Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

Not only did he dress the few people who followed him up neatly, but he also made sure they were clean and tidy.

They even made them remove the yellow cloth covering their heads.

Now that I look at it, they do indeed look like some kind of businessmen.

"I apologize for not being able to greet our distinguished guest from afar."

He didn't have to wait long.

Soon, a young man dressed in fine clothes walked briskly over from a distance.

The person hadn't even arrived yet, but their voice had already reached them.

They curiously observed Zhou Heng and the others.

The Mi family is currently secretly funding Liu Bei, but this is only the first round of financing.

He didn't bet all his savings on it.

The real stake was placed on the family fortune after the Mi family married Mi Zhen to Liu Bei.

After all, in ancient times, the closest relationship was considered to be marriage.

Therefore, the Mi family actually wanted to be associated with Liu Bei.

Although the Mi family was known as the richest family in Xuzhou, they were ultimately just wealthy merchants.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants

Even the wealthiest businessmen used to belong to the lowest rungs of society.

They are far inferior even to the most ordinary farmers.

The wealthier people are, the more they want to achieve a leap in social status.

Investing in a promising stock is undoubtedly the fastest way to achieve a leap in status.

In fact, they have historically done just that.

By marrying his younger sister to Liu Bei, he successfully achieved a leap in social status.

However, this also led the Mi family into utter ruin.

Liu Bei squandered all the wealth accumulated by the Mi family over generations.

This is also why Zhou Heng previously said that to join Liu Bei, one needs to have money and connections.

The Mi family is a typical example.

That's fine.

The younger sister was abandoned one after another and eventually died on the way to escape.

The eldest brother, Mi Zhu, devoted himself to Liu Bei until his death.

He, on the other hand, was constantly being beaten down by Guan Yu.

They're shouting and threatening to kill each other over trivial matters.

It's both tragic and lamentable.

These thoughts flashed through Zhou Heng's mind quickly, but he suppressed them and stood up to greet him: "I am Zhou Heng, a merchant from Jingzhou. I greet Mr. Zifang."

Those events, after all, happened in the original story.

The Mi family has only invested in the first round of angel investment so far, and has not yet fully committed its entire fortune.

Even if they wanted to marry off their sister, they would have to find the right opportunity!

After all, Liu Bei already has a wife.

The Mi family was, after all, the richest family in Xuzhou, and people of considerable status. Naturally, they were unwilling to marry Liu Bei as a concubine.

So, I've been waiting for an opportunity.

Historically, the Mi family captured Liu Bei's wife after Lü Bu launched a surprise attack on Liu Bei's Xuzhou.

Seeing that Liu Bei was unmarried, she married her younger sister to him.

Based on the timeline, it should be in a few months.

"Zhou Heng?"

Mi Fang frowned, feeling for some reason that he had heard the name somewhere before.

Mi Fang at this point can only be considered as having made the first round of angel investment in Liu Bei.

He held a position under Liu Bei.

However, it doesn't have much real power.

So apart from a few people Liu Bei trusted, Mi Fang didn't really know Zhou Heng.

"Indeed, I have come here today with a major business opportunity that I would like to discuss with you, sir."

Zhou Heng smiled slightly.

"Oh? What kind of business is it?"

Mi Fang became interested. How dare you talk about big business in front of the Mi family? I really don't know if you're brave or crazy.

As the richest family in Xuzhou, the Mi family would rank among the top three even in the entire country.

He was hailed as one of the four wealthiest families in the Eastern Han Dynasty, second only to the Zhen family.

"50,000 shi of grain, 2,000 military spears, 300 sets of armor, 300 warhorses, and 3000 leather goods..."

Zhou Heng said calmly.

These words immediately caused Mi Fang to turn pale with shock.

These things could arm an army of several thousand people.

"How dare you! Warhorse armor is a prohibited military item. How can it be used for trading? I think you're clearly trying to fool me."

"Men, throw them out!"

Zhou Heng waved his hand: "Wait a minute."

“In Xuzhou, others may not be able to get these things, but I believe Mr. Mi can definitely get them. As for the price, please feel free to name your price. These are a small gift for you.”

After he finished speaking, Zhou Heng clapped his hands.

The next moment, a large box was brought in from outside, filled with all sorts of rare and precious treasures, sparkling and breathtaking.

A glint of greed flashed in Mi Fang's eyes, but she restrained herself.

"You want too many things, and most of them are contraband. If my lord finds out, I'm afraid I'll be in deep trouble. No way, find something else."

5 shi of grain is nothing; given their family's wealth, it's just a drop in the ocean for them to come up with that amount.

However, the other military equipment, armor, and warhorses were quite different.

Although they can also take it out.

But just because he can take it out doesn't mean he wants to.

The situation in Xuzhou is already very tense.

Yuan Shu suddenly attacked Liu Bei, and coincidentally, Lü Bu was still a force in Xuzhou at that time.

This is something that deserves serious consideration.

Liu Bei's original idea was to use Lü Bu's strength to fight against Yuan Shu.

However, Lü Bu was a fickle and capricious man.

Now, a person has suddenly appeared in Xuzhou City, buying up grain, fodder, and military equipment on a large scale.

This made him feel uneasy again.

"Sir, please don't be hasty. This is just a small gift for you. You can refuse after I've stated my terms. Bring it in."

Soon, another large box was carried in, accompanied by another burst of glittering jewels.

"This is a gift for your younger sister. In addition, I will add 30% to the market price."

Zhou Heng smiled.

"this........"

Mi Fang frowned even more. To be honest, as a businessman, no one could refuse such high profits.

Not to mention his inherently greedy nature.

Later, when they were in Jingzhou, Eastern Wu bought more than half of Jingzhou's grain and military supplies with a profit of only 50% higher than the market price.

It is easy to imagine how greedy Mi Fang was.

What Zhou Heng is doing now is breaking down the opponent's psychological defenses step by step.

"Alas, sir, please forgive me. I truly wish to do this business, but I am simply powerless to do so. Although I am in charge of logistics within Xuzhou City, such a massive transaction cannot be undertaken without my lord's approval..."

“I’ll add another 50% to the original price, and there’s also a box as a gift for your brother.”

Another large box was carried in, making a total of three large boxes, adorned with jewels.

Even Mi Fang, with her strong will, couldn't help but gasp sharply.

Mi Fang's eyes struggled: "You....."

Zhou Heng smiled: "This is already the highest price."

Mi Fang: "Please allow me to think about it."