Chapter 22

He had barely slept all night; the next morning after school, he again took Zhao Chuan out of the city.

This time Zhao Chuan brought an extra squad on top of yesterday's base, but two people from yesterday's squad will never appear again.

Bai Li Jing stood on yesterday's spot gazing into the distance; this vast stretch of wasteland had not a single person in sight.

Yesterday's bustling reclamation scene seemed like a dream of imagination.

Though clearly in the wilderness, the tip of his nose seemed still tinged with the scent of blood.

No one goes out of the city to reclaim land anymore!

Everyone knows the outside is dangerous; outside appeared Northern Hu slave‑catchers.

It's the court's fault—it can't protect the border prefecture's people; even reclaiming a plot on one's own land can cost a life.

Bai Li Jing suddenly spurred his horse forward, feeling his tears well up again. He didn't want anyone to see a king who cries every day. Xiao Zao bolted madly, throwing the rear guards far behind; the king secretly cried for a while.

When Xiao Zao stopped again, they were already near the northern border line.

Bai Li Jing stood on the wasteland gazing at the northern mountains and grasslands; that side was the territory of the Liaodong Xianbei, further west the Liaoxi Xianbei and the Xiongnu… He didn't know exactly where yesterday's Hu people came from. It didn't matter; collectively they were Hu, all enemies of Bai Li Jing.

The king's eyes, red from crying and wind‑blown, were now like a rabbit's. This didn't stop him from raising his whip and pointing fiercely north: 'This king will surely slaughter any Hu who dares to invade the border!'

Only Xiao Zao witnessed this boast.

When the frightened Zhao Chuan finally caught up, he saw the king riding circles not far from the border line.

'Your Highness! Something like that just happened yesterday—how could you ditch the guards?'

Bai Li Jing cut him off: 'You can't outrun Xiao Zao, so could those Hu outrun him? Why are you more long‑winded than Xu Taifu! Come see—how is this land? Is it flat?'

Zhao Chuan looked left and right; it was quite flat, a vast grassland.

But it's too close to the border line to reclaim; without yesterday's incident, the common folk wouldn't come here to farm.

He spoke frankly.

Bai Li Jing shook his head, the small whip in his hand once again pointing north like a sword.

'Youzhou City is under threat from the Northern Hu, the people live in fear and unrest. From now on, I, the king, will personally guard the northern side of Youzhou.'

Zhao Chuan: 'Ah? Forgive my stupidity, Your Highness—what do you mean by that?'

What does it mean? His Highness the Youwang has let his guard down.

He wants to build the Youwang Manor here, and from now on he will personally guard the national gate. If any border‑raiders dare, let them try to march south past the Youwang Manor.

Yesterday's events left him angry, guilty, and heart‑broken. Deep inside, for the first time he felt responsibility and mission; he wants to protect Youzhou's people and never again see yesterday's scene.

After a sleepless night, having cried his fill, he got up and pored over every corner of 【Capital Prosperity Dream】; the Heaven‑chosen Son, the Great King of Youzhou, felt supported by this divine game and believed he could surely change Youzhou.

Just before Zhao Chuan arrived, he had thought a lot and made a willful decision to go all‑out. Northern Hu invaders would take lives, and famine would too.

His Highness the Youwang wants to build the Youwang Manor near the outskirts of the border line, causing a huge uproar in the Front Court.

It's admirable that the king personally guards the national gate, but they can't ignore his safety!

Though the king is usually open to discussion, on this matter he is especially obstinate—he's past the point of being reasonable; he merely informs everyone, leaving no room for negotiation.

He plans to expand Youzhou City to the edge of the border line, placing the princely manor at the very fringe. If Hu people march south, the first to bear the brunt will be the king himself.

The officials all wore faces of dissent—this step is more than just a big stride; Your Highness is practically taking off, floating away.

Even if the emperor wanted to expand Chang'an, he wouldn't take such a hasty, huge step.

The silent Minister Xue sighed; the Lord of Youzhou bears the appearance of a wise ruler—a good omen.

Unfortunately he's still too young: 'Your Highness, have you considered where the funds for the new manor will come from? Tearing down the current one and moving it intact is impossible.' He didn't add that, with a manor built, erecting another new manor near the border would leave the unenlightened populace thinking only of more corvée, breeding widespread resentment.

Everyone hearing this exclaimed, 'Right—where would they get the money to build a new manor?' The old one is so shabby from lack of funds; where would they find spare cash to scatter on the wasteland?

Your Highness is preparing not to live past next year, right!

The king handsomely waved his hand: 'This king has a clever plan. Tomorrow I'll issue a notice to conscript laborers—you just need to know about it, then disperse~'

Returning to the study, Bai Li Jing dismissed the hesitant Zhao Bao, pulled out his little notebook and began copying the notice, revising it several times.

The next day, when Minister Xue took hold of it, he shut his eyes tight and then opened them wide.

Good, it's not an optical illusion.

'Your Highness, is this your own idea? Are you serious?'

The king lifted his chin and nodded again, inwardly chortling with hands on hips. 'Isn't this mighty? Isn't this generous? Thanks to this king, the people of Youzhou are blessed!'

Make a few copies right away and notify the villages and counties around Youzhou City that registration will officially begin the day after tomorrow.

Xue Xiang was unable to stop it, and he deeply suspected that Marquis Wei Ting had diverted military funds to hoard for his grandson.

Once the king went to his lessons, he handed the notice to Zhao Bao, wondering if the prince's resources could cover the cost of a new palace of this size.

Zhao Bao's walk back to the inner palace was uneven, and he likely won't make it to next autumn's harvest; the prince could already be writing a rescue letter to Chang'an and Changzhou.

Even after the king nearly flew into a rage, Xue Xiang still sent out the notice.

Fine, let's recruit—ninety days, several tens of thousands of taels… if that truly fails, we can put these people to work repairing the city walls.

By that afternoon, the notice delivered by express horse had reached Youzhou City and its subordinate villages and towns; it was written in plain language to ensure everyone could understand.

【Notice of Conscripted Laborers:

Yesterday, unidentified Hu raiders slipped into the northern outskirts of Youzhou City, seized slaves and slaughtered more than thirty locals. Prince Youzhou, out on patrol with his personal guards, encountered them after they were driven away and felt furious. He resolved to personally defend the northern border, letting the people of Youzhou farm and travel without fear.

We are now recruiting five thousand able-bodied men with pay to construct the Prince's residence north of Youzhou City; the conscription is open to registered residents of Youzhou City and will last ninety days.

Recruitment requirements:

1) Eighteen villages under Youzhou City's jurisdiction, each to provide 108 workers; four towns, each 200; the central urban district of Youzhou City, 1,000; the notice calls for a total of 5,000.

2) Each household may nominate only one worker; multiple nominations are prohibited.

3) Registration priority: first, households with active-duty military members; if numbers fall short, then poor households or those with many members.

4) Male, aged 14 to 45, healthy, able to endure long hours of labor.

Five; selected laborers must obey orders, strictly observe discipline. Taking the village as a unit, groups of forty people mutually guarantee each other; anyone in a group who commits serious violations such as theft will have the whole group expelled. Hope everyone supervises each other.

Reward: one set of clothing (paid immediately), two dou of rice per day (daily settlement), three hundred cash per day (monthly settlement).

Registration date: the fourth day of the seventh month.

Registration address: You Prince's Manor Western Splendor Gate.】