In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Therefore, the exorbitant profits from tens of thousands of bushels of grain and tens of thousands of taels of gold were not a dream.

In disaster areas, food is life.

During each disaster, grain prices surge by more than double or triple;

The price on the black market is several times, or even ten times, that of the regular grain.

Because the supply of affordable grain is limited, much like most public rental housing is occupied by people with connections or those who drive Mercedes-Benz or BMWs.

If this is true in later generations, how much more so in ancient times when "a clean prefect could earn 100,000 taels of silver in three years"?

Officials and businessmen collude, caring nothing for the lives of disaster victims.

It is simply impossible for the poor to eat affordable food.

"Alright, Uncle Yang, I know your concerns, but you can never earn all the money in the world."

Since our Zhang family wants to sell grain at a fair price, why not go all the way? Building a reputation requires investment, and the more we invest now, the more we will gain.

This was a life-saving food, a timely help in a crisis.

"If you miss this opportunity, even ten thousand taels of gold later won't have the same effect as now."

"It was this old servant who was short-sighted."

The old butler's heart stirred, and he understood the young man's great courage, and couldn't help but sigh that he was getting old.

Making a fortune during a disaster is certainly a good thing, but if you donate it directly, your immense prestige will be like a sacred certificate.

As long as the Zhang family doesn't bring disaster upon themselves, who in the Nine Provinces won't look up to them in the future?

There are also great benefits to doing business with the Zhang family.

"In addition, Uncle Yang should prepare some generous gifts to send out, and make sure to send them to the most prominent figures in the court."

Since we're going to do this, we can't just start strong and finish weak. With them speaking on our behalf in court, our Zhang family will receive even more favor from the imperial court in the future.”

Merchants value harmony above all else!

Although Zhang Xiaoshan was a martial arts master at this time, he was by no means a reckless man who directly confronted those court nobles.

Those who deserve to be flattered should still be flattered.

As for collusion and collusion between officials and businessmen?

The Zhang family is not without its own strengths; even five years ago, they were not to be underestimated.

Moreover, the Zhang family now has connections to the highest levels.

Many of the tributes in the palace came from the Zhang family, such as soap, glass, and wine, and were provided free of charge to the royal family and nobles.

However, according to the accounts, the imperial treasury purchased tens of thousands of taels of gold last year alone.

Therefore, in the eyes of the palace officials, the Zhang family was a god of wealth.

But the Zhang family didn't suffer a loss either, after all, the costs were there, and the total didn't exceed one hundred taels.

The economic benefits brought by the 'tribute' have made the Zhang family a fortune every year, with money flowing in every day.

In just a few years, his family fortune multiplied several times over.

Even Tong Guan, the chief minister in the inner court, wanted to adopt Zhang Xiaoshan as his godson in his early years.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan declined because he was traveling.

Flattery is one thing, but marriage alliances are a direct lineage.

Given Tong Guan's infamy, the Zhang family's accumulated reputation will be instantly dragged into the abyss.

Moreover, it's definitely not a good thing for a eunuch to adopt a son.

Therefore, the An family supported Cai Jing, while the Zhang family was taken care of by Tong Guan, gradually forming a confrontational situation.

···

"Sir, the Zhang family sent a generous gift this afternoon!"

Night fell, the lights were dim, and Zhuge Zhengwo had just returned to the Divine Marquis's Mansion.

As soon as Zhuge Zhengwo entered, he saw a mountain of gift boxes in the simple and unadorned hall, which was extremely eye-catching.

Even Zhuge Zhengwo couldn't help but look surprised.

Many people used to give him gifts, but after he scolded them, the Divine Marquis's mansion became much quieter.

Unexpectedly, the Zhang family openly provoked us by offering such a generous gift.

"Why did you take it?"

Looking at the gatekeeper, Zhuge Zhengwo did not blame him, but only looked curious.

In the past, when people came to give gifts, he would refuse them without even having to invite them to come.

Now that such a large and thick object is placed so openly in the hall, Zhuge Zhengwo is also curious.

"Sir, it's not that we wanted to accept it, but the Zhang family gave one to every distinguished person."

The Zhang family steward said that their young master and the teacher had met briefly today, and this small gift was just a token of goodwill.

If the gentleman returns and wants a refund, they will come to collect it the next day.

"A small gift?"

Looking at the mountain of gift boxes, Zhuge Zhengwo's lips twitched.

No wonder they are a wealthy family!

Upon hearing Dalang's description, Zhuge Zhengwo immediately thought of their previous 'meeting,' realizing he had been exposed so quickly.

However, this young master of the Zhang family is quite an oddball.

He had no doubt about what the other party said; if he just gave a notification, the Zhang family might actually dare to come and collect the goods the next day.

Return or recycling?

But different attitudes.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Zhengwo couldn't help but step forward and open the most eye-catching sandalwood box.

The Zhang family must be extremely confident that he cannot refuse this gift.

Ka!

As the wooden box was opened, everyone saw that it contained medicinal herbs that looked like withered branches, about three inches long.

What treasure?

Apart from Zhuge Zhengwo, none of the others could recognize what it was after careful observation.

