Become a feudal king from today

"Hahaha... Commander Zhang is indeed a lesson in loyalty."

The main hall of the palace.

Zhang Kang stood bowed at the foot of the steps, a bloody human head in a wooden box at his feet with eyes wide open in anger.

It was none other than Du Ming.

As expected, he ambushed and killed Du Ming as promised.

Zhao Xu immediately gave Chang Wei an order to take over Dujiawu Fort.

From then on, only the Zhang family remained among the three Zhang, Huang, and Du families in Yan County.

Glancing at Du Ming's head, Zhao Xu couldn't help but feel chilled.

This is the barbarism and cruelty of this era.

Now, as the King of Yan, he has no way to retreat.

Come on, this wooden box may contain his head one day.

There was silence in the main hall, seemingly shocked by Du Ming's miserable look.

Liu Fu thought he was quite courageous and was silent at this time.

For the first time, he felt that he had followed Zhao Xu on a path of no return.

At the end of this road is the ambition he wants to achieve, but it is also full of blood and killing.

"As the governor of Yan County, I cannot sit back and watch Du Ming's rebellion. Your Highness, please rest assured. From now on, your Majesty will definitely work for the palace and protect the safety of Your Highness!" Zhang Kang lowered his head and spoke like a model loyal minister.

Zhao Xu felt like he had eaten a fly.

He only felt that Zhang Kang was terrible. He could abandon both the Huang family and the Du family. There was nothing he couldn't do.

Liu Fu glanced at Zhang Kang and whispered in his ear: "Your Highness, I don't know what kind of evil intentions this person has. It's better to kill him right now to avoid future troubles."

"..." Zhao Xu clenched his fists, feeling a little moved.

It's just that Zhang Kang had merit this time, and he killed him rashly. If word spread, it would definitely arouse criticism from the court.

After all, the Huang family and the Du family were destroyed because they intended to rebel.

Moreover, Zhang Qian is dead. Even if the last assassination is used as the reason, Zhang Kang can still blame Zhang Qian.

What's more, he has no proof.

Zhang Kang noticed that Liu Fu's eyes were not kind, and his heart tightened.

He raised his voice and said, "Your Highness, I received a letter from my father-in-law the day before yesterday and learned that Your Highness has recovered from his illness. He would like to come to Yan County to see Your Highness in the near future."

"Thank you, Yuanzhou Mu, for remembering me. I will definitely entertain you well when the time comes." Hearing this, Zhao Xu stretched out his palms and had no choice but to give up the idea of ​​killing Zhang Kang now.

Although Yan County belongs to him, he cannot do whatever he wants.

You must also consider the impact on the court when you act.

After all, although Dasong is in decline now, Judah has not fallen.

The court system did not completely collapse.

If he killed Zhang Kang without any reason, the Yuan family would definitely have to testify against him in front of Emperor Zhao Heng.

It wouldn't be good if he made a bad mistake and had his fiefdom taken away from him, and he was banned from returning to the capital.

In Yan County, he had just established a basic base and was at home like a fish in water.

When he returned to the Imperial City, he was like a fish trapped in a shoal.

Thinking of this, he said: "If you come, I will give you a thousand taels of silver and a hundred pieces of brocade as a reward to Commander Zhang."

"Thank you, Your Highness." A smile emerged from Zhang Kang's eyes.

He was sure that King Yan's intelligence would not ignore the Yuan family.

Zhang Kang accepted the reward and left. Liu Fu immediately snorted, "No wonder Zhang Kang is so indifferent. He relies on the Yuan family behind him."

When Zhao Xu thought of the Yuan family, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.

The Zhang family, the Huang family, and the Du family are just small wealthy families in Yan County.

The Yuan family is a behemoth in Yanzhou.

Yanzhou's officialdom and business were basically in the hands of the Yuan family.

It can be said that he is the real local emperor of Yanzhou.

In addition, the imperial court is now increasingly unable to control local powerful families.

The Yuan family's power is steadily expanding in Yanzhou.

Although it is not as good as the eight powerful families of Wang, Dou, Ma, Han, Liang, Fan, Xie and Xiao.

But it also has a place in Dashong Chaotang.

