Mythic version of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 6596 Anger, Sorrow
Liu Zhang and Yuan Shu had taken a lot of gold coins from Zhen Yan in the past. This time, after returning from Yizhou, they had just made some sweet wine, but before they could even go out to have fun, they heard that the Zhen family had fallen. They were both shocked.

When they received the news, the two of them prepared to come over and take a look. After all, a man who has taken favors from others should be grateful, and a man who has eaten others' food should be grateful. No matter how bad an animal is, it still looks like a human being and should do some human work!

However, the situation was not very clear at the time. Liu Zhang and Yuan Shu were not afraid of trouble, but Liu Bei and Chen Xi were afraid that these two would do bad things, so they held them down and did not release them until now.

In fact, Zhang and Zhen Mi were also held down by Liu Bei and Chen Xi, otherwise they should have come to take a look before. Even if they didn't cause any crying, making a fuss, or even threatening to hang themselves, they were still their wives who were married to them in a formal ceremony after all. Even if nothing is said, they should be forgiven.

So, in order to avoid trouble, Liu Bei and Chen Xi did not let Zhang and Zhen Mi get involved in this matter from the beginning. By the time the two received the news from their respective channels, the matter was finalized.

Now that the dust has settled and Liu Zhang and Yuan Shu have been released, the two came to see how Zhen Yan is doing. As for the Zhen family, they are not really familiar with the other people, but now that they have seen Zhen Yan and are sure that he is in good condition, they are no longer panicked.

After all, money is something that can be earned again if lost, especially for a guy like Zhen Yan who was trained to be the steward of the Zhen family. He is very good at making money. As long as his mentality is not broken, he can find a way to make a comeback later.

"When I was in glory, I poured wine for you two. Now that I'm down and out, you two are pouring wine for me. It's really strange. It's really the opposite of what Tian Gang is doing!" Zhen Yan took the light yellow sweet wine poured into the bowl by Yuan Shu and said with some sarcasm. Then he picked up the wine bowl and took a big gulp heartily. Compared with the affectation of taking small sips in the past, now that he no longer had the title of marquis and the constraints of the identity of the head of the family, Zhen Yan once again returned to his true nature.

"How is it?" Liu Zhang said with some excitement.

"To be honest, this is a world of difference compared to the drinks I treated you two to before." Zhen Yan wiped his mouth with his sleeve, smacked his lips twice and said truthfully.

"Bullshit, was that wine you drank before? That was money." Yuan Shu said angrily.

Even with Yuan Shu's arrogance and extravagance, he was still far inferior to Zhen Yan at that time.

After all, most of the money Yuan Shu had was taken away by the elders of the Yuan family to support his fiefdom. The rest was because he had used the talents of the Kuaiji Wang family under Li You in the country to work for the younger brothers in Yuzhou. The gold coins were taken away by the returning Li You, who then restricted his consumption. He was completely penniless and had to rely on his connections to get free meals.

Although with the heritage of the Yuan family, with three officials for five generations, as well as Yuan Shu's status and position, plus the connections of Gun Gun and Liu Zhang, he can eat well and happily, and can cheat some money anywhere, but when compared with Zhen Yan, the difference is eight streets away, no joke.

"I thought you two could treat me to something good to drink." Zhen Yan said with a smile, but he didn't put down the wine bowl he was holding. He even reached out to pour himself another bowl, and then picked up the side dishes and started to show off. When it comes to drinking, it depends on who you drink with. Zhen Yan was already feeling depressed, and he met Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang, brothers who could speak their minds, so he was naturally not polite when drinking.

"If not according to our level, how about according to the level of ordinary people?" Liu Zhang looked at Zhen Yan's face starting to turn red after he finished several large bowls, and asked seriously. Although Liu Zhang was very confident in his and Yuan Shu's judgment, they felt that they had to find a professional to ask, and in terms of the scope of their friends, Zhen Yan was an absolute professional.

You can say that Zhen Yan is not determined, not aware enough, and not capable enough, but Zhen Yan has a really good eye for making money. Moreover, to promote this kind of thing, you need a strong channel.

