The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 73 Your Majesty, the Darughachi has been found.

Ping An Fang, a gambling den.

Li Jinglong strode to the gate.

Two menacing-looking guards stood at the entrance of the gambling den. The one on the left, arms crossed, glared at them coldly and asked, "Who are you?"

Li Jinglong was extremely arrogant: "Go tell your boss that I'm here to cause trouble."

The two guards were stunned.

I've never seen such an arrogant person in my life.

"Are you asking for it?!" The guard on the left reacted.

Li Jinglong calmly pulled out the short pistol from his waist, pointed it upwards, and pulled the trigger.

boom!

A loud bang startled the two guards.

Before they could even react, a group of people charged forward like wolves. The leader was extremely fierce, taking down two guards and leading the group into the gambling den.

Li Jinglong tucked his hands back into his waistband, completely calm.

"This is the third piece of territory we've seized," Wang Dong said excitedly as he walked over. "This is way more exciting than sweeping the streets!"

Li Jinglong glanced at him and asked, "What's that tough guy's name, Ding Xiu? Is he your underling?"

"Yeah, right!" Wang Dong puffed out his chest. "He could take on ten of them!"

Li Jinglong sighed, "It's a waste of my talent to follow us."

"Don't worry, boss, I won't mistreat him," Wang Dong assured him. "He'll have meat at every meal, and he'll be full."

Li Jinglong nodded: "We must keep this kind of talent."

Just then, Xie Chun came out of the gambling den: "Boss, it's almost settled. From now on, this area is our territory!"

Li Jinglong nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, saying, "I'll treat the brothers to a big meal tonight."

Just then, footsteps sounded from the alley entrance, and a group of people rushed over menacingly.

"Brothers, we've got a job!" Li Jinglong roared.

Dozens of people poured out of the gambling den behind him, led by Xie Chun and Wang Dong, standing in a row behind him, each with their chests puffed out.

Soon, the group of people rushed up to us.

Li Jinglong squinted at the leader and called out, "Zhang Laojiu!"

Zhang Lao Jiu was taken aback. He looked him up and down, his eyes widening in surprise, and he was about to cry out.

"I am Li Chongliu," Li Jinglong interrupted him.

Zhang Lao Jiu chuckled: "So you're the Sixth Brother who's been grabbing territory everywhere lately?"

Li Jinglong raised an eyebrow: "What, does Ping'anfang have anything to do with you?"

"Liu Laoqi hung out with me for a few days, but he was no good. He was killed by you, Sixth Brother. That was his fate. Since that's the case, then Ping'anfang is yours." Zhang Laojiu spread his hands.

"You're smart to know what's good for you," Li Jinglong said bluntly.

Zhang Laojiu chuckled and took a step forward: "Sixth Brother, Master Hong is hosting a roast chicken banquet tomorrow night, inviting all the beggar leaders in this area. I've come specifically to invite you to the banquet, Sixth Brother."

"Brother Hong, who is it?" Li Jinglong asked.

"Our leader, Sixth Brother, you don't even know Master Hong?" Zhang Laojiu sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"The ringleader, huh?" Li Jinglong scoffed. "Why should I? Did you even ask me?"

Zhang Laojiu's lips twitched, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Sixth Brother, you want to mess with Master Hong? Then come to the banquet."

"Okay, I'll meet with Master Hong tomorrow night," Li Jinglong said.

Zhang Laojiu approached with a smile: "Sixth Brother, let the brothers go in and have some fun. I have something to tell you."

Li Jinglong glanced at him suspiciously, then waved his hand, and Xie Chunwang and his gang of brothers rushed into the gambling den.

Li Jinglong and Zhang Laojiu walked to the side.

"Young Duke, what are you doing with this?" Zhang Laojiu asked with a smile.

Li Jinglong shrugged: "Bored, looking for some fun."

Zhang Lao Jiu blinked: "Really? I, Zhang Lao Jiu, have been around for so many years, I'm not blind. The Young Duke has led his men to seize three territories in a row, making such a big fuss, he's not here to play around, is he? If I'm not mistaken, the Young Duke is here to find someone."

"Who would I, a dignified young duke, come to a beggar's house to seek?" Li Jinglong said disdainfully.

Old Zhang smiled slightly: "There are many hidden talents among the beggars. After the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, countless former officials went into hiding in this dilapidated alley. You know this better than I do, don't you?"

"Oh? Tell me more," Li Jinglong said.

Zhang Laojiu cleared his throat and said, "There were several ministers, left and right prime ministers, and dozens of other officials from the previous dynasty in this area."

"That's it?" Li Jinglong asked, looking uninterested.

Zhang Lao Jiu lowered his voice: "The person the Young Duke is looking for, is it the Darughachi of the North Chamber of the Scout Division?"

Li Jinglong was secretly shocked. How did this guy know?

But his face remained calm, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Zhang Laojiu, don't you know too much?"

"It's not hard to guess," Zhang Laojiu said. "Princess Haili used to donate money to beggars, and then the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to investigate. Even a fool knows they're looking for someone. Who are they looking for? Isn't it that Darughachi in the north wing?"

Li Jinglong smiled slightly: "So what did you say to me?"

Zhang Laojiu said solemnly, "You help me save the princess, and I'll help you find someone."

"

"You don't even know who Nadarughachi is?" Li Jinglong chuckled.

"I don't know who he is," Zhang Laojiu said, "but I definitely have more clues than you. After all, I've been around this area for years. I know exactly which alley leads to which alley, and which courtyard has a hidden door behind it."

Li Jinglong asked, "Why should I believe you?"

Zhang Laojiu grinned: "You're not at a loss. If I actually find it for you, you'll get credit for nothing. If I don't find it, you won't lose anything."

"Heh." Li Jinglong stared at him for a moment. "I think you're just trying to fool me."

Zhang Laojiu wasn't annoyed: "Then let me tell you something. That Darughachi did indeed appear. I even saw him once with my own eyes. That night, several of us beggar leaders were summoned. The man was wearing a mask, so you couldn't see his face. But as soon as he opened his mouth, you knew he wasn't an ordinary person. His voice was very weathered, and judging from his tone, he must have been a big shot. He mentioned Wang Baobao, mentioned His Majesty the current emperor, said he had drunk with them, and didn't take them seriously at all."

Li Jinglong was secretly alarmed.

He's met Wang Baobao and Zhu Yuanzhang and still doesn't respect them? Who the hell is this guy?

Your Majesty, you should know this person. He might even be one of your rivals.

"Anything else?" Li Jinglong pressed.

Zhang Lao Jiu stopped talking at the right moment: "Young Duke, if you want to know more, you have to help me rescue the princess."

Li Jinglong scoffed, "If I wanted to save trouble, I would have just called in the Imperial Guards to raze this place to the ground. We could search from one end of the alley to the other and still not find a single Darughachi."

Zhang Lao Jiu chuckled and retorted, "If we could find it that way, would we need you, Young Duke?"

"Okay, then we'll wait and see." Li Jinglong waved his hand.

"I'm not in a hurry," Zhang Laojiu said.

Li Jinglong smiled slightly: "Aren't you afraid I'll arrest you?"

Zhang Laojiu remained calm: "Let them arrest me. I was actually thinking of experiencing the Imperial Prison myself."