Chương 36: The Zhen Family Father and Son's Conspiracy

The five girls hurried back to the backyard. As soon as they reached the stone table, Zhen Rong couldn't help but jump up:

"The way his Adam's apple bobbed when he drank was so handsome! I've made up my mind! From now on, I'll like General Liu!"

Zhen Dao patted her on the shoulder: "Silly girl, General Liu is a big shot, how could he possibly like you so easily?"

Despite saying that, her own eyes were shining.

Zhen Mi said softly to Zhen Jiang, "Elder sister, I was just flipping through a book and came across the phrase 'dragon's bearing and phoenix's grace,' which is roughly the same thing."

As Zhen Jiang watched her younger sisters chattering away, a ripple of emotion stirred within her.

She looked up towards the entrance of the Zhen residence and sighed softly in her heart. So this was Liu Ce. Indeed... he was irresistibly charming.

After seeing Liu Ce off, Zhen Yi's smile vanished instantly. He walked quickly through the corridor with his hands behind his back and whispered to the butler behind him:

"Call Yan'er and Yao'er to the study."

Upon receiving the news, Zhen Yan and Zhen Yao exchanged a glance, knowing that their father was going to "recap" tonight's banquet.

The candlelight flickered in the study. Zhen Yi took a sip of strong tea and got straight to the point:

"You all saw General Liu at the banquet... what did you think of him?"

Zhen Yan stroked his beard and pondered, "His speech is extraordinary; he seems easygoing, but every word he says is loaded with barbs."

Zhen Yao slapped his thigh excitedly: "Extraordinary! Brother, didn't you see the six fierce generals under his command?"

"Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are as docile as house cats in his presence! This man is no ordinary person!"

"If even one of his six fierce generals were here at today's banquet, I wouldn't dare to say a word."

Zhen Yi sighed deeply, walked to the window, and gazed at the night sky:

"The world was in turmoil, the Yellow Turban Rebellion was rampant, and heroes emerged in great numbers."

"If Liu Ce can defeat 100, 000 with only 800, then the Yellow Turban Rebellion should be quelled soon. But the world is bound to change sooner or later; this is a sign that a great storm is brewing!"

He turned and stared at his two sons, saying:

"Our Zhen family is as rich as a country, but in chaotic times, money is like a fat sheep. If we can't find a big tree to shelter us from the wind and rain, we'll be eaten alive sooner or later."

Zhen Yan's eyes suddenly lit up: "Father, you said General Liu's bottle of 'Erguotou' tonight..."

He mimicked Liu Ce's action of opening the bottle as he spoke:

"That aroma! I bet you can't find another like it in the whole world! He said it's difficult to brew? He's kidding me! If it were really that hard to brew, would he just casually serve it to guests?"

Zhen Yao also realized, "That's right! If this wine could be mass-produced, the profit would be ten times higher than our hard work selling horses!"

The two brothers chatted back and forth, as if they could see mountains of gold and silver beckoning them.

Zhen Yi sneered, "So you really believe he's just a martial artist? This man commands elite troops and possesses secret formulas, yet he chose to reveal them at the banquet—he's trying to lure us in!"

Zhen Yao excitedly leaned closer: "Father, since Liu Ce is a promising prospect, and his wife hasn't been formally appointed yet, now is the easiest time to place someone else in his position and gain a foothold."

"We have to go all in! He changed the subject at the banquet? That means he's not satisfied with just one wife! We should send all five sisters! Even if they can't get the principal wife position, they can be concubines!"

He got more and more excited as he spoke: "If General Liu accepts them all, we'll be his father-in-law's whole family!"

"Would he have the nerve not to help the Zhen family then? The business of military rations, weapons, and warhorses would all be ours—that's way more profitable than selling wine!"

Zhen Yan nearly choked on his tea: "Third brother, you're quite quick to sell your sister!"

Zhen Yao declared confidently, "In chaotic times, how many families like ours desperately want to curry favor but can't find a way?"

