Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Zhu Biao's heart trembled, and he suddenly felt that his father in front of him was both strange and familiar. The founding emperor who once ruled the country with an iron fist and acted vigorously, even though he was bedridden, still had the courage to stir up the world. "Your son obeys your order and will arrange it right away. However," he hesitated, "In what capacity will you participate? You can't really use the name 'Zhu Yuanzhang', right?"

"Just use your grandfather's name - Zhu Wusi." Zhu Yuanzhang raised a meaningful smile, "If he had money back then, he wouldn't have starved to death in the disaster years. Now, let's meet these shrewd businessmen on his behalf!"

"Ah, this." Zhu Biao was shocked by Zhu Yuanzhang's idea.

However, Zhu Biao soon accepted this point. After all, Zhu Yuanzhang had made secret visits before, so there was nothing strange about it.

"Father, let me accompany you!" Zhu Biao said immediately.

"You don't need to do that this time. You are now the ruler of a country. The responsibility of ruling the Ming Dynasty rests on your shoulders. You are already busy enough."

"We won't go far for now. We'll just walk around the capital and get familiar with the situation!"

As Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, he stood up and walked to Zhu Biao, patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder, and said, "Biao'er, I am completely relieved to leave the affairs of the court to you. In the days to come, I will help you secretly."

"Thank you, father. I'm sure you will take care of your health. If you feel unwell, please come back immediately!" Zhu Biao bowed quickly.

"Well, okay!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

In late spring in the capital, willow catkins are flying all over the sky like snow.

Zhu Yuanzhang was wearing a dark blue cloth shirt and a half-worn felt hat. Only the eunuch Wang Zhong was with him. The master and servant mixed in the crowd and slowly walked towards the Juxian Tower in the West Market.

This five-story building, with its carved beams and painted buildings and flying eaves and pointed corners, is an important place for merchants in the capital to discuss business and market conditions.

"Master, why don't you go to Heaven on Earth?" Wang Zhong asked curiously.

"Go to Heaven on Earth? Wouldn't that be the same as telling Ouyang Lun that we are going to investigate him incognito again?" Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Besides, Heaven on Earth is only fun at night. We have to come to this kind of restaurant during the day. There are many people and eyes, so we can take advantage of the situation!"

"The emperor is wise!" Wang Zhong praised.

"Haha, that's it!" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, in a good mood, "Let's go and take a look!"

As soon as he entered the Juxian Building, Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately slowed down his pace and listened to the words of passers-by on the street, all of which were about the investment promotion of the new railway city.

The lobby on the first floor of Juxian Building was bustling with people, and the aroma of tea, wine and food was intertwined.

Zhu Yuanzhang found an empty seat in the corner, sat down, ordered a pot of rough tea, and silently observed the movements around him.

"Have you heard? The conditions for attracting investment in the new city this time are simply pie in the sky!" The speaker was a middle-aged businessman with a greasy face, wearing a brocade gown and an exquisite jade pendant around his waist. It was obvious that he had a wealthy family.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip, his eyes full of excitement and greed.

"Boss Wang, don't be fooled by appearances." A thin old man opposite, twirling his sparse beard, said slowly, "The tax exemption for the first ten years seems tempting, but the thirty-year operating rights will have too many variables in the future. Those people in the Ministry of Industry have always been taking advantage of others. If they find any fault at that time, the money we invested will be gone." The old man's voice was low, revealing caution and worry.

"Manager Zhang, what you said is wrong!" Boss Wang put down his teacup and slapped the table, saying, "With the royal reputation as guarantee and the deposit jointly managed by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, is there anything safer than this? Even the Prince of Yan's Mansion has sent people to participate, so why should we be afraid of not getting any benefits if we just follow suit?" His tone was full of confidence, as if he had already seen the white money flowing into his pocket.

"Not only the Prince of Yan, I heard that other princes and even provincial governors are planning to intervene!"

In the corner, a young businessman in a gray cloth shorts spoke timidly: "But I heard that the Korean Mansion has an ambiguous attitude towards this matter and has not made any move. They are well-informed, have they discovered something fishy?" His voice was not loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

The hall was silent for a moment, and then the discussion started again, even louder than before.

"The Korean government's failure to make a statement really makes people feel uneasy."

"Maybe they are secretly plotting something, waiting to reap the benefits!"

"Humph, how can we guess what the nobles are thinking?"

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the teacup, took a sip, and swept his cloudy eyes across everyone's faces. He sneered in his heart, these businessmen seemed smart, but in fact they were like blindfolded lambs, being played around by various forces.

