Chapter 76: This Prince Is Most Reasonable

Chapter 76: This Prince Is Most Reasonable

Xiao Ce sneered. “They can’t even protect themselves anymore, and you expect them to protect you!”

“Drag them away! Execute them!”

Xiao Ce’s deafening voice echoed through the entire Yanzheng Hall.

The soldiers restrained them one by one and escorted them out.

“Zhang Yunqing, you know… he can’t kill me… talk some sense into him.”

“Zhang Yunqing, you know the consequences of moving against us! This good-for-nothing could never bear it…”

…

These people panicked and immediately pinned their last hope on Zhang Yunqing, who stood behind Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce instinctively glanced back at Zhang Yunqing, who remained unmoved.

“Zhang Yunqing, why aren’t you speaking up for them!”

Zhang Yunqing cupped his hands and said, “Prince, since you have made your decision, you must have thought it through clearly. Moreover, I also think they deserve to die!”

Xiao Ce looked at the twenty-six ministers standing in the hall.

“You ministers who have stayed, are you willing to serve This Prince from now on! If anyone wants to go with them, you may step forward now.”

The ministers almost simultaneously turned their gazes to Nie Bing at one side.

Nie Bing gave a slight nod.

A middle-aged minister at the front stepped forward. “As long as Your Highness truly has the best interests of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures at heart, we, your subjects, will definitely serve you, exerting all our efforts until our last breath and beyond!”

After the first person declared their stance, the others knelt one after another, parroting the words, “As long as Your Highness truly has the best interests of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures at heart, we, your subjects, will definitely serve you, exerting all our efforts until our last breath and beyond!”

Seeing the faint trace of arrogance still in their eyes, they must think they are so impressive, so principled?

Xiao Ce snorted coldly. “Of course you must exert all your efforts until your last breath! To be honest, This Prince even wanted to have you all executed! You let the Four Northern Desert Prefectures fall into this sorry state, each of you still wearing smug faces, what are you so proud of?”

He saw a hint of defiance in their eyes.

“What, still not convinced? Do you really think the reason the Four Northern Desert Prefectures have become what they are today is solely due to the Noble Clans controlling everything? Certainly, they are part of the reason! But more of it is due to the weakness, numbness, and concessions of state-appointed ministers like you!”

“You have all sorts of excuses to back down! It was your step-by-step retreat that got Provincial Governor Nie Yao killed! It was your tolerance that allowed the Noble Clan members to do whatever they wanted!”

“The reason the Great Xiao Kingdom is so pathetic, the reason the Four Northern Desert Prefectures have fallen so low, is that there are too many fence-sitters here like you, and too few truly resolute officials like Provincial Governor Nie Yao! If the officials of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures were all like the steadfast Provincial Governor Nie Yao!”

“Starting today, with This Prince here! This Prince will retreat no more! And as for you, every single one of you, This Prince looks down on you all! You are all currently bearing guilt for your crimes. If you perform well, This Prince will allow you to atone through service and spare your lives! If you perform poorly, This Prince will still have you executed!”

“In short, one sentence! If an official does not govern for the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!”

Xiao Ce rose from his seat, reprimanding them sharply.

Xiao Ce’s words, each and every one, struck right at their hearts, and they couldn’t help but lower their heads.

Wasn’t what Xiao Ce said true? They searched their own hearts; if they could really have been like Nie Yao, disregarding everything, never giving an inch.

Perhaps the situation would be different now!

When Nie Yao was in power, those Noble Clans truly had to behave themselves and dared not be so presumptuous.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce turned to look at Nie Bing. “Miss Nie Bing, tell these ministers This Prince’s three-year plan! To achieve this goal, relying on This Prince alone fighting desperately is not enough.”

Nie Bing nodded. “This Prince plans that within three years, the common people will have permanent homes, clothes to cover their bodies, and food to fill their stomachs. He also wants them to have surplus money every year and meat with every meal!”

Everyone listened to Nie Bing’s words and instinctively looked up at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce said to the crowd, “Does that sound impossible? This Prince swears to you here, if in three years, This Prince fails to achieve this! This Prince will end his own life before the people! This Prince dares to stake his life, do you dare?”

“Prince, since you dare to say this. This subject is also willing to fight desperately for you!”

“That’s right, Prince! This subject is also willing to follow you and fight desperately…”

Nie Bing looked at the expressions of everyone in the hall and still felt great admiration for Xiao Ce in her heart.

His ability to stir emotions was truly top-notch.

“Good! From now on, matters of city management, This Prince fully entrusts to This Prince’s Princess Consort, Yin Pan’er, daughter of Chancellor Yin, and also fully entrusts to Miss Nie Bing, daughter of Provincial Governor Nie Yao. Next, let them guide you in carrying out the work.”

Xiao Ce gave a glance to Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing.

The two women were somewhat surprised.

“Just follow the procedures in the book I gave you. Currently, the top priority is to let the Bonded People in the nine cities know that This Prince has arrived! They will not go hungry anymore.”

