The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 9 - Loyalty

“Your Highness jests,” Chang Wei’s heart raced. “How could I possibly be worthy of being the general of Prince Yan’s Mansion’s personal guard?”

Zhao Xu thought to himself, “Stop pretending,” and casually replied, “In that case, I’ll choose someone else.”

“I think I could give it a try,” Chang Wei quickly interjected, with a sheepish grin.

“That’s the spirit. A soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general isn’t a true soldier,” Zhao Xu said, hands clasped behind his back, exuding the air of a sage.

For him, now that he had silver, the first order of business was to build a strong military. The power of the state comes from the barrel of a gun, a truth that has stood the test of time. Without it, all the silver he earned would ultimately benefit others.

With a personal guard, he could then take control of Yan Prefecture and eliminate the regional magnates who defied him.

“A soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general isn’t a true soldier,” Chang Wei repeated, recalling his initial fervor when he first joined the army. Once, he was full of passion, eager to serve the court. But his enthusiasm had cooled amidst the military’s intrigues, and now Zhao Xu’s words ignited the dormant volcano within him like a thunderbolt.

“Your Highness’s great kindness, I vow to follow you to the death,” Chang Wei declared, kneeling on one knee, head bowed.

A warrior dies for one who understands him. Since joining the army, no one had appreciated his valor or cared about his zeal. But now, the Prince, whom he had just pressured for military pay, not only forgave him but entrusted him with the personal guard. What immense trust this was.

For this trust, he could only repay with loyalty and his life.

Zhao Xu saw the fervor in Chang Wei’s eyes. He knew that for a straightforward and steadfast man like Chang Wei, only sincerity could win his allegiance. And he was right.

Helping Chang Wei to his feet, Zhao Xu smiled and said, “With regional magnates running rampant and Beidi raiders plundering, Yan Prefecture is like an egg on the brink of disaster. From now on, I hope you will join me in restoring order to Yan Prefecture!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Chang Wei replied loudly, his resolve as firm as stone.

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, “Time is of the essence. Start recruiting for the personal guard immediately. Report to me directly on how much silver you need, and I’ll have Accountant Qin provide it.”

“I’ll get right on it,” Chang Wei said, itching to lead twenty thousand soldiers into battle.

With a firm salute, he turned and left, spreading the news to the other guards.

Instantly, dozens of eager eyes turned to Zhao Xu.

Since last night’s distribution of military pay and additional allowances, they had changed their view of Zhao Xu. Now, with Zhao Xu forming a personal guard, they would undoubtedly be the foundation of this force.

This meant promotions and increased military pay for everyone.

Serving a master, who wouldn’t seek success and prosperity? How could they not be pleased?

But most importantly, they saw hope. With Prince Yan’s revival, Prince Yan’s Mansion was no longer stagnant but brimming with vitality.

“What are these fools so happy about?” Liu Fu had just returned, accompanied by three servants. He was puzzled to see the guards looking as if they’d been injected with adrenaline.

“I’ve appointed Chang Wei to recruit the personal guard and made him a general,” Zhao Xu replied with a smile.

“A general?” Liu Fu’s heart twisted with envy. “Your Highness, though I am but a servant, I was once a scholar, studying diligently for eighteen years, hoping to serve Your Highness with all my heart.”

“You’ve studied?” Zhao Xu was genuinely surprised. At this moment, what he lacked most were capable people. Militarily, Chang Wei seemed reliable for now. But with Zhang Han out of the picture, the position of chief counselor in the Prince’s Mansion was vacant. For a functioning Prince’s Mansion, the general of the personal guard and the chief counselor were like the left and right arms. Now that the left arm was in place, it was time for the right arm.

Since Liu Fu had studied, it seemed a waste to only have him run errands. Moreover, he was the first to pledge loyalty when Zhang Han was ousted, so he deserved this opportunity.

“Your Highness can send someone to investigate; I wouldn’t dare deceive you,” Liu Fu assured.

“Very well, then you shall hold the position of chief counselor. If you perform well, I will officially appoint you as chief counselor,” Zhao Xu pondered.

Upon hearing this, Liu Fu was so moved that his voice trembled with emotion. “Your Highness, I will not disappoint you, I promise…”

Zhao Xu understood Liu Fu’s feelings at this moment. For him, this was a turning point in his life.

The Dasong Dynasty’s high ancestor, Zhao Yi, had established the dynasty with the help of the eight powerful clans, proclaiming that they would share the world. To ensure the clans’ interests in the court, Dasong did not adopt the imperial examinations but instead used the recommendation system. As a result, high-ranking officials in the court mostly came from the eight powerful clans, while local county and prefecture officials were controlled by regional magnates. This left scholars like Zhang Han, who came from humble backgrounds, with almost no chance of advancement. The only way to become an official was to serve as a retainer to the magnates. But even then, the magnates might not accept them, as they valued lineage.

It’s easy to imagine how excited Liu Fu was to be appointed as chief counselor.

“Stand up, or people might think I’ve done something to you,” Zhao Xu chuckled.

Chang Wei and the guards were already watching the scene unfold.

Liu Fu wiped his tears. “Your Highness, scholars from humble backgrounds suffer greatly. Despite their vast knowledge, they lose out to those magnate offspring who can’t even read a basketful of words…”

Realizing he might have overstepped, Liu Fu’s face turned pale. “Your Highness, I spoke without thinking. Please forgive me.”

The recommendation system was the foundation of governance for both the imperial family and the powerful clans in Dasong. To criticize it was to offend both the clans and the imperial family.

“Don’t worry, what you said isn’t without reason,” Zhao Xu waved his hand dismissively.

As a transmigrator, he didn’t hold the deep-rooted hierarchical views of Dasong. Moreover, he found the outdated system of Dasong quite flawed. After all, such a system had been replaced by the imperial examinations as early as the Tang Dynasty.

“Don’t worry? Not without reason?” Liu Fu was stunned. If the magnates heard such words, he wouldn’t escape unscathed. Yet Zhao Xu had casually remarked that it made sense.

“In selecting officials, the capable should be chosen,” Zhao Xu said with a smile.

Relying on the magnates was unrealistic, as his mother’s family was of humble origin, which led to him being bullied by princes whose maternal uncles were from powerful clans. This disdain was ingrained in every magnate offspring in Dasong. Thus, he was destined not to see eye to eye with these magnates. Only by rallying scholars like Liu Fu and the people of Yan Prefecture could he build his true base.

“Your Highness…” Liu Fu was deeply moved by Zhao Xu’s words.

His grievance was with the recommendation system, which in Dasong favored lineage over talent.

“Do you want to turn Yan Prefecture into a place where scholars from humble backgrounds can become officials based on their abilities?” Zhao Xu asked, his eyes bright.

“I do!”

Looking at Zhao Xu, Liu Fu hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a gamble, just as he had when he saved Prince Yan.

If Zhao Xu was testing him, he would be doomed. But if Zhao Xu was sincere, he had found a wise leader.

“Good, then from now on, you shall take up your post,” Zhao Xu said, patting Liu Fu’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Liu Fu knelt down and bowed deeply three times.

Zhao Xu quickly helped him up. “I have your first order: immediately recruit people to farm the Prince’s Mansion’s estates.”

“But all the people are already working the magnates’ lands. Who will farm our estates?” Liu Fu sighed heavily.

Zhao Xu gave a knowing smile. “There will be, and this is the first step in winning the people’s hearts.”

Liu Fu was taken aback, unsure of what method Prince Yan had to compete with the magnates for the people’s loyalty.