The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 80 Zhu Yuanzhang: Li Jiujiang, are you going to rebel?

Yongchangfang.

Deep in the alley, there is an inconspicuous little courtyard.

Li Shou strode into the courtyard and bowed to the one-armed old man by the stone table: "Father, it's been confirmed. That Li Chongliu is indeed Li Jinglong. Lord Guo has also given us confirmation; there's no mistake."

The one-armed old man slowly raised his head, his eyes sharp: "Li Wenzhong's son, isn't he a spoiled brat? How come he's become a beggar leader?"

Li Shou chuckled lightly: "Lord Guo said that this playboy wants to build a manor but is short of money. His father, Li Wenzhong, was honest and upright in his youth and didn't leave him much wealth. He doesn't dare to try to make money for fear of being beheaded by the emperor. He was just worrying about it when he heard from somewhere that a beggar's head was as rich as a merchant, so he set his sights on him."

"Lord Guo also said that this kid has his eye on things. Nobody takes the beggar leader seriously. Since nobody pays attention to him, nobody will impeach him."

The old man frowned: "This纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled brat) actually killed Master Hong."

"He is the son of the Duke of Cao, and the emperor's grand-nephew. He has been spoiled since childhood, what wouldn't he do?" Li Shou said.

"If he really is a fool," the old man said, "then we can use him."

Li Shou's eyes lit up and he immediately nodded: "Father is right. From now on, whatever we do, we'll just put it on his name. Anyway, with his status, he can cover it up."

"I have a feeling it's not that simple," the old man shook his head. "Investigate thoroughly before you speak."

Li Shou disagreed: "Father, you're just being too cautious."

"The Princess Consort of Qin has definitely fallen. We must learn from this." The old man's gaze turned cold. "These past few years, we have been proceeding cautiously in Yingtian. One wrong step and we would be doomed."

"Yes." Li Shou lowered his head. "Your son remembers."

The old man waved his hand: "Go and get close to Li Jinglong first. No rush, find out what kind of person he really is."

After we've investigated thoroughly, we'll decide how to use him.

Li Shou raised his head: "Father, don't worry. I can see right through that playboy after just one drinking session."

Li Jinglong is in a meeting.

Dozens of beggar leaders sat in a large group below.

"Is everyone here?" Li Jinglong glanced around.

"Everyone's here, Sixth Brother," Zhang Lao Jiu replied from the side.

Li Jinglong waved his hand: "I called everyone here today for one thing: how to make money."

"Sixth Brother, there's something I need to tell you first," Zhang Laojiu leaned closer and whispered.

Li Jinglong glared at him and said, "Hurry up and tell me."

Zhang Laojiu's voice lowered even further: "Sixth Brother, every time a new chief beggar takes office, he has to come up with some clever excuse to collect money from the beggar households. He wins over the other beggar leaders and gets a cut. Only after the beggar leaders pay up can the beggar households below follow suit. After receiving the money, the beggar leaders return all their money, while the beggar households' money is split three-seven."

Li Jinglong rubbed his forehead.

Damn, what Master Huang did already happened in the Ming Dynasty?

He composed himself and asked, "With whom?"

"Of course we'll share it with the officials in the Ministry of Revenue," Zhang Laojiu said.

"We only get 70%?" Li Jinglong frowned.

Zhang Laojiu's lips twitched: "Seventy percent belongs to others. Even getting thirty percent depends on the attitude of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue."

"Sixth Brother, this is the old rule. Without Lord Guo's approval from the Ministry of Revenue, the list of beggar households cannot be changed."

"If the roster can't be changed, then this money isn't a donation; it's embezzlement."

Li Jinglong snorted: "I'm here, so I'll stand up and make my money."

"Sixth Brother, your status is prominent, but those people in the Ministry of Revenue aren't just backed by Lord Guo. They've been profiting from this network for years; they have connections at every level," Zhang Laojiu said.

