Chapter 740

Jiang Zhe didn't dare to muddy the waters; he investigated the source of this troublesome land until it was crystal clear. The Yuan clan exchanged a cart of raw silk cloth for the land with the villagers of Shanzutou.

Youzhou has always had a fierce and sturdy folk custom; at first those villagers didn't agree. But this time the Yuan clan went north with a large retinue, and in Youzhou they also exchanged many retired Western Region warhorses from the military. A squad of guards, imposing and mighty, surrounded the village chief's house, then produced the names of the Heluo Yuan clan and the Jingzhao Fang clan, and bestowed a Yuan clan token, implying that from now on the Yuan clan would back them. With both kindness and authority, they intimidated the villagers, and the inexperienced villagers quickly submitted.

After all, they still had reclaimed land in hand, so they wouldn't starve to death immediately; offending these nobles wasn't necessarily fatal. What would happen if the gentry killed a commoner? Nothing much. Each one rode a tall horse, brandishing a sword, looking difficult to get along with; at the slightest disagreement they'd be ready to lop off your head.

The Great King heard Jiang Zhe's report and indeed laughed in anger; a cart of aged raw silk cloth exchanged for such a vast stretch of flat farmland outside Youzhou City.

"Such a profit‑less trade—how is the Yuan clan any different from bandits? The annual yield of this land could buy back that cart of junk!"

This land sold for even cheaper than he imagined—what's the difference between this and staking a claim by riding around it?

The Great King slammed his folding fan shut with a "pa!" and threw it to the ground.

"Impudent! Exile! Exile to Lingnan!"

Jiang Zhe knelt beside him and weakly said, "The village chief himself agreed; the Yuan clan indeed went to register the household, and they have a land deed..."

The Great King had no patience for his nonsense: "Who told you about the land deed? This is illegal plundering of others' property, it's fraud! I don't allow land enclosure here. You, the Neishi, can you withdraw the deed? You must declare the deed void. What about the Northern Border laws? The Great Jin laws haven't been changed yet, that's fine—this is Northern Border territory, and anyone who comes here must obey the Northern Border laws."

"I understand, Your Majesty—just please indicate the severity of the punishment." The Great Jin has lasted three hundred years; aside from raising troops in rebellion, there has never been a precedent for exiling scholar‑officials over such a matter!

The Great King thought for a moment, then sat down calmly.

"Isn't the land Lady Yuan enclosed not enough to warrant confiscating the Fang family's property and exiling them three thousand li?"

Jiang Zhe nodded quickly.

Yes, yes, yes—it really isn't enough.

The Great King flared with indignation: "Then go investigate! He came from Chang'an, served under my dear imperial uncle, yet you can't find a single fault? Seeing how adept the Yuan clan is at enclosing land, could this official in charge of mountains, forests, rivers and marshes possibly be clean? Has the Yuan clan ever enclosed land like this before? I don't believe it. One manor isn't enough for exile—let's pile on the charges!" Having just tasted the sweetness of corruption, the feeling of getting something for nothing, of pulling a sheep over... he wanted to do it every day.

Jiang Zhe: ……

Understood—the emperor has made up his mind to exile the Fang clan for the monkeys to see; it's just his bad luck.

"But I'm not saying this to frame you; fabricating charges won't do, otherwise you'd both be in trouble. Understand?"

"I understand, I will certainly handle this impartially. But I am dull‑witted; that lawsuit between the Grand Commander's son and the Yuan clan... please also give your guidance, Your Majesty." Though it looks like a single case, the Great King has actually mixed it into two. Jiang Zhe really doesn't know what the Great King is planning.

"The troops surrounding the Grand Commander's residence can be withdrawn, and the Fang mansion can wait a bit longer. Since that land is no longer the Yuan clan's, Young Master Dong naturally would buy it from the true owner later. For now, I hear Young Master Dong was beaten by a vicious slave and can't get out of bed; together the two cases mean the Fang mansion bears considerable guilt! How arrogant—constantly boasting of being a Hedong Luo prestigious clan, what's become of the Hedong Luo prestigious clan? Our Bai Li clan was also a Hedong Luo prestigious clan three hundred years ago! Look at their lawless arrogance; this time we must punish them severely!"

"Exactly—I want the world to see the fate of those who act arrogantly under my hand."

Jiang Zhe: ……Actually, the Heluo Yuan clan truly is the foremost Hedong Luo prestigious clan, while the Bai Li clan used to be third‑rate.

But he still dared to speak his mind—he could only look at the Great King with a face full of curiosity. So what? How exactly should we handle Young Master Dong's affair?

The Great King spoke righteously: "Afterwards… that will be Young Master Dong's matter. See whether he's willing to reconcile; I won't interfere."

Jiang Zhe left the Hall of Orchid Terrace in a daze, wondering what he had come for— the emperor seemed to have given guidance, yet also seemed not to have.

He went to the Grand Commander's residence with a blank stare, intending to personally lift the ban. When he reached the gate, he told the guards he wanted to see Young Master Dong. Never mind—he decided to pretend he didn't know Wei Er. The emperor still had to play dumb, so he could only come here to ask.

Who knew the guard would tell him straight: "Our young master is seriously injured and can't get out of bed; he can't see anyone, and he will absolutely not withdraw the lawsuit."

Jiang Zhe walked away, dazed, then went back and had the Fang clan thrown into prison. As for the siege, he sent someone to hint that the Lady Yuan and Young Master Dong had privately settled, so the troops could be withdrawn.

Wei Shen, hearing the news, rushed excitedly to the Hall of Orchid Terrace: "Outside, it's already all the buzz—does the Fang family's standing really not fall short of the Wei clan's? Your Majesty, how much money does this young master need to recover and settle this time?"

"Wei Hang is the eldest legitimate son of the family head; this Fang equal official and the family head are barely related by blood, and this branch still has to rely on the Yuan clan—best to drag the Yuan clan into the water. Seeing how proficient Lady Yuan is at enclosing land, the Yuan clan isn't innocent either. And since this Yuan clan is a daughter‑in‑law, who knows~"

Wei Shen was still very excited, "How much is it? When we get the money, we must treat me and Liang Er Chun to River Flowers Moon Night!"

He had thought the King was very poor, so he felt embarrassed to lightly bring up such a request. Who would have thought the King arranged three major projects in a single morning—both a farm and a chariot road—these he understood, they were proper business. The farm was for grain, the chariot road made marching and warfare extremely convenient, but this guy still had money to build a plaza?! Something you can't eat or drink, when asked he said it was for gatherings and to enrich the people's lives, leaving him dumbfounded. Even eating was a struggle; now is the time to build a plaza? So he concluded the King must have vast private wealth. After all, Chief Steward Zhu Da wasn't just one-handed.

The King felt bitter inside, so he would surely go around telling everyone.

This guy, clutching his chest and crying about his poverty, finally agreed.

Tomorrow there's one day left; the soldiers on holiday from the distant conscription will be returning, so he also needs to start work. "Cousin, if you've been wanting to go, then go—after all, cousin, you are my own cousin!"

Anyway, he wouldn't pay silver; it's just a matter of recording it first, in short—credit.

【Hit the list, send electricity, family members!!! It's a new month, let's all be strong, okay? ₍⁻ʚ. ⁻₎】