In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 733 Many Years Apart, Old Friends Remain

"Ten thousand taels?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yiliu's eyes widened in shock.

It wasn't the price that surprised him.
But a piece of news... could it be worth ten thousand taels of silver?
Even in Yingtian, this amount of silver could buy a very nice house.

If this were in an ordinary village, it would be enough to feed the entire village for several generations.

Is it worth buying a piece of information right now?

Hu Kui took in his expression, leaned back in his chair, and looked relaxed.
"Manager Lu, as I said before, the same information will have different prices for different people."

This news is very important to me, so I am willing to spend ten thousand taels of silver to buy it.

Of course, even the slightest clues are acceptable; the amount of money will be awarded based on the importance of the clues.

Shopkeeper Lu can rest assured about the price; Mr. Hu has always been known for his integrity.

The house became a little quieter.

After a while, Lu Yiliu slowly raised her head and asked:
"If I, Lu, don't help with this, is it still possible to get the information from Manager Hu?"

Hu Kui smiled:
"Of course, business is business, but one thing at a time."
However, there are some important details that I may choose not to disclose.

Lu Yiliu nodded in realization.

"In that case, I, Lu, will help you with this. As long as this person is still in Beiping, I will find him within three days."

"Thank you, Manager Lu. Is there anything else you'd like to ask?" Hu Kui asked.

Lu Yiliu pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"Ta Xue Trading Company has always wanted to expand into the south."

However, some provincial trading houses had long been occupied by local wealthy merchants.
As an outsider, I cannot fit in.

Mr. Lu wanted to know if there was any way to squeeze in.

Hu Kui laughed and gently shook his head:
"Manager Lu, the question is too general. Please be more specific."

Lu Yiliu gave an awkward laugh.
He wanted to use this test to see if there were any other methods.
"Manager Hu, I've heard that the Yingtian Trading Company is supervised by the imperial court."
The background is strong enough and there are enough tentacles.

If the Snowwalking Merchant Guild could cooperate with the Yingtian Merchant Guild,
Then the road from south to north will be opened up.

Mr. Lu wanted to know how he could contact Yingtian Trading Company or start a cooperation agreement; the price was negotiable!

Hu Kui's expression remained calm and composed, but his heart was filled with strange thoughts.

Lu Yiliu and Shen An stared intently at him, hoping to get a satisfactory answer.
But Hu Kui remained silent for a long time, which made the two of them increasingly anxious.

Just as the two were becoming impatient, Hu Kui spoke in a deep voice:
"One thousand taels."

Lu Yiliu was startled. Could this matter be settled for a thousand taels of silver?
He nodded quickly:
"can!"

Hu Kui asked:

"Manager Lu, has the third manager of Taxue Trading Company ever cooperated with Da Ning on mink fur?"

“Yes, and the Taxue Trading Company will be opening a textile trading company with Dusi in the next few months,” Lu Yiliu replied.

Hu Kui laughed:

"Manager Lu, the path is right beneath your feet."

"Please enlighten me, Manager Hu?" Lu Yiliu pressed.

Hu Kui spoke calmly:
"The Northern Pacification Commandery is making a lot of moves these days, building roads and opening trading posts."
Ultimately, they all point to one goal: to revitalize Daming, or at least to make its commerce flourish.

Manager Lu had always longed for the Yingtian Trading Company.

It was Commander Lu who single-handedly oversaw the construction.
Given Da Ning's actions, it's clear he was trying to open up trade routes between the north and south.

Now that the Snowwalking Merchant Guild has partnered with the Commander, how far is the Yingtian Merchant Guild from doing the same?

"what?"

Lu Yiliu's eyes widened suddenly, disbelief flashing in them.

The renowned Yingtian Trading Company is actually managed by Lord Lu.

Upon learning this, he was not as happy as he had expected.

Instead, a feeling of unease settled over him.
As a wealthy merchant in Beiping,

His abilities were limited to Beiping City.
Once outside Beiping, he was completely in the dark.

Some confidential information was simply unavailable to him, which led him down many detours.

