The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 15 - Between Life and Death

“Your Highness, Zhang Rang cannot be apprehended; doing so would completely offend the Zhang Family,” Dong An pleaded earnestly in the guest hall of the Prince’s Mansion.

Though they wished to use the Prince’s Mansion to restrain the Zhang Family, they did not want to escalate matters to an irreconcilable level. After all, the Zhang Family held significant power, and if relations were truly severed, they might not be able to contend with them. Yang He and Lu Chang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The commotion at Tianxiang Pavilion was considerable, and news quickly spread throughout the relatively small Yan City. Liu Fu and Chang Wei, upon hearing the news, also hurried back to the Prince’s Mansion.

“Cannot apprehend him? Why not? That woman wasn’t a servant of the Zhang Family. According to the laws of the Dasong Dynasty, those who kill without cause should be executed. In my opinion, Your Highness did well to apprehend him!” Chang Wei’s fierce eyes glared at Dong An and the others.

When he heard the news, he was at the Northern Barrack. He had shouted in approval at the time. The soldiers of the personal guard were also invigorated. For years, no one in Yan Prefecture dared to challenge the Zhang Family. Prince Yan’s intervention was a source of excitement, as it meant someone could finally address the Zhang Family’s dominance in Yan Prefecture.

Liu Fu felt pleased but, as the chief counselor of the Prince’s Mansion, he had to consider the broader picture. Naturally, he couldn’t be as unconcerned as Chang Wei and the soldiers. He said, “Your Highness, by doing this, you risk offending the Zhang Family irreparably. They might obstruct the affairs of the Prince’s Mansion in the future, which could be more trouble than it’s worth.”

Zhao Xu, upon hearing this, did not respond immediately but turned to Dong An and the others. He said, “Today’s luncheon was very satisfying. The Prince’s Mansion’s personal guard currently lacks military uniforms. I wonder if your three families could supply them.”

Military uniforms, unlike armor, only require fabric and sewing. Handling it personally would be time-consuming, so it was better to delegate to the three families, which could further strengthen ties with them.

“No problem,” Dong An immediately set aside concerns about Zhang Rang, feeling delighted. Prince Yan was acknowledging them.

Zhao Xu continued, “There will be many business opportunities with the Prince’s Mansion in the future, and plenty of chances for cooperation.”

Yang He quickly said, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace. Our Yang Family will certainly follow the Prince’s Mansion’s lead.”

“Our Lv Family as well,” Lu Chang added, clasping his hands.

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, though he took their words with a grain of salt; their actions would ultimately reveal their true intentions.

“Today’s matter will not involve your three families. You may return without worry. Also, do not disclose anything about the Prince’s Mansion’s courtyard or its affairs for now.”

The three exchanged glances, unsure why Zhao Xu mentioned the courtyard, but they agreed nonetheless. After paying their respects, they left the guest hall.

Once they were gone, Zhao Xu’s gaze turned sharp. He mentioned the courtyard to test them. Whether they truly intended to align with the Prince’s Mansion would likely be revealed tonight.

He then addressed Liu Fu and Chang Wei, “Are you familiar with Qingfeng Stronghold?”

“Qingfeng Stronghold?” Liu Fu’s expression changed slightly upon hearing the name. “I am aware. People in Yan Prefecture say Qingfeng Stronghold is a group of extremely vicious bandits.”

Chang Wei nodded, “It’s said that due to annual invasions by the Beidi people, many commoners either align with regional magnates or turn to banditry. Qingfeng Stronghold is one such group, reportedly commanding thousands of desperate followers.”

“Indeed.” Zhao Xu’s heart sank.

On the way back, Zhao Xu glanced at the note. It read: “Tonight, the Zhang Family conspires with Qingfeng Stronghold to launch a night attack on the Prince’s Mansion.”

“Take a look at this,” he said, showing the note to Chang Wei and Liu Fu.

Both were taken aback. “Your Highness, what is this note about?” Liu Fu asked.

Zhao Xu explained the situation with the courtesan.

“How peculiar. First, Zhang Rang kills a courtesan, and now another courtesan delivers a note revealing the Zhang Family’s plot. This Tianxiang Pavilion is indeed a small place with big troubles,” Liu Fu remarked, furrowing his brows.

Zhao Xu nodded. Regardless of who the courtesan was, the most pressing issue was the content of the note. “Better to believe it might be true than to dismiss it.”