At this time, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and an old man in luxurious clothes came down with a crowd of people. It was Wang Hongru, the general manager of the Shanxi Merchants Association. When everyone saw him coming, they all stood up and saluted, with flattering smiles on their faces.

Wang Hongru nodded slightly, motioning everyone to sit down, and he sat down at the main seat. "Everyone, I'm sure you've all heard about the new city's investment promotion." His voice was steady and powerful, and he was intimidating without being angry. "I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Prince of Yan's Mansion has reached a cooperation intention with our Shanxi Merchants Association. If we join hands to eat this piece of fat meat, we will definitely make a lot of money."

As soon as these words were spoken, the lobby suddenly exploded.

"Manager Wang, how can we cooperate specifically?"

"How much money do we need to pay?"

“How are the profits distributed?”

Wang Hongru raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, "I will discuss the specific details with you later. But one thing you can rest assured, with the Prince of Yan's Mansion as our backing, we just need to focus on making money." There was a cunning flash in his eyes, as if he had already won.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in a corner and watched all this. He thought to himself that the Prince of Yan's Mansion was colluding with the Shanxi merchants, and their ambitions were not small. It seemed that this trip was worthwhile. If he hadn't gone there in person, how could he have seen through the true faces of these people?

"Shopkeeper Wang, that's true, but there are risks involved." The previous shopkeeper Zhang spoke again, but was interrupted by Wang Hongru. "Shopkeeper Zhang, how can you do business without taking risks? Besides, this investment promotion project is a project approved by His Majesty, who dares to interfere?" Wang Hongru's tone was a little threatening, "The opportunity is right in front of you, it depends on whether you have the courage to seize it."

Shopkeeper Zhang opened his mouth but swallowed his words. Seeing this, other merchants also echoed Wang Hongru and expressed their willingness to participate in the cooperation.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the corner, raising the coarse porcelain teacup to his lips. The tea soup was turbid and had a hint of bitterness, but it was more to his liking than the precious tribute teas in the palace.

He narrowed his eyes, looked at Wang Hongru talking in the main seat, listened to the discussions of the businessmen around him, and secretly calculated in his heart.

Wang Hongru was surrounded by people, and his eyes inadvertently swept across the corner. When his eyes met Zhu Yuanzhang's, he was slightly startled.

Although the man in front of him was wearing an ordinary cloth shirt, the imposing aura in his gestures and the sharp smile in his eyes made him feel that this man was definitely not an ordinary businessman. Wang Hongru's heart moved, and he sent away several merchants who were anxious to ask questions, straightened his clothes, and walked slowly towards Zhu Yuanzhang.

"I'm a stranger to you, brother. Are you also here in Beijing for business?" Wang Hongru had a perfect smile on his face and a probing look in his eyes.

Zhu Yuanzhang put down the teacup, looked up at Wang Hongru, and nodded slowly: "That's right. I heard that the capital is bustling and there are endless business opportunities, so I came here to try my luck." His voice was low and a bit vicissitudes, as if he had experienced countless storms.

A hint of joy flashed in Wang Hongru's eyes, and he pulled the chair next to him and sat down: "Haha, you came at the right time, brother! The new railway city is currently recruiting investors, which is a great opportunity. If you are interested, why not join us, I guarantee you will make a fortune!" He spoke with great joy, and his saliva almost splashed on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered in his heart, but remained calm on his face. He frowned slightly and said, "This investment promotion sounds tempting, but it is risky."

"Don't worry, brother!" Wang Hongru patted Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder. "With the support of the Prince of Yan's Mansion and the Ministry of Works led by the Prince Consort Ouyang Lun, what risks can there be? Besides, our Shanxi Merchants Association has been in the business world for so many years. We are well-informed and have extensive connections. Follow us and you will be safe!" His tone was firm and his eyes were full of confidence, as if he had already firmly grasped the wealth of this new city in his hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked the teacup and pondered for a moment before saying, "I just don't know how to do it specifically? What do I need to prepare?"

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be interested, Wang Hongru smiled even more happily: "Brother, you are indeed an expert! To participate in the investment promotion, you must first prepare documents of your assets to prove that you have enough financial resources to undertake the project. There are also shop contracts and accounts receivable. The more detailed the better. The gentlemen in the Ministry of Revenue love to pick on these details." As he spoke, he tapped the table with his fingers, "The most important thing is the deposit. The threshold for this investment promotion is not low. A 30% deposit, not a penny less will do."

Zhu Yuanzhang was secretly shocked. A 30% deposit is not a small amount. It seems that Ouyang Lun and the Prince of Yan have big appetites. He looked embarrassed: "This 30% deposit is not a small amount. I wonder if you can give me some time?"

