The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 41 - Past Shadows

Xu E didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked, “Your Highness, are you aware that you might be facing a grave danger soon?”

“What do you mean by that?” Zhao Xu’s expression changed slightly.

Xu E must have some crucial information that he wasn’t aware of.

“Do you know that Zhang Kang has already sought help from Yuan Li, the head of the Yuan Family? Coincidentally, my master has intentions against the Yuan Family, and thus has a reason to collaborate with you,” Xu E said softly.

“The Yuan Family?” Zhao Xu felt a chill in his heart.

Zhang Kang had already subtly used the Yuan Family to threaten him.

“Exactly. The Yuan Family has been entrenched in Yan Province for years, wielding a force of 150,000 Black Armored Army soldiers. They’re not like the underhanded Zhang Family,” Xu E said, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.

“But who is this noble person?” Zhao Xu felt a bit frustrated.

It seemed he still had a long way to go. Compared to these natives, his foundation was too shallow.

“When the time is right, Your Highness will know,” Xu E replied.

“And how do we cooperate?” Zhao Xu asked.

“When the time comes, I will inform Your Highness,” Xu E assured him.

Zhao Xu frowned.

“I’ll think about it,” Zhao Xu said suddenly, feeling a wave of irritation. He stood up and walked out, not wanting to continue the conversation.

Xu E stood up as well. “If Your Highness finds some leisure time, you are welcome to visit Tianxiang Pavilion to unwind. I hope you will look after me in the future.”

Zhao Xu waved his hand dismissively and strode away.

“From what I see, we should arrest everyone in Tianxiang Pavilion and interrogate them to find out their true intentions,” Xu Lie suggested outside Tianxiang Pavilion.

Zhao Xu and his entourage mounted their horses, with Xu Lie glancing back at the building.

He was still upset about being scolded by Huan’er.

Liu Fu chuckled at Xu Lie. Although he hadn’t gone inside, he had heard about a woman scolding Xu Lie.

Xu Lie noticed Liu Fu’s sly smile and turned his head away, aware of his own thoughts.

Zhao Xu reined his horse and continued towards the Northern Barrack. Hearing Xu Lie’s angry suggestion, he said, “Regardless of who this noble person is, for now, their interests don’t conflict with the Prince’s Mansion. Moreover, they seem to be at odds with the Yuan Family. I am far from the capital, with limited information. Keeping them around might be beneficial.”

Liu Fu nodded slightly. “To call themselves a noble in front of Your Highness, could it be the emperor…”

“Probably not…” Zhao Xu paused. The father of the ninth prince had sent him to such a perilous place; why would he secretly send someone to help him?

Besides, as the emperor, he wouldn’t need to sneak around to deal with the Yuan Family.

However, due to the ninth prince’s long stay in the deep palace, he hadn’t interacted with many powerful figures.

Zhao Xu couldn’t think of anyone who might fit the bill.

Shaking his head, he spurred his horse forward.

On the fourth floor of Tianxiang Pavilion, Xu E stood partially hidden by the window, watching Zhao Xu and his group leave.

Her maid, Huan’er, remarked, “This Prince Yan is really fortunate. Coming to Yan Province, his madness seems to have healed, and both the master and young miss are helping him.”

Xu E gently touched her left arm and smiled, “Do you think Prince Yan’s madness cured itself? Would he forget the past?”

Huan’er looked at the distant Prince Yan and his entourage. “Madness is a brain ailment; it’s hard to say.”

Xu E sighed softly, “He seems much more spirited than he was three years ago in the capital, not as timid.”

Huan’er shook her head.

Six years ago, Xu Pei, the chief of Qingfeng Stronghold, was killed in a plot orchestrated by Pang Kun and the Zhang Family. At that time, Xu Pei’s daughter, who was only eight years old, narrowly escaped the disaster. She fled down the mountain, only to fall into the hands of a malicious merchant who took her to the capital. There, she met her current master and began practicing song and dance, preparing for the future.

Now, six years have passed, and the once young girl has blossomed into a stunning beauty, outshining all others. Yet, her wish to avenge her father remains unfulfilled. With her master’s permission, she has come to Yan Prefecture. Unexpectedly, she encountered the assassination attempt on Prince Yan.

“Six years ago, a bowl of porridge saved a life; Prince Yan certainly profited,” Liu Sanniang remarked as she entered. She was aware of Xu E’s story. Back then, Xu E had escaped to the capital, fleeing from the merchant’s clutches, but was nearly dead from hunger and cold. It was the ninth prince, traveling with his mother, who found her collapsed by the roadside and offered her a bowl of hot porridge, saving her life.

Originally, with Tianxiang Pavilion’s capabilities in Yan Prefecture, they could have independently eliminated Pang Kun. However, the master’s instructions and Xu E’s intentions led them to unanimously decide to assist Prince Yan. This decision allowed Prince Yan to escape the assassination attempt.

“But our intervention this time might alert the Zhang Family. We must be cautious in the future,” Liu Sanniang advised.

“Yes,” Xu E agreed, staring blankly at the retreating figure.

…

Northern Barrack.

Lv Chang stood on the command platform, overseeing the training of the Prince’s Mansion’s personal guard. Seeing Prince Yan arrive, he instructed his deputy to continue directing the soldiers’ battle formation drills and went to greet him.

“Your Highness,” Lv Chang saluted.

