Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

He crouched down and gently lifted the stone slab, revealing a hidden compartment.

Inside were piles of old, yellowed books and a jade plaque engraved with intricate markings.

Zhu Han took off the jade pendant and examined it carefully.

"What is this?" Gu Qingping approached and asked in a low voice.

“This is ‘film history’,” Zhu Han said slowly. “This is the mark used to monitor the secret transactions between Jiangkou and the capital back then.”

He gently stroked the jade tablet, his gaze complex: "Engraved on this is a secret trading route connecting Jiangnan and the capital. The 'abandoned Fan' we were investigating earlier is part of it."

Gu Qingping frowned, finally understanding his meaning: "Then what exactly are these transactions...?"

Zhu Han put away the jade token, stood up, and said with a firm gaze: "These transactions are related to the future fate of the Ming Dynasty. What is hidden here is not only gold and silver jewelry, but also a power struggle."

Gu Qingping's gaze lingered for a moment before she finally nodded: "So what do we do next?"

"Next, we need to block this 'road' completely."

Zhu Han's voice was low and deep, "Since someone wants to make a fuss about this secret path, then we must block it ourselves."

After he finished speaking, he led Gu Qingping and the accompanying soldiers back to the main hall of the temple.

They carefully hid the jade pendant in a secluded place, making sure they left no trace.

When Zhu Han and Gu Qingping returned to the Ning Prince's Mansion, it was already late at night.

The carriage drove into the courtyard, but Zhu Han did not get out. He remained seated in the carriage, staring at the courtyard wall in front of him, as if he were pondering something.

Gu Qingping did not disturb him. She gently opened the car door and whispered, "Your Highness, please rest for a while."

Zhu Han shifted slightly, turned to look at her, his eyes seemed a little tired, but his tone remained calm: "Tonight, let's go see 'Film History'."

The two headed to the East Palace together, passing through a deep corridor, where the lights were dim and the air was filled with a sense of desolation.

Upon seeing them approach, the guards immediately made way respectfully, leading them through several doors until they arrived at an old-fashioned study.

The door to the study was inscribed with the words "Film History," which was a private archive of documents between the Crown Prince and his father, accessible only to a select few.

In the study, Hao Duiying was writing at his desk, his expression focused, and the words he wrote exuded an undeniable aura.

Upon seeing Zhu Han and Gu Qingping, he did not look up, remaining engrossed in the files in his hands, but his voice rang out clearly: "Your Highness, Crown Princess, welcome."

Zhu Han did not respond directly, but walked to the desk and glanced at the stacks of documents on the table.

He was silent for a moment, then casually opened a scroll, his gaze lingering on one of the pages.

"Has the record of Xianshuidu in film history been completed?" Zhu Han suddenly asked.

Hao Duiying finally raised her head, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes: "Already."

“Very good.” Zhu Han’s voice remained unchanged. “Then hand it over to the Eastern Palace Shadow Case and have a portion of it copied out.”

"Yes." Hao Duiying did not hesitate, stood up and handed the already organized dossier to Zhu Han.

“Your Highness, regarding this issue, I consulted the ‘Old Records’ and indeed found several details that had not been addressed.”

Zhu Han took the document and nodded slightly: "Those details are not only about 'old practices,' but also about the future of the entire Jiangnan region."

He opened the file, his eyes quickly scanning the words and sentences, rapidly digesting every detail.

"All the key clues are hidden behind that waterway."

Zhu Han said in a low voice, "We have already grasped the intersection of 'Xianshui Ferry' and 'Film History', but there are still many unsolved mysteries."

Gu Qingping nodded: "Like 'nails' and 'marks,' their traces still remain."

Zhu Han's gaze lingered on Gu Qingping's face, as if he were pondering every word she said.

He did not answer immediately, but instead lowered his head and continued to flip through the file.

Suddenly, his hand stopped, his fingertips pausing lightly on a line of words, his eyes becoming slightly serious.

"The alternation between 'night crossing' and 'daytime'."

He said softly, "What lies behind this alternation is not a simple transaction or information transfer, but more about the control of power."

Gu Qingping frowned slightly: "Is this related to our previous investigation?"

“Related.” Zhu Han looked up, his eyes gleaming with a profound light. “Behind this is not just ‘film history,’ but a deeper undercurrent at play.”

He paused, then turned to another page: "Here is a record about the 'black market.' We know that the 'black market' has always been a vast information network that transmits messages through 'marks' in various locations. 'Film History' documents are also used as secret codes within it for information exchange."

"So what exactly do these 'symbols' and 'codes' hide?" Gu Qingping pondered.

Zhu Han's eyes flickered as he slowly said, "They conceal a much larger conspiracy. Behind the transactions in the 'black market' lies not only wealth, but also the undercurrents of political power."

