"A copy of the mechanical weapon data and a quotation," Fu Qingyang said.

"That's it?" Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback.

Fu Qingyang propped his elbows on the table and chuckled. "Of course, it's not that simple. I sent a cooperation proposal to headquarters in the name of Xiahou Aotian, hoping to provide the Five Elements Alliance with mechanical weapons. I promised to make four mechanical weapons the standard equipment for official garrison teams within six months, and offered a 50% discount on the price."

"Once mechanical weapons are popularized, the strength of the official grassroots members will be greatly enhanced, casualties in combat will be reduced, and the Five Elements Alliance's control will be improved. The ten old guys at headquarters have no reason to refuse. I also told them that four mechanical weapons are just the beginning, and there will be more functions and more types of mechanical weapons in the future. Do you know what that means?"

"Equipment iteration, a great transformation," Zhang Yuanqing said, spreading his arms wide.

"Transformation is out of the question, but equipment iteration is real," Fu Qingyang said, looking at him to explain.

"You may not know, but the official organization once joined forces with the scholars to establish a research fund called the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion Ancient Art Research Fund,' one of the purposes of which was to use mechanical techniques to start equipment iteration, enhance the combat power of middle and low-level Lingjing Xingzhe, and allow the Five Elements Alliance to narrow the gap with the Heavenly Punishment in a short period of time, or even reach parity."

"This is a very forward-looking strategy. The ten old guys at headquarters are annoying, but they do have something. Unfortunately, mechanical techniques rely on technological accumulation, which is not something that can be solved with money. It's like advanced engines and high-performance chips—you can't make them if you can't make them. People have accumulated more than a hundred years of technology. Why do you think you can catch up with just a few decades?"

"Ancient cultivators accumulated thousands of years of mechanical technology. How can Lingjing Xingzhe, with only a hundred years of history, catch up?" Fu Qingyang spoke eloquently. "Of course, the main reason why headquarters agreed so quickly is because I told them that Xiahou Aotian would send the same quotation to the Heavenly Punishment overseas in ten minutes."

With that, he looked quietly at Zhang Yuanqing and said, "I'm done. Go through the process quickly."

Zhang Yuanqing bowed his head. "Boss, you're brilliant!"

Fu Qingyang nodded with satisfaction.

"But boss, isn't half price too much of a loss?" Zhang Yuanqing was a college student after all, with decent calculation skills. Songhai alone has forty or fifty teams, hundreds of extraordinary individuals.

How many teams are there in the entire Five Elements Alliance? Can you imagine how much money would be lost if so many mechanical weapons were all sold at half price? Moreover, Fu Qingyang paid for the materials in advance. With such a huge amount of money, the two with the surname Ma would have to sell everything they own.

"Half price is not a problem. We can earn it back from the maintenance fees. As long as we appropriately reduce the service life of the mechanical weapons and implant devices that self-destruct if disassembled without authorization, the official organization will have to ask us for help to repair the mechanical weapons," Fu Qingyang said. "I can even let them use them for free, because free is the most expensive. As long as we increase the maintenance fee several times, we can still make a lot of money."

You're behaving like Penguin! Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly.

"It's best to lower your head when slandering me," Fu Qingyang said coldly, causing Zhang Yuanqing to clear his throat quickly and say, "Then do you have enough funds? This is not a small amount. Oh, I forgot, you still have the Fu family behind you."

Unexpectedly, Fu Qingyang shook his head slightly. "I don't plan to let the Fu family interfere. Otherwise, the decision-makers of our company will become the Fu family's elders' council."

"Ah, do you have so much cash?" Zhang Yuanqing was shocked.

If Fu Qingyang doesn't let the Fu family interfere, relying on Fu Qingyang's personal assets alone, he probably can't afford such a huge expense.

"No," Fu Qingyang shook his head as expected and said, "That's why I want you to bring in Fu Xue to participate. Although her business has been sluggish in recent years, she has also accumulated tens of billions of assets. Won't the money come then?"

After a pause, Fu Qingyang hooked his lips. "When she invests all her wealth in our company, she will have no way out. She will even have to rack her brains to raise money for the company's financial chain. Fu Xue has been a professional manager for the Fu family for more than ten years, with a wide network of contacts and many wealthy people she knows. Everyone will also be willing to give the Fu family face and lend her money. We don't have to worry about funding."

"But I won't give her decision-making power, so she will have to watch our faces. By then, even if the Fu family doesn't agree with your marriage to Guan Ya, even if Guan Ya changes her mind and doesn't want to marry you, she will have to tie up her daughter and send her to the wedding chamber."

"You're so cunning! I mean, boss, you're so brilliant!" Zhang Yuanqing was stunned, deeply feeling that his social experience was too shallow and he didn't know how treacherous people's hearts were.

