Mentioning the Fan family, especially the Fan family's wealth, Fan Jian shook his head helplessly: "Even the son of Emperor Gaozong, Prince Yi of Xiangyang, and the current Fancheng County Duke, have always treated the Fan family with courtesy. There is a plus. Even the clans affiliated with the Fancheng County Government often take the initiative to retreat when they have conflicts with the Fan family."
"The Fan family is privately known as the richest family in the martial arts world. At least according to Jian's knowledge, this evaluation is not an exaggeration. Managing such a large fortune is a matter of both heart and work. Moreover, the Fan family It has always been emphasized that having more children means more blessings. The ancestors of the past generations all accepted wives and concubines. After more than a hundred years of reproduction, they have formed a huge family."
"As of my father's generation, except for my father who only has my mother, the other uncles all have three wives and four concubines. Although the fights between the houses are not as fierce as the royal family who often fight with each other, they are still in intrigues. Awesome. Especially my father’s generation, several uncles are also fighting overtly and covertly to compete for the position of the next generation head of the family.”
"Although my eldest brother and I are both the eldest son and grandson of the eldest son, there are differences between elders and younger ones after all. Abolition of elders and establishment of younger ones is not only a taboo for the Tian family, but also a taboo for a family like ours. What's more, my grandfather also wants to transcend my father's generation and directly support me as the next generation head of the family. Let's not talk about whether my uncles agree, but my eldest brother is a hurdle that I can't get over. "
"My eldest brother has been traveling for the family these years, making great contributions to the family, and his knowledge is far better than mine. Although my brother looks rough on the surface, he is actually extremely thoughtful. Now I have my sister-in-law to help me. , is the perfect candidate to inherit the family business. As for me, it’s better to stay away.”
"I don't want to break my eldest brother's heart because of the family business. I don't want to upset the whole family because of this matter. Besides, this person is too loose-minded. If he is an aide, he can make suggestions. But If I were asked to preside over something, I would have to make a fool of myself. It’s hard to start a business and even harder to keep a business, so I’d better choose something less difficult.”
"I don't have much interest in things that are too challenging. I don't have the patience to deal with trivial matters. The most important thing is that I have no interest in doing business. The Fan family relies on force. If you choose a scholar to be the head of the family, others will laugh at the Fan family for being incompetent."
At this point, Fan Jian stopped. Huang Qiong, who was beside him, had not expressed his stance when he said these words. But when he was about to stop there, he said calmly: "Now that I've said it, let's say it all. Pour out all the bitter water, so that you can put down your baggage and go into battle lightly, right?"
Fan Jian's face turned somewhat red at Huang Qiong's words. Looking at the young but resolute face of the British King in front of him. He gritted his teeth and continued: "Your Majesty, although the Fan family's position in the world of politics and business seems to be unshakable, in fact it is now on the edge of a cliff."
"Although the Fan family has never participated in the infighting among the princes, it is difficult not to make people jealous with their huge wealth and status in the world. Moreover, although the Fan family has a great business and many disciples, compared with the imperial court But it's just a drop in the bucket. The court, or even a certain prince may not have taboos if he wants to touch the Fan family. But as long as he is determined, he may not be able to do so. "
"Nowadays, the princes are using all possible means to fight for the throne. Although the Fan family does not want to get involved, some people do not intend to let the Fan family go. The wealth that the Fan family now controls, as well as the many masters under the sect, are too great. It’s eye-catching. In fact, under the influence of various forces, some of the Fan family’s children have already been tempted.”
Although Fan Jian's words were a bit obscure, Huang Qiong understood them. Huang Qiong nodded slightly and said: "The affairs in the court are complicated and complicated, especially the battle for the throne among the princes, which is cruel and even bloody. Everyone is pursuing profit, but how many people have the last laugh? If you are not careful, you will lose everything, and it is not uncommon to bring disaster to the entire Fan family."
"You, the Fan family, want to keep yourselves clean and not get involved in this to avoid disaster and protect yourself. But how can you be in the world and do everything as you wish? I cannot say that this idea is wrong, but you have never thought about it. No one is guilty of carrying the jade. Just as you said, the huge wealth, the large number of masters under the sect, and the Fan family's status in the world will attract prying eyes to you. "
"Although the gap between the imperial court and the Jianghu people is very deep, after all, the past has been hundreds of years. In the face of huge interests, there are a few people who will not be tempted. Things like Baishatang are definitely not an exception. Jianghu people who want to get involved , I'm afraid there are not a few. Once the person behind it ascends to the throne, the benefits brought to these people who follow the dragon will definitely not be a few."
"In fact, the imperial court and the people in the world seem to be two worlds, but they are actually one. In those days, Songshan Shaolin Temple was able to become a martial arts leader. Apart from its own reasons, was it possible without the support of the former Tang Dynasty for hundreds of years? And? If a sect without the support of strong strength behind it wants to reach the top, it cannot be said that it is impossible, but it is very slim."
"Without the protection of the imperial court, or the secret support, no aristocratic family can survive for a long time. Especially a family like the Fan family, which combines aristocratic families and wealthy people, no emperor in the past dynasties would be able to survive." It’s almost impossible not to be taboo. To be honest, your Fan family’s ancestral precepts are a bit outdated.”
