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

The cart was covered with coarse cloth and looked tattered, no different from ordinary caravan vehicles.

The soldiers guarding the city yawned and, as if on a chore, walked to the cart and peeked out from under the cloth.

The bags were full of rice. They glanced at them casually, waved, and said, "Let's go."

The caravan quickly entered the city, but instead of heading to the market like ordinary caravans, it traveled eastward along a side street.

Just then, the streets began to bustle with activity as vegetable vendors carried their loads on shoulder poles, calling out as they walked: "Fresh vegetables, on sale at a low price!"

The steamed bun vendor shouted at the top of his lungs, "Fragrant steamed buns, fresh out of the oven!"

But no one noticed these seemingly ordinary cars.

The convoy slowly stopped in front of an old courtyard in the eastern part of the city. The gate was small, and the door panels were so old that they had turned black. Much of the paint had peeled off, revealing the mottled wood grain, as if telling the story of the vicissitudes of time.

Someone knocked on the door, and it opened a crack. The person inside cautiously glanced at the convoy, and after confirming that there was no problem, immediately pulled the door open.

One by one, the cars were pushed in, and the gate was immediately closed tightly.

The courtyard wasn't small; it was surrounded by dilapidated warehouses with moss-covered walls and broken roof tiles.

A dozen or so men were already waiting there, dressed in coarse cloth and looking tired.

As soon as the car stopped, they immediately began unloading the bags, their movements were very skilled.

At that moment, someone asked in a low voice, "What about the boat from last night?"

The man escorting the truck shook his head, a look of worry on his face, and said, "Something happened in Jiangkou."

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned for a moment. An older man frowned, a hint of tension in his eyes, and asked, "What happened?"

The guard took a deep breath and said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The courtyard fell silent. Everyone was shocked by the news, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

The man was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where's the boat?"

The person guarding the vehicle said helplessly, "We'll impound it."

Someone couldn't help but curse, "Those damned Imperial Guards, they're like ghosts that just won't go away!"

The man raised his hand to stop them, saying, "Don't make a sound."

He thought for a moment, then decisively said, "Hide the rest first."

The grain sacks were quickly moved into the warehouse, which was already half full of grain, which looked like a small mountain and emitted a faint aroma of rice.

The courtyard fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.

Half an hour later, the Northern Garrison Command.

A row of people were kneeling in the courtyard; they were the same people who had been arrested in Jiangkou the previous night.

They were all wounded, their faces filled with fear and exhaustion. The commander of the Imperial Guard stood to one side, dressed in a magnificent flying fish robe, a spring-embroidered knife at his waist, his eyes cold and imposing.

Zhu Han sat in the hall, dressed in a purple robe and wearing a black hat, exuding a noble and aloof air.

On the table were several newly acquired account books. The pages were new, and the books were filled with dense notes of grain quantities, dates, and the locations of deliveries.

Zhu Han slowly turned a page, his gaze sweeping across the ledger.

One of the lines reads: "Old Courtyard in Liuxiang, Dongcheng".

He closed the booklet, looked up at the people in the courtyard, and asked in a deep and authoritative voice, "Is everyone here?"

The centurion nodded quickly and said, "Seven were arrested at the river mouth last night."

Zhu Han glanced at the people in the courtyard and asked again, "Who is in charge of collecting the grain?"

No one spoke; the courtyard was completely silent, save for the gentle rustling of the breeze.

Zhu Han did not get angry; his eyes remained calm as still water. He simply handed the booklet to the centurion and said, "Go to Liuxiang."

The centurion paused, a look of surprise on his face, and asked, "Now?"

Zhu Han nodded firmly and said, "Now." The centurion immediately turned around and shouted, "Assemble!"

The Imperial Guards acted swiftly and assembled in no time.

The people in the courtyard were taken back into custody, and the Imperial Guards escorted them out in a grand procession.

Liuxiang is not far from Beizhenfusi, only two streets away.

The alley was very narrow, with dilapidated houses on both sides. Many bricks had fallen off the walls, revealing the soil underneath.

On weekdays, only a few vendors come and go, making it seem very deserted.

The centurion stood in front of the old courtyard gate, which was closed and looked very secure.

He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

The centurion looked behind him, and two Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward. They stretched their limbs and then kicked the door hard.

