Di Ming

Chapter 155 Secret Service
It is the Dragon Boat Festival, and the early summer air is crisp and clear.

Lush vegetation, fragrant rice blossoms—the countryside is teeming with life.

The Zhu family in Qingqiao also became increasingly prosperous and thriving.

The Zhu family's biggest task right now is making milk candy!
Ning Caiwei's grandfather started his business by manufacturing candy. So even decades later, when the Ning family became a business giant, the candy factory, which was no longer profitable, was still not closed.

As descendants of the Ning family, after graduation, we had to work in a candy factory for a year to reflect on the hardships of the past and appreciate the present.

However, Ning Caiwei's parents, as second-generation rich kids, and the third-generation rich kids of Ning Caiwei's generation, were mostly spoiled brats who rarely worked hard at the candy factory.

Ning Caiwei, however, took it very seriously. She spent a year learning about every aspect of candy production and even produced a detailed report.

It was this highly qualified report that earned her her grandfather's absolute trust, allowing him to bypass the second generation and directly put her in charge of the Ning Group.

After arriving in ancient times, her diligent training that year once again paid off.

After several months of repeated experiments, Ning Caiwei's candy factory was able to produce qualified products that tasted similar to milk candy from later generations, but with a better flavor.

Because it was artificially made, and the fragrances used were natural pollen and propolis, it naturally tasted better than the industrial fragrances of later generations.

Once it hits the market, it will be a taste sensation, inevitably becoming the best-selling exclusive delicacy, generating huge profits, and even becoming a semi-essential product.

The optimal solutions have also been designed for various artificial mechanical equipment used in sugar production, as well as assembly line operation practices.

Although its efficiency was far inferior to that of later machines, it was certainly the most efficient tool in ancient times.

In order to produce gelatin and dextrin for sugar production, Ning Caiwei contracted to produce all the pig skins from the butcher shops in Nanjing.

The packaging design for the milk candy uses oil paper for the inner packaging and a beautifully printed cardboard box for the outer packaging, with each box containing half a pound (fifty candies).

Ning Caiwei calculated that with just 500 skilled workers, 1,000 jin of sugar could be produced per day, and at least 300,000 jin per year.

A pound of milk candy sells for one tael of silver. The net profit is at least 50%!

This price is certainly expensive. But milk candy is positioned as a high-end delicacy.

The wealthy could eat it often. The middle class could afford it too. Even ordinary families could grit their teeth and spend five qian of silver on holidays to buy a box of milk candy to satisfy their cravings and to entertain guests.

One candy can appease any child. If one doesn't work, try two.

If the promotion is done well, and the milk candy is linked to celebratory events, then several kilograms, or even dozens of kilograms, can be sold at each wedding banquet.

Based on this calculation, the Jiangnan market alone is enough to absorb the annual production capacity.

Next came the formal recruitment of workers. Naturally, priority was given to recruiting the Zhu family's tenants and the poor from the village.

All is ready except for the opportunity.

On the second day of the fifth lunar month, Ning Caiwei officially raised the banner of recruitment and organized the recruitment work.

She offered a base salary of one tael (approximately 50 grams) per month, plus bonuses. This would allow hardworking employees to earn two or even three taels (approximately 100 grams) per month!

Of course, her hiring criteria were not low. Not only did the candidate need to be young, clean, and hardworking, but they also needed to have a clean record and be loyal to her.

But no one came to apply for the job until evening.

Ning Caiwei wasn't in a hurry; she knew very well that this was still a testing phase.

...

That night, Zhu Yin and the other two took a bath, burned incense, and discussed important matters in the bedroom.

The incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, fueled by the invigorating styrax. On the flower stand before the east window, a vase was filled with gardenias.

The whole room was filled with a fragrant aroma.

On the round table in the center were fresh seasonal fruits. There were just-ripened watermelons, lychees from Lingnan, and pineapples.

Inside the room, there were more than a dozen lanterns, including horn lanterns, crimson gauze lanterns, and hexagonal palace lanterns, illuminating the magnificent room as bright as day.

It is evident that the owner lived a refined and luxurious life.

Zhu Yin sat at his desk, wearing wooden clogs, flipping through the student roster, deep in thought.

Black Tiger had also taken a bath, and his fur was dry, so he was able to sit cross-legged at his master's feet and take a nap.

Ning Caiwei sat in a round-backed chair, her beautiful hair loose and flowing. She wore a moon-white cotton undergarment but was barefoot, looking very languid.

Ning Qingchen sat on the daybed, her hair tied in a small braid sticking up, her small arms wrapped in a bandage like fresh lotus roots, and her whole body exuding a milky fragrance.

