Chapter Ninety-Four: The Helper Has Arrived

Fu Mingyuan, his kinsman by marriage, was the magistrate of Leping County under Youzhou in the land of Yan. Zhao Yu silently committed the name to memory. He knew nothing of the man yet; if he meant to employ him, he would first have to understand him.

After arranging for Fu Gui, Feng Quan came looking for him again. There was no special matter; he had merely come to take his leave and return to deliver his report.

Looking at the old eunuch who had served him since childhood, Zhao Yu was filled with mixed emotions. It was not that he did not wish to keep Feng Quan by his side, but in the present circumstances, Feng Quan’s presence in the imperial palace at Bianliang would clearly be of greater use.

After loading a whole carriage full of supplies for Feng Quan, Zhao Yu also had Yelv Min dispatch five hundred armored horsemen to escort him on the road.

Not only that, Zhao Yu personally saw Feng Quan as far as the city gate.

The northern land lay locked in ice, snow drifting for a thousand leagues. Once outside Youzhou City, it seemed as though one had entered a world wholly draped in silver.

A brazier had been placed inside the carriage, so the cold could not be felt within.

“Your Highness, go back now. You are out here alone as well, so you must take care of your health. As for the Empress, with me there, I will not let her suffer.”

Though it had only been a few months since they last met, in Feng Quan’s eyes this little prince seemed to have grown much more than before. It was not merely his height; even his bearing had become steadier and more composed, leaving him with an unfamiliar feeling.

Zhao Yu nodded, then took a bundle from the side and said, “These are top-grade fox pelts. Take them to my mother on my behalf, and help me look after her. You will be my greatest benefactor.”

“Your Highness, you speak too gravely. Serving the Empress is this old servant’s duty. As for Your Highness, I heard a rumor back in the capital. Please do not take offense if I mention it.”

Zhao Yu reached out and patted Feng Quan’s shoulder with a smile. “Justice resides in the hearts of men, and time will prove all things. Let others say whatever they like. It is not as though I shall lose a piece of flesh over it. Take care.”

With that, he lightly tapped the carriage wall. When the carriage came to a stop, he opened the door and jumped down, not even giving Feng Quan a chance to speak.

Though Feng Quan had not voiced what he wanted to say, a trace of relief appeared on his face, and then he knelt toward Zhao Yu’s departing figure.

Who in this world has no one speaking behind their back? And who has never spoken of others behind theirs? If someone is maliciously gossiping about you, it only proves that you are better than they are. If one were to brood over such matters every day, nothing else could ever be done.

After returning to the prefectural office, Zhao Yu ordered the clerk to bring him all the official business, both completed and pending, from this period.

Although only three months remained, he had to seize every moment to familiarize himself with administration. He had no desire to become a ceremonial figurehead who knew nothing at all.

In the region of Yanyun, the administrative officers were almost all Han Chinese. There was no helping it; the Khitan were simply not skilled at governing local affairs.

Precisely for that reason, the decree Zhao Yu had issued earlier abolishing slavery had been able to proceed smoothly.

After Yelv Dashi had been pushed aside, Yelv Min became even less knowledgeable about local administration. Fortunately, Zhao Yu told him to promote more minor officials from the lower ranks. These men were familiar with administrative affairs and would also be grateful to Yelv Min.

Yelv Min found Zhao Yu’s words highly persuasive, but since the Governor-General of Youzhou was Zhao Yu, he could hardly overstep his authority. Thus he merely selected a group of clerks. Yet he had overlooked one thing: while these clerks were adept at sorting out official matters, they had no power to decide them. As a result, what the clerk delivered to Zhao Yu was a mountain of unsorted, unprocessed business.

Staring at the pile of documents on the desk, Zhao Yu immediately felt dizzy.

After asking the clerk why so much had been left to accumulate, Zhao Yu felt the urge to give Yelv Min a beating. Was this bastard trying to toy with him?

No, if all this official business had to be handled by himself, then he might as well do nothing at all in the future. And those clerks may well have wanted to see him make a fool of himself. He had to find a way to free himself from this burden.