“Next is to settle those Disaster Victims! Implementing land reform, these tasks must all proceed simultaneously. I need to see results as soon as possible!”

Xiao Ce gave brief instructions, and Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing nodded.

Nie Bing cupped her hands and asked, “Then, Prince, what about the appointment of officials here…”

Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, “You manage internal affairs, I manage external affairs. You have full responsibility! Just have them come see me after decisions are made, so This Prince can get to know them!”

Nie Bing cupped her hands in agreement.

Xiao Ce saw Xiao Jiu waiting at the entrance with a group of merchants.

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing, “First, take them to discuss how to proceed with the matters I mentioned.”

The two women cupped their hands and left.

Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, “Arrange for a few people from the Twelve Fiends to follow them for protection.”

Da Lei nodded.

After the group left, Xiao Ce said to Xiao Jiu, “Bring them in.”

Xiao Jiu led a group of merchants inside.

Once these merchants entered, they didn’t even bother with formal greetings.

They all spoke to Xiao Ce, “Prince, I want to add to what I wrote in my letter to you, there were omissions…”

“That’s right, Prince, the letters we wrote to you also had omissions. We also want to confess!”

“Prince, we are absolutely loyal to you!”

Seeing how these people entered the hall, prostrating themselves on the ground, trembling.

It was clear that Xiao Jiu had already taken those officials slated for execution to scare them.

That was indeed the case. Earlier, when those people were being escorted out, under Xiao Ce’s prior instruction, they specifically took a detour past the Rites Hall.

Watching those officials sentenced to the Death Penalty wailing and begging the Noble Clans for help and rescue.

However, just as Xiao Ce had said, those Noble Clans couldn’t even protect themselves.

The merchants who heard this were terrified.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said to them, “Do you want to die, or do you want to live?”

These merchants all knelt on the ground. “Prince, we want to live! We aren’t actually that close with those Noble Clans… We, like Shopkeeper Zhang Yunqing, were also forced… But in our hearts, we want what’s best for the Xiao Kingdom!”

“Prince, ever since you arrived, we wanted to support you! Prince, we heard you provided relief to many Disaster Victims. As part of the Northern Desert, we are also willing to contribute! We want to live!”

“That’s right, Prince, just say the word. Even if it costs us our entire fortunes, we are willing! We want to live!”

…

These merchants were much smarter.

And they also had plenty of courage.

After listening to everyone, Xiao Ce said with a smile, “Alright! Esteemed merchant friends, I have seen your sincerity and attitude! This Prince has always been someone who, when others give me an inch, I return a foot! Your words have moved This Prince greatly!”

“However, you can also set your hearts at ease. This Prince is different from Bao An and those other Family Heads of the Noble Clans; I will not seize your belongings! What you give me, This Prince cannot take. Just like, Shopkeeper Zhang Yunqing offered me several million dan of provisions, that was his entire fortune, could I take it? I would accept, but I would also purchase it at a price slightly above his cost!”

“Calling you here today has no other meaning. This Prince discussed with Shopkeeper Zhang Yunqing, do you know why you merchants have no status? It’s because you only know how to suppress each other, scheme internally, and engage in vicious competition!”

“Reading your letters, This Prince felt that to make you stronger, you need to unite as one. This Prince wants to establish a Northern Desert Merchant Association, we should form a cluster. Then set the association’s rules! We’ll make money together and face difficulties together!”

“Those willing, raise your hands and join!”

After Xiao Ce’s words were spoken, the people present began whispering among themselves.

A chubby merchant spoke up, “Prince, then who will be the President of this association?”

Xiao Ce said, “The honorary President will temporarily be held by This Prince. The executive President will rotate yearly. Changed through internal voting, and with This Prince’s agreement! The first executive President will be Zhang Yunqing. Of course, This Prince assures you, the capable shall hold the position!”

Seeing everyone still hesitating, Xiao Ce said with a smile, “You don’t need to worry too much! This Prince is not the kind of person who is rigid and unreasonable! Whether you join or not is entirely voluntary!”

Before anyone could get a second word in, Xiao Ce stood up and said, “Of course, there’s also a saying: Those who are not of our kind surely have different hearts. This Prince has told you he will take you all to make great fortunes. If you are unwilling even now, This Prince has reason to suspect you are not one of us! Since you are not one of us, off with your heads.”

The expressions of the crowd, which had just relaxed, instantly turned pale!

“We’ll join! Prince, we’ll join… we’ll join…”

“That’s right, Prince, I’ll join too…”

…

Xiao Ce watched as it passed unanimously, everyone very eager to join, and nodded with satisfaction. “That’s more like it. This Prince enjoys seeing everyone united. Zhang Yunqing, go register everyone and have them stamp their fingerprints!”

Zhang Yunqing, who had been listening nearby, couldn’t help but twitch his face. He didn’t dare delay and went to handle the registration.