I changed the world.

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If Zhang Jing hadn't informed him beforehand, Sun Zhonghe would likely have assumed it was just a normal oversold rebound. However, based on the information Zhang Jing had previously revealed, and with some speculation, Sun Zhonghe's team collected information through all available channels and then cross-referenced it.

It must be said that in modern society and in the open capital market, it is impossible to completely hide all information; everything leaves a trace. By observing the movements of some funds and individual shareholders with deep backgrounds, Sun Zhonghe discovered that no matter how grand their words may be, their recent stock market operations have all involved large-scale selling of their shares.

The price fluctuations of many commodities in the futures market also confirmed his suspicions. Furthermore, according to his observations, the scale of selling in the stock market is expanding, even showing a subtle trend of dumping. This is by no means a "correction" after a rapid rise, but rather a large amount of capital fleeing the market.

Such selling has exceeded the scale of some funds attempting to buy the dip after the market was "oversold," which is the biggest reason why, although there have been signs of an oversold rebound in stocks in recent days, the rebound has fallen short of expectations.

However, the current stock index is still too high, and due to the long-term economic boom, everyone is instinctively optimistic about the stock market, thus ignoring this unusual risk.

Sun Zhonghe even noted that the domestic stock market clearly "rushed ahead" in this decline, falling earlier and more sharply than markets in other countries.

Zhang Jing naturally understood what was going on. It was obvious that the "well-informed people" in China had obtained the information earlier and had gotten there first, that was all.

Based on these analyses, Sun Zhonghe has compiled a list of eight stocks that he believes are most suitable for trading. Only one of them is listed domestically, while the other seven are listed on the "Hope City United Exchange," which is registered on the moon.

The Hope City United Exchange (hereinafter referred to as the Hope Exchange) was originally established to raise funds for the development of new technologies under the urgent pressure of extraterrestrial civilizations. Therefore, it is set up under the framework of the Human Alliance, and funds from all over the world can flow in and out freely. Most of its listed companies are top technology companies, mainly focusing on deep space concepts.

Because it raises funds worldwide, it has become the world's largest technology stock exchange.

Zhang Jing was not worried about these details. The 3 million yuan he had promised had already arrived. Even with some leveraged financing, given his current capital size, he could not make any waves. At most, he would just be a speculative investor following the trend, going with the flow.

However, what Zhang Jing wanted was to take this opportunity to expand his funds. As for the specifics, he trusted Sun Zhonghe's professional abilities, after all, he had been found through a wishing book.

* * *

承和三十七年 2016年4月4日19:13 建安省晋安市

As one of the earliest port cities in modern times where the Great Zhao Dynasty began maritime trade, Jin'an City, the capital of Jian'an Province, has always been one of the most important economic centers in the south of the empire.

Since the founding of this dynasty, this place has been home to many wealthy merchants. The economic prosperity led to greater investment in academics during the imperial examination era. Before Emperor Huanzong's northern expedition, more than 800 people from Jin'an City passed the imperial examination. Apart from the two capitals and other important centers of the imperial examination in Jiangnan, it was among the top tier in the country.

After Emperor Huanzong's northern expedition, Jin'an, being located in a coastal area, was spared from the ravages of the nomadic cavalry from the north. Instead, it became increasingly prosperous as some powerful southern families fled south to avoid the chaos.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind History Books: Chapter 728 Prince An

In the following era, with the increasingly close trade between East and West, the spread of Western learning to the East, and the development of the islands in Southeast Asia after the reform of the modern dynasty, Jinan City, as one of the most important trading ports in the south and a hub facing Southeast Asia, ushered in a huge wave of economic benefits. Therefore, today Jinan City is the most important southern town of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

Jin'an was the fiefdom of the Prince of An. The Prince of An's lineage was one of the founding princes. It was the fiefdom of the eighth son of Emperor Taizu. Emperor Taizu enfeoffed his sons because he learned from the lessons of the fall of the Qi Dynasty. He enfeoffed princes in various places to control key military locations and ensure the safety of the capital.

At that time, Prince An was located on the southern coast, and compared with the most powerful princes in the north, he was not particularly remarkable.

Therefore, during the process of reducing the power of the princes after the dynasty had established itself, Prince An was affected, but he was not stripped of his title; only his military power was taken away.

