Chapter 38: He Must Die

Chapter 38: He Must Die

Yin Weiyong, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up.

He had seen Xu Zhiyuan’s memorial.

He also knew that Xu Zhiyuan’s memorial stated that Xiao Ce was already using his own money for disaster relief and had volunteered to handle the disaster victims.

It also said the disaster victims could be taken to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

All that was needed was for the court to provide some rations for their journey.

Although the memorial did not specify how Xiao Ce could make the disaster victims follow him to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

However, since Xiao Ce had made Xu Zhiyuan write the memorial, it meant he definitely had a way.

“Your Majesty, are you planning to use the Eldest Prince’s method?”

Xiao Dingbang’s expression was grim as he said: “Yes, although Xiao Ce was previously idle and accomplished nothing. But recently, he resigned as Crown Prince on his own and volunteered to guard the frontier against the Turkic. Now, he is volunteering to have the disaster victims follow him to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. If he can really take the disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, it could indeed completely solve the famine problem.”

Xiao Yang, prostrate on the ground, became anxious and quickly said: “Imperial Father! What did you say? Xiao Ce wants to take the disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures?”

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said: “Exactly! The Four Northern Desert Prefectures have separate laws. Once they register their household there, they cannot leave the Four Northern Desert Prefectures without permission. So, if Xiao Ce can really take those disaster victims there, it will solve the urgent crisis!”

“Imperial Father, what conditions did Xiao Ce propose? You must not fall for his scheme. Could he be deliberately asking the court for relief money and grain, filling his own pockets, and then abandoning those disaster victims?” Xiao Yang immediately said.

Xiao Xiangqing frowned slightly and added: “Imperial Father, the Second Imperial Elder Brother is right. I wonder what conditions the Eldest Imperial Elder Brother proposed for taking the disaster victims away? Also, the people in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures already live in hardship, and much of their grain is supplied and aided by the court. When the Eldest Imperial Elder Brother takes the disaster victims there, what will he feed them?”

“Moreover, the disaster victims are not fools. Why would they follow the Eldest Imperial Elder Brother all the way to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! Imperial Father, your son also thinks, could the Eldest Imperial Elder Brother be taking this chance to swindle relief money and grain!”

After the two princes spoke, the other princes unanimously joined in criticizing Xiao Ce.

Their arguments were largely the same, believing Xiao Ce was using the disaster relief to amass wealth.

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said: “Magistrate Xu’s memorial says that Xiao Ce stated only rations for the disaster victims to reach the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are needed! Once they arrive at the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, everything will be his responsibility!”

The whole court was in an uproar…

If that were true, then Xiao Ce really had no loophole to exploit.

However, no one understood why Xiao Ce would do this.

Why take on such a hot potato.

Yin Weiyong said: “Reporting to Your Majesty, along with Magistrate Xu’s memorial, there is also a written pledge from the Eldest Prince. In the pledge, the Eldest Prince said that if Your Majesty agrees to his plan, he can make a written pledge to take at least two hundred thousand fleeing disaster victims with him to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, and guarantee their household registration in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, abiding by the rule that people of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures cannot leave. If he fails, he asks Your Majesty to behead him!”

Once Yin Weiyong said this, the court was in an uproar again.

With that, Yin Weiyong took out another memorial and presented it with both hands.

Xiao Dingbang’s expression shifted slightly. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the chief eunuch beside him to go fetch Xiao Ce’s memorial.

The demands in Xiao Ce’s memorial were simple: have Xu Zhiyuan be responsible for distributing one dan of grain to each disaster victim who agrees to go to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

Then have the emperor specially approve moving their household registration to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, making them Northern Desert people from then on.

Moreover, Xiao Ce personally guarantees taking away at least two hundred thousand fleeing disaster victims and guarantees they will not return to the Central Plains to cause trouble.

If he fails, behead him!

Every word in the memorial came from the heart, and the entire text conveyed four words: “Sharing the country’s burdens”!

After reading it, Xiao Dingbang truly could not see any trick.

He then ordered the chief eunuch beside him to read the written pledge aloud.

“What do you all think?”

None of the civil and military officials in the court responded, because Xiao Ce’s method was indeed the best and lowest-cost way to solve the famine chaos.

They knew very well that whoever opposed now would definitely be forced by the emperor to take responsibility for this matter.