Now, Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei are noticeably taller. Zhu Yin's baby teeth have all come in, neat and white, with sharp, clean teeth.

Zhu Yin is eleven years old, Ning Caiwei is twelve years old, and Ning Qingchen and Hei Hu are both two years old.

Because Zhu Yin drinks milk powder every day, he is well-nourished and practices riding, archery and martial arts daily. Compared to boys of the same age, he is taller and stronger, and his temperament is relatively mature.

Some people might believe that he was thirteen when he first started dancing with a spoon.

Ning Caiwei, at the age of twelve, also resembled a young girl of thirteen.

As for Ning Qingchen, she has completely stopped breastfeeding and has started speaking in a childish voice in front of everyone.

Even if she tries to hide her talents, she is like a bright pearl that cannot be concealed.

Many people say that Ning Erniangzi is too clever; she's practically an elf.

She's actually starting to recognize words!

Black Tiger was fully grown, tall and strong, and as intelligent as a child. Before he knew it, he had become the king of dogs in the village.

Zhu Yin picked up the warm milk on the table, took a sip, and said:

"Not counting Kangxi and Yunniang, there are a total of twenty-one students. How should we divide them up?"

The trainees had all grown a year older. The oldest trainees were already fifteen-year-old boys and girls. After nine months of training by their young masters, they were all ready to use the equipment.

They have graduated.

These 21 trainees will be divided into two systems.

Ning Caiwei peeled a newly made milk candy sample, put it in her mouth, and said with the candy in her mouth:
"I don't care about the quantity, you can take it, I won't argue with you. Intelligence work is more urgent, you can take more."

Zhu Yin handed the roster to Ning Caiwei, "I've already marked them. There are twenty-one trainees, thirteen of whom will be spies, and eight will be in business management."

"Including the Kangxi brothers, that makes fifteen intelligence backbone members. I have fifteen agents in the making, which is enough for now."

Ning Caiwei wasn't surprised, because intelligence gathering always requires more manpower.

She said nonchalantly, "In business management, eight key personnel are enough for me. Business also depends on talent. If someone isn't good enough, they're not good enough; using them will only lead to losses."

“I also have a talented person with business acumen at my disposal, Gu Qiyuan’s sister, Zhao Chan’er’s sister-in-law.”

Zhu Yin suddenly recalled the young girl who had dominated the grass-fighting opera at last year's Autumn Festival and said, "Gu Hongxiu?"

Ning Caiwei nodded, "It's her. I'm already quite familiar with her. Don't let her slightly eccentric personality fool you; she's a great help in business."

“These girls, Ding Hongying, Galo, and Xue Susu are female guards, Gu Hongxiu can be an assistant, and Jin Yunniang is the head housekeeper. I have assigned them all their roles.”

"So I have enough manpower, while your intelligence system is actually short-handed."

She glanced at the roster; Zhu Yin had circled thirteen people on it, namely:
"Murong Gou Dan, Fan Yi An, An Xiao Wen, Tang Yang Yang, Li Xuan Cheng, Li Han Qiu, Le Zheng Yuan, Luo Yan, Xu Xiao, Mo Wen, Xu Qing Yuan, Zhang Yu Tang, Bai Jing."

Adding the Kangxi brothers, these fifteen people formed the core of Zhu Yin's intelligence network.

In fact, the Kangxi brothers and a few of the oldest trainees had already taken on missions and carried out some tasks last year.

Ning Caiwei nodded: "Yes, twelve male agents and three female agents. By the way, have you thought of a name for the intelligence system? Even a secret organization can't be without a name."

Zhu Yin smiled and said, "I've thought of three names for the secret organization, and then I'll let you choose one. The three names are Public Opinion Room, Yuanjian Hall, and Records Office. Which one is better?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Caiwei immediately understood.

Zhu Yin wanted to use a name that sounded deceptive and non-threatening.

It's not the kind of name that's menacing, sinister, or shady.

It is both grand and understated.

Even if someone hears this name, it's not a big deal; they won't make too many connections.

This shows that Zhu Yin was very rational, which is consistent with his former professional character.

Ning Caiwei thought for a moment and said, "Let's call it the Recorder's Office. This name is the most understated, yet it sounds serious and proper. No one can find fault with it. Anyway, it's only a temporary name. If we really manage to conquer the world in the future, we can change the name later."

Ning Qingchen said in a childish voice, "Why not just call it the Spy Club, the Spy Clan, or the Spy Work Hall? Everyone'll know they're not good people just by hearing the name. Hehe..."

Zhu Yin ignored her joke and said, "Then let's call it the Records Office. That's the official name of the intelligence organization. What's the code name?"

