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

The Qinhuai River branches into several waterways in the south of the city, and there are many old wharves along the riverbank.

The first dock was very quiet, with several old boats quietly tied to stakes, swaying gently with the ripples of the river.

There was not a single light on the ship; darkness enveloped everything.

Zhu Han dismounted again and walked to the shore, his eyes fixed on the water as he carefully observed it.

The water was perfectly still, without a trace of a boat having just stopped, as if no boat had ever docked there.

He turned and said, "Next place."

The second dock was not far from the first, and there were several dilapidated warehouses there.

The door was tightly shut, as if rejecting everything from the outside world.

Zhu Han stepped forward and forcefully pushed open a door. The door creaked open slowly, making a jarring sound.

The room was empty, with only some old wooden crates scattered haphazardly.

The attendant raised a lamp and shone it around, only to find that the ground was covered in a thick layer of dust, indicating that no one had been here for a long time.

Zhu Han frowned, turned around and walked out.

The horse was still waiting quietly on the shore. He mounted it again and said, "Continue."

The group continued south along the river.

As the night deepened, the lights outside the city gradually thinned out, and darkness, like a tide, engulfed the entire world.

The third dock is next to a patch of reeds, and from a distance, you can see a light flickering.

The lamp was on the boat, which was small and appeared tiny in the darkness.

Three people were standing on the shore, busily carrying bags onto the boat, their movements hurried and tense.

Zhu Han stopped, and his entourage behind him also reined in their horses, bringing them to a halt.

For a moment, the riverbank was silent; no one uttered a sound.

Meanwhile, people on the shore were still diligently carrying bags, one after another, onto the boat, which was already half full.

Zhu Han watched all of this quietly, and after a while, he slowly raised his hand.

A dozen or so Imperial Guards behind him had already quietly dispersed like ghosts. They cautiously approached along the reeds, their footsteps so light that they made almost no sound.

The river breeze rustled the reeds, as if providing accompaniment to the tense atmosphere, yet the people on the bank were completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Suddenly, a member of the Imperial Guard pounced out like a tiger, shouting, "Don't move!"

The three people on the shore were stunned, and their movements came to an abrupt halt.

One of them reacted quickly and turned to run, but before he could take a step, he was swiftly pinned to the ground by a member of the Imperial Guard and rendered unable to move.

The people on the boat panicked, and some frantically tried to untie the ropes and escape by boat.

Just then, Zhu Han reached the shore. His voice was calm yet powerful as he said, "Untie it."

Upon hearing this sound, the people on the boat trembled slightly and dared not move.

The Imperial Guards quickly jumped onto the ship and dragged everyone off one by one.

Soon, a row of people knelt on the shore, their bodies trembling and their faces filled with fear.

Zhu Han walked to the side of the boat, and his attendants hurriedly brought over lanterns to illuminate the cabin.

The cabin was full of bags, piled up densely together.

Zhu Han reached out and grabbed a bag; the rice grains were as white as snow, shimmering under the light.

The attendant whispered, "Your Highness, it's the same as the one in the granary."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his gaze falling again on the kneeling person, and asked, "Where did you get this from?"

However, the group simply lowered their heads, their bodies trembling even more violently, but no one spoke.

Zhu Han didn't press further. He looked at the Imperial Guards and said, "Take them away."

The Imperial Guards immediately sprang into action and arrested these people.

Some people began to tremble uncontrollably, their legs went weak, and they could barely stand.

The boat was also towed to the shore, and the Imperial Guards began to unload the bags one by one.

Zhu Han stood by the reeds, quietly watching them work. The river was pitch black, as if it concealed countless secrets.

Suddenly, the sound of oars came from afar, very soft, as if someone was carefully rowing a boat.

Zhu Han looked up and saw a boat slowly approaching from downstream. The boat was not big, and a lamp hung on the bow. The light swayed on the water, forming distorted shadows.

The people on the boat clearly saw the lights on the shore; the sound of oars paused for a moment, as if they were hesitating whether to continue approaching.

Zhu Han stood quietly without moving, his eyes fixed on the boat.

After a moment's hesitation, the boat continued to approach the shore.

When they reached the shore, the boatman saw that the bank was full of Imperial Guards. His face turned ashen, as white as a sheet of paper, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The Imperial Guards rushed forward and pinned the boat down.

