I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property

"Zhang Menglong, you've really missed out big time! Getting involved in a relationship so early, you've given up a whole forest for the sake of one tree!" Wang Ling said with a mixture of envy and pity. If it were him, he'd probably have suffered kidney failure by tonight, who could withstand that!

Each of Wang Ling's girlfriends, though internet-celebrity-faced, were definitely beauties by Eastern aesthetic standards. But compared to these princesses, not to mention their figures and facial features, their temperament was completely outmatched. Even just standing there, the gaze couldn't help but be drawn to those princesses in their work clothes.

The temperaments shaped from childhood cannot be rivaled by those nouveau riches that emerge overnight. Just look at Zhang Menglong, he is clearly the wealthiest person in the world, but he has lived like an ordinary person since childhood. So much so that he still carries a bit of the common touch about him, and who knows what his parents were thinking.

"You don't know a thing, what we have is called 'true love', you are just coveting her body!" Zhang Menglong felt that discussing love with someone like Wang Ling was like playing the lute to a cow.

"Mr. Zhang, you must be weary from your journey today. Let me take you to your room first," Scorolo, the estate's butler, gestured. "Fosdick, find someone to show Mr. Zhang's guests to their rooms."

"Please follow me, you two," said Fosdick, the middle-aged man, politely to Wang Ling.

It was indeed quite dark, and Wang Ling had his own plans for the next day, so he went off to rest, cuddling with his girlfriend.

"Let's go rest as well," Zhang Menglong said, taking Lu Yiyao's hand.

"Follow me, please," Scorolo personally led the way to the elevator for Zhang Menglong and his companion.

The castle, though a mid-20th-century construction, had undergone multiple renovations and reconstructions, displaying not only Europe's distinctive historical style but also the breath of modern civilization.

The castle had a total of eight floors above ground and three below, each floor spanning almost 3,000 square meters. Zhang Menglong still remembered his high school building, which was only four stories tall, indicating just how majestic this building was.

Zhang Meng didn't understand why his room was on the very lowest floor. Weren't the best rooms supposed to be at the top?

"What are these?" Having reached the third sub-level, Zhang Menglong walked along the brightly lit corridor towards a room at the end.

On both sides of the corridor, there were densely packed photographs, some in color, but many more in black and white, each filled with marks of history.

"These are photographs that your grandfather brought with him when he stayed in this fortress, and of course, some were added by your father later on," Scorolo explained.

"Who are these people?" In some of the photos, besides Zhang Menglong's grandfather, there were many unfamiliar faces, each one grinning obsequiously, nodding and bowing as if they were the most servile servants.

"These are some precious moments recorded during your grandfather's conquest of Europe," Scorolo said. "With each country he conquered, he would have someone capture the moment of submission of the rulers of those lands. There are a total of 52 photographs here."

"52 photographs?" Zhang Menglong asked in confusion. "I thought during that era, Europe only had about thirty-odd countries and regions. How come there are so many photographs?"

Zhang Menglong wasn't great at history, but he had some recollections. Even now, Europe only consisted of just over 40 countries.

"At that time, there were indeed 52 countries," Scorolo said. "But after your grandfather's campaign, only 36 remained."

"No way? Did he annihilate other countries? Wasn't it said that there were no casualties in that battle?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt uneasy. If his grandfather was that kind of dictator, it was simply too terrifying.

It's one thing to do extraordinary things when you have wealth and power, but there have to be some lines you don't cross. Even if those countries had infringed upon Huaxia, at least the people were innocent, and not every soldier committed unforgivable acts.

"Mr. Zhang, you've misunderstood," Scorolo quickly clarified. "Destroying a country doesn't necessarily mean killing people."

"Then how is it done?" This touched upon Zhang Menglong's knowledge blind spot. How could entire nations be erased from history without killing anyone?

"At that time, there were indeed stubborn countries that were unwilling to surrender, but your grandfather was not a bloodthirsty man. So, he came up with some very unique methods."

"What methods?"

"What do you think is most important to a country?" Scorolo asked.

"The national flag, some iconic buildings, and some aspects of culture," Zhang Menglong answered.

"Yes, so your grandfather destroyed those things in those countries," Scorolo explained, "He charged right into the political centers of those countries with planes and tanks, then forcibly took everyone out, and afterward with bombs and tanks, he directly demolished their national institutions!"

"I... I'm flabbergasted..." Zhang Menglong admitted that in terms of imagination and creativity, there were definitely few in the world who could compare to his grandfather. Such audacious moves were truly inconceivable!

"Have you heard about the burning of books and burying of scholars?"

"Hmm, after Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he did that." Zhang Menglong knew this basic historical fact.

"Your grandfather burned all the law codes of those countries, leaving only the originals as his own collection. A nation that loses its national institutions and those documents has already had its belief system half-collapsed."

"But there are still people left. As long as there are people, none of this is a problem; everything can start over."

"Coincidentally, at that time, your grandfather found a coal mine in Africa that needed a lot of coal miners..."

"My grandfather didn't send those stubborn leaders off to Africa to dig coal, did he?" Zhang Menglong had already guessed the outcome.

"Yes, that's exactly what happened," Scorolo said, suddenly feeling somewhat helpless. Why did the ideas of the Zhang Family always seem to give people a figurative slipped disc? Why were they always so outstandingly troublesome?

Now Zhang Menglong knew why eventually only about thirty countries were left. Without the national institutions, without the legal documents, the belief system had already half-collapsed, and finally, even the leaders were sent to Africa to mine coal. What was the point of such countries' existence?

"So, the lands of those countries were slowly annexed, or new independent states were born," Scorolo pointed at a row of photos and said, "These are the presidents sent to mine coal."

"No wonder they all have such grim faces," Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly.

"By the way, where's the toilet?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt an urgent need to relieve his bladder.

"Go straight ahead for 50 meters, turn left, then another 20 meters, then right turn, and about 30 meters more, and you'll be there."

"... I suspect everyone here has developed kidney stones from holding it in. With such a big house, would it kill you to build a few more toilets?" Zhang Menglong hurried toward the toilet.

"This..." Scorolo was at a loss for words. He hadn't even finished speaking. Zhang Menglong's room also had a toilet; it was just at the end of the corridor. Why was he in such a rush?

"Phew! Refreshing!" Zhang Menglong shook off his body. Listening to stories here was like a test for the bladder. Although these stories were both smelly and long, one truly felt uncomfortable not hearing them to the end.

But just as Zhang Menglong stepped out of the toilet, he was immediately taken aback.

There stood a row of women at the toilet door, at least twenty or so. By their looks, they seemed to be those princesses from the European royal families.

"What... what are you going to do?" Seeing this display, Zhang Menglong couldn't help but take a few steps back.

"Respected Mr. Zhang, this is the key to my room. I am in room 27. During your time in Europe, I hope I can have the pleasure of spending a delightful night with you."

"This..." Zhang Menglong instinctively took the key, which carried a faint fragrance.

"Mr. Zhang, my name is Clark Stiller, I'm in room 79, and I await your presence at any time."

"Mr. Zhang, my name is Sahir, and I... I can do anything... I... I'm in room 172." Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

...

A moment later, Zhang Menglong held more than twenty keys in his hand.

"Holy shit..." Zhang Menglong looked at these keys and laughed ruefully, "This is practically asking me to play Emperor and choose my concubines!"