The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

Mi Zhao is gone.

The identities of the two individuals were somewhat ambiguous, so this private conversation did not go into detail.

There are only five words: "Money can move even the gods."

But these five words opened a window for Liu Chen.

"Money can move gods and spirits, money can move gods and spirits." Under the eaves, Liu Chen changed from kneeling to sitting cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, his right hand on his knee, patting it rhythmically.

Rough words are not rough.

There's a saying in modern society: "Money isn't everything, but you can't do anything without it."

In ancient times. In this modern era, given his background and social standing, money is even more important.

Money can influence even the gods and spirits.

In the later years of the Liu Han dynasty, weren't all sorts of monsters and demons emerging? Huang Hao, Qiao Zhou, Yan Yu, Chen Zhi, and others. Meanwhile, loyal and virtuous officials were persecuted, such as Jiang Wei and Zhang Yi.

Money can influence spirits and deities, but these spirits and deities are not the ethereal gods of mountains and rivers or the dead ghosts; they are the demons and monsters of the world.

interesting.

"As expected of the Mi family, they are very astute when it comes to money." Liu Chen smiled, recalling the Mi family's reputation. Back when Liu Bei was in Xuzhou, his base was seized by Lü Bu, and he was defeated by Yuan Shu. Mi Zhu gave him all his resources and even offered his sister to Liu Bei, which helped Liu Bei regain his strength. Therefore, when Liu Bei later took control of Yizhou, Mi Zhu's status was even higher than Zhuge Liang's.

"But I don't seem to have much money. How should I get more?" Liu Chen quickly fell into deep thought. His identity was awkward; he wasn't a prince, but a prince in the palace, Prince Chen.

He had neither land nor manpower, and he had no freedom to move about. Under such circumstances, how could he possibly make money?

"Never mind. Let me figure out how much money I have first." Liu Chen looked up and saw that the eunuchs and maids were not around because he had just dismissed everyone.

"Someone, bring me my storeroom ledgers," Liu Chen shouted.

"Yes," a eunuch responded loudly, then turned and left. A short while later, he returned carrying a tray with many bamboo slips. Kneeling before Liu Chen, he set down the tray and began to recount the contents with great familiarity: "Young Master, these are account books, including the record of the Shu brocade delivered by Mi Huqi today. These represent the discrepancies over the past six months. Please take a look."

"Hmm." Liu Chen hummed in response, first glancing at the eunuch's face. Finding the eunuch's expression normal, he waved for the eunuch to leave.

After the eunuch had gone far away, he picked up the bamboo slips and began to read them one by one.

He set his sights on the money, so he became interested.

Although he was young and inexperienced, he had seen it all. Within a large corporation, finances are the most vulnerable area.

The best way to prevent your money from being stolen is to check your accounts.

You can skim through it, but you can't ignore it completely.

Liu Chen looked through the accounts of income and expenditure for the past six months before picking up the bamboo scroll that represented how much money he had and began to read it.

He frowned, and uttered a single word: poor.

He put down the bamboo scroll and looked at the income and expenditure account book again. Liu Shan did not give him much salary each year. But his expenses were quite high, including clothes for all four seasons, fine horses, and many good bows and arrows.

He received many gifts during his illness.

However, he also sent many gifts when others were sick or during holidays. For example, he congratulated his elder brother Liu Xuan on the birth of each of his many sons.

Right now, his warehouse only contains five bolts of Shu brocade, fifty taels of gold, and some other miscellaneous items.

"Come here." After reading it, Liu Chen beckoned to the eunuch not far away.

"Young Master," the eunuch approached respectfully and bowed.

"From now on, whenever my relatives have a son, a daughter, or someone is sick, I will choose the cheapest gift for them during holidays," Liu Chen said.

The eunuch was utterly astonished. What had happened to Young Master Chen? In the past, he always tried his best to choose the finest gifts. How could the difference be so stark?

"Could it be that he damaged his brain?" The eunuch had a very disrespectful thought in his mind.

"Yes." The eunuch hesitated for a moment, but then readily agreed.

"Take the account books back," Liu Chen nodded and gave the order.

"Yes," the eunuch replied respectfully, then turned and left.

"Gao Jieli is vulgar and meaningless. But doing so won't sound good for my reputation. But is reputation important? Wait. Should I care about my reputation?" Liu Chen stroked his chin, head bowed in deep thought.

Money can influence even the gods and spirits.

But what if a wealthy prince, capable of causing trouble, and with a good reputation? What would he want to do?

The relationships between royal fathers and sons, and brothers, are delicate. Above him are not only Liu Shan, but also Crown Prince Liu Xuan, and many older brothers.

Liu Shan was old.

The crown prince is in charge of the household, but his brothers may well have their own ideas.

Liu Han can be described as "a small temple with a big demonic wind".

A good reputation is not a good thing; a bad reputation, on the contrary, makes one very safe.

"From today onwards, I am a stingy and absurd person." Liu Chen smiled.

"The cold wind is getting stronger, and the young master has just recovered from a serious illness. This servant invites the young master to return to his room to rest." An old eunuch came over, interrupting Liu Chen's thoughts.

Liu Chen looked up at the gradually darkening sky and listened to the howling of the cold wind. He nodded slightly, stood up, and went back to his room to rest.

For ten consecutive days.

Liu Chen neither attended classes with his teacher nor practiced horseback riding and archery; he stayed in his small palace every day.

His mother, Consort Li, came to see him once a day.

Mi Zhao and his brothers would come occasionally.

Life was very peaceful.

Liu Chen also came up with a way to make money quickly.

This morning.

Liu Chen woke up and, with the help of palace maids and eunuchs, washed up, ate breakfast, took a short walk, and then returned to the small hall to sit cross-legged. He then sent someone to invite his mother, Consort Li.

When Consort Li heard that her son wanted to see her, she immediately came by carriage.

"Is my child feeling unwell? Let your mother take a look." Consort Li walked very quickly, and after arriving at Liu Chen's side, she hugged Liu Chen tightly and carefully examined her son.

Liu Chen gave a wry smile and said helplessly, "Mother, I sent someone to invite you not because I'm unwell, but because I need your help with something."

Consort Li was relieved and released Liu Chen, then smiled and said, "Why use the word 'please' between mother and son? My child, just ask if you need anything. I will do what I can. And I will find a way to do what I can't."

There's no one better than a mother in this world... Liu Chen felt a warmth in his heart and, without standing on ceremony, said directly, "Please ask Mother to help me get some firewood and an iron pot from outside the palace..."

He listed a whole bunch of items, including cooking utensils, seasonings, and ingredients.

He had had enough of the imperial cuisine in the palace. He wanted to provide welfare for the people of Liu Han and improve their culinary skills.

Of course, the most important thing is to make money.

"My child, are you ill?" Consort Li asked incredulously, then reached out her slender, snow-white hand and touched Liu Chen's forehead.

Her son is her pride and joy.

He was skilled in riding and archery, had a strong character, and was also good at studying. How could he have fallen seriously ill and undergone such a drastic change in personality?

This is all going to be cooked. Confucius said, "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen." That's wrong, it seems to be Mencius who said that.