Volume 1: Storm in the Western Region Chapter 99: Thoughtful
Zhao Rang looked at the letter of Fei Qian pushed over by Mr. Ximen, but did not accept it directly. Although the other party's wording was very particular and thoughtful, Zhao Rang had to think deeply about the last sentence.
Obviously, Mr. Ximen already knows the relationship between Zhao Rang, Yuan Mingkong and Yuan Kexin, as well as their true identities.
To achieve this, it is easy for the Ximen family. A family that has mastered such a huge amount of money can undoubtedly be described as being as rich as a country. Presumably, the Ximen family and Dawei are also wary of each other. After all, there is
If you have money, you will have food, and if you have food, you will have soldiers. If you have soldiers and horses in your hands, you will want to compete! Otherwise, if you are already so rich, why would you kneel down to a poor man and shout long live?
As far as Zhao Rang knows, the second generation of the Ximen family secretly established an organization similar to the Investigation Department and the Shadow Guard after they became rich. The name was to check whether their businesses in various places were operating in accordance with the rules and whether the shopkeepers were corrupt.
Corruption is actually the eyes and ears spread all over the world, reporting the trends and situations of the world to the Ximen family at any time. Especially after the split of Dawei, the gap between the south and the north has become more and more profound. Even from a businessman's point of view,
You also have to listen to news and situations at all times.
After so many generations of development, I think this organization has become larger and larger. The so-called planting flowers first consolidates the roots. With the support of almost unlimited financial resources, it must be intricately connected. It is not a strange thing to even have its own people in Dauchi. After all,
Those father-in-laws only expected to use money to make up for their physical shortcomings.
Therefore, as long as the Ximen family does some work and asks who has been missing in the palace recently and which prince and princess has been out the longest, they can easily know the true identities of Yuan Mingkong and Yuan Kexin.
But what Zhao Rang really thought deeply about was not this.
It is understandable that businessmen pursue profit.
The prince of a country is the cornerstone of a country, just like betting in a casino. If you bet correctly, you will make a lot of money, but you will never have to work again for the rest of your life. But if you bet wrong, you must be prepared to lose everything.
The current emperor Dawei, because he was betrayed by his cousin, became suspicious and could not believe his blood relatives, so he never established a heir apparent.
But anyone with a discerning eye can see that in the entire Dawei Northern royal family, the most promising ones are the third and fifth princes. The third prince controls the Northern Academy and serves as the examiner for the imperial examinations. The fifth prince has military power, and the two
One civil and one military, everything is fine for the time being. But there is no room for two tigers in one mountain, and there is only one throne, so one of them will lose in the future.
The Ximen family has been in business for generations, so they are not in the eyes of the fifth prince. People who come from military backgrounds have a stubborn and heroic spirit in them, and they look down on opportunistic behavior such as doing business.
But the third prince was not like that. He personally put down his dignity and made good friends with the Ximen family. He used his influence to solve many difficulties for the Ximen family and brought practical benefits. The Ximen family also reciprocated and donated materials and materials for the academy.
When the course was still in session, the candidates were offered to stay in the inn run by the Ximen family for free. Everyone in the world knew that the Ximen family was putting their treasure on the third prince. As long as the third prince came to Dabao, the Ximen family would become
No one can compete with the number one family in the North.
The most hopeless among the princes is Yuan Mingkong, who has become a brother with Zhao Rang this time. Not to mention the real power in his hands, even the fiefdom is in the territory of the "enemy country". Logically speaking, the Ximen family should not pay attention to Yuan Mingkong at all.
The seventh prince is empty, but these fifty thousand taels of silver and the greetings just now are nothing more than sending a signal, representing that the Ximen family wants to have good relations with this seventh prince, whom no one cares about.
The Ximen family has already firmly stood on the throne of the third prince. There is no need to take the risk of offending him and contact other princes in private. Unless the Ximen family has some inside information and knows something that Zhao Rang does not know.
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Young Master Ximen saw that Zhao Rang was silent and did not urge him.
If Zhao Rang nods and agrees to this matter, he will be the bridge between the Ximen family and the seventh prince in the future. Zhao Rang has to think carefully about the responsibilities he will bear and the consequences and impact of doing this.
If he was just an ordinary Jianghu guest, he would definitely agree immediately without saying a word. But behind Zhao Rang is the entire Zhao family. As the young master of the Zhao family, his every move will be implicated.
Going further, the Ximen family has always supported the third prince, and the Zhao family, as a wealthy family and has practiced swordsmanship for generations, is naturally close to the fifth prince in the army. Zhao asked his father, Mr. Zhao, to personally compile a book suitable for fighting in the army.
The sword manual used was given to the fifth prince, who was greatly satisfied.
Being in different camps, even if they are in the same city, they can only get along in terms of face. As for Zhao Rang being able to have such a good relationship with Ximen Dazhuang, it was unexpected for both families.
Time continued to pass, and Zhao Rang had been silent for a full quarter of an hour.
Suddenly, a shadow covered his face. When he looked up, it was Yuan Mingkong, the rightful figure in his fight with Young Master Ximen.
Yuan Mingkong seemed to have prepared specially. Not only did he comb his hair, but he also changed into a suit of very well-tailored clothes. There were no gorgeous decorations or embroideries on the clothes, but a knowledgeable person would know they were worth a lot once they looked at the materials and workmanship.
