"Mi Zizhong, Lady Gan, please each take advantage of your own commercial connections. Wancheng is in ruins and there are too many goods that will be sales dead stock; please spread the news about the new commercial laws for me. I believe this should not be difficult for either of you," Chen Xi finally relaxed, speaking as calmly as possible. Sometimes one must put on an act.
"It shall be easy. Within ten days, merchants from the Youji, Ji, and Bing three prefectures shall all come here," said the Zhang Clan lady, preempting Mi Zhu and speaking up first upon hearing Chen Xi’s task.
Mi Zhu did not even bother to respond to Zhang Clan’s provocation, for he had nothing to compete for. Regardless of how the Zhang Clan lady’s status might change, he, Mi Zizhong, would always be a minister of Liu Bei, and being loyal to Liu Bei was all that mattered.
"Within twenty days, all merchants under the heavens will know of this intelligence; as to whether they will come or not, I cannot guarantee," said Mi Zhu very humbly, making no promises like the Zhang Clan lady had, which was not to say he lacked the ability, but rather that he did not see promise in the matter.
"As long as the message gets out, that will suffice; do not make me take action," Chen Xi said, lifting his eyelids slightly as he sat in the main seat. As for whether this caused resentment or not, Chen Xi could hardly care less. Mi Zhu’s loyalty required recognition, but his obsession was too strong. If he could let go of the distinctions of local tyrants and noble families, if he could remove these blinders, Mi Zhu’s abilities might improve. But for now, there was still a long way to go.
"Understood," Mi Zhu replied indifferently.
Chen Xi looked at Mi Zhu with indifference, then slowly turned his head toward Liu Ye, "Do whatever you want to do, be it oversight or auditing the accounts, as you please."
Liu Ye silently picked up his teacup without speaking.
"Boning, you know what to do," Chen Xi’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness.
"Kill!" Mann Chong replied without hesitation, his icy aura even startling the Zhang Clan lady for a moment. How could a scholar emit such killing intent? Even if in this era, civil and military roles were not strictly separated, such heavy evil qi was excessive!
"Zijing, as for how to stabilize the situation, I need not say more. Leave the heart of Fenggao City, sections two, three, four, and five to the north, to me," Chen Xi commanded, turning his head toward Lub Su.
Lub Su and Liu Ye exchanged a glance without saying anything, merely nodding their heads; they understood that Chen Xi’s actions had been premeditated.
[To make such preparations for a rainy day—Zichuan’s most terrifying trait is always this: one never knows what cards he still holds in his hand. In impromptu responses, Zichuan might not equal Fengxiao, but probably no one could ever push Zichuan to the point of a bare-knuckled fight,] thought Lub Su silently. [Zichuan’s foresight is daunting indeed.]
"Lady Gan, about the matter of the Merchant Guild, would you be willing to heed a suggestion from me?" Chen Xi asked calmly, turning his gaze toward the Zhang Clan lady after delegating the tasks.
"Why not? My Zhen Family indeed needs Marquis Chen to provide some guidance," the Zhang Clan lady said, smiling.
Since yesterday, when she became aware of Chen Xi’s abilities, the Zhang Clan lady held a new awe for Chen Xi, naturally shedding the arrogance she had once clung to in Jizhou.
"Lady, there’s no need for such formality. I merely have a few suggestions to offer. If the Lady finds them beneficial for the Zhen Family, then do consider them. Should the Lady feel I am jesting, please forgive me." Chen Xi spoke evenly, hardly a trace of fluctuation in his voice, "And Lady, there’s no need to address me as Marquis Chen; you may call me by my style name."
After more than a year of experience, Chen Xi could now very calmly carry out matters with this even tone. Paired with his deadpan expression after discarding all distractions, along with his exaggerated accomplishments over the past year, even if Chen Xi said something outlandish, it would merit serious consideration from others.
"Then please speak plainly, Zichuan," the Zhang Clan lady truly took the advice to heart, or rather, she had long been wanting to take advantage of Chen Xi, so the term "Zichuan" came out quite naturally.
Chen Xi didn’t care about the tone of the Zhang Clan lady, with his hands crossed supporting his head, "If the Zhen Family has time, please wait another two months before discussing joining the Merchant Guild; there are some matters that the Lady may not be aware of, while Mi Zizhong probably has some understanding."
Chen Xi said something completely foreign to the Zhang Clan lady, while a hint of puzzlement flashed across Mi Zhu’s face. He truly did not understand why the Zhen Family could not join the Merchant Guild now. What difference did it make to delay it a bit longer? He might not understand, but Mi Zhu did not bother to ask. Perhaps there really was something he hadn’t noticed; after all, Chen Xi was much smarter than he was.
Although the Zhang Clan lady did not understand why Chen Xi said this, she turned to look at Mi Zhu and saw him sitting there with an expressionless face; hence, she didn’t ask and simply nodded, "Since Zichuan has said so, there must be good reasons for it. The Zhen Family is willing to abide by the rules of the Merchant Guild."
"Mi Zizhong, manage the internal administration of the Merchant Guild," Chen Xi turned his gaze back to Mi Zhu.
"Understood!" Mi Zhu nodded but it was clear he didn’t want to say an extra word; it seemed he and Chen Xi were not on speaking terms recently.
"Lady Gan, may I ask if the Zhen Family will be stationed in Mount Tai from now on? If so, please establish some business protocols when the time comes; these should be witnessed by both the Lady and Mi Zizhong," Chen Xi then asked something seemingly unrelated.
"Okay," the Zhang Clan lady didn’t understand what Chen Xi was talking about, but seeing a ripple in Chen Xi’s normally placid eyes, she realized there must be a benefit to it; otherwise, Chen Xi wouldn’t have hinted so deliberately.
"Lady Gan seems to be quite interested in these matters. If you have the time, you could also witness them," Chen Xi had returned to his usual composure, but as if he remembered something, smiled at Lady Gan, who had been following the Zhang Clan lady without drawing much attention.