An intelligence organization should have two names: an official name and a code name.

Before Ning Caiwei could speak, Ning Qingchen added, "Let's call him Tiger Fang."

Ning Caiwei smiled and said, "The tiger teeth are nice, I agree."

Zhu Yin thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Okay, let's take my sister's suggestion. The code name will be Tiger Fang."

After a discussion among the three, the world's most professional spy organization, the Recorder's Lodge (Tiger Tooth), was established. As for the organization's structure, internal regulations, and operational practices, Zhu Yin had already formulated them, and all of them were classified information.

The chief official of the Records Office was called the Director of Records. His deputy was called the Secretary of Records.

The current head of the Imperial Household Department must be Zhu Yin himself, because no one else can take on the role.

As for the head of the department, Ning Caiwei naturally took on the role.

She is the matriarch and the president of Ningyin Trading Company. Business itself requires intelligence, and at the same time, business networks can also serve as intelligence networks.

The two are highly complementary. Therefore, Ning Caiwei should be the number two figure in the intelligence agency.

Below the Liaoshi (寬史) are the Left and Right Scribes (左右司录).

Below that, five groups will be temporarily set up to manage general affairs, finance, intelligence, surveillance, and operations, respectively.

This framework is very simple, but given the lack of core personnel, this is the only option for now.

Ning Caiwei smiled and said, "I am the president of the business association, the autumn envoy of the propaganda society, and now I am also the clerk of the record office. I hold three positions at the same time."

Ning Qingchen shouted, "Me? I'm nothing!"

The group discussed the Dragon Boat Festival two days later before going to sleep together.

.........

The third day of May.

Murong Gou Dan, skilled in taming eagles and pigeons, finally waited until a pair of fledgling falcons began to grow their feathers and learn to fly, and he decided to officially begin training them.

Although he was a falconer, he didn't train the falcons for himself, but for Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei.

Therefore, he needs the cooperation of Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei in the process of eagle training.

Early that morning, Murong Gou Dan came to Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei and said:
"My lord, Lady Caiwei, today is the official start of my eagle training. Please go and feed it yourself."

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "We've finally waited for this day! This is a saker falcon! There are 360 ​​species of feathered insects, and the saker falcon is in the top three!"

After saying that, he took Ning Caiwei and excitedly followed Murong Gou Dan to the Eagle Chamber in the garden.

Two young falcons, their feathers just fully grown, were seen lying listlessly on their perches, their eyes blindfolded.

This is the result of being boiled down.

Moreover, when feeding eagles, you must cover their eyes and put on blindfolds.

The eagle must not know that it is fed by a falconer.

Murong Gou Dan presented two slices of pork to Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei, saying:

"Please, my lord and my lady, personally remove the falcon's blindfold and feed it the meat yourself..."

Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei both knew this principle, of course. They took the slices of meat and then removed the eye patches from the two falcons.

As soon as the blindfolds of the two falcons were removed, they immediately flapped their wings, stared at the meat in their owner's hand, opened their curved beaks, and screeched incessantly.

They were obviously very hungry.

That's right, starving the hawk is also one of the methods of training a hawk.

The two men stuffed the slices of meat into the beaks of the hungry eagles, who stared intently at them as they devoured the pork.

The two of them followed Murong Gou Dan's instructions, reaching out to stroke the falcon's feathers and interacting with them.

Then I continued to feed him meat, and then I personally fed him water.

Finally, they put on blindfolds again.

Zhu Yin asked, "How many times a day should I feed him?"

Murong Gou Dan said, "Once in the morning and once in the evening is enough. Each time you feed them meat, you and your mistress need to be there in person to remove their blindfolds. After about a hundred days, they will recognize you as their master. Once they recognize you, they will never forget you for life."

"These hundred days are the most crucial period for training the hawks. They must not be allowed to see my face. If they do see my face, they will think that I am feeding and taming them, and they will recognize me as their master."

"After a hundred days, they will not only recognize their master and mistress as their masters, but they will also be able to fly. If they are well cared for, they can live for forty years. In terms of intelligence, they are no less than five or six-year-old children."

Zhu Yin nodded: "Alright, train it well. If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely."

Zhu Yin couldn't help but imagine the scene of hunting with hawks and hounds accompanying him soon, and he was very much looking forward to it.

Ning Caiwei was also very much looking forward to it.

The two had just left the Eagle Chamber when the fourteen-year-old Kangxi came to report intelligence.

"My lord, new information has come from Wang Ruifang. Within ten days, the Provincial Education Commissioner of Southern Zhili will come to Nanyong to inspect preparations for the provincial examinations in August."

