Chapter 161

Chapter 161

As everyone knows, even the strongest fortress will crumble from within.

Han Zhang's scheme of "playing one against the other" successfully widened the rift among Tongpan Yang and the other two.

In the following days, although the three outwardly restored harmony and continued to remain vigilant against Han Zhang, preventing him from seizing power, their relationship had already started to show cracks.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Han Zhang wasted no time and struck again!

This time, the first person he targeted was Tongpan Yang.

It was the dead of night, under the cover of darkness.

Tongpan Yang was sound asleep with his beloved concubine in his arms, completely unaware that a shadowy figure had slipped into the residence like a ghost. A swift blow rendered him unconscious before he was silently whisked away from his warm bed.

Still groggy, he felt something tickle his cheek. Forcing his eyes open, he saw a reed tassel gently swaying near the tip of his nose.

Following the reed stem with his gaze—a familiar face, masked with black cloth and dressed like a bandit, came into focus!

"Ah—Han Qinzhang!! You—you—you! I—I—I..."

Tongpan Yang was scared out of his wits, tongue-tied, his whole body shaking like a leaf. He felt a warm wetness between his legs—he'd pissed himself in fear.

He was arrogant, not stupid.

By now, he fully understood the danger. Han Zhang, this unscrupulous bastard, must have lost the argument and decided to use force, intending to take his life!

Catching the stench of urine in the air, Han Zhang waved his hand in disgust and said irritably:

"Come on, Lord Yang, what are you afraid of? If I wanted you dead, would I have let you wake up? Get up, we need to talk."

"You... what do you want to talk about? Why couldn't you talk to me in the daytime? Why did you have to tie me up and drag me here? Is this how you show good faith in a negotiation?"

Tongpan Yang covered his piss-soaked pants, humiliated and furious, trying to save face with a tough mouth.

Han Zhang let out a mocking laugh and, without wasting words, walked up and slapped him.

"Smack—" The slap left Tongpan Yang completely stunned.

He stared in disbelief and fury: "Han, you dare hit me?!"

"So I hit you. What are you gonna do about it? Can't you see how things stand, Lord Yang?"

"I'm polite to you because that's just how I am, but if you mistake my courtesy for courage, that's you provoking me. Got a problem with me hitting you?"

Han Zhang gave a cold, fake smile as he spoke, then pulled out a dagger and flashed it, an obvious threat.

Tongpan Yang: "..."

A smart man knows when to back down!

Tongpan Yang immediately shrank back and didn't dare act all high and mighty anymore, just glaring at Han Zhang, resentful and wronged, to express his protest.

Han Zhang ignored his resentment. He just brushed the dust off his clothes, put back on his usual mild-mannered act, and said slowly:

"Lord Yang, let's cut the crap. Your boss in the capital is the Fifth Prince, right?"

Tongpan Yang's pupils shrank, and he blurted out: "You... how do you know?!"

That was, of course, thanks to his dear father-in-law's intel.

Han Zhang shrugged and said: "Why so surprised, Lord Yang? Walls have ears, and besides, I used to work for the Crown Prince—is it any surprise I know about you?"

"If you know I work for the Fifth Prince, how dare you treat me like this?"

Tongpan Yang didn't know what he was planning, but not wanting to lose face, he bluffed again.

Han chuckled at this: "The Fifth Prince is far away in the capital, but you, Lord Yang... are now in my hands. Tell me, if I buried you here today, would the Fifth Prince avenge you, or would he... blame you for being useless and just send another dog to take your job as Vice-Prefect?"

Obviously, the latter.

He was just a nobody in the Fifth Prince's camp. If he actually died, the Fifth Prince wouldn't avenge him—he'd probably just call him useless.

Thinking of this, Tongpan Yang couldn't help but look dejected and say: "Fine, just tell me—why did you drag me here? Spit it out, stop messing with me!"

A man can be killed but not humiliated. That Han bastard actually scared him like this—what a jerk.

Seeing that he'd finally cracked.

Han Zhang stopped his intimidation and said seriously: "It's simple. I want to cooperate with you."

"Surely you've heard of my affairs in the capital, Lord Yang. I used to work for the Crown Prince, coming up with plans, busting my ass for him, even making enemies of the noble families for him... As a follower, I believe I did my utmost, gave my all."

"But how did the Crown Prince repay me? Simply because I rejected Chang Gongjun's affections, Chang Gongjun tried to kill my husband, and the Crown Prince not only shielded him but also exiled me from the capital!"

"On the surface, he spared my life and even gave me a fourth-rank official position—who wouldn't call him magnanimous and kind? But the truth is... had I not possessed some ability, I wouldn't have survived to take office in Yunyang Prefecture!"

Han Zhang's tone was agitated, his expression indignant, clearly bitter about the Crown Prince's betrayal.

Tongpan Yang listened with growing unease but dared not show it on his face. He only shrank his neck and probed: "You... you've fallen out with the Crown Prince. Why tell me all this?"

"Why? I served the Crown Prince loyally and achieved great merits, yet in the end, I was exiled from the capital, my life hanging by a thread. Lord Yang, serving the Fifth Prince, do you think you'll live to retire peacefully?"