Zhao Xu nodded, dismissing the formalities, and turned his gaze to the soldiers on the parade ground. At this moment, the soldiers were lined up in rows and columns, practicing battle formations according to the commands from the command platform.

“Is this a circular formation?” Zhao Xu pointed to the center of the parade ground. The soldiers suddenly formed a circle, shields raised, and spearmen extended their spears through the shields.

“Yes,” Lv Chang replied.

The soldiers’ formation then shifted dramatically, resembling fish scales with the front protruding.

“Fish scale formation, with the commander positioned towards the rear, the main force gathered in the center, divided into several small fish scale-shaped phalanxes, arranged in tiers, with the front slightly protruding. It’s an offensive formation,” Zhao Xu recited.

Lv Chang looked at Zhao Xu in surprise.

The formation changed again, with soldiers suddenly spreading out, increasing the distance between them, and raising flags within the formation.

“This is a sparse formation, a deceptive formation that uses a small force to appear as a large army,” Zhao Xu said with a smile.

In ancient times, warfare wasn’t about charging in without strategy. It relied on soldiers forming formations. Commanders directed battles, often adjusting their formations in response to the enemy’s. During attacks, formations would change based on the opponent’s arrangement. Thus, the outcome of battles often depended on whether one’s formation remained intact. If it fell apart, defeat was almost certain.

As the soldiers continued to shift through various formations, Zhao Xu identified each one.

Lv Chang exclaimed, “Your Highness, you understand military tactics?”

He had thought that in Yan Prefecture, aside from Chang Wei, he was undoubtedly the top military figure. Now, seeing Zhao Xu effortlessly identify all the formations and understand their purposes, he couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

“Your Highness is wise and mighty, naturally knowledgeable,” Liu Fu quickly chimed in, seizing the opportunity to flatter.

Lv Chang scratched his head, “I am impressed, Your Highness.”

Zhao Xu chuckled, appreciating Liu Fu’s timely compliment. With the elimination of the Du Family and Huang Family, and the ice brewing, people spoke of Prince Yan’s strategic acumen. Soldiers praised Prince Yan’s benevolence, but in terms of military tactics, the commanders were likely quite proud. It was necessary to show them that he wasn’t ignorant.

“Is this the battle formation taught by Chang Wei?” Zhao Xu ascended the tall command platform for a clearer view.

“Yes, General instructed me to supervise the training temporarily before his departure,” Lv Chang replied.

Zhao Xu had heard that Chang Wei held Lv Chang in high regard, praising his strength and martial skills, unmatched by anyone among the prefectural troops or personal guard.

“Chang Wei says you’re quite the fighter, Xu Lie, why don’t you spar with him?” Zhao Xu was eager to witness their skills firsthand.

Currently, he was in dire need of talent, both in the military and the government office. To stabilize Yan Prefecture and make it prosperous and strong, he required capable subordinates to assist him. As Prince Yan, he understood the multitude of administrative duties and knew he couldn’t handle everything personally.

Especially in the military, with Chang Wei gone, there was a lack of leadership, and Lv Chang had to step in to help manage the prefectural troops. Hence, Zhao Xu planned to merge the prefectural troops into the personal guard, eliminating the need for two separate systems and allowing direct control to prevent situations where the prefectural troops were beyond his command.

As for the security of Yan Prefecture, it would be managed by the office responsible for arrests.

Lv Chang listened, his excitement akin to a fighting rooster. From the moment he met Xu Lie, he had wanted to spar with him, and now his wish was granted.

“Commander Xu, please!”

Among the guards from the capital, Xu Lie’s martial skills were second only to Chang Wei. Lv Chang often displayed a challenging gaze towards him, feeling annoyed for a long time. After being reprimanded by a young woman earlier, he was eager to vent his frustration. Seeing Lv Chang’s intense stare, Xu Lie responded with a chilling smile, “Please.”

“…Looks like we’ve got a show.”

“I bet on Battalion Commander Lv to win. You haven’t seen it, but this morning he single-handedly subdued that runaway pig.”

“The General assigned Commander Xu to protect Your Highness, so Xu must be highly skilled. He was part of the imperial guards, once protecting the emperor.”

“…”

The military life was often dull, with little to do besides training. Lv Chang and Xu Lie entered the parade ground, clearing a space in the center. Soldiers gathered around, craning their necks to watch.

Zhao Xu sat comfortably on the command platform, Liu Fu standing by his side, “Your Highness, I bet on Commander Xu to win.”

At crucial moments, Liu Fu instinctively held a bias against those from the regional magnates like Lv Chang.

“I bet on Lv Chang,” Zhao Xu said, looking towards the field.

His decision to place Lv Chang in charge of the prefectural troops and trust him wasn’t without reason. Before this, Zhao Xu had learned about Lv Chang. According to the citizens of Yan City, Lv Chang never oppressed innocent people. Although he often got into fights, they were mostly in defense of justice, marking him as a righteous person.

Considering this, Zhao Xu decided to employ Lv Chang, not solely to win over the Lv Family. Of course, the three families in Yan Prefecture had members who committed wrongdoings. But just as he dealt with the Huang Family and Du Family, he didn’t condemn them entirely. After all, in large families, there were both wrongdoers and capable officials.

“Forgive me for disagreeing, Your Highness, but I’m willing to bet my entire fortune on Xu Lie winning,” Liu Fu declared confidently.

Zhao Xu smiled without a word.