Following the Jia Shen Rebellion, the Lin Hu invaded the south and captured the capital, causing widespread devastation in the north, the Central Plains, and parts of the south. Many powerful princes who had ruled for generations perished in the upheaval. Even after Emperor Huanzong's northern expedition, the emperor did not intend to restore the princes' lineage; instead, he took the opportunity to abolish their titles.

However, King Anlu (whose lineage was remote and located on the southern coast, and thus had not encountered any military disasters), was one of only a few royal families to survive.

Today, the Prince An's Mansion no longer possesses the imposing power it once held in the early years of the dynasty. However, after hundreds of years of operation, its influence in Jin'an and even the entire south is immense. From infrastructure such as water, electricity, and communications to ports and real estate leasing, the Prince An's Mansion has a presence in many industries in Jin'an City and even Jian'an Province.

Taiyuan is located in Xixia Mountain in the southern suburbs of Jin'an. It is a property under the name of Prince An. This manor with a combination of Chinese and Western styles is built in a valley in Xixia Mountain. It is surrounded by clouds and mist and has a very good climate. There are large tea gardens around it, large lakes in the garden, a horse farm and a helipad. In addition, there are a large number of buildings with a combination of Chinese and Western styles.

At this moment, the play "Butterfly Lovers" is being performed in the small theater of Taiyuan Garden. It is a classic traditional Jin'an opera. The scene being performed on the luxuriously decorated stage is a segment about a poor scholar having an affair with a young lady from a wealthy family. However, in traditional operas, this segment is not described in detail and is mainly performed through singing. On the stage, the beautiful female lead is wearing a thin dress that is partially obscured, while the handsome young male lead playing the scholar is also open-chested. The two are embracing intimately on the stage in an ambiguous manner, which is watched with great interest by a middle-aged man below, who applauds and cheers from time to time.

This middle-aged man had a large face and ears, looked to be in his forties, was stout, had fair and delicate skin, and dressed casually yet elegantly. He was clearly a pampered person. This man was none other than Chen Yuanqing, the Prince of An in the present day.

Beside him was a round table laden with various foods, and scantily clad women would occasionally feed him food.

At this moment, a small door on the side of the theater suddenly opened, and a middle-aged man wearing a jade crown, with his hair and beard meticulously styled and dressed in a traditional brocade robe, who looked very dignified, walked in led by a maid.

"Lord Huiyuan, come, sit here." Seeing the middle-aged man approach, Prince An, Chen Yuanqing, smiled and swayed his body. Then he pointed to the side, and someone brought over a chair and served tea.

"Your Highness is in high spirits..." The man smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. He did not refuse and sat down directly next to Prince An. At this moment, Prince An waved his hand, and the servants and maids on the side all retreated. Only the drama on the stage continued.

The middle-aged man, known as Lord Huiyuan, showed no surprise at the rather "cool" drama on stage. He simply turned his head and, mimicking the female lead's movements, commented a few words to Prince An beside him, which drew a burst of laughter from Prince An.

While watching the play on stage, the two chatted for a few minutes before getting down to business. Prince An patted the armrest of his chair and said, "I must thank Duke Huiyuan for bringing the news about the beacon tower the other day. Otherwise, I would have suffered a huge loss on this trip."

"Your Highness is too kind. Given Your Highness's status, you will find out sooner or later."

“We can’t afford to delay these few days, otherwise we’ll lose so much money…” Prince An shook his head and sighed, “Although this manor is large and prosperous, it has a lot of people to support, and it can’t withstand this kind of turmoil.”

"By the way, I recently acquired a copy of Wang Jiaweng's 'Quick Rain Postscript.' I'm not an expert in calligraphy, but I've heard that Grand Secretary Wei is a master calligrapher. I'll take it back with me later and ask the Grand Secretary to take a look..."

"How could I possibly accept that..." The middle-aged man hurriedly made a gesture of refusal. This man's surname was Wei, given name Feng, and his given name was Huiyuan. He came from the Wei family of Jin'an, a prominent family in Jian'an, with generations of prominent officials. His elder brother, Wei Guang, held an important position in the cabinet.

After another round of polite refusals, Wei Feng finally had no choice but to accept the gift.

The two then began discussing economic topics in relation to the beacon tower.

