Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 167: Cruel and Brutal
The crown prince, whose complexion was a deep, dark blue, sat in the main seat of the Nanliang Mansion’s grand hall, trembling as he looked at the numbers reported to him.
Three days ago, the prince had abandoned his caravan, his artillery, and other equipment, taking only a few people as he rushed to the Nanliang Mansion. What he found, however, was a city with collapsed walls, empty buildings, and rats running rampant. As for the buildings for the prince’s harem, which were supervised by Li Yuanming, they had already been burned down, leaving behind a thick layer of dust over the Nanliang Mansion.
In the three days since, the prince’s aides, and even those around Yuan Zhao, had been running around, investigating and compiling reports on the situation of the people. The results were infuriating—only less than thirty percent of the population remained! Seventy percent had already packed up and moved to Anyang.
Lüliang Prefecture, once home to eight million people, now had fewer than 2.2 million! Most of those left behind were elderly, weak, sick, or disabled.
Bang! The prince slammed his palm down on the half-worn table, his face contorting in rage. “This is too much!”
Suddenly, a soldier came to report, “Your Highness, there are over a hundred thousand people in the north who are preparing to migrate, moving their families north to Anyang!”
“What!” The prince was furious. “Stop them immediately! Capture a few of the leaders. I want to know the reason!”
By evening, several middle-aged men were brought before him. Upon seeing them, the prince immediately asked, “What is your name?”
One of the middle-aged men replied respectfully, “Your Highness, I am Liu Shan.”
“Why are you leaving Lüliang Prefecture? You didn’t leave earlier, but now you’re choosing to leave?”
Liu Shan responded firmly, “Your Highness, there were rumors about your faults, but I didn’t believe them. However, two days ago, I saw your mobile palace, and it was extremely luxurious. Such a mobile palace must have cost a fortune, which shows how extravagant your life truly is. After seeing this, many of us who had faith in you were deeply disappointed!”
The prince’s fingers tightened around the table, his joints turning white! He had been humiliated again! Should he be angry? Should he roar in fury? The prince no longer knew how to describe his feelings; from start to finish, he had been used by Li Xian!
The grand welcoming ceremony had been a delay tactic. The carefully prepared mobile palace had turned out to be a trap! Over and over again, the prince felt like dough, being kneaded back and forth.
Yuan Zhao said nothing, but inside, he suddenly felt some emotion. The once naive “younger brother” seemed to have become more astute, more calculating, thinking three steps ahead for every move.
Yuan Zhao remained silent, while Yue Qingfeng sighed softly, holding back his anger as he spoke, “Liu Shan, that was simply a gift sent by Anyang to His Highness.”
Liu Shan chuckled. “So, does that mean we common folk will also have to send gifts to His Highness from now on?”
This question was so well-asked that Yue Qingfeng was left speechless. Only the prince himself could answer this question. Yuan Zhao and Yue Qingfeng both looked toward the prince.
As for the prince? His anger had already consumed him, his rationality had evaporated, and he began to roar, shouting without thinking, “Tributes are only right and just! The Great Xia Empire has supported you, and now you must offer some tribute—what’s the big deal?!”
When Yuan Zhao heard this, he sighed inwardly: “You win, younger brother. You’ve killed a perfectly good prince with your own hands!” Although this prince was not competent, he still had some degree of authority, but now all of it was gone! Once this word was spoken, it would become the prince’s eternal stain!
Yue Qingfeng, on the other hand, was stunned for a long time. He never expected the prince to be so foolish. After a deep sigh, he tried to advise, “Your Highness, paying taxes is appropriate, but tribute is unnecessary.”
The prince slammed his hand on the table again, “I am the prince, or are you? Lüliang Prefecture is mine, and I say what goes! Furthermore, Liu Shan and the other ten thousand lowly peasants—seize all their assets and punish them with forced labor for a year!”
“Your Highness, this is impossible!” Yue Qingfeng exclaimed in alarm. At this moment, Yuan Zhao had no choice but to step in and try to persuade him. If this order were truly given, the remaining two million or more people in Luliang County would scatter in all directions! Now, Yuan Zhao was starting to consider how to incorporate Luliang County into Dongyuan County.