Not only did the civil and military officials not speak, even the other princes who attacked the Eldest Prince did not respond.

In their eyes, Xiao Ce was seeking his own death.

Not to mention whether those disaster victims would be willing to follow him!

Even if they were willing to follow him, once in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures with no food to give them, those disaster victims would kill Xiao Ce first.

“Since no one has any objections, then I approve of the Eldest Prince’s disaster relief proposal.”

With that, Xiao Dingbang addressed Rong Heping of the Treasury Department: “Rong Heping, your Treasury Department must quickly allocate money and grain to Anhua City. One dan of grain per disaster victim. If there is any mistake in this matter, you can go hang yourself.”

Rong Heping bowed and agreed.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Dingbang announced the court was dismissed.

…

After the court session.

In the residence of the Eighth Prince, several ministers were sitting.

“Eighth Prince, what kind of act is that good-for-nothing putting on? He dares to take on such a hot potato?”

“Yes, Eighth Prince. We originally planned to use this famine chaos to completely bring down Xiao Yang. The emperor was already getting anxious, but that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce jumped out again, voluntarily taking on this blame! The emperor already favors Xiao Yang, and now with Xiao Ce stepping forward, the emperor took the easy way out and did not pursue responsibility at all! He actually let that Xiao Yang escape punishment!”

“What is that good-for-nothing thinking? Has water gotten into his head?”

The Eighth Prince, Xiao Xiangqing, had a sharp gaze: “My Eldest Imperial Elder Brother is not stupid. He wants to gather a group of his own people. It is well known that the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are sparsely populated, and the local commoners there have been exploited and killed off by the local noble clans and powerful families.”

“Without commoners at the bottom to work, where will the taxes come from? So, the Eldest Prince wants to bring a group of commoners belonging to him to work for him! Under normal circumstances, asking for several hundred thousand commoners to go to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures would surely make Imperial Father wary! But now, these disaster victims are a hot potato. Everyone is eager to get rid of them. The Eldest Prince is using Imperial Father’s psychology to propose this condition, allowing him to obtain several hundred thousand commoners for his fief!”

“This imperial elder brother of mine has a mastermind behind him!”

Listening to the Eighth Prince’s analysis, the ministers beside him said: “Your Highness, those commoners will need to eat when they go over. How many days will the grain the Eldest Prince is taking feed those disaster victims? The noble clans and aristocracy will definitely not provide money or grain. Instead, they will see them as a plague. They will surely make things difficult for them in every way! It’s not that easy.”

Xiao Xiangqing nodded and said: “You are right, that’s what I don’t understand. Even if Xiao Ce has great ability, he can’t make food appear out of thin air! Those are several hundred thousand mouths to feed… Feeding them is not easy! I am somewhat looking forward to how he will do it…”

The confidants nearby asked: “Then, the Eldest Prince, aren’t we going to…”

As they spoke, they made a throat-slitting gesture.

Xiao Xiangqing shook his head and said: “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s spare his life for now! This famine chaos has exceeded all our expectations. Letting it develop freely might mean none of us can solve it. If the country really falls, what use is the Crown Prince position to me?”

“If he can really solve this famine chaos, it would also be helping me. Xiao Ce loves to stir up trouble so much, I don’t need to move against him myself! If he can’t solve it, Imperial Father will already hate him to the bone, and that written pledge will be enough to take his life.”

“Even if he handles this matter properly, Imperial Father will definitely become more wary of him. Then, that petty-minded Xiao Yang will surely contact his maternal uncle Bao An and join forces with the local noble clans to kill Xiao Ce.”

“No matter what, Xiao Ce is doomed! As long as they take action, we can also try to win over Ninth Uncle. For now, we only need to sit back and reap the benefits!”

The confidants nearby immediately bowed upon hearing this: “Your Highness is wise!”

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xiao Yang knelt to one side.

Xiao Dingbang lay on a reclining chair, with Consort Hui gently massaging his head behind him.

“Do you know where you went wrong?” Xiao Dingbang said slowly.

Xiao Yang knelt on the ground and said: “Imperial Father, your son was also deceived by his subordinates. By the time they told me, your son already knew the matter had become serious. Your son was already thinking of ways to make up for it as much as possible…”

Xiao Dingbang interrupted: “I know this was not your original intention. I allow you to make mistakes. I am now asking if you know where you went wrong?”

