Chapter 34: The Overall Situation is Settled

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"Raise an army? Are you trying to rebel?"

Zhang Kang was washing up under the service of a maid.

He had learned this news earlier than Du Ming.

And this news also caused him to discard the last shred of contempt he held for the Yan Wang.

Taking advantage of the fact that Zhang Qian had just died and he had not yet fully controlled the Zhang Family.

And holding the hard evidence of the Huang Family's treacherous plots.

This Yan Wang truly knew how to seize the moment.

With this turn of events, among the Yan Commandery's iron triangle of the Zhang, Huang, and Du families, the Huang Family was completely finished.

The moment he learned the news, he had indeed thought about supporting the Huang Family with the Du Family to preserve one of the Zhang Family's wings.

But Zhang Qian was dead, and Zhang Rang was also dead, which had already made some people within the Zhang Family suspicious of him.

To send troops at this time, he feared the hearts of the people would not be united; if they won, killing the Yan Wang would be one thing.

But if they lost, his established plans would also be affected.

Moreover, the news he received was that Chang Wei had captured the Huang Family with almost no effort, and had even incorporated three thousand of the Huang Family's private soldiers.

The situation was even more unfavorable for him.

So, after thinking it over, he decided to remain still.

"The Yan Wang's blade is already at our throats; shouldn't we raise an army? Rebellion? That is something the Yan Wang forced us into!" Du Ming shouted.

"Brother Du, do not act rashly. The Fortress has been breached, and the Prince Mansion and the Huang Family did not suffer mutual destruction; rather, it was a total victory for the Prince Mansion. If we raise an army now, I fear we will be doomed beyond redemption," Zhang Kang advised.

Du Ming breathed rapidly, his eyes turning red. "Commandery Governor Zhang, our three families are connected by marriage, and we once swore to advance and retreat together. Are you going to sit by and watch the Huang Family be wiped out?"

"I just don't want to continue burying your Du Family and the Zhang Family," Zhang Kang said, feeling the same heartache inside.

But he was much calmer than Du Ming.

Furthermore, his relationship with Du Ming and Huang Gang was not as close as it had been with Zhang Qian.

Besides,

he had his own ways to protect the Zhang Family, unlike Du Ming who was anxious.

Zhang Kang showed no willingness to send troops in his words, which made Du Ming even more agitated. "The Yan Wang has destroyed the Huang Family; who do you think he will deal with next? Do not forget how our three families dealt with the Yan Prince Mansion back then, and do not forget whose family assassinated the Yan Wang. If your Zhang Family does not move today, and I fall into the hands of the Yan Prince Mansion one day, do not blame me for having a loose tongue!"

Zhang Kang's expression suddenly darkened, then he began to smile again. "Brother Du, do not be angry. My Zhang Family will send troops."

"That's more like it. Our two families will immediately mobilize the elite soldiers in our Fortresses, first to rescue the Huang Family, then to attack Yancheng," Du Ming said.

Zhang Kang nodded.

Du Ming was delighted; they agreed on where to combine their forces and then he left.

Zhang Kang then turned to the Steward, Zhang Yue. "You go to the Prince Mansion immediately. Tell the Yan Wang the news that the Du Family is raising an army to rebel. Tell him that my Zhang Family is only pretending to raise an army, and that I will offer Du Ming's head to the Yan Wang to show my Zhang Family's glorious loyalty."

"Yes, Master." Zhang Yue bowed and left.

Getting up and walking to the door, Zhang Kang narrowed his eyes.

He had given the advice he should have; Du Ming was obsessed and refused to wake up, so he was seeking his own death.

Since that was the case, he might as well use him as a stepping stone to deceive the Yan Wang.

However, Du Ming's words were not without reason.

It was very clear.

The Yan Wang was dealing with them to seize supreme power in Yan Commandery.

So, in order for his own plans to be implemented smoothly, besides continuing to deceive the Yan Wang and buy time, he also seemed to need to intimidate the Yan Wang.

To let the Yan Wang understand that he, Zhang Kang, was not someone who could be moved whenever he pleased.

Thinking of this, he paced to the bedroom.

Inside the room.

His wife, Yuan Shi, had just gotten up.

