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

The next morning, the Ministry of Revenue in the capital had not yet officially opened, but the long street in front of the gate was already crowded with people and bustling.

One after another, gorgeously decorated carriages came in a line, their wheels rolling on the cobblestone road, making a dull and rhythmic sound.

The curtains of the carriage were opened, and merchants dressed in silk and satin got out one after another. Some of them held folding fans inlaid with jade, some had heavy purses hanging around their waists, and the accessories on their bodies all showed their wealth and status.

In the crowd, a middle-aged businessman with a sturdy figure was talking to his companion. He was wearing a brocade robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar. The jade belt buckle at his waist was inlaid with a huge ruby, which sparkled brightly in the morning light. "Brother Li, this time the court is inviting investment to the new city, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I heard that the new city has a grand plan and will surely become a place where merchants gather after it is completed. If you can get the investment quota, your financial resources for the next few years will be stable."

As he spoke, he gently stroked his neatly trimmed beard on his chin.

The merchant called Brother Li was tall and slender, with a stern face. He was wearing a black satin gown with a jade pendant pinned to his collar. The warm luster added a bit of elegance to him. He nodded slightly, glanced at the bustling crowd around him, and whispered: "Brother Wang is right. However, looking at the scene today, all the people who came are well-known figures from all over the country, and the competition must be fierce. I heard that even several big men from Shanxi and Huizhou merchants came in person, so we have to be careful."

As he was talking, a commotion was heard. A few burly men were seen carrying a huge wooden box with dragons and phoenixes carved on it. It was locked tightly with a copper lock and looked extremely heavy. People around cast curious glances and whispered. "Is this box filled with gold and silver treasures?" "Maybe it's a valuable gift to the officials of the Ministry of Revenue."

The men carrying the boxes shouted all the way and made their way through the crowd with difficulty.

One of the men with a fat face shouted impatiently: "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Don't block my way!" The crowd reluctantly made way and watched them carry the box to the gate of the Ministry of Revenue and put it down carefully.

At this time, a thin businessman in a gray robe came up to Wang Hongru and said nervously, "Manager Wang, look at this situation. It's not going to be easy today. So many powerful merchants have come. Can we win?" Wang Hongru glanced at him, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and snorted coldly, "Why are you panicking! Didn't we reach a consensus with Mr. Zhu yesterday? As long as we act according to the plan, we may have a chance of winning." Thinking of Zhu Wusi's amazing financial resources and mysterious background last night, Wang Hongru still had doubts in his heart, but more of them were expectations. He secretly calculated that if he could take this opportunity to climb up the ladder and get a share of the new city's investment promotion, his status in the business world would be greatly improved.

Not far away, several women in gorgeous clothes surrounded a beautiful woman and got off the carriage. The woman wore a phoenix crown inlaid with pearls and gems on her head, and a white fox fur cape on her body, which made her look elegant and noble. She held a sandalwood fan in her hand, gently fanning it, and her eyes arrogantly scanned the crowd around her. "Humph, these people dare to compete for the investment quota of the new city? Don't you think they have the strength?" A maid beside her quickly agreed, "Madam is right, our master is well-known in the business world, and this time the investment promotion for the new city will definitely be easy to win."

When the merchants around heard this, some showed dissatisfaction, while others curled their lips in disdain. A merchant with a goatee couldn't help but mutter in a low voice: "What's so great about it? She just relied on her husband's power. The real capable ones are those of us who have worked hard on our own."

As time went by, more and more people came to the door of the Ministry of Revenue, and the noise became louder and louder. Merchants gathered in groups of three or five, discussing the details of the new city's investment promotion and inquiring about each other's true and false. Their eyes showed both the desire for wealth and the vigilance against competitors.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd. A young man in brocade robes came over, surrounded by a group of guards. The young man had a handsome face and extraordinary temperament, playing with an exquisite jade ring in his hand. Wherever he went, people automatically made way for him. "Who is this? So majestic." "I heard that he is the only son of the richest man in Jiangnan, and he came to Beijing to compete for the investment quota of the new city."

The young man walked to the front of the Ministry of Revenue, stopped, and swept his eyes coldly over the crowd, with a disdainful smile on his lips. "Today, I will definitely get the investment quota for this new city. If anyone dares to snatch it from me, don't blame me for being rude." His voice was not loud, but it was particularly clear in the noisy crowd. When everyone heard it, a chill surged in their hearts.

