Chapter 36: Popular Support

"The one on the horse is His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan. I have seen him."

"What a suave man. The lives of the people of Yan County will be in his hands from now on."

"Heroes emerge from youth. The Prince of Yan is so young that he can overthrow the Huang and Du families. He is truly a great man."

"..."

In the East Market, the small execution ground was surrounded by so many people that even flies could not squeeze in.

After the relatives of the Huang and Du families were taken to the execution ground, Liu Fu reported to Zhao Xu and suggested that Zhao Xu show up.

After all, this is a good opportunity to increase the status of the Prince of Yan's Mansion in the hearts of the people of Yan County.

However, Xu Lie objected.

The execution ground was in chaos. He was worried that someone with ulterior motives would hide among the people and harm the Prince of Yan.

The two had a quarrel over this.

But in the end, Zhao Xu decided to show up.

In a chaotic world, what does it look like to be cowardly?

In the long run, he will only be despised by others.

"Your Highness, sit here."

When Zhao Xu arrived, Liu Fu led him to the main seat, and Xu Lie led the guards to be on guard.

Zhao Xu did not sit down immediately, but stood in front of the main seat. He said: "Fellow villagers of Yan County, the Huang and Du families have been causing trouble in Yan County for many years. Now they have raised troops to rebel. They are simply unforgivable. Today, I will hand them over to you for trial and denounce their crimes."

When an elder said this, the people outside the execution ground immediately felt warm in their hearts.

The nobles of Yan County have never treated them as human beings.

How could the King of Yan be so kind.

At that moment, the eyes of the people were moved and moist.

In the past, they only faced desperate suffering.

Knowing that no one in Yan County could uphold justice for them.

But now it is different, the King of Yan has appeared.

Now it is their turn to judge the nobles, which is something they could never dream of.

In this incredible atmosphere, the execution ground was silent.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhao Xu.

"What's wrong? Don't you believe it?" The sudden silence surprised Zhao Xu.

"Your Highness, I'll go first."

As Zhao Xu finished speaking, an old man with ragged clothes, white hair, and a cane came forward tremblingly.

"I am a worthless person, and I am not afraid of the revenge of the nobles." The old man smiled brightly and pointed to a Huang family member on the execution platform.

"Huang Ren, do you remember that six years ago, you robbed my daughter as a concubine, and my poor wife went to the government office to seek justice, but you bribed the government, framed my wife for extortion, and tortured her to death." The old man cried sadly.

The people were moved when they heard this.

Someone who knew the old man echoed and shouted: "This is absolutely true."

Zhao Xu looked at the place where the old man pointed out, and a fat Huang family member was trembling with fear.

"Go and invite the old man's daughter." Liu Fu called a soldier.

The wives and concubines of the wealthy families who were not Huang and Du were detained elsewhere.

The soldier went there for a while and then returned with a woman.

When she saw the old man, the woman immediately threw herself into his arms and cried.

The people all looked at him sideways.

"Come on, take Huang Ren out and behead him!" Zhao Xu ordered.

This was the first case, and he had to make a good start so that the people could be bold.

"Spare my life, spare my life..." Huang Ren was so scared that he had no strength to beg for mercy.

A swordsman came behind him, the knife flashed, and a head rolled to the ground.

"Good!" Someone among the people shouted.

Then the cheers spread among the people like boiling water.

The atmosphere became heated, and a citizen rushed forward, pointing at a child of the Du family and said, "You can recognize me, but my brother was beaten to death by you."

After him, a group of people rushed forward, pointing at the children of the Huang and Du families on the execution platform, the hatred in their eyes seemed to be ready to burst out at any time, and they shouted and cursed loudly.

The crowd was immediately indignant.

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction and said to Liu Fu, "The rest is up to you."

Liu Fu bowed, stepped down from the execution platform, and wrote down the grievances of the people one by one.

Punish the people immediately according to their accusations.

