Chapter 126: Purge

"Traitor!"

"Turncoat!"

"Murderer!"

"..."

The next day, in the morning, Zhang Kang was escorted from the prison onto a Prison Cart.

When the Prison Cart appeared on the streets of Yancheng, the commoners immediately ran to spread the word; the news passed from ten to a hundred.

Before long, both sides of the street were packed with commoners.

These commoners cursed while throwing stones, Explosive Sticks, and rotten vegetable leaves at Zhang Kang.

They hated the Zhang Family too much.

When the Du and Huang families fell, they thought it would be the Zhang Family's turn next, but they did not expect Yan Wang to delay moving against the Zhang Family.

They thought Yan Wang was afraid of the Zhang Family and dared not deal with them.

They did not expect that after the great battle, Yan Wang would take down the Zhang Family.

And they had waited too long for this day when Zhang Kang would be executed.

"Go to hell!"

"Yan Commandery is finally clean."

"Heaven has eyes; Yan Wang has saved us."

"..."

On the Prison Cart, Zhang Kang's head was struck until it bled; he smiled, but it was a miserable smile.

Once upon a time, these commoners would retreat to the sides of the road to salute him whenever they saw him.

But now, they were each throwing stones at him.

Their gazes were as if they wanted to devour him.

Behind Zhang Kang were many more prison carts, containing the descendants of the Zhang Family.

The commoners did not spare them either, fiercely throwing the things in their hands at them.

They arrived at the East Market Execution Ground.

The jailers escorted Zhang Kang and the others onto the execution platform.

On the viewing platform, Zhao Xu and Liu Fu had already been waiting for some time.

Just as with the disposal of the Huang and Du families, Zhao Xu did not execute them immediately, but instead let the commoners come forward to denounce the crimes committed by the Zhang Family and others.

This was to let the commoners vent the resentment in their hearts.

After more than ten commoners in succession took the stage to angrily recount their grievances.

The commoners below the stage suddenly shouted in unison.

"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him..."

Seeing this, Liu Fu said to Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, this is the will of the people. It shows the hatred the people of Yan Commandery have for the Zhang Family. Today, Your Highness executes Zhang Kang, and the people will surely support Your Highness wholeheartedly from now on, thanking Your Highness for avenging them."

Zhao Xu nodded. He picked up the execution order arrow, threw it on the ground, and said loudly, "Execute!"

On the execution platform, Zhang Kang trembled all over upon hearing this and immediately fainted to the ground.

But the executioners did not stop the execution.

The Long Blade was raised, and Zhang Kang's head rolled onto the ground.

"Good!"

"Well killed!"

"..."

The commoners were boiling with excitement, cheering loudly.

The Zhang Family, which had done evil in Yan Commandery for many years, had finally received its due punishment today.

In the crowd, some commoners even shed tears; the suffering had finally passed.

Under the leadership of Yan Wang, they would move toward a more beautiful future.

It was unknown who shouted, "Long live Yan Wang."

Then, like a volcanic eruption,

The commoners below the stage shouted in unison.

"Long live Yan Wang."

"Long live Yan Wang!"

"..."

Zhao Xu stood up, and at this moment, ripples stirred in his heart.

These were the commoners of Great Song; their wishes were very simple—whoever was good to them, they would loyally support.

Liu Fu looked at Zhao Xu with a smile and said, "Your Highness, from today on, Yan Commandery will truly belong to you."

"Yes, finally there are no more obstacles in Yan Commandery," Zhao Xu said. He had endured Zhang Kang for so long and nearly died several times; wasn't it all for this day?

Yan Commandery, his fief, had finally returned to his hands.

Turning around, he descended from the viewing platform, and he and Liu Fu left the execution ground amidst the cheers of the commoners.

The Zhang Family had been destroyed, and there would be no more obstacles to the Prince's Mansion's administration of Yan Commandery.

Moreover, the confiscated Zhang Family farmland also needed to be redistributed.

Therefore, he needed to discuss with Liu Fu and issue his first administrative order covering all of Yan Commandery since arriving there.

Returning to the Prince's Mansion.

Zhao Xu and Liu Fu arrived at the Council Hall.

He said: "In these two days, you first issue my first administrative decree through the Government Office: first, starting from today, measure all farmland in the commandery; second, verify the number of households and the population of the entire commandery, and redistribute the land based on these two things."

"Your subordinate was just about to speak to Your Highness about this matter; Your Highness truly considers everything before your subordinate can." Liu Fu smiled cheekily.

His mood was exceptionally relaxed.

The last Rich Clan in Yan Commandery that occupied farmland had been wiped out, and the Northern Di people had also been driven away.

Now, the status of the Prince's Mansion in Yan Commandery was unique.

Zhao Xu's mood was likewise quite good, and he accepted Liu Fu's flattery.

He continued: "Besides this, in these two days, draft the main points of the Government Office's subsequent administrative decrees and show them to me; I will check for omissions and fill in the gaps for you, and then we will implement them one by one."

"Yes, Your Highness." Liu Fu put away his smile.

This matter would test his talents more; it seemed he could forget about sleeping for the next two nights, and he would have to finish it even if he had to burn the candle until dawn.

"And those fickle officials." Zhao Xu reminded him again.

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Fu's eyes, "Your Highness, rest assured."

The following two days.

The commoners of Yancheng suddenly discovered large groups of soldiers entering and exiting various residential wards, and from time to time, officials were taken away from their homes.

And in the military, it was even less peaceful; dozens of generals were detained, waiting for trial.

After the commoners and soldiers inquired, they understood that these people had committed acts of betrayal against Yan Wang when rumors were flying everywhere.

The worry in their hearts dissipated, and they secretly cheered.

These heartless things, by betraying Yan Wang, were equivalent to betraying the commoners of Yan Commandery.

"Official Li, please."

When he saw the soldiers enter the courtyard, the official surnamed Li turned ashen-faced.

After Yuan Li arrived in Yancheng, he ran to curry favor at the first opportunity, but was blocked by soldiers.

This matter had long since spread throughout the officialdom of Yancheng.

When Yuan Li left, he thought he would come again in two days.

As a result, he waited for the news that Yan Wang's death was only a rumor, and he immediately knew he was doomed.

Sure enough, the people coming to arrest him had arrived.

Facing soldiers armed to the teeth, he dared not offer any resistance; after being fitted with shackles, he was taken to the Prefecture Office Prison.

……

Prince's Mansion, study.

"Your Highness, the people reported by the soldiers and those on the list have all been arrested by this subordinate."

"The officials in the Government Office have also been purged clean," Liu Fu said.

Zhao Xu was drawing something, and he nodded upon hearing this.

This time, in addition to the denunciations between officials and generals, there was also the list provided by the Flame Guard.

This list included not only officials in Yancheng but also officials in the county towns.

After all, the current reach of the Flame Guard had already extended to every part of Yan Commandery.

"That is good; I cannot tolerate fence-sitters who sway with the wind." Zhao Xu stopped his brush, "Do not be soft-hearted; those who should be killed, kill them, and those who should be imprisoned for life, imprison them for life."

Yan Commandery was already in a weak position in Yanzhou; if the officials under his command still harbored different intentions, he feared internal chaos would arise at a critical moment.

Therefore, this time he actually had to thank Yuan Li.

If not for this assassination, he would not have been able to clean house.

These people would have been buried by his side like a time Bomb.

He let out a light breath, feeling unprecedentedly relaxed; the external threats and internal chaos had finally been settled.

However, now that these things were finished, it was time to give the soldiers an explanation.

He said to Chang Wei: "Has the ceremony to mourn the soldiers who died in battle been prepared properly?"