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

The two mounted their horses together, and Zhu Han flicked the reins, sending the horses galloping forward.

Lan Yu followed closely behind, with the cavalry following in an orderly fashion.

The group quickly left the old post station on the west bank of the river, and the streets returned to quiet, but things were already moving in the south of the city.

The Imperial Guards searched every place one by one, leaving no suspicious spot unchecked. Granaries were constantly being turned upside down, and the grain inside was piled up like mountains.

In the afternoon, the sun grew increasingly intense, and outside the south gate of Yingtian City, large areas of old warehouses were opened.

The grain sacks were piled up on the ground like small mountains, and the soldiers in charge of counting them were extremely busy, constantly taking counts, their voices echoing in the open space.

"Nine hundred and twenty."

Nine hundred and twenty-one.

Nine hundred and twenty-two.

Lan Yu stood to the side, looking at the mountain of grain, and frowned: "There's plenty of grain in the city."

Zhu Han remained silent, gazing towards the Qinhuai River.

The river was bustling with activity, with many boats coming and going.

Lan Yu looked at the river, feeling somewhat anxious: "Should we freeze the river?"

Zhu Han shook his head, his gaze resolute: "Let's not move for now."

Lan Yu frowned, a puzzled look on her face: "If we don't move, we'll get far away."

Zhu Han looked at the river, his eyes revealing a deep wisdom: "We must go far away."

Lan Yu was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood. He chuckled and said, "Play the long game."

Zhu Han nodded slightly. The sun slowly set in the west, and the golden afterglow shone on the river, making it sparkle.

News of grain searches throughout the city kept reaching the palace. In the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright behind a table with several stacks of account books on it, which contained the grains found in various granaries.

Zhu Biao stood to the side, having just finished reading a book, his face showing a hint of solemnity.

"The three warehouses in the south of the city," Zhu Biao said, putting down the ledger. "A total of two thousand seven hundred bags."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, his gaze deep: "It's not over yet."

Zhu Biao said, "The grain stores have also started investigating."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, his eyes revealing a sense of authority: "Which families?"

Zhu Biao turned a page of the ledger and said, "Dexing, Yufeng, Wansheng."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, a hint of mockery in his smile: "They're all established brands."

Zhu Biao fell silent. These grain shops had been operating in Yingtian for many years, supplying both military and civilian rations in a proper manner.

But now, the accounts don't match up at all, clearly indicating that there's a secret behind it.

At this moment, the palace door was pushed open, and Zhu Han walked in with steady steps.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and asked, "How is the south of the city?"

Zhu Han sat down, and a palace servant immediately brought him tea. He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said, "I found two more warehouses."

Zhu Biao asked, "How much?"

“About three thousand bags,” Zhu Han said, putting down his teacup.

The hall fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere growing increasingly heavy. Suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Where is the boat?"

Zhu Han said, "Two have already been released."

Zhu Yuanzhang, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood tall and straight in front of the huge map in the Wuying Hall.

On the map, the Yangtze River resembles a winding dragon, rushing eastward from Yingtian all the way to Zhenjiang.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and his finger slowly landed on the location marked "Longjiang" on the map. His tone was calm and firm: "Start from here."

Having said that, he slowly slid his finger eastward along the flow of the Yangtze River, his eyes revealing contemplation and strategy, "If we go with the current..."

The finger stopped abruptly at one point. "Here."

Zhu Biao stood to the side, looking in the direction his father was pointing, and said softly, "Guazhou."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the map. "Guazhou is on the south bank of Yangzhou. It is a major ferry crossing on the river, with frequent ship traffic. If grain ships enter there, it's like fish entering the sea, making them very difficult to track."

At this moment, Zhu Han, who had been standing quietly to the side looking at the map, spoke up. His voice was calm and steady: "Not necessarily."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao both turned their attention to Zhu Han.

Zhu Han stepped forward and pointed to another spot on the map, "We might go this way too."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, "Jiangyin?"

Zhu Han nodded in confirmation, "There are many docks there, which makes it convenient for ships to dock and for cargo to be loaded and unloaded."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. "You certainly know how to choose a location."

Outside the hall, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence inside.

A member of the Imperial Guard hurried into the hall, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze sharpened as he looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guard. "Speak."

"Longjiang has sent a message," the Imperial Guard said.

Zhu Han immediately raised his head, his eyes revealing a hint of tension and anticipation.

The Imperial Guard continued, "The two grain ships that were released have already passed the mouth of the Jurong River."