Wang Hongru waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, brother! Although the deposit is a hard requirement, as long as you can prove that you have enough strength, it is not impossible to delay for a few days. However, we should not delay any longer. In three days, we will go to the Ministry of Revenue to register together. If you miss this opportunity, you will never have another chance!" He approached Zhu Yuanzhang and lowered his voice, "To be honest, the number of places for investment promotion this time is limited. The Prince of Yan's Mansion has already taken up the majority. The rest are all for us businessmen to compete for. If you are interested, prepare as soon as possible, so as not to be preempted by others."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered in his heart. Wang Hongru was really calculating. On the surface, he was trying to win him over, but in reality, he wanted to find someone to take the blame and share the risk. However, this was exactly what he wanted. Only by blending in with them could he see the situation more clearly. He nodded slightly: "Thank you for reminding me, Shopkeeper Wang. I will definitely prepare as soon as possible."

Wang Hongru stood up with satisfaction and patted Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder: "Good! You have courage! We will meet at the gate of the Ministry of Revenue in three days. Don't let me down then!" After that, he returned to the main seat with a big laugh and continued to deal with the merchants who surrounded him.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Wang Hongru's back, a cold light flashed in his eyes. He picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, the bitterness of the tea spreading in his mouth. Wang Zhong leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Emperor, this Wang Hongru."

"Hush..." Zhu Yuanzhang shouted softly, signaling Wang Zhong to be quiet. He glanced around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he whispered, "These businessmen only care about profit. The Prince of Yan's Mansion is colluding with the Shanxi merchants, and I'm afraid they have no good intentions. Let's follow them and see what they are up to."

Wang Zhong nodded repeatedly, secretly admiring the emperor's shrewdness.

At this time, the atmosphere in the hall became more and more heated. Under the encouragement of Wang Hongru, the businessmen began to discuss how to raise funds and win over connections. Zhu Yuanzhang sat in a corner, listening to these people's plans, and he already had a plan in his mind.

He wanted to use the identity of "Zhu Wusui" to go deep into the tiger's den and see clearly the calculations of the Prince of Yan's Mansion, the Shanxi merchants, and those nobles who were watching secretly.

Zhu Yuanzhang must take an active part in this investment promotion drama.

As night gradually falls, the lights in the Juxian Building are brightly lit, but the noise remains as loud as ever.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Wang Zhong walked out of the Juxian Building.

"Grand Emperor, shall we go back to the palace now?"

Wang Zhong spoke.

“Why go back? We finally got out here, so of course we should have fun.” Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Ah! It's so late, where can we go?" Wang Zhong asked in confusion.

"Of course it's heaven on earth!" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his lips, "Let's go wash our feet. We'll pay for today's consumption!"

The glazed lanterns of Tianshang Renjian light up one after another in the twilight, making the vermilion lacquered door lintel glow with brilliance.

Wang Zhong looked at the four gold-plated characters "Heaven on Earth" on the plaque, his Adam's apple rolling uneasily: "Your Majesty, if the Empress Dowager knew about this..." Before he could finish his words, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled him into the carved copper ring door. The incense that hit his face was mixed with the sound of stringed instruments and the smell of rouge on the fingertips of the embroiderer.

"Don't look so miserable," Zhu Yuanzhang threw off his felt hat and let the waiter take his coat, revealing the half-worn navy blue shorts underneath. "When I was fighting Chen Youliang, I slept on a brick bed in Hongdu for three consecutive days. Can't I get some hot water today?"

"Besides, we have already abdicated, so we should enjoy ourselves!"

His hearty laughter startled the canary hanging under the corridor to flap its wings, and caused the passing singer to chuckle behind her handkerchief.

Passing through the winding corridor, with his feet touching the cool blue bricks, Zhu Yuanzhang was led into the private room by the waiter.

Inside the room, a rosewood screen separated the bed from the bathtub, and the celadon incense burner was filled with the scent of ambergris. "Would you like to try the newly made milk bath?" The waiter knelt on the floor and held up a carved sandalwood tray with more than ten kinds of petals and medicine bags on it. "This rose with saffron is the best for promoting blood circulation and unblocking meridians."

"That's it." Zhu Yuanzhang pointed casually, and saw Wang Zhong standing stiffly at the door. He reached out and grabbed his collar and pushed him onto a low stool. "You want to be a door god? You can also soak me!" Before he finished speaking, two lightly dressed maids came in with copper basins, and the steaming hot air instantly filled the whole room. (End of this chapter)