Chapter 10: Crisis

"Since I, the Prince, first arrived in Yan Commandery, I have been blessed by the heavens, and my madness has been cured. However, during my illness, the Prince Mansion's tutor, Zhang Han, placed me under house arrest and abused his authority, repeatedly issuing harsh policies that caused the people to suffer. His crimes are heinous. Today, I specifically behead him at Dong Shi to restore the prestige of the Prince Mansion."

Dong Shi of Yancheng.

This is the execution ground where the government beheads death-row prisoners.

At this moment, Zhang Han is kneeling in the center of the execution ground, surrounded by a dense crowd of commoners who have come to watch the execution.

On the viewing platform behind the execution ground, Liu Fu is no longer dressed as a servant, but is wearing the official uniform designated for the Prince Mansion's tutor.

Beside him is a middle-aged man in a vermilion official robe, sporting a long beard and a refined appearance.

He is none other than the Commandery Governor of Yan Commandery, Zhang Kang, the younger brother of Zhang Qian.

Yesterday, he had just returned from the administrative seat of Yanzhou, Fanyang Commandery, when he learned from his elder brother, Zhang Qian, that the Yan Wang's madness had been cured.

Although unhappy in his heart, he still decided to visit the Yan Wang today to maintain a facade of courtesy.

Unexpectedly, he encountered the escort team for Zhang Han on the way.

Upon inquiring, he learned that the Prince Mansion had changed its tutor and was going to execute Zhang Han, so he had no choice but to greet this newly appointed tutor first and follow him to the execution ground.

"Cousin, save me! Save me..."

The executioner pulled out the death warrant board from behind his back, and Zhang Han's crotch immediately became soaked.

Turning his head, he begged Zhang Kang for help with all his might.

"Cousin?" Liu Fu deliberately squinted at Zhang Kang.

"Audacious prisoner, how dare you spout nonsense when you are at death's door." Zhang Kang felt a twinge of guilt; he and Zhang Han had engaged in many illicit dealings behind the scenes.

Now that Zhang Han had become a prisoner, he wished for him to die immediately so as not to get himself implicated.

After all, a mad Yan Wang and a sane Yan Wang are completely different.

His Zhang Family is powerful in Yan Commandery, but this Yan Commandery is, after all, the fief of the Yan Wang.

Nominally, the power over military and political affairs, as well as the power of life and death, all belong to the Yan Wang.

"Cousin, are you really so heartless? Don't forget how much I have done for your Zhang Family..." Zhang Han screamed hoarsely.

"Execute him! Execute him for me!" Zhang Kang picked up the command arrow and threw it out.

The command arrow hit the ground, the executioner raised his blade and let it fall, and a head rolled onto the ground.

"Commandery Governor Zhang, what is the meaning of this?" Liu Fu frowned tightly; this Zhang Kang had completely ignored his existence.

He is the presiding official of the execution; is this command arrow something that Zhang Kang can throw?

"Oh, my sin, my sin. This subordinate was momentarily angry and forgot about this matter. I hope the tutor will punish me." Zhang Kang bowed and apologized repeatedly.

When he lowered his head, however, a sneer of disdain played on the corners of his mouth.

Liu Fu's eyes narrowed, but he instantly revealed a smile; he had finally experienced the arrogance of the Rich Clan officials in Yan Commandery.

"Enough."

Liu Fu turned around, ignoring Zhang Kang.

Besides beheading Zhang Han to clear the name of the Prince Mansion, he had another important task today: to recruit commoners for the Prince Mansion's farmland.

Regardless of who threw the command arrow, Zhang Han's death had already sparked discussion among the commoners.

"So, these policies were not issued by the Prince Mansion."

"Exactly, I heard the Yan Wang used to have madness; how could he have issued such policies?"

"He deserved to die; it is truly gratifying. It seems the Yan Wang is a reasonable man."

"No more tax increases, that's great."

"..."

The noisy discussions reached them; Liu Fu smiled, while Zhang Kang's expression was extremely ugly.

Clearly, Zhang Han's head had salvaged the reputation of the Prince Mansion.

This is not good news for the Rich Clan of Yan Commandery.

If the commoners all turn their hearts to the Yan Wang, how will they exploit the people in the future?

He was worrying to himself when he heard another sentence from Liu Fu, and his expression changed completely.

"There is one more matter today. His Highness the Yan Wang cherishes the people of Yan Commandery. The Prince Mansion has sixty thousand mu of farmland and wishes to recruit commoners to cultivate it. The harvest will be taxed at only one-tenth."

"Those interested can go to the Prince Mansion to sign a contract; we do not deceive the young or the old," Liu Fu said loudly.

