Chapter one hundred and eighty-nine
Under the intimidating gaze of King Pengcheng, Fu Wei calmly took out a scroll from his sleeve.
"Before listening, please allow King Pengcheng to review Yuzhang's sincerity."
As he spoke, he handed over the scroll in his hand.
King Pengcheng watched quietly for a moment before reaching out to take it, untying the string and unfolding the scroll, which contained about seven or eight pages of paper.
Before reading the content, he looked up at Fu Wei.
Heng Ji had a general understanding of the people who had come to Pengcheng to send visiting cards these days. Furthermore, the man before him was a well-known figure in Wuling, Lingnan, and Yuzhang, so it was hard for him not to know him.
And his wife, everyone in the place was amazed at the couple.
Looking at Fu Wei, Heng Ji said calmly: "I am an ordinary person."
Fu Wei's expression was slightly tense, this was something he had never thought of.
If you think about it carefully, it's obvious. King Pengcheng was a slave since childhood, so how could he have had the opportunity to learn to read?
After Heng Ji finished speaking, he looked outside and asked, "Is General Li back?"
Someone outside answered and asked him to go and call him.
Heng Ji withdrew his gaze without asking what was written on it.
About half a minute later, General Li knocked on the door and entered. Heng Ji handed him the paper and said, "Look, what's written on it?"
General Li knew that his lord had probably decided on Longxi. He took the paper and glanced at it, but his eyes were not serious.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of the wind outside and the crackling of the charcoal fire in the fire pit.
Prince Pengcheng looked indifferently at General Li's lack of interest, a clue forming in his mind. But a moment later, General Li, who had been perfunctorily trying to explain things, suddenly seemed to react and retrieve the first page from the back.
The more he looked, the more solemn his expression became.
Seeing this, Heng Ji became more interested in the content above.
The content was short, so General Li quickly finished reading it. After a moment's pause, he looked at his lord and explained, "Establish slave laws and build private schools. Children from poor families and even those of low birthrights can attend. Change the hereditary system of the aristocracy and powerful, or the policy of holding official positions. Select the virtuous and capable through imperial examinations, and recruit as many talented people as possible."
"Official roads will be opened in all regions. Citizens will be able to own private land and trade it. Tax items will be reduced and clarified, and no additional tax items will be added at will."
Heng Ji listened and looked at Fu Wei with an unclear look in his eyes.
After a long time, he said, "Is this the sincerity of your Yuzhang?"
Fu Wei responded, "This is only part of it. There are many more things that need to be gradually improved. Also, after the great event is completed, Pengcheng will only need to pay a portion of the taxes and can govern itself. The court will not interfere, but the number of troops must not exceed 100,000."
"If King Pengcheng is interested, we can sign a contract."
Heng Ji didn't answer him, but patted the gray wolf's head and said, "Go down to sleep."
I don’t know if the gray wolf understood or not, but he did move. He opened his eyes, walked down from the low couch, walked to the side of the fire pit and lay down, staring at Fu Wei with burning eyes.
After Gray Wolf left, Heng Ji also stood up and took back a few pages of paper from General Li. He glanced at them and asked Fu Wei, "Was it you who proposed this, or was it Master Zhou of Yuzhang who proposed this?"
Fu Wei said, "We received news from Yuzhang yesterday. Sect Leader Zhou agreed."
Hearing this, Heng Ji raised his eyebrows: "So, your Sect Master Zhou may not be able to do it, right?"
Fu Wei's eyes glared, and he replied, "Master Zhou can do it, but General Zhou can do it more perfectly and thoroughly."
Heng Ji was slightly puzzled: "General Zhou Lang?"
General Li explained, "The second son of the Zhou family."
Hearing this, Heng Ji recalled how Fu Wei had introduced himself when he came in. General Zhou, his master, Zhou Yi.
As if understanding Fu Wei's intention, Heng Ji said calmly, "So, you not only want to form an alliance with Pengcheng, but also want to help your master form an alliance with me, right?"
Fu Wei said, "To win over Pengcheng, all the regions have offered gold, silver, and treasures, and have also agreed to allow Pengcheng to govern itself, but no one has proposed changing the bad habits and shortcomings of the old Liang Dynasty. Yuzhang can make promises, and so can General Zhou Lang."
Heng Ji glanced at General Li, then at Fu Wei, and said in a deep voice, "Why would Yuzhang think I would ally with them just because of these few thin pages of paper?"
Fu Wei: "I feel that the King of Pengcheng is a man of character. From what I saw when I entered the city just now, although the people have been affected by the war, they still have hope in their eyes. I feel that the Zhou family leader and the general both want peace and prosperity for the country."
Heng Ji: "Everyone can say nice things, but not everyone can do what they say."
But after a pause, he continued, "Let your clan leader sign a contract with me, but first send a copy of the deed to me. If I am satisfied, I will go to Yuzhang, and the alliance will be finalized."
Fu Wei was slightly surprised that Prince Pengcheng had made such a quick decision. General Li was even more astonished and hurriedly tried to stop him, "My lord, isn't this a bit hasty?"
King Pengcheng looked at Fu Wei with a determined look in his eyes: "No matter what, I will choose a side to ally with today. Whether it is hasty or not, it is all about what I like."
Fu Wei smiled and bowed, "From now on, I hope King Pengcheng will give me more guidance."
"I can't say I'm giving you any advice, but there's one thing I want to say: if you can't do it, don't blame me for breaking the contract."
