Chapter 209: To Destroy a Person, First Make Them Mad

There were three salt fields in Qingzhou Prefecture: Le’an, Shouguang, and Rizhao. Each salt producer was required to hand in eight large loads of salt per year, which amounted to 3,200 jin—nearly 10 jin per day. Some producers couldn’t meet this requirement, while others had surpluses and would often smuggle them out to private salt dealers to avoid inspection. For them, who could only receive worthless paper money as compensation each year, this was their only source of income.

Yet for the salt producers in Shouguang, this main source of income had now been cut off. Ever since the Prince of Shouguang established his palace there, his men would often come around. No matter how well they hid their salt, they couldn’t escape those vicious dogs, and all their hard-earned salt was stolen, leaving them with nothing. Those who could escape gradually moved to other places, while those who stayed were exploited even more, living in conditions worse than death.

One day, four brightly dressed men on four shiny horses entered the Shouguang salt field. Many of the workers there immediately lowered their heads upon seeing them, while a few younger workers showed obvious hatred. Seeing the four men wearing red robes and carrying swords at their waists, one young worker spat on the ground.

“Damn bastards! If we really have no way out, I’ll just stab them to death!”
“Lao De went to the county to file a complaint but still hasn’t returned. Is there really no hope?”
“Uncle, hoping for justice through complaints is just a dream! I heard the Prince of Shouguang nearly beat to death the magistrate of Le’an after he was mysteriously assassinated. Do you really think the county official will stand up for us? In my opinion, we should either flee Shandong or fight to the death—simple as that! Didn’t I tell you? The Buddha is merciful; he said he’d give us a pure Buddhist land…”
“Shut up! Are you trying to die? How dare you say such things!”

The group whispered for a while. When the four men from the palace came back, they hurriedly lowered their heads and pretended to work hard. But this time, they weren’t whipped. The men simply looked around and asked a few questions before wandering off. What was even more surprising was that this time they didn’t search every household for leftover salt or disrupt their work. Instead, they moved quietly, looking more like inspection officials—indeed, officials in high spirits.

After circling around, the four of them rode to a spot by the sea and used their whips to point at the laborers who were working hard. Hu Qi, the leader, glanced around and sighed bitterly, “This is the first time we’ve been sent on a mission for that master, and it already turns out like this. He’s even better at manipulating people than Lord Yuan! But can we really scare King Shouguang just by putting on an act?”
“If we can’t scare him, we still have to try! Tch, didn’t our eldest brother see what happened during our round just now? Is this how people live? It’s worse than living like pigs and dogs! We’ve also gone through hard times—back when we were whipped, who didn’t feel furious? In the heyday of Shouguang Salt Field, seventy to eighty thousand pounds of salt were produced each year. How much is it now? Once all the laborers leave, there’ll be plenty of fun to be had!”
“You’re right. That master has planned everything thoroughly. What’s there to fear?”
The other two nodded in agreement. They checked themselves and then looked at each other’s faces before quickly whipping their horses and starting to walk around the salt field again. When they reached the entrance, one of the horses nearly collided with the late-arriving salt field envoy. Although Hu Qi pulled back the horse in time, the terrified envoy was still knocked to the ground by the gust of wind.
“Four… four gentlemen… Shangguan…”
Seeing that the envoy was wearing only a silk jacket with several patches on it and could hardly speak properly, the tall man couldn’t help but laugh, then snapped, “We’re from the Han King’s Palace. Let me ask you—has the Shouguang King’s Palace sent anyone here to collect salt? Answer honestly!”
Having almost been whipped last time, the salt field envoy deliberately avoided showing up this time. Only when he heard these people seemed more amiable did he reluctantly come, fearing they might blame him for being slow. Unexpectingly, they claimed to be from the Han King’s Palace. Seeing their brand-new and imposing attire, he no longer doubted them, but he stammered and couldn’t speak properly.
After all, King Shouguang was the legitimate son of the Han King. If he said the wrong thing, wouldn’t he suffer the same consequences?
After struggling for a while and seeing the others’ impatience, with two of them even gripping their knives angrily, he quickly replied honestly, “The King of Shouguang did send several groups here to collect salt before. All the remaining salt in the field has already been taken away! The 600 loads of salt for this month were already sent to the Central Salt Transport Bureau. If you gentlemen still want more, I really can’t do anything. Please come back another time…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw the man whip down at him with a whoosh. He immediately closed his eyes, not daring to dodge. Yet, he only heard a sharp whistling sound in his ears and felt no pain. Tremblingly, he opened his eyes and saw that half of his sleeve was gone. A short, fat man beside him was waving his whip and sneering, which made him shrink back in fear once again.

