Chapter 769: Flag Sacrifice

After Yang Fang came to find him, a pile of people had already piled up before the King, the King standing in the middle… delivering a grand speech.

"To be frank, don't judge by my decent attire; I'm actually in the business of robbery!"

Yang Fang: ……

Impressive.

"This person says he's a private soldier of the Prince Chen's manor; I've checked and won't move him for now. What about you? You don't have Prince Chen as your backing—hand over all your silver, and I'll spare your lives! Silver, as long as you hand it over, I guarantee your safety; I'll send you all to work the fields at the Big Farm! That's a real bargain for you—there they provide food and lodging."

Several people, bound at the wrists, upon hearing this, had mixed thoughts.

Someone immediately claimed to be from the Prince Chen's manor as well, while another said they were from the Guangling Prince's manor.

The King, at a loss for words, said: "You won't think I'll believe whatever you say, will you? Once I find out you're lying—no one will get out alive!"

He turned his head, saw Yang Fang, stood up and smirked: "Haven't you heard of 'black eating black'? I dare do this in the Northern Border because I have backing—you'd better keep that in mind. Sir Yang, come investigate thoroughly; if you're really from Prince Chen's side, you'll stay, otherwise… it's up to my mood."

Yang Fang: "……Yes."

The few unlucky ones thrown to the ground felt their hearts churning—this… is official and bandit collusion?!

Yang Fang is a man of action, and with the King's personal guard experts covering him, after the King woke from a night's sleep, the prepared statements were already submitted.

"…There really are Prince Chen's private soldiers? Good, this old fool dares to undermine me; I'll first take the Chen State's ceremonial flag when I turn back."

"Your Majesty, there's also a unit not from Chen State; they really came from Luoyang."

"Then let them go. I'm easy to talk to; you can't think of taking away large amounts of maize, they can take some potatoes and sweet potatoes back instead."

After the unit entered Hejian, impatient folks had already begun the autumn harvest. Yang Fang was busy inspecting the granaries, estimating yields, while the King's secretary neglected his duties, meddling all day.

He formulated the government's grain purchase policy based on market prices; this year, besides tax collection, the government also buys all surplus grain from the people in the Northern Border.

After visiting the Big Farm and estimating the harvest as decent, before the King could even rejoice, he received news from Zhu Ti: word from Luoyang said the imperial examinations faced massive resistance, and they were still protesting in front of the Luoyang traveling palace.

"These scholar-elites are full of vigor! I think they're just overfed.... How is the Luoyang prefect doing?"

Zhu Ti spread his hands: "Nothing much. They have to maintain order at their gatherings."

Seeing the King's mouth open, ready to take action against the prefect, Zhu Ti hurriedly reminded: "My lord, is there a replacement for him? Isn't the urgency over the examinations just because there's no one to use?"

The King held his breath, instantly his whole body puffed up with anger.

"I have no one to use, but Luoyang is a good place. The Prefect of Northern Direction and the Prefect of Luoyang are still different; if he can't do the job, just swap him out!" For the Luoyang prefect, being sent to Northern Direction is equivalent to exile.

"The harvest in Wing Prefecture is decent; I've taken note. Thus, I have no time to continue forward—I must return to preside over the palace examinations. You take charge of grain collection in the Northern Border; you must not let large amounts of grain fall into other forces' hands."

"Right, have Prime Minister Xie issue a condemnatory edict against Chen State. For raising private soldiers, illegally entering the Northern Border—have Prince Chen and his heir come to You Prefecture to plead guilty."

Zhu Ti took the statement, glanced, and said matter-of-factly: "He won't come; once this condemnatory edict is issued, Prince Chen will likely rebel outright."

The King resolved to go south this winter; he wouldn't fear whether Prince Chen rebels or not.

"Prince Chen isn't just jumping around for the first time. Take the old prince's manor's Xiongnu cavalry and test Prince Chen's mettle."

Zhu Ti: ……

【Good news! The King's comic has gone online with 100 episodes!

Search for 《Eternal Peace》 or the King's personal name—Bai Li Jing, and you can see it.

Good news, the King's looks are on point; bad news, only a hundred episodes have been updated, airing up to the King planting sweet potatoes.

I'll go try the salty and light flavors too; I'll update less today (⌒▽⌒)}