Just like now, if he knew the real target was so close,

Why bother asking for favors?
We can just lead our men straight to Daning City and solve everything.

"Manager Lu, was this money well spent?"

"Worth it! It's totally worth it!" Lu Yiliu nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining.

"If you want to cooperate with Yingtian Trading Company, Manager Lu can contact Liu's Fruit and Vegetable Shop in the south of the city."

The channels they used belonged to Yingtian Trading Company.
Although they are not well-known, their influence outside Beiping is far greater than that of the Taxue Trading Company.

"Is it Liu Huaipu's trading company?"

"Indeed, both paths allow us to cooperate with Yingtian Trading Company."

Lu Yiliu's breathing became slightly rapid, and her eyes flashed with a sharp light.

He believed that as long as he had the connections, he could definitely open up sales channels with his abilities.

What I fear most is being like a headless fly, bumping into walls everywhere, unable to find the right direction.

"Thank you very much, Manager Hu. Your words are worth more than ten years of study."
Previously, I couldn't find the right approach and wasted a lot of money, but today I finally understand!

Lu Yiliu stood up and bowed deeply. Shen An, who was standing beside her, did the same.

"Please sit down, please sit down. We have a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship."
I have needs and you have requests, there's no need to be so polite.

"If you need to inquire about anything in the future, you can send someone to find Mr. Hu. The price is fair."

Hu Kui gestured for the two to sit down, then looked at the empty dried fruit platter in front of him:

"Now that we've finished discussing business, shall we eat and chat?"

"Okay! Serve the food!"

Lu Yiliu was beaming; today's visit had not only resolved many of his doubts, but also...

We even found a truly well-informed person, which is even more gratifying than making money!
Many rare items, such as lychees from Guangdong and seafood from Fujian, were quickly served.

The wine is Zhuyeqing, which was stored during the Yuan Dynasty.

The group toasted and drank, enjoying themselves immensely, and soon their faces were flushed with happiness.

Fueled by alcohol, Lu Yiliu felt that her relationship with Hu Kui had grown much closer.
He then mumbled a question:
"Brother Hu, this Tang Xingbang's identity is no simple matter."

"We are merely merchants; getting involved in such matters could potentially cause problems."

"Manager Lu, in our line of work, it's inevitable to deal with government officials."

"If we can use this opportunity to establish a relationship with Da Ning, then the news from outside the Great Wall will be much more accurate in the future," Hu Kui explained with a smile.

A glint flashed in Lu Yiliu's eyes, and she understood.
The person before me was indeed backed by the government; otherwise, he wouldn't have known so many secrets.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lu Yiliu still couldn't ascertain the background of the person before him, which added to his apprehension.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye. After a satisfying meal, the table was a mess.
Only a few empty wine jars remain of the finest Zhuyeqing liquor.
Hu Kui took the hot towel from the waiter, wiped his face, and said with some emotion:

"Thank you for your hospitality, Manager Lu. Today's meal is quite sumptuous."

Lu Yiliu laughed heartily:
"It's still early today. Several top courtesans have recently arrived at the Anxiang Pavilion next door. The highest bidder wins."

I've already taken the picture, Brother Hu, shall we go have some fun together?

"Oh? It was Manager Lu who spent so lavishly the other day. I'm truly impressed," Hu Kui said.

Lu Yiliu smiled, appearing quite elegant.

Hu Kui looked troubled:

"It's getting late. Brother Lu, you can take Scholar Shen with you."

I hit it off with Brother Lu today and we drank quite a bit. My leg is aching slightly; I can't push myself any further.

Lu Yiliu did not insist:

“Then let’s meet another day. Once I have news of Tang Xingbang, I will pay him a visit.”

"Alright, you'll get every penny!"

Hu Kui stood up unsteadily, and the guard beside him quickly handed him a cane and helped him get off the chair.

Seeing that Lu Yiliu wanted to say something more, Hu Kui reached out to stop her:

"Business is business, even brothers should keep clear accounts."

