Chapter 361

Who would have thought this guy would repay kindness with enmity, his legs hitting the ground and his breath not even evened out before he started throwing his weight around.

"You did it on purpose! You deliberately startled my horse! You're trying to kill me!"

Guard: "... No, Zhuque Avenue allows horse riding, but it's best to lead the horse in the middle lane..."

"You're still making excuses! Do you know who he is?" Wenzi interrupted him, pointing at the helped-up Wenying, whose right cheek was scraped raw, looking bloody and terrifying.

"No matter who he is, he can't ride a horse in the pedestrian area."

"Heaven has been overturned! Someone, smash these stinking beggars' stalls for me, and beat the people to death!" The Wen family's legitimate son had been disfigured, and the stall vendor's life was not in his consideration; he only felt anxious and extremely irritable.

Guard:...

Beat to death?

Da Wang, where are you? Things are a bit tricky now—should I fight back or maintain the small vendor persona? Waiting online.

In the restaurant, Da Wang's dishes had just been served when he heard the guard report, saying his stall had been smashed!

Da Wang choked on the fish balls, stretching his neck, "You sisuo~ someone in Youzhou City smashed my, the King's, stall?"

Guard: "... Yes!"

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Da Wang slapped the table and stood up, the fish ball soup on the table trembling.

"Who dares smash my stall?! I've been vending for so many years, and this is the first time I've encountered this!"

The guard desperately suppressed the twitch at the corner of his mouth,... so many years? May I ask, Your Majesty, how old are you this year?

No one would have thought Da Wang was truly a street vendor tycoon, his stall experience not needing to be too rich.

After slapping the table, Da Wang suddenly calmed down; this guy sat down without any transition, as if nothing happened, changing faces faster than flipping a book, switching effortlessly.

"Let them smash it. Selling popcorn earns less than stall compensation—go quickly check the other party's identity." Ordinary commoners wouldn't dare cause trouble on Zhuque Avenue, especially the people of Youzhou.

This matter is easy to investigate; he didn't make them wait long, and soon the second batch of guards brought more accurate and complete information.

"From the intelligence unit, we received word that it's the two sons of the Wen clan of Hengjian; one legitimate son had his face scraped by a startled horse, and the other directed the servants to smash our stall; the person has already been detained, still at the scene, please Your Highness give instructions."

Da Wang ate his dishes and drank his soup slowly and calmly, finally having a chance to speak after swallowing, "Fell off the horse? Meaning they were riding horses on Zhuque Avenue? Are they Beijiang officials or do they have my special permission?"

"Replying to Your Highness, the other party are commoners, just entered the city, not fitting any special circumstances."

Da Wang recalled, "Hengjian Commandery? Isn't that part of Yizhou?"

"The information from the chief steward is that, during last year's war turmoil, the Wen clan evacuated Hengjian en masse; recently, due to having settled near Changyi and new rebel forces appearing there, the Wen clan returned to their old home in Hengjian. Ge Zhonglangjiang returned their ancestral residence to them, and the legitimate son Wenying came to Youzhou City without stopping his horse."

Da Wang smiled, "Let me guess—could it be they came to ask for land?"

Most of the land in the Jin Dynasty is in the hands of the aristocracy; the Wen clan fled south during the war turmoil, and now Beijiang is stable while the south is in chaos, so they've returned. Unfortunately, Ge Zhong only returned their ancestral home, not a single mu of land, which has all been annexed into the Beijiang King's mansion.

To want it back after it's in Da Wang's hands?

That's wishful thinking.

Da Wang would rather give it to the commoners to stabilize the population of Beijiang.

Rob the rich to help the poor—this is something Da Wang enjoys doing.

"Wen clan, what's their background? What did Zhuti say?"

"The Wen clan of Hengjian Commandery, this time the entire clan relocated with a population of two hundred fifty-six, with over four hundred attendants; previously, the Wen clan held one-third of the arable land in Hengjian Commandery and over sixty shops in Yizhou."

"They've returned completely intact; their family foundation should still be very substantial!"

Da Wang had made up his mind, ate a few more bites, and leisurely walked out of the restaurant back the way he came.

Before he even got close to his popcorn stall, he saw the guards had already dispersed the crowd, leaving only scattered popcorn and stools lying every which way; the small stool he had just sat on had already disintegrated, miserably lying in the popcorn pile...

Seeing this scene, Da Wang could already imagine how arrogant these people had just been.

"Where are the people?"

"Chief steward Zhu took the initiative to bring them into the shop, to prevent the crowd from gathering and not dispersing."

Da Wang entered the stationery shop; the shop's customers had already been cleared out. Zhuti sat behind the counter, a dozen or so people with bruised noses and swollen faces crouched in the corner—probably the Wen clan's attendants?

Besides the guards, there were two people standing in the middle; looking like they were the two masters of the Wen clan.

