Upon listening to what the other party said, Ren Baqian didn't rush to respond . Instead, he held up his tea cup and sniffed it before placing it back on the table . He looked carefully at the three men before asking with slight curiosity, "You guys aren't ordinary people in the Yun Nation, I suppose?"
"Although the Zhang family isn't some large and influential family, we do have some reputation," Zhang Junzheng boasted a little .
Not only did the Zhang family have some reputation, they were in fact pretty well known .
Many people assumed that in the Yun Nation, controlling a city was how a family would be able to settle down and progress . However, over the last few centuries, the families in control of the cities had been replaced many times . Even though the Zhang family didn't control any cities, they had always remained stable and had talents in every generation of the family .
It wasn't that they didn't have the opportunity to take control of the cities, but that they had abandoned the thought every single time .
Like what an elder in the Zhang family once said, water is formless, and nothing can change that .
From the Zhang family's perspective, even though establishing the family in a city would give them status on the surface, they would in fact be restricted by it as well . As such, apart from being a family that stayed out of the spotlight, their people were scattered and ventured into different trades and professions .
The Zhang family had always only been a general name . On the surface, they seemed like a group of people who weren't tight knit and were scattered among different trades .
Even though they might seem unrelated to each other, if one were to trace back the roots of their bloodline, they all hailed from the Zhang family .
Even enemies who wanted to give them problems would find it difficult to do so .
Both of Zhang Junzheng's nephews encountered problems in Lan City several times a year . At the same time, the war between Dayao and the Yun Nation spread like wildfire . Zhang Junzheng felt that the Yun Nation had no chance of winning the war and hence time was running out . In order to get in Ren Baqian's good books, Zhang Junzheng divulged some information that very few people knew about .
Simply hearing all of this had already greatly surprised Ren Baqian . He had never thought that there were actually such aristocratic families in this world .
According to Ren Baqian's understanding of Earth's history, the Zhang family were something like the Huizhou merchants . They shared a general name, but all hailed from the same ancestry .
"Why have you thought of seeking help from Dayao?" Ren Baqian asked with great interest . Everyone else shunned the aboriginals at all costs, but this Zhang family had instead called on them voluntarily . This made Ren Baqian feel extremely interested .
"The monarch of the Yun Nation is young and frivolous, and all important matters of the imperial court are controlled by Prime Minister Zheng Hangmian . Zheng Hangmian is obstinate, self-opinionated, and wildly ambitious . Currently, people in the imperial court have either stuck to him, been banished to prison, or have resigned and returned home . In a few more years, I'm afraid that even the monarch will probably have to change his name .
It would be fine if that was all of it, but unfortunately, Zheng Hangmian is lecherous and greedy for wealth . He is ambitious, but he lacks the capabilities .
Not to hide from you, Sir Ren, but even though the Yun Nation is currently at war with your distinguished nation, the imperial court is still trying to eliminate dissidents . However, it's simply a small matter in the middle of this war . "
"What has that got to do with you? Why don't you seek help from him?" Ren Baqian questioned . Regardless of whatever the imperial court was like, a family like the Zhang family should at least have the right to speak out .
Ren Baqian wouldn't buy their story if they came to seek asylum simply because they disapproved of their imperial court's monstrosity .
"It's a long story . Zheng Hangmian is ambitious, but incapable, and really isn't a good person . There has always been a feud between him and the Zhang family, and also, he knows a lot about us . Even though everything is fine at present, we can't put the safety of thousands of our family members at stake… As a result, we have no other choice . "
Ren Baqian understood most of it after hearing this . The Zhang family was afraid that Zheng Hangmian would create trouble for them,and decided to find an alternative way out .
An ordinary person might not have much understanding of the Zhang family, but the Zhang family had already existed in the Yun Nation for a few hundred years, even before the nation was founded . There were still people who knew of their background . The larger and more influential families definitely knew about the Zhang family, but they probably did not know it entirely .
Yet, this Zheng Hangmian probably knew too much about them . There is a saying that your enemy is the person who knows you best .
However, the Zhang family seemed to be overthinking it .
Regardless of whether it was the Yun Nation or Zheng Hangmian, they would probably be disappearing soon .
"What can you provide?" Ren Baqian asked unhurriedly .
"The Zhang family has dipped into all trades and professions, and this is exactly what your distinguished country lacks the most . We will probably be of some use to you, Sir . " Zhang Junzheng smiled . He was very confident in the Zhang family's capabilities .