"Although Yunyang Prefecture is a barren land that the capital pays little attention to, who's to say that one day, if something goes wrong, you won't be thrown out as a scapegoat?"

Tongpan Yang didn't refute, feeling somewhat dejected: "That's just how officialdom is. So what do you suggest?"

"Lord Yang is right—officialdom is just like that. We're merely pawns in our superiors' hands, and that fact won't change."

"But while we can't change our status as pawns, we can become the most important one—so important that those above us can't bear to discard us."

Tongpan Yang perked up his ears: "You mean..."

"I wish to pledge my allegiance to the Fifth Prince!"

Han Zhang let out a long breath and said: "I've been abandoned by the Crown Prince and resented by the noble families. Being alive now doesn't mean I'll stay alive forever. I need a new patron."

"The Fifth Prince is benevolent, bearing the mark of a wise ruler. I'm willing to abandon the darkness and serve him... But back when I worked for the Crown Prince, I offended the Fifth Prince more than once. He probably won't trust me right away."

"So, I want to cooperate with you, Lord Yang. I'll help you govern Yunyang Prefecture into a prosperous land, allowing you to return to the capital with merit. Then, you can introduce me to His Highness. What do you think?"

Tongpan Yang's eyes rolled, his mind working quickly.

Han Zhang's words sounded nice, but there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

He remained wary inwardly but feigned hesitation outwardly: "Lord Han, your words... are quite candid. But how can I trust you? Though you've been abandoned by the Crown Prince, you were once a trusted confidant of the Eastern Palace. If you're feigning loyalty but actually setting a trap to harm the Fifth Prince, wouldn't I be guilty of leading a wolf into the fold?"

"Besides, Yunyang Prefecture has been poor for years, with how many prefects coming and going? Do you really think you can turn this place around just by saying so?"

Han Zhang seemed to have anticipated this question. Calmly, he took an oil-paper package from his bosom and tossed it over, saying, "Take a look at this."

"This is... salt? Fine salt? Such white fine salt!"

Tongpan Yang opened the package in confusion, and his eyes widened in shock.

Han Zhang crossed his arms and said, "I know how to make salt—better quality than the finest on the market, and at a lower cost."

"Yunyang Prefecture is situated by the sea. With my salt-making method, do you think this place can prosper? Is my loyalty to the Fifth Prince real or fake?"

Of course it was real—as real as it gets!

Salt was a lucrative industry in ancient times. Mastering a more advanced salt-making technique was equivalent to holding a "money-printing machine." Who in their right mind would send a guy with skills like that to be a spy?

Tongpan Yang's face flushed red with excitement. His earlier fear was gone, replaced by pure joy:

"Mr. Han... no, Brother Han! Elder Brother Han! Since you're willing to turn over a new leaf, I will surely recommend you to His Highness! I—I'll send a letter to His Highness the moment I get back!"

"No rush. Talk is cheap. Let's get some results first before we report to the Fifth Prince. Otherwise, if word of this gets out, I wouldn't care, but Lord Yang, your future... that's another story."

Han Zhang didn't say more.

Tongpan Yang, having been in officialdom for years, immediately understood the implication.

To keep this from leaking out, they'd have to make Yunyang Prefecture a one-man show.

In other words, they'd have to eliminate Tongzhi Zhou and Secretary Xu, who were keeping them in check!

This was a bit risky.

But how can you get ahead without taking risks?

In life, you either move forward or fall behind!

Besides, if he didn't take this gig, Han Zhang, desperate to find a new backer to stay alive, would probably team up with the other two instead—and then he'd be the one getting killed.

With that in mind, Tongpan Yang gritted his teeth and nodded decisively: "Brother Han, rest assured. I know what to do."

Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents.

Fat Zhou, Secretary Xu—for my own climb up the ladder, I've got to send you both packing!

Han Zhang left satisfied.

Over the following days, he employed the same tactic, "inviting" Tongzhi Zhou and Secretary Xu separately to desolate spots, spinning stories and tempting them with promises.

To Tongzhi Zhou, Han Zhang said, "Lord Zhou, the one backing you is the Seventh Prince, right... The Crown Prince betrayed me, and the Fifth Prince schemed against me behind my back! Only the Seventh Prince is wise and magnanimous, with the look of a true ruler. I wish to serve him with all my loyalty. Please recommend me to him. Let us jointly support a wise ruler and strive for the merit of aiding his ascension—what say you?"

To Secretary Xu, Han Zhang said, "The royal family treats us all as mere pawns, discarding us once we're used... Now I can't return to the capital, nor do I wish to touch that filthy place again."

"Secretary Xu, why don't we join forces—you help me secure my position as prefect, and I'll shield the wealthy clans of Yunyang from the court's eyes. With the emperor far away, we can jointly establish salt fields and rake in mountains of wealth... Wouldn't that be delightful?"

Tongzhi Zhou: ...

Secretary Xu: ...

They were seriously tempted!

They couldn't be blamed—Han Zhang's pitch was just too big, too round, and too tasty to resist!