After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 746 - 736 Alimony

Fu Zhi’s heart suddenly sank. He looked sharply at Fu Tinghan and asked, "Who do you think could replace the Jin Dynasty as the exemplar of the world?"

He thought Fu Tinghan would say Zhao Hanzhang or himself, but he didn’t expect him to shake his head and say, "I don’t know who, but it’s definitely not the Jin Dynasty."

Fu Zhi squinted, "What do you mean? Do you not have faith in Zhao Hanzhang?"

Fu Tinghan smiled at Fu Zhi and said, "It’s not about lacking faith, but the world is unpredictable, and on the battlefield, the sword and spear have no eyes. No one can ensure their survival to the end. Hanzhang and I believe that after gaining power, we can benefit the people more and stabilize the world better, yet the trend of the world is not something we can dictate."

He continued, "We are just doing our best to steer things in the direction we desire, but whether it ends up as we wish, there’s always a part that depends on luck."

"Hanzhang is always full of confidence, but I’m not," Fu Tinghan said, "The world is vast, with so many capable individuals, even ordinary people have their own thoughts. I don’t know if we will achieve our desires in the end, but if we have tried, there are no regrets."

"As for the world, anyone could act on behalf of Heaven, except the Jin Dynasty," seeing the shock in his grandfather’s eyes, Fu Tinghan did not hide his thoughts, "The Sima family took the wrong path from the start. Jin is crooked from its roots. How can it last?"

"Grandfather, if you’re loyal only to the Jin Dynasty, then we have no need to continue this conversation; different paths don’t work together. If you’re thinking of the people of the world, then consider more the people of Chang’an. Focus on the present, value the people more, and lightly regard the ruler. Conform to the great trend, for when the Great Jin is meant to fall, it will surely fall."

Fu Zhi clutched his chest and fell back, his breathing becoming rapid.

Fu Tinghan hurriedly kneeled and supported him, "Grandfather..."

Fu Zhi grasped his arm tightly, staring at him and asked, "Do you mean to say that Zhao Hanzhang intends to raise an army to destroy the Jin Dynasty?"

"Of course not," Fu Tinghan quickly replied, "Hanzhang would not do such a rebellious act."

Fu Zhi said irritably, "If she doesn’t act against the dynasty, how do you intend to take over the world?"

Fu Tinghan said, "Jin will eventually fall."

Fu Zhi was about to get angry when he thought of something and squinted at him, "Are you planning to use a borrowed knife to kill? Whose knife? Xiongnu Liu Yuan? Wang Jun? Gou Xi? Has Gou Xi also harbored rebellious thoughts?"

Fu Tinghan did not know; who can be certain of the future?

"Grandfather, Jin does not win the hearts of the people, nor the hearts of the aristocratic families. Why do you think they can stabilize the world and regain power?"

Fu Zhi fell silent.

The Sima family indeed did not win the people’s hearts. Since Emperor Hui, wars have erupted intermittently, and the Han people of the Central Plains have been ravaged by the Xiongnu time and again, while also bearing the heavy taxes and labor demands of the court.

People living lives worse than dogs, how could they possibly like the current government?

Not to mention the aristocratic families, Emperor Wu used dishonorable means to ascend the throne, and at that time, many people criticized him. However, the Sima family’s oppressive policies, coupled with their benefits to the aristocracy, and the vigorous promotion of the Nine-Rank Merit System, calmed the disputes.

Yet there are still many aristocrats who disdain the Jin Dynasty from the bottom of their hearts.

Such a government has lost the hearts of the people at the grassroots level, half of the middle, and quite a few at the top. How long can a government that has lost the people’s hearts persist?

Only loyal and righteous individuals like Fu Zhi and Zhao Song still think about loyalty to the emperor and ending as one.

It’s not that they are wrong, for "the way" does not distinguish right from wrong.

Fu Tinghan does not agree with the path they chose but respects them.

Fu Zhi was deeply shocked tonight.

Zhao Hanzhang’s secrecy measures were well-executed, and no one knew of Fu Tinghan’s talents except for a few.