"Madam, there has been quite a bit of chaos in Yan Commandery today. The Yan Wang is making a great fuss, and I fear he intends to suppress the Zhang Family. It would be one thing if I, your husband, lost face, but I fear others will say the Yuan Shi in Yanzhou is just a hollow facade," Zhang Kang said flatteringly while kneading Yuan Shi's shoulders.

The apricot eyes on Yuan Shi's beautiful face widened, and she sneered, "What is there to fear from a mere Yan Wang? Now that you have become the Head of the Family of the Zhang Family, Father will surely be very happy, and your weight in his heart will be greater. I will send someone to Fanyang immediately to have Father give the Yan Wang a warning and make him behave himself in Yanzhou."

"Then many thanks, Madam." Zhang Kang accompanied her with a smile, his eyes flickering.

Yan Prince Mansion, bedchamber.

Zhao Xu was listening to the news brought back by the Scout.

Having successfully taken down the Huang Family in this surprise attack, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, that General Chang was able to take down the Huang Family so easily is, firstly, because the soldiers followed orders, and secondly, because the hearts of the people have already returned to Your Highness." Ripples of excitement spread across Liu Fu's round face.

For the Yan Wang to have such great determination and be willing to damage the wealth of the Prince Mansion to win the hearts of the people was truly rare for him.

And now, the effect was already apparent.

Zhao Xu shook his head helplessly; he had not even implemented any real policies to benefit the people yet.

That the hearts of the people were like this could only be said to be because the Rich Clans had oppressed the commoners too severely over the years.

With the appearance of a Yan Wang who did things differently, the commoners placed high hopes on him.

"Next, we shall see the reactions of the Zhang Family and the Du Family." Zhao Xu's expression was calm.

Originally, he had been worried, but judging from the battle with the Huang Family, the quality of the private soldiers of the Rich Clans in Yan Commandery was poor, and their military morale was not very stable.

They could not be called paper tigers, but they were mostly lame tigers.

The threat from the Du Family and the Zhang Family did not seem so great after all.

Moreover, the Huang Family has been destroyed, and the balance of power has already shifted.

Now, he is the one on the offensive.

No sooner had his voice fallen than someone reported that Zhang Yue, the Steward of the Zhang Family, had arrived.

Exchanging a glance with Liu Fu, he had Zhang Yue brought in.

"Your Highness, Du Ming intends to raise an army and rebel..."

Zhang Yue stood firm and spilled out everything Zhang Kang had said like beans from a bag.

Zhao Xu and Liu Fu became more and more astonished as they listened.

After pondering for a long time, he said, "Since that is the case, this Prince will wait for the good news from Commandery Governor Zhang."

Zhang Yue bowed and departed.

Liu Fu watched him leave the door and frowned, saying, "Your Highness, I fear this is a ruse. If the two families join forces and Zhang Kang does not kill Du Ming, it will become troublesome instead."

Zhao Xu nodded, "Order the soldiers in the city to strictly guard the city walls, and have the Scouts inform Chang Wei to wait quietly for changes."

Liu Fu acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

At this moment, Feng'er brought over warm water and used a damp face towel to wipe Zhao Xu's face.

Luan'er held a cyan long robe and waited to the side.

"Your Highness is truly busy; you don't even have a moment of leisure in the early morning. These Rich Clans in Yan Commandery are truly troublesome," Luan'er pouted.

Feng'er wrung out the face towel and spat, "It would only be peaceful if these black-hearted thieves were all dead; look at what a mess they have made of Yan Commandery."

"That's right, with them around, I was even afraid when sleeping at night." Luan'er recalled the days when Zhang Han was there and still felt a lingering fear.

Feng'er looked at Zhao Xu with a smile in her eyes, "Your Highness, don't spare them this time. Once Yan Commandery is peaceful, Your Highness can also go out and walk around, instead of staying in the Prince's Mansion all day."

Zhao Xu raised his hand and pinched Feng'er's nose, "This Prince thinks you are the one who can't hold back anymore and wants to go out and play."

Hearing this, Luan'er covered her mouth and giggled.

Feng'er, both shy and happy, turned her face away.

After washing up, Zhao Xu ate breakfast.

He waited for news in the mansion.

By noon, news arrived that while Du Ming was on his way to gather his private soldiers at the Huang Family Fortress, he had been killed by an ambush set by the Zhang Family.

Zhang Kang was currently transporting Du Ming's corpse back.

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