I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 68 What a Big Hole
Baiyin County, Mingde Money House.

The charcoal fire in the charcoal basin was making a popping sound, and the waiter was dozing off with his eyes closed behind the counter.

"Excuse me, is the shopkeeper here?"

The waiter woke up with a start and saw a young couple standing in front of the counter, wearing veils on their heads.

"I wonder what the two gentlemen need from the shopkeeper?" the waiter asked with a smile. "If it's something like exchanging money, I can help you."

Gu Ci said in a low voice, "The rising sun beats the spring drum."

Tang Zhao:?
The clerk paused, then continued with a smile, "The amount of money you want to borrow is too much. I can't make the decision. Please go upstairs and I'll go get the shopkeeper."

As he spoke, he led the two of them to the innermost wing of the second floor, served them snacks and poured them tea, then slowly left the room.

Tang Zhao hadn't finished his tea when there was a knock on the door.

Gu Ci opened the door himself, and a middle-aged scholar with an elegant appearance bowed, "Mingde Money House Manager Yang Shan greets the distinguished guest."

"I heard that you, my distinguished guest, wish to borrow money by mortgaging valuables, and I have come to take care of this matter."

Gu Ci stepped aside and closed the door after Yang Shan entered.

"I wonder what valuables you have as collateral?" Yang Shan asked as he walked to the Treasure Pavilion, took off the flute from his waist, inserted it into the enamel cloisonné incense burner, and twisted it gently. The Treasure Pavilion moved three inches silently, revealing a secret door hidden behind it.

Tang Zhao couldn't help but think of the secret door of the Song Clan Ancestral Hall.

Is this a Northwest custom? Why does every home have a secret door?

Yang Shan stretched out his hand.

Gu Ci silently moved half a step away.

Yang Shan:?
Fifth Young Master?
Gu Ci glanced at Tang Zhao, who understood and took out the jade pendant of King Xuan from his small purse.

Yang Shan:?
Yang Shan was completely confused, but he still dutifully took the jade pendant, placed it in the groove on the door, and the secret door opened.

Yang Shan entered first with a torch, and Gu Ci held Tang Zhao's arm through his sleeve and entered together. The secret door behind them closed instantly.

After going down the long stairs and walking through the winding maze-like path, Tang Zhao felt his feet were numb from walking until he saw a secret door at the end of the road.

Tang Zhao watched Yang Shan take out such a large bunch of keys from his arms, and picked and chose for a long time before finding the right one.

Tang Zhao winked: Are you sure King Xuan has no money?
With this situation, it would be a shame not to hide a few million taels in this secret room.

Gu Ci turned his head away and didn't look at her.

Tang Zhao pouted, shook off the man's hand and entered the secret door, only to see it was filled with empty boxes.

Empty box? Tang Zhao turned his head.

Although Yang Shan was leading the way in front, he was always paying attention to the actions of the two people behind him. He saw that the fifth young master, who always kept his distance from women, actually took the initiative to pull the woman's arm for the first time, even through her sleeve.

He confirmed the woman's identity instantly.

"Don't worry, Princess." Yang Shan put down the lantern in his hand and said, "May I ask how much silver the prince would like to lend you temporarily?"

Tang Zhao took out the agreement and gave it to him. "One hundred thousand taels."

"One hundred thousand taels!" Yang Shan was so shocked that he pulled out a few strands of his beard and gasped in pain. He hurriedly took the agreement and read it under the lamp. After a moment, he raised his head with despair.

It’s over, Mingde Money House went bankrupt.

Tang Zhao took the agreement back and said cautiously, "King Xuan has signed and stamped it. If you breach the contract, you must pay triple the liquidated damages."

Yang Shan waved his hand to indicate that he understood, and moved away one layer of empty boxes, then another layer of empty boxes, until he reached the innermost layer.

Tang Zhao tiptoed to look out, and as Yang Shan raised his hand, neatly arranged silver appeared in the box.

Tang Zhao's eyes lit up. Yang Shan made a gesture with his right hand. "One box of silver is five hundred taels. Twenty boxes in total. Bring the men to move it."

Tang Zhao:?
Wait, where is he? She looked at Gu Ci in horror. Could he be talking about me?

Gu Ci nodded, turned and left. After a while, the twenty personal soldiers who stayed outside entered the secret room in an orderly manner, and two people worked together to move the box away.

Tang Zhao:?
No, where did they come from?
Tang Zhao was pulled by Gu Ci through another path, and saw that the personal guards were tying up a box with thick hemp ropes not far away, and the personal guards who stayed outside were lifting the box out of the hole above.

The personal guards made two trips back and forth and finished transporting all the boxes. Gu Ci waited until the last personal guard was hoisted up before he reached out to hug Tang Zhao, grabbed the hemp rope and jumped up.

It’s the familiar wild forest again.

Tang Zhao:.
Tang Zhao asked, "What's the secret passage we just went through?"

"It's just a trick," Yang Shan replied, and then left everyone to return the way they came.

In order to hide the withheld military pay from the Northwest Army, the magistrate of Baiyin County spent several years digging a maze-like secret room underground. After killing the magistrate, King Xuan took the secret room for himself.

It was not until the fifteen-year-old Gu Ci entered the dark room for the first time and punched a hole in the top of his head that King Xuan realized that the dark room was not that dark after all.

King Xuan originally wanted to dig a real secret room himself, but the prince and his party kept a close eye on any movement in the northwest, and he never found an opportunity over the years.

I had no choice but to continue using it, disguising the hole and using it as another exit.

Tang Zhao:.
Isn't it a bit too casual?

Gu Ci explained, "There are people guarding this forest." After that, he personally blocked the hole and restored it to its original state.

Tang Zhao took a closer look and found it was indeed flawless.

Gu Ci: "How do we put this money?"

Tang Zhao simply and rudely said, "Hire a carriage to take it away!"

Gu Ci was indifferent for a moment, left his personal guards to guard the silver box, and took Tang Zhao back to Baiyin County.

In front of the side door of the carriage and horse inn, a servant was picking and choosing firewood.

"This firewood isn't completely dry yet. The fifteen cents per bundle we agreed on is no longer valid. If you're willing, I'll take it at ten cents a bundle."

"Ten wen?" a man with half an arm missing shouted, "A bundle of firewood this big would sell for twenty wen even in the surrounding towns, not to mention the county town!"

The servant gave him a look of disdain and said, "Then go to town and sell it yourself."

"You!" The man was about to say something else when he was stopped by a one-eyed man.

"Young man, please take a closer look. These firewoods are all dry. We specially dried them after chopping them and bringing them home. Otherwise, we wouldn't dare to send them to your house," said the one-eyed man.

Seeing the leading man's humble attitude, the servant became even more proud. "I said it's not done thoroughly, so it's not done thoroughly. What's wrong with you?"

"No, no, it's just that ten cents a bundle is too low. How about we sell it to you at thirteen cents a bundle?"

"If I say ten cents, it's ten cents. It's your turn to bargain," the servant sneered. "If you want to sell it, sell it. If not, get out!"

A fierce light flashed in the one-eyed man's eyes.

"You better think clearly about the status of my Shen Family Carriage and Horse Shop in Baiyin County. If you dare to go against my Shen Family, I will make sure you can't sell a single piece of firewood!"

A dozen men gritted their teeth in anger. The man with half an arm missing was about to lose control of his anger when he heard an indifferent voice coming from behind him.

"What is the status of your Shen family in Baiyin County?"

Gu Ci: I'm really angry
Author: Babies, please vote for recommendations and monthly tickets to appease our male protagonist.

please
(End of this chapter)