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open, sending splinters of wood flying.

The men in the courtyard were carrying grain into the granary when they heard the noise. They froze, their movements instantly stiffening, their eyes filled with fear and confusion.

The centurion walked to the granary, pushed open the door, and found the entire granary piled high with grain, like a small mountain.

He casually cut open a bag, and the rice grains rolled out, shimmering white in the sunlight.

He turned around and shouted, "Feng!"

The Imperial Guards immediately sprang into action and began counting the grain.

The entrance to the courtyard was also blocked off, and several Imperial Guards stood there, holding embroidered spring knives, their eyes warily scanning the surroundings.

The news spread quickly, and many people on Dongcheng Street watched from a distance, whispering and discussing among themselves.

"Whose warehouse is this?" "I heard it's the old site of the Salt Transport Bureau."

"Why are the Imperial Guards here?" But no one dared to approach; they were all afraid of getting into trouble.

In the afternoon, the sun became even hotter.

Zhu Han arrived at Liuxiang, riding a tall horse and followed by a group of Imperial Guards, exuding an imposing aura.

The Imperial Guards were already standing outside the courtyard gate. When they saw Zhu Han arrive, they immediately knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "Your Highness."

Zhu Han dismounted and walked steadily into the courtyard.

The yard was neatly stacked with grain sacks, arranged so orderly that they looked like soldiers standing guard.

The centurion stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Highness, we've counted them."

Zhu Han asked, "How much?"

The centurion answered loudly, "Six hundred bags."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, then walked into the warehouse.

There was still some rice scattered on the ground. He looked around and saw that there was a small door behind the warehouse.

The door led to the back alley. Zhu Han walked over, and the door was ajar. He gently pushed it open.

The back alley was narrow, and there were many footprints on the ground, indicating that someone had just run through it.

The centurion whispered, "Three have been captured." Zhu Han didn't speak. He stood at the alley entrance for a while, then turned around and said, "The grain transport camp in the north."

The centurion nodded and shouted, "Yes!"

Soon, the vehicle entered the alley and loaded the grain sacks one by one.

The wheels creaked and groaned on the stone pavement, as if telling the story of the turmoil that had gripped the granary.

The stone-paved streets gleamed softly in the afterglow of the setting sun, bustling with people.

A convoy of horse-drawn carriages slowly passed by, their wheels creaking against the stone slabs and kicking up a little dust.

At this moment, Zhu Han walked into the hall with steady steps, while Zhu Biao stood quietly by the window, his gaze looking through the window as if he were thinking about something.

Hearing footsteps, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Zhu Han, and asked, "Has Liu Xiang been captured?" His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Zhu Han nodded slightly and replied respectfully, "We caught them, Father. There are six hundred bags in total."

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile, and a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes: "You've got some nerve, daring to pull these little tricks right under my nose."

Zhu Biao gently pushed aside the map in front of him, his brows furrowed, and said, "If you calculate it this way, there's quite a bit of grain hidden in the city. What exactly are these people planning to do?"

Zhu Han sat down to the side, and the palace servants hurriedly brought him tea.

He gently picked up the teacup, blew on the steam, took a sip, and then slowly said, "There are also people to meet us at Jiangkou."

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze instantly fell on Zhu Han, staring intently at him, and asked, "Have you caught him?"

Zhu Han put down his teacup and calmly replied, "Seven."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, and the hall fell silent, with only the crackling sound of the candlelight.

After a while, the sound of the palace bells closing came from outside. The deep and long sound echoed in the silent hall, as if telling the story of the passage of time.

Zhu Biao suddenly broke the silence and asked, "Father, if it's just about stockpiling grain, why transport it overnight? There must be something else going on behind this."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him, his gaze deep and wise, and slowly said, "It's not about hoarding, it's about moving."

Zhu Han nodded and added, "Brother, they want to transport the grain out."

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, seemingly not quite having reacted yet.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked to the map, pointed lightly at the Qinhuai River, and said, "Collect it in the city."

Then the finger slowly moved south, "Out of the river mouth." Then it pointed east, "On the river."

Zhu Biao looked at the map, his brows gradually relaxing, and he suddenly realized, "Father means they want to transport the grain out of Yingtian?"

