Count Xuanwu Jin Zhuo was very depressed.
Because he had just received the guest list for Zhang Jin and Xu Qianqian's engagement ceremony.
The situation was very bad.
Governor Zhang? Finally, he bared his fangs.
It seemed like he was about to besiege the Xuan Wu Mansion from all directions.
Several guests that Count Count thought shouldn't be present were also present.
The first one was Tang Yun, the Crown Prince of the Jin Hai Count House in the north.
Count Jin Hai and I, Xuanwu, have conflicts, but isn't that a conflict between us old nobles?
Now you are openly standing on the side of the New Politics. What do you mean?
The second one was the second son of Count Zhenbei, Nangong Ping.
Count Zhenbei, Nangong Ao, was a famous general in the State of Yue, commanding the army in the north.
He was an aristocrat, between the new and the old nobles.
First of all, he had a fief, but it wasn't very big, only 800 square kilometers.
Because his ancestor was only a third-class Count. After Nangong Ao joined the army, he fought in the north and made great contributions. The Monarch decreed that his title was promoted to Marquis.
All along, Count Zhenbei had been neutral.
He was impartial between the old nobles and the New Politics.
But now, he sent his second son to attend Zhang Jin's engagement ceremony.
This was a very bad sign, indicating that Count Zhenbei's position was shifting.
And the third guest was the one that Count Xuanwu didn't want to see the most.
The Yinyuan Association's envoy.
What did the Yinyuan Association do?
It was one of the largest banks in the entire Great Yan Dynasty. It controlled an astronomical amount of wealth and had business in more than a dozen countries.
For hundreds of years, the Yinyuan Association had a very good relationship with the old nobles, and they had close mutual interests.
It could be said that the Yinyuan Association was the strongest backing of the old nobles.
Previously, the Yinyuan Association drew a clear line with the New Politics, and there was almost no exchange of interests.
But now, the Yinyuan Association actually sent an envoy to attend Zhang Jin's wedding?
What kind of signal was this?
Was the Hidden Element Association going to change its stance?
For the Xuan Wu Mansion and all the old aristocrats, this was tantamount to a disaster.
The most important thing was …
The foundation of Xuan Wu Mansion was also in the hands of the Yinyuan Association.
The previous Count Xuanwu owed a huge debt, and the creditor was the Yinyuan Association.
Not to mention that Yin Yuan would directly come to collect the debt, even if they disclosed the economic situation of Xuan Wu Mansion, it would be a huge disaster.
After hesitating for a long time, Count found Shen Lang and said in a gentle tone, "Lang 'er, Zhang Jin and Xu Qianqian's engagement ceremony, you don't have to go."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lang immediately refused.
"How can I not go?" Shen Lang said, "She is my ex-wife after all. One night as husband and wife means a hundred days of love."
As a man, there was one thing that not many people had experienced.
Attend the wedding of an ex-girlfriend or ex-wife, and then bring a wife who was more beautiful and noble than the ex-girlfriend.
Not only that, but also more handsome and brilliant than the ex-girlfriend's groom.
"Lang 'er, speak properly." Count said.
Shen Lang said, "Father-in-law, for her engagement ceremony, I really prepared for a long time. I wrote a book especially for her, and I also specially made a dress for her. If I don't go, wouldn't I have made the dress for nothing? Wouldn't that be a waste of the book? "
Count said, "Xu Qianqian cried for a day, and Xu Guangyun smashed everything in the house. How did you write the book for nothing?"
More than that?
There were also countless men shooting arrows at Xu Qianqian's portrait.
In less than a day, the illustrations of the book "Golden Vase Plum Romance" were covered with a layer of white dust.
But Count was a serious person, so he wouldn't have any related associations.
Count looked dignified and said, "Lang 'er, the situation is very bad. They've woven a huge net that's coming from all directions to envelop my Black Tortoise Count's mansion. The so-called engagement ceremony is just a rehearsal. Once you go, you'll be the target of everyone and suffer a great loss. "
Shen Lang said seriously, "The enemy in the north, Jin Hai Count House also sent someone?"
Count nodded.
Shen Lang asked again, "Our family's creditors are here too?"
This time, Count was really surprised.
"Not only that." The Earl said, "There's also another big shot. His arrival has dealt a fatal blow to our Black Tortoise Count's Mansion."