The low-key luxury further showed that he, the seventh prince, was a man of prudent behavior and not ostentatious.
"I'm Yuan Mingkong!"
Yuan Mingkong followed the example of his former imperial brother and the third prince, lowered his dignity and took the initiative to make friends with the Ximen family.
Mr. Ximen obviously did not plan this step.
Although the other party was an idle prince with no real power, he was just a commoner. In a panic, he quickly returned the greeting and said:
"The common people have seen His Highness! There are many people here, and for the sake of His Highness's safety, the common people cannot be completely polite. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!"
Yuan Mingkong smiled and said it was okay.
Since he is willing to come in person, it means that he does not care about these secular rules and etiquette.
In comparison, everyone knows which is more important, money or empty kowtows.
After the three of them sat down again, Mr. Ximen repeated what he had said to Zhao Rang before.
This time, Zhao Rang was not asked to say hello on his behalf, because the principal was already sitting opposite.
Yuan Mingkong thanked him and accepted the letter of fifty thousand taels of silver generously. Zhao Rang saw that there were many beads of sweat on Mr. Ximen's forehead.
Zhao Rang speculated that he was not ready to face Yuan Mingkong so soon. For some unknown reason, the Ximen family suddenly wanted to make friends with the seventh prince, but they also played it safe and steady. But Yuan Mingkong was caught off guard, and it was really a pinch.
It lives within seven inches of Ximen’s house.
If we talk about this matter in the future, there will be more to say!
The silver was handed over to Zhao Rang. After all, he was still a friend of Ximen Dazhuang. As Yuan Mingkong was traveling with him, the food and drink expenses would naturally come from the 50,000 taels, but in the final analysis, it was Zhao Rang who received the money.
Now this matter has undergone earth-shaking changes.
A member of the Ximen family personally gave the Seventh Prince fifty thousand taels of flying money, and the Seventh Prince personally collected it. If this was spread, who would not be able to think about it after hearing it?
Compared to Mr. Ximen who was nervous and flustered, Yuan Mingkong was extremely calm.
After receiving the Fei Qian and the letter, he put it in his arms and thanked the head of the Ximen family for his kindness. Then he talked about the current situation between Dawei's Northern Territory and the Western Region. He really wrote as sharply as a sword and his words were sharp.
.Zhao Rang was greatly impressed by the sharp words, the tricky angles, and the keen vision!
I thought to myself that this guy seems to be hiding his capabilities and biding his time.
His father, the current emperor, no matter how mediocre he was, he still had a wide-ranging vision and would not be able to tell which of his sons was capable.
As long as he shows even a little bit, he will definitely get some real benefits, and the fiefdom will not just have an empty title.
Under Yuan Mingkong's offensive, Mr. Ximen quickly became unable to withstand it... He spotted a gap where he was holding a tea cup, and quickly changed the subject and said:
"Your Highness, Mr. Zhao, everything you two need has been prepared. We have also hired a local guide to take you over Songtao Mountain to the other three of the four countries in the Western Region."
Of course, Yuan Mingkong knew what he meant, so he also walked down the slope. After thanking him again, he asked Mr. Ximen for his permission.
Mr. Ximen left as if relieved, not even bothering to say hello to his brother.
Ximen Dazhuang, who didn't say a word from beginning to end, didn't notice anything. He just felt that everyone was good friends and brothers, and it was necessary and should be harmonious. On the contrary, Zhao Rang hesitated there for a long time, which made him a little unhappy.
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As soon as his brother left, Ximen Dazhuang asked:
"Brother Rang, what were you wasting your time on just now? Isn't it just fifty thousand taels of silver?"
Zhao Rang glanced at Ximen Dazhuang a little tiredly, not knowing how to explain to him, so he asked:
"Are you determined to go all the way with us?"
Ximen Dazhuang raised his voice and said:
"That's not it! As brothers, can I leave you and go back to play by yourself?"
Zhao Rang sighed, ignored him, and then turned his attention to Yuan Mingkong.
"I don't want to embarrass you. If so, wouldn't it have nothing to do with you?"
Yuan Mingkong said directly.
However, Ximen Dazhuang couldn't understand what the two people were talking about anymore. This feeling made him very unhappy. But before he could understand, Zhao Rang stood up and pulled him out, asking him to take inventory again and prepare.
supplies.
"What's the point of counting? Just buy whatever is missing!"
Zhao Rang stood on tiptoes and slapped him on the head, cursing:
“It’s deep in the mountains and forests, where do you buy it?”
"Are you the only one with money?"
After saying this, I was so angry that I kicked Ximen Da Zhuang on the butt:
"I'll beat you as a rich man! I'll beat you as a rich man!"
The two chased each other for a while. Ximen Dazhuang's clan brother came over with a man who looked like the Western Regions and introduced that this man was the guide he had specially found. His mother was from the Western Regions and his father was from Dawei. The local name was
Dharma is a "two-rotor".
Zhao Rang stared at him for a moment, feeling that this person looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before. After all, people from the Western Regions all have high nose bridges and deep eye sockets, so it was difficult to tell him apart at first glance.