Chapter 338: Honeycomb Coal King Da Wang

Da Wang first sent Xie Yuan back to the Northern Border Academy, saying, "Sir, don't rush to take up your post; first settle the academy's affairs."

Xie Yuan asked if he could find a suitable person to take over the position of Supervisor of Sacrifices, but Da Wang was shocked: "Absolutely not! The academy also needs the Sir to hold down the fort." His side quest at the academy isn't finished yet; they haven't recruited enough students, so letting a big shot leave now is impossible.

Xie Yuan: "…So that means I, as Grand Censor and Supervisor of Sacrifices, would be holding both posts?" You've got to do both, right?

Da Wang fidgeted with his fingers, feigning bashfulness, "Sir, the more capable you are, the more work you get~"

In the Northern Border, there's no one more suitable than you to serve as the academy's Supervisor of Sacrifices—you are the Northern Border Academy's flagship! The academy can accommodate over a thousand students, but we're still far short.

Sir, you can delegate some of the academy's affairs to your two senior fellow students, and I will pay them their stipends.

What could Xie Yuan do? He's already boarded the pirate ship—he doesn't have a choice.

"Wait a minute! Your Highness, don't forget the calligraphy copybook you promised me." Now that it's come to this, we shouldn't let it go to waste.

Da Wang assured him, "I've already asked a friend to gather them; I'll get you a copy of every character left by the Calligraphy Sage. But the originals are impossible to obtain—no one can get them."

Xie Yuan understood; he saw that the copybook was probably like the books printed by Da Wang's Printing Bureau, but it didn't matter—that copybook was clear enough.

Just before getting out of the car, they agreed on Xie Yuan's work start date: three days from now.

"Sir, taking up office I can keep under wraps for now, but eventually word will get out in the Northern Border. Sir, if you have any plans for your clan, you should arrange them early—I can send someone to Chen Commandery for you."

"As for people and property, besides land and houses, I can help you move everything lock, stock, and barrel to the Northern Border. I can also help the Xie Clan find a plot of land in the Northern Border to continue living together."

"You know, in the Northern Border, aside from the little land the commoners hold, the rest—including what the scholar-officials used to own—has all been placed under the jurisdiction of the Northern Border Prince's Residence."

The Northern Border has seen two years of warfare; many people have fled, but the land remains. Da Wang has no intention of returning it to the scholar-officials. His notice long ago said only the land of the northern migrants would be returned.

"Chen Commandery lies in the heart of Jiangnan, far from the Northern Border—over a thousand li away—and any route would pass through the territories of several rebel powers and the Great Jin… Moreover, the Xie Clan is numerous, so it's hardly a simple matter." It's not that he doubts the capability of Da Wang's subordinates; it's just that there are too many members of the Xie Clan.

Relocating an entire clan isn't something that can be decided by a single sentence, nor is it up to him alone. With wives, children, the elderly and young—all these dependents—can even the toughest cavalry really bring this many people safely north without a single mishap?

Upon hearing that, Da Wang grew proud, "You just got off the boat and already forgot? I have a sea fleet—we can go by water. Sailing upstream from the Yangtze's mouth, the Xie Clan only needs to find a suitable riverside spot to embark, and I think a landing ship would work fine."

That way we'd completely avoid the troop‑stockpiling site of Bai Li Jin, and Chen Commandery is close to Lao Er—Old Two, as they call him—won't dare to clash with me for the time being.

Xie Yuan gave a wry smile—how could he have forgotten Da Wang's purpose for this trip?

He rose and bowed to Da Wang, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness. I will discuss this with my clan and report back if I need assistance."

Your servant.

Da Wang laughed hysterically inside, but kept a perfectly calm exterior.

He waved a hand, telling Xie Yuan not to stand on ceremony, "Do you have a quick way to contact Chen Commandery? If not, I can have the Jiangnan Intelligence Bureau help you with this."

Xie Yuan: ……

You really don't treat him as an outsider, do you!

★

After Xie Yuan got out of the car and left, Zhao Ba came in to add a piece of coal to Da Wang's fire, then couldn't help asking, "Your Highness, why didn't you mention the staffing shortage to Mr. Xie? Mr. Xie has students all over the world—if he puts out the call and you guarantee the clan's safety, plenty of people would come to our Northern Border; wouldn't it be great to bring them all at once?"

Da Wang lay back on the plush couch with a smug grin, "You think he doesn't know? I don't need to bring it up because it's not something I'd have to handle. Once Mr. Xie gets as busy as a prime minister or grand tutor, he'll voluntarily send his students over. After all, right now I'm the best option."

Is he lacking confidence? Anyway, those few rebel kings and Bai Li Jin can't beat the Xiongnu. And he—Bai Li Jing—has already buried plenty of Xiongnu.

What does he have to be unconfident about!

Zhao Ba exclaimed happily, "Your Highness, you're brilliant!"

Da Wang wiggled his toes, "That's for sure!"

Outside, Chang Li, who had been listening the whole time: ……

The kid's become a little devil.

Back then… back then, if his young lord had had even half of Da Wang's cleverness, he wouldn't have spent his life constantly campaigning, nor would he have been… so exhausted.