Emperor Zhao Heng accepted the daughter of the Yuan family as his concubine, which is enough to show that the Yuan family has become a force that even the royal family cannot ignore.

It was with this in mind that he gave up his plan to kill Zhang Kang rashly.

Otherwise, the Yuan family officials would definitely attack him in groups in the court.

And his relationship with Emperor Zhao Heng is like Schrödinger's cat, it's hard to tell whether it's good or bad.

Between deposing the prince and offending powerful ministers, Zhao Heng might choose the former.

"Your Highness, behind Zhang Kang is the Yuan family, but behind you is the royal family. This layer of interests is beneficial when used, and harmful when discarded. I believe that it is necessary for your highness to maintain the father-son relationship with the emperor, even on the surface. Harmony, so as not to be alone." Liu Fu frowned and thought for a while, and said slowly.

Zhao Xu nodded, Feng'er had already reminded him of this.

Now that the Huang family and the Du family have been destroyed, the situation in Yan County has completely turned to him.

It really should be planned by the capital.

Just as he was thinking about it, someone suddenly came to report that Chang Wei was back.

He immediately let Chang Wei in.

"Your Highness, the last general has taken over the Huang family and Dujia Wubao. There are more than 2,000 members of the Huang family and more than 3,000 members of the Du family. I hope Your Highness will make it clear." Chang Wei clasped his fists and spoke loudly.

Zhao Xu smiled and said: "What should be done with these people is not up to me but to the people. You will escort the two families to Dongshi, gather the people of Yan County and let them judge. The innocent ones will disperse and move to other places." , make them work in agriculture, and those who are guilty will be punished.”

Chang Wei and Liu Fu looked at each other and were both startled. They had never heard of such a method of judging crimes.

Liu Fu thought about it carefully and understood the key point.

Let the common people trample under their feet the wealthy families who once stepped on their heads.

After they vent their anger and take revenge, they will be grateful to King Yan.

Moreover, they were afraid that the wealthy family would come back, so they would follow King Yan closely.

"Your Highness is brilliant." Liu Fu praised him almost flatteringly.

Chang Wei had not yet recovered his feelings, but the army only had to obey orders, so he nodded.

Zhao Xu continued: "As for the two private soldiers, if they are not willing to join the army, they will be allowed to leave. Those who join the pro-soldiers will be given equal wages. The property of the two families will be taken back to the palace and redistributed to the people."

"Yes, Your Highness." Liu Fu responded.

Among them, the land issues need to be handled by him.

Leave each other.

Zhao Xu also sent people to give some rewards to the Dong family, Yang family and Lu family.

After all, the three families sending troops this time greatly strengthened the palace's power.

The property of the Huang family and the Du family were searched, and the palace was full.

According to Liu Fu's estimate.

The combined farm property of the Du and Huang families is more than 600,000 acres.

There are more than 80,000 households in Yan County that are vassalized by the two families.

This does not include the two mines, shop business and hoarded food.

Only cash, more than 500,000 taels have been found, which greatly eased the palace's finances.

Everyone dispersed.

Zhao Xu paced back to the backyard.

Feng'er and Luan'er were sitting in the pond peeling lotus pods.

Seeing Zhao Xu coming, he brought the peeled lotus seeds to Zhao Xu.

"Try it, Your Highness, it's fresh and sweet." Feng'er generously picked up a lotus seed and stuffed it into Zhao Xu's mouth.

"Yeah, it's delicious." Zhao Xu was in a good mood and couldn't help but laugh.

Luan'er said: "As the saying goes, people feel refreshed during happy events. Your Highness has recovered from his illness and is smiling so happily for the first time."

"No, Yan County is really His Highness's Yan County from now on. The Zhang family can't afford much trouble." Feng'er looked at Zhao Xu with little stars in her eyes.

For them, the days of fear are over.

Now, Yan County really feels like their home.

Zhao Xu chewed the lotus seeds, which were bitter yet sweet.

Although the Zhang family is still there, the offensive and defensive momentum is different.

Unlike before, it was difficult for his government orders to leave the palace.

from now on.

He can build his own territory openly.

As for Zhang Kang, he will watch closely to see what tricks he is playing.