in Yan Prefecture charge eighty percent.”

“I am well aware, but how can I forsake the people’s hearts for small profits? Only by doing this can I win over the people of Yan Prefecture to my side. Don’t forget, besides the regional magnates, autumn follows summer.”

Liu Fu shivered. Autumn meant the Beidi would come.

The entire Yan Province trembled at the mention of the Beidi, and he was no exception.

“I understand, Your Highness. I’ll get right on it!” Liu Fu turned to leave.

“Wait.” Zhao Xu stopped him. “The humble origins are never insignificant. This world is built on the sweat and blood of countless commoners.”

“I understand,” Liu Fu replied, a tear glistening at the corner of his eye.

At that moment, he felt he would even die for Prince Yan if asked.

The next day.

Liu Fu rose early. Before recruiting people to work the Prince’s lands, he had another task-to execute Zhang Han.

Recently, Zhang Han had committed numerous misdeeds under the Prince’s name. Liu Fu needed to execute him to clear the Prince’s reputation.

“I, newly arrived in Yan Prefecture, have been blessed by the heavens to recover from my madness. However, during my illness, the chief counselor Zhang Han imprisoned me, abused his power, and issued harsh policies, causing great suffering to the people. His crimes are unforgivable. Today, his head will roll at the Eastern Market to restore the Prince’s dignity.”

At Yan City’s Eastern Market.

This was the execution ground where the government executed criminals.

Zhang Han knelt in the center, surrounded by onlookers.

On the viewing platform behind the execution ground, Liu Fu no longer dressed as a servant but wore the official robe of the chief counselor.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man in a crimson official robe, with a long beard and an air of scholarly elegance.

He was none other than Zhang Kang, the prefect of Yan Prefecture and brother to Zhang Qian.

Yesterday, he had just returned from the provincial capital in Fanyang Prefecture and learned from his brother about Prince Yan’s recovery.

Though displeased, he decided to visit Prince Yan today to maintain appearances.

Unexpectedly, he encountered the procession escorting Zhang Han.

Upon inquiry, he learned that the Prince’s Mansion had a new chief counselor and that Zhang Han was to be executed. He had no choice but to greet the new counselor and accompany him to the execution ground.

“Cousin, save me, save me…”

As the executioner removed the death plaque from behind him, Zhang Han’s pants were immediately soaked.

Turning his head, he desperately pleaded with Zhang Kang for help.

“Cousin?” Liu Fu deliberately glanced sideways at Zhang Kang.

“Impudent criminal, even at death’s door, you dare spout nonsense.” Zhang Kang felt a pang of guilt, knowing he had been involved in many shady dealings with Zhang Han.

Now that Zhang Han was a prisoner, Zhang Kang wished him dead to avoid being implicated.

After all, a mad Prince Yan and a sane one were worlds apart.

The Zhang Family held great power in Yan Prefecture, but ultimately, Yan Prefecture was the fief of Prince Yan.

In name, all military and political power, life and death decisions, belonged to Prince Yan.

“Brother, are you truly so heartless? Don’t forget all I’ve done for the Zhang Family…” Zhang Han cried out hoarsely.

“Execute him, do it now!” Zhang Kang hurled the command token with force.

As the token hit the ground, the executioner swiftly brought down his blade, and a head rolled onto the dirt.

“Prefect Zhang, what is the meaning of this?” Liu Fu frowned deeply, feeling utterly disregarded by Zhang Kang.

He was the chief executioner, and it was not Zhang Kang’s place to throw the command token.

“Oh dear, my apologies, my apologies. In a moment of anger, I forgot myself. I beg the chief counselor’s forgiveness,” Zhang Kang bowed repeatedly, feigning remorse.

Yet, as he lowered his head, a smirk played at the corner of his lips.

Liu Fu narrowed his eyes, but then quickly masked his expression with a smile. He had experienced firsthand the arrogance of Yan Prefecture’s regional magnates.

“Let it be.”

Turning away from Zhang Kang, Liu Fu focused on the task at hand. Aside from executing Zhang Han to restore the Prince’s Mansion’s reputation, he had another important matter to attend to-recruiting villagers to work the mansion’s lands.

Regardless of who threw the command token, Zhang Han’s death had sparked discussion among the onlookers.

“So, the decree wasn’t issued by the Prince’s Mansion.”

“Exactly, I heard Prince Yan was suffering from madness before. How could he have issued such decrees?”

“Serves him right, it’s a relief. Seems like Prince Yan is quite sensible.”

“No more extra taxes, that’s wonderful.”

“…”

The chatter grew louder, and Liu Fu smiled, while Zhang Kang’s expression soured.

Clearly, Zhang Han’s execution had salvaged the mansion’s reputation.

This was bad news for the regional magnates of Yan Prefecture.

