Chapter 114: The Unification of Yan Commandery

Yancheng.

After several days of great battle, this place has once again recovered its vitality.

The common people walk the roads, and the shops of merchants in the East and West Markets have reopened.

Peddlers cry out as they sell their goods on the streets.

The corpses and bloodstains on the North and South Main Streets have long since been cleared away, and now there is a constant stream of carriages and horses.

"Yan Wang is truly a great blessing for us in Yan Commandery; first he let the common people stop paying such heavy rents, and now he has driven away the Northern Di."

"Who can say otherwise? The common people of our Yan Commandery will finally have a good life from now on."

"He is truly a rare and virtuous prince."

"..."

In a street alley, several women moved stools to sit in front of their doors, singing the praises of Yan Wang without end.

In a tavern.

Merchants gathered together, also discussing this battle.

"With Yan Wang sitting in command of Yan Commandery, things will only get better from here on out; it seems we can do business here with peace of mind."

"Indeed, Brother Li is right. It is fortunate that we did not leave this time; it would have been a pity to miss such a rare and great battle."

"Now that the war is over, I hope the Prince's Mansion will restore trade soon so that we can get the goods firsthand."

"..."

In the boudoir of a certain Rich Clan's mansion.

Three young women were gathered together, chattering away.

One of the women was drawing something.

Putting down her brush, the woman said, "That day when Yan Wang was inspecting Yancheng, he passed right in front of my house. I saw him through the crack in the door; I never expected Yan Wang to be so young, and he is even born with such a dashing, elegant, and refined appearance."

The other two women looked at the drawing; what the woman had just drawn was indeed Yan Wang.

Seeing the image of Yan Wang on the paper, the two could not help but have their eyes light up.

One woman said, "He is an Imperial Prince, after all; how could an Imperial Prince not be good-looking?"

"Sigh, it's a pity we can only watch from afar. If only..." As the woman said this, her face suddenly turned crimson.

The other two women immediately covered their mouths and laughed. One said, "You are truly shameless. You have such high hopes, but even if you wanted to be a maid for His Highness Yan Wang, he might not even want you."

"You!" The three immediately dissolved into a playful scuffle.

The Prince's Mansion.

After Zhao Xu once again sent off a group of Rich Clan members who had come to offer their congratulations, he rubbed his brow in annoyance.

After the great victory, the Rich Clans of Yancheng became unprecedentedly fawning toward the Prince's Mansion.

One after another, they presented gifts, singing his praises and flattering him to the point of absurdity.

Some Rich Clans even proposed sending their daughters to the Prince's Mansion to serve as maids for him, which made Feng'er pout with anger.

This was an attempt to steal their jobs.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations! After this battle, Your Highness's prestige in Yan Commandery is unmatched, and no Rich Clan will ever harbor any lucky chances again," Liu Fu said with a chuckle, flattering him.

There was no doubt that this time, Yan Wang's position in Yan Commandery would be unshakable.

From the common people to the Rich Clans, no one could question Yan Wang anymore.

Yan Wang's rule over Yan Commandery would reach its peak.

And because of this, he, as the Prince's Tutor representing the Prince's Mansion, would also rise in status.

His prestige within the Government Office would increase greatly.

Zhao Xu wore a smile; although constantly receiving the arriving Rich Clans was somewhat annoying, this was a happy kind of annoyance.

From now on, he would not have to live in fear within his own fief.

Of course, if one more thing were completed, this matter would be perfect.

That is the Zhang Family.

Currently, the Zhang Family has already been tightly surrounded by three thousand of the Prince's Personal Army.

But the Prince's Personal Army has not yet launched an immediate attack.

This was what he had requested.

Now, carrying the might of a great victory, the Zhang Family must be in a state of panic, fearing his power.

Most importantly, the common people enclosed by the Zhang Family are not of one mind with the Zhang Family.

During this period, his measures have been seen by the common people on the Zhang Family's land, and they have envied them in their hearts.

They were only held back by the Zhang Family's power and dared not do anything.

Now, his great army is besieging the Zhang Family Fort,

and they are likely too happy to contain themselves.

Therefore, he is waiting to see if the Zhang Family will fall into chaos from within.