Although Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang were strong enough, some things were too different to be effective in this business circle. Their experience and strength could hardly play the desired effect.

On the contrary, even though the Zhen family suffered a severe blow, as long as not all the people were dead and the previous relationships and connections were still there, it was still quite easy for them to promote certain products. This is the case with the family that stands at the top of the five largest merchants.

Just like the Hedong Wei family, after suffering so many blows, they still stand at the top of the world's richest people.

The Zhen family just suffered heavy losses, but they are not dead yet!
Zhen Yan held the wine bowl, looked at the yellow wine, took another sip, and said after a long while, "As long as the price of that big bottle of wine is less than 30 cents, it will be profitable. If it can be less than 25 cents, this thing will have an impact on the wine industry. If it is less than 20 cents, then this thing is the future."

Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang looked at each other after hearing this, and both of them showed relief in their eyes. Although they both estimated that they could make money from this, compared with Zhen Yan's professional judgment, this made them more confident. After all, Zhen Yan's vision in making money was truly trustworthy.

"This is the business we are going to do next, but we lack sales channels. Although Chen Zichuan's sales channels are very good, we still have to prove ourselves in the market in the early stages. Otherwise, someone will inevitably say that we are too dependent on our status and position. This kind of thing is unpleasant to hear." Liu Zhang began to explain, and Zhen Yan put down his wine bowl when he heard it.

"In that case, the cost of this thing is less than twenty cents?" Zhen Yan reacted almost instantly. He had no hope of becoming the pillar of the family, but he was very capable of making money, analyzing future market trends, and expanding the business territory. After all, he was a professional trained in this direction and was very interested in it.

"Now, making so many of them costs about fourteen coins." Liu Zhang pointed to a wine jar beside him. The jar of wine contained about ten liters.

"How much have you made? Why did you spread the cost so much?" Zhen Yan looked at the wine with shock on his face. The red glow on his face had mostly dissipated because of his concentration.

"I first made tens of thousands of liters, tested the water, and calculated the cost. It's about this much." Yuan Shu came prepared, and his answer was as accurate as possible.

"Have the land, manpower, transportation, and subsequent depreciation and maintenance all been calculated?" Zhen Yan asked the two men. The two looked at each other, and Zhen Yan instantly realized that they had no idea that these things had to be calculated.

However, according to the Zhen family's previous experience in building industrial chains and connecting upstream and downstream, although these things are quite expensive, when the business scale is large enough, the average price of these things will be greatly diluted, and I am afraid that the final price will be lower than fourteen cents.

"Why are you looking for me?" Zhen Yan already understood why these two people came to see him, and he couldn't help but look at Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang with a complicated expression and asked.

"Who else should we look for if not you? The Second Guards have a very bad relationship with us. Our subordinates on the Wu side have warned us not to get close to the Wu family in the near future. Isn't looking for the Mi family the same as looking for Chen Zichuan? That only leaves you?" Liu Zhang said casually. He didn't have any calculations. He just needed to find a channel to do this, and for these two, the only suitable channel was Zhen Yan.

As for how many of these reasons are due to good karma from the past, how many are due to the Zhen family's reputation that has lasted for hundreds of years, and how many are simply because he likes Zhen Yan, it is hard to say.

"Aren't there other wealthy merchants?" Zhen Yan asked Liu Zhang in confusion.

"What is my identity and what are their identities?" Yuan Shu acted like a dandy with a middle school temperament, but Zhen Yan had to admit that what Yuan Shu said was really in line with his identity.

"But..." Zhen Yan wanted to continue asking questions, but was interrupted by Liu Zhang.

"Why are you talking so much nonsense? Just tell me whether you want to do it or not. If not, we will find another one. Is it really impossible to find a suitable one? We just like you. When you have money, we two brothers will bully you. When you don't have money, we have to wait until you have money to bully you, right? It's like we two brothers need to find someone who can make money, and you are more suitable, so we come to you." Yuan Shu said unhappily.