Huang Qiong said the last words, but Fan Jian shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, although the Fan family is a family of martial arts, they are more businessmen at heart. Although martial arts is respected, except for me, a special case , there are no scholars at all. If you serve the imperial court or enter an official career, you can only join the army or become a palace guard."
"The Fan family not only has many disciples, but also many talents. This is because the Fan family is extremely strict in selecting its disciples. The Fan family has never selected disciples with foreign surnames from rich families, but from poor families. . Even the few who are accepted out of consideration will never become core disciples. Most of the core disciples of the Fan family are selected from orphans."
"The Fan family takes in a group of orphans every year. The good ones are taught martial arts by the martial arts room. The rest are taught abacus and business skills by the academy. Those disciples selected from poor families will be taught martial arts by the military room after joining the Fan family. It is necessary to cut off contact with the original family. Of course, the Fan family will also give their parents a sum of money and materials that can make them a well-off family."
"Although the selection method of the Fan family is a bit cruel, this method ensures the loyalty of these disciples to the Fan family. Think about it, if the military attaches in the army and the guards in the palace are all from the Fan family, then the emperor I can sleep. If one day the head of the Fan family wants to seek a throne, will that emperor still be able to secure his position?"
"Although the ancestral precepts of the Fan family are somewhat outdated, it is this ancestral precept that has ensured that the Fan family has not aroused the suspicion of any emperor for more than a hundred years, allowing the Fan family to live safely until now. But now there is something wrong with the Fan family. We have found some problems, and this problem does not lie with the disciples with foreign surnames, but with each room in the Fan family."
"Now the rooms of the Fan family have become the imperial court. To be precise, the princes are trying to win over Miao. Last year, when our ancestor's sixtieth birthday came, Prince Duan even went to Xiangyang secretly to celebrate his family's birthday at the expense of the prince's dignity. Not only Prince Duan , Princes such as King Jing, King Shu, King Teng, and King Song all sent their confidants to Xiangyang Mansion to celebrate his birthday."
"As for the prince, the current magistrate of Xiangyang belongs to him. On the sixtieth birthday of our ancestor, the magistrate replaced the prince and gave his grandfather a gold seal. Although what is engraved on this gold seal, others don't know yet. , but after the family ancestor saw this golden seal, his expression changed drastically. After the birthday banquet, he once sighed that the Fan family was about to be in disaster."
"These days, Huang Guizhou goes to a family of Jianghu people and businessmen to pay birthdays. Everyone can see what he is thinking. When others see this scene, they can only sigh at the illustrious prestige of the Fan family, but there are a few people who can see it. What’s the huge crisis lurking here? It’s definitely not a good thing for the Fan family that these princes send people to pay their respects.”
"The problem now is not the Fan family itself, but that the princes don't want to let go of the Fan family. After the ancestor's birthday banquet, some people saw that they couldn't win over the ancestor, so they extended their hands to the rooms of the Fan family. In many ways, these people As a result of the win-over, many members of the Fan family have wavered. Especially those who have no real power and can only live on some dividends from the family every year."
"With these princes trying their best to win over each other, each house and branch of the Fan family now has its own ideas. There are also many who want to break away from the Fan family and set up their own business. Moreover, the Fan family itself is not monolithic. There are also many branches who are concerned about the status of the family leader. The current situation within the Fan family is something that even the ancestors cannot suppress."
"Once someone is dazzled by the greater benefits promised by others, the Fan family may fall apart before their eyes. The current Fan family can be said to have encountered the biggest crisis since its establishment. The most difficult thing to understand in the world is In the human heart, some people dare to do anything for profit. What’s more, my clansmen who have long been concerned about the status of the family leader?"
"It's true. A big family can be united not only by blood, but also by interests. If you are poor in the downtown area, no one cares about you, and if you are rich in the mountains, you have distant relatives. This is the reason. Once greater interests and When temptation arises, whether it is brotherhood or family ties, they will be abandoned without hesitation." Huang Qiong said with emotion at Fan Jian's words.
When Huang Qiong's sigh had not completely subsided, Fan Jian, who was beside him, suddenly reached out and pointed to the rebel camp outside the city and said: "My lord, you see, the fire in the rebel camp must have been caused by General Zhao." The general is young, but his experience is really old. There has been no movement for such a long time, and I thought he was going to let go, but I didn't expect that he was waiting here."
Upon hearing this, Huang Qiong quickly looked in the direction of Fan Jian's finger. Sure enough, a raging fire broke out in the rebel camp. The fire burned fiercely, and the light rising into the sky could be seen clearly from more than ten miles away. Although I don’t know which part of the rebel camp started the fire, the fire is enough.
Looking at the rebel camp, Huang Qiong said to Wang Dalong without hesitation: "Dalong, you immediately take a thousand soldiers, plus all the archers in the pass, to meet General Zhao. If the rebels fall into chaos, Just take the opportunity to charge and kill. If there is no chance, you will use all your strength to take down General Zhao. As for what to do, you are also a veteran, so you can figure it out yourself."
"Your Highness, what will you do if I leave? More than half of the twenty guards you brought out have been destroyed. There are a few more people left in the gate, and Brother Liu is not here either. Once I leave, you will There is no one around. What will you do if the killer comes again?" After hearing Huang Qiong's instructions, Wang Dalong, who had been thinking about returning to the battlefield, was not happy at all.
