The Prodigal Son of the Empire

Xinfeng County is not far from Yangzhou City, but the county is very poor because it is mostly hilly and the land is poor. It is also the same, which makes Wang Kang even more surprised.

"Iron ore was discovered in Xinfeng County!"

At this moment, Wang Dingchang said.

"Where is Xinfeng County?"

Wang Kang asked anxiously, praying in his heart, but it must not be the location Liu Shan told him!

According to what Liu Shan said, the location he knows has a huge stock, if it is known now, then nothing will be lost...

Chapter 1 Eleven: Fiefdom Controversy

Wang Dingchang looked at Wang Kang in astonishment, not understanding why he asked this question first, but he still said, "It's in a small village in Xinfeng County."

After hearing this, Wang Kang breathed a sigh of relief. Liu Shan told him that the location of the iron mine was the village he was in before, but it had already been wiped out by a mountain torrent...

Now it is a barren mountain, so it can be confirmed that the iron ore discovered so far is not the location that Liu Shan told him.

Wang Kang thought for a while and asked again: "But even if you find iron ore, it's not worth it for your big men to go! And what about the supervisor? Have you returned to Beijing?"

"Why isn't it worth it?"

Wang Dingchang looked at Wang Kang and said, "It goes without saying that iron ore is precious, but our country of Zhao happens to be short of resources in this area, and most of the mines are still in the hands of those old nobles."

"This makes the imperial court restricted in this regard, and the sudden discovery of iron ore will naturally attract attention!"

Wang Dingchang said again: "We have been mining iron ore for so long, and it has been transported back to the Ministry of Industry."

"Is it over? So fast?" Wang Kang asked in surprise.

"Yes!" Wang Dingchang nodded, "This time it is really urgent. A large number of farmers have been requisitioned, and the garrison of Yangzhou City has also been transferred..."

"Actually, it's also understandable. The old monarch was very happy and left a mess. Emperor Zhao tried to improve the situation, but he didn't have any goods in his hand. With iron ore, he could make iron, make weapons and farm tools. These are all inseparable from iron. .”

"Then you never thought about continuing to explore? Maybe you might find iron ore again." Wang Kang asked again.

"Of course it will, but Xinfeng County is full of mountains, and the Ministry of Industry has no good solution. This will take time." Wang Dingchang said.

"And it happened at this time that Emperor Zhao proposed to give me Xinfeng County as a fief."

Hearing this, Wang Kang was also surprised. His father had been granted the title of Earl for two years, so it stands to reason that he should have had a fief long ago.

But every time Zhao Huang raised it, he would be rejected. No matter in the local area or in the court, the veteran nobles are very powerful.

They also naturally knew that Wang Dingchang was the knife launched by Zhao Huang to deal with them, so they naturally did not want the Earl's Mansion to grow stronger.

The real meaning of nobility is not a title, but a fiefdom, which is one's own territory and has great autonomy.

And with the fiefdom, the private army can be expanded, which is the greatest significance.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Huang proposed to give Xinfeng County to his father as a fief. Xinfeng County is very poor, but it may contain iron ore.

This meaning is completely different, presumably will suffer greater obstruction.

"Since Zhao Huang wants to use me as a knife, he naturally wants to improve my strength, otherwise, what if I will be wiped out before I wait?"

Wang Dingchang said again: "The inspector came to Yangzhou this time to find a reason for my fiefdom, but Zhao Huanggang raised it, and it was not surprising that he was opposed!"

As he said that, Wang Dingchang laughed at himself, "Even Zhang Ao, Governor Xuanping of our Xishan Province, handed over the memorial! Why does Xinfeng County have rare iron mines, which should be managed by the local government, and absolutely cannot be given to nobles as fiefdoms!"

"The court is in chaos. Because of this fiefdom issue, a small county town that was originally poor has become a hot spot, and all parties want to intervene!"

Wang Kang felt awe-inspiring when he heard this, it seemed that the situation was indeed not optimistic, the majestic king of a country could not even preside over a feudal matter.

No wonder Emperor Zhao wanted to crack down on the veteran nobles.

As if seeing what Wang Kang was thinking, Wang Dingchang said again: "Compared to before, it is actually very good now. When Zhao Huanggang succeeded to the throne, the local warlords divided the regime, and the government orders were blocked! You always have to eat at one bite."

"It's not an easy task to cut the feudal clan and remove the nobles. If the pressure is light, it will have no effect. If the pressure is heavy, it may rebel against other countries. This kind of thing is not unheard of."

Wang Kang understood, and asked again: "Is there any result now?"

"Emperor Zhao took a tough attitude this time, intending to take this opportunity to wrestle with the veteran nobles. After endless arguments, Li Jitong, the inspector, proposed a compromise solution!"

"What way?" Wang Kang asked.

Wang Dingchang said: "Competition!"

"What is the competition?" Wang Kang was even more surprised.

"It's up to our earl's mansion to compete with the governor's mansion!" Seeing Wang Kang's doubts, Wang Dingchang explained.

"Dong Yiwu competed with us on behalf of the old aristocratic forces behind him, which turned a big conflict into a small problem. In the end, Zhao Huang agreed."

"Because this is still fair, whoever wins or loses has nothing to say!"

Wang Kang was a little speechless. How could a feudal dispute end up like this, but this is the best way.

Wang Dingchang said again: "The competition is divided into three competitions, namely literature, martial arts, and painting. The literary competition is about strategy theory. The martial arts is a martial arts competition with one person from each side. The painting refers to the painting."

"I can understand civil and martial arts, but what the hell is it compared to painting?" Wang Kang asked in amazement.

"It was proposed by Dong Yiwu's side." Wang Dingchang sneered, "There is a young and talented man under the prefect Luo Chuannan who is called Little Painter, and that's what they came up with."

"Then how are the winners and losers of the competition determined? Two wins out of three?" Wang Kang asked again.

Wang Dingchang shook his head.

"No?" Wang Kang was stunned. This competition was outrageous enough, could it be more outrageous?

"This is what I am most dissatisfied with. This competition stipulates that our Earl's Mansion must win three rounds. Only when we win all three rounds can we win!"

"What?" Wang Kang suddenly stood up and said angrily, "How can there be such a rule!"

"Sit down!" Wang Dingchang sighed and said, "I know it's hard for you to accept it, and so am I, but the situation is just like this!"

"Emperor Zhao also agrees?" Wang Kang asked suspiciously.

"He has no way to disagree. The governors of the two provinces jointly signed the letter. The pressure on Zhao Huang is no less than ours!" Wang Dingchang said helplessly.

"This competition is no longer a simple feudal battle, but a real confrontation between Zhao Huang and the old nobles, which is of extraordinary significance!"

"As Zhao Huang's side, this is the first time we have confronted him, and it is also extremely important for us."

Wang Dingchang said in a deep voice: "Even if it is for land, we have to compete. Xinfeng County may still have iron mines. Even if it does not, even if the mountains do not grow forests and the land does not grow grass, it is still a fief! "

"Emperor Zhao won this for us. The opportunity is rare, so we must do our best. I already have someone for the martial arts test."