All three people on the boat were dragged off, their faces filled with despair.

Zhu Han walked over, and found the cabin also piled with bags.

He opened a bag, and it was still filled with rice.

The attendant whispered, "The second one."

Zhu Han nodded and said, "Leave the boat behind."

The Imperial Guards began unloading the grain, and soon a row of bags piled up on the riverbank.

The night breeze grew increasingly chilly, sending a shiver down one's spine.

Someone lit more lamps, illuminating a section of the river. The lights danced on the water like a group of joyful sprites.

Zhu Han stood under the lamp, his shadow stretched long.

The sound of oars came from afar again, this time even further away, as if it were coming from the distant horizon.

Zhu Han didn't move. The boat seemed to realize something was wrong, and the sound of the oars suddenly increased, as if it were fleeing for its life.

A Jinyiwei commander whispered from the side, "Should we pursue them?"

Zhu Han shook his head slightly and said, "We can't catch up."

The ship's silhouette quickly disappeared into the dark water, as if it had never existed.

The shore fell silent, save for the sounds of the Imperial Guards unloading the grain.

The two boats were soon empty, and the bags piled up to more than four hundred.

Zhu Han glanced at it and said, "Send it to the Northern Camp."

The man responded immediately, and soon the car was summoned.

The grain sacks began to be loaded onto the truck, and the wheels made a heavy "creaking" sound as they pressed down on the muddy ground.

Zhu Han did not return to the city; instead, he continued south along the river for a while.

The riverbank gradually narrowed, with the waterway leading out of the city ahead and the countryside beyond, where unknown dangers lurked in the darkness.

Zhu Han stopped in his tracks. The river was so black that the horizon was invisible, as if it were a bottomless abyss.

He watched quietly for a while before turning around and saying, "Back to the city."

When we returned to the city gate, it was almost dawn, and the east was gradually turning a pale white.

The soldiers guarding the city recognized him and hurriedly opened the side gate.

The caravan entered the city first, with Zhu Han following on horseback. The streets were still empty, with only a few breakfast stalls starting their fires, wisps of smoke rising and adding a touch of liveliness to the quiet morning.

The city slowly brightens, and a new day is about to begin.

Zhu Han did not return to his residence; he went directly to the palace.

Zhu Han walked in, his footsteps breaking the silence in the hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up, a hint of expectation in his eyes, and asked, "Have you captured the boat?"

Zhu Han nodded and said, "Two."

Zhu Biao immediately walked over, his eyes filled with concern, and asked, "How much grain?"

“More than four hundred bags,” Zhu Han replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, his voice tinged with anger, and said, "You've got some nerve."

Zhu Han sat down, and a palace maid brought him tea.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and felt a sense of warmth as the warm tea flowed down his throat.

He said, "There's one more that's gone."

Zhu Yuanzhang was not surprised. He frowned slightly and said, "South."

Zhu Han nodded and said, "I'll meet him on the river."

Zhu Biao unfolded the map again, his finger lightly sliding across it, drawing a line south of the Qinhuai River, and said, "Further south is the river mouth."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the map, his eyes becoming deep, and said, "Wait."

A moment of silence fell over the hall, the atmosphere somewhat oppressive. Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "How many days will the city have enough grain?"

Zhu Han thought for a moment and said, "Ten days."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "That's enough."

He pushed the map aside, as if temporarily setting aside all his troubles, and said, "Let them keep moving."

Zhu Biao paused, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Zhu Han smiled and said, "Lay out the line."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said, "The fish haven't come out yet."

Zhu Han nodded, his gaze resolute.

Zhu Biao slowly realized what was happening. He looked at the map again, pointed to the river mouth, and said, "If that boat reaches the river mouth, someone will definitely pick it up."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up; his tall and imposing figure gave him an aura of authority.

He said, "Wait."

Zhu Han rode slowly in on a tall horse, the sound of its hooves rhythmically striking the ground.

Upon seeing him return, the Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and cried out in unison, "Your Highness."

The voice was loud and clear, echoing in the silent air.

One of the Imperial Guards raised his head, looked at Zhu Han respectfully, and said, "The person we arrested last night has been imprisoned in the Northern Garrison."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his expression calm, but a hint of majesty and coldness shone through his deep eyes.

