Chapter 30: The Situation

"Zhang Qian is dead!"

In the Yan Prince Mansion, Zhao Xu was stunned for a long while upon receiving this news.

"It is absolutely true. Zhang Kang just came to pay a visit to this humble official, and even handed over a list of crimes committed by Zhang Qian in recent years, asking this humble official to present it to Your Highness." Liu Fu handed a piece of paper to Zhao Xu.

"This is simply bizarre. What do you think?" Zhao Xu was left somewhat confused by this maneuver from the Zhang Family.

When a person dies, the lamp goes out; with these crimes in hand, he had no way to punish a dead Zhang Qian.

Liu Fu sneered, "Your Highness, in this humble official's view, this Zhang Kang is ten times harder to deal with than Zhang Qian. Zhang Qian was a hard blade; whatever he did was plain to see. But Zhang Kang is a soft blade, impossible to guard against."

After a pause, he continued: "Besides this, Zhang Kang also expressed his loyalty to Your Highness, implying that he was coerced by Zhang Qian in the past few days. He wore the face of a loyal subject, with every intention of pledging allegiance to Your Highness."

"Interesting." Zhao Xu stroked his chin.

But he was not stupid; his mind was filled with knowledge from ancient times to the present.

In Yan Commandery, such a sudden change in his greatest enemy, the Zhang Family, meant that either they were truly afraid, or there was a greater conspiracy afoot.

But what exactly the conspiracy was, he could not guess.

And it is the unknown that is terrifying.

What disgusted him most was that, in this way, the Zhang Family had transformed into a white lotus, making it difficult for him to strike.

Suddenly thinking of something, he asked urgently: "That's not right. Zhang Qian is dead; by rights, Zhang Rang should be the Head of the Family of the Zhang Family. How could it be Zhang Kang's turn?"

"This humble official asked the same thing. Zhang Kang's meaning is that Zhang Rang committed heinous crimes and is detained in prison, so he is not qualified to inherit the Zhang Family," Liu Fu said.

Zhao Xu suddenly realized something and said: "You go to the Prefecture Office Prison immediately and bring Zhang Rang here."

Liu Fu understood and hurried out at a trot.

He returned after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his face dejected, and said: "Your Highness, Zhang Rang hanged himself in the prison. The jailers in the prison say it was suicide out of fear of punishment."

Zhao Xu sighed, "It seems Zhang Qian did not die suddenly due to illness; I fear Zhang Kang had a hand in it."

"If so, then it is an internal struggle within the Zhang Family. But Zhang Kang is the Commandery Governor of Yan Commandery, and now he holds the power of the Zhang Family in his hands, and is currently acting in total obedience to the Prince Mansion. Having such a person sleeping beside the Prince Mansion truly makes it hard to sleep in peace," Liu Fu said, feeling even more worried.

One does not fear a thief stealing, but rather a thief coveting.

Zhao Xu and Liu Fu had the same thought.

Moreover, Zhang Kang hoping to use Zhang Qian as a scapegoat so the Prince Mansion would trust them was far too naive.

But how could Zhang Kang be a naive person?

Then what exactly was his scheme? Zhao Xu and Liu Fu looked at each other, like blind men touching an elephant.

After pondering for a while, he said: "No matter what Zhang Kang is up to, since he implies he wants to pledge allegiance to the Prince Mansion, then you shall issue a Prince Mansion decree and see how he reacts."

"Your Highness is wise; testing him will make everything clear." Liu Fu smiled quite sinisterly, "I wonder what decree Your Highness intends to issue?"

"Exempt the people of Yan Commandery from taxes for three years," Zhao Xu said with a mischievous smile.

Liu Fu gave a thumbs up, "The taxes of Yan Commandery never reach the Prince Mansion anyway. Exempting taxes will both win the hearts of the people and prevent those corrupt officials from skimming off the top."

Zhao Xu continued: "Also, take down the Armory of Yan Commandery and dispatch officials from the Prince Mansion's office to take charge."

"Yes, Your Highness." Liu Fu accepted the order and left.

At this time, Zhao Xu called over a servant of the Prince Mansion and summoned Wang Yanzhong.

"Have you found the whereabouts of your wife and children?" Zhao Xu asked.

He had originally intended to prune the wings of the Zhang Family.

Now that the Zhang Family had undergone a change, he could seize the opportunity to act and further test them.

Wang Yanzhong said, "Replying to Your Highness, the small one has already found them. They are in a courtyard in the west of the city, guarded by more than ten people."

"This Prince will send people to help you rescue your wife and children," Zhao Xu said.