"We know everything that you know . We know things that you don't as well!" Ren Baqian laughed casually, while his words carried some rumination .
"Sir, nobody is omnipotent . " Zhang Junzheng laughed . He suddenly felt a little odd . Based on Ren Baqian's accomplishments after merely a year and also on the establishment of the Black Bamboo Academy, he shouldn't be an ignorant person . How daring was he to say such a thing?
The deep penetration into all trades and professions was the root of how the Zhang family succeeded in making a living . This was where their confidence lay .
As long as someone from the Zhang family was still alive, he would be able to carve out a path for himself no matter where he went .
"Indeed, nobody is omnipotent, but in your eyes, I should probably be close . " Ren Baqian was rather blunt with his words . The abilities of the Zhang family were considered pretty important to others and especially so to the present Dayao . However, with Ren Baqian around, they didn't really seem like much .
Ren Baqian was capable of achieving more advanced and scientific manufacturing methods, possessed superior business management, and knew of all sorts of administrative methods . Even though they might not be well suited for the situation of this world, with simply more time, Ren Baqian believed that he could bring about a thorough transformation to Dayao .
Naturally, this Zhang family did have their usefulness, but it wasn't as great as they thought it was . From Ren Baqian's perspective, their greatest use would be to save on time .
As such, this group of people could still be useful, but they still had to be beaten down a little first .
After listening to Ren Baqian's words, Zhang Junzheng seemed to be a little unhappy . The two young men behind him seemed to despise Ren Baqian a little .
Whoever it was, no one would be able to stay calm if the fundamentals of what he did for a living were questioned, let alone a family like the Zhang family .
Ren Baqian was immediately labeled by them as careless, superficial, and someone who had an exaggerated opinion of his own abilities .
The Zhang family was indeed looking for an alternative way out, but Dayao wasn't the only option . There was also Great Xia as well—it was just that their establishments were already very deeply rooted in all aspects . If the Zhang family were to move everyone there, they would easily attract negative repercussions from the local powers .
As such, Zhang Junzheng, the man with the best foresight in the family, was inclined toward relocating part of their group to Dayao .
However, they had already been consistently facing obstacles here in Dayao . If Ren Baqian was really such a shallow person, then there probably wasn't a need to come here and relocate anymore .
Upon seeing the trio's expressions, Ren Baqian knew that it was all playing out as he had predicted .
Ren Baqian let out a slight laugh before replying faintly . His words were full of confidence .
"Salt, I have already created . Glass cups and mirrors—not sure if you have ever heard of them? I have also produced them as well . I can also produce that soap of yours, maybe even better than you . I call it perfumed soap . Wine, I know how to brew, probably nicer and stronger than yours . Flavoring? Soy sauce? Bean paste? I know all of these too . Essences as well . Wrought iron? Manufacturing weapons? Same goes for these, and they are even more advanced than yours . Agricultural equipment, I know a little about that too, even to the extent of how to farm . Clothes? Weaving? Not a problem for me . Besides history, I know everything else, like mathematics, principle studies, the art of war, poetic verses, and governance .
You see, what else do you know? Tell me about it? I'll see if there's anything that I do not know!"
A few people beside him, including Zuo Leng, were raising their eyebrows incessantly and left speechless because they didn't know what was real or fake . After all, the amount of time that they had followed Ren Baqian around was pretty short . As Ren Baqian had always been in Tianjing Basin, they would believe it if he claimed that he knew about the art of war and governance .
After all, they could see a slight hint of the art of war in some of the things that Ren Baqian did . The Rearguard Commandery was also established by him; everything from recruitment to promotion, secrecy, rewards, and penalties . The regulation of all aspects was done up rather comprehensively, which wasn't something that an ordinary person would be able to accomplish . Zuo Leng and the others also truly believed that Ren Baqian was well-versed in this regard .
As for the other things, they weren't exactly sure . Just based on his words, they felt that it was a little too exaggerated .
Needless to say, from the start, the trio from the Zhang family already didn't believe what Ren Baqian was saying . Toward the end of the speech, their expressions became rather odd, as if they were looking at a lunatic talking in his sleep .
Regardless of whatever trade or profession, one might not be able to reach the pinnacle even if he had invested the effort of his entire life .
You can do all of that alone?
You think you're a deity?
Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|