In these chaotic times, where lives were as cheap as dirt, power struggles were often brutally ruthless. Zhao Xu had no doubt that the Zhang Family was capable of such treachery.

The city gate of Yan City was under the prefectural troops’ jurisdiction, and these troops were controlled by the three families led by the Zhang Family. Allowing the Qingfeng Stronghold bandits to enter would be a simple task for them.

“What a cunning plan to use others to do their dirty work, especially when Your Highness’s personal guard has yet to become a formidable force. If not for someone’s help, I’m afraid…” Even Chang Wei, with all his bravery, felt a chill run down his spine.

“Your Highness, we must leave the Prince’s Mansion immediately. Preserving your life is the priority,” Liu Fu urged, panic evident in his voice.

He had every reason to be alarmed. The infamy of Qingfeng Stronghold was well known throughout Yan Prefecture; it was filled with desperate outlaws. The Prince’s Mansion’s mere hundred guards could hardly fend off such bandits.

Chang Wei, though straightforward, was not without sense. “Your Highness, we can’t stay in the Prince’s Mansion, but where could we go? The Zhang Family has eyes everywhere in Yan Prefecture. Besides, without an imperial decree, a feudal prince cannot leave his fief, or it would be considered treason-a grave offense.”

Zhao Xu nodded. “The Zhang Family thinks they have us cornered. In that case, let’s turn their scheme against them.”

“Turn their scheme against them?” Chang Wei and Liu Fu exchanged glances, then looked at Zhao Xu.

As he walked to the door, Zhao Xu instructed, “Chang Wei, go to the personal guard and gather five hundred of the strongest young men to transport grain. Then, proceed as follows…”

Chang Wei listened intently, and as Zhao Xu finished, his previously furrowed brow relaxed. He saluted firmly, “I will go at once.”

Liu Fu praised, “Your Highness is wise. Tonight, the Zhang Family may find their scheme backfiring.”

Zhao Xu gazed in the direction of the Zhang Family and sighed, “But as long as the Zhang Family remains this treacherous, they are a great threat to the Prince’s Mansion.”

Liu Fu shared the same concern. The Prince’s Mansion was in the open, while the Zhang Family operated in the shadows. If they could plan this assassination, they could certainly plan another.

“Indeed, but acting rashly might provoke them into a cornered beast’s desperate fight, leading to rebellion. The personal guard is newly formed and not yet a proper army, making it difficult to withstand such a force,” Liu Fu cautioned.

He feared Zhao Xu might act impulsively, jeopardizing the larger strategy for a minor impatience. After all, Prince Yan had only recently regained some public favor, and that was just among a small portion of Yan Prefecture’s populace. The personal guard was composed of new recruits, and neither their morale nor their discipline was particularly strong.

Moreover, the combined private armies of the Zhang, Huang, and Du families were said to number over twenty thousand, not counting the prefectural troops of Yan Prefecture.

“I understand,” Zhao Xu replied.

Zhao Xu was acutely aware of his own limitations; he had only transmigrated here four or five days ago. Expecting to wipe out the top regional magnates of Yan Prefecture based on the commotion he had stirred in such a short time was akin to dreaming. As the saying goes, “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.” He didn’t even know where the fortresses of the Zhang, Huang, and Du Families were located, nor the number of troops within them. How many cavalry and infantry they had, or their combat effectiveness-none of this was clear. So how could he talk about destroying these families?

However, while he couldn’t annihilate the three families, he didn’t need to fear them either. If, before recruiting the personal guard, he was like fish on the chopping block for the Zhang Family, now he had some leverage. Moreover, the Zhang Family resorting to such underhanded tactics clearly indicated they were hesitant to openly confront him with troops; both sides were wary of each other.

Given this, it was time to engage in a battle of wits and see who would emerge victorious. With this thought, he said, “The Zhang Family may have a plan today to make things difficult for me, but tomorrow I will have a plan to make things difficult for them.”

“Oh? If that’s the case, let’s hope Your Highness’s strategy succeeds tonight, otherwise…” Liu Fu exclaimed with delight, then choked up, “Although I have only been with Your Highness for a few days, I can sense that Your Highness is a wise ruler. Even if Your Highness were to reach the Hall of Yama, I would follow.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu sprayed tea all over Liu Fu’s face, “You can’t expect anything sensible from a dog’s mouth. I won’t kick the bucket so easily.”

Liu Fu wiped his face, “Kick the bucket, what does that mean?”