Just as he was fretting over it, a guard came to report that someone named Xu Jiang was asking to see him outside the prefectural office.

Zhao Yu was slightly startled, then overjoyed. He hastily ordered the guard to bring Xu Jiang in. It would be too affected to go out personally to receive him, and besides, Xu Jiang had once been a high official of Great Song. If he became too ostentatious, he would not be able to help Zhao Yu in the future.

That said, after parting in Jiangnan, Zhao Yu had thought Xu Jiang would never come looking for him again. After all, his own situation was no different from being exiled. Yet Xu Jiang had still come from afar to find him.

Not long after, the dust-covered Xu Jiang was brought in by the guard.

Zhao Yu waved the others away. Only then did he rise, stride around the desk, and say mournfully, “Old Xu, you’ve finally come. Say no more, just get to work first.”

Seeing the mountain of paperwork on the desk, Xu Jiang also smiled. When Zhao Yu had been demoted, his family had still been staying in Zhao Yu’s residence. How could he have gone back without first settling them properly and feel at ease? Yet when he returned, someone told him that Prince Yi had already sent men to escort his family back to their ancestral home in Hebei.

Moved by this, Xu Jiang had spent the New Year with his family in the countryside, then hurried over without delay.

“From now on, you must change your name and take up the post of Chief Secretary of the Prince’s Residence.”

Zhao Yu spoke these words in a very low voice. If he wanted to turn Youzhou into his own domain, he could no longer allow the court in Shangjing to appoint new officials here. He was still the Governor-General of Youzhou, and he still carried the title of Prince of Song, so he naturally retained the right to appoint his own advisers. The office of Chief Secretary was effectively his chief aide, one who could help him handle government affairs and also make decisions on certain matters.

Xu Jiang nodded. “Your Highness, rest assured. I had already thought it through on the way. From this day forth, my name is Xu Chu.”

Zhao Yu was so startled that he nearly jumped. What sort of name was this? Xu Chu? Why not just call yourself Dian Wei?

A name was only a designation; it mattered little what one was called. With Xu Jiang now in his service, Zhao Yu felt as though he had grown wings on a tiger’s back.

“I have heard of the things Your Highness has done,” Xu Jiang said. “I would boldly advise that since you have already done them, you might as well do them thoroughly and exempt the entire Yanyun region from taxes for three years.”

“The idea is not a bad one. I only fear the court in Shangjing will not agree, and if I move too aggressively, it will surely alert the Khitan.”

In truth, Zhao Yu had many methods for winning people’s hearts, but he did not dare use them lightly. Still, Xu Jiang was right: if he wanted the people of Yanyun to truly side with him, he would have to increase the benefits and support he offered.

Xu Jiang smiled faintly. “Your Highness can petition the Khitan emperor directly and say that this policy is merely a means of winning hearts, since Yanyun itself has very little arable land. Then this minister can prepare two sets of account books, one for our own use and another to satisfy the Khitan court.”

It had to be said that the minds of scholars worked well enough; even such deception came effortlessly to his lips.

Zhao Yu smiled and nodded. “A good plan. Still, we must also cultivate a group of men we can trust as soon as possible. After all, we are outsiders here.”

“Your Highness need not worry. When I was at the Department of the Palace Secretariat, that was precisely the sort of thing I specialized in.”

“Good. The Khitan emperor has given me only three months. He says it is for me to find a way to bring my mother back, but in truth he is likely still testing me. So many things must be accelerated.”

Upon hearing that Zhao Yu had only three months, Xu Jiang could not help but frown. He had just arrived, and even becoming familiar with the officials would take time. Then he would have to place his own people. By the time all was said and done, three months was nowhere near enough.

Zhao Yu also knew this was difficult for him, but he had no choice. Just as he was about to say something else, Yelv Huan’s voice came from outside the door.

“Your Highness, Coach Lin is organizing a grand martial contest. The Vice Governor-General has sent me to invite you to come and watch.”