Li Jinglong suddenly stood up and shouted, "As the chief beggar, I'll only do three things!"

"Fair! Fair! It's fucking fair!"

The dozens of beggar leaders all stiffened.

Li Jinglong put his hands behind his back and began to curse: "Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the court has set up beggar households. There have been more than a dozen beggar leaders in Yingtian City. They are all bastards, beasts, animals, and parasites."

"But! Sixth Brother, you're not a bastard, not a beast, not an animal, and not a parasite!" Zhang Laojiu chimed in.

Li Jinglong was speechless.

Do you even know what a parasite is?

"I killed Master Hong to set new rules," he continued.

Zhang Lao Jiu chimed in, "Sixth Brother killed him to show everyone what happens when you offend him!"

Li Jinglong was speechless.

Is that what I meant?

"Sixth Brother is here, and we'll have food to eat! Sixth Brother is here, and there's justice in the world!" Zhang Laojiu shouted.

"Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!" Wang Dong was the first to raise his arm and shout.

"Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!" Everyone shouted in unison.

Li Jinglong settled in Bengbu.

Zhang Laojiu, that lackey, is a good piece of work.

"Now, obey my orders." He waved his hand. "All of Master Hong's rules are hereby abolished. Three new rules:"

Forced prostitution is forbidden, bullying the weak is forbidden, and internal strife is forbidden.

The beggar leaders stared intently at him.

Li Jinglong's gaze swept over the area: "From now on, all the income from the head of the beggars' estates, including the brothels, caravans, and warehouses left by Master Hong, will be distributed to everyone. It's not just me, Li Chongliu, eating meat; it's everyone eating meat together."

"Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!" Wang Dong jumped up.

"Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!" everyone shouted in unison.

Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind his desk, bowing his head as he reviewed memorials.

Mao Xiang, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is reporting.

"Your Majesty, since the Young Duke took over as the Chief Beggar, the beggars in Yongchang Ward have undergone a complete transformation. The brothels and gambling dens formerly run by Beggar Master Hong are now under the unified management of the Young Duke, with three new rules: First, no one is allowed to force women into prostitution; second, no one is allowed to bully the weak; and third, no one is allowed to fight amongst themselves. Violators will be dealt with personally by the Young Duke."

"The young Duke allocated 50% of the profits from his estate to the head beggars, who in turn distributed the remaining profits to the beggar households. He also allocated funds to repair over 300 leaky houses, fill in 17 stinking alleyways, and distribute cotton quilts to over 100 elderly and widowed beggar households. In Yongchangfang, Taipingfang, Jixianfang, and other areas, the beggar households all called the young Duke 'Sixth Brother,' and his influence grew daily."

Zhu Yuanzhang curled his lip.

Mao Xiang continued to report: "In addition, the Duke of Shao recently led his men to take over four beggar settlements in the south of the city, and also took over more than ten beggar leaders, without resorting to force."

"The young duke is very powerful now. The beggars have a saying: 'If the head beggar passes by, even the dogs nearby will get slapped.'"

"What is he trying to do?" Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless. "He's wasting his power! What about the matter we asked him to investigate? Has he completely forgotten about it?"

Mao Xiang quickly replied, "No, that won't happen. Although the Duke of Shao is a bit flamboyant, according to my investigation, his subordinates Wang Dong and Xie Chun have been secretly visiting beggar households and investigating Yuan people in recent days. The important matters haven't been neglected, and the Duke of Shao should know his limits."

Zhu Yuanzhang said irritably, "He's leading a thousand beggars, running rampant in the streets. Even the yamen runners of Yingtian Prefecture have to give him a wide berth. What does he want? To rebel?"

Mao Xiang lowered his head, not daring to reply.

"He hasn't come to report to us these past few days," Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.

Mao Xiang prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Shao has been busy seizing territory lately. He also said that he calls the shots in Yingtian City at night."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand angrily: "Go, bring that kid here to us."

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