"One-tenth, I didn't hear that wrong, did I?"

The commoners below the execution ground immediately exploded, and the intense discussion resounded through the sky.

"I also heard it was one-tenth."

"There is such a good thing; the land of the Rich Clan takes eight-tenths."

"If this is true, the Yan Wang is truly a virtuous prince."

"..."

While some were discussing, some commoners had already quietly left the execution ground and ran toward the Prince Mansion.

Subsequently, more and more people realized what was happening.

Those with land at home went to notify relatives without land, and those without land went crazy to go to the Prince Mansion to see for themselves.

Before long, all the commoners at the execution ground had disappeared.

"His Highness the Yan Wang truly has good methods." Zhang Kang smiled without smiling; with just this one move, the Yan Wang's reputation had turned from black to white.

It ruined the two-birds-one-stone scheme he and Zhang Han had devised to both profit the Zhang Family and destroy the reputation of the Yan Prince Mansion.

"His Highness just doesn't want the land to lie idle. Commandery Governor Zhang need not overthink it." Liu Fu smiled and turned to leave.

Zhang Kang lifted his feet, wanting to go to the Prince Mansion.

But on second thought, he decided to return to the Zhang Family immediately to discuss this matter with his elder brother.

After he returned home, he was unhappy to learn that his elder brother, greedy for exorbitant profits, had brought out a large amount of Silver and land in exchange for the method of making ice.

He only hated that he was not in Yan Commandery at the time and could not stop it.

After Yan Wang came to Yan Commandery, he colluded with Zhang Han, using every possible means to hollow out the Yan Prince Mansion's assets, all so that the Yan Prince Mansion would have no money and could achieve nothing.

Now, it is all ruined.

But he had not gone far when he saw many young, able-bodied men heading in the direction of the Prince Mansion.

Suspicious in his heart, he immediately ordered a servant to go and inquire.

"Second Master, the Yan Prince Mansion is recruiting a Personal Army; it is said the monthly pay is three taels of Silver, so these young men are all rushing to enlist." The servant returned, looking envious.

"Three taels?" Zhang Kang frowned deeply.

No wonder these young men were so enthusiastic; in Yan Commandery, one tael of Silver was enough for a family to live on, and three taels of Silver meant they could live very comfortably.

Yet, the military pay for ordinary soldiers of the Great Song was only one tael.

Yan Wang was giving his Personal Army the same treatment as the Imperial Guards of the Great Song.

"With money and grain, with the common people, and now with soldiers too, this Yan Wang is formidable. If this continues, Yan Commandery will truly be his, Yan Wang's. This won't do." Zhang Han's death was still fresh in his mind.

The Zhang Family had secretly engaged in many shameful dealings with Zhang Han.

If Zhao Xu were truly allowed to control Yan Commandery, when the time came to settle accounts, the fate of the Zhang Family would be uncertain.

He returned to the Zhang Family.

He found Zhang Qian, who was out walking his bird, and recounted everything he had seen and heard.

"I am already aware of this matter." Zhang Qian sneered, "The method for making ice is already in hand, so there is no need to worry about the Yan Prince Mansion. Hmph, he wants to grow powerful in Yan Commandery? He is simply dreaming!"

Hearing this, Zhang Kang was overjoyed, "Does my elder brother already have a countermeasure?"

Zhang Qian nodded slightly; he knew Zhang Kang was dissatisfied with his purchase of the ice-making method, but Zhang Kang did not know he had long since made his own plans.

To him, Yan Commandery belonged to the Zhang Family, and no one could lay a finger on it, including the Yan Prince Mansion.

After all, anyone with a bit of sense could see the current weakness of the Imperial Clan; perhaps in a few years, the world would be engulfed in the flames of war.

Therefore, how could he let Yan Commandery fall into the hands of Yan Wang? This was his Zhang Family's capital in troubled times.

Furthermore, the Northern Di were eyeing the Great Song covetously, and Yanzhou could change hands at any time, but by then, as long as he surrendered to the Northern Di, he could still control Yan Commandery.

In short, with Yan Commandery, his Zhang Family would have everything.

"Let Yan Wang be smug for a few days. I have already ordered people to contact Qingfeng Stronghold. Once their men enter the city, whether it is the mad Yan Wang or the sane Yan Wang, I will make him a dead Yan Wang."

"Qingfeng Stronghold? Brilliant! If Yan Wang is killed by bandits in the Prince Mansion, even the Emperor can only stare helplessly. When the time comes, we can then surround and annihilate Qingfeng Stronghold to earn merit..." Zhang Kang laughed incessantly.