"General Liu's power base is not yet secure. Offering help now is like sending charcoal in snowy weather. If he truly ascends the throne in the future, we will be relatives of the emperor!"

"If they establish a separatist regime, we'll be the fathers-in-law of a powerful lord! At the very least, if he becomes a great general, the Zhen family can do whatever they want!"

Zhen Yan timidly raised his hand: "But are the younger sisters willing...?"

Zhen Yao directly stuffed a piece of pastry into his mouth:

"Foolish! Didn't you hear any noise in the middle of the banquet? That's probably them."

Zhen Yi remained silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed and scolded, "You two are truly 'filial sons'! But then again..."

"Each of the five sisters has her own strengths. Zhen Jiang is dignified and capable of managing affairs, Zhen Tuo is aloof and talented, Zhen Dao is heroic and skilled in riding and archery, Zhen Rong is charming and knowledgeable in music, and Zhen Mi is even more beautiful and graceful."

"If it really works out, it will be an extremely profitable deal."

……

They talked secretly until midnight when Zhen Yan suddenly had a change of heart: "Father, wouldn't this be considered selling out our sister for personal gain?"

Zhen Yi clutched his heart, feigning heartbreak: "My son, don't you feel any pain as his father? But in these chaotic times, marrying a general is better than marrying a county magistrate, and marrying a warlord is safer than marrying a scholar!"

He suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Besides, your sisters' mouths were practically agape when they peeked at Liu Ce's face!"

……

The candlelight in the study shone until the third watch of the night.

Zhen Yao couldn't hold back any longer and spoke first: "Father! Someone like Liu Ce will be snatched up by another family if we're even a step too slow! Let's invite him again tomorrow and lay everything out on the table!"

Zhen Yan tugged at his sleeve anxiously: "Third brother, are you crazy? At the banquet this afternoon, we toasted him and tried to smooth things over. General Liu didn't completely shut us out, but he didn't give us a straight answer either."

"Inviting him again after only a dozen hours, won't it seem like our Zhen family is too hasty? What if he thinks we're trying too hard to curry favor and is just leaving us hanging..."

Zhen Yao couldn't help but interject, "Second Brother, that's precisely why we're inviting you again—because we didn't explain things clearly enough today!"

"Think about it, who is General Liu? He's the general who decisively defeated the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and he has fierce generals like Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun under his command."

"This kind of person can't tolerate any flaws, but they are also most susceptible to sincerity."

"We only dared to probe indirectly today, but he must have figured it out. If we don't strike while the iron is hot, he'll be too busy in his military camp in a couple of days to remember our Zhen family. Besides, he's only resting in Wuji County for a few days."

The two brothers spoke in hushed tones, like two crickets engaged in a fight.

Zhen Yi looked at him without saying anything, but picked up the cup of cold tea, brought it to his lips and then put it down. It was so cold and bitter, just like his current thoughts.

The Zhen family was one of the wealthiest families in northern China, owning vast amounts of fertile land and shops, and their silver was so plentiful it could be used as a bed.

But the world was no longer at peace, with the Yellow Turban Rebellion causing a great uproar.

Just a few days ago, I heard that Zhang, a wealthy man from a neighboring county, had his entire family beheaded and their property burned to the ground because he refused to hand over grain to the mutinous soldiers.

Zhen Yi couldn't sleep at night, always dreaming that his front door was kicked open, torches reflected the glint of knives, and his beloved sons and daughters cried out for their parents...

Liu Ce's arrival was like a ray of light.

This young general, not yet twenty, led several thousand elite troops and, upon arriving in Wuji County, subdued the 50, 000-strong Yellow Turban army led by Zhang Niujiao, the Yellow Turban leader. The army camp was strictly disciplined, and not a single soldier dared to come out and rob the common people of their chickens.

Zhen Yi saw this and already had a plan in mind. In chaotic times, money is worthless and food is a disaster. Only by finding a powerful backer can the Zhen family survive.