If the common folk pledged their loyalty to Prince Yan, how could they continue to exploit them?

As Zhang Kang fretted silently, Liu Fu’s next words made his face turn completely pale.

“There’s another announcement today. His Highness, Prince Yan, cares deeply for the people of Yan Prefecture. The Prince’s Mansion has sixty thousand mu of land and is looking to recruit villagers to cultivate it. The yield will be taxed at only ten percent. Anyone interested can come to the mansion to sign a contract, fair and honest,” Liu Fu proclaimed loudly.

“Ten percent, did I hear that right?”

The crowd erupted in disbelief, their voices rising to the heavens.

“I heard it too, ten percent.”

“Such a good deal, the regional magnates’ lands are taxed at eighty percent.”

“If this is true, Prince Yan is truly a wise ruler.”

“…”

As some discussed, a few villagers quietly left the execution ground, heading towards the Prince’s Mansion.

Soon, more people caught on.

Those with land informed relatives without, and those without land rushed to the mansion in a frenzy.

Before long, the execution ground was empty of villagers.

“Prince Yan truly has a clever strategy,” Zhang Kang remarked with a wry smile. With a single move, Prince Yan’s reputation had turned from tarnished to pristine.

It had destroyed Zhang Kang and Zhang Han’s plan to both profit the Zhang Family and tarnish the mansion’s name.

“His Highness simply doesn’t want the land to go to waste, Prefect Zhang. There’s no need to overthink it,” Liu Fu chuckled, turning to leave.

Zhang Kang hesitated, considering a visit to the mansion.

But on second thought, he decided to return to the Zhang Family and discuss the matter with his brother.

Upon returning home, he learned that his brother had greedily exchanged a large sum of silver and land for the art of ice making, which displeased him greatly.

He regretted not being in Yan Prefecture at the time to stop it.

Since Prince Yan’s arrival, he had conspired with Zhang Han, attempting every trick to drain the mansion’s resources, ensuring it lacked funds and struggled to act.

Now, all was ruined.

He hadn’t gone far when he noticed a number of young men heading towards Prince’s Mansion. Curious, he immediately sent a servant to investigate.

“Second master, Prince Yan’s Mansion is recruiting personal guards. It’s said they’re offering a military pay of three taels of silver a month, so all these young men are rushing to enlist,” the servant reported back, his face full of envy.

“Three taels?” Zhang Kang frowned deeply.

No wonder these young men were so eager. In Yan Prefecture, one tael of silver was enough for a family to live on, and three taels would allow them to live quite comfortably. Meanwhile, the usual army provisions for a regular soldier in the Dasong Dynasty were just one tael.

Prince Yan was giving his personal guards the same treatment as the imperial guards of the Dasong Dynasty.

“He’s got the money, the people, and now the soldiers. This Prince Yan is formidable. If this continues, Yan Prefecture will truly become his. This cannot happen.” Zhang Han’s death was still fresh in his mind.

The Zhang Family had engaged in many shady dealings with Zhang Han in the past. If Zhao Xu truly gained control of Yan Prefecture, the Zhang Family’s fate would be uncertain once he started settling scores.

Returning to the Zhang Family estate, he found Zhang Qian, who was leisurely walking his bird, and recounted everything he had seen and heard.

“I am already aware of this,” Zhang Qian sneered. “Now that we have acquired the art of ice making, there’s no need to concern ourselves with Prince Yan’s Mansion. Hmph, if he thinks he can rise to power in Yan Prefecture, he’s dreaming!”

Zhang Kang was overjoyed at his brother’s words. “Brother, do you already have a plan?”

Zhang Qian nodded slightly. He knew Zhang Kang was displeased with his purchase of the art of ice making, but Zhang Kang was unaware of his broader strategy.

To him, Yan Prefecture belonged to the Zhang Family, and no one, not even Prince Yan’s Mansion, could lay claim to it.

After all, anyone with a bit of foresight could see the current weakness of the imperial family. Perhaps in a few years, the land would be engulfed in chaos.

Therefore, he would never allow Yan Prefecture to fall into Prince Yan’s hands. It was the Zhang Family’s capital in times of turmoil.

Moreover, with the Beidi eyeing the Dasong Dynasty hungrily, Yan Province could change hands at any moment. But when that time came, he could simply side with the Beidi and still control Yan Prefecture.

In short, with Yan Prefecture, the Zhang Family had everything.

“Let Prince Yan enjoy his moment for now. I’ve already arranged contact with Qingfeng Stronghold. Once their people enter the city, it won’t matter whether it’s the mad Prince Yan or the sane one; he’ll become the dead Prince Yan.”

“Qingfeng Stronghold? Brilliant! If Prince Yan is killed by bandits in his own mansion, even the emperor would be powerless. Then we can eliminate Qingfeng Stronghold and earn merit…” Zhang Kang laughed heartily.