Zhao Xu couldn’t be bothered to explain further and kicked him on the backside, “Get lost.”

As Liu Fu departed, the smile on Zhao Xu’s face gradually faded. Previously, he had only seen these power struggles in TV dramas and books; experiencing them firsthand revealed their true peril. Yet, if nothing else, he possessed an unwavering drive. Let the demons and ghosts come; he feared nothing.

…

At the Zhang Family residence, Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang sat across from each other in a pavilion, drinking by candlelight.

“Brother, Rang is currently at the Prince’s Mansion; is that really okay?”

“No problem. I’ve specifically instructed the people from Qingfeng Stronghold not to harm Rang. Once that Prince Yan is dead, Rang can return,” Zhang Qian said with smug satisfaction.

A few days ago, the Zhang Family had sent boxes of silver, bags of grain, and stacks of land deeds to the Prince’s Mansion, causing him sleepless nights. Now, with these assets soon to return, he couldn’t be happier.

Zhang Kang nodded, “Brother, your decision to help Qingfeng Stronghold’s second-in-command Pang Kun eliminate the chief Zhou Jie was truly wise. Who would have thought it would come in handy today?”

Zhang Qian was even more pleased. No one in Yan Prefecture would have guessed that Qingfeng Stronghold would be so obedient to the Zhang Family. He chuckled, “Originally, Qingfeng Stronghold was meant to deal with the Dong, Yang, and Lv Families. Since this Prince Yan is becoming more of an eyesore, using it against him first is fine.”

Looking up at the rising crescent moon in the east, he said, “By midnight, Prince Yan’s Mansion will be nothing but smoke and ashes.”

“Hahaha…” Zhang Kang laughed heartily.

That new chief counselor Liu Fu, a lowly man from a humble background, dared to dream of surpassing him; it was laughable. Raising his cup to toast Zhang Qian, he remembered something and said, “Brother, I heard that today a unit from the Prince’s Mansion’s personal guard went to the mansion. Could there be a mistake? If we fail this time, the mansion will be on alert, making future attempts difficult.”

“Don’t worry. Our informants said they were just there to clean the mansion and returned by evening.”

“That’s good.” Zhang Kang felt relieved, “Once we deal with the Prince’s Mansion, we can also take care of the Dong, Yang, and Lv Families. Then we can monopolize the ice trade, further strengthening our position.”

Zhang Qian felt his heart warm at the thought.

In the Dasong Dynasty, even among the regional magnates, there were distinctions in status. Families like theirs could only hold positions within their own prefecture. However, if their power grew stronger, they might qualify for positions in the provincial government or even the capital.

“Prince Yan, oh Prince Yan, you truly are a blessing to our Zhang Family. Recovering from your illness, you’ve delivered such a gift to us. But alas, you threaten our interests,” Zhang Qian shook his head, scoffing repeatedly.

…

The pitch-black sky saw the moon climbing higher and higher. Midnight crept in silently.

As all fell silent, numerous figures clad in night cloaks emerged from the dark corners of Yan City. They gathered on the streets, then brandished their gleaming swords and headed towards the Prince’s Mansion.

“Chief, the central courtyard is where the Prince’s Mansion is located. The two courtyards on either side are empty,” three men in black conferred in the shadow of a wall.

“Alright, you take ten or so brothers to the main gate and distract the guards there,” the man in the middle instructed the one on the left.

He was none other than Pang Kun, the chief of Qingfeng Stronghold.

Then he turned to the one on the right and said, “You, take your men to the central courtyard and secure the money and provisions. The rest will follow me to the inner courtyard’s bedchamber to kill Prince Yan.”

The two nodded, each leading their men away.

At this moment, Pang Kun led the remaining three hundred or so men over the wall into the empty courtyard on the right, then scaled another wall to enter the Prince’s Mansion.

Arriving at the inner courtyard, Pang Kun noticed the flickering lights in the bedchamber, suggesting three people were seated before the lamp. With a lecherous grin, he mused, “Prince Yan certainly has a taste for pleasure. I’ve heard his two maids are quite beautiful; tonight might be the night to savor them.”

The surrounding men in black chuckled darkly at his words.

“Charge in! Leave one of the maids alive,” Pang Kun commanded in a low voice.

Behind him, dozens of men in black rushed towards the bedchamber.

Pang Kun crossed his arms, relaxed, thinking to himself: Such a trivial task hardly requires five hundred men; the Zhang Family is being overly cautious.