Chapter 29: Changes

"I have brought you here this time because I have a good opportunity for you."

After exchanging pleasantries and flattering one another for a while, Zhao Xu brought up the main topic.

Upon hearing this, Dong An, Yang He, and Lv Chang immediately pricked up their ears.

Since the Yan Wang recovered from his illness, there was first the Ice-making Technique, and now there was peerless Fine Wine.

In their hearts, they truly admired the Yan Wang.

Most importantly, he had established a Personal Army, survived an assassination, and taken control of the Yan County Garrison.

The Yan Prince Mansion was now in an invincible position within Yancheng.

By cooperating with such a Prince Mansion, they, combined with the power of the Prince Mansion, no longer needed to fear the Zhang Family.

"You are aware of the new wine produced by the Prince Mansion. Now that production has increased, there is a shortage of Green Ant Wine, Coal Cake, and Wine Jars. I want to entrust these three businesses to you, for you to supply the Prince Mansion exclusively. How about it?" Zhao Xu said slowly.

The three men were overjoyed upon hearing this.

Dong An said urgently, "Your Highness, please leave the Green Ant Wine to our Dong Family. Previously, our Dong Family had a Wine Workshop, but it was suppressed by the Zhang Family and shut down; now, it can just be reopened."

Yang He was immediately displeased, "Brother Dong, that is not fair of you. Among these three, the Green Ant Wine is the most profitable, yet you have taken it for yourself."

"Then does your family have a Wine Workshop? Does your family know how to brew wine?" Dong An did not yield, speaking with sarcasm.

"You... Your Highness, you cannot be biased." Yang He simply pleaded with Zhao Xu.

Lv Chang stood to the side, not saying a word.

He was as cunning as a monkey; the Yan Wang arranging for him to join the County Soldiers was already a favor to his Lv Family.

As for the rest, he would not covet it.

Zhao Xu was very happy to see the three families harboring their own intentions.

No ruler wishes to see those below them as a solid, unified block.

As long as they were loyal to him, he was actually happy to see them bickering among themselves.

Waving his hand, he said, "Since the Dong Family has a Wine Workshop, let the Green Ant Wine be given to the Dong Family. The Wine Jar business is yours, and the Coal Cake business is given to the Lv Family."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Dong An was overjoyed and triumphantly tilted his head at Yang He.

Lv Chang naturally had no objections and nodded; only Yang He was sullen.

Zhao Xu continued, "There will be many more businesses for the Prince Mansion in the future; I will find a way to make it up to your Yang Family."

Upon hearing this, Yang He was immediately beaming with joy, and all three were satisfied.

After discussing dates for supply and other matters, the three men returned to their respective homes.

Upon learning that the Prince Mansion had once again paved a way to make money, the three families were all happy and began to prepare for the matter.

When the news spread, it stirred up another wave among the Rich Clans.

In a farmhouse courtyard outside Yancheng, three or five heads of Rich Clans gathered to drink heavily.

After three rounds of drinks, one person said, "I heard recently that the Dong Family, Yang Family, and Lv Family have taken on more business from the Prince Mansion. It is truly enviable."

"Indeed, taking on the military uniforms for the Prince's Personal Army was already a profitable venture, and I hear these next three are not a bit less so."

"Sigh, do you think we were wrong to follow the Zhang Family in opposing the Prince Mansion? When the Zhang Family was in power, they never gave us such benefits; they kept every profitable business for themselves."

"That is true. Previously, the Zhang Family was powerful, and we feared their influence, so we had no choice but to submit. Now that the Yan Wang has clearly secured his position in Yan Commandery, to continue like this would be unwise," another person said.

"Furthermore, the Zhang Family is now at odds with the Prince Mansion. If they are destroyed by the Yan Wang in the future, we will suffer along with them. Why not secretly send someone to visit the Yan Wang now, offer some gifts, and hedge our bets?"

"That is right, that is right. We shall do just that when we return."

The group agreed on this matter and continued to drink and make merry.

The Zhang Family.

The dealings between the Yan Prince Mansion and the Dong, Yang, and Lv families were like a fish bone stuck in the throats of the brothers Zhang Qian and Zhang Kang.

Seeing the Prince Mansion's Wine Workshop completed and producing a massive amount of wine daily, he felt even more like he was sitting on pins and needles.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have made the decision to kill him in the Prince Mansion the day the Yan Wang recovered from his illness. How could I have let him grow so powerful today?"

Zhang Qian slammed his teacup heavily onto the table.

Zhang Kang had always been dissatisfied with his elder brother's greed, which had allowed the Yan Wang to secure his position in Yan Commandery.