"You mean, someone is using these transactions to manipulate the political situation?" Gu Qingping's tone suddenly became serious.

"Yes," Zhu Han said in a low voice. "The real opponent behind this game is not the people we see in front of us, but the people hiding in the shadows who control this information and transactions."

He paused for a moment, then looked down at the document again: "And this person is the key to 'blocking' us in this game."

Gu Qingping felt a chill run down her spine, suddenly realizing that things were far more complicated than she had imagined.

"We must obtain this information as soon as possible and uncover the truth behind it," Gu Qingping said firmly.

Zhu Han nodded slowly: "It's time to make a choice."

He looked up at the darkening sky outside the window, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Tonight, all the clues will point to the final 'truth'."

"Are you ready?" he asked in a low voice, turning to look at Gu Qingping.

She didn't answer immediately, but gently took his hand and smiled slightly: "I've always been ready."

He looked at the document in his hand again, took a deep breath, and whispered, "Take it one step at a time."

A slight chilly wind rose outside the window, and the candlelight flickered, illuminating Zhu Han's serene face.

He slowly closed the file in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white.

Those densely packed lines of characters seemed to weave together an invisible net before my eyes, stretching across the imperial court, Jiangnan, and the capital region.

Hao Duiying remained standing by the table, his expression restrained. Zhu Han's gaze fell on him, and he asked in a deep voice, "Is this all you found?"

"I only dare to present what I can confirm," Hao replied cautiously. "As for the rest—between the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it seems someone is deliberately destroying traces."

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes slightly: "Destroy?"

"Yes. The account books of the former head of 'Film History' and several ferry crossings south of Xianshui Ferry were all burned, and even the ashes were cleaned up."

The air in the study suddenly became tense. Zhu Han slowly got up, walked to the window, and pushed open the window frame, letting a gust of cold wind rush into the room. He stared at the distant palace walls, his gaze sharp as a knife.

“If someone wants to cover it up,” he whispered, “it means someone is afraid that I will see the truth.”

He paused, then turned and ordered, "Hao Duiying, tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), go to the cabinet to check the old files of the 'Tribute Silver Case,' and bring back all those related to the Jiangnan trade routes. Also, instruct Ma Ang to withdraw his men from Southern Zhili. Have them secretly sneak into the Suzhou prefectural government—without alerting the local officials."

Hao Duiying was shocked. That was an order that directly threatened the very lifeline of Jiangnan.

"Yes." He clasped his hands in a fist salute and withdrew.

Zhu Han stood silently by the window, motionless for a long time. The candlelight cast his profile, sharp and cold.

The following morning, in a secret chamber of the Prince's mansion.

Several hand-drawn trade route maps hang on the wall, with the lines winding like snakes from the river mouth to the capital. Key nodes such as "Xianshui Ferry", "Wumen Post Station" and "Yangkou Granary" are marked in red ink.

Zhu Han sat upright at the desk, his fingertips gently tapping on the painting.

【Ding! 】

A low notification sounded in his ear. [Sign-in successful. Host has obtained: Geographical Secrets (Detailed Map of the Jiangnan Business Route - Hidden Side Version)]

His mind stirred slightly. A more detailed map appeared before his eyes, with dark red lines flowing in the shadows.

That seemingly ordinary waterway actually extended underground into another passage—maintained jointly by private salt merchants and private soldiers.

"I see."

He picked up a pen and redrawn the routes on the paper. One route led to Yingtian, and the other to Beiping. At the end, however, a small character "隶" was marked.

“Li—that’s a symbol of the old system of the Ministry of Works.” He muttered to himself, “Why did the Ministry of Works get involved?”

Footsteps sounded outside the door. Ma Ang pushed the door open and entered, bowing respectfully, "Your Highness, the message you requested has arrived."

He presented a scroll of bamboo slips. Zhu Han unfolded it and took a look, his expression immediately turning cold.

The bamboo slips read:

"Li Quan, a senior official in the Ministry of Works, was ordered three years ago to repair the Grand Canal and set up a temporary warehouse at Xianshui Ferry. Since then, the warehouse accounts have repeatedly shown a surplus, but the amount deposited into the warehouse does not match."

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes. The four words "surplus in the grain storage" and "discrepancies in the accounts" were enough to be fatal.

What is Li Quan's current position?

"He was transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Works' Construction Supervision Office."

“Nanjing…” Zhu Han murmured, “It’s Southern Zhili again.”

He pondered for a moment, then immediately ordered, "Prepare the boats. We shall set sail south today without making a sound."

"Your Highness is going in person?" Ma Ang asked in surprise.

"This matter is extremely complex. I have never met Li Quan, and I still cannot understand it."

