Sheng Fu

Chapter 1118 For the grand ambition made in youth
The aroma of tea lingers, yet its flavor grows ever deeper.

Seeing that Fu Cheng remained silent for a long time, Ouyang Peng gradually became uneasy.

Ouyang Peng was genuinely afraid that after the new policy was implemented, he would give all the landlords and powerful families a good dressing down.

With the North-South talks just around the corner, if the Ouyang family cannot secure the support of the Northern King now, they may gradually collapse under the erosion of various policies.

“If Your Highness grants this request, my Ouyang family will have a token of our loyalty. We hope Your Highness will accept this small token of our appreciation.” Ouyang Peng meekly took out a stack of gold notes from his sleeve.

Even the smallest share was ten thousand taels of gold.

At first glance, it was worth no less than 500,000 taels of gold.

This shows a lot of sincerity.

Upon seeing this, Fu Cheng quickly put down his teacup, grabbed the stack of gold notes, and stuffed them into Ouyang Peng's collar. He said anxiously, "Uncle, what are you doing? Do you think I, Fu Cheng, am the kind of person who's greedy for money?"

"Uncle, please don't make me feel so bad."

Fu Cheng sighed inwardly. It's good to have power. It's so easy to make money. No wonder so many scholars are scrambling to get an official position in the imperial court.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Ouyang Peng's forehead as he looked at Fu Cheng with a pitiful expression...

Fu Cheng then softened his tone and said earnestly, "Uncle, you don't know, the new policy is a new policy, but it is not about equalizing wealth. What are you thinking, Uncle?"

"I don't usually interact with my uncle, and his sudden arrival today, along with the recounting of such an important matter, caught me off guard."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Peng's heart immediately relaxed, but soon it jumped back into his throat, and he cautiously asked, "If it's not equalizing wealth, then what is it?"

Seeing this, Fu Cheng found it amusing.

The patriarch of the Ouyang family was truly terrified by the demise of the Ji family in the north. He must have thought that if top-tier aristocratic families could be wiped out in an instant, then his second-rate family was even more insignificant.

"The new policy is about equality for all, with everyone having a chance. There are no slaves, no lowly servants, and no corrupt officials. Even aristocratic families have it tough. For example, your Ouyang family's wealth was built up through the hard work of your ancestors over generations. If the new policy could wipe out all the hard work of your Ouyang family's ancestors in an instant, what would be the point of the new policy?"

"The implementation of the new policy will not shake the foundation of your Ouyang family."

"But in the future, if the children of the Ouyang family want to enter officialdom, they must have real talent and learning. It will be impossible to get an official position by using connections."

"All the glorious eras do not belong to the nobles alone, but also to the common people."

"We can't just let ordinary people work themselves to the bone all day long without ever enjoying a good life. The new policy aims to ensure that ordinary people are respected and have enough to eat and wear."

"Now that you put it that way, Uncle should understand."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Peng breathed a sigh of relief and remarked, "So the new policy was for equality, not to plunder the powerful clans."

"I feel relieved now."

Looking at Ouyang Peng's relieved expression, Fu Cheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "Uncle must have thought that after the Ji family in the North was destroyed and all their assets were looted, your Ouyang family would suffer the same fate after the new policy was implemented."

"But the Ji family in the north has secretly amassed 100,000 troops, and has also obtained a large number of Holy Spirit Stones from who knows where to construct a killing field. Holy Spirit Stones are such heaven-defying objects that even the Demon Lord was severely injured in Nanwang City by the Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Shattering Array constructed with Holy Spirit Stones. The field in the Purple Qi Mountains is clearly a killing move aimed at His Majesty the Human Emperor."

"All signs indicate that the Ji family in the north was plotting a rebellion, which is why the Ji family was destroyed. Your Ouyang family is innocent and law-abiding, how could you possibly suffer such an undeserved disaster?"

"It's not my fault, Uncle. As the King of the North, I also feel a deep sense of helplessness when facing the Ji family. It was a behemoth that I could never shake in my entire life. Its sudden collapse and demise was truly shocking."

With Fu Cheng's patient guidance, Ouyang Peng's anxieties gradually subsided.

Fu Cheng continued, “Young people in your family may become officials in the future. After all, aristocratic families have accumulated a deep foundation of knowledge and scholarship that is incomparable to those from humble backgrounds. However, if any young people in your family are involved in corruption, bribery, or unfair law enforcement, they will be dealt with according to the law.”

"The era when nobles could decide the life and death of a poor man with just a few words is over."

"All people should be born equal. Why should some people be born superior?"

Ouyang Peng felt enlightened and stood up, bowing deeply. He said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. With your words, I am completely relieved. If Your Highness ever needs my help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Fu Cheng smiled calmly and said, "There is indeed something I need your help with right now."

Seeing that there was a chance, Ouyang Peng quickly stepped forward and humbly replied, "Your Highness, please speak. As long as it is within my power, I will not hesitate to do it."

Fu Cheng smiled knowingly and said, "Your Ouyang family has a deep foundation, and I imagine you have many servants and maids. Give them their freedom and grant them land. If those servants and maids are willing to stay in the Ouyang family, they will receive a monthly salary and their status as lowly people will be abolished. This is an ironclad rule in the new policy."

"Uncle can set an example and be a role model."

Ouyang Peng had thought it was something serious, but upon hearing that it was just a small matter, he flattered him, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, when I return, I will make proper arrangements for all the servants in my household. I will also give the able-bodied young servants a sum of money so that they can get married and build houses."

"However, this move may provoke dissatisfaction from other noble families. I hope Your Highness can offer some protection in that case."