Even someone as reckless as Zhao Hu knew to keep his mouth shut, never mentioning the origins of the workshop secrets under Zhao Hanzhang’s name.

Liu Yuan went to great lengths to obtain some vague information, then deduced it was Fu Tinghan.

But Fu Zhi is a gentleman; he would not plant spies in Zhao Hanzhang’s domain or deliberately seek out the secrets of the Zhao Family Army, so naturally, he was unaware of the connections to his own grandson.

Moreover, he had some understanding of his grandson; Fu Zhi never thought he could refine steel or build water mills, so in Fu Zhi’s eyes, Fu Tinghan had been unimpressive.

After following Zhao Hanzhang for nearly four years, his capabilities and reputation were not even comparable to the female officials around her, like Fan Ying, who was more renowned than Fu Tinghan.

He never expected that he had such a "path."

Fu Zhi couldn’t say he was heartbroken or particularly angry anymore; he thought about it but still couldn’t agree with Fu Tinghan from his heart. He also saw that he couldn’t persuade the other, so he simply waved his hand and said, "Enough, different paths don’t work together. You may go."

Fu Tinghan didn’t move, reaching out to support him, "Grandfather, even though we have different paths, we are still grandfather and grandson. You can’t just send me away because our understandings and beliefs differ, can you?"

Fu Zhi said, "I just don’t want to see you for the time being. Seeing you blocks my heart. Rest assured, I won’t chase you away. I still hope you fulfill your filial duties."

Fu Tinghan then stood up and left.

Early the next morning, Fu Zhi sought out Fu Tinghan to have him fulfill his filial duties, "By my calculations, you have reached adulthood, correct?"

Fu Tinghan thought seriously and replied, "My birthday is in September; it’s still eight months before reaching adulthood."

"It’s close enough; the new year has passed; we can say you’re twenty now," Fu Zhi said, "You’re already an adult. Your father is not here, so you should fulfill your filial duties in his place."

Fu Tinghan was stunned, asking, "How do I fulfill them?"

Fu Zhi glared at him, annoyed, "How else do you fulfill filial duties? You’ve read poetry and books your whole life, and you still need to ask me how to fulfill filial duties?"

"Naturally, you attend to me and take on labor when needed! Of course, we have different paths. I can’t force you to stay in Chang’an with me," Fu Zhi softened his tone, "So, give money."

Fu Tinghan opened his mouth wide, but Fu Zhi was right; as a grandson, he indeed needs to support his elder.

He occupied someone else’s body, so he naturally needs to fulfill his responsibilities. So, he asked, "How much money do you need?"

Fu Zhi said, "Give me enough for a year at once, one million coins."

Fu Tinghan: ...

He honestly said, "Grandfather, I don’t have that much money."

"Then how much do you have?"

Fu Tinghan thought and uncertainly said, "A hundred thousand coins?"

Fu Zhi took a deep breath and said, "... During the escape back then, I later sent you some cloth and jade pieces, silver ingots, which are worth no less than a hundred thousand coins, right? You’ve been with Hanzhang for years, haven’t you saved some money?"

Fu Tinghan shook his head honestly, "Grandfather, we are also quite poor. Not only do I not have money, Hanzhang doesn’t either." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"It’s one thing for her not to have money, but you’re a man; you’ll need to support a family one day. How can you also have no money?" After finishing, Fu Zhi realized that they were in different camps now, and he couldn’t give him money—absolutely not.

Fu Zhi suppressed the impulse to hand over money, and with a cold face, said, "No money, then take things to offset it. I need money to buy things."

One million coins sounds like a lot, but if converted to silver, it’s a thousand taels. Converted to long spears, it’s two hundred. Converted to glazed, depending on the quality, the most common and popular glazed mirrors would be worth five thousand pieces...

Five thousand glazed mirrors are not actually difficult for Fu Tinghan.

So Fu Tinghan did not directly refuse but ran back to find Zhao Hanzhang.

Fu Zhi saw him needing to consult Zhao Hanzhang even for paying support fees, glared angrily at his departing figure, nearly fuming with smoke from his nose.