Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 66 - Seizing the Future Richest Man

Shen Shan, initially dismissive, now looked at Zhan Lan with admiration and bowed to her, saying, “Miss, please, let’s talk inside!”

Zhan Lan stood up, and they both went to a private room inside.

“May I know Miss’s honorable surname and name?” Shen Shan asked eagerly, ordering the servants to serve dried fruits and tea.

Zhan Lan looked into Shen Shan’s eyes and said, “My surname is Zhan. There is an opportunity for your Shen Family Rice and Wheat Store to become famous not just in Nanjin but across the entire region!”

Shen Shan became serious and said politely, “Miss, what makes you say that?”

Zhan Lan casually took a piece of dried fruit from the blue and white porcelain dish and said while eating, “A great battle is imminent. All you need to do is transport all your grains to Lianbian City and await the opportunity. I will naturally find a way for your rice and wheat store to gain fame!”

Shen Shan laughed at Zhan Lan’s words, “Miss Zhan must be joking, all the grain here totals up to a hundred thousand bushels! Enough to feed a hundred thousand people for a month, who will I sell it to in Lianbian City!”

Zhan Lan grabbed a cashew and asked, “What is ten miles away from Lianbian City?”

Shen Shan, taken aback by Zhan Lan’s question, said, “You mean the frontier, the army camp?”

Zhan Lan nodded.

Shen Shan lowered his voice, “But, the army camp naturally has its own Grain Transport Officer, it’s not our traders’ place to step in!”

Zhan Lan smiled, “In the history of warfare, what weapon is the most destructive? It’s not gunpowder or weapons, but food. It can decide the life and death of countless people and influence the outcome of wars. There has always been a saying, ‘A general does not starve his soldiers’.”

“Only with full stomachs can soldiers have the strength to wield weapons. Food is each soldier’s ‘ammunition’. The victory of every battle crucially depends on maintaining the food supply. An army of tens or hundreds of thousands, if lacking food, will collapse without being attacked!”

“Shen Dongjia, during the Warring States Period, the Battle of Changping, and the Battle of Julu which led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the supply of food played a critical role in the success or failure of the wars.”

Zhan Lan finished these words in one breath, enlightening Shen Shan on the importance of food in warfare.

Seeing Zhan Lan’s extraordinary eloquence, Shen Shan felt like she had opened a new door for him, but he still had some doubts.

“But Miss Zhan, how do you know when there will be a war and why would our Nanjin have insufficient military provisions?”

Zhan Lan ate another piece of dried apricot and continued, “For a military campaign, logistics take precedence before troop movement. I am certain of this because I have seen the signs. As for insufficient supplies during a war, it’s common to purchase and requisition locally.”

Hearing Zhan Lan’s words brightened Shen Shan’s eyes, Yes!

Zhan Lan was right; the Shen Family Rice and Wheat Store was already half-dead, it might be worth taking a gamble!

He looked at the store entrance surrounded by people; with just one idea from this young lady, his business was brought back to life.

If they took a gamble, their family might just turn their fortunes around, or even cooperate with the government.

Zhan Lan sipped her tea and said, “When the time comes, those in need of food will definitely seek you out, but you do not need to sell the grain. You should, in front of the citizens of Lianbian City, voluntarily donate the grain to the nation.”

“What?” Shen Shan spit out a mouthful of tea.

Fortunately, Zhan Lan was far enough away not to get sprayed. She shook her head and said, “Shen Dongjia, this war is a matter of life and death for Nanjin. If you forget your small concerns and bear the weight of national justice, who in Nanjin wouldn’t know of you, who wouldn’t be grateful?”

Shen Shan wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, torn with indecision. He said in a low voice, “Miss Zhan, it’s not that I’m stingy, but now I’m literally putting everything I own on the line.”

Perhaps everyone would remember him, yet post-war, he might be reduced to begging on the streets.

Zhan Lan pointed towards a calligraphy hanging on the wall and said, “A noble man loves money, but he obtains it righteously. Greatest are the causes of nation and righteousness; to practice benevolence and to deceive none, be they young or old!”

Shen Shan read every word. Those were his family’s teachings!

After pondering for a moment, he nodded firmly, “Alright, I, Shen Shan, will take on this task!”

Shen Shan readily agreed, but then sighed, “However, transporting grain from Ding’an City to Lian’an City entails too high a cost.”

Zhan Lan chuckled, “You can buy grain nearby. Eighty miles east of Lianbian City lies Chunshui City, a land abundant with fish and rice where the rice has just recently been harvested.”

Shen Shan shook his head, “I’ve been there; the rice is indeed superb and cheap, but the journey requires a water route infested with pirates and it’s unsafe.”

Zhan Lan laughed, “Don’t worry about the pirates, I’ll handle them for you. You only need to transport the grain to Lianbian City.”

Shen Shan looked at Zhan Lan in disbelief. Who was this young lady?

She appeared to be a mere girl, and yet her words inexplicably inspired trust.

And her surname was Zhan?

Could it be that she was from the General Mansion, even mentioning handling pirates – could this young lady really manage both the reputable and the underworld?

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Incredible!

Shen Shan swallowed nervously, bursting out excitedly, “Miss Zhan, why would you help me?”

Zhan Lan raised an eyebrow and replied, “I’m not helping for nothing. In the future, when good days come for Shen Dongjia, you and I collaborate, and I promise you’ll become the wealthiest merchant across the lands. However, no matter what business Shen Family engages in, I want a twenty percent share of the profits.”

Shen Shan was amused by Zhan Lan’s words, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes crinkling up.

“Miss Zhan is so sure I can become the wealthiest in Nanjin! If it really comes to that, I’d give you thirty percent, not just twenty!” Shen Shan said generously.

“Agreed!” Zhan Lan smirked cunningly, and produced a contract she had prepared beforehand, handing it to Shen Shan.

Shen Shan, utterly astounded, thought this girl was extremely shrewd!

She had been certain he would agree to this deal!

Watching Shen Shan write down all the terms and affix his seal and thumbprint, Zhan Lan finally relaxed.

She thought to herself, no wonder Shen Shan became the wealthiest man in Nanjin in her previous life – he was a man of great courage and scope.

Zhan Lan speculated: In this life, Shen Shan’s days of being the wealthiest in Nanjin would surely come sooner!

Folding up the contract, she stood and said, “Shen Dongjia, with such magnanimity in handling matters, I too shall give you a gift!”