Chapter 649: Underground Kingdom (2)_1
The Xiao Family is far from what the world perceives it to be, simply an affluent aristocratic family. They possess not only immense wealth, but also operate a massive, hidden power—the Xiao Family covertly runs an ammunition empire.
The ammunition empire of the Xiao Family is not something just any Patriarch Xiao can take over. Elder Master Xiao, Xiao Yongxin, was aware of the arms trade within the family, yet they were neither able nor qualified to handle the business of the family’s arms. For the Family Heads of the Xiao Family, the munitions were like tantalizing buns within sight but out of reach.
When Xiao Muli took over as the new Family Head, he was merely informed of the existence of arms trading within the Xiao Family, without being given more detailed information. It was even less likely for him to know who was in charge of these military dealings.
Xiao Muli was not one to remain passive. Upon learning of the arms trade, he had the mercenaries under his command start investigating the matter.
These mercenaries were also frequently involved with military hardware. It was not a difficult task for them to carry out an investigation. Before long, information related to the Xiao Family’s arms dealings lay on the desk of Xiao Muli’s office.
The arms of the Xiao Family had always been controlled by one of the Xiao Family’s collateral branches. Originally, the patriarch who founded the Xiao Family’s ammunition empire had been confronted with turmoil as his end drew near, and fearing for his descendants because of the arms in his possession, temporarily handed over his empire to his brother’s management, instructing him to return the power once everything had settled.
At that time, the brother readily agreed to his dying sibling’s request. However, when things calmed down and the new Family Head came to claim the arms empire’s power from his uncle, he was met with refusal. After taking charge of the Xiao Family’s ammunition empire and seeing its strength, how could his uncle possibly relinquish it?
After being rejected, the newly appointed Family Head tried to use forceful measures, pressuring his uncle to hand over the rights to the arms. However, the new Family Head had just taken office and his foundation was unstable, especially since the family’s overt businesses had suffered damage in the recent unrest. Adding to this, his uncle was both capable and cunning; shortly after taking over the ammunition empire, he had all his subordinates bowing to him.
The new Family Head stood no chance against him. And as the struggle between the two sides became increasingly intense, affecting the Xiao Family more and more, the elder members of the family had to step in to mediate.
In the end, the Family Head failed to regain control of the arms influence, but his uncle did step back a bit, agreeing to submit a report of the ammunition empire’s activities to the Family Head every year.
This arrangement, set back then, continues to this day.