NOVEL NEXT Chapter 984: 984
"Hmm, you speak, I am listening!"
Liu Zhizhong became very serious, his back straightened even more, and his tone appeared very respectful.
In his current demeanor, he was completely obedient in front of his godfather.
Zheng Xitong said, "Every Mid-Autumn Festival, there's a gathering in the South called the Nanyue Flower Viewing Festival. At this gathering, powerful people from the Southern, Southwest, and Southeastern regions come together to discuss life, talk about ideals, conduct business, and so on. Actually, it's also a way to connect emotionally, gathering once a year, and it's been this way for decades."
Liu Zhizhong was stunned upon hearing this and couldn't help but say, "This kind of gathering, the authorities actually allow it? Aren't they afraid... haha..."
As he spoke, he laughed, cleverly replacing the words he didn't say with laughter.
Zheng Xitong also laughed, elegantly extinguishing his cigarette, and knowingly said, "You're saying that the officials in Tiandu are afraid that the local powers might team up to do something rebellious, right? Or do something unfavorable to them?"
Liu Zhizhong rubbed the back of his head, nodded, accompanied with a smile, and quickly handed a cigarette to his godfather, lighting it up.
"Mr. Zheng, it's human nature, the psychology of our people, a traditional style, haha..."
Zheng Xitong nodded and said, "Indeed, there is some truth to that. You're speaking well, a traditional style! But within traditional styles, there is an important element, which is checks and balances, a kind of balance, you understand?"
"Uh... this... I do understand, but how do you balance it? It seems, not easy to balance, right?"
Zheng Xitong shook his head and then nodded, "You are clever, but your circle is still small, your vision is narrow, not understanding is quite normal."
"Haha, you're right, that's indeed the case."
"Where there's a Nanyue Meeting, there's a Beiyue Association, and also the Heavenly Competition!"
"Uh..." Liu Zhizhong was taken aback, immediately having a sense of realization, "Oh, you're saying..."
He just caught the point but couldn't express it completely, so it's better to let Zheng Xitong explain.
Zheng Xitong was also outspoken, saying, "At the Nanyue Meeting, the powerful people standing side by side indeed can generate enormous power and impact, whether economically or politically, they're quite outstanding."
"But to balance the Nanyue Meeting, powerful clans from the Northwest, Northern, and Northeast directions, along with the central regions, have formed a Mid-Autumn Conference corresponding to the Nanyue Meeting, which they call the Horse Racing Association."
"The Horse Racing Association is held by a lake deep in the grasslands. Initially, it was like this, with powerful people riding horses, indulging in wine and women, discussing shared interests, and doing business."
"The Horse Racing Association, as a strong gathering of local powerful people, is still quite influential, able to rival the Nanyue Meeting."
"However, overall, the Southern Conference appears more open-minded and radical, advocating contact with the outside world, introducing new things, seeking flexibility in their actions, and striving to break rules within the rules. Meanwhile, the Horse Racing Association is more conservative, with very outdated thoughts, often stuck in their ways, and conduct themselves with a generally narrow outlook, arguing for a long time over minor benefits."
Liu Zhizhong listened in silence, "Powerful people who enjoy life on horseback are actually so petty?"
"Indeed, they can be somewhat petty, because they're afraid of losses, afraid of losing. Overall, in terms of ideology, the Northern Horse Racing Club can't compare to the Nanyue Meeting. However, the North has so much heavy industry and important industrial chains, so they can still economically compete with the South, standing on equal footing!"