The ancestors of the Wei family were originally maritime merchants. After accumulating wealth through maritime trade, members of the family successively entered officialdom through the imperial examinations, gradually becoming a prominent clan. To this day, their descendants have served as officials throughout the generations, making them a renowned and prestigious clan in the region.

Today, the Wei family holds a controlling stake in the renowned Southern Maritime Bank and also has stakes in numerous other banks, insurance companies, and trust companies, making them a hidden financial tycoon.

Wei Feng is the second son of the eldest branch of the Wei family. Although the current head of the Wei family is his elder brother Wei Guang, Wei Guang is an official in the capital for many years. The actual person in charge of the Wei family's huge business is Wei Feng, who is also the chairman of the Hai Shang Bank and a director of several other banks.

Thanks to his elder brother's connections, Wei Feng was extremely well-informed. As a financier, how could he possibly miss this upcoming feast? His visit to Prince An, including his previous efforts to curry favor with the prince, was also partly driven by this consideration.

"I have already instructed people to transfer the funds that Lord Hui'an requested. I will have my subordinates make the arrangements when the time comes."

"Good, Your Highness is indeed very generous." Wei Feng heard Ni Yan's words and laughed. Then, he secretly stretched out one hand and flipped it over again: "This time, I also contacted many friends. They are all preparing to participate, and the number will be no less than this..."

“Lord Hui’an is an expert in this field, so I am naturally at ease!” Upon hearing this, Prince An laughed heartily. He knew that the Wei family had close ties with many prominent families in Jian’an.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind History Books: Chapter 729 "New Money" and "Old Money"

As the saying goes, "those who live near mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near water live off the water." Most of the prominent families in Jian'an were inseparable from maritime trade. In order to share the risks of maritime trade, they had a long-standing tradition of "raising shares" to go overseas. As a result, their internal connections were close, and they were more united than the prominent families in the southeast.

Then Prince An leaned closer and whispered, "However, we still need to carefully consider the degree of compromise... lest the northern officials look too bad..."

Such a large sum of money, coupled with leverage, is a ticking time bomb in the financial market. Once detonated, its destructive power should not be underestimated; it could trigger a chain reaction and impact the domestic economy. This is precisely what Prince An is concerned about. After all, as a vassal king, he still has many reservations.

Wei Feng was naturally aware of the same issue, and he nodded, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, my elder brother also instructed me on this matter. Therefore, we plan to use this money to make arrangements within the Pakatan Harapan organization this time..."

"Grand Secretary Wei is indeed a wise and experienced strategist. In that case, I am relieved..." Upon hearing this, Prince An's expression relaxed. As long as he knew that there was no risk in the general direction, his subordinates would naturally handle the details.

The two then stopped talking about that topic and instead discussed romantic matters related to the play on stage, making the atmosphere increasingly harmonious.

Since the Industrial Revolution and the spread of Western learning to the East, exchanges between East and West have become increasingly close. In modern times, the Chinese government even sent many groups of students to the West for study and exchange. Meanwhile, the commercial atmosphere in the Great Zhao Kingdom gradually rose, and those aristocratic families and nobles who claimed to uphold the tradition of farming and scholarship inevitably began to change, and the social atmosphere shifted from emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce to emphasizing commerce.

The rise of capital brought about more cooperation. As a result, the previously clear-cut distinction between the "civil" and "military" paths, and the natural antagonism between the imperial examination aristocracy and the military nobility, began to subtly change in these collaborations.

Taking the Wei family as an example, Wei Guang, as a cabinet minister, would certainly not take the initiative to contact Prince An, but he would not stop his second brother, Wei Feng, from using his name to seek benefits for the family.

From Wei Feng's perspective, as a bigwig in the banking industry, whether for the sake of his family business or his personal future, he needs to cultivate more powerful clients.

The Prince An before them was the head of the Jian'an noble families. Although he was far from the center of power, he had accumulated considerable wealth over hundreds of years. In particular, through him, they could win over more local noble families, each with deep-rooted wealth and considerable fortune.

For the banking industry, this money from princes, nobles, and powerful families is called "old money." This money seeks stable returns, is not easily moved, and comes with powerful political resources, making it the best investor.

