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

“It’s here,” Zhu Han emphasized again, his eyes fixed on that point on the map.

Zhu Biao quickly leaned closer for a look, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Dantu Shuikou?" he asked softly, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Zhu Han nodded, his expression serious and earnest.

“The river here is narrow, with docks on both banks. If just a few dozen boats are laid across the river, the rest of the fleet can't pass. It's like a natural barrier that completely cuts off the waterway.”

He explained in detail, his finger gently sliding along the river channel at Dantu Shuikou on the map, as if simulating a scene of boats being blocked.

Zhu Biao frowned, pondering a solution.

"Then should we move the boat over there and break through?"

He spoke urgently, his eyes revealing a hint of impulsiveness and urgency.

Zhu Han gently shook his head, his movement elegant and composed, as if everything was under his control.

“It can’t be broken through,” he said slowly, his voice calm and steady.

Zhu Biao was taken aback, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

"Why?" he couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Zhu Han slowly said, "Since the Salt Gang has prepared more than a hundred boats, they won't just stay there. They must have been prepared in advance, like a group of cunning foxes, and they won't let us succeed easily."

As he spoke, he pointed to another spot, his movements swift and precise.

"Yangzhou South Ferry Crossing"

Songjiang Bailong Bay.

"And here—"

"Taicangkou".

The wooden pole fell four or five times in a row, each fall seeming to sound an alarm bell.

Zhu Biao's expression gradually changed, and a hint of fear and worry appeared in his eyes.

"They want all the grain ships to be moored on the river," Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, his tone tinged with anger and helplessness.

Zhu Han nodded, his expression serious and solemn.

"If the grain can't be sold, the grain shops will naturally go under. This is the conspiracy of the salt gang; they want to disrupt the market and seek personal gain through this method."

He analyzed that there was a hint of wisdom and insight in his eyes.

Zhu Biao sneered, his laughter filled with disdain and mockery.

"They've calculated things quite clearly," he said through gritted teeth, his heart filled with anger at the Salt Gang's actions.

Zhu Han didn't speak, but just stared at the map quietly, his eyes deep and mysterious, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his head and asked with a firm gaze, "How many ships can Zhenjiang mobilize now?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment, quickly calculating the number of ships in Zhenjiang in his mind.

"Twenty-seven official ships," he said, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"If civilian ships are forcibly requisitioned, we can probably gather thirty or forty more."

He went on to add that he knew in his heart that these ships were far from enough to deal with the threat from the Salt Gang.

Zhu Han shook his head, his expression serious and resolute.

“Too little,” he said, his voice carrying an undeniable decisiveness.

Zhu Biao frowned, pondering other solutions.

"So, what are your plans, Uncle?" he asked eagerly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Zhu Han's fingers gently landed on Suzhou, his movements elegant and composed.

“Suzhou has the most water merchants,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of confidence and certainty.

He then pointed to Taicang, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Taicang has seagoing vessels."

“If we bring them all out…” he said slowly, pausing deliberately to pique Zhu Biao’s curiosity.

Zhu Biao immediately understood, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

“At least three hundred,” he exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise and anticipation.

Zhu Han said calmly, "That's enough." His voice was calm and steady, as if everything was under his control.

A flicker of excitement flashed in Zhu Biao's eyes, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Then I'll send someone to transfer it right away!" he said urgently, turning to leave.

Zhu Han raised his hand to stop him, his movements elegant and composed.

“There’s no rush now,” he said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of mystery and profound meaning.

Zhu Biao was slightly taken aback, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

"So, what are your plans, Uncle?" he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Zhu Han said slowly, "The Salt Gang hasn't made a move yet. If we make a move first, they will retreat. It's like two fighting beasts; whoever shows a weakness first will lose."

He analyzed, noting a hint of wisdom and composure in his eyes.

Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly understood, a look of sudden realization flashing in his eyes.

"Does the Imperial Uncle want to wait for them to seal off the river first?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement and anticipation.

Zhu Han nodded, his expression serious and resolute.

"Only when they actually take action will the matter be considered settled. Only then will we have sufficient reason to take action."