Then he would not need his soldiers to fight and sacrifice themselves.

This is what is called subduing the enemy without fighting.

Zhang Family Fort.

Zhang Kang had disheveled hair and looked like a madman.

"It's over, it's all over..." Sitting by the pond in the courtyard, Zhang Kang wailed loudly.

When the news of the Northern Di's defeat arrived, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Now, he no longer cares how the news was leaked.

Because it is already meaningless.

The defeated Northern Di will not let him go, and Yan Wang will not let him go either.

There is only one path before him, and that is death.

"Husband, why must you be like this!" Yuan Shi frowned deeply upon seeing Zhang Kang in this state.

"Wife, the Yan Prince Army has already surrounded the Fortress. He must have obtained evidence of our intent to coordinate with the Northern Di from within and without; I will surely die without a doubt." Zhang Kang continued to wail.

Yuan Shi frowned and let out a cold snort, "What are you afraid of? What is he, a mere Yan Wang? Do not forget, in this Yan Commandery, it is our Yuan Family who has the final say. Besides, you are the son-in-law of the Yuan Family; if he wants to kill you, he must first ask my father if he agrees."

Zhang Kang was stunned for a moment; he had almost forgotten.

The Yuan Family was also involved in this matter; if he were captured, the Yuan Family would certainly not be able to sleep or eat in peace.

Perhaps Yuan Li would find a way to save him. Thinking of this, he calmed down a lot.

Seeing that Zhang Kang had been persuaded, Yuan Shi continued, "We shall just remain in a stalemate with the soldiers of Yan Wang; perhaps by tomorrow, the Yuan Family's troops will arrive."

Just as her voice fell, a burst of battle cries suddenly rang out.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kang's expression changed drastically.

A member of the Zhang Family rushed in hurriedly at this moment and shouted, "Head of the Family, it is bad! Those peasant soldiers have rebelled; the Fortress gates have been opened by them."

Zhang Kang's face turned pale, and he struggled to steady his body.

Now, he only hoped that Yuan Li could save his life.

At this moment.

After the Fortress gates were opened, Wangfu Army soldiers wearing Plate Armor rushed into the Fortress.

The commoners who had been forcibly conscripted as private soldiers threw down their Weapon one after another, quietly watching the imposing Wangfu Army soldiers rush into the Fortress.

Some members of the Zhang Family attempted to resist, but they had no power to parry against the Wangfu Army soldiers who had just experienced blood and fire.

One by one, the members of the Zhang Family were killed, and the Wangfu Army soldiers quickly rushed into the core area of the Fortress, finally finding Zhang Kang.

"Zhang Kang has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. By the oral decree of Yan Wang, seize him immediately and escort him to the Yancheng prison," the Colonel shouted loudly.

The soldiers behind him immediately rushed forward to pin Zhang Kang to the ground and carried him away.

When the soldiers reached Yuan Shi, Yuan Shi screamed, "Get away, you base-born wretches! I am the daughter of the Yuan Family; if you dare to touch me, I will surely make you die without a whole corpse."

"Bang!" The Wangfu Army soldiers ignored Yuan Shi entirely.

A soldier struck the back of Yuan Shi's head heavily with the hilt of his blade, and Yuan Shi fainted.

"The Yuan Family! Bah! His Highness Yan Wang does not even fear the Northern Di; would he fear you bastards of a Rich Clan who run the moment you see the Northern Di!" The Colonel sneered and waved his hand, ordering the soldiers to take the two away.

When Zhang Kang and Yuan Shi were dragged out of the courtyard.

The private soldiers inside the Fortress who had laid down their Weapon immediately cheered loudly.

A private soldier shouted, "You are truly mighty! Can I join the Prince's Personal Army?"

"I am going too."

"And me."

"..."

The Colonel and the soldiers were very happy to hear this.

The Zhang Family, the largest Rich Clan in Yan Commandery, was finally destroyed today.

From then on, the era of Rich Clan annexing land and preying on the common people in Yan Commandery would never return.

They would not have to pay high rents, and under the leadership of Yan Wang, they would be able to defeat the invading Northern Di.

And for every person in Yan Commandery, the only way to repay Yan Wang was with loyalty and blood.