This was what made Count the most disappointed.
Shen Lang's eyes narrowed. Another big shot? It will make Count House fall into an absolute passive position!
Then who is this person?
This should be a big shot, but this time he changed his position.
He couldn't help but search for the big shots around him in his mind.
"Northern Marquis Nangong Ao, he sent someone?" Shen Lang said, "It is definitely not the Prince. It can only be the second or third son."
This time, Count looked at Shen Lang in disbelief.
He had just received this list, and he hadn't shown it to anyone.
Is there really such a smart person in this world?
This was completely different from reciting "Kim clan's teachings" all night. That was just a super memory, but this was wisdom.
Xuan Wu handed the list to Count.
After that, he gazed at the map on the wall and sighed. "Lang 'er, I'm really feeling slightly exhausted, and my vision is blurred. I have the feeling that I'm about to collapse."
Shen Lang was stunned. His father-in-law had never been so depressed before.
A strong man would never show weakness in front of others.
Although Jin Zhuo's talent was not high, he always played the role of a strong and determined Count Xuanwu, so that everyone in the Count House could be sheltered under his wings.
Now that a storm was brewing, he really felt that it was difficult to deal with it alone.
He actually showed weakness in front of Shen Lang.
Shen Lang's expression was shocked.
This can't do, I still want to live off a woman, I still want to enjoy glory and wealth.
Mulan, I haven't slept yet, and Xiao Bing hasn't slept yet either.
Moreover, I also found a particularly beautiful woman in the Count House that day. She was about 17 or 18 years old, with very big eyes and very delicate facial features.
He was thinking about how to ask Mulan to transfer her to his side.
My good days have only been a little more than a month, and the better days are still ahead.
Xuan Wu Mansion can't fall, and it must become stronger and stronger.
No, I must make my father-in-law cheer up immediately.
…
Shen Lang closed his eyes and entered the state of Zhuge Liang. Furthermore, it was the Romance of the Three Kingdoms version, not the Records of the Three Kingdoms version.
After opening his eyes, Shen Lang revealed a reserved and calm smile, as if everything was under his control.
"Father-in-law, my eyes are actually very clear, not blurred at all. Although it is a little dangerous, as long as we know ourselves and our enemies, it will not be difficult for us to win. Why are you so pessimistic? "
Lord Count said, "It's hard to know yourself and your enemy. This person's methods were extremely vicious and unconstrained, making it impossible for others to comprehend them. Last time in Dong Jiang County, Dong Jiang Count was forced into a dead end before he could figure out what was going on. Then, he killed him with a single blow and became Zhang Xu. A stepping stone to success. "
Shen Lang sneered and said, "Otherwise, Zhang Xuan will be the first to die. The following killer move might look obscure, but it is actually very clear and simple, I can see through it with one look, I will analyze it for you. "
Count asked, "Really?"
Zhuge Lang nodded and said, "Of course."
Lord Count said, "Everyone back off, call Mister Lin here."
A moment later, Mister Lin, Lord Count's most trusted aide, arrived.
Then, the two of them waited for Shen Lang's analysis.
Oh no, it was a performance!
…
"Father-in-law, Mister Lin, the main opponent of our Count House is Zhang Xu."
"In order for me to live off a woman and enjoy wealth, I often put myself in Zhang Xu's shoes. I racked my brains to think of how to destroy Xuan Wu Mansion. "
"Ahem …" Lord Count reminded Shen Lang to be careful with his words, and not to be too harsh.
Shen Lang said, "You can only play chess according to the chess pieces in your hand. We should do what the enemy is most afraid of. "
"What is Xuan Wu Mansion most afraid of? The first is the feeling of being isolated and losing your protection. Looking around, it feels like you're surrounded by enemies. "
"Lanshan Viscount Mansion has handed over the fief and military power. The Jin Hai Count House and the New Deal Party have joined hands to kill us. It seems that there is only one pillar left among the aristocratic factions in the entire Tiannan Province, and that is the Northern Marquis Mansion."
"Northern Suppression Marquis Nangong Ao is a military tycoon and has close to a hundred thousand soldiers under his command. His family also has a fief of 800 square kilometers and a private army of 2,000. "
"The Monarch's new policy is like the sun shining, and the Northern Marquis' Mansion is like a big tree blocking the scorching sun for us. To a certain extent, our Xuan Wu Mansion is under the protection of his shadow."
