The eunuch in the cold palace: You get the Nine Yang Divine Skill right from the start!

"If Governor Cao is unwilling, then so be it; I will have no choice but to report this..."

"Eunuch Shen is joking."

Cao Lingkun interrupted Shen Mo, as if making a great sacrifice, and nodded, saying, "As you say, someone, have Chu Juji come over here immediately."

Several eunuchs behind him immediately went to report.

Shen Mo smiled with satisfaction and continued, "Eunuch Cao, now that we've discussed the people, let's talk about money. The Western Depot doesn't have a base yet. Do you have any suggestions, Eunuch Cao?"

After pondering for a moment, Cao Lingkun said, "There is a large mansion outside Xi'an Gate that covers nearly a hundred acres. It was originally the residence of a prince, but the prince later committed a crime and was exiled by His Majesty. The mansion is currently under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Depot. If Eunuch Shen thinks it is suitable, I will have someone arrange the formalities, that is..."

"Haunted?"

Shen Mo subconsciously replied that he had investigated before coming here and found that the most suitable location for the Western Depot to be stationed in the capital was this abandoned palace.

Firstly, it is located not far west of the imperial city, making it convenient to enter and exit the palace.

Secondly, the place is big enough to avoid having to relocate when the number of people in the West Factory increases.

The only downside is the rumored haunting.

A wealthy merchant once bought it at a huge cost, but died violently in the mansion in less than half a year. Later, several other owners were killed in succession. The last one was the Governor-General of Jiangnan, who was arrested by the Eastern Depot for huge corruption after living there for only half a year. The mansion eventually returned to the Eastern Depot's ownership.

Cao Lingkun paused for a moment, then smiled wryly: "Since Eunuch Shen already knows, I won't go into too much detail. If you mind, the Eastern Depot owns quite a few residences, but none of them, regardless of size or territory, can compare to this haunted royal palace."

"That's unfair of Eunuch Cao!"

Shen Mo chuckled and teased, "You deliberately brought up this haunted royal palace just to get my attention, didn't you? How could I give up so easily?"

"Eunuch Shen already knew about this haunted palace; wasn't he just waiting for me to speak up?"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Ma Guifan thought to himself, "They really are two foxes, one old and one young."

Shen Mo put away his smile and said calmly, "We are here to share His Majesty's burdens, how could we believe in any superstitions? Let's go with this Prince's residence. As for the specific procedures, we'll have to trouble Eunuch Cao for help."

"No problem!" Cao Lingkun smiled.

This mansion is just sitting idle in the hands of the Eastern Depot, and they can't sell it. Giving it to the Western Depot is a good way to do Shen Mo a favor.

Shen Mo coughed lightly and continued, "The Prince's mansion has been vacant for so long, it must need some repairs. In addition, the West Depot has just been established and is in a panic because it has no grain in hand. I would like to trouble Eunuch Cao to allocate eight hundred or ten million taels of silver to help with the emergency."

Ten million taels? For an emergency?

Cao Lingkun quickly waved his hand and said, "Eunuch Shen, even if you sold me, you wouldn't get that much money. So many people in the Eastern Depot are counting on our family for their livelihood."

"Don't try to play the poor card with me, Eunuch Cao. With your good relationship with the Jiang family and their ilk, getting this little bit of silver should be easy for you, right?"

Shen Mo's smile was meaningful. He deliberately brought up the Jiang family to tell him not to forget that he hadn't settled accounts with the Jiang family for what happened last time!

Cao Lingkun gritted his teeth and held up two fingers: "Two million taels! My Eastern Depot can squeeze out two million taels from between my teeth."

"Eunuch Cao."

Shen Mo leaned forward and whispered a reminder: "I spoke well of you in front of His Majesty. You should know that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the Eastern Depot, which is why the Western Depot exists. This amount of money is probably not enough."

Cao Lingkun closed his eyes in deep thought, then suddenly opened them after a few breaths and sighed softly, "Three million taels! Not a single tael more is left."

"Eunuch Cao is indeed His Majesty's most trusted minister. I will certainly put in a good word for you in the future."

