Chapter 40: Beat the Local Tyrants, Share the Land

Chapter 40: Beat the Local Tyrants, Share the Land

Nie Bing looked at Xiao Ce, who was speaking eloquently on the stage.

Her heart was filled with complex emotions. He took some originally worthless brown sugar and coarse salt.

In just a few nights, he had turned them into a full nine hundred thousand taels of silver.

Such an exaggerated thing had already been accomplished.

She felt the three-year promise he spoke of could be completely fulfilled.

…

Seeing the auction was over, Xiao Ce said,

“Everyone, we will now distribute the Tianshan Snow Frost Sugar and Tianshan Snow Salt according to the order of the auction just now. I have brought a portion with me; another portion will arrive in three days along with the bulk of my goods. Afterwards, they will be delivered to each of you one by one.”

Almost everyone present had gained something small, and their moods were quite good.

Right at that moment, Xu Zhiyuan’s advisor hurried over and whispered a few words into Xu Zhiyuan’s ear.

After listening, Xu Zhiyuan, looking very excited, jogged to Xiao Ce.

Seeing Xu Zhiyuan’s expression, Xiao Ce didn’t even need to ask: “Did Imperial Father agree?”

Xu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile: “Yes! All your conditions were accepted!”

The merchants nearby looked at the two men, confused, not knowing what had happened.

Xiao Ce excitedly stepped onto the stage. Seeing the disaster victims had not yet dispersed.

Xiao Ce began to speak: “Fellow countrymen affected by the disaster, the method of disaster relief I applied to Imperial Father for has been approved.”

“As everyone knows, I am going to ‘take my fief’ in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. Moreover, the Turks are constantly causing trouble on the Northern Desert border. Therefore, I cannot stay here to provide relief indefinitely. So, I thought of a method.”

“That was to apply to His Majesty the Emperor. Any victims who are willing to follow me to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. The court will issue one dan of relief grain to each person, and has specially approved household registration for moving to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.”

“When you get to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, I will give you money, grain, land, and seeds. And I will exempt you from taxes for three years. Those willing to go can later find Teacher Xun to register! Then, Minister Xu will cooperate with the court to distribute the disaster relief grain for following me to the Northern Desert to each person!”

As soon as Xiao Ce finished speaking, it was like dropping a heavy bomb among the disaster victims…

“What? Go to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures? Isn’t that seeking death?”

“Yes, aren’t the Four Northern Desert Prefectures a wasteland? Going there is suicide, isn’t it? I’d rather die here… I absolutely won’t leave this place.”

“Yeah, I heard the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are also suffering from famine. Going there would be looking for death, wouldn’t it?”

“I thought a prince had come… who really considered us. Turns out he also wants us to follow him to our deaths…”

Most of the attitudes among the disaster victims were negative.

Xiao Ce was not surprised. He took a few steps forward and said to the victims: “Everyone, this is not forced. I know what you are thinking!”

“I know you have all heard some news about the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. I can also clearly tell you, those are not just rumors.”

“The people in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are suffering. However, I want to tell you. That is not caused by the land itself! It is caused by the rulers and managers on that land.”

“Just like many of you victims, many of you come from rich, fertile lands known as lands of fish and rice. But now you have also become disaster victims. Is that because of the land where you came from?”

“What I can promise you is, as long as you follow me! Whatever I eat, you will eat!”

“I also promise you, at the latest in three years, I will make sure the people of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures eat meat with every meal! And have extra money in their pockets! If you believe in me, you will absolutely not regret it!”

“Of course, if you want to stay here, I will not stop you! However, I tell you plainly. The court may not have the means to take care of you right now.”

“Follow me, and I will give you houses, land, and tax exemptions! Or stay here, like stray dogs. The choice is yours. This is the most I can offer. How to choose, you decide for yourselves.”

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, a disaster victim shouted out,

“Prince, the court only gives us one dan of grain. After we go to the Northern Desert, what will we eat? We have nothing now, nothing at all. We can’t just starve to death!”

Xiao Ce said with a firm face: “I will not let you starve. I repeat, whatever I eat, you will eat! Those who trust me, come! Those who don’t, I won’t force you. Please consider it yourselves.”

“What I can tell you is, after I go to the Northern Desert, there will be a major reform! You who follow me first will enjoy the benefits I provide. In the future, the Four Northern Desert Prefectures will not be a place you can just go to if you want!”

“Prince, I’ll go with you! Since you put it that way, Prince, I’ll go! Anyway, the worst has already happened now, how much worse can it get…”

“That’s right… Prince, just because you are the first person to give us food and drink, we’ll go with you. Let’s just consider it being exiled.”

