Chapter 46: The Yuan Family

"Yuan Li."

Zhao Xu glanced at the name on the calling card; it was indeed the Yanzhou Prefect, Yuan Li.

Some days ago, Zhang Kang had said Yuan Li would come, and now he had indeed arrived.

"Zhang Kang is here too," Feng'er added.

"He is certainly willing to exert himself for his son-in-law," Zhao Xu scoffed lightly.

He did not need to think to know why Yuan Li had come this time.

It was nothing more than a show of force to tell him that Zhang Kang was his son-in-law, and to make the Prince Mansion wary.

However, since Yuan Li had come, he had no choice but to meet him.

After all, this man was the true power-holder in Yanzhou; even though he was an Imperial Prince, he could not afford to be arrogant.

Thinking of this, he walked outside.

On the way, he met Liu Fu, who was coming to the back courtyard to find him.

The two of them arrived at the gate together.

They saw a troop of cavalry standing at the gate.

These cavalrymen were robust, each wearing a black helmet and black armor, with only the feathers on their helmets being blue.

The sword scabbards at their waists were exquisite; one look was enough to tell they were no ordinary items.

"The Yuan Family of Yanzhou is indeed not something the small Rich Clans of Yan Commandery can compare to," Zhao Xu thought to himself.

One could see the strength of the Yuan Family just from the equipment of this cavalry unit.

His gaze shifted to the fat man in the front, who had a stout build and a large belly.

The fat man was wearing purple official robes, his face covered in rolls of fat, looking somewhat fierce.

However, upon seeing Zhao Xu, the fat man climbed down from his horse with the help of his attendants and laughed heartily.

"Your Highness Yan Wang, I recently heard from my son-in-law that Your Highness's brain ailment has healed, so I traveled specifically from Fanyang to offer my congratulations."

"Many thanks, Prefect Yuan. Some days ago, Commandery Governor Zhang said the Prefect was coming; I have been looking forward to this for a long time. Please, come inside," Zhao Xu greeted him.

They exchanged bows, both of their faces filled with smiles.

Seeing Zhao Xu receive guests like a normal person, Yuan Li smiled on the surface but felt unhappy inside.

Originally, he had never thought much of this foolish Imperial Prince.

Therefore, he had been greatly shocked to hear from Zhang Kang that the Yan Wang had eliminated the Huang and Du families and taken control of Yan Commandery.

To him, Yanzhou was the Yuan Family's territory.

Now that the Yan Wang occupied Yan Commandery, it truly displeased him.

Therefore, protecting Zhang Kang's Zhang Family was imperative.

Only then would Yan Commandery not fall completely into the hands of the Yan Wang.

Entering the Prince Mansion, Zhao Xu led Yuan Li to the guest hall.

They sat down as host and guest, and he ordered tea to be served.

Zhao Xu said, "Prefect Yuan, you are busy with official duties, yet you managed to find time to come to Yan Commandery. I am very grateful. Since I am in Yan Commandery, I hope for your continued support in the future."

Having walked in, Yuan Li saw that the Yan Prince Mansion was somewhat simple. Coupled with the fact that Zhao Xu had held no status while in the Capital City and had no maternal family support, he looked down on him even more, though he did not show it on his face.

Moreover, having come this time with the intention of backing Zhang Kang, he said, "Easy, easy. In Yanzhou, the Yuan Family's word is law. If Your Highness has any difficulties, just come to find this official. The Yuan Family's Black Armored Army is not to be trifled with."

Zhao Xu laughed softly; there was more to Yuan Li's words than met the ear.

It was a clear declaration of the Yuan Family's immense power in Yanzhou.

"Haha, Prefect Yuan is truly a straightforward man," Zhao Xu feigned gratitude.

Yuan Li waved his hand, then glanced at Zhang Kang and said, seemingly unintentionally, "Zhang Kang, as a son-in-law of the Yuan Family, you must serve the Yan Wang with all your heart and strength. Do not disgrace my Yuan Family's reputation and make His Highness laugh at you."

"Father-in-law, your son-in-law will obey," Zhang Kang said with a respectful expression.

He breathed a great sigh of relief in his heart.

This was Yuan Li reminding the Yan Wang; for now, the Zhang Family was safe in Yan Commandery.

He no longer had to worry about his plans.

Thinking of this, he bowed to Zhao Xu again, "Your Highness, if I do anything wrong in the future, I hope Your Highness will be magnanimous."