Shen Mo patted Cao Lingkun on the shoulder. He had already gotten the number he wanted, so he still had to say some polite words.

The so-called ten million taels is just an exorbitant price. If he could actually casually produce ten million taels, then there would be a real problem.

Cao Lingkun forced a smile, suppressing his heartache: "The Western Depot and the Eastern Depot are like brothers. It's only right that brothers help each other..."

"Master Supervisor, you wanted to see me?"

Chu Juji appeared, but his gaze fell on Shen Mo beside him.

Cao Lingkun nodded and sighed softly, "Eunuch Shen's Western Depot has been established, and he has assigned you to his troops. From today onwards, you will be transferred to serve in the Western Depot."

"Eunuch Cao is mistaken."

Shen Mo corrected him, "What do you mean by 'my Western Depot'? Both the Eastern and Western Depots are His Majesty's swords, and you and I are merely the swordsmen."

"Eunuch Shen is right," Cao Lingkun said, his lips twitching with anger.

This Shen Mo is getting the better of himself and acting innocent! But who can blame him when he's currently riding high and highly regarded by His Majesty, while I and the Eastern Depot are being suspected!

Chu Juji turned to look at Shen Mo, took a deep breath, and knelt on one knee, saying, "I, Chu, am willing to serve the Western Depot and Eunuch Shen with utmost loyalty!"

"The Western Depot has just been established; this is the perfect time for you all to realize your ambitions!"

Shen Mo personally helped him up, showing that he valued Chu Juji quite a bit.

This conclusion stemmed not only from the earlier rumors about this person in the Cold Palace, but also from the judgment made after their encounter at the Eight Treasures Restaurant. Although Chu Juji was forced by circumstances to protect the纨绔公子 (playboy), he had a bottom line and did not help the wicked to kill innocent people.

Afterwards, it further reminded the Zhang family of the Ministry of Revenue of their relationship with the Crown Prince.

This kind of person, who has principles and knows how to be patient, is exactly the kind of talent the Western Depot needs!

half an hour.

The eunuch in charge of handling the formalities returned and handed the land deeds and house deeds stamped with the official seal to Shen Mo, completing the transfer of ownership of the Prince's Mansion.

Even Shen Mo's personal presence is not required.

This is the deterrent power of the Eastern Depot. No official is unafraid of the Eastern Depot, since no one knows when its executioner's blade will fall on their head.

Shen Mo couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that sooner or later, the Western Depot would become such a thing!

"Eunuch Cao!"

At this moment, Zhou Kui led out a dozen or so members of the Eastern Depot.

Three of them were in the late stage of blood-moving, five were in the middle stage of blood-moving, and the rest were all in the early stage of blood-moving.

With a single glance, he signaled, and more than a dozen men knelt down in unison, saying to Cao Lingkun, "We are willing to join the Western Depot along with Vice Governor Zhou. We beg your permission, Governor!"

"you......."

Cao Lingkun was torn and found it hard to part with them. These people were all Zhou Kui's old subordinates from when he was a bandit. They were all brave and fearless in battle, and could be said to be a considerable backbone force in the Eastern Depot. He really didn't want to let them go.

Ma Guifan cast a glance at him, and Cao Lingkun, understanding the meaning, sighed, "Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, I, the Grand Supervisor, grant your permission!"

Both men understood that this group of people followed Zhou Kui's lead without question. Once Zhou Kui left, they naturally had no intention of staying to risk their lives. It would be better to go with the flow and help each other out, so as to save face.

With a sharp crack, Zhou Kui knelt on one knee, his left knee digging more than an inch into the ground. He clasped his hands together and shouted to Shen Mo in a resounding voice, "Zhou Kui is willing to go through fire and water for Chief Eunuch Shen, without hesitation!"

Snapped--!

The next moment, the dozen or so men who had just stood up knelt down again in unison, shouting in unison, "We are willing to go through fire and water for Governor Shen, without hesitation!"

"Brothers, please rise quickly! The Western Depot needs talents like you!"

Shen Mo grinned from ear to ear. Not only had he gained Zhou Kui, a fierce general, with just one Hundred Herbs Salvation Pill, but he had also nurtured so many talented individuals.

This is a huge profit!