I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property

In the two vehicles behind, Domt's cousins and sister from the different branches were engaged in a fierce discussion. Their spies were all over the convoy and they were not worried about being exposed. Even if they were, what could that change?

All of Mahalast's assets belonged to the Mahalast Family. Without Domt's will, those would legally become their property, regardless of which country or under whose inheritance laws, these things should be distributed among the people of the Mahalast Family.

Want to go to court? Sure, they could easily bribe a judge. Ten million should be enough, right? If not ten million, then a hundred million; if not a hundred million, then a billion.

Talking about this enormous asset of 2 trillion US dollars, a few billion was really nothing; as long as they could secure this wealth, what did it matter if they spent a few billion more?

But for those law enforcers, that was more money than they could make in ten lifetimes. Could they resist such a temptation?

Moreover, the official force of Brahma Country was involved in the matter, and they believed that they didn't even need to worry about these things themselves!

However, what they did not know was that Zhang Menglong, in the leading vehicle, heard everything crystal clear. At such a close distance, Zhang Menglong didn't even need to rely on Ye Yin's power; his ears were no different to having wind-assisted hearing.

"Mr. Zhang, your expression seems quite off," Hong Yi said.

"It's nothing. I just heard some rather disquieting matters," Zhang Menglong replied. "You tell me why these assets of 2 trillion US dollars have caused such a ruckus. They've even forgotten why their family could grow to this point and ridiculously think all this wealth belongs to their family alone."

Hong Yi instantly understood Zhang Menglong's words, "Mr. Zhang, were all my guesses confirmed?"

Zhang Menglong nodded, "Not only the Mahalast Family, but even the official forces of Brahma Country want to help them take this wealth. Can you believe a country would be so shameless for 2 trillion US dollars?"

"Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, though Brahma Country is a large country, it is actually very poor," Hong Yi laughed, "Brahma Country is considered one of the most populous nations in the world, their population nearly matching ours, yet their annual GDP doesn't even reach single digits compared to ours."

"According to last year's standards, the total GDP of Brahma Country was just over 2 trillion US dollars. Especially affected by the pandemic and coupled with backward medical standards, this year must be even worse. This 2 trillion US dollars is equivalent to a year's GDP for them."

"Indeed," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "This country is really poor. Just look at what their mother river is like, you can tell they don't have the money to take care of it."

"The government of Brahma Country even planned to spend 3 billion US dollars to manage their mother river," Hong Yi said, "but five years have passed, and they still haven't come up with the money, especially with this pandemic, their medical system has already collapsed. If our Huaxia hadn't stepped in to help them, they might have nearly been destroyed."

"Mr. Zhang, do you know what makes up the assets of the Mahalast Family?" Hong Yi continued to ask.

Zhang Menglong shook his head.

"The total assets of the Mahalast Family currently stand at 2.78 trillion US dollars, of which 2.7 trillion dollars are fixed assets. Out of these 2.7 trillion dollars in assets, over 2.5 trillion exist in the form of corporations. Do you know how much tax revenue 2.5 trillion dollars in assets could contribute annually?"

"Don't ask me, I've never looked into that!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.

"Let's calculate with our country's tax revenue for comparison," Hong Yi suggested, "The market value of Alibaba exceeds 600 billion US dollars and its tax contribution just domestically reaches almost 10 billion US dollars a year which is enough to manage the Ganges River three times over."

"For enterprises over a 2.5 trillion dollar scale, in Huaxia they would contribute at least four to five hundred billion US dollars in taxes. Although the tax rate in Brahma Country is lower than in Huaxia, 400 billion dollars would definitely be due," Hong Yi continued to probe, "Do you know what Brahma Country's fiscal revenue is?"

"Ah ba ah ba..."

"Last year's fiscal revenue was 410 billion US dollars, which is almost a tenth of their whole country's fiscal income."

"Good grief, I only knew they were poor, but I didn't know they were this poor," Zhang Menglong couldn't help but exclaim. "A family sustaining one-tenth of the country is simply outrageous!"

"Their fiscal revenue can't even cover the annual expenditure, almost every year their revenue is in deficit. How could they possibly want to transfer such business assets to citizens of other countries?"

"This is truly a pitiful country, I almost wanted to donate to them..."

...

The convoy soon drove into an estate, which was almost as large as a small town. It was said that this land had been directly bought by an ancestor of Zhang Menglong a long time ago, and they owned it in perpetuity.

Although there was a modern urban vibe, the estate still had very traditional farming, implying that the Mahalast Family probably still maintained some traditional customs.

What should have been a grand Mahalast estate, was now only bearing black and white colors, permeating a solemn atmosphere throughout the entire Mahalast Family. Within the whole family, Domte's status was equivalent to that of an Emperor, and everyone in the family had to mourn him for a month.

"Master, this way, please," Mossang supported by two nephews led Zhang Menglong into a memorial hall.

"Master!" Everyone in the memorial hall knelt down devoutly towards Zhang Menglong. Many children in the family stole glances at him, as in the legends of the elderly of the Mahalast Family, this gentleman was a Deity, and Brahma Country was a nation of deep belief in Deities.

Domte was a very thin old man, lying peacefully in the casket, his face serene and tranquil.

Zhang Menglong stepped forward and offered incense to him, as a way to thank him for his years of devotion to the Zhang Family.

"Master, this is a letter my husband left for you before he passed away," Mossang handed over a letter.

Zhang Menglong tore open the letter, his expression changing somewhat. He could tell that the letter had been opened by someone else and then carefully resealed, yet it did not escape Zhang Menglong's detailed perception.

His gaze swept over everyone in the hall. Mossang's lineage appeared devout and respectful, whereas Domte's sister and brother's families kept their heads down, not daring to make eye contact with him.

"Hmph!" Zhang Menglong sneered and directly opened the letter.

"Respected master, please allow me to no longer manage your properties. I, Domte, have served the Zhang Family my whole life without any betrayal. I can meet the ancestors of Mahalast with a clear conscience..."

The content of the letter was simple: it thanked Zhang Menglong's ancestors for bestowing everything to the Mahalast Family. He made a request to have the Zhang Family's Clan Emblem left on his tombstone, considering it a symbol of supreme honor.

"Who knew there were still such loyal people in this world," Zhang Menglong was reminded of Zhuge Liang's "Memorial on the Dispatch of Troops" as he read the letter, his gaze sweeping over the others—all having the same blood, yet the disparity in their nature was so vast.

"Hong Yi, find a craftsman in the family and make a tombstone for Domte, bearing our family's Clan Emblem," Zhang Menglong handed the letter to Hong Yi. "It was his last wish. He deserves to be regarded as one of our Zhang Family."

"Yes, Mr. Zhang, I will arrange it properly."

Having dealt with these matters, it was time for Zhang Menglong to begin cleansing the house, he addressed the gathered Mahalast Family members. "By the way, Domte must have left a will, right? I would like to see it!"

Swish!

A great many people in the memorial hall suddenly changed their expressions.