Wang Yanzhong was overjoyed, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhao Xu then called for Zhou Yi, "You may let those three enter the Wine Workshop;

once they see clearly and wish to escape the Prince Mansion, you may arrest them."

"Yes, Your Highness," Zhou Yi replied.

At the same time.

Liu Fu led two officials from the Prince Mansion's office toward the Government Office.

To this day, this was his first time coming to the Government Office.

Thinking that this Government Office was originally an institution under the Prince Mansion's command, it should have been submissive to the Prince Mansion.

Now that the Prince Mansion could not control it, he felt a burst of anger.

And as the Prince's Tutor, he was even angrier.

Because by rights, he himself should be the one in charge of the Government Office.

"Prince Tutor Liu."

When Liu Fu arrived, Zhang Kang came out to greet him, his face full of smiles.

The officials from the Rich Clans following behind Liu Fu also had smiles on their faces one by one.

Zhang Kang was naturally harboring evil intentions; he was faking it.

But the sycophancy of the Rich Clan officials was real.

Not to mention the change in the Zhang Family, Zhang Kang had changed his usual attitude toward the Prince Mansion.

It was the current situation that made them dare not look down on the Prince Mansion as they had before.

"Commandery Governor Zhang," Liu Fu called out, affectionately grabbing Zhang Kang's arm.

Zhang Kang knew how to act, but he knew how to act even better.

Amidst the stunned gazes of the officials, the two walked into the Government Office hand in hand.

It looked very much like a great unity of Yan Commandery.

They entered the Government Office.

Zhang Kang ordered someone to pour tea for Liu Fu, and after exchanging pleasantries, he asked, "I just visited the Prince's Tutor, and now you have come again; surely you must be here on the Prince's orders."

Liu Fu nodded; he had to admit that Zhang Kang was extremely sharp.

He said, "His Highness said that he has been feeling unwell these past few days, so he estimates he will set a date to host a banquet for the Commandery Governor."

"That His Highness would think of me, this subordinate is already moved to tears," Zhang Kang said, appearing flattered.

Liu Fu continued, "Furthermore, there are the two administrative decrees brought by His Highness."

Zhang Kang's eyes darted around, thinking to himself that this Yan Wang was truly a difficult one to deal with.

He had just shown signs of yielding, and now he was being tested.

Yet his face remained as smiling as before, and he leaned in to listen quietly.

"His Highness orders the Commandery Governor to issue a decree today, exempting the commoners of Yan Commandery from taxes for three years," Liu Fu announced in a clear voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Kang and the gathered officials immediately changed color.

"Prince's Tutor, if taxes are exempted, what will happen to the salaries of the officials of Yan Commandery?" Zhang Kang asked.

This decree was truly beyond his expectations; he had genuinely not anticipated it.

Because any normal person would not issue such a decree.

He now truly suspected that Yan Wang's madness had not yet fully recovered.

"His Highness said that from now on, the salaries of the officials of Yan Commandery and the military pay of the County Soldiers will be issued uniformly by the Yan Prince Mansion," Liu Fu said, picking up his teacup for a sip, his expression calm and composed.

He supported Yan Wang in doing this.

It was very simple; officials from Rich Clans naturally did not lack Silver.

But there were still many minor officials from humble backgrounds in Yan Commandery.

It was naturally different for these officials to receive their salaries from the Yan Prince Mansion versus having them issued by the Government Office.

Once they took the Silver, they would understand to whom they should be loyal.

Especially the County Soldiers, who would be the same as the Prince's Personal Guards.

Having taken the Yan Prince Mansion's Silver, they should naturally work for the Yan Prince Mansion.

Therefore, this move was equivalent to abolishing the financial power of the Government Office and centralizing it under the Yan Prince Mansion.

"If the Yan Prince Mansion can support the finances of Yan Commandery, this subordinate has nothing to say," Zhang Kang said with a forced smile.

At this moment, he could not directly object.

To object would mean that his previous posture had been a pretense.

He had already made up his mind that, no matter what, he had to hold out until autumn.

Everything lost now could be taken back once the Northern Di destroyed the Yan Prince Mansion at that time.

Liu Fu was secretly delighted, and he continued, "Also, His Highness wants to place the Armory directly under the jurisdiction of the Yan Prince Mansion."

Regarding this point, Zhang Kang naturally had no objections, so he nodded.

Liu Fu was very satisfied.

Zhang Kang was, for all intents and purposes, following his every word.

This time, he truly experienced the authority of being a Prince's Tutor.