Coupled with the order from Tuoba Hong to control Yan Commandery and eliminate the Yan Wang, he harbored even more secret resentment.

Given the current situation, destroying the Yan Prince Mansion was not so easy.

"It is all the elder brother's fault for being greedy and ruining things; otherwise, how could the Yan Prince Mansion have made a comeback?" In his vexation, Zhang Kang blurted out.

Zhang Qian was the eldest son of the Zhang Family and had been very contemptuous of Zhang Kang since childhood.

In the Great Song, the status of a son of a concubine was lowly and could not be brought into the light.

If not for Zhang Kang's good fortune in marrying a daughter of the Yuan Family, he would not be qualified to sit at the same table as him.

Seeing Zhang Kang be so rude to him and actually dare to reprimand him, the resentment he had accumulated over the years erupted instantly, and he roared, "You bastard, how dare you reprimand me? Kneel down!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Zhang Kang's eyes.

He had never forgotten the bullying and suffering he endured in the Zhang Family when he was young.

He felt no brotherly affection for Zhang Qian.

However, although he was the Commandery Governor of Yan Commandery and a son-in-law of the Yuan Family, he had no soldiers or officers under his command and could only rely on the power of the Zhang Family.

Facing Zhang Qian's interrogation, he had no choice but to kneel unwillingly before Zhang Qian, saying, "Elder brother, this younger brother was merely vexed by the Yan Prince Mansion."

Zhang Qian's anger had not yet subsided, and he did not listen to his explanation, sneering, "Do not think I do not know what you are thinking. I am the Head of the Family of the Zhang Family; for you to want to replace me is simply a dream."

"Why would elder brother say such a thing? Heaven is above; this younger brother has never had such thoughts." Zhang Kang protested with his mouth, but felt indignant in his heart.

He thought to himself that letting such a foolish person head the Zhang Family meant its decline was only a matter of time.

"It is best if you have not." Zhang Qian flicked his sleeves, turned his back, and scolded, "Get out!"

Zhang Kang stood up but did not leave; showing weakness just now was merely to paralyze Zhang Qian.

Zhang Qian turned his head in confusion, only to see that Zhang Kang was holding a Dagger in his hand, though he did not know when he had produced it.

Before he could react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Looking down, a Dagger was thrust into his chest.

"You... you..." Zhang Qian wore an expression of disbelief.

"Brother, do not blame me; you are too incompetent. Only I am fit to be the Head of the Family of the Zhang Family, otherwise the Yan Prince Mansion would have long since been reduced to ashes." Zhang Kang's expression was ferocious, and as he twisted the Dagger, Zhang Qian immediately collapsed limply.

The Steward Zhang Yue, who was waiting to the side, did not react at all.

Instead, he bowed and said, "The Commandery Governor's reputation among the Rich Clan of Yan Commandery is unparalleled; you should have become the master of the Zhang Family long ago."

Zhang Kang wiped the blood from his hands and nodded slightly, "Dispose of the corpse and say that the Head of the Family died suddenly. From today on, all matters, big and small, of the Zhang Family shall be handled by me."

"Yes, Lord Commandery Governor." The Steward turned and left.

Glancing at Zhang Qian's corpse, Zhang Kang looked toward the direction of the Yan Prince Mansion.

He killed Zhang Qian at this time firstly for personal vendetta, secondly for the order of Tuoba Hong, and thirdly to protect the Zhang Family.

Because only if the Zhang Family remained could he have the ability to complete the task Tuoba Hong had given him.

Moreover, Zhang Qian was greedy and impulsive by nature, and there was no telling if he would commit some foolish act again.

If it were before, when the Yan Wang was insane, it would not have mattered what was done.

But now, every action of the Yan Wang since his recovery showed he was not simple, and with the strength of the Prince Mansion greatly increased, provoking the Yan Prince Mansion further would only make the Yan Wang wary of the Zhang Family.

Furthermore, the Northern Di Cavalry would take at least two months to arrive, so he had to ensure the Zhang Family remained safe and secure during these two months.

Not to mention that killing Zhang Qian and taking control of the Zhang Family was also Tuoba Hong's order.

In his view, the time had come.

Once Zhang Qian was dead, he would attribute all the persecution of the Yan Prince Mansion to Zhang Qian, feign a reconciliation with the Prince Mansion to deceive them, and thus be able to delay for some time.

And what he needed was precisely this bit of time; even if the Prince Mansion did not believe him, it would not matter.

Once the Northern Di army arrived, he would have won.