NOVPUB"When Zizhong returns, have him visit my house. I have matters to entrust to him. Of course, if I wait too long, I won’t mind turning to the Zhen Family instead. It seems that Lord Xuande has already felt the goodwill from the Zhen Family," Chen Zichuan said with a smile on his face. Everyone present, including himself, had definitely accepted Mi Zhu’s favors and would surely be notified.
Just look at the situation with Guo Jia, the libertine, to know how much money he needs. You should know that this guy always wants the best. Even though his stipend is high and his rewards are generous, it’s definitely not enough for his expenses. I heard from Fa Zheng that his own stipend was confiscated by Guo Jia.
"Zizhong is still in Yizhou. He told me earlier that he wanted to connect with the Wu Family, saying the Commerce Alliance needs to be strengthened by the addition of powerful merchants, so I wrote him a document to visit the Governor of Yizhou," Lu Su said, looking up. Although he could be considered a minor tycoon himself, he was nothing compared to Mi Zhu, who could fill the National Treasury. Therefore, for such inconsequential matters, Lu Su basically turned a blind eye and approved them.
"Yizhou, huh? Then I’ll wait a bit longer," Chen Zichuan nodded. Speaking of the Wu Family, if Mi Zhu was to discuss the major affairs that would determine the future of the family, he must attend in person and could not simply send a steward to take care of it like an ordinary merchant would. "However, if the new tax law is established and he still hasn’t returned, then too bad for him. Compared to the torrential rain of money from a huge deal, I can only offer it to someone else."
The room fell silent, although there were only a few people around. Earlier, when Chen Zichuan was not in a rage, everyone was drinking tea, eating pastries, munching on fruit, and the drunken ones continued to sprawl on the table. Now, the entire room was quiet, and no one spoke a word. Everyone admired Chen Zichuan’s money-making methods, although he himself did not engage in business.
"Zichuan, it’s better if you elaborate to give us some clarity," Jian Yong, as one of the longest-standing elders, stepped up without hesitation at this point.
"Even though Fenggao’s geographical location is not that great, but after Mi Zhu returns and officially opens business, it shouldn’t be a problem to exceed the entire tax revenue of Nanyang County within a year," said Chen Zichuan, with a touch of pride on his face. After all, he now finally had the qualifications to handle these matters, and some money-making techniques were also backed by powerful martial forces, so he didn’t have to worry about Feudal Lords setting traps for him.
"Sss!" Everyone present took a sharp breath. They all knew what kind of place Nanyang County was. Even before the decline of Eastern Capital Luoyang, the prosperity of Wancheng of Nanyang was enough to draw attention from all over the world. Now, Chen Zichuan dared to declare that a single city could surpass Nanyang, which would require an unprecedented level of prosperity.
"That’s basically it, so there’s a lot of profit involved. In the spirit of not letting outsiders benefit from what should stay within our own circle, I think Zizhong should come back sooner rather than later," said Chen Zichuan nonchalantly, resting his chin on his hand.
"Not letting outsiders benefit? Does the Zhen Family count as outsider? Poor Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang..." Fa Zheng muttered quietly.
Chen Zichuan cast a glance at Fa Zheng, and seeing everyone looking at him with odd expressions, he helplessly began, "The profit margin is too big, only merchants at the level of the Five Great Merchants are eligible, it’s that simple."
"Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s all go visit Lord Xuande. I can already smell the aroma of meat. It’s getting better and better, just as it should be. Not to have wasted all my efforts. Do you guys have any other requests or something?" said Chen Zichuan, first with a sigh of resignation. He changed the topic even though there were still a pile of issues waiting to be thrown out...
"Food that one never tires of, delicacies that are always refined, isn’t that what you aim to cultivate?" Liu Ye casually remarked, and then his expression changed, grinning mischievously as he looked towards Jia Xu beside him.
"We can’t miss the luxury carriages and beautiful women either," added Jia Xu.
"Literature and refined culture are also necessary," Li Youu said as he patted Chen Zichuan on the shoulder before leaving.
"Extravagant mansions and wealthy living still have a long way to go!" Lu Su sighed.