"Okay, what should I say now?" Zhen Yan raised his head and thought for a while, "Should I say to grow bigger and stronger and create greater glory?"

"Just do it casually." Yuan Shu said nonchalantly, "Anyway, the two of us just want to find someone who is good at managing and operating a business to help us make money, and you, my friend, are a perfect fit! As for the legal assistant, we have already hired a professional who we have been employing for a long time."

There is no doubt that the person hired was Man Chong's son Man Wei. Even though Man Chong was very unhappy that his son was going down this path, the child was old and it was impossible for him to be restrained forever. What's more, the financial support from his daughter-in-law Sun Min ensured that Man Wei could do what he wanted. Gold medal legal commentator and legal loophole solver were the hobbies that Man Wei finally decided on after changing jobs many times.

"As long as you are willing to believe in a guy like me who can run such a big Zhen family, I have no objection to anything else." Zhen Yan told the truth.

"You are not suitable for managing the family. If it is a normal period, your decentralization and relying on the strength of the family will not cause any major chaos, but these days..." Yuan Shu sneered, "You are not ruthless enough, you dare not fight, and you don't have a thick face. Sooner or later, something will go wrong."

"It was my brother-in-law who asked you to bring it, right?" Zhen Yan suddenly reacted.

"I guess so." Yuan Shu nodded, "I just added a few words to it at most."

Times of chaos are when there are the most opportunities, but they are also the most cruel and bloody times. Even wealthy families may be easily wiped out in this violent reshuffle. Families that are not ruthless enough will sooner or later be in big trouble, unless they completely jump out of the game and stay away from the political whirlpool like the Yong family.

The problem is that if they don't seize such an opportunity, it will be difficult for the wealthy families to have the chance to go further. At this time, if they don't try their best, the progress of other families will be equivalent to their own regression.

"I was not trained to be the head of the family, and I have no ambition in this regard. My original position was to be sent out as the manager of a certain area. But suddenly one day, my mother remarried the general. Then less than five years later, my sister, who was trained to be the head of the family, also got married. I became the head of the family inexplicably." Zhen Yan said to the two of them with a complicated look.

"To be honest, I didn't want to do it from the beginning, but I was pushed up. The elders recommended me together, my mother mentioned my name, and my sister thought that since I was the eldest brother, I should inherit the position of the head of the family after the direct bloodline was gone. So I am the head of the family. The problem is, what did I learn? Am I a genius? I completed the education of the head of the family in just a few months?" Zhen Yan said with some fatigue.

"I felt very reluctant from the beginning. The only thing that made me happy was that I built the sugar industry belonging to the Zhen family, improved the upstream and downstream of the industry, and made the Zhen family the unique leader in the current sugar industry. I realized my wish to dominate a certain business. But as for the rest, I really don't understand." Zhen Yan poured out all his grievances to Yuan Shu and Liu Zhang as if he was venting.

"I'm not Chen Zichuan, nor am I a born god. I'm just a businessman who can make some money and do some industrial planning. What I know and what I've learned since childhood is industrial planning, making money for the Zhen family, and supporting the head of the family. In the end, I become the head of the family? I know nothing!" Zhen Yan cursed with some anger, "Zhen Yao is more suitable than me, but I was the only one who recommended Zhen Yao. Why? Just because I'm the oldest, I have to bear the responsibility of this family. Am I worthy of it?"

"I hate establishing the eldest son as the heir, and since I'm the head of the family, why can't I pass the position to Zhen Yao and let me pursue my own dreams? I just want to make some money that will make the Zhen family look at me sideways. Head of the family? Me? Who asked me if I can?" Zhen Yan pointed at himself, the bitterness on his face unchangeable.

"From the moment I was elected as the head of the family and failed in my first order to pass the position of head of the family to my brother Zhen Yao, I knew I was not the head of the family." Zhen Yan slammed the table and said with some resentment, "Damn it, my ideal is so great, I still want to be the head of the family, but what the hell! I spend money on wine and women, only then can I realize that I am indeed a noble and respected person, the head of the Zhen family."