“Yeah, Prince, following you, we at least get one dan of grain. Otherwise, we get nothing. Going to the Northern Desert, we might still have a chance!”

Quite a few people among them began to express their willingness to follow Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce smiled and said: “There are still smart people! Alright, go register quickly! Those who register in the next two days will have priority in choosing land and houses after settling in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures…”

After Xiao Ce said this, the crowd immediately became excited and started signing up.

After all, although Xiao Ce spoke vaguely, there were smart people among them.

Everyone understood, staying here meant waiting for death.

Going to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures offered a slim chance of survival.

They were only going to fight for that slim chance. As for Xiao Ce’s slogan of making them eat meat with every meal and have extra money in three years.

They simply did not believe it.

Because, even before the disaster, when they were in fertile lands, eating meat was something for holidays…

Eating meat with every meal was unthinkable.

…

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he said to Xu Zhiyuan: “Minister Xu, I’ll trouble you with the matters from here.”

Xu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and said: “Prince! You are too kind, this is my duty!”

Seeing the group of merchants had no intention of leaving.

“Gentlemen bosses, do you have something you wish to say?”

The leading merchant said: “Prince, we have arranged a banquet in the city. We wonder if we have the honor of inviting you to attend.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said: “Alright, I do have matters I need to discuss with you. However, I will be the host, as thanks for your support in the auction!”

No one put on airs; they all agreed, and then dispersed.

Xu Zhiyuan had already sent people to handle the registration.

At this moment, Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing walked over: “Prince, you really did it. But, have you considered it? Although the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are vast and sparsely populated, the good land is all in the hands of Noble Clans and the Nobility! Saying you will give houses and land to the victims is almost impossible. Saying this will inevitably cause their dissatisfaction, or even retaliation against you!”

Nie Bing listened and added: “Exactly! And the news that you want to distribute houses and land will probably reach the ears of those Noble Clans and powerful people before long. Once they know, they will definitely try to stop it. By then, those victims might not even be able to enter the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! I suggest you tell the people first, temporarily not to distribute land, to avoid unnecessary trouble!”

Xiao Ce smiled and said: “What Noble Clans? That bunch are bloodsuckers! My first action upon going to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures is to deal with them! Beat the local tyrants, share the land!”

“Prince, I’m afraid you don’t understand them…”

Nie Bing hadn’t finished speaking.

Xiao Ce interrupted: “I’m afraid you don’t understand me either! If they obey quietly, I can let them live comfortably. If they don’t obey, I’ll be the first to get rid of them.”

After saying this, Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing: “Don’t worry, everything is under my control! Didn’t His Majesty allow me to recruit one hundred thousand soldiers? I am confident that by the time I reach the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, I will have one hundred thousand troops in hand! By then, what will they have to fight me with?”

“I believe you have the ability; you can filter tens of thousands from these victims… But the most important things are soldiers, weapons, and money and grain. None can be lacking…”

Xiao Ce smiled and interrupted: “Do you think I’m really going to eat with those merchants for no reason? I’m going to get money!”

“Alright, don’t worry about me.”

Nie Bing glanced at Xiao Ce: “You are really too full of yourself. Who’s worried about you! I’m just afraid you’ll drag us down.”

Xiao Ce did not expose her.

Instead, he changed the topic and said to Da Lei: “Go call Minister Xu over!”

Da Lei nodded.

Xiao Ce then waved his hand at the two women, telling them to go rest.

Not long after, Xu Zhiyuan was called over.

“Prince, do you have any orders?”

Xiao Ce asked Xu Zhiyuan: “Tell me about these merchants. Looking at them, they seem to be a group?”

Xu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and said: “Your Highness, you truly have sharp eyes. Our Anhua City is the largest trading city in the Great Xiao Kingdom and also has the largest collective of merchants. Initially, they also engaged in malicious competition with each other, causing many serious consequences. Later, under my guidance, they formed a merchant association organization. They set their own rules to ensure fair competition.”

“Just like this auction, they all have a maximum spending limit. And each person has only one chance to use their maximum limit…”

After listening to Xu Zhiyuan’s words, Xiao Ce understood: “No wonder. I saw they seemed to have discussed it.”

Xu Zhiyuan clasped his hands and said: “Prince, however, this time I did not let them reach a unanimous agreement. This is their customary rule…”

Xiao Ce waved his hand: “It’s fine, this price is already sky-high. Since you have a complete system here, then I can confidently cooperate with them!”

Xu Zhiyuan looked at Xiao Ce strangely: “Cooperate?”

Xiao Ce nodded and said: “Yes, come on, let’s go to the banquet first. On the way, tell me more about the situation of your Anhua City Merchant Association!”