Fu Cheng laughed heartily, “That’s easy. When you leave, you can take one of the Northern King’s royal flags with you and place it in your mansion. Once the other noble families see my royal flag, they naturally won’t make things difficult for you.”

Ouyang Peng nodded and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

The Northern King's Banner was once nothing more than a decoration or a joke in the eyes of powerful families. But now, the Northern King's Banner carries a heavier weight in their eyes, and they dare not easily desecrate it.

“In that case, I will return home to handle these matters. Thank you for your guidance today, Your Highness,” Ouyang Peng said, bowing deeply.

Fu Cheng smiled and said, "Uncle, please take care. I'm busy with official duties here, so I won't see you off." Ouyang Peng bowed repeatedly and stepped back, humbly replying, "Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness..."

After Ouyang Peng left, Fu Cheng immediately leaned back lazily in his chair, lost in thought, and murmured, "Making money is so easy..."

"I wonder how much benefit His Highness the Prince of the South has received so far?"

……

As night fell, Helian Xiong arrived outside the Northern Prince's Mansion.

When the steward Wang Yue came out to greet him, he was also quite surprised and subconsciously bowed deeply to Helian Xiong, saying, "Greetings, Second Master."

Helian Xiong smiled and said, "No need. You are no longer the same steward you used to be. Is His Highness the Northern King inside?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat. This was the first time his second master had spoken to him in such a tone, and he was somewhat unaccustomed to it. However, in Wang Yue's heart, his second master was also a remarkable figure.

“Yes, Second Master, please follow me,” Wang Yue said humbly.

Seeing this, Helian Xiong joked, "Aren't you going inside to inform them?"

Wang Yue frowned slightly, then replied tactfully, "I have to inform His Highness the Northern King whenever anyone comes, but if Second Master comes, I can take him directly to the most secluded corridor to meet His Highness the Northern King."

"Now that the Northern Prince's mansion has many retainers, I suppose the Second Master would not like to be disturbed."

Helian Xiong was not afraid of the strange looks from the others in the Northern Prince's Mansion.

But upon closer reflection, it was clear that tonight's events needed to be kept secret, as the whispers among the Northern King's retainers might disturb Helian Xiong's peace of mind.

"Okay, thank you for your trouble," Helian Xiong said gently.

"Second Master, there's no need for that. It's my duty," Wang Yue replied humbly.

Wang Yue led Helian Xiong through the gate of the Northern Prince's Mansion. After wandering around several small paths, they arrived at this quiet corridor. The scenery was the same as before, but people's state of mind was no longer the same.

Unbeknownst to them, Wang Yue led Helian Xiong to the outside of Fu Cheng's study.

"Your Highness, the Second Master has come to visit," Wang Yue said softly to Fu Cheng inside from the doorway.

In the study, Fu Cheng was reviewing the official documents that Jiang Ping had organized. Upon hearing this sound, Fu Cheng instantly teleported to the door and personally opened it for He Lianxiong.

"Second Uncle is here." Fu Cheng smiled gently at Helian Xiong.

Helian Xiong was slightly surprised to see this. He thought that Fu Cheng was now aloof towards him, but he didn't expect him to be as warm and familiar as ever.

Wang Yue tactfully withdrew. Without needing Fu Cheng's special instructions, as long as the Second Master was still in the study, Wang Yue would not allow anyone to approach the study.

Fu Cheng took Helian Xiong's hand and led him into the study, personally serving him tea and water.

"Why is that? You should know very well why I'm here and why you're treating me with such courtesy. During the time you've been implementing your new policies, the Helian family has been standing by and watching without ever serving you," Helian Xiong asked, looking bewildered.

Fu Cheng's actions left Helian Xiong completely baffled.

Seeing his second uncle's strange appearance, Fu Cheng chuckled and said, "To be honest, Qingyi and I had already discussed it beforehand. We planned to eliminate the Helian family first so that I could fight alone. At that time, we were afraid that the Helian family would be targeted by other aristocratic families, so we had no choice but to resort to this strategy."

"Qingyi kept her mouth shut and never told her second uncle about this."

Upon hearing this, Helian Xiong was stunned on the spot, and slapped his thigh hard, saying, "So that's how it is. When did you two become so cunning and scheming?"

Fu Cheng laughed and said, "Second Uncle, calm down."

"Tomorrow morning, simply raise the Northern King's Banner inside the Helian family's residence."

"As for the foundation of the Helian family, it will not be shaken because of the upcoming implementation of the new policy."

"The only change is that it will be much more difficult for the sons of powerful families to easily obtain an official position in the future."

"And abolish the status of the lowly. After you return, Second Uncle, remember to dismiss all the servants and maids who are dependent on the Helian family, as well as the tenant farmers in the distance, and give them land and some silver, and restore their freedom."

In short, do not make things difficult for poor people.

"These past few days, I've been busy organizing the official documents from the North-South talks, so I haven't been able to come home to catch up with you all. By the way, I want to tell Qingyi that everything is fine here, so she doesn't need to worry about me."

Helian Xiong scratched his head, let out a long sigh, and said, "I see."

"I just don't understand why you insist on supporting the new policy?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Cheng smiled nonchalantly and said, "For the grand ambition I made in my youth."

Helian Xiong looked into Fu Cheng's clear and bright eyes and remained silent for a long time. He knew that some things could not be corrupted, such as faith.

Youthful aspirations always have a time to take flight, and I never expected it to happen right now.

"Sigh, I understand," Helian Xiong sighed, his heart filled with complex emotions.

Fu Cheng smiled brightly and said, "I am still the same as before, and you are still my second uncle. Everything is as it was before."