Fu Wei: "Keep your word."
Heng Ji continued, "The people under the command of Wuling Magistrate Huo are ostensibly here for Wuling, but they're carrying invitations from Yuzhang. It seems like you two groups from Yuzhang aren't getting along."
Fu Wei: "Wuling's surrender to Yuzhang was beyond my expectations. After all, I have an unbreakable feud with the Wuling governor, and we also have a vengeance for the murder of my father. We will only be enemies in this life, not comrades."
Heng Ji raised an eyebrow. "Your Clan Master Zhou, between Wuling and a small staff member like you, chose Wuling. Or rather, he chose the greater good and the Zhou family. Have you ever felt any resentment?"
Fu Wei lowered his eyes slightly and said casually, "I serve the Second Master of the Zhou Family. If General Zhou makes the same choice, then I have not entrusted myself to a good master."
Heng Ji: "If the master you have entrusted your life to is not a good one, what will you do?"
"Having chosen a master, I trust him completely and assist him wholeheartedly, so I never give any thought to future decisions."
Hearing him say this, Heng Ji asked again: "What exactly are you asking for?"
Others may seek fame, fortune, glory and wealth, but after spending some time with Fu Wei, talking to him for so long, and listening to the documents he brought with him, I don't think he would do that.
Many people have asked Fu Wei this question, and Fu Wei's answer has never changed.
"Seeking a safe place to live and avenge my father."
Fu Wei's purpose is as simple as ever.
Heng Ji looked at him quietly for a moment and said, "I thought you would say one last thing: pray for peace in the world, prosperity for the country and safety for the people."
Fu Wei: "This is only the smallest part of my selfish desire. After all, only when the world is at peace, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, can I and my family live a peaceful life."
Hearing the word "family", Heng Ji's eyes faltered for a moment. After a while, the coldness in his voice became less severe, and a trace of leisure was added: "Although family is the weak point of most people, it can also support people to survive."
After saying this, he looked at General Li and said, "Send someone to send the envoy from Longxi back."
General Li initially thought this was hasty, but he also knew his lord's temperament. Once a decision was made, it would not be changed. With a slight nod, he left the room.
There were only two people and one wolf left in the house.
Heng Ji sat on the ground beside Gray Wolf and said to Fu Wei, "Sit down."
Fu Wei lifted his robe and sat down on the floor opposite him. He picked up a pair of tongs and stirred the dying charcoal fire in the fire pit.
Heng Ji said bluntly, "In the future, when your Zhou clan leader enters the palace and becomes emperor, I would not want to interfere in who will be the crown prince. But now that you have produced these pages, it's a different story. Whoever ascends the throne will determine whether the provisions above can be continued."
"If your Zhou family's heir is incapable of great ability, I will naturally not support him. But even if I don't support the Zhou family's heir, I won't necessarily support your master. I will support whoever has talent and who can convince me to some extent."
Fu Wei: "I will tell these words to Lang Jiang truthfully."
Heng Ji continued, "Before you leave, I will prepare three letters, one for the Zhou family patriarch, one for the Zhou prince, and one for your master."
"Also, someone will accompany you to Yuzhang."
…
After hearing what General Li had said, Li Cheng looked towards the courtyard thoughtfully and asked, "The King of Pengcheng has decided to form an alliance with Yuzhang, right?"
General Li nodded: "It's decided."
Li Cheng was in the room just now. Although he was the one who did the lobbying and King Pengcheng said very little, it could be felt that King Pengcheng was interested in Longxi.
But less than half an hour after Fu Wei entered, King Pengcheng changed his mind and decided to form an alliance with Yuzhang.
While it is surprising, people can't help but be curious about what Fu Wei and King Pengcheng agreed to.
Li Cheng smiled helplessly, "I've heard there's a young man in Wuling, one with unparalleled beauty and extraordinary talent. I didn't believe it before, thinking it was exaggerated. But seeing him today, I can see that this young man from Wuling is indeed a man of both talent and beauty."
Li Cheng's expression was cold: "Please leave, Mr. Li."
Li Cheng smiled, did not force it, and turned to leave.
When I arrived, my father told me that we must secure the Pengcheng Alliance. But before I left, he also said that there are always people better than you, and there are many capable people in the world. If I really can't do it, returning safely is the most important thing.
In the end, I disappointed my father.
But it was not without gain. At least today I know who is the biggest rival among these major families.
Wuling is treacherous and cunning, so beware of his tricks.
Shu County is slightly inferior to Longxi.
As for the old Liang Dynasty, it is just struggling to survive and there is nothing to be afraid of.
Besides, the fifth boss looked at the people from Longxi leaving, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
——Is this a success?
Is Fu Wei really that capable?
When the people from Longxi came out just now, there was clearly joy on their faces. They estimated that they had about 70% confidence and were just waiting for Fu Wei to go in and go through the motions.
Fu Wei just went through the motions and actually allowed him to turn the tide?
The fifth boss has never been a curious person, but now he feels like he is being scratched by a cat again and again. He feels itchy in his heart and wants to know what Fu Wei said to make King Pengcheng change his decision.
After waiting for about half an hour, Fu Wei finally came out of the house. The fifth boss's eyes lit up and he hurriedly walked up to him with a questioning look in his eyes - but did it work?
Fu Wei also had a faint smile on his lips and nodded slightly at him: "Leave the city first and wait for news."
Fifth Master: ...
Since it’s done, why wait for news?
Is this really happening?
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