Yu Huixuan glared at Yu Wen. “You can say things like that only to me. If you said them outside, not only could I not protect you, I might even lose my position—or my head.”
Seeing that Yu Wen still looked resentful and unconvinced, he sighed. “The Sheng family of Ze'a Commandery was a true aristocratic clan. Do you know what became of them?”
“They lost not only their land and shops, but even most of their private soldiers and wealth. In the end, they fled to Sizhou with their tails between their legs.”
“Do you know how many minor noble families like ours have been wiped out by the barbarians in Fengzhou, Juanzhou, and other regions? And even those who survived—do you know how they were trampled upon and humiliated?”
Yu Wen’s expression grew solemn. He had heard about what happened to the noble families of Ze’a Commandery.
Yu Huixuan continued, “In times as chaotic as these, simply managing to stay alive is already a blessing.”
“Our Yu family owns so much land that even if we sell it back to the government at a low price, it will still bring us a considerable sum. Combined with our savings, it will be enough to support us for several generations.”
“Besides, the princess has not forbidden us from doing business. We are still ahead of most people. We have merely lost the profits from land.”
As he spoke, he let out a weary sigh and closed his eyes. His body and mind both felt utterly exhausted.
He had held the position of county registrar for more than a decade. This was the first time he had faced so many reforms and such radically different ways of doing things, and as an “old hand,” he was struggling to keep up.
Fortunately, given Daqing’s unusual circumstances, officials would not be replaced in large numbers anytime soon. He still had time to learn and improve.
Remembering what he had seen during his inspection of Fengzhou a few days earlier, his feelings grew complicated. It was a world unlike any he had ever seen—a world that truly placed the people first.
Every emperor throughout history had claimed to put the people first, but almost none had actually done so.
Yet Princess Jinyang had!
Every policy she introduced was moving toward that goal, including reclaiming the land held by noble families, because land was the foundation of the people’s livelihood.
It was precisely because he had seen this clearly that he had urged his family to follow the new policies from the very beginning.
Yu Huixuan opened his eyes again. They were clear and resolute. “Whenever there is something I can do to help the family, I will do so.”
“But I have worked through countless possible scenarios, and all of them end badly for us. The only way out is to follow the orders from above.”
He looked at Yu Wen. “Princess Jinyang is different from every other person in power. She truly built everything from nothing and relied on no faction.”
“Likewise, no faction can restrain her. She has no need to compromise with anyone—not even the noble families.”
Yu Wen gritted his teeth. “Doesn’t she need our support? We have land and grain. We can fund her military expenses and supply provisions for her army.”
Yu Huixuan laughed. “Ten thousand mu of land in your hands can produce, at best, around a hundred and fifty thousand shi of grain in a good year.”
“The same ten thousand mu in her hands can produce one million two hundred thousand shi. Do you really think she needs your support?”
Yu Wen stared at him, mouth hanging open, unable to find an answer.
“As for military funding…” Yu Huixuan looked at him. “If she has grain, will she have any trouble getting money?”
“Right now, the thing that can truly save lives is grain. Grain is the foundation—not money,” he murmured.
That was also the fundamental reason Princess Jinyang wanted to reclaim the land. The lifeblood of the nation was safest only when it remained under one’s own control.
Yu Wen was still unwilling to accept it. “She’s making enemies of every noble family under heaven!”
Yu Huixuan smiled. “Every noble family under heaven? Noble families and imperial power support one another, but they also restrain one another.”
“That is the usual state of affairs.” His face filled with admiration. “But Princess Jinyang is different.”
“From the moment she rose to power, she never relied on the noble families!”
“That is why she dares to oppose every noble family under heaven.”
Yu Wen was stunned. After a long moment, he asked, “Then wouldn’t it be better for her to kill us?”
Just like the Tang family and the Liu family: not only had their land been confiscated, but their shops, residences, and every bit of their property had been seized as well.
Yu Huixuan sighed. “That is where the princess’s benevolence and clean governance come in.”
Jiang Jin was not afraid to make enemies of the noble families, but neither did she want to earn a reputation for cruelty and bloodshed. Thus, everything was handled according to the law.
Of course, this was Jiang Jin’s law, not the law of the Yan Kingdom!
Having laws to follow and administering justice according to them was the beginning of clear government, as well as the foundation for maintaining it.
That was why the Tang family and the Liu family had both been dealt with only after the evidence against them had been thoroughly investigated.
Yu Huixuan sighed. “Under the princess’s rule, there are laws to follow, the people are treated with benevolence, and the government is just.”
“As a result, a great many merchants, as well as minor noble families like ours, will come to seek refuge under the princess in the future.”
“These people can bring her a steady stream of wealth, labor, and talent from every field.”
He looked at Yu Wen, who was staring at him in stunned silence. “If you had to choose between a ruler who slaughtered indiscriminately and plundered his subjects’ wealth, and a ruler who governed with compassion and according to the law, which one would you choose to follow?”
Yu Wen clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white and fell silent.
Yu Huixuan looked at the tea on the table, which had already gone cold, and spoke in a distant voice.
“That is why the princess did not wipe out every noble family in Daqing. She is giving you a chance, because your crimes were not as extreme as those of the Tang and Liu families. After all, this was how the laws of the Yan Kingdom used to be.”
“If the family still wants to live as it did before, I will not stop you.”
“Sell the land in Denggao County and take the money to Sizhou. Perhaps you can still find a chance to buy some land there.”
“I will not be going with you. I want to remain in Daqing and see how far the princess can go. I want to see what Daqing will become in the future.”
Yu Wen’s lips trembled. After a long while, he said, “What chance of survival would a minor noble family like ours have in Sizhou?”
Luo Qingci was somewhat disappointed by Yu Wen’s arrival.
Evidence against the Yu family was already being gathered. Although the Yu family was not as vicious as the Tang and Liu families, they too had blood on their hands.
In fact, almost no powerful family was free of bloodshed.
To these noble and influential families, the lives of their servants simply did not count as lives.
Even the laws of the Yan Kingdom stipulated that masters could beat or kill servants who had signed contracts of servitude, within certain limits. After all, servants were considered their private property.
If every crime were truly accounted for, every noble family would deserve execution.
Therefore, as long as their actions had not been too excessive and they cooperated, the authorities would turn a blind eye and let the matter pass. From then on, they would simply be expected to follow the new regulations.
Yu Wen adopted a humble manner. “Apart from the land we have donated, my family is willing to sell all the rest to the government.”
Luo Qingci smiled. “You have made a wise choice.”
As if she had thought of something, she added, “The Song family of Pingrong County donated funds to build Pingrong County Academy. Would the Yu family consider donating funds to build an academy in Denggao County?”
The Song family was a minor noble family from Pingrong County.
Yu Wen’s heart tightened. He immediately understood that the Song family had made the same choice he had, only earlier.
Recalling the expression on Luo Qingci’s face just moments ago, he broke out in a cold sweat.
He secretly congratulated himself. Fortunately, he had not come too late. Otherwise, he might truly have met the same fate as the Tang and Liu families.
He steadied himself and asked hesitantly, “Donate to build an academy?”
