What could be done? Shao Deng Yun had only one daughter and one son from his principal wife, but two sons from his concubine. A confrontation between them was inevitable.
To whom would Shao Deng Yun ultimately pass his mantle? Which of his children would he favor?
He knew his son well. Who understands a son better than his own father? Should anything happen to Shao Deng Yun, the concubine and her sons would surely clash with his legitimate daughter and eldest son. Yet, the concubine's sons were certainly no match for the eldest.
For this reason, Shao Deng Yun regretted having taken that concubine. Now, troubles had arisen because of it.
Shao Ping Bo approached, bowing as he greeted his father:
"Father!"
Shao Deng Yun, still with his back turned, replied:
"That trip to the capital was a difficult one this time."
Shao Ping Bo: "The capital gazes covetously upon Beizhou. Someone obstructed us. Fortunately, I exerted all my efforts to resolve those matters. The relief supplies should be transported across the river in a few days. I have already made arrangements for their distribution."
Shao Deng Yun: "Even natural disasters have befallen us. Heaven is punishing me."
Shao Ping Bo: "Father is too harsh on himself. No one can foresee natural disasters. The waters are already receding, and the affected areas can be cleared soon. We need to gather all the refugees and unite our efforts to clean the damaged places and blocked canals. Then, within half a year, we can restore our strength."
Shao Deng Yun: "Good. I grant permission!"
Shao Ping Bo clasped his hands and continued:
"This time, the floods exposed the weaknesses in our irrigation system. Your son proposes dispatching people in all directions to devise a plan for water management. They should construct and renovate the irrigation system, create reservoirs and canals to regulate the waters. So that next time floods occur, we can timely mitigate the disaster's effects. In the next flood, we can even create swamps and lakes more effectively. And once all these engineering works are complete, our Beizhou will be transformed within a few years!"
Shao Deng Yun: "Easy to say. Such works will require enormous expenses, finances, and human resources. Where will we acquire all of that?"
Shao Ping Bo: "If we start work everywhere at once, it will naturally be extremely difficult. We wouldn't be able to manage it. But if we proceed with reconstruction step by step, first selecting fertile lands, then we can make progress. We need to encourage wealthy households to gather laborers and begin reconstruction. And those who complete the work will receive these lands as a reward. This way, we will avoid unnecessary expenditures. We can even attract wealthy households from other regions. If we grant them permission to cultivate the land, they will themselves begin to tend to it. They will grow grain, and all of it will be sold in Beizhou.
Shao Deng Yun gripped the railing with both hands and said to him:
"And you thought that this way, you would leave the common folk with no choice? How could ordinary people be worthy rivals to wealthy families? It would mean that wealthy families would seize the lands of common folk."
Shao Ping Bo: "It's a complex measure. Some sacrifices will inevitably have to be made. These common folk, they only care about themselves, each one. It's unlikely they will think only of their homes and their own gain. And there are many like that. You can't achieve great works with loose sand. Therefore, people are needed to organize all of this. Wealthy families will provide everything for the lands if they see a benefit for themselves. They will quickly bring the lands into order and begin to cultivate them, yielding good harvests. By utilizing resources from other regions and human labor, we can gradually improve our region's granaries.
"Once all these works are completed, we will have even more grain. We will be able to supply grain in all directions, and then more and more people will come to us. In this troubled era, where everyone around us starves, we will have enough food and land to cultivate. Naturally, people will flock to us from all sides, and then our population will increase. Our population will grow. Commerce will also increase. Human resources will also replenish our military resources. Within a few years, Beizhou will become a wealthy region, and our Shao family will be the foundation of this region!"
"Of course, to begin, we must break out of this deadlock. We must resolve the current difficult issues."
Shao Deng Yun: "First, you must examine this matter in more detail."
"Understood!" Shao Ping Bo agreed. He took a sheet of paper from his sleeve and presented it to his father with both hands:
"Father!"
Shao Deng Yun turned his head and slowly faced him. He took the sheet, looked at it, and read:
"Prince of Beizhou, Prince of Beizhou... I've read this. Who wrote this?"
"Niu You Dao! When I was returning from the capital, I met with him..." Shao Ping Bo briefly recounted the incident to his father.
Shao Deng Yun, twisting the sheet of paper, said: "Cruel. He wants to sow discord between father and son."
Shao Ping Bo: "Father is wise."
"If you were to gain Beizhou, how do you intend to resolve the matter with your brothers and stepmother?" Shao Deng Yun suddenly asked.
Shao Ping Bo was taken aback. He stared intently at his father. He certainly knew what his father was asking, but he dared not answer.
