In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 984 Secrets are made in secrecy, while leaks lead to ruin.

Red tide algae!
In an instant, Lu Yunyi suddenly understood.

Why did His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly faint when everything he ate and used seemed normal?

Clams themselves are not poisonous, but they are filter feeders with a simple and straightforward feeding method.
They feed on plankton in the sea by inhaling large amounts of seawater.

If the water happens to contain toxic red tide algae,

Toxins will accumulate inside the clam.
It does not harm the clam itself, but it can be harmful to the person who eats it.

Red tide algae are a type of algae that carry specific neurotoxins.

What's even more troublesome is that Lu Yunyi clearly remembers that this toxin is extremely resistant to high temperatures.
Even steaming, boiling, or stir-frying cannot completely remove it.

"hehe."

Lu Yunyi twirled the remaining red tide algae between his fingertips and let out a dry laugh.

He calmly put the clams back into the wooden bucket.
Turning to the steward beside him, he asked with a smile:

"Where did these seafood products come from? Which merchant supplied them?"

The steward quickly took an account book from the eunuch beside him.
As he handed it over, he replied respectfully:
"Reporting to Lord Lu, these aquatic products were delivered by the Lianbao Trading Company in the south of the city."

Their fleet had workshops along the coast.

It was retrieved from the sea the day before.

The goods were loaded onto a ship and set sail that same day, traveling directly to Yingtian via the Grand Canal, a journey that took no more than two days.
Therefore, the palace could always enjoy fresh seafood.

His Highness the Crown Prince has always been full of praise for their goods.

Lotus Treasure Trading Company?

A hint of doubt flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes.
He had never heard of this trading company before, nor was it among the many large trading companies listed by the Market and Commerce Bureau.

"Father-in-law, whose business is behind Lianbao Trading Company?"

"This this."

The manager looked troubled; Lu Yunyi's direct questioning left him somewhat at a loss.

Seeing his hesitation, Lu Yunyi's tone remained calm, but carried a hint of pressure:
"Speak plainly, I will not reveal it to outsiders."

"Lord Lu is joking. I really don't know who owns Lianbao Trading Company."

"Sure?"

Lu Yunyi turned his head and stared at him with a half-smile:
"Your Honor, I am currently investigating a case."

Whether you tell or not is up to you, but if this official discovers the truth in the future,

If I discover you've concealed information, don't blame me for being ruthless later.

The manager's expression changed drastically, as he felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
"Oh no, oh no, how could I forget about that!"

He bowed quickly and said:

"Lord Lu, to be honest, I really don't know who the master is."

But I've heard some rumors circulating around the town.

It's called Lianbao Trading Company, but it's actually managed by the second son of the Marquis of Jingning.

I've heard that many high-end restaurants in Beijing get their seafood supplied by them.

Marquis Jingning, Ye Sheng?
Lu Yunyi narrowed his eyes slightly; that made sense.

In the capital region of Yingtian, almost every respectable business has a powerful backer.
Such a lucrative route as supplying aquatic products to the palace could not have been possible without a powerful backer.

But this choice surprised him greatly.
Marquis Jingning, Ye Sheng, had already pledged allegiance to His Majesty in the fourteenth year of the Zhizheng era, and had weathered many storms since then.

He was ennobled in the twelfth year of the Hongwu reign (1380) and had rendered great service in the Western Regions.

In previous years, he also followed the Duke of Ying in suppressing several rebellions.
Even the military settlement construction in Dingbian, Yunnan, was led and presided over by him, and he has always enjoyed the trust of the palace.

Why would someone like that be involved in treason?

Was it dissatisfaction with the imperial court? Or was it simply opposition to moving the capital?

Lu Yunyi couldn't understand, and after a moment of stunned silence, he turned to the steward and nodded.
"Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency. I understand now."

He pointed to the seafood in the bucket, then to the fruits and vegetables not far away:

"I will have someone collect some of these items and bring them back to the yamen for careful examination."

Father-in-law, please don't worry about it; it's just routine.

"Yes, yes, Lord Lu, please make yourself at home!"

The manager quickly agreed and breathed a long sigh of relief, finally getting rid of this troublesome person.

