Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2301: The First Faction to Surrender

Apart from overlooking such matters, Taotao and Zhao Shu continued to live comfortably in the clan.

One noticeable change was that no one dared to broach the subject of finding Zhao Shu a concubine anymore, which relieved Taotao considerably.

On the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan received unexpected guests. Yuezheng Xiao arrived with the Deputy Prefect of Yuzhang Province.

Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan were both surprised and pleased by their visit.

Due to his official position, Shao Yunduan had not openly maintained contact with the Yuezheng Family. However, Yuezheng Xiao had secretly been supplying Shao Yunduan with provisions, keeping their connection alive.

This time, Yuezheng Xiao came accompanied by the Deputy Prefect of Yuzhang Province. Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan had already surmised their purpose. They were both intrigued and gratified.

The following day, during the reception banquet, Deputy Prefect of Yuzhang conveyed gratitude to Shao Yunduan on behalf of the Yuzhang’s Prefect. Simultaneously, he presented a letter penned by the Yuzhang Prefect, offering Yuzhang Province to Shao Yunduan and seeking his acceptance.

Shao Yunduan was both exhilarated and bewildered upon hearing Deputy Prefect Yuzhang’s proposal.

It marked the first instance of a local faction voluntarily submitting to him.

Shao Yunduan accepted the offer graciously.

In private, he queried Yuezheng Xiao to verify the sincerity of Yuzhang’s surrender, and he was convinced that it was genuine.

County Magistrate of Yuzhang found himself in a predicament.

In reality, according to the Second Prince’s strategy from the previous year, he had intended to bring both Huaixi and Yuzhang under his authority. However, Sun Pu’s arrival in Huaixi to recruit Shao Yunduan had sparked a conflict that forced Shao Yunduan to defend himself against the Second Prince.

This, combined with ongoing conflicts with the Fourth Prince, had diverted his attention from Yuzhang Province.

Now that the Third Prince’s influence was waning and Shao Yunduan had secured Jiangning and Hangzhou, it was likely the Second Prince would turn his attention to Yuzhang.

County Magistrate of Yuzhang lacked the means to challenge the Second Prince directly. If an envoy arrived with an imperial decree from the Second Prince, he would have little choice but to comply.

However, he had no confidence in either the Second Prince or the Fourth Prince.

The methods these three princes used in their struggle for the throne were too despicable. None of them had won the hearts of the people and had almost tarnished the dignity of the Great Qin Empire. They did not have the ability to make the world submit to them.

If Sun Pu could treat Shao Yunduan so poorly, what would the Sun family do to him? County Magistrate of Yuzhang was conflicted and did not dare to take the risk.

If this gamble was wrong, it would be a disaster.

Shao Yunduan, on the other hand, had become much more powerful and his morale was very high. As a neighbor, County Magistrate of Yuzhang had witnessed Shao Yunduan’s rise firsthand.

With this momentum, Shao Yunduan seemed even more promising than the Second and Fourth Princes.

Since it was a gamble, he decided to bet on the one he was more optimistic about.

After discussing with the Deputy Prefect and a few of his trusted aides, County Magistrate of Yuzhang finally made up his mind.

He had to decide his allegiance before the Second Prince’s imperial decree arrived, or it would become very troublesome. Knowing that the Yuezheng family was close to Shao Yunduan, he immediately asked Yuezheng Xiao to come over after the New Year.