"Although the Duke of Zhenbei has always expressed his neutrality and almost never dealt with the old nobles, and even when I got married, he didn't send anyone. But it didn't stop him from shielding our family because his family has a fief and a private army."
"And this time, Zhang? Directly removed this pillar, so that the position of the Northern Marquis has shifted to the New Deal Party. In this way, the entire Xuan Wu Mansion has become the largest old nobles in the Tiannan Province, and we are alone under the sun of the Monarch's new policy. "
Count Xuanwu nodded. He felt this way. When he knew that the Northern Marquis had sent his second son to attend Zhang Jin's engagement banquet, he really had a sense of panic in his heart.
The Northern Marquis left, and the Xuan Wu Mansion stood alone in the storm.
Shen Lang said lightly, "Father-in-law, others are unreliable. The only thing we can rely on is ourselves. We, the Xuan Wu Mansion, are destined to fight alone in the Tiannan Province. "
"The Northern Marquis has a fief of 800 square kilometers and a private army of 2,000, but it is nothing compared to the military power of a hundred thousand soldiers. This is also the reason why his position has shifted."
"However, Zhang? This move of his is a feint. " Shen Lang: "He wants us to misjudge, wants us to invest strategic resources in the Northern Marquis's Mansion, wants us to use all our strength to restore the position of the Northern Marquis."
"However, we can't invest any resources. If the Northern Marquis wants to change his position, let him be! "
"Next, the second thing we fear the most is to cut off our financial resources." Shen Lang: "I know that our Count House not only has no surplus and savings, but also owes astronomical debts. Once our financial resources are cut off, the consequences will be unimaginable. "
"After completing the first two steps of the layout, if I am Zhang? Then I will use the most fatal move to completely cut off the arm of the Xuan Wu Mansion and cut off the vitality of the Count House! "
"And this third killer move is the battle for Jinshan Island, to finish it in one stroke."
"If I'm not wrong, the Monarch will soon issue a decree to completely determine the ownership of Jinshan Island once and for all."
"As for Zhang? He and Zhu Jung have been preparing for the battle for Jinshan Island for more than half a year, so to a certain extent, it seems that we are destined to lose Jinshan Island completely. "
"Once we completely lose Jinshan Island, our creditors will feel that we no longer have the ability to repay the debt, and they will make up their mind to publicly claim the debt. When the debt crisis of the Xuan Wu Mansion breaks out, what should we do at that time?"
"It's impossible not to pay the debt, the Monarch will take the opportunity to pressure us. I don't know how much our debt is, but if I'm not wrong, we certainly can't pay it off. "
"Moreover, the collateral for this debt is the Wangya Island, right? The debt contract should be due soon, right? "
Lord Count looked at Shen Lang speechlessly.
He had never revealed any of these secrets to anyone.
It's really … almost demonic.
"To borrow an astronomical debt, there must be collateral. The previous generation of Lord Count couldn't use the local fief as collateral, so he could only use Wangya Island. "
Shen Lang: "Our Count House has four main sources of income: food, silk, salt and iron from Wangya Island."
"The annual income of salt and iron on Wangya Island accounts for more than 60% of the total income of the Count House. At that time, our creditors will ask the Monarch to come forward and claim the Wangya Island. "
"Once we lose Wangya Island, for our Xuan Wu Mansion, it will not only hurt our muscles and bones, but also our arms and legs will be cut off. We will lose 60% of our source of income. At that time, our only choice is to disband the army. "
"As an old aristocrat, if we lose the army, we are like a wolf without its claws and teeth, like meat on the chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered. Without the army, we can't keep our fief at all. At that time, Xuan Wu Mansion will be finished. "
"If I am Zhang? I will destroy Xuan Wu Mansion in these three steps. "
"Father-in-law, please enlighten me. Please enlighten me, Master Lin!"
After showing off, Shen Lang bowed slightly.
Lord Count was completely stunned.
It was really enlightening.
After listening to Shen Lang's analysis, the fog in front of him seemed to have been instantly dispelled.
Lord Count and Master Lin looked at each other, exchanging the shock in each other's eyes.
There was really a surge of energy from the soles of the feet to the brain.
It was really unbelievable!
In this world, there was actually such a smart person?
…