Before long, two guards arrived pushing two handcarts.
Packed with carefully selected fruits, vegetables, and various seafood,

After leaving the Imperial Food Bureau, they returned to the Market and Commerce Bureau.

As soon as he returned to the yamen, the warmth on Lu Yunyi's face vanished completely, replaced by a deep gloom.

Hou Xian happened to come up to greet them, holding a stack of documents in his hands.

Lu Yunyi originally wanted to say something, but changed his mind before he could finish:

"Eunuch Hou, what is it?"

This matter was of great importance, and he was unwilling to rashly alarm the palace.

If they cannot produce conclusive evidence later, they will find themselves in a passive position.

Hou Xian's expression was somewhat strange as he handed over the document:
"Sir, these are planning documents sent by Yingtian Construction Firm and Cement Firm."
This involves repaving roads and repairing houses.

"Please take a look. If there are no problems, you can stamp it so they can start work as soon as possible."

"Um"

Lu Yunyi took the document and casually placed it on the table:

"Leave it here for now, I'll look at it later. Have someone take these two cartloads of goods to the ice cellar for safekeeping, and no one is allowed to approach them."

"Yes, sir, I will take care of it immediately."

Hou Xian glanced at the items on the cart, bowed in agreement, and led two guards away.

Lu Yunyi strode into the yamen, plopped down, and fell into deep thought.

"My lord, tea."

"Change to Coke."

"Yes."

A short while later, Lu Yunyi, holding a pitcher of iced cola, leaned back in his chair, his eyes vacant.

The passing officials, seeing this, were all secretly astonished.
What's wrong, sir?
He wasn't thinking about anything specific.
Instead, it was a process of emptying one's mind, and a sense of peace that had never been felt before quietly emerged.

Things have come to this point, and the struggle has already reached a fever pitch.
The opponent's methods are endless and impossible to defend against.

You can prevent it once, but you can't prevent it a second time. If someone really wants to harm someone, they will always find a way.

"call"

Lu Yunyi's eyes gradually regained their brilliance, and his sharpness reappeared.

He abruptly stood up, grabbed the documents on the table, and strode out.

Although it is known that it is impossible to prevent everything, the things that need to be done still need to be done.

After leaving the Market and Exchange Bureau, Lu Yunyi rode quickly out of the city.
Headed straight to Yingtian Construction Firm, located in the south of Yingtian City.

Although the construction company had a storefront in the city, it only served ordinary customers.
The actual core office is located in a renovated village outside the city.
This was originally an ordinary village.
After being bought and renovated by Yingtian Trading Company, it became the company's headquarters.

Looking around, all that could be seen were towering, gray-white cement and concrete buildings.

The walls are engraved with simple patterns, exuding a sense of solemnity.

The decoration is extremely simple, adorned only with bronze components, yet it appears exceptionally magnificent.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance, two guards came out from behind the gate and bowed.
"Lord Lu!"

Is Wang Chen there?

"Yes, the manager is inspecting the workshop."

"Have him come over immediately."

"Yes!"

Lu Yunyi walked briskly, heading straight into the largest building in the center of the construction company.

They went up to the third floor and waited in Wang Chen's office.

Shortly after, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Wang Chen rushed in.

He was over fifty years old, with a full head of white hair and an aged appearance.
He was much more energetic than when he was in the Ministry of Works' Water Conservancy Department.
At that time, he was constantly preoccupied with various matters and always looked exhausted.

Wang Chen's eyes lit up the moment he saw Lu Yunyi sitting at the head of the table.
"Lord Lu, what brings you here?"

If anything happens, just send someone to let me know.
"There's no need for you to make the trip yourself; I'll find you in the city."

Lu Yunyi pointed to the open door:
"Close the door, something important has happened."

Wang Chen's smile vanished instantly, and his expression suddenly turned serious:

"Yes!"

He quickly closed the door and sat down opposite Lu Yunyi:
"My lord, is someone trying to disrupt the capital again?"

Lu Yunyi greatly admired his keen insight, nodding and then shaking his head.
"This matter is more troublesome than that one."