He said this with an undeniable decisiveness in his voice.

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, his heart filled with admiration for Zhu Han's wisdom and strategy.

“Okay,” he said firmly, his eyes revealing a hint of determination and courage.

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside. The footsteps were hurried and powerful, as if they carried a sense of urgency.

A guard whispered at the door, "Your Highness, Commander Lu requests an audience."

Zhu Han said, "Let him in." His voice was calm and steady.

A moment later, Lu Chenzhou strode into the study.

He was dressed in a black outfit, his posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his clothes were still covered in night dew, indicating that he had just returned from outside.

His face showed a hint of fatigue, but his eyes revealed a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

"Your Highness." Lu Chenzhou clasped his hands in a salute, his movements precise and powerful.

Zhu Han looked at him, his eyes filled with concern and expectation.

"How is the situation in Nanshi?" he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Lu Chenzhou said, "The Salt Gang has already started making moves."

His voice was deep and powerful, as if carrying a sense of alertness.

Zhu Biao immediately asked, "When?"

His voice was urgent and tense, as he worried that the Salt Gang might suddenly launch an attack.

Lu Chenzhou replied, "Tonight." He took out a new waterway map from his pocket. The map was somewhat wrinkled, obviously drawn in a hurry.

"At the Yangzhou dock, ships are already gathering."

He said, pointing to the location of Yangzhou Wharf on the waterway map.

"They will all be submerged within three days at the latest."

He added, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Zhu Biao couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, a laugh filled with disdain and mockery.

“Three days. They’re really in a hurry.” He said through gritted teeth, his heart filled with anger at the Salt Gang’s actions.

Zhu Han calmly asked, "Where do they plan to seal off?"

His voice was calm and steady, as if everything was under his control.

Lu Chenzhou pointed to the map, his movements swift and precise. "Dantu Shuikou."

"And there's Bailong Bay in Songjiang."

“Also—” He paused, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

“Yangzhou South Ferry,” he finally said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Han, a hint of admiration and surprise flashing in his eyes.

Just as the Imperial Uncle had predicted, his wisdom is truly astonishing.

Zhu Han said calmly, "And Taicang." His voice was calm and steady, as if he had already anticipated everything.

Lu Chenzhou was slightly startled, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

"Does Your Highness already know?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Zhu Han did not answer, but asked, "When will the fleet depart?"

His voice was calm and steady, as if he were asking about something extremely ordinary.

Lu Chenzhou said, "The night after tomorrow."

His voice was deep and powerful, as if carrying a sense of determination.

Zhu Han nodded, his expression serious and firm. "Very good."

He said this with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhu Biao, his eyes filled with trust and expectation.

“Your Highness,” he said, his voice calm and steady.

Zhu Biao immediately stood up straight, his posture as upright as a pine tree.

“Royal Uncle,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of respect and determination.

Zhu Han said slowly, "We'll start moving the ships tomorrow."

His voice was deep and powerful, as if carrying an unquestionable command.

“But don’t use any banners,” he added, a hint of mystery and meaning in his eyes.

Zhu Biao nodded, his expression serious and resolute.

"Understood," he said, his voice carrying a hint of confidence and certainty.

Zhu Han continued, "All ships from Suzhou, Taicang, and Zhenjiang have been assembled."

"Stay away from the Salt Gang."

He emphasized that his eyes revealed a hint of caution and wisdom.

Yangzhou, that ancient and prosperous city, exudes a unique mystery in the deep of night.

The salt warehouse, a huge warehouse that is usually filled with salt bags, is now brightly lit, as if a breathtaking storm is brewing.

Dozens of oil lamps were hung high on the beams and pillars, their dim yellow light swaying in the night wind, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the walls and the floor.

In the center of the warehouse, a large table was laden with a sumptuous feast of food and wine. The aroma filled the air, but it could not mask the underlying tension and excitement.

Han Shichang sat steadily in the main seat.

He was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, his face was cold and stern, and his eyes revealed an unfathomable scheming.

A dozen or so salt gang leaders sat around a long table on either side. They were all burly men with expressions that were either ferocious or smug on their faces.