The three people in the hall fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became heavy.

The mouth of the Jurong River is more than 100 li away from Yingtian, which means that the grain ships have successfully sailed down the Yangtze River for a distance.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with both mockery and confidence, “You’re not moving slowly.”

Zhu Han stood up, his eyes resolute. "I'll go."

Zhu Biao quickly asked, "Where to?"

Zhu Han pointed to the map again, "Zhenjiang."

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhu Yuanzhang decisively said, "Go."

He turned and shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Move the boats!"

The night was as dark as ink, and soon it enveloped the entire world.

On the Yangtze River, the waves surged and rolled, and the river water shimmered with silver light under the moonlight.

Boats sailed on the river, their lights twinkling, barely noticeable in the vast darkness.

Zhu Han stood at the bow of the ship, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his eyes fixed on the front.

Behind him, several Imperial Guards stood ready, vigilantly observing the surrounding movements.

Suddenly, a member of the Imperial Guard whispered, "Your Highness, someone is catching up."

Zhu Han nodded slightly, his gaze remaining calm. "Let's not move for now."

The boat continued to slowly follow the two grain ships ahead on the river.

The night grew deeper and deeper, like a huge black curtain enveloping the entire world.

The two grain ships ahead showed no sign of stopping, resolutely sailing eastward.

In the latter half of the night, a cluster of lights appeared in the distance.

The lights shone brightly in the darkness, like a beacon of hope in the darkness.

The city walls along the river gradually became visible, their outlines appearing and disappearing in the night.

"Zhenjiang," Zhu Han said softly, his voice carrying a hint of certainty.

The dock was brightly lit, with large and small ships densely packed along the shore, resembling a sea of ​​boats.

The ferry crossing was bustling with noise, the various sounds blending together to create a unique nocturne.

The night market was still open, with vendors calling out their wares and customers haggling over prices, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Zhu Han's boat was moored in the middle of the river. He stood quietly at the bow, watching the two grain ships slowly approach the shore.

On the dock, people were waiting anxiously, and more than a dozen cars quickly surrounded them, as if a pack of hungry beasts had spotted their prey.

The grain sacks were carried off the ship one by one and loaded onto the trucks in a very fast-paced manner, as if a tense competition was underway.

Zhu Han watched quietly for a while, then said to the Imperial Guard beside him, "Remember the place."

The Imperial Guard nodded solemnly, his eyes fixed on every detail on the dock.

The convoy on the shore quickly finished loading its cargo and left the dock, heading towards the city. Zhu Han turned around and said calmly, "Back to the ship."

The boat did not dock; it quickly turned around and sailed back along the river.

The sound of the flowing water was especially clear at night, like the footsteps of time.

At dawn, the sky gradually turned a pale white, and the first rays of sunlight shone on the river, making it sparkle.

Zhu Han's boat returned to Longjiang, and he went directly to the palace, arriving at the Wuying Hall.

Inside the Wuying Hall, the lights were still on. Zhu Yuanzhang hadn't slept all night. His eyes showed a hint of fatigue, but even more so, determination and wisdom.

Zhu Biao was also inside the hall, his face showing a mixture of worry and anticipation.

Zhu Han entered the hall, and Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at him, "Have you arrived?"

Zhu Han nodded, "Zhenjiang."

Zhu Biao immediately asked, "Has the grain entered the city?"

"It's in," Zhu Han replied succinctly.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled, a hint of smugness in his smile, "Just as I expected."

Zhu Han explained the location of the dock in detail, and Zhu Yuanzhang listened without speaking immediately.

He slowly walked to the map, his finger resting on Zhenjiang City, as if he wanted to firmly grasp the city in his hands.

The hall was very quiet, as if even the air had frozen.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up: "There are people in the city collecting grain."

Zhu Biao nodded, "And the quantity is quite large."

Zhu Han added, "The grain from the city is still being transported out."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, his eyes revealing a hint of inquiry.

Zhu Han said, "There are still boats on the river tonight."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, slowly sat back in his chair, as if everything was under his control, and said, "Good."

Zhu Biao asked, "Father, when shall we make our move?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked out the window. It was just dawn, and court officials were already waiting outside the palace gates.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Wait one more day."

Zhu Biao was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Zhu Han nodded, seemingly understanding Zhu Yuanzhang's intention.

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Since some people dare to collect grain, let them collect as much as they want."

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes, "Close the door when the warehouse is full."