One of them was still not honest, staring at Zhuti with a straight, unblinking gaze. His performance was really too obvious; Da Wang's thick-skinned nerves noticed it the moment he entered—he was thinking about how Zhuti also didn't show any sign, today his temper is this good?

Who knew the chief steward was waiting for him? As soon as he saw him enter, Zhuti immediately stood up, pointing straight at the one with the sticky gaze fixed on her, Wenzi: "Do you still want this person? If not, I'll beat him to death?"

Da Wang:...

Guard:...

Warrior ah!

That Wenzi, being treated this way by a beauty, felt his face couldn't take it, "A mere merchant girl, daring to speak so wildly and insult this young master!"

Da Wang instantly lost interest in him, a mere chicken.

"Shut up!"

He waved his hand, letting Zhuti sit down first, "As long as the person is alive, that's fine—don't rush." He couldn't be bothered with this idiot chicken, looking at the one with a bloody face, "Why did this young master smash our stall?"

That Wenying didn't even glance properly at Da Wang, his attendants beaten to that state and yet he continued arrogantly, "You're the owner here? Everyone says Youzhou people are savage and fierce; today I've finally seen it. Advise you to immediately send me to the clinic; if this young master's face leaves a scar, your whole family's lives added together wouldn't be enough to compensate!"

Da Wang sat on the chair brought by the guard, leisurely crossed his legs, arms crossed over his chest, Da Wang would only make him angrier.

"Just you? You still want to use your whole family's lives to pay?

I still have such arrogant and domineering families in Beijiang, and this is all my fault.

You've miscalculated this time, paying with your whole family's lives won't work anymore.

My parents are already gone, there's nothing left to compensate you with—why not go check the imperial mausoleum? Or… that Bai Li Jin from Chang'an's Jianzhang Palace might barely count as one! With such a good deal, the king always thinks of the eldest first.

Wen Ying's face instantly changed color, even Wen Zi that fool changed his expression.

Your Highness, the imperial mausoleum.

These two words kept buzzing in his head.

In Beijiang, at this age, this person before you is undoubtedly the Northern Border King.

They also had no time to wonder why, upon arriving in Youzhou, they'd had the misfortune to wreck the Northern Border King's stall—who could have known that the king who dominates the entire north would actually be setting up some ridiculous stall on the street!

The two could only kneel and beg for forgiveness, unfortunately it's a bit late—the ones who should have been offended have already been thoroughly offended.

The harsh words have already been spoken, and just now they didn't even leave themselves any room to retreat.

"I heard the Wen clan, when the nation faced crisis, led the clan in fleeing south first. Such shallow fear of death, unable to share hardship with the Jin Dynasty—this family is truly a disgrace to Henei Commandery. Now… I hear the Wen clan has returned?

Tsk tsk, Henei is already my fief, how could I believe you won't betray Beijiang again?

"

The Wen brothers kicked against an iron plate, could only beg for mercy once more.

From these two brothers' conduct, the king's opinion of the Wen clan in his heart had already sunk to the lowest point. Zhuque Avenue's entrance clearly had a dismount notice, yet these two, claiming status, rode horses into the street—falling off was no injustice.

Naturally, their punishment would be without mercy: "The machinery I bought overseas at great expense, you say smash and it's smashed—Wen clan truly is rich and powerful.

Smashed it is, more talk is useless—I've always loved the people like my children; Wen clan paying this sum of silver will settle it. As for you lot, first throw you all into the great prison, we'll talk after the compensation arrives!"

Wen Zi, ever since hearing this kid was the feared Northern Border King from the folk, his legs went soft and he kept trembling; now hearing about the great prison, he trembled like chaff in a sieve.

Beijiang's great prison—always felt like a place you couldn't walk out of alive.

Who is the Northern Border King? He's the one who slaughtered the Xiongnu great army and still burned corpses!

In the southern countryside, he can stop children's night crying!

"Please, Your Highness, spare our lives—we're willing to pay money! Really, we'll compensate every bit of the loss, Your Highness, spare our lives! ……"

The king shifted his posture, "Your attitude of admitting fault is passable—strike a discount, eight hundred thousand taels will do. When the money arrives, I'll naturally release you. Come, drag them away!"

The guards came up to drag the Wen brothers, but the king spoke again, "Wait!"

Wen Zi felt delighted, thinking he'd changed his mind—maybe to give face to the aristocracy? Their Wen clan is the number one clan in Henei!

Just then I heard the king say: "I hate wasting food most! Sweep up the popcorn on the ground, take it to these people as prison rations. Within three days, let them eat the popcorn off the ground."

Zhuti greatly admired the king's creativity, silently gave a thumbs-up. The popcorn scattered all over looked like a lot, but it was actually just a handful of rice—these people will definitely starve half to death.

The king demanded eight hundred thousand taels, didn't care about meals.