Xiao Yang knelt on the ground as if thinking.

Consort Hui at his side said: “Yang’er, how silly! No matter what happens, you should report to His Majesty immediately, not hide it. How many times has your father said he allows you to make mistakes. But you kept hiding it, and now the matter exploded in court. His Majesty had no preparation at all. Luckily, the Eldest Prince stepped in today to help, diverting everyone’s attention. Otherwise, if responsibility for this matter were pursued, it would be a capital offense!”

Listening to Consort Hui’s words, Xiao Dingbang patted her hand.

“You, why don’t you have any of your mother’s cleverness! Yes, what I blame you for is hiding it from me. Do you understand!” Xiao Dingbang said.

After hearing this, Xiao Yang felt relieved in his heart: “Your son only didn’t want to disappoint Imperial Father…”

“Enough, this matter is not your fault either! It was those below who deceived you. Learn from this experience. Get up.” Xiao Dingbang said.

Xiao Yang remained kneeling: “Imperial Father, are you really letting that good-for-nothing handle such a big matter?”

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said: “His method is indeed very good. Driving those fleeing disaster victims to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures will prevent them from harming our Central Plains Hinterland.”

“Imperial Father, after they go to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, what will that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce feed those disaster victims?” Xiao Yang asked.

A hint of ruthlessness appeared on Xiao Dingbang’s face as he said: “That has nothing to do with us. As long as these refugees don’t die in the Central Plains Hinterland, when they die in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures later, I can hold that good-for-nothing accountable! Then, cutting off his head can also appease the people’s anger.”

Consort Hui, massaging his head behind him, said: “Your Majesty, this consort feels that the Eldest Prince sounded very confident. He dared to swear by his life, so he must have something to rely on. If he really manages to settle these commoners, then he will have a great force in the Northern Desert! That would truly let him take root in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures!”

Xiao Dingbang said with a look of disdain: “You overestimate him too much! He’s just a good-for-nothing! The noble clans of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures have been rooted there for centuries! Deeply entrenched! Would they tolerate him? The Four Northern Desert Prefectures not only have powerful enemies surrounding them externally, but also have various noble clans standing strong internally. With just that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce, he can’t make waves!”

“Furthermore, I am the ruler of the country. If I want someone dead by the third watch, who dares keep him until the fifth! No matter the situation, I will not let him live. Does the Prince of Zhenguo think helping Xiao Ce escape from here will let him live? I let him leave here precisely to make it easier to kill him!”

“However, for now, let him survive a little longer! I cannot tolerate grit in my eyes, he must die!”

Consort Hui sensed the killing intent in Xiao Dingbang’s words, and a smile overflowed on her face: “Your Majesty, you are wise…”

…

Outside Anhua City, Xiao Ce sneezed several times in a row.

“Darn it, which turtle’s grandson is thinking about me!” Xiao Ce muttered to himself.

Seeing this, Yin Pan’er showed some concern: “Prince, I hope you haven’t caught a chill. You were outside all night. Drink this ginger soup quickly!”

Xiao Ce smiled and took the offered ginger soup, drinking it all in one go.

“Only Madam cares for me! It’s fine, I am strong.”

Yin Pan’er’s face turned red, and for once, she did not refute.

Xiao Ce’s disaster relief actions had earned him more points.

“Do you want to rest for a while? The auction you mentioned will start soon.” Yin Pan’er said with concern.

“It’s fine, I dozed off a bit earlier. Madam, are you worried about this Prince?”

As Xiao Ce spoke, he grabbed Yin Pan’er’s soft, boneless, fair, and smooth hand.

Yin Pan’er abruptly pulled her hand away, her face flushing red to the tips of her ears, as she said in anger: “Prince, please be proper!”

Xiao Ce did not continue.

Because at that moment, he saw Xu Zhiyuan coming out with a group of merchants and wealthy families.

It was clear they were still very nervous, as each had brought many servants with them.

Also, they did not come empty-handed; they all brought some grain.

Seeing those people, Yin Pan’er forgot about settling the account for the cheap he got from her.

She said to Xiao Ce: “I will avoid them for now. If they see me, they might figure things out.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said: “Alright, you have also worked all night. You rest as well.”

After saying that, he straightened his clothes and said to Da Lei: “Da Lei, let’s go! Let’s go greet these lords of wealth…”