Chapter 601-The Late Reward Ceremony
Translator: ryangohsf
Editor: Nora
Jingchu Province, Pill Sun City.
The sudden rise of the Four Seas Bank had once again made Di Chen and the others group together.
"Really, they do not even let people go past the new year at ease," someone could not help but grumble.
It was not often that the six members of the Yanhuang Alliance would gather together.
"Guys, what views do you have regarding the Four Seas Bank operation?" As the host, Chun Shenjun had decided to chair the proceedings.
When Di Chen saw the situation, he could not help but frown. In the end, he did not say anything. The current situation needed the alliance to work together, so Di Chen did not want to burn the bridge with Chun Shenjun.
One had to say that Di Chen's growth was truly astounding.
"What to do? In my view, why don't we hire someone to destroy those banks." Sha Pojun gritted his teeth. After the Battle of Mobei, Sha Pojun was stuck in such a tough situation because of Ouyang Shuo. As a result, he hated Ouyang Shuo to the core.
"Do not be foolish!" Di Chen frowned, "The Four Seas Bank branches are set up in the imperial cities. As such, they have the protection of the imperial court. Moreover, soldiers also guard the banks. We might end up getting ourselves into trouble without achieving anything."
"Hen!"
There was no need to verbalize such facts. After all, even Sha Pojun knew that he had only spoken such words in the heat of the moment.
After the Battle of Mobei ended, Sha Pojun's position in the alliance was not even comparable to Wandering Magic. Even people within his own family were displeased with him being the representative.
As a result, Sha Pojun did not dare to rebut Di Chen's scolding. If his family wanted to regain a footing in the game, he needed to rely on Di Chen's family.
"The rise of the Four Seas Bank is already something we cannot stop. The meeting today is to come up with a plan to attract the gold from players and not allow the Shanhai Alliance to take it all." Di Chen set the tone of the meeting.
"Well said!" Zhan Lang was the first to voice his support.
"On this aspect, the Huitong Bank is willing to help." Chun Shenjun had finally found a chance, so he laughed as he spoke.
In truth, after learning that the Four Seas Bank had started to act, Chun Shenjun was first astonished but then delighted. He had realized that a chance for him to increase his influence in the alliance had arrived.
Amongst the Lords in the Yanhuang Alliance, the Huitong Bank of the Pill Sun City was the biggest and had the most professionals. Hence, it had the best chance of facing off against the Four Seas Bank.
Although Di Chen was not willing, he could not think of a retort.
"I agree!"
Unexpectedly, the first person to show support was Xiong Ba.
Astonishment appeared in Di Chen's eyes when he heard Xiong Ba voice his support. Even Zhan Lang looked toward Xiong Ba in surprise.
On the contrary, after Xiong Ba spoke up, his expression remained exceedingly normal and natural. It was like he was completely unaware of the kind of wave his words had caused in the alliance.
"Since when did Xiong Ba actually start to walk with Chun Shenjun again?"
This was the doubt in the hearts of Di Chen and the others.
They could not help but think back to the Six Tyrants of Handan in the beginning. At that time, Chun Shenjun had decided to break away under the urgings of Xiong Ba.
Things had changed in unexpected manners.
Due to personal interests, the people who had worked together to rebuild the Yanhuang Alliance had slowly broken away. In order to protect Wandering Magic, Xiong Ba had even made enemies with Chun Shenjun.
Who would have expected Xiong Ba to be such a formidable person.
Everything was based on self-interest. As long as he thought that working with Chun Shenjun would benefit him, he did not mind putting aside their grievances.
After a series of ups and downs, the current Chun Shenjun had become an experienced person, as he slowly matured.
Naturally, a renewed cooperation between the two fell into place.
With Xiong Ba expressing his agreement, Di Chen knew that he could not do anything, so he just admitted defeat, "I also agree."
Chun Shenjun gave out a slight smile.
"Since that's the case, let's take about the shareholder distribution!" Zhan Lang said.
"Based on the news that I received, 1% of shares of the Four Seas Bank is worth two hundred thousand gold. Since we need to face off against them, we cannot reduce the price. Let's just use that as the base," Chun Shenjun stated.
"No!"
Di Chen, Zhan Lang, and the others refused this proposition with no hesitation.
"Why not?" Chun Shenjun did not want to back down.
