After Qin Siyang finished speaking, Yan Ran, whose thoughts he had seen through, became red.
She looked at the eighteen-year-old-looking young man again, unable to understand how Qin Siyang, who was clearly an orphan and had spent all his time in a remote area until this year, could be as seasoned as a boatman who had weathered countless storms.
Zhao Longfei said to Yan Ran, "I'm still somewhat interested in your proposal about setting up a sequence establishment. But Little Qin is right. There's no way I can agree to the terms you proposed at the beginning. I'll make you an offer."
"You still provide me with the sequence establishment, and I'll open an underground market in the Yan Legion. You cover the operating costs, and all the profits go to you, but the Zhao family manages it."
Seeing that Qin Siyang was interested in the sequence establishment, Zhao Longfei immediately proposed a new plan, he would give up profits, but not authority.
Yan Ran hesitated and did not answer immediately.
Zhao Longfei continued, "Actually, the terms I'm offering are quite good. It's basically like working for your Yan Legion for free. You still have to focus on the present. Personnel, wounded soldiers, food and clothing, magic potions and equipment, which of those doesn't cost money?"
Yan Xiaowen said, "Principal Zhao, you may not understand. Before this, our Yan Legion's finances had always been very stable. We had never had any financial problems."
"Things are different now."
Zhao Longfei blew out a ring of smoke, "There are two main reasons the Yan Legion didn't have financial problems. First, it had the fewest people among the six major legions, so its expenses weren't high. Second, Yan Budong had business partnerships with the Zhao family and the three major Chamber of Commerces, and the United Government also took good care of the Yan Legion. Because of those two factors, the Yan Legion never had to worry about food or money."
"Now, neither of those two factors exists anymore."
Yan Xiaowen frowned, "Principal Zhao, why don't you make yourself clearer? I don't see what difference there is."
"I'm not someone who likes to lecture others, but since the three of you came to me for help, I might as well tell you a little more," Zhao Longfei pointed at the three siblings, "The three of you each got a Sequence Brigade. If I'm not mistaken, Yan Budong's ten Sequence Brigade commanders should have been assigned to ten different people, right?"
"Yes. The Sequence Brigades that were reorganized are all made up of our brothers and sisters. A few others only have Sequence Regiments and also serve as commanders of regular legions."
Zhao Longfei nodded, "Exactly. The Richard family has already been dismantled, so Commander Yan's revenge can be considered settled. Now, all of you brothers and sisters have your own thoughts. It's impossible for you to come together again."
"The Yan Legion's previous advantage was that it had few people and low expenses. But fewer people isn't always better. You've suddenly broken the original legion apart into more than a dozen groups. Not only is there no longer any possibility of standing on equal footing with the other five major legions, you've also made the surrounding areas even more unstable, to the point that no one dares to go there."
"So, you've lost your advantage of having low expenses."
"As for the business partnerships, the Lotus Cloud Chamber of Commerce fell out with the Yan Legion because of the Richard family affair. People from the Haori Chamber of Commerce are now being killed so often that they don't dare leave their homes. The Warren Chamber of Commerce is cooperating with my Zhao family, and the United Government has also lost any intention of supporting your legion. No one cares about the scraps left after the Yan Legion split apart."
"So, your business chain has been cut off too."
Zhao Longfei glanced at the ugly expressions on the three Yan siblings' faces, "Making money comes down to two things: increasing revenue and cutting expenses. Your Yan Legion can now do neither."
"Also, the Richard family lost the supplies you had already paid for. You lost quite a bit, right? You mobilized troops and went through a whole lot of trouble over it. As the saying goes, 'Each fire of canon costs ten thousand golds.' Every day you deploy troops is a day you're burning money."
Zhao Longfei stubbed out his cigarette and smiled, "Your financial pressure isn't small now, is it?"
The three Yan siblings did their best to hide their expressions, appearing calm and composed, but there was still a slight unnaturalness in their movements.
Qin Siyang caught those details and knew that Zhao Longfei's words had hit the mark, like a sharp blade driven straight into their weak spot.
"Yan Ran, I'm willing to give you an invitation letter of extremely high value, and I'll give you all the profits from the underground market. I'm not taking advantage of your situation, nor am I raising the price. What reason do you have to refuse?"
He lightly tapped his knuckles on the table, urging her, "As long as you agree, I'll immediately have people start building an underground market in the Yan Legion. Once you've inspected and approved it, we'll apply for an independent establishment for the Sequence Regiment, then transfer it to Little Qin's name. That'll be the end of our business."
Yan Ran was startled, and her gaze swept over Qin Siyang, "You want Qin Siyang to be the commander?"
"Yes. We members of the Zhao family can't handle legion affairs. Is there any difficulty in appointing Little Qin as commander?"
"When Father was still around, that wouldn't have been possible. But now, no one is in charge of these things anymore. It should be fine."
"Good."
Qin Siyang froze.
Earlier, Chu Xiaoang had guarded against him becoming a commander at every turn. He never expected negotiations with the Yan Legion today to go so smoothly.
No one even cared about military positions anymore. It seemed the Yan Legion really was finished.
Yan Xiaowen and Yan Xiaojie were also no longer as firm as they had been moments ago.
The two of them looked at Yan Ran and suddenly felt that giving up the establishment of a Sequence Regiment was actually quite a profitable deal.
Seeing Yan Ran hesitate, Yan Xiaojie immediately spoke, "Principal Zhao, I agree to these terms—"
Before he could finish, Zhao Longfei raised a hand to stop him, a kindly smile appearing on his face, "I'm not a man without rules. Doing business is a lot like dating, you have to respect who came first. Yan Ran proposed this business, so I have to negotiate with her first. If she doesn't agree, we can keep talking."
After hearing this, Yan Xiaojie clenched his fists in disappointment, but the look he gave Zhao Longfei was even more respectful.
Qin Siyang couldn't help twitching the corners of his eyes twice.
Zhao Longfei really knew how to fool people. He took every opportunity to make himself look good.
Ever since Qin Siyang met Zhao Longfei through the special recruitment agreement, he had felt that Zhao Longfei's behavior was no different from that of a bandit. As the saying went, "There's no honest merchant." When had he ever followed rules in a business deal?
And now he was putting on an act.
Wasn't he just bullying the three of them because they had never seen his true colors?
Qin Siyang sighed.
'Forget it. Let him put on his act. People with money and power all like to preserve a little dignity.'
As long as he didn't end up pretending away his own Sequence Regiment establishment, he could do whatever he wanted.
Yan Ran pursed her lips and thought for a moment. A decisive look appeared on her icy face, "All right. I agree to your terms, Principal Zhao."
Zhao Longfei smiled slightly and pushed the invitation letter toward Yan Ran, "You've made a very correct decision."
Yan Ran stood up, removed her glove, and took the initiative to shake Zhao Longfei's hand, "I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation, Principal Zhao."
Seeing Yan Ran take the invitation letter, traces of hatred flashed in the eyes of Yan Xiaowen and Yan Xiaojie.
Only Qin Siyang kept his head lowered.
Because he didn't want anyone to see that his face was practically splitting from how hard he was smiling.