In the corner of the crowd, an old man in plain clothes was watching all this quietly. His eyes were deep and calm, and he seemed to be indifferent to the hustle and bustle around him. A young servant stood beside him and said anxiously: "Master, look at the situation, should we also..." The old man raised his hand to interrupt him and said slowly: "Don't worry, let's see how the situation develops. This new city's investment promotion is by no means as simple as it seems, there must be a mystery in it." The servant listened, although he didn't quite understand, but still nodded obediently.

Just as everyone was on the verge of a fight, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from the corner of the street. Eight snow-white horses came in the morning light that was like broken jade. The gilded bells tied to their manes jingled with their steps, attracting everyone's attention.

The carriage is made of rosewood and inlaid with tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl on the surface. The cloud pattern formed by it glows with a strange brilliance in the sun. The curtains are actually woven with peacock gold thread, and the bright yellow satin cushions inside the carriage can be vaguely seen.

"It's Boss Zhu!" Wang Hongru's pupils shrank suddenly, and he was the first to push through the crowd and rush over. The hem of his brocade robe was covered with dust, but he was unaware of it, and his eyes were fixed on the slowly falling pedal of the carriage. The other businessmen who attended the banquet yesterday also woke up from their dreams, scrambling to squeeze next to the carriage, and greetings came one after another.

Zhu Yuanzhang was wearing a moon-white robe with a golden python pattern, and the mutton-fat jade pendant on his waist shone warmly in the morning light. He slowly got out of the car with the help of his guard, and deliberately rolled up his sleeves to reveal the red coral inlaid on the 18-bead bodhi bracelet on his wrist. "Good morning, everyone!" His hearty laughter resounded through the long street like a bell, carrying an intimidating force that made people want to follow him involuntarily.

"Boss Zhu's visit really brings honor to our Ministry of Revenue!" Wang Hongru bent his waist and respectfully handed over a handkerchief embroidered with gold thread and cloud patterns. "I wonder if Boss Zhu had a good rest last night?" He glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang's expression and saw that he looked normal, so he felt relieved.

Zhu Yuanzhang took the handkerchief and wiped his fingertips casually. He glanced at the merchants around him who were eager to make a move. Suddenly, he raised his hand and put his arm around Wang Hongru's shoulder: "You've come just in time. Shopkeeper Wang, please introduce me to these business leaders." The hot temperature from his palm through the silk made Wang Hongru sweat coldly on his back. "This is President Wu of the Shanxi Merchants General Chamber of Commerce." Wang Hongru pointed at the wealthy businessman wearing a ruby ​​jade belt buckle, and his voice unconsciously rose. "President Wu is the leader in the salt and iron business in the northwest. I heard that he brought three ships of Western Region treasures as collateral this time."

Chairman Wu's eyes, which were narrowed at first, suddenly widened, and he stared at the jade pendant with a dragon pattern that was faintly visible on Zhu Yuanzhang's waist. He forced a smile and clasped his fists and said, "Boss Zhu, you are too kind. It's just a small business. But Boss Zhu's style, is it..."

"President Wu, you're joking!" Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and turned the jade pendant to make the dragon pattern more visible in the sun. "I'm just doing some business selling local products. How can I compare to President Wu's wealth?" He changed the subject and leaned closer to lower his voice. "I heard that President Wu and the Minister of Industry are old friends?"

President Wu's face turned pale instantly, and veins on his forehead throbbed. He took a half step back in panic and bumped into the man who was carrying a box behind him. The huge wooden box creaked, and the copper lock shone coldly in the morning light.

Wang Hongru quickly took over the conversation upon seeing this, pointing at the stern businessman in black and said, "This Boss Li is a rising star among Anhui merchants. He just monopolized the export of Jiangnan silk last year." He deliberately emphasized the word "monopolize" and saw out of the corner of his eye that Boss Li's hand unconsciously pressed on the secret pocket on his waist where the silver bills were hidden.

Boss Li nodded slightly, the jade pendant swaying lightly at his collar: "Boss Zhu's show last night really opened my eyes. I just don't know if Boss Zhu..."

"When doing business, you have to be sincere." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to signal the guard to bring a gilded tray with ten silver bills of ten thousand taels neatly stacked on it. "I heard that the new city requires a deposit to attract investment, so I will prepare it first." His fingers stroked the bright red official seal of the Ministry of Revenue on the banknotes, and suddenly turned to look at the jeweled woman in the crowd: "Who is this lady..."