Having said that, he took out a document from his pocket and handed it over:

"Take a look at this document and find out who is listed on it."

"Including the details of Lianbao Trading Company, no matter who is behind it, there's no need to worry!" Wang Chen took the document, glanced at it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Born into a prominent family in the capital region

He knew many secrets and had heard of the mysterious nature of the Lotus Treasure Trading Company.
This trading company specializes in business with the imperial court and powerful figures, and its background is unfathomable.

"Sir, what happened to the trading company?"

"It is related to a treason case, and Lianbao Trading Company has a very deep background."

Lu Yunyi said in a deep voice:

"I did not alert the Three Departments or the Embroidered Uniform Guard; you should understand what that means."

Wang Chen sat bolt upright, a chill creeping into his cloudy eyes:
"My lord, could it be that behind us is the residence of a noble family?"

"It's most likely the Marquis of Jingning's residence. You need to investigate secretly, without letting anyone notice or making a fuss."

"The Marquis's residence?"

Wang Chen's breath hitched suddenly. He looked down at the document in his hand, which detailed the matters and context that needed to be investigated.

A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and his tone became ruthless:

"My lord, when will you provide the results?"

"The sooner the better!"

Lu Yunyi said:

"The aquatic products of Lianbao Trading Company were transported to the capital via the Grand Canal."

Every single point along this route must be thoroughly investigated.

And a written record must be kept.

Finally, it is essential to find out exactly which sea area their seafood was harvested and cultivated, and to confirm whether red algae exists in the area.

"Red algae?"

"Yes, if you find it, record it immediately, preserve the evidence, and return to report as soon as possible."

Additionally, if this type of red algae is not found in the sea area described in the document,
Even if you search the entire southeastern coast,
We must find it, at all costs!
As for funding, the Market and Commerce Bureau will allocate three thousand taels of silver for this exploration.

"My lord, you're being too polite!"

Construction companies have made a lot of money in the past two years; they don't need funding from the Market and Investment Bureau.

"Keep things separate and leave records of your actions so you can have an explanation later."

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

"Okay, give me the results as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

After giving his instructions, Lu Yunyi stood up:

"By the way, the housing renovation project cannot be stopped. If it is done well, it could give you a chance for a promotion."

Wang Chen was taken aback, and his expression immediately turned strange:
"My lord, I'm already this old, and I have little interest in promotion."

On the contrary, this house-building job was quite enjoyable!

As he spoke, his eyes lit up:
"When I was a physician in the Water Conservancy Bureau, I was overwhelmed with flood control work every day."
Now we have cement and concrete.

Finally, I can escape those tedious tasks and do something I enjoy.

Lu Yunyi smiled, stopped at the door, and said calmly:

"His Majesty has promoted quite a few people this time, breaking with precedent."
Yu Xin was able to rise directly from the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works in Beiping to the position of Vice Minister of the Right. Why can't you?

Moreover, the effectiveness of the house renovation,

"Then everyone in the capital will be able to see it; it's much easier than accumulating seniority in the ministry."

Wang Chen's eyes widened suddenly, and she held her breath for a moment.
He's currently a fifth-rank official; being promoted to fourth rank wouldn't be so bad.

If he could become a vice minister in one fell swoop, it would be something he never dared to dream of before!
Ask any official in the land, which one doesn't covet the position of minister?
"My lord, please rest assured!"
"I will do my utmost to handle the house repairs and will certainly not let you down!"

"Well, I'll be leaving now. The matter of the merchant guild must be investigated as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

As darkness fell, the day passed in the blink of an eye.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters is located underground in Miaoyinfang.

Du Pingping sat in the yamen room,

He looked through the intelligence sent by his informants in the capital today, his expression grave.

It seems that everything came to an abrupt halt after the crown prince fainted.

The rebels have vanished without a trace.
Those traitors who were still active also fell silent, as if unwilling to be affected by this turmoil.

Even the merchants who had previously spread rumors and tried to suppress land prices have fallen silent.

The capital city became peaceful overnight.

But Du Pingping felt no joy, only a chilling fear.
This capital city is like a giant sieve; any news can leak out.

News of the Crown Prince's coma spread throughout the capital's elite circles in less than two days.