Ma Ang accepted the order and went to allocate manpower.

Zhu Han looked at the map again in the secret room, and he already had a plan in mind.

Two days later, we moored our boats on the Qinhuai River at night.

The river was chilly, and the mist was thick.

Zhu Han stood at the bow of the ship, wearing a cloak, with only two people behind him: Ma Ang and Lu Xiao, a close attendant he had chosen from his shadow guards.

"The Nanjing Construction Bureau is just ahead," Lu Xiao said in a low voice. "Li Quan usually stays at the bureau and occasionally goes in and out of Tongji Ward."

Zhu Han smiled faintly: "It seems this person is not one to be easily subdued."

They sneaked into the city, and under the cover of night, the three of them bypassed the market and arrived at the backyard of the Ministry of Works.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, with only a few flickering lamps.

Zhu Han raised his hand, and Lu Xiao leaned down to listen through the door.

After a moment, he whispered, "There are three people in the room, one drunk and two sober."

"Go in."

The latch was gently pried open, and the three entered silently. Sure enough, there was a wine table in the hall, where a man lay drunk on it, an old official was muttering to himself, and Li Quan sat upright beside the table, his expression gloomy.

Zhu Han walked up to him and brushed aside his cloak.

Li Quan was stunned, his face turning deathly pale: "Your...Your Highness?"

"It seems you recognize me," Zhu Han said calmly.

"This humble official wouldn't dare... How could Your Highness—"

"Enough with the nonsense." Zhu Han's gaze turned cold. "I'll only ask you one thing. Why does the profit ledger of Xianshui Ferry's temporary warehouse not match the actual figures?"

Li Quan shuddered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"That...that was an order from above, I was just following it—"

"Who's in charge?" Zhu Han took a step closer.

Li Quan was breathing rapidly, gritting his teeth as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Zhu Han raised his hand, and Lu Xiao took out an object—a jade tablet engraved with complex markings.

"Do you recognize this thing?"

When Li Quan saw the jade tablet, he almost knelt down.

"Your Highness...this...this is the 'Shadow History' seal, where did you obtain it?"

“You don’t need to know,” Zhu Han said coldly. “I only need to know where you secretly send your profits.”

Li Quan remained silent for a moment, then finally whispered, "Your Highness... that silver isn't in the treasury. It departed from Xianshui Ferry, entered Wumen, then turned at Jiangkou, and was transported to Beizhili via a different route using the Grand Canal—"

"Beizhitong?" Zhu Han's eyes suddenly turned cold. "What's the use of transporting tribute silver north?"

Li Quan said in a trembling voice, "It was...it was an order from someone in the capital. I only received the code and do not know the name of the person who gave it. I only know that the account book is always stamped with 'Daytime'."

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes; that was one of the hidden codes mentioned in "Film History".

“'Daytime'...So people actually use it.”

He pondered for a moment, then ordered in a deep voice, "Lu Xiao, take this man back to the Prince's residence. Do not divulge a single word."

"Follow the order."

Li Quan was blindfolded and quickly taken away.

The night rain had just stopped, and Zhu Han sat alone in the cabin.

On the table lay the canal warehouse ledger and the secret geographical record. Two waterways, one visible and one hidden, intertwined like snakes.

[Ding! Mission Update: Ascertain 'Daylight's' identity. Reward: River Sealing Token (grants control over a region's water administration)]

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow slightly: "The sealing order for the river... it seems that this involves more than just the canal transport."

He took out a pen and marked several nodes on the map: Wumen, Jiangkou, Beizhi, the capital... Behind each node lies the flow of huge sums of money.

"If I'm not mistaken, this road has been in operation for three years."

He muttered to himself, "The real mastermind is not in Jiangnan, but in the capital."

The fleet set sail early the next morning. Zhu Han ordered Ma Ang to escort Li Quan back north, while he himself took the Geographical Records to Tongzhou.

Tongzhou was the terminus of the Grand Canal and a historically important gathering place for grain shipments.

Zhu Han disguised himself and entered the city, using a secret order to enter the grain storage area.

The granary was piled high with grain and silk, but he keenly noticed a pile of new bricks in the corner that were of uneven color. He went over and patted them, but the echo was hollow.

"Sure enough."

He took out his dagger and pried open the brick layer. Beneath the bricks lay a thick wooden box.

Upon opening it, one finds neatly arranged silver ingots, and beneath them, a bamboo scroll with a small character "昼" (day) engraved on the seal.

"Daytime," Zhu Han repeated in a low voice.

He unfolded the bamboo book, glanced at it, and his expression immediately hardened.

"Bai Zhou—the informant, surnamed He, is from the Shuntian Guard and currently serves as the Right Commander of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard." (End of Chapter)