Chapter 170: The Will of the People

Shanggu City, at the entrance of the Government Office.

Liu Fu paced back and forth, unable to hide the anxiety on his face.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats arrived, and a troop of Cavalry in Silver Armor appeared in his field of vision.

Seeing this, he hurried forward a few steps, and once the cavalry dismounted, he asked urgently, "How did it go?"

"The Rich Clan's ambush was thwarted, and the remnants have all fled to the Gao Family Fort. His Highness orders you to immediately take over the inside and outside of Shanggu City and control the County Soldiers; His Highness will arrive shortly," the cavalryman said loudly.

"Hahaha, that is wonderful," Liu Fu said, overjoyed.

He turned to Qin Shan and said, "Captain Qin, the rest is left to you."

"Rest assured, Wangfu Tutor," Qin Shan said with a cupped-fist salute. Since taking over Shanggu Commandery, he had been stationed here with five thousand men.

Turning around, he set off toward the main camp to mobilize troops.

At this moment, a cavalryman hurried over, dismounted, and said, "Captain, the County Soldiers have run away!"

"Run away? Where did they run to?" Qin Shan and Liu Fu were both startled.

"They ran along the northern main road!" The cavalryman pointed toward the North Territory.

Qin Shan and Liu Fu exchanged a glance; that was the direction of the Gao Family Fort.

"Gao Yuanding learned of the defeat and is gathering his forces, attempting to rely on the Fortress to put up a stubborn resistance," Liu Fu said.

Qin Shan let out an angry snort, "This subordinate will lead the troops to surround the Gao Family Fort and wait for His Highness to arrive before dealing with it."

Liu Fu nodded.

Gao Family Fort.

A group of Rich Clan officials surrounded Gao Yuanding.

After the initial panic, he immediately ordered each family to transfer their remaining private soldiers to their own Fortress.

Shanggu Commandery.

The Gao Family Fort had the largest area and the tallest, thickest walls, resembling a small city.

As long as there were sufficient troops within the Fortress, he believed that unless the provisions inside were exhausted, the Yan King Army would never be able to break through the city.

"Everyone, do not panic. I have already sent someone to Fanyang; Lord Yuan will surely ensure our lives are secure."

Although the Fortress currently had sufficient provisions and men, the officials all wore worried expressions.

Fearing that morale would become chaotic, he brought up Yuan Li to console them.

"That's right, there is still Lord Yuan; how could he let the Yan King do as he pleases?"

"The Yuan Family has two hundred thousand troops; as long as Lord Yuan sends troops to save us, even the Yan King can do nothing."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the Rich Clan officials comforted each other, though some remained gloomy.

Just then, someone shouted, "The County Soldiers are coming."

Gao Yuanding and the Rich Clan officials felt a surge of excitement.

The three thousand County Soldiers, combined with the private soldiers inside the Fortress, totaled nearly twenty thousand men.

The Fortress was temporarily safe.

Less than half an hour after the County Soldiers arrived, a soldier keeping watch on the Fortress walls shouted again, "The Yan King Army is coming! The Yan King Army is coming!"

Gao Yuanding and his eldest son, Gao Man, immediately climbed the Fortress walls.

They saw flags fluttering on the road leading to the Gao Family Fort, and the character 'Yan' on the flags was particularly eye-catching.

Beneath the flags, Yan King soldiers wearing Silver Armor were heading toward the Fortress.

However, this group of soldiers seemed to have no intention of attacking the city.

Instead, they had occupied the main roads outside the Fortress,

surrounding the Fortress from four directions.

"These are the soldiers from Shanggu City," Gao Yuanding's eyes narrowed.

He feared the news that their ambush on the Yan King had failed had already reached Liu Fu's ears.

Gao Yuanding felt a surge of agitation.

Now he could only pin all his hopes on Yuan Li.

Evening.

Zhao Xu arrived at Shanggu City under the escort of the Wangfu Army.

As soon as he entered the city, he was stunned.

He saw the streets of Shanggu City filled with commoners; these people were smiling and jubilant, as if it were the New Year.

"His Highness the Yan King has arrived, please clear the way."

Lv Chang, at the front of the procession, said to the commoners blocking the road.