This differs from the so-called "new rich" who have amassed their fortunes through industrial revolutions such as the internet, mobile internet, and ongoing deep space mining and exploration. The wealth of many of these "new rich" is largely an empty shell, supported by equity and financing. In many situations, "new money" and "old money" are at odds with each other.

At this moment, a newly introduced actress on stage, playing the role of a "female thief," was wearing light clothing and tumbling up and down on a rope, somewhat resembling pole dancing. This addition to the play was quite unique, and it was all thanks to the playwright's whimsical adaptation.

Wei Feng clapped his hands as he watched. At the same time, he tilted his head slightly and whispered to Prince An, "Your Highness, speaking of which, that Xu family brat really does have ideas..."

"Oh?" Prince An was clearly intrigued upon hearing this.

"Just as we thought, the sickly son of the An family is said to have recovered greatly. An Zhengquan probably intends to groom a successor, and that Xu family boy has indeed made up his mind."

"Originally the heir to the group, now his position is somewhat awkward, and naturally there's a sense of loss..."

"I'm afraid it's not just him who has designs on it, but the Xu family as well..."

"How many people in the Xu family are eyeing this business... When An Zhengquan started out, he relied on his wife's family for support, and the Xu family has been quite successful over the years thanks to these shares. But people always want more..."

"If that Xu family kid had taken over, this huge piece of fat meat in Qianluo would have fallen into their bowl. If it weren't for these people encouraging him, that kid might not have made up his mind."

"It is said that Xu Yuan is working to raise his title," Prince An said unhurriedly.

"Now that it's not wartime, it's not easy for a viscount to become an earl..."

“A man with lofty ambitions but little talent will not succeed in this matter… However, if he is too shrewd, it will be difficult for us to handle this,” Prince An said calmly. What he did not say was that this matter was being sought from him.

"Next, it all depends on that Master Yu..."

"This master, I have heard Master Huiyuan speak of him many times, but can he truly subdue gods and exorcise ghosts?"

"To be honest, Your Highness, I have personally witnessed the abilities of this Master Yu. He is truly a person of supernatural powers, far superior to those wandering sorcerers. I had to pay a hefty sum to persuade him to agree to help," Wei Feng said smugly.

Then, he lowered his voice further: "I had someone investigate, and it's absolutely true that he cursed and killed people in Southeast Asia."

“This Xuanmen sect is truly full of hidden talents…” Prince An sighed. “Putting aside other things, it is said that when Master Li of Yunxiao Mountain came to the capital last time, there were many rumors about him. He was said to be a divine figure who was highly trusted by His Majesty…”

“He is certainly not comparable to that Master Li, after all, the Three Mountains Talismans are the orthodox Xuanmen.” Wei Feng laughed, “However, this Master Yu is quite ambitious for fame and fortune. Otherwise, it would have been quite difficult for us to get involved in the An family’s business.”

"Hahaha, it's good to have ambition for fame and fortune, it's good to have ambition for fame and fortune... very good..." Prince An laughed and clapped his plump hands. Now that Duke Huiyuan has said this, I really can't wait to meet this master!

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承和三十七年 2016年4月4日22:00 建安省晋安市安家大宅

An Huiling sat at her desk and surfed the internet for a while. Since embarking on the path of cultivation, she has been particularly interested in the strange and supernatural news circulating online, and she pays special attention to it when she goes online.

While browsing a news platform, she noticed that some experts online were debunking rumors, saying that the unusual weather that occurred recently in Zhaoyang Town, Yanggu City, Zhongzhou was due to magnetic field disturbances caused by a small-scale earthquake, which is a normal natural phenomenon...

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind History Books: Chapter 730 The Attack in the Dark

Out of curiosity, An Huiling searched for relevant information online and found that on some platforms, people were discussing the miracle of the Earth God appearing above the Earth God Temple in Zhaoyang Town, Yanggu City, Zhongzhou not long ago. Many people saw it at the time, and some people took photos. However, judging from the photos, the clouds above the Earth God Temple looked a bit yellowish. It is said that an earthquake also occurred at that time, which confirmed the previous statement by experts that they had debunked the rumors.

Since it concerns the divine, most people wouldn't utter harsh words. However, it's clear that most people just take what you say as gospel and don't take it seriously.

Some people said it was making a fuss over nothing, that there was no such thing as a local earth god...