"Wang Ruifang and his accomplices, including Dong Shi, conspired to mobilize scholars throughout Nanyong and Nanjing to submit a joint petition vying for quotas in the provincial examinations..."

"There's one more thing, which is to prevent our lord from participating in the provincial examination..."

Zhu Yin sneered upon hearing Kangxi's secret report.

The year of the grand competition was fast approaching, and Wang Ruifang was finally about to make her move.

Today, the Chrysanthemum Society is powerful and has dominated Nanyong, possessing the strength to stir up a storm in the scholarly world.

In fact, before the provincial examination, there was a qualification examination, namely the subject examination and the academy examination.

If one fails the provincial or college examinations, one can take a make-up exam, which is called "the great harvest of lost talents".

Candidates who passed the provincial examination or the imperial examination for outstanding talents were not guaranteed to participate in the provincial examination; they were only eligible to be allocated a quota for the provincial examination.

This shows that, not to mention the difficulty of the provincial examination itself, even just getting the opportunity to take the exam was extremely difficult.

This system ensures both the quality of candidates and relative fairness, while also allowing for some room for maneuver by academic officials, thus guaranteeing their authority.

Because the number of exam slots is allocated by the academic officials.

Therefore, Wang Ruifang had many ways to prevent Zhu Yin from leaving the game.

For example, preventing Zhu Yin from passing the imperial examinations and the provincial examinations.

The examination system for the provincial and ministerial examinations was not as strict as that for the township examinations, so this stage could be manipulated.

However, even if Zhu Yin failed the imperial examinations or the provincial examinations, he could still take them again, which meant that his talents were fully utilized.

Therefore, he could also prevent Zhu Yin from even accepting the large-scale recruitment of talented individuals.

However, these methods are risky, requiring collusion with the supervisors, which constitutes cheating in the examination room, so he dared not try them lightly.

The best way is to smear Zhu Yin and make him bear the infamy.

If the crime was serious enough, Zhu Yin would not only be disqualified from taking the exam, but would also be expelled from the Imperial Academy and even face legal trouble.

How to ruin Zhu Yin's reputation? There are many ways. But it won't be long before Wang Ruifang comes up with a wicked plan.

"Keep a close eye on them. Report daily!" Zhu Yin ordered. "Don't be stingy with the money; give the informants more money..."

"Yes!" Kangxi listened attentively to Zhu Yin's instructions and immediately went to carry them out.

Ning Caiwei snorted coldly and said, "That Wang Ruifang is truly a wicked person. To plot against someone's future, what kind of deep-seated hatred is that?"

Zhu Yin casually picked a flower from the garden, took a gentle sniff, and said nonchalantly:
"He's courting death. He thinks he can take me down just because he has a bunch of big shots backing him up. Well, don't blame me for ruining him."

As he spoke, he crushed the flower in his hand, and the petals fell into the mud.

"He won't let me participate in the provincial examination, but I'm not only going to participate, I'm going to pass it!"

Ning Caiwei couldn't help but ask, "The exam is in just over three months. How confident are you?"

Zhu Yin didn't hide anything: "Teacher Shen said that my ability to solve problems has greatly improved, and my writing is becoming more and more fluent and stable. I'm almost ready. Teacher Shen said that if I work hard for another three months, I have a 50% to 60% chance of passing, which is better than he expected."

"Even if it doesn't work out this year, it's likely to work out next time."

Ning Caiwei was very happy to hear this.

A 50-60% chance is already quite high.

"Little Tiger, if you pass the exam this year, you'll be an eleven-year-old scholar!"

Zhu Yin knew that even if he passed the provincial examination this year and became a Juren at the age of eleven, he would not be the youngest Juren in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

While it may be unprecedented, it cannot be the last of its kind.

Because in the 30th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, which is more than ten years later, there was a child prodigy named Zhao Changqi who passed the imperial examination at the age of ten.

A ten-year-old scholar who passed the imperial examination!
The examiner, seeing that he was too young, advised him to postpone the imperial examination for a few more years. So he deliberately postponed it by two years and passed the examination at the age of eighteen.

Otherwise, Zhao Changqi might have become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) at the age of eleven.

Of course, if Zhu Yin had passed the provincial examination and become a Juren, he would never have accepted the offer of a "deferred examination." He would have only persevered, pressing his efforts with unwavering determination, and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) at the age of twelve!
It's best to become famous as early as possible.

The idea that deliberately delaying the imperial examination by a few years, supposedly to temper one's character, is utter nonsense!
P.S.: That's all for today. Time for bed. Goodnight.

(End of this chapter)