"Then why didn't you tell Chen Zichuan?" Yuan Shu looked at Zhen Yan as if he was looking at a monkey.

"What do you mean, you let my brother-in-law get rid of me?" Zhen Yan sighed and suppressed his anger.

"He won't. The high and mighty Gu Yue will not deliberately interfere in the human world. He will only suggest that I suppress the elders and take back the so-called real power, but what is real power? If I take it back, can I do what I want? No, even if I take it back, I can't do those things." Zhen Yan held the wine bowl and said softly, "This road that does not belong to me has no end in the future. Only now that the road is blocked can I stop and do what I want to do."

"So pretentious." Chen Xi pushed open the door and said to Zhen Yan. He didn't hear the first part of the conversation, but heard the second half.

Zhen Yan kept his mouth shut. He didn't dare to talk nonsense in front of Chen Xi. Even if he was drunk and indulged himself, he would involuntarily restrain himself in front of Chen Xi.

"Why don't you say anything?" Chen Xi looked at Zhen Yan and said.

"The city of Media, thousands of miles away, fell, and no less than 10,000 Han and Roman civilians were killed or injured. The Parthian civilians affected by this incident lost no less than 150,000 lives. The locust plague in East Africa is about to take off. If the third round continues to sweep across, Central Asia will be filled with starving people. It is not a problem that the locust plague will even cover Chang'an for several days. Do you still have the mind to think about these things now?" Chen Xi said coldly to Zhen Yan.

"As a person, how should I answer your question?" Zhen Yan was silent for a while and asked Chen Xi, "Uncle, a criminal, or an ordinary person?"

"What do you want to say?" Chen Xi frowned and said. He felt that Zhen Yan had changed a lot since he last met him.

"I am not a good enough person to be the head of the family. When my first order as the head of the family was rejected, I knew why I was chosen. Although I can take it back through struggle and with your help later, this is not what I want." Zhen Yan said in a muffled voice.

"So you gave up and only did things that interested you, and then you spent your time drinking and partying, enjoying yourself as much as you wanted." Chen Xi said coldly, "You are right, this is not what you want, but Patriarch of the Zhen family, if you had firmly refused at the beginning, this would not have happened to you. This is the most important thing, you accepted it and then regretted it."

"I just admired my mother's ability to control the family at will, so I didn't strongly refuse when I was recommended. But later I realized that I was not that kind of person." Zhen Yan's voice was a little lost.

"But it was you who accepted this responsibility after all. You didn't have to be a puppet. It was you who gave up your duties. So when the time comes to take responsibility, don't be resentful. As the head of a noble family, you should at least be aware that you can afford to lose." Chen Xi looked at Zhen Yan with a somewhat cold expression and said.

"I've lost too much, so much that I don't want to take responsibility for it." Zhen Yan shook his head and said.

"When you killed all the elders of the clan except one to vent your anger, you should have realized that it was also a way to take all the blame on yourself." Chen Xi looked at Zhen Yan calmly and said, "It's just like that. You accepted the responsibility, but then regretted it because it was too heavy, so you threw it away, which led to the backlash. The fault lies with the elders of the Zhen clan, but uncle, are you not wrong?"

Zhen Yan was speechless.

"It doesn't matter whether you use the guards I gave you right or wrong. I don't want to pursue the matter even if there's been rivers of blood and countless heads cut down. After all, this is the Zhen family's internal affairs. As the Shangshu Pushe, I have no right to interfere in the power struggles within the aristocratic family. But I am your brother-in-law, and I have to say that the butcher's knife may fall quickly, but what about the follow-up?" Chen Xi looked at Zhen Yan calmly.

"I am not the head of the family anymore. Zhen Yao will be the head of the family from now on." Zhen Yan said softly.

"Is this the answer?" Chen Xi looked at Zhen Yan.

"Go away, take your dream and build the Zhen family's business empire." Chen Xi didn't want to scold anymore. He originally thought that he could wake him up and even left part of the industry to him, but the result was like this.

Those who have votes, please vote. This is really hopeless.