"For the Four Seas Bank to receive such a valuation, there were unique reasons." Di Chen was amused by Chun Shenjun's massive appetite, "Firstly, in terms of scale, it has branches in many territories, and it is straight up the biggest bank in China. Shanhai City has, from the start till now, invested close to a million gold into the bank. Their monthly financial income was all invested into the Four Seas Bank. Just that point alone, can the Huitong Bank do the same?"
"Based on what I know, doesn't the Huitong Bank only service Pill Sun City? The savings it has attracted has all been squeezed dry by Pill Sun City. The current Huitong Bank is just an empty shell." Di Chen continued.
"You!" Chun Shenjun's embarrassment turned into anger as he was the target of these words.
However, doubt also filled his heart.
Chun Shenjun had not expected Di Chen to actually possess such a clear gauge of the Four Seas Bank.
The legendary intel organization Emperor Wind truly had a vast influence.
"Secondly," Di Chen did not care and directly added, "The Four Seas Bank being able to gain the recognition of players is due to the reputation of Shanhai City. Hence, the guild leaders would willingly take out their money. For the Huitong Bank to fight them, we must make use of the resources and reputation of our Yanhuang Alliance."
"Brother Di Chen is right."
This time, Zhan Lang resolutely stood on Di Chen's side. Chun Shenjun appetite was truly too huge.
"Then what would you say the value is?" Chun Shenjun was a merchant and bargaining was basically an ingrained part of his being. Originally, he did not have much hopes of his proposal succeeding.
He had made such a proposition to raise the valuation of the bank.
"Fifty thousand gold and Pill Sun City cannot hold the majority." Di Chen tossed out his idea.
"Are you kidding?"
Chun Shenjun was like a cat who had its tail stepped on, as he suddenly jumped up.
"I'm serious!" Di Chen was exceedingly calm.
"Since that's the case, why not just leave. Fifty thousand? Are you stupid!" Chun Shenjun's attitude did not show even a hint of weakness.
"Going against the Four Seas Bank, we do not have to depend on the Huitong Bank."
This was the biggest chip in his hand.
As matters developed to this point, it basically turned into a battle between Di Chen and Chun Shenjun.
Zhan Lang and the others obviously treated Di Chen as their leader.
Even Xiong Ba did not want to see Chun Shenjun rip them off, so he rationally kept silent.
"Then how? The Huitong Bank is the hard work of my family. I cannot let you all take it for nothing." Chun Shenjun was resolutely denying Di Chen's idea moments ago, but now he wanted to play the emotion card.
"Pill Sun City has to give up control. As for shares, we can add another ten thousand; that's my limit. Whether or not it works, say the word." Di Chen pushed Chun Shenjun to a corner.
Zhan Lang and the others did not say anything. At this moment, it was a silent agreement.
When Chun Shenjun saw their lack of reaction, he could only helplessly accept the matter. In the end, he unwilling said, "But Pill Sun City has to be the biggest shareholder. Otherwise, I cannot answer to my family."
"Okay!"
"Raise the valuation by twenty thousand." Chun Shenjun still did not want to give up.
"Do not go too far." Di Chen's patience was approaching its limit.
As a representative of the Di Family, Di Chen did not like this kind of market bargaining antics.
"Then add ten thousand more, that is my bottom line." Chun Shenjun was extremely shameless. Different from Di Chen, merchants were willing to lose face for their interests.
When Di Chen heard these words, he exchanged glances with Zhan Lang and the others. Then he helplessly said, "Okay, then 1% for seventy thousand. However, our funds must become the reserves of the bank."
"That's natural."
After the two sides went head to head in a war of words, they finally came to an agreement.
"Should we learn from the Four Seas Bank to attract guilds to invest?" Zhan Lang asked.
"But their valuation must be two hundred thousand for 1%." Chun Shenjun knew exactly what was going on.
This time, Di Chen and the others were shockingly in unison; no one disagreed.
If these aristocratic family sons did not plan some schemes or underhanded methods, how could they display their abilities? As for how to keep it a secret such that the guild heads would not notice, each one of them had their own ways.
Next, they needed to decide the exact shareholder distribution.
The six Lords naturally could not have equal portions. Amongst the alliance, there was also a difference in status.