In one day, more than 600 Huang and Du family members were beheaded, more than 1,000 were sent to prison, and 2,000 to 3,000 were demoted to slavery.

The setting sun cast its afterglow, and the people outside the execution ground were reluctant to leave.

They were extremely excited.

Not only because they had relieved their hatred, but also because the King of Yan was like a beam of light in the dark night, allowing them to see the dawn.

"From now on, if the people of Yan County have grievances, they can all go to the gate of the king's palace to beat the drum to appeal for justice. This king will set up a pair of drums for appealing for justice in front of the palace."

In the expectant eyes of the people, Zhao Xu gave the people another dose of reassurance.

"Your Highness is truly a righteous man."

"With Your Highness, the people of Yan County have a way to live."

"Woo woo... Your Highness..."

"..."

As if they had agreed on it, the people knelt down.

They had no silver, no treasures, and could only express their gratitude with their knees.

"No need to be polite, no need to be polite."

So many people knelt down to him, he really didn't dare to accept it.

Clearing his throat, he continued: "The land of the Du and Huang families has been confiscated, and the original indentures of the two tenants have been invalidated from now on, and will be re-executed according to the contract of the palace."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The people in the crowd who planted the land of the Huang and Du families were trembling with excitement.

Zhao Xu continued: "The palace will continue to lease the excess land on a first-come, first-served basis, and from today on, the people of Yan County can reclaim land at the designated place by the government, with a limit of six mu per household. The reclaimed land is exempt from taxes for three years, and will be executed according to the contract of the palace after three years."

Although the land of the two families was confiscated, the land in Yan County was still scarce.

He had to find a way to increase the land in Yan County.

And in order to prevent these lands from being lost to the wealthy families.

He still implemented the policy that the land belonged to the palace.

As for the five-year tax exemption, one was a reward for the people who reclaimed the land, and the other was to keep the wealth in the hands of the people.

"Three years of tax exemption." The people were immediately excited.

The wealthy families in Yan County wanted to plunder the last grain of rice in their homes, but the King of Yan was actually letting them live a good life.

Comparing the past and the present, the position of the King of Yan in their hearts was even more unshakable.

Night gradually fell.

Xu Lie's expression became more and more solemn, and he said: "Your Highness, it's time to go back. It's hard to guard against hidden arrows at night."

Zhao Xu nodded and said to the people: "Everyone go back. In a few days, the government office will issue a decree. I hope you folks will follow the order."

"Farewell, Your Highness."

"Your Highness, go back."

"..."

The people shouted eagerly.

Zhao Xu bowed to the people and went to the palace under Xu Lie's guard.

Tonight.

Yan County was destined to be sleepless.

The people scattered, those in the city returned home, those outside the city left the city, and also returned home.

When they returned home, they told their neighbors about today's joy and what the King of Yan said.

The people who did not enter the city to watch the execution slapped their thighs in hatred, regretting that they missed it.

But they could still feel the hope from the mouths of the people who told them.

For the first time, they felt that the night did not seem so terrible.

Because the light will eventually come.

But unlike the eagerness of the people, the wealthy families in Yan County were frightened.

The miserable situation of the Huang and Du families was a nightmare for them.

They knew very well that the days when the three families of Zhang, Huang and Du and they were rampant in Yan County were over.

Under the rule of the King of Yan, they had to keep their tails between their legs.

Even the three families of Dong, Yang and Lu felt sympathetic.

That night, they told their clansmen not to violate the laws of Dasong.

Otherwise, they would be immediately sent to the government.

Zhang family.

Zhang Kang listened to Zhang Yue's story, and his face became more and more ugly.

"Not simple, not simple, he can come up with such a method, I'm afraid he will really become a big variable in Yanzhou."

Looking at the night outside the window, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

Zhang Yue nodded, thinking of something, he said respectfully: "By the way, County Governor, we have found out how the night attack on the palace was leaked..."

After listening to Zhang Yue's words, Zhang Kang was shocked.