"Well done, Brother Hu, you truly are a man of great business acumen."

Lu Yiliu rose to see him off, finding the man to be very well-mannered, unlike the officials of the Three Departments who were so hesitant and fussy.

Not long after, Lu Yiliu, having seen Hu Kui off, returned to the private room.
The drunken confusion in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by unparalleled clarity.

He waved his hand:
"Stop the music, everyone get out."

"Yes!"

The waiter and a dozen women left one after another, leaving only Lu Yiliu and Shen An in the room. "What do you think of this Manager Hu?" Lu Yiliu asked Shen An.

Shen An's face was slightly flushed, and she barely managed to stay awake.

"Manager, this man is unfathomable."
The fact that such confidential information comes out so casually suggests a complex web of relationships behind it.

"Yes," Lu Yiliu nodded in deep agreement.
"The capital city, Beiping, Daning, and the Grand Canal."
What has been revealed already encompasses the entire country, from north to south, and even beyond the Great Wall.

I can't figure out who this kind of person is working for.

Shen An had some guesses, pointed to the ground, and tentatively asked:
"Manager, since he's based in Beiping, his roots are naturally here."

In Beiping, there are very few people with such skills.

Lu Yiliu's pupils contracted slightly, and she quickly realized something:
"You mean His Highness the Prince of Yan?"

"Even if he is not the Prince of Yan, he is at least the chief official of the Three Departments."

If one were below them, they wouldn't be so open about Lord Qu's news.
After all, before things are settled,
"No one can be sure whether Lord Qu will collapse," Shen An analyzed.

"What you say makes a lot of sense. Either he has definite information that Lord Qu is about to fall, or..."
Either he's completely fearless, hiss.

Lu Yiliu gasped, her fear deepening in her eyes:

"Regardless of the circumstances, the course must be offered next year."
His words make a lot of sense. We should keep our distance and avoid attracting the attention of the imperial court.

Shen An clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes.
He had studied diligently for over twenty years, waiting for this opportunity to attend high school, and he would never let it slip by!
"Manager, I understand."
In the days to come, I will disguise myself as a down-on-his-luck, impoverished scholar and try to make a name for myself in Beiping.

"Do more good deeds, such as teaching the children in the orphanage."

"I will send people to spread your story and help you build your reputation so that you can strive to pass the imperial examination next year!" Lu Yiliu instructed.

"Yes, don't worry, Manager!" Shen An replied.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking,

At the north gate of Beiping City, more than a thousand soldiers appeared from the horizon, marching in a grand procession towards Beiping City.

The soldiers guarding the city, who had been dozing off, were jolted awake and instantly lost all drowsiness.

They rushed to the battlements and stuck their heads out.

Upon seeing the black armor on those thousand-odd people, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, they were friendly forces!

As the person approached, a rumbling sound came from below:
"Open the city gates! I am General Huang Yingzhi!"

The defending general's expression changed drastically. Through the still-dark sky,
Looking down, he quickly waved his hand:
"Quickly, quickly, put the bamboo basket down!"

Once the bamboo basket rose again, the garrison commander received the documents and official papers.
After reading it, his expression suddenly turned serious:

"Open the city gate!"

"Yes!"

The heavy north gate creaked open and slowly roused many caravans that had been waiting at the gate all night.

A hint of envy flashed in their eyes as they watched the soldiers surge forward.
If they could receive the same treatment, that would be wonderful!

But this is just a thought.

As the soldiers entered the city, Huang Yingzhi led the way.
Looking at the city gate guards who came forward to greet him, he spoke in a deep voice:
"Send word of my return to the Commandery and the Prince of Yan's residence. We will temporarily stay at the North City Camp!"

"Yes!"

Without a word, the defending general waved his hand, and a soldier darted out.

"Lord Huang, is there anything else you require?"

"Notify the North Camp to prepare food and hot water; we will move in immediately!" Huang Yingzhi said.

"Yes!"

The commander guarding the city gave another order, and one of them rode away on a fast horse.