This sentence was like a stone thrown into water, immediately splashing up countless ripples.

The commoners automatically retreated to both sides of the road, and then, to everyone's surprise, they knelt down one by one.

"Long live His Highness the Yan King! Thank you, Your Highness, for saving us from fire and water."

"Long live His Highness the Yan King! Thank you, Your Highness, for saving us from fire and water."

"..."

The commoners shouted these words over and over.

Ever since Shanggu Commandery was ceded to the Yan King's fief, they finally felt that their lives had a future.

And when the Rich Clans handed over the land they had encroached upon, they felt as if the sky over Shanggu Commandery had become even clearer.

It was just unexpected that the Rich Clans would immediately strike back.

They secretly instigated idlers, loafers, and wicked servants from the streets to go to the homes of the commoners to coerce and intimidate them.

The fields they had just obtained had not even been warmed by their touch before they were snatched away again.

At this moment, Shanggu Commandery had returned to darkness.

But unexpectedly, it happened today.

Liu Fu of the Wangfu suddenly dispatched Wangfu Army soldiers to arrest the officials of the Rich Clans and their lackeys everywhere in the city.

Later, they learned the news that the Yan Prince Army had defeated the rebellion of the Rich Clans and was now going to round up all the Rich Clans of Shanggu.

Afterwards, Shanggu Commandery would be able to be like Yan Commandery, where everyone has land to farm and a goal to strive for in life.

Therefore, they flooded onto the streets, because they could not vent this joy of seeing the light of day again.

Now, seeing Yan Wang, they were even more unable to control themselves.

They had nothing, only kneeling to kowtow to Yan Wang to express their gratitude.

Seeing this scene, the fatigue on the bodies of the Wangfu Army soldiers seemed to dissipate instantly.

Their life-risking slaughter had been worth it; they had liberated the commoners of Shanggu Commandery from the clutches of the vicious Rich Clans of Shanggu.

And this was what Yan Wang called the meaning of battle—within the King's land, every commoner has land to farm, is well-fed, warmly clothed, and will live an even more prosperous life in the future.

"Everyone, please rise." The mountain-shaking cheers before him moved Zhao Xu.

He dismounted and personally helped the commoners up.

The eyes of the commoners who rose were all filled with hot tears, and one old man said, "Your Highness, from now on, can our Shanggu Commandery live the life of Yan Commandery where everyone has land to farm and is no longer enslaved by the Rich Clans?"

"Yes!" Zhao Xu said decisively, "From now on, you will all have land to farm, and you will never need to worry about your property being snatched away by others; this is my promise to you."

With Yan Wang saying this, the surrounding commoners became even more excited.

One by one, they danced and gestured, as happy as children who had received candy.

Along the road, Zhao Xu continued to walk forward, helping up the kneeling commoners all the way.

Halfway there, he met Liu Fu, who was also walking over.

He had also been blocked by the commoners and had not arrived at the city gate in time to welcome him.

Upon meeting, Liu Fu looked apologetic, "Your Highness, please forgive your subordinate for his discourtesy."

"At a time like this, don't worry about such minor details," said Zhao Xu.

Arriving at the Government Office, Zhao Xu comforted the commoners at the entrance once more.

The commoners who had been following and were unwilling to leave finally dispersed one after another.

Entering the Government Office, Zhao Xu said to Liu Fu, "In these two days, you should transfer some officials from Yan Commandery, and while you're at it, recruit some local officials to rebuild the officialdom of Shanggu Commandery. Additionally, take a census of the commoners and the amount of land, and proceed with the distribution of land."

"Yes, Your Highness." Liu Fu was filled with excitement.

He had dreamed of this day coming sooner.

Otherwise, within a fief, having places that could not be controlled really made him uncomfortable.

Zhao Xu nodded and noticed that Qin Shan was not there, so he asked, "Where is Qin Shan?"

Liu Fu then explained how the Rich Clans of Shanggu had gathered their troops at the Gao Family Fort and that Qin Shan was laying siege to the Gao Family Fort.

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, "Since the majority of the Rich Clans are gathered at the Fortress, once Chang Wei and Mo Yu take the county seat, we can combine our forces and round them all up at once."