Chun Shenjun would hold 18% as the boss of the bank, Di Chen 15%, Zhan Lang and Xiong Ba 12% each, while Sha Pojun and Wandering Magic would have 10% each.
The remaining 23% was left for the guilds to cooperate with Yanhuang Alliance.
With that, the Huitong Bank was able to gather 8.73 million gold right away, close to three million more than what the Four Seas Bank had gathered.
The reason they could gather so much was because Chun Shenjun had taken out more than 80% of the shares. One must know that Shanhai City still controlled 60% of the shares.
The next day, the Huitong Bank announced through the Quick Daily News that it was opened to the public. The reserves of the bank had reached an exaggerated ten million.
With that, they could attract the interests of players.
The overall reputation of the Yanhuang Alliance placed the players at ease.
However, for Huitong Bank to start running in the nine imperial cities, they would still need to wait till after the Chinese New Year. Chun Shenjun and the others had not planned for the future like Ouyang Shuo.
These two banks would definitely compete in a fierce battle after the New Year.
On the day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, Ouyang Shuo ended his break and returned to Shanhai City.
Toward the Huitong Bank, Ouyang Shuo was unexpectedly candid.
"Let them come!"
These were the exact words Ouyang Shuo had said to Xie Siyun and the others.
It was time for these two alliances to have a head on fight.
Ouyang Shuo's current might had undoubtedly reached a level that calmed down the hearts of others.
As for the specific matters of the Four Seas Bank, Meng Zhida would naturally deal with it. After the new year, Meng Zhida was still planning to invite elite talents of the financial circle to work at the Four Seas Bank.
Modernizing operations and recruiting talents formed the current ideology of the Four Seas Bank.
Feng Qiuhuang and the others also had the authority to recommend economists to the Four Seas Bank.
Ouyang Shuo had no intentions of keeping total control over the Four Seas Bank. He wanted to make the cake big, but before that, he needed to have the ability to eat the big cake.
The Ouyang Shuo that had just reincarnated definitely could not compare to the current him. Around him, with himself as the core, he had formed a strong alliance with common interests.
Be in historical talents like Xiao He or Lords like Xunlong Dianxue, they were all chess pieces in his hands.
Now, Ouyang Shuo already had a slight recognition of his position.
Only by tying the people he needed onto his war chariot and forming a common goal and benefit could he and his allies hold up in the battle against the Yanhuang Alliance.
Each person and power was a chess pieces on the chess board. By uniting them, one could plan the chess game, either sacrificing pieces or killing the enemy in the chess game.
Only then would Di Chen be filled with doubt when he wanted to deal with the Four Seas Bank.
Moments after he returned, Ouyang Shuo gave an imperial edict to reward the various generals.
Since they had established the military reward system, Ouyang Shuo should have given the generals rewards after the Battle of Taiping Country had ended. However, the military reorganization had gotten in the way back then.
Right when it almost reached completion, the Battle of Mobei happened. Hence, the matter had dragged on till today.
Making use of time before the Chinese New Year, Ouyang Shuo fulfilled his promise.
Amongst the generals, Baiqi held the title of number one general in the army. Following closely behind him were Han Xin, Sun Bin, and Huo Qubing, the Great Generals.
Apart from the four grade 1 generals, next would be the three grade 3 generals.
There were currently no grade 2 generals.
The imperial decree promoted Shi Wanshui to Anxi General, Zhang Han to Anbei General, and Di Qing to An Dong General.
Out of the four An Generals, only the position of Annan General remained empty.
Next would be the grade 4 generals.
The imperial decree promoted Er'Lai, Fan Lihua, Luo Shixin, and Wei Zhang to the east, south, west, and north Zhonglang Generals, while Mu Guiying, Cao Gui, and Bai Li Shi all became grade 4 generals.
A level lower were the grade 5 generals.
Expectedly, any general who became a major general became a grade 5 general. Even the recently joined Zhao Ponu and Zhao She were promoted.
Apart from general titles, military affairs also granted the soldiers their titles and ranks based on their contributions.
A large batch of old generals were able to obtain the highest military title for their role.
Apart from titles, Ouyang Shuo also announced that everyone would receive a month's worth of salary as a reward.
Even the surrendered Taiping Country soldiers obtained the same treatment.
All of a sudden, the military sentiments reached a high level.
At the same time, Ouyang Shuo's prestige in the military reached an all-time high.