After speaking, the king raised his hand toward Wen Zi, signaling Zhuti could act freely—his part was done.

The chief steward came forward with a beaming smile, grabbed the collar and lifted Wen Zi, "Let me personally take Young Master Wen to the great prison!"

Wen Zi was dragged along, kicking his legs, from the back door by the chief steward; the king watched from behind with relish, "So brutal, too brutal!"

Guards: ……

This isn't over yet—the king ordered: "Send someone to notify the Wen clan of this—eight hundred thousand taels, not a single tael less, or I'll just send cavalry to collect! Hmm…… bring a Wen clan aide to lead the way, pick someone articulate, able to remember what I just said."

"Yes!"

"Also, notify Luoshui Pass—no Wen clan member allowed to leave the pass."

The king struck—never misses.

The king seemed to have discovered a little money-making trick, on the way back to the prince's residence his spirits were soaring—this trip truly wasn't in vain.

It was also a coincidence—Xie Yuan and Xu Zhi had finished overtime and were about to return, walking to the side gate of Nanhua Gate, when they happened to meet the king.

Night had just fallen, the Northern Border King's residence lights were just lit up, the two overworked bigwigs and the bouncing king collided head-on.

The king had people send his horse back to the stables near the East Great Camp beforehand, deliberately avoided entering through the East Gate, instead taking the side gate of Nanhua Gate, escaping Zhao Bao who blocked people—he didn't escape Xie Yuan and the Grand Tutor.

You could tell this guy was very happy—his normal walking couldn't express his joy, this guy tiptoed, hopping and bouncing from the side gate in, followed by seven or eight guards.

Xie Yuan and the Grand Tutor didn't leave either, just stood there trying to glare at the king, waiting to see when the happy king would notice them.

The king had bounced into the side gate, finally saw the two unfortunate ministers amid the fading lights, and immediately braked sharply.

"……Sir and Grand Tutor, are you returning to the residence? Take it slow?"

Xie Yuan and Xu Zhi together slowly bowed, "Paying respects to Your Highness. Your Highness, where did you return from?"

The Grand Tutor went along, "Must be the Imperial Academy? With such a long distance, why didn't Your Highness ride a horse?"

The king immediately gave up pretending, hearing this tone he knew his outing was exposed—what else was there to say?

"I went out to stroll the streets."

Xie Yuan directly asked him: "Your Highness setting up a stall on the street—was it to experience merchants' lives, or to understand prices and people's livelihood?"

The king was very honest, "Nope. I just went purely to promote corn, and incidentally earn some silver."

Xie Yuan nodded, "Your Highness, this is a side path—you personally setting up a stall, how many taels could you earn? Better to spend the time reading……"

The king nodded, nodded hard.

"Yes yes yes, reading is good! There are golden houses in books, there are faces like jade in books! This principle I understand. But Your Highness setting up a stall also earns money—it's all commercial activity, sir, please don't look down on small vendors!"

"I have no bias."

"Then it's fine. Your Highness earned eight hundred thousand taels from setting up a stall today, very happy—tomorrow please invite the Grand Tutor and Mr. Xie to a meal, Your Highness will leave first!" The king tossed out these words and fled quickly.

After the king walked far away, Xie Yuan and Xu Zhi were still dazed.

Xu Zhi: "He said eight hundred thousand, taels?" Last year's fiscal surplus wasn't even that much.

Xie Yuan: "Yes."

Xu Zhi: "Wasn't it said he was popping corn kernels on Zhuque Avenue?"

Xie Yuan: "You Youzhou isn't short on corn, so how did he just pop it and earn this much?"

Xu Zhi immediately declared, "It's our Youzhou."

The two of them didn't go home either; feeling uneasy until the matter was clarified, they promptly sent people to inquire.

The two had a cup of tea in the gate tower, and the matter became clear. The Da Wang had more than ten people imprisoned without hiding it, and inquiries were quickly resolved.

"... The meaning is that the Da Wang's stall was smashed by a clan from Hejian, and the eight hundred thousand taels is compensation?"

"Yes, that's one way to put it. The two sons of the Wen family declared that Your Highness must compensate with lives for the whole family, so... Your Highness has already sent people leading the Wen family's servants to Hejian, with the verbal order that not a single tael of the eight hundred thousand can be less; if less... if less, he will have the cavalry come to demand it."

Xie Yuan:...

Xu Zhi:...

Xie Yuan came to his senses, looked toward Xu Zhi, who, as the Original King's Tutor who had followed the Da Wang since age six, felt guilty inside. But his mouth was not guilty, "Your Highness truly acts with integrity; if another prince had his stall smashed publicly, they wouldn't even have the life to sit in prison."

Xie Yuan: "... Did you only praise him from this one angle?"

Xu Zhi smiled, "Xie Gong is also the Da Wang's tutor."

Xie Yuan:...

There is a share, everyone has a share.