Several wine jars on the table were already empty, and the spilled wine mixed with the soup from the dishes, creating a messy yet rustic atmosphere.

The crowd was clearly in high spirits, their words becoming increasingly bold as they got a little tipsy.

"Master Han!" A burly leader suddenly stood up, holding a wine glass high in his hand, the wine swirling inside and splashing out a little.

"Once the waterways are cut off, the grain trade in Jiangnan will be finished! At that time, all the wealth in Jiangnan will belong to our salt guild!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, then let out a wild laugh.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the warehouse and causing the oil lamps on the beams and pillars to tremble slightly.

Another leader chimed in, "No matter how powerful the Prince of Han's mansion is, they can't move the river! Our Salt Gang has been roaming this river for years, are we afraid of them?"

Another burst of unrestrained laughter followed, as if victory was already within their grasp.

However, Han Shichang simply picked up his wine glass slowly, took a small sip, and maintained a faint smile on his face, a smile that seemed to conceal endless calculations.

After a moment, he slowly put down his wine glass, glanced around at everyone, and asked, "Is the ship ready?"

A quick-witted leader nearby immediately stood up and respectfully replied, "Ready, Master Han. There are sixty boats from Yangzhou, thirty from Songjiang, and twenty from Dantu, all fully prepared and ready to depart."

Han Shichang nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, and said, "Very good."

After saying that, he stood up and walked steadily to the window.

Outside the window, rows of ships were neatly moored, densely packed with masts, resembling a silent steel forest.

The night wind blew, and the sails swayed gently, making a rustling sound, as if telling of the impending battle.

Han Shichang stood quietly by the window, gazing at the ships, pondering the actions that were about to unfold.

A moment later, he suddenly turned around and said to everyone, "Everyone will go into the water the night after tomorrow."

The crowd responded in unison, "Yes!" Their voices were clear and loud, echoing throughout the warehouse, demonstrating their determination and obedience.

Meanwhile, far away in Zhenjiang, a speedboat suddenly appeared on the river.

The ship has a long, narrow hull and a high, upturned bow, resembling a sharp blade slicing through the river.

A dim lamp hung at the bow of the ship, its light faint and indistinct in the darkness, like the eye of a night traveler.

The boat moved extremely fast, and the spray from its bow shimmered silver under the lights. Before long, it reached the shore.

A man in black leaped off the boat with light and agile movements, landing almost silently.

This man was Chen Guang. He was dressed in a black outfit and his face was covered with a black mask, revealing only a pair of sharp and wary eyes.

He strode into a secluded alley, narrow and deep, the walls on both sides appearing particularly eerie in the night.

At the end of the alley was a dilapidated tavern, its signboard creaking and groaning in the wind.

Chen Guang pushed open the door and went inside. The tavern was empty, filled with a pungent smell of alcohol and mildew.

Behind the counter sat an old shopkeeper, dressed in a worn-out long gown, his hair gray and disheveled, his eyes revealing a worldly wisdom and vigilance.

Chen Guang walked over and said in a low voice, "It's going to rain tonight."

The old shopkeeper didn't even look up, as if he was already used to this kind of coded communication, and replied indifferently, "The wind is strong on the river."

Chen Guang nodded, took out a small wooden plaque from his sleeve, and handed it to the old shopkeeper.

The old shopkeeper glanced at the wooden sign, a subtle change flashing in his eyes. He immediately stood up and said, "Come with me."

The two walked into the backyard, where several fast horses were parked. These horses were plump and strong with glossy coats, clearly having been carefully selected and trained.

Chen Guang mounted his horse with practiced ease and grace, then said to the old shopkeeper, "Send the message."

The old shopkeeper asked, "Where to?"

Chen Guang said, "The Prince of Han's Mansion."

With that, he flicked the reins, and the sound of hooves thundered as the horse quickly disappeared into the night.

Two days later, the waterways in Jiangnan suddenly became unusually busy.

At the Suzhou docks, dozens of ships slowly departed. These ships varied in size and flew ordinary merchant flags, appearing no different from the merchant vessels that passed by on ordinary days. (End of Chapter)