"I am the wife of a Yangzhou salt merchant!" The woman waved her sandalwood fan and said, but when she met Zhu Yuanzhang's half-smile, she couldn't help but soften her tone, "My master..."

"So, madam is a salt merchant's noble wife." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled meaningfully, "I heard that there have been some changes in the Lianghuai salt permits recently?" His voice was light, but it almost made the woman drop the fan in her hand.

A sneer suddenly rang out from the crowd. The only son of the richest man in Jiangnan walked slowly over, his jade ring reflecting a cold light in the sun: "Boss Zhu is so arrogant. I wonder which official in the Ministry of Revenue opened the back door for this million taels of silver?" The guards behind him pressed the hilts of their knives in unison, the cold light looming in the morning mist.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly burst into laughter, and the sound made the copper bells under the eaves buzz. He slammed the tray to the ground, and the banknotes fell like snowflakes. "Young man, business is about harmony and wealth." He took a half step forward, and the smell of ambergris mixed with alcohol on his body hit his face. "But Zhu is not a soft persimmon that can be manipulated by others."

Wang Hongru looked at the fleeting cold light in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and suddenly remembered the glaring "Zhu" on the Kongming lantern last night. He swallowed his saliva and hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over: "You are all pillars of the business community, why do you want to hurt the harmony? Why not wait until you enter the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Manager Wang is right!" Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly changed, and he picked up the banknotes on the ground with a smile, "Today we are all serving the court, so we can talk it out." He rearranged the banknotes, his eyes swept over the frightened and greedy expressions of the crowd, and sneered in his heart - these profit-seeking people could not escape from his clutches after all.

At this time, the morning bell of the Ministry of Revenue rang loudly. The merchants straightened their clothes like soldiers hearing the horn. Wang Hongru leaned close to Zhu Yuanzhang's ear and whispered, "Boss Zhu, President Wu and the Minister of Industry are indeed very close, and Boss Li..."

"I know what's going on." Zhu Yuanzhang played with the jade pendant and watched everyone file in. A meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Once we enter this government office, the real show will begin."

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was in a stalemate with the others, there was a sudden clanging of powerful horse hooves in the distance, the rhythm was uniform, like the roar of war drums. In a blink of an eye, a team of guards in black tights came galloping, the scimitars hanging on their waists flashed coldly, and the silver tiger heads embroidered on their chests sparkled in the sun. The guards lined up neatly in front of the Ministry of Revenue, their movements were clean and neat, showing their elite spirit.

Then, eight dark, sturdy horses slowly pulled a simple yet majestic carriage. The carriage was wrapped in fine iron, and the edges of the wheels were inlaid with sharp iron nails, as if it could break through any obstacles at any time. The curtain was opened, and a burly middle-aged man stepped out of the carriage. He wore a black crown with gold inlays, a purple robe with dark patterns, and a jade plaque with the words "Kaiping" hanging around his waist. His every move exuded a powerful aura.

"Boss Di is here!" Someone in the crowd shouted, and the originally noisy scene instantly quieted down, followed by greetings one after another. "Boss Di, long time no see!" "Boss Di will definitely win the investment in the new city this time!" Businessmen gathered around him, their faces full of flattering smiles, their eyes full of awe and flattery.

Wang Hongru hurriedly approached Zhu Yuanzhang and explained in a low voice, "Boss Zhu, this is Boss Di Hu of Kaiping Silver Cabinet. This Kaiping Silver Cabinet is the lifeblood of our Ming merchants!" His voice was filled with envy and awe that was difficult to conceal, "Nine out of ten merchants in the world have to go through Kaiping Silver Cabinet for their silver and money transactions and bill exchanges. Whether it is Shanxi merchants, Huizhou merchants, or small merchants from all over the country, they all have to rely on Boss Di's silver cabinet for turnover of funds. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the God of Wealth for all our merchants."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes and looked at Di Hu with interest. Di Hu smiled and responded to everyone's greetings one by one. He seemed amiable, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk, sweeping over everyone inadvertently, as if he could see through everyone's thoughts. He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and his voice was low and powerful: "Everyone, today is the important event of the court's new city to attract investment, and Di is also here for this business opportunity. I hope everyone can show their talents and compete fairly." (End of this chapter)