This is enough to demonstrate the immense power of the anti-government forces.

He even suspected that among the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers...

There are still quite a few people secretly supporting the rebels, but it is unknown who they are.

As I was deep in thought, footsteps came from outside the door.
A Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) officer peeked in and whispered:

"Sir, Commander Wang has sent word that a mysterious person has come to the general store."
"It's here. It's the murder weapon from the last time the traitors committed their atrocities!"

Du Pingping was startled, her pupils suddenly contracting.

So fast?
In just two days, the entire capital's elite had been unable to find the flintlock pistol.

They just delivered themselves to my door like this?

At this moment, he was almost certain in his heart that...
The assassination attempt on Lu Yunyi was likely orchestrated by Lu Yunyi himself.
Even Zhou Lin's death might have been orchestrated by this person.

He suddenly realized that with Zhou Lin's death, the capital had once again descended into chaos.

Only then would the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Three Departments have a reason to arrest people indiscriminately.

Those who were arrested happened to be enemies of the City Trade Bureau.

"This this."

Du Pingping pursed her lips but didn't say anything.

Now that things have escalated and further complications have arisen, there's no point in dwelling on them anymore.
He even felt a faint sense of fear.
This person is truly ruthless and unscrupulous in his actions!

He stood up abruptly and said in a deep voice:

"Ready your horse!"

"Yes!"

Fifteen minutes later, Du Pingping took advantage of the darkness...

Arriving at Wang's Grocery Store, located near the Grand Workshop.
This place is a secret stronghold of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the manager, Wang Tong, is a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After the matter of rebelling against the party came to a temporary end,
Wang Tong then returned here and continued to use his identity as the owner of the general store as a cover.

Du Pingping entered through the back door, and Wang Tong immediately led him into the back courtyard room.

As soon as she entered the room, Du Pingping noticed a long, narrow object next to the oil lamp.
Wrapped in layers of oil paper, it lay quietly on the table.

Just seeing the outline of this object,

His breathing gradually quickened; this was the legendary flintlock musket!
At this moment, Wang Tong brought over a wooden box from the long table beside him and said softly:
"Sir, this wooden box was also sent by that mysterious person; it was placed at the back door of the general store."

"What's inside?"

"These are commercial notes from Yingtian Trading Company, commonly known as shopping cards. They're worth a full twenty thousand taels!"

As he spoke, Wang Tong's eyes were a little red, and his palms, which were holding the wooden box, were sweaty.
He knew the purpose of these commercial drafts; they could be used to shop at Yingtian Trading Company and also exchanged for cash.

Last year during the Lunar New Year, he also received a ten-tael commercial note as a reward.
But this one in front of me is twenty thousand taels!
He simply couldn't understand who would send so much money to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Du Pingping opened the wooden box, and a palm-sized card inlaid with gold thread came into view.
It bears the unique logo and serial number of Yingtian Trading Company.

Turn it over, and the words "20,000 taels" are clearly visible.

"call"

Du Pingping let out a long sigh, a hint of jealousy rising in her heart.
In the Ming Dynasty today, money can get 99% of things done.

Previously, the wealthiest were the powerful figures from established merchant houses.

Now, with money in hand, the Market Transaction Division, under Lu Yunyi's control, can handle anything.

"Put it away first."

Du Pingping gave an order, walked to the round table, sat down, and slowly unwrapped the oil paper.

The subtle sound of paper rubbing echoed in the room.

Soon, a beautifully designed, sleek silver flintlock pistol appeared before our eyes!
Everyone in the room held their breath, their eyes fixed on the gun.
So beautiful!
Even though Du Pingping was well-traveled and had seen countless rare items during the ransacking of her home,

They were also amazed by the exquisite design of the flintlock musket.

Who could have imagined that such exquisitely crafted artifacts...
It was an incredibly powerful killing weapon!
Du Pingping took a deep breath, carefully rewrapped the flintlock pistol, turned to Wang Tong, and said sternly:

"What happened today must not be revealed to anyone! Anyone who violates this rule will be punished as an accomplice to treason!"

"Yes, my lord!"

(End of this chapter)