"The boldness to look down upon the world." "The broad-mindedness to embrace everything." Jian Yong and Sun Qian stood up, each adding a phrase. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
"Impartial and just, showing no favoritism." Mann Chong stated naturally,
"Drunk in the beauty of the land, awake to rule the world." Guo Jia, tipsy and tottering, pulled Fa Zheng along as they passed Chen Xi, adding two more phrases.
"You want to say something too?" Chen Xi glared fiercely at Liu Yan.
"Just going with the flow." Liu Yan forced a smile and said, as a group of people at the doorway turned to stare at him, he suddenly felt an enormous pressure on his shoulders. Steeling his heart, he opened his mouth and declared, "Bravery, wisdom, diligence, modesty, love for the people—the ancient sages sought it, the masses now hope for it, and all may have their wishes fulfilled!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xi almost spewed a mouthful of blood; Liu Yan’s demands were even more excessive than those of the previous people combined.
Listening to the happy laughter outside, Chen Xi silently smacked his own mouth, "You brought this on yourself with your loose tongue, now look at the trouble you’ve caused!"
The thing was, Chen Xi’s earlier remark was actually a moment of pride that he had cultivated Liu Bei rather well, but then each person added their own part, which became more than what Chen Xi felt was necessary to foster in an Aristocratic Family Member. The expectations of the earlier few still aligned with what Chen Xi intended to do, but the later ones had become the expectations of everyone present for Liu Bei. Chen Xi’s previous words meant that he would be the one to foster these traits, and the burden of this became crushingly overwhelming...
"Weishuo, just you wait!" Chen Xi roared in anger, indeed the boss at the end of a level is always the most malicious; the goal set by Liu Yan was simply unattainable!
"Are we really okay messing with Zichuan like this?" Liu Ye questioned while walking, "Those conditions are pretty harsh, especially Weishuo’s!"
"Who’s getting messed with, him or us?" Lub Su asked with a nonchalant turn of his head, proving that even a nice guy like him could be ruthless when it comes to pranks. His face showed no sign of guilt, his heart bore no pressure, and his expression seemed to say it was all perfectly natural, instantly sending a chill through Liu Ye, who realized he had never known this side of Lub Su, who had been with him for so long: doing bad deeds without any burden.
"It’s not like we get to do this often, sigh..." Lub Su said with a lonely tone as if remembering something, "Don’t you think the difference between Zichuan and Xiaoo Zhi is huge?"
"Now that you mention it..." Jia Xu turned his head to appraise Lub Su, "Zijing isn’t more than in his early twenties either, right?"
"..." Suddenly, everyone present fell silent.
"Fengxiao and Ziyang are only about twenty-two years old, aren’t they?" Li Youu continued the topic, having always paid attention to the talent of these individuals. Thinking about it now, the oldest of the group was none other than Mann Chong, and he wasn’t more than twenty-four.
"The younger you are, the greater our Lord’s advantage becomes." Jia Xu shook his head and said, realizing that both he and Li Youu were unlikely to make much more progress, whereas the people in front of them might currently lack the experience and knowledge he and Li Youu had, but in a few years, once they accumulated enough experience, they would be capable of supporting the realm for at least thirty years!
"Ah, no wonder Chen Zichuan is always talking about fostering the next generation. If each generation can be as thriving as these people, and if the Monarch can delegate power like our Lord, an eternal foundation for the nation is not impossible!" Jia Xu mused silently, thinking how Lub Su was the kind who, with just a bit of polishing, could be sent off to take charge of any place. Even if the previous generation was corrupt, this new one was more than capable of overthrowing them. Youth is truly an asset.
Jia Xu glanced again at Fa Zheng, who was still not fully matured, but already showing his sharp edge. He thought that in a short span of three years, he would probably be able to rival today’s Guo Fengxiao, "Chen Zichuan isn’t only addressing the education of the Lord’s Aristocratic Family Members, he’s probably also focusing on the elite education of Civil Officials and military generals, like Tanzhi, Xiaoo Zhi..." (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)
