Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  "What does the Crown Prince think?" Even Cao Cao's face turned cold, although he could be lenient with Liu Feng due to his youth and ignorance. But if he wanted his life, that was a different matter altogether.

  "Doesn't Cao Qing know that apologizing requires a gift?"

  Liu Feng was very calm and smiled as he said.

  "An apology?" Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, truly unexpected.

  "Yes. The ministers' loss of etiquette is punishable by a year and a half's salary, which is reasonable. But this is also too unfair to me, shouldn't they apologize and make amends?"

  "It just so happens that I've heard that sleeping on a bed made of gold is particularly comfortable, but it's also a bit embarrassing to be broke. Luckily, today I can solve both problems at once."

  Liu Feng's question was natural.

  At this point, all the ministers understood that Liu Feng was not seeking Cao Cao's life, but was asking for wealth.

  This made everyone's heart both unexpected and surprising. The unexpected thing was that Liu Feng only sought wealth, and the surprise was also that Liu Feng only sought wealth. For the sake of money, he openly competed with Cao Cao in front of everyone, making it clear that he wanted money but not his life.

  It seems like it has some of the style of Emperor Xiaoling of Northern Wei.

  Many people were disappointed, many lost their smiles, and many shook their heads.

  "It should be." Cao Cao was also very surprised and annoyed at Liu Feng's recklessness, but on the other hand, Cao Cao had no way out.

  Are you still going to refuse? Looking at Liu Feng's temperament, he is indeed arrogant and willful. The crown prince actually extorted money from the officials. This is not being arrogant and willful what is.

  If he had refused bluntly, it would have been even more ridiculous. This was not what Cao Cao wanted to see, so in the end, Cao Cao also gritted his teeth and nodded.

  "Alright, since the Minister of Works has agreed. Then please trouble the Grand Treasurer to calculate how much gold is needed to build a bed for me to sleep on and have it shared among all the ministers. I believe that with the wealth and nobility of all the ministers present, you won't mind this small amount of gold, right?" Liu Feng said with a smile.

  "Cough."

  Seeing Liu Feng say more and more nonsense, Liu Xie's face turned a bit red, he coughed once, and told Liu Feng to shut up.

  "Huh, is it too cold or is Father Emperor ill?" Liu Feng asked in surprise, turning his head to look at Liu Xie.

  "Enough!" Liu Xie finally couldn't bear it and scolded.

  Liu Feng this time obediently didn't speak again.

  The father and son's performance can be said to be quite tacit. They deceived many people, hung their heads in shame, and felt a little ashamed of how their nephew turned out to be such an absurd person.

  Cao Cao shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.

  Liu Bei was a bit unexpected, and Zhang Fei and Guan Yu behind him looked at Liu Feng as if they were looking at a monster.

  As for others, they have already completely regarded Liu Feng as a spoiled and pampered young master.

  But what surprised them even more was yet to come.

  "Then trouble Wu Ai-qing to calculate for the various ministers after the hunt is over. According to their ranks, take out compensation and apologize to the Crown Prince."

  Liu Xie, who had just rebuked Liu Feng with a single sentence, suddenly spoke up at the end.

  It really made countless people's eyes widen in surprise.

  "Ministry led." One of the nine officials in charge, an economic official, Da Simin, surname Wu, name Min. He was a small old man with a very strict appearance, and he didn't dare to believe it, so after being stunned for a long time, he finally took orders.

  "Uh-huh."

  Liu Xie nodded in satisfaction.

  "Right, there's something else." Liu Feng suddenly said.

  The hearts of all the ministers trembled, and they truly felt a little frightened, fearing that this crown prince would make another scene.

  "I've heard that in the past, hunting was just a formality with some symbolic rewards. The rewards were too low, so it wasn't lively at all. I thought to myself, 'with great rewards, there must be brave men.' If the rewards are generous, the ministers will definitely risk their lives. So, I came up with a plan." Liu Feng said, then smiled and raised his head, saying: "This time, during the hunting process, the most excellent ones will be enfeoffed as Marquises of the Imperial Domain, with a fief of 500 households. The second and third places will each be enfeoffed as Viscounts within the Pass. I wonder what Father Emperor thinks?"

  As he spoke, Liu Feng turned his head and looked at Liu Xie.

  "Hiss."

  Indeed, one wave subsides and another rises. Many officials took a cold breath, even Liu Bei and Cao Cao were the same. Earlier, Liu Feng showed all officials what it means to be greedy for wealth. This time, he demonstrated unparalleled extravagance.

  It can be said that a wave of decadent air emanated from Liu Feng's body.

  Marquis of a subordinate state, with 500 households. Even considering the devaluation of noble titles due to the sale of offices and ranks, having a marquis title with 500 households is still very precious today.

  Some generals have spent their whole lives fighting wars but still may not be able to win a noble title.

  But Liu Feng's opening offer was a marquis title, which came with two additional baronies within the passes. This wasn't being generous, it was being reckless.

  Some people took a cold breath at the same time, and some capable generals' eyes began to shine with a eager-to-try expression.

  A marquis with a fief of 500 households is already quite an attractive prospect.

  "Your Highness, these five hundred households are too heavy a burden." After a brief silence, Xun Yu spoke up.

  He knew that Liu Feng was not a person who shot without a reason, and he also knew that Liu Feng did things with purpose in every step, and had intentions behind every sentence.

  Because of weakness, and yet to contend with the almost invincible Cao Cao. It must be so, time and again to fight for one's own interests, time and again to consolidate one's own power.

  All this is what Crown Prince Liu Feng, as a weakling, has to do.

  Even Xun Yu himself was influenced by Liu Feng. Liu Feng told him to prioritize his own safety for the time being, and he naturally obeyed.

  In order to protect myself, I must not lose my composure. Since I must not lose my composure, I have to speak out and stop Liu Feng's absurd behavior.

  Xun Yu was loyal and upright by nature.

  "The Grand Secretary, as a scholar, speaks too lightly. Now the great Han is in chaos, many vassals are double-hearted, and rebellions are endless. It's exactly when we need fierce generals. This hunt isn't for showing off martial prowess? I'll take this opportunity to tell the world that as long as one dares to kill and fight, serving the imperial court will be rewarded heavily. Not just 500 households, even if it were 1,000, I wouldn't think it's too much." Liu Feng shook his head and said.

  This sentence is a profound and wise saying with distinct rhythms. It has the same ingenuity as the anecdote of Yan Wang buying the skeleton of a thousand-li horse to recruit talents.

  Xun Yu, as the Minister of Works, was also speechless. He opened his mouth, and in his heart he was extremely shocked. It's really unpredictable that Liu Feng would suddenly become arrogant and overbearing due to his favoritism, showing extreme ignorance and tyranny.

  Suddenly wise and discerning, great wisdom appears foolish. Rising and falling, don't know what to do.

  The officials also had such doubts, Liu Feng sometimes appeared to be confused and sometimes made clear decisions. But gradually, it seemed that Liu Feng was a bit disorganized.

  The feeling of saying something that doesn't match what comes next.

  "Your Highness is right." Cao Cao said finally. That's true, Liu Feng's words are very reasonable. Cao Cao couldn't refute it either.

  "Now that Xi Kong has agreed, shouldn't we also show some sincerity?" Liu Feng said with a smile to Cao Cao. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and it was Xiang Zhuang dancing with his sword, aiming at the Duke of Pei.