“The Prince of Shouguang is the prince’s son. I never thought such things would happen first! If anyone from the Prince of Shouguang’s mansion comes again, tell them that the prince is already aware of their actions and that they should behave themselves. Last time the prince dealt with them lightly, but if they dare to cause trouble again, they won’t survive his punishment! Also, tell them that the mansion will send people to oversee the salt field in a few days!”

The salt field envoy had only met a few of the Prince of Shouguang’s men before and trembled upon hearing this, nodding repeatedly. It wasn’t until the four men rode away at full speed that he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Even in the cold weather, he felt as if he had just come out of water—his cotton-padded jacket was soaked through, not to mention the terror he felt. By now, he had made up his mind: once he delivered the message, he would definitely quit as the salt field envoy. He couldn’t go on like this or he would die!

That afternoon, several servants from the Prince of Shouguang’s mansion arrived at the Le’an Salt Field on tall horses. Upon learning that people from the Han royal mansion had come in the morning, they exchanged glances and, too panicked to send dogs to chase after any remaining salt, rushed back to report. Zhu Zhanqi, who had been “reflecting on his mistakes,” was furious upon hearing that his father had intervened.

You see, because he had taken it upon himself to deploy the mansion’s guards earlier, Zhu Gaoxu had personally beaten him twenty times and locked him in a woodshed for ten days after Zhang Yue left. Now, dozens of Tiance guards were stationed outside the mansion, treating him like a prisoner.

Faced with such house arrest, Zhu Zhanqi was already seething with anger. Now, after driving away the servants who brought the message, he drove away all the other people as well and violently smashed a blue-and-white vase on the table beside him.

“Want to curse me? Do it. Want to hit me? Do it. Want to lock me up? Do it! Zhu Gaoxu, what do you think of me? My grandfather did the same, and you do the same too! Do you even see me as your grandson, as your son? You punish me for some outsider, ignore my well-being for a salt field—Zhu Gaoxu, don’t think I’m as weak and easy to manipulate as my deceased mother!”

At this moment, only a eunuch with a long face remained by his side. Once Zhu Zhanqi had vented his anger enough, the eunuch bent down to pick up the porcelain shards scattered on the floor, then stepped forward to persuade him, “My lord, perhaps it’s just because someone slandered you in front of the King of Han that he thought of this salt field affair. My lord has always ignored such trivial matters—aren’t the shops and other businesses in Le’an City under the care of the Crown Prince? My lord might as well send someone to ask the Crown Prince for mercy. It’s just a few ten thousand pounds of salt…” Before he could finish speaking, he felt a tremendous force hit his chest, sending him flying. Although there was an uncontrollable metallic taste in his mouth and his chest hurt terribly, he quickly lay flat on the ground, not daring to speak again. Sure enough, in the next moment, wild roars filled the room.

“What Crown Prince? With which eye have you seen him help me! Where was he when my father beat me? Where was he when my father scolded me? Where was he when my father killed my mother? My father himself exploits people relentlessly in the salt field, yet he comes to meddle in my affairs and even tries to cut off my source of income! How much salary do I, as a prince, get per year? How much land do I have? That money isn’t even enough for food! Last time, he beat me twenty times and locked me in the woodshed for ten days—who cared when I was almost frozen to death or died of pain? Now he wants to ruin me again!”

Just then, another voice came from outside, “My lord, the Crown Prince has sent someone here, saying it’s by order of the King of Han that you deliver the salt you obtained earlier to the King of Han’s palace!”

“Damn your lies!”

Zhu Zhanqi was already on the verge of exploding, and now he finally lost complete control of his anger. Years of neglect and indifference, the fear and panic after his mother’s death, his elder brother’s contempt, his brothers’ coldness—all of it combined plunged him into an unprecedented state of frenzy and rage. He walked to the door, flung it open, and slapped the little eunuch hard before ordering sternly, “Since it’s my father’s wish, then have someone deliver it!”

After seeing the little eunuch stagger away, he showed a cruel smile. After slamming the door shut, he ripped off the pouch given to him by Crown Prince Zhu ZhanZhu ZhanZhu Zhan Tan -> Zhu ZhanZhu Zhan Tan during a past dispute and threw it on the ground. As if that wasn’t enough, he stepped on it several times. Then, still fuming, he sat down in the grand chair behind the desk, picked up a sheet of rice paper, dipped his brush in thick ink, and began to write.

As his pen moved swiftly, he didn’t bother to consider the tone or phrasing, focusing instead on writing continuously. Only at the end did he sign his name, then quickly pressed down the prince’s heavy seal beside it. Looking at the dark ink and the bright red seal, he couldn’t help but laugh coldly, his face filled with triumph.
Zhu Gaoxu, don’t think just because you’re a prince you can do whatever you want! Zhu Zhantan, if you lose Zhu Gaoxu’s protection, you’re nothing! This is all because of you!