Having talked about this, Zhang Yuanqing, as one of the company's shareholders, took the opportunity to express some opinions. "Mechanical secrets are so important. Will anyone in the official organization cause trouble, such as stealing mechanical blueprints, or sending scholar spies to infiltrate our company to steal technology? Our company will definitely need a lot of scholars to develop and grow."

"That's why the White Tiger Guards I raised will be useful. They will be the best security guards for the company," Fu Qingyang said, obviously having considered these issues.

"In terms of recruiting scholars, I have two plans. One is to have Li Chunfeng find someone. He is a member of the scholar group at Wanbao House, where there is no shortage of scholars. The second is to have Xiahou Aotian select reliable clansmen from the Xiahou family."

"The Xiahou family probably wants to clean up their act now. Will they still give us scholars?" Zhang Yuanqing said unhappily.

"That's Xiahou Aotian's own business. As long as he can withstand the pressure from the Xiahou family, the Xiahou family will naturally cooperate with us," Fu Qingyang said.

"Can Xiahou Aotian withstand it?" Zhang Yuanqing frowned.

"It's difficult, so I added three insurances," Fu Qingyang said meticulously. "Sign a contract with Xiahou Aotian. If he chooses to defect to the family, the power of the contract will kill him."

"Second, I not only made him empty his savings to pay for the materials, but also lent him two hundred million in foreign debt."

"Third, I have already transferred five Saints from the White Tiger Guard to be under his management along with the scholars, calling him leader. Xiahou Aotian is a flamboyant and high-profile person who can't wait to show off in front of the whole world. He used to be alone in the Xiahou family, and no one paid attention to him. His inner desires have never been satisfied. Now that he is here, it's like returning home."

"Boss, you're so... brilliant!" Zhang Yuanqing bowed his head.

"Who are you talking to?"

In the next workshop, Xiahou Aotian leaned lazily on a high-backed chair, with his legs crossed and five Saints standing behind him, like the boss of a gang.

Opposite him was a middle-aged man wearing black-framed glasses, with the temperament of a university professor. The university professor, who should have been refined and gentle, was now furious and red-faced, pointing at Xiahou Aotian and shouting, "Xiahou Aotian, do you know what you've done? You have the mechanical technique secrets, but you don't share them with the family and instead sell them to outsiders? The family has raised you for more than ten years. Is this how you repay the family?!"

Xiahou Aotian was not afraid. "Sixth Uncle, it was my parents who raised me. What does it have to do with the family? When I make money, I will naturally repay my parents. Don't talk nonsense here. Although you are my uncle, you are facing the future richest man in the country!"

"You, you, you..."

"Sixth Uncle, you are no longer worthy of sitting on an equal footing with me. I will only say a few words to my granduncle when he comes. When the ancestor comes, he will also say to me, 'Have a seat.'"

The middle-aged man pointed at him and trembled all over, so angry that he couldn't speak. After a long time, he said with heartache.

"In just a few days, you have become so inflated?" The middle-aged man took a deep breath and said, "As long as you share the mechanical techniques with the family, the shares can be discussed."

"I signed a contract."

"The family will pay the penalty for breach of contract for you."

"I signed a contract."

"We will ask the ancestor to resolve it."

Xiahou Aotian thought for a while and said, "The family's attitude is very good, but I refuse."

"Why?" The middle-aged professor questioned angrily.

Xiahou Aotian raised his chin, "Tell him!"

The five Saints behind him shouted in unison, "Hello, Leader!"

"See? This is what the Xiahou family can't give me. You old guys are all my elders and only know how to rely on your seniority in front of me. This is my paradise." Xiahou Aotian opened his arms, embracing the light of the Lord like a devout believer.

"Just because of this?" The middle-aged professor clutched his chest and retreated, unable to accept this reason. He stared angrily at Xiahou Aotian for a few seconds, then turned and left.

He couldn't persuade this eccentric nephew. Let the old family head handle it. Compared with those profligate younger generations who like to make money and play with women, Xiahou Aotian's bad character was what gave the family elders the biggest headache.

What's the problem with being profligate? Who wasn't profligate when they were young? They will slowly become mature and steady. When facing profligate sons, the elders at most criticize and teach them, but when facing Xiahou Aotian, the elders have to carry a bottle of quick-acting heart-relieving pills.

"Sixth Uncle, take care!" Xiahou Aotian suddenly shouted.

The middle-aged man turned his head coldly. Xiahou Aotian took out a document from the drawer. "This is the cooperation agreement I drafted. I definitely can't give it to the family, but I'm surnamed Xiahou after all and am willing to give the family some benefits. As long as the Xiahou family provides our company with earth-element scholars at the Extraordinary stage, I can give the Xiahou family 5% of the shares, half from me and half from Fu Qingyang."

The middle-aged man's eyes lit up and he walked over, took the document from Xiahou Aotian's hand, and said in a softer tone, "That's right. I'll report it to the family. Wait for news."