Having done all this, Huang Yingzhi looked at the soldiers behind him and waved his hand:
"Enter the city, keep your voice down, and do not disturb the people!"

"Yes!"

The group left the city gate in a grand procession and headed towards the camp inside the city.

After turning a corner and disappearing from sight of the North Gate,

A group of over a hundred people quietly broke away and scattered in an instant.

They disappeared into a dozen or so alleys.

Lu Yunyi led a dozen or so men around the city, and soon, following the map,

We arrived at North Street, which is close to the inner city.
We found a large courtyard with a plaque that read "Qingping Escort Agency" hanging on it!

With a wave of his hand, Feng Yunfang dismounted and stepped forward to gently knock on the door knocker.

Soon after, hurried footsteps came from behind the door.

With a creak, the door opened, revealing a figure.
Upon seeing the newcomer, he was terrified and quickly waved his hand:
"come on in!"

The group quickly entered the courtyard. The person who had opened the gate earlier greeted Lu Yunyi with a respectful bow and clasped hands.

"Your humble servant, Wang Xin, greets Your Excellency!"

Lu Yunyi smiled and stepped forward, patting him on the shoulder:

"Great! Your injuries have healed quite well; you can hardly tell. How was your stay in Beiping?"

Wang Xin looked excited:
"If it weren't for your rescue, sir, I would have died long ago."
Nowadays, people in Beiping enjoy good food and drink, and there's such a large security escort agency.

I never dared to dream of such a life before.

"Haha, the best is yet to come."

As I said before, if you want to return to the military, don't hesitate, I'll make arrangements for you in the future.

"If you don't want to fight and kill, you can just run your business here and have a good life!" Lu Yunyi said.

“Yes, sir!” Wang Xin replied.

"Where is Hu Kui?" Lu Yunyi asked.

"The master drank until very late yesterday and is still resting."

Before he could finish speaking, the door to the main hall was pushed open, and Hu Kui appeared.

He spotted the young man standing in the courtyard at a glance.

He became very excited, and his expression became uncontrollable:
"grown ups!"

This time, Hu Kui did not use his crutches.
Instead, he strode forward swiftly, making a gesture as if to kneel on one knee.

Lu Yunyi reacted quickly and grabbed his arm:

"Oh, don't be so polite, get up quickly."

"My lord, it has been several years since we last met, and I have missed you dearly!"

Hu Kui's lips trembled slightly, and his eyes filled with tears:

"I heard from Xiao Wu during the Spring Festival that life in the military is very tough these days."

"If it's not hard work, is it even considered military service?"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and walked towards the main hall without ceremony:
"This trip to Liaodong to fight is going to be exhausting, and now we're rushing on our way. Is there anything to eat?"

Yes, yes, yes!

Hu Kui quickly waved his hand:

"Quickly, quickly, go to Old Chen's place at the village entrance and buy some breakfast. Buy it in different places, and buy a lot!"

"Yes!"

Wang Xin led a few people away in a hurry.

Before long, Lu Yunyi sat down at the square table.
Sipping a bowl of savory tofu pudding and eating meat-filled buns, the slurping sounds continued, and my body gradually warmed up.

Hu Kui held a bowl of soy milk and sipped it slowly.

He still reeked of alcohol, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Hu Kui said, "Sir, yesterday I met with the head manager of the Taxue Trading Company and asked him to help me find Tang Xingbang in the city."

He's well-informed in the city and has many connections with some government officials; I believe news of him will arrive soon.

"Hmm," Lu Yunyi's expression became more serious as he asked:
"How's the cargo?"

“Sir, judging by the time, they should have already boarded the ship. Tang Xingbang may not be able to find anyone,” Hu Kui replied.

"You still need to be careful. These nobles have a dense network of connections and are extremely well-informed. You need to speed things up here," Lu Yunyi advised.

"Yes!" Hu Kui responded, then tentatively said:

"My lord, we can ask the Prince of Yan's mansion for help."

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"I have the same idea. During the day, help me disguise myself and send me to the Prince of Yan's residence."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)