After a series of considerations, Yuan Zhao finally understood the Emperor’s plan. This was meant to compensate the Yuan family and counterbalance the Li family. The Emperor had sent the Crown Prince to Luliang County, and the Crown Prince had a good relationship with the Yuan family. As long as the Great Xia Kingdom was in chaos or collapsed, Luliang County would naturally belong to the Yuan family. However, there was one condition for the Yuan family to accept Luliang County—protect the Crown Prince. This was the Emperor’s condition.
“The Emperor is arranging for the future!” Yuan Zhao saw through the Emperor’s intentions and suddenly felt a sorrow for the fate of the Emperor. No matter how powerful the Emperor was, he, too, would die.
With this consideration in mind, Yuan Zhao stood up and began to persuade the Crown Prince. “Your Highness, your anger here will only make Li Xian more proud. You should calm down and re-govern Luliang County.
Back then, Anyang only had a population of over twenty thousand, yet Li Xian rose to power with it. Now, Your Highness has over two million people under your control. What is there to worry about in rising to power?
Do you, Your Highness, think you are inferior to Li Xian?”
Yuan Zhao’s words were far more persuasive than Yue Qingfeng’s simple advice, and the Crown Prince listened!
“Li Xian! Li Xian! Li Xian!” The Crown Prince muttered repeatedly, his fingers scraping wood shavings from the table. Eventually, his anger began to subside. “Yuan Zhao, what should I do now?”
“Your Highness, although Li Xian has relocated a large portion of the population, he has also left you a more stable and easier-to-control foundation. You have over two million people, and yet there is land that can support eight million. Why not reward the remaining people with the extra land and show them the Crown Prince’s concern?
As for taxes, just maintain the original state.
Additionally, Your Highness needs to publicly declare that, aside from taxes, you will not demand a single grain of food more from the common people!”
After all, the Crown Prince was still the Crown Prince. After his anger had passed, he gradually regained his composure and began to think rationally. He officially appointed Yuan Zhao as the civil minister of Luliang County, responsible for civil affairs, and assigned his uncle to form an army—military power must remain in his hands. There could be confusion about many things, but this point must not be neglected.
Furthermore, the Crown Prince began inviting his maternal relatives to settle in Luliang County, whether for business or participation in politics. It was better to have them than to be alone.
On the other hand, Yuan Zhao began placing members of the Yuan family in positions of power. The Yuan family also actively communicated with the Crown Prince, and trade began flowing between Dongyuan County and Luliang County.
After the turmoil and chaos of war, Luliang County seemed to slowly regain its vitality.
Li Xian was fully aware of the situation in Luliang County. As it started to recover, Li Xian was discussing it with his strategists.
However, the discussion was not just about Luliang County; it also involved Zhao Guoshan and Zhao Youdan. Compared to the desolate Luliang County, Li Xian was more concerned about the Zhao father and son.
How to assess and possibly deal with these two, Li Yuanming had the most authority to speak on. “Young Master, Zhao Guoshan and Zhao Youdan were both self-proclaimed kings in their own territories. They will never willingly submit to others. The best course of action is… to cut off all future threats!”
Li Xian shuddered at the suggestion. “Li Yuanming, have Zhao Guoshan and his son ever wronged you?”
“No!”
“Then why, despite your past relationship, would you suggest cutting off all future threats?”
Li Yuanming’s expression turned serious. “Young Master, as a strategist, the creed is to serve the lord who provides for us and to remain loyal to him. A strategist must be single-minded; indecision is not the way of a strategist, and no one likes a strategist who cannot make up his mind.
For civil officials, small mistakes are forgivable.
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But for strategists, who often deal with military and policy matters, one wrong move can lead to a complete failure. One wrong step, and there may be no way to recover. So, we must do things with single-minded dedication.
As for Zhao Guoshan, I have shown him all the kindness and loyalty I can. At least, in his final moments, I did not abandon him, and even risked my life for him. I have no regrets in my heart.
Now that I serve the Young Master, I still need to do so with a clear conscience.
In truth, we have our own ideals, and for these ideals, we are unafraid of facing danger. Even if we are condemned by thousands and our names become infamous, we will not hesitate.”
Li Xian turned to look at Xu Ren beside him and noticed that Xu Ren showed no objection, even nodding slightly in agreement.
Li Xian took a deep breath, suddenly understanding. Strategists are also a group of madmen! A group of madmen with ideals, intelligence, aspirations, and principles!
“I respect the spirit of strategists; I have been rude. So, what do you think should be done with Zhao Guoshan and his son? We can’t just kill them without reason.”