His father had risen from a humble pawn to a general, and now he even commanded his own region and army. Though Shao Deng Yun seemed unrefined, the majority of the army's command staff were loyal to him. No one would betray him. And whomever the majority of the army supported, Dachang Mountain would also support.
"Father frightens your son with these words," Shao Ping Bo replied.
Shao Deng Yun held the sheet of paper in his hands: "I know what you're worried about. Rest assured. This minor issue cannot stand between us. Today, I will tell you clearly. You are my eldest son, and no matter how capable anyone else is, you will still inherit everything. A petty schemer will not come between father and son. I will support you even more strongly, so that they have no doubts about you. Do what needs to be done. There's no need to fear."
"Thank you for your trust, Father," Shao Ping Bo replied honestly.
Shao Deng Yun: "But I want to know, what will you do with your brothers and stepmother?"
Shao Ping Bo: "Stepmother is also my mother, and Wu Bo and Fu Bo are also my brothers. Of course..."
But Shao Deng Yun interrupted him, his tone rising: "I didn't ask what's on your mind. Don't play games with me. It won't work!"
Silence descended. Shao Ping Bo didn't know how to respond. It seemed his father had probed something out.
Yang Shuang, standing to the side, was even afraid to breathe. He hadn't expected Shao Deng Yun to suddenly bring up this topic. Feeling awkward, he quietly began to retreat.
Shao Deng Yun glanced at him askance:
"Did I tell you to leave? "
Yang Shuang froze, bowed his head, and halted.
What could Shao Ping Bo say? He remained silent for a while, then replied:
"When Father tied the knot with Stepmother, she then became my mother and the brothers appeared..."
"I told you, speak the truth!" Shao Deng Yun interrupted him again.
Shao Ping Bo didn't know what to say before his powerful father.
"What do you want me to say? If I speak well, you won't believe it. If I speak poorly, you won't accept it?"
"Ah!" Shao Deng Yun sighed:
"Promise me that you will give them a means to live!"
When he said this, Shao Ping Bo understood. His father wanted him to speak candidly.
Shao Ping Bo mustered his courage and said:
"Does Father wish for the truth? Then I shall speak it!"
"Some obstacles must be resolved without delay. Otherwise, someone will begin to stir up trouble, and that benefits no one. It will bring no advantage to anyone! I will strip them of their power and arrange for them to live a peaceful, wealthy life somewhere else."
"I hope these are true words!" Shao Deng Yun nodded, then, after a brief silence, waved a helpless hand:
"Go, attend to your affairs."
Descending from the tower, Shao Ping Bo entered the management hall.
Everyone present immediately stood and greeted him:
"Eldest Young Master!"
Wu Bo and Fu Bo also greeted him politely: "Brother!"
"How is Stepmother?" Shao Ping Bo asked indifferently.
Wu Bo replied: "Well!"
"You all attend to your duties. I will go visit her!" Shao Ping Bo said, then exited.
He reached the inner courtyard and instructed the servants to announce his arrival.
Not long after, a woman personally came out to meet him. It was none other than Shao Ping Bo's stepmother, Ruan Shi. She smiled and said:
"The Eldest Young Master has arrived."
"Greetings, Stepmother!" Shao Ping Bo said respectfully. "Is Stepmother well?"
"Very well! It's been a long time. I heard you just returned from the capital? Are you tired?" Ruan Shi extended her hand, inviting him in:
"Come inside, let's sit."
Shao Ping Bo accepted her invitation. He was slightly wary. He was not yet married, but Ruan Shi had ordered Shao Ping Bo to reside separately. In truth, she didn't want him lingering near his father.
Ruan Shi ordered a bowl of broth to be brought to him:
"I just prepared this."
"No need. I'm full." In truth, Shao Ping Bo was wary of her. When had she ever been so welcoming to him? He waved his hand, dismissing it all.
Ruan Shi smiled:
"Eldest Son, you are already over thirty years old. You are no longer a child; even your hopeless brothers already have children. You should also find someone for yourself. How about I introduce you to a young lady from a noble family?"
"Very well!" Shao Ping Bo agreed and changed the subject:
"Stepmother, Liu Er... that girl shouldn't be indulged. You should let her out less often."
Ruan Shi smiled and said: "I'm not indulging her at all. She merely goes to study Shi Ci Ge Fu. Is that a bad thing?"
Shao Ping Bo said sternly:
"Stepmother, I came to you for a serious talk. I have only one younger sister. Therefore, it would be best if nothing happened to her. I promised my mother I would take care of her. If anything were to happen to her, the lives of my brothers would be in my hands. I have matters to attend to, I shall take my leave!" Having said this, he clasped his hands, turned around, and departed.