A newly established mechanical weapon manufacturing company inevitably needs a large amount of funds. If they need both money and scholars, then 5% of the shares is obviously not worthwhile.

But if they only provide scholars, then 5% of the shares is a bonus.

After sending Sixth Uncle away, Xiahou Aotian happily went to tighten screws.

Federal, Fosk State.

A newly waxed red sports car sped along the outskirts, with large wheat fields on both sides, clear blue skies, and leisurely white clouds. The scenery was as beautiful as a fairy tale.

The woman driving the car was also as beautiful as a poem, with a hint of devilish allure.

A woman whose age was impossible to tell, but was definitely a mature woman, with delicate, slightly curled hair flying in the wind, wearing black sunglasses, a high nose bridge, a sharp chin, and a delicately painted face.

A black suit skirt paired with a white shirt outlined the mature woman's exquisite figure.

Soon, the red sports car stopped outside a large manor. The woman in the car took off her sunglasses and glanced at the surveillance camera in front of the black, thorny iron gate.

A few seconds later, the iron gate slowly opened.

The red sports car quickly drove in. The manor covered a vast area, with its own shopping malls, bars, and even a school for the direct descendants of the Fu family.

Adding up the collateral relatives, there were a total of fifty to sixty thousand people living in this small city-like manor.

The red sports car arrived outside a spire-topped castle-like building. The buildings in the manor were generally exquisitely styled villas and high-rise buildings, but only this castle looked as old as if it came from the last century.

The people living inside were also Fu family elders from the last century. The old antique elders' council was composed of the first, second, and third batches of Lingjing Xingzhe of the Fu family. The youngest was eighty years old.

These people formed the Fu family's power center. As a well-known family among the Lingjing Xingzhe, the Fu family owned hundreds of billions of federal dollars in assets. The number of Lingjing Xingzhe in the family was large, and there were even two peak Dominators.

The number of Dominators below level 9 was also not small, but before Fu Qingxuan rose to prominence, the Fu family had always had a regret, which was that they had never produced a demigod.

But now the Fu family's new regret is that they have not produced a second demigod.

Fu Xue parked the car heavily, slammed the door shut, took off her sunglasses, put on a cold face, and stormed into the castle.

She went straight to the butler's office, glaring at her distant cousin, "Fu Long, why did you sell the three listed companies I manage? You must give me a reasonable explanation."

The distant cousin was wearing a formal suit, his face as serious and stern as a battle-hardened officer.

Faced with his cousin's question, he replied in a cold tone, "When has the elders' council needed to explain its decisions to you?"

Fu Xue's fair and beautiful face twitched, and she suddenly chuckled. "Okay, I'm about to lose my job."

With that, she pulled over a chair and sat opposite the butler in a rogue-like manner. She took out a lighter and a cigarette from her designer bag. Her bright red lips pursed the cigarette and began to puff out smoke.

Beautiful women are pleasing to the eye no matter what they do, even smoking is full of charm.

But Fu Long, who never touches cigarettes or alcohol, frowned.

After a few seconds of stalemate, Fu Long sighed helplessly. "You're still as unreasonable as you were when you were a child."

"Speak!" Fu Xue glared at him. "Is the family planning to sell assets and shift the focus of operations to the country?"

She had two purposes for coming here today. The first was to confirm the family's development focus and verify Fu Qingyang's words.

The second was to cause trouble.

She couldn't interfere with the development plan and could only succumb, but why only sell the companies she managed?

Fu Xue had inquired and found that the only assets that had been sold recently were the three listed companies she managed. The companies managed by other cousins were still operating well.

In recent years, because Guan Ya was disappointing and divorced her husband, she had been struggling alone, but was still gradually squeezed out of the family's core of power.

As the daughter of the previous family head, the most direct of the direct descendants, her situation could be described as miserable.

The elders were bullying her too much.

Fu Xue was a strong woman, and she occasionally wanted to find someone to confide in her bitterness and grievances, but she had been single for more than ten years, and there was no one to listen, so she could only make a fuss.

"What's wrong with you?" Fu Long frowned and said, "The family wants to transfer assets to the country, but selling your company is not because of this."

Fu Xue frowned, "Then the elders are deliberately targeting me?"

Fu Long glanced at her, "You're not worthy!"

He said in a deep voice, "It's Fu Qingyang. He recently signed a big deal with the Five Elements Alliance, which made the elders see the opportunity and hope of opening up new territories in the country. So they sold the three companies you manage to raise money, but Fu Qingyang refused. He made a request that the family couldn't agree to."

"What request?"

"Fu Qingyang said, let his father get out of the way, he wants to be the family head." Fu Long warned, "The elders are furious about this. You'd better not cause any more trouble, lest they transfer their anger to you."

Fu Xue gritted her teeth, "You're all bullying me!"

She took a deep breath. "What deal did Fu Qingyang sign with the Five Elements Alliance that the elders value so much?"

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