He dismounted and walked steadily into the palace.

Upon entering the mansion, one immediately sensed an unusual quietness in the courtyard; the usually bustling servants were nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, the steward hurriedly came forward. He was dressed in a simple long robe, and his face showed a hint of concern. He bowed slightly and asked, "Does Your Highness wish to rest?"

Zhu Han shook his head slightly, his voice low and firm: "Prepare the horses."

Upon hearing this, the butler was taken aback, a look of surprise on his face. He instinctively asked, "Going out again?"

Zhu Han didn't respond to him again, but walked straight out, saying as he went, "To Jiangkou."

Half an hour later, Zhu Han appeared, dressed in a black outfit with a black cloak and a black hat, exuding a cold and aloof aura.

He led twenty cavalrymen out of the south of the city like a black whirlwind.

The Qinhuai River glistens under the sunlight as it flows southward, growing wider and wider with each passing day.

Large tracts of fields began to appear on both sides of the river, and the lush green wheat seedlings swayed gently in the breeze, as if showing people the vitality of life.

In the fields, farmers are working diligently, their figures appearing particularly simple and honest in the sunlight.

Some people spotted the cavalry in the distance, were startled, stopped what they were doing, straightened up, and looked at each other with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

Zhu Han showed no sign of stopping. He squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the horse galloped forward like an arrow.

The horse caravan galloped across the fields, raising a cloud of dust.

Zhu Han reined in his horse at the shore and dismounted.

The river wind was strong, making his cloak flutter loudly. He stood on the bank, gazing at the surging river, his eyes deep and resolute.

He stood quietly on the bank for a while, watching the river view, and suddenly said, "Disperse the people."

A small boat slowly approached the dock from the south. The boat was not large, and no flags were flying at the bow. The cabin was completely covered by a huge cloth.

Zhu Han glanced at the ship, his eyes narrowing slightly, but he did not act immediately.

The boat slowly approached the shore, and several strong men jumped off the boat. They were dressed in coarse cloth shorts and had a wary look on their faces.

They looked around, seemingly searching for something.

At that moment, one of them whistled, the whistle sharp and loud, standing out starkly against the noisy dockside.

A moment later, two people walked out from the other end of the dock. They were dressed in ordinary people's clothes, but their steps were steady and their eyes revealed a hint of cunning.

They walked to the side of the boat, skillfully boarded it, and then lifted the cloth.

Beneath the cloth, bulging bags were revealed. The two men nodded, seemingly satisfied with the goods, and then began directing the men on the boat to move the bags.

Halfway through loading, a man suddenly noticed several more people on the shore. He was startled, his brows furrowed, and he was about to speak.

Zhu Han had already started walking towards them.

At the same time, the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) hidden nearby attacked simultaneously, like tigers descending a mountain.

Chaos erupted instantly at the dock as people fled in panic.

The men tried to run, but before they could take two steps, the Imperial Guards pinned them to the ground, rendering them unable to move.

The boat was quickly brought under control, and the men on board surrendered without resistance.

The porters and boatmen around were so frightened that they all scattered. Some watched from a distance, their eyes filled with fear and doubt, but no one dared to approach.

Zhu Han walked to the side of the boat, reached out and lifted a bag, which was filled with white rice, exactly the same as the one he had found last night.

He raised his head, looked at the man being held down, his gaze cold as ice, and asked, "Who's collecting the grain?"

The man gritted his teeth, kept his lips tightly shut, and didn't say a word.

Zhu Han didn't press the matter. He merely glanced at the man before turning to the Imperial Guards and saying, "Take them all away."

The Imperial Guards immediately sprang into action, escorting these people back.

Soon, the dock returned to silence, with only the surging river still churning its waves, as if telling the story of what had just happened.

Zhu Han stood on the shore, looking at the detained boat. In the distance, many other boats were still sailing back and forth on the river.

The wind was strong, making the sails on the ship billow. Zhu Han suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of mockery and confidence, and said softly, "As expected, someone will pick me up."

After saying that, he turned around, mounted his horse, and left the dock with the Imperial Guards.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the south gate of Yingtian City opened, several inconspicuous delivery trucks slowly drove up to the gate. (End of Chapter)