"Commandery Governor Zhang is too polite. It is my great honor to have a capable official like Commandery Governor Zhang to assist me."

Having said this, the three of them laughed.

They chatted about some idle matters,

and discussed old events from the Capital City.

The sky was growing dark.

Zhao Xu ordered the servants of the Prince Mansion to set a banquet and kept Yuan Li for the feast.

After three rounds of Wine.

Yuan Li looked at the Wine in his cup, sighing in admiration.

In Fanyang, he had already tasted the Wine from Yan Commandery and immediately felt there was no other Fine Wine in the world.

This time, coming to Yan Commandery, besides the matter of Zhang Kang, he had also come for this Fine Wine.

"Your Highness, this official has a presumptuous request," Yuan Li said after a hiccup.

"Please speak, Prefect Yuan," Zhao Xu set down his wine cup.

"The Wine brewed by Your Highness is truly a rare immortal brew in this world. Now, if I do not drink it for a day, I feel my three meals are tasteless. I would like to purchase a batch from the Prince Mansion; I hope Your Highness will grant this," Yuan Li said.

"That is simple. I wonder how much the Prefect needs?" Zhao Xu did not turn away business.

He was essentially the manufacturer now and did not fear having too many orders.

"Thirty thousand jars," Yuan Li held up three fingers.

The Yuan Family has a large estate and business, and even maintains an army.

Yanzhou is located in the North Territory and was never as wealthy as the south.

Most ways of earning money rely on trade.

Merchants are shrewd; how could the Yuan Family be foolish enough to pass up a profitable business?

If not for concerns about the Imperial Court and the fact that Zhao Xu is an Imperial Prince, he would have even openly seized this method of brewing Wine.

Now, he can only settle for second best and have Yan Wang supply his Yuan Family with goods in large quantities.

"Very well," Zhao Xu agreed immediately.

The Prince's Mansion Wine Workshop will expand production immediately; this order has come just in time.

After settling this matter and sharing some laughter, Yuan Li and Zhang Kang rose to leave.

Zhao Xu saw them to the door before returning.

In the night.

Yuan Li's guards lit torches, and as he looked at Zhang Kang, Yuan Li's smile gradually faded.

"Since I have come forward personally this time, Yan Wang will certainly not dare to touch your Zhang Family. From now on, keep a firm watch on the Prince's Mansion for me in Yan Commandery, and if there is any movement, send someone to pass the news to me immediately."

Zhang Kang did not dare to breathe loudly; he lowered his head and replied submissively, "Yes, Father-in-law."

Nodding, Yuan Li added, "Also, be careful with the trade with the Northern Di; do not let Yan Wang discover it, especially the matter of selling weapons and Armor. If he reports it to the Imperial Court, it will be very troublesome."

Originally, he had looked down on Zhang Kang, this illegitimate son of the Zhang Family.

Even for an illegitimate daughter of the Yuan Family, Zhang Kang was not a match.

But that year, when Zhang Kang led a Northern Di merchant caravan to Fanyang, he changed his mind.

According to Zhang Kang, because he had once saved the life of this Northern Di tycoon, the Northern Di tycoon trusted only him.

Thus, wanting to make use of Zhang Kang, he agreed to this marriage.

Over these years, Zhang Kang has indeed earned a lot of Silver for the Yuan Family, buying many horses and furs from the Northern Di.

However, the Imperial Court strictly forbids trade with the Northern Di, so this matter is extremely confidential.

"This son-in-law would not dare to be careless," Zhang Kang replied.

Seemingly to put Zhang Kang's mind at ease, he said, "You need not fear this Yan Wang. We use courtesy first and force later; if he does not know what is good for him, I will naturally make things difficult for him."

As he spoke, the figures of the group disappeared into the darkness.

The Prince's Mansion.

After the banquet ended, Liu Fu did not return.

Yuan Li's arrival had caused the plan he had spent the last few days devising to deal with the Zhang Family to fall through.

"If the Zhang Family is not removed, it is like a bone stuck in the throat," Liu Fu said through gritted teeth.

Zhao Xu remained silent; he was not as agitated as Liu Fu.

For him, having already grasped the military and political power of Yan Commandery, things were stable.

The Zhang Family is merely meat on the chopping block; it is just a matter of time before the blade falls.

Next, he only needs to accumulate wealth, advance technology, and forge his own army into an invincible, powerful force.

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun; as long as the barrel is hard, he fears no one.