Zhu Han nodded again and said with certainty, "That's right, and there are people waiting outside to meet us."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a while, then a meaningful smile appeared on his face. He said, "You have guts to do such a thing in my Yingtian City."

Zhu Biao hurriedly asked, "Father, should we seal off the river? Block their escape route and leave them nowhere to flee."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, his eyes revealing a deep sense of foresight, and said, "Let's not move for now. I want to see where they intend to transport the grain."

After saying that, he looked at Zhu Han and said, "Go to Longjiang tomorrow."

Zhu Han was slightly taken aback, then understood.

Longjiang is the largest shipbuilding camp outside Yingtian City. All riverboats must pass through there, and going there is undoubtedly to better control the situation on the river.

He nodded quickly and said, "Alright, I will go tomorrow."

Zhu Biao also said, "I will send some boats to assist Brother Han."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "No need for further discussion. This matter should not be publicized, lest we alert the enemy."

After he finished speaking, he looked out the window. It was already dark, and the palace lanterns were lit up one by one, like stars in the night sky, illuminating the entire palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly said, "Since some people want to transport the grain away, then I will grant their wish and see where they want to transport it."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly not fail in my mission."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the river was already full of boats.

The river wind was strong, making the sails flap loudly, as if playing a stirring symphony.

Zhu Han rode his horse, leading a group of Imperial Guards, and galloped all the way to Longjiang.

At this moment, the sun had just risen above the river, and the golden sunlight shone on the surface of the river, making it sparkle like a dream.

The riverside boardwalk was already filled with craftsmen and soldiers. Some were busy carrying timber, while others were focused on hammering iron nails. The timber was piled up as high as a small mountain.

As soon as Zhu Han's cavalry arrived at the camp gate, the guards recognized him and immediately knelt on one knee, shouting in unison, "Prince Han!" Their voices were full of awe and respect.

Zhu Han waved his hand gently and said, "No need for formalities."

The camp gates opened quickly, and the cavalry entered the shipbuilding camp without incident.

The commander of the Longjiang Shipbuilding Battalion was surnamed Luo. He was in his forties, his face was tanned dark by the river wind, and his rough skin was like tree bark.

Upon hearing the news, he rushed over, looking somewhat disheveled as he hadn't even put on his full armor.

Upon seeing Zhu Han, he immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, I was unaware of your arrival. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

Zhu Han dismounted and personally helped him up, saying, "Commander Luo, there's no need for such formalities. I've come today to inquire about the situation on the river."

Commander Luo quickly replied, "Your Highness, please speak. This humble general will tell you everything he knows."

Zhu Han glanced at the river and asked, "Are there many boats on the river lately?"

Commander Luo nodded and said, "Yes, Your Highness. The boats on the river have been coming and going much more frequently these past few days than before."

Zhu Han then asked, "Where are they all going?"

Commander Luo replied, "East. Most ships are heading east."

Zhu Han didn't ask any more questions. He walked slowly along the riverbank, his gaze sweeping over the boats on the river.

Many boats were moored along the riverbank. Some were merchant ships, large in size and filled with all kinds of goods; others were newly built military ships, their brand-new hulls exuding a faint scent of wood.

In the distance, a large ship was being launched, with dozens of soldiers pulling on thick ropes and shouting in unison, "Lift—!"

With their efforts, the boat slowly slid into the river, the water was pressed up and white waves rose, and the people on the shore cheered.

Zhu Han watched for a while, then suddenly stopped and turned to Commander Luo to ask, "Were any boats passing by at night?"

Commander Luo thought for a moment and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhu Han asked again, "Is it a lot?"

Commander Luo said, "There have been quite a few these past few days, and boats often pass by at night as well."

Zhu Han nodded, becoming even more certain of his guess.

He walked to a high slope, from which he could clearly see the direction of the river mouth.

The river is wide, like a giant blue ribbon. Several merchant ships are sailing downstream, their sails billowing as if they are about to ride the wind and waves and sail into the distance.

Zhu Han stood on the high slope, facing the river wind, for a while, and then suddenly said, "Find a few small boats."

Commander Luo paused for a moment, then asked, "Does Your Highness intend to leave the river?" (End of Chapter)