But they knew that since this thing was placed in a sandalwood box, it must be a precious medicine comparable to old ginseng, otherwise the Zhang family would not be able to offer it.

"Uncle?"

Ruthless is skilled in mind reading and can sense Zhuge Zhengwo's shock and hesitation.

It's important to know that there aren't many treasures that can move Zhuge Zhengwo, let alone something that challenges his principles.

"Received, put into storage!"

"Inbound?"

Dalang and the others looked at Zhuge Zhengwo in disbelief. Before they could ask any questions, Zhuge Zhengwo had already hurriedly left with the sandalwood box.

At this moment, everyone realized that the thing must be extremely important to Zhuge Zhengwo, to the point that he was willing to violate his principles.

For a moment, everyone was even more curious about the mountain of gift boxes.

The Zhang family's capabilities are evident.

Chapter Five: Ghost Street, Heavenly Mystery Tower, Nine Gates, Golden-Faced Buddha

Ghost Street!

This place was originally just an ordinary black market, but everything changed three years ago.

At that time, the heads of several major black markets suddenly joined forces and spent five months transforming it into the now infamous Ghost Street.

Ghost Street is riddled with traps and mechanisms; anyone outside the street who tries to pry into its secrets will never leave.

At this moment, the core of Ghost Street is the Heavenly Mystery Tower!

What are the eight leaders, all wearing sinister masks, waiting for?

The initiator of Ghost Street, and also the person behind it.

The establishment of Ghost Street was orchestrated by the other party.

In the past two years, Ghost Street has entered a period of rapid development, and these people have gradually earned a resounding title—the Nine Gates Admiral:

The three above: Golden-Faced Buddha, Ghost King Yama, and God of Wealth

The three middle gates: Lei Laowu, the Heavenly Official of the Tomb Raiders; Zhang San Niangzi, the Beauty Who Surpasses Diao Chan; and Yang Chenghu, the Drunken Arhat.

Low-class: Snake King, Butcher Zheng, Black Widow

The three above—Golden-Faced Buddha—are none other than Zhang Xiaoshan, who is elusive and the mastermind behind the entire Ghost Street;

Ghost King Yama was also Zhang Xiaoshan's confidant. He was originally a palace guard and the commander of 100,000 imperial guards. He was framed by Cai Jing, lost his post, and after Ghost Street was established, he took charge of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

The God of Wealth is An Shigeng of the An family, who oversees the An family's business in the black market.

Lei Laowu, one of the three chief bodyguards in the tomb raiding industry, goes without saying;

Zhang San Niang, who rivals Diao Chan, owns the largest brothel in Lin'an Prefecture, with at least three top courtesans under her command, as well as several large brothels.

Brothels were mostly places frequented by literati and scholars, while brothels were merely places for the exchange of flesh.

Yang Chenghu, the Drunken Arhat, was originally a direct descendant of the Yang family of Tianbo Mansion.

The Yang family declined, and its direct descendants, with the support of a group of loyal and righteous people, established the Fierce Tiger Gang. By the time it reached Yang Chenghu, it was the third generation.

However, Yang Chenghu had already lost the Yang family spear technique, and his reputation as the Drunken Arhat was earned through his Arhat Subduing Tiger Fist.

The lowest of the low – the Snake King, who oversees the beggars in Lin'an Prefecture and is in charge of intelligence; Madam Tu, as her name suggests, started her business selling meat and is known as the "Township of the West"; and the Black Widow, a legendary beautiful widow who eats people without spitting out the bones, is also an extremely mysterious assassin.

The nine gates of Ghost Street each have their own function.

That's why Ghost Street is thriving today.

squeak!

As the door was pushed open, everyone immediately looked at the person who had entered.

A tall, slender man in black robes, standing seven feet tall, entered the main conference room. Beneath a golden mask, his bright, captivating eyes drew everyone's attention. They immediately rose to greet him respectfully.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Everyone, please take a seat."

Zhang Xiaoshan's physical transformation was precisely due to the muscle-shrinking and bone-tightening technique from the Nine Yin Manual.

In this way, even if he were to run into these people face to face in Lin'an Prefecture, they would never recognize him.

Although Ghost Street is not completely devoid of people, it is a mixed bag, not much better than the Demonic Sect. An Shigeng, for example, is an absolutely restless individual.

Behind the scenes, various parties were constantly making their own underhanded moves.

But Zhang Xiaoshan has his own trump cards; for example, most of the ideas for Tianji Tower and Ghost Street came from him.

Even the chief designer of Ghost Street, Ghost Hand Yue Qing, was invited by him.

On the surface, Ghost Street is laid out according to the principles of Qimen Dunjia, but it harbors hidden dangers.

In reality, it contains many cutting-edge technologies and has a hidden spatial design; the secrets that the public can only glimpse are less than one-tenth of what's inside.

"I'm here to inform everyone that the operating model of Ghost Street is mature and we can proceed with the next step of the plan."

Lin'an Prefecture is the capital of the Song Dynasty, a gathering place for high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants. Compared to the black market customers we had before, they are our main clients.

Therefore, the first Ghost Street Festival cannot afford to have any mistakes.

Each of you should bring out at least one highlight item.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency!"

The five nodded; they couldn't be careless about something that concerned their own interests.