Early in the morning, in an alley in the north of the city, a car that had entered the city the night before was parked in the courtyard.

The gate to the courtyard was half open, and there were sacks of grain piled up inside. Four workers were busy moving the grain.

The grain sacks were stacked against the wall, resembling a small mountain.

A middle-aged man in a blue cloth shirt stood to the side, holding an account book in his hand, his eyes intently flipping through the accounts.

“Ninety-seven…ninety-eight…” His voice was very low, as if he was afraid of being overheard.

Suddenly, he paused and looked up at the courtyard gate.

The alley outside was quiet, with only one soy milk vendor calling out his wares in a long, loud voice.

He looked away, feeling a little more at ease. "Move another thirty bags."

The worker responded and continued carrying the grain.

Unbeknownst to them, someone was watching them from behind a window across the alley.

Behind the window were two Imperial Guards, dressed in black, their eyes sharp as eagles.

One of them said in a low voice, "It's this courtyard."

The other man nodded and took out a piece of paper with the route of the dock drawn on it last night.

There are three alleys leading from the dock to this courtyard. The convoy circled around and finally stopped here.

"Remember the place, don't move." The two closed the window again, as if nothing had happened.

The streets were bustling with people, and no one noticed the two mysterious Imperial Guards.

In the east of Zhenjiang, a plaque hangs at the entrance of a large courtyard, with the four characters "Dexing Branch" standing out prominently in the sunlight.

The signboard is very new, as if it was just hung up.

There were quite a few people in the courtyard, with more than a dozen workers busily moving grain.

Four large scales were placed in the yard. Bags of grain were lifted up, weighed, recorded, and then sent to the warehouse.

Every step proceeded smoothly, like a meticulously choreographed dance.

Cars were parked outside the courtyard gate, forming a long line. The drivers sat on the shafts of their carts, drinking tea and leisurely waiting to load the goods.

Unbeknownst to them, their every move was being monitored by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Deep inside the courtyard, a man dressed in brocade robes was reviewing accounts.

He was in his thirties, with a fair complexion, and a string of brass keys hanging from his waist, which made a crisp sound as he walked.

This is the manager of the Dexing Shipping Company in Zhenjiang, surnamed Shen.

Manager Shen flipped through the accounts, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "How many bags were there in the two boats that arrived last night?"

The accountant bowed his head and replied, "A total of 1,400 bags."

Manager Shen nodded, "All of them, please put them in the warehouse?"

"It's in," the accountant replied.

Manager Shen then asked, "What about the docks?"

“There are three more boats,” the accountant said.

Manager Shen smiled, a hint of greed in his smile. "Not bad."

He closed the ledger. "Load it onto the truck this afternoon and send it to Beicang."

The accountant was taken aback. "Northern warehouse?"

Manager Shen said, "The one outside the city."

The accountant nodded, asked no more questions, and continued with his work.

The work in the yard continued, with sacks of grain being carried into the warehouse. The warehouse was very deep, and the grain sacks were already piled high inside, resembling a castle of grain.

In the west of Zhenjiang, on an inconspicuous little street, there is an old tea shop.

The teahouse was small, with only three tables and an old cloth curtain hanging at the entrance, swaying gently in the breeze.

At this moment, there were two people sitting in the shop, one dressed in coarse cloth and the other looking like a boatman.

The two had tea in front of them, but neither of them touched it, as if they were waiting for something.

After a while, the man in coarse cloth said in a low voice, "The courtyard has been found."

The boatman nodded. "How many places?"

“Currently, there are two locations,” said the man in coarse cloth.

The boatman took a sip of his tea, then stood up. "Let's go."

The two left the teahouse, turned into the alley, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

After leaving the teahouse, Zhu Han, along with the boatman and the man in coarse clothes, walked along the winding alley.

"Your Highness, these two courtyards seem ordinary, but the guards are much tighter than those of ordinary households, and the people coming and going seem to be in a hurry. There must be something fishy going on," the boatman said in a low voice.

Zhu Han nodded slightly, "Let's go check out the one that's closest first."

After saying that, the three of them quietly made their way toward the target courtyard.

The courtyard was located at the end of a slightly wider street, surrounded by sparse houses.

Zhu Han and his group hid at the street corner, observing the movements in the courtyard.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and occasionally a man who looked like a helper would come in and out through the side gate, carrying some odds and ends.

Zhu Han noticed two people standing casually by the side door, but their eyes were actually scanning the surroundings warily; they were clearly on lookout duty. (End of Chapter)