The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 95 The autumn wind is silent, music is heard in the brothel.

In the blink of an eye, it's already late autumn.

Standing under the eaves, Li Jinglong sighed in the wind: "When in doubt, ask the autumn wind. The autumn wind is silent, but one can listen to music in the brothel."

Zhao Qing, who was carrying a fruit platter, almost stumbled and fell.

"Qing'er, come on, let's go listen to music with the young master." Li Jinglong waved his hand.

Zhao Qing wore an elegant long dress today, which accentuated her curves and made her alluring.

"If we're going to the brothel, young master, you don't need to bring me along, do you?" She winked.

Li Jinglong sighed: "How could I really go to a brothel? If His Majesty found out, he'd hang me on the Meridian Gate and beat me."

Zhao Qing asked with a smile, "Young Master, aren't you going to be a beggar's leader today?"

"What's the most important thing about being a boss? It's knowing how to delegate. What kind of boss are you if you do everything yourself? You're just a worker, like His Majesty, who's just a working emperor. Some things are better left to your subordinates. After all, I'm just a good-for-nothing." Li Jinglong waved his hand and strode out.

Zhao Qing didn't know what a working person was, so she quickly followed. The two went out the gate, where a carriage was already waiting.

The carriage traveled through several streets and alleys, and soon arrived at the banks of the Qinhuai River.

The Qinhuai River in autumn has a unique charm.

They went to the same Yanyu Tower as last time. The two of them went to a private booth by the window, and when they opened the window, they could see the Qinhuai River.

"Young master, this servant has brought some tea." Zhao Qing sat down opposite him.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her fair wrists, her movements fluid and graceful.

Those hands were fair and slender, yet very steady; the teapot didn't wobble at all in her hands.

Li Jinglong lay there lazily, his eyes half-closed, watching her brew tea.

Outside the window is the autumn scenery of the Qinhuai River, and inside is the scene of a beautiful woman brewing tea.

It's a feast for the eyes.

The autumn wind tousled Zhao Qing's hair, and she gently tucked it behind her ear with her hand, a simple gesture that carried a captivating charm.

As Li Jinglong watched, all thoughts of the Grand Canal Gang, the Northern Yuan, and the Darughachi vanished like a gust of wind.

He was engrossed in watching when a voice suddenly came from behind him: "Hey, is that you guys?"

Before he knew it, a single sentence had nearly made him spill tea all over himself. He turned around and was shocked.

It was Zhang Liangbi.

"Hey, Zhang Shuai! What a coincidence! Come, come, please sit down and have some tea with me," he greeted with a smile.

Zhang Liangbi didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly.

"Although your princess comes from the grasslands, her tea-brewing skills are remarkable, quite ancient in style," Li Jinglong said.

Zhao Qing smiled slightly at Zhang Liangbi and handed him the teacup with both hands: "General Zhang, please."

Zhang Liangbi accepted the tea: "Don't call me Marshal Zhang anymore. That was so many years ago. I'm just a small businessman now."

"Alright, alright, Manager Zhang," Li Jinglong said. "I thought you had left the capital a long time ago, but I didn't expect you to still be here."

"We'll have to stay a few more days," Zhang Liangbi said expectantly. "We're waiting for a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan, who's coming from Suzhou Prefecture. He's very big-spending. If this deal goes through, I can finally retire early this year."

Li Jinglong laughed and said, "The shopkeeper's business is quite large."

"Not at all," Zhang Liangbi waved his hand. "My connections are only possible thanks to the head manager's connections. If it weren't for him, why would those wealthy merchants from Jiangnan do business with an old man like me?"

It's the head manager again.

Li Jinglong's heart skipped a beat, but he casually asked, "Have you met the head manager?"

"I've met him." Zhang Liangbi said happily. "He is indeed a man of great stature, decisive and efficient. He finalized a deal in just a few words."

Li Jinglong asked casually, "Just who exactly is this head manager?"

"I don't even know what he looks like," Zhang Liangbi said in a low voice. "We were talking through a curtain. He was sitting on the other side of the curtain, and I was on this side. I could hear his voice and see a shadow, but I couldn't see his face clearly."

Li Jinglong scoffed, "Hey, is it really necessary for a businessman to act so mysteriously?"

"Kid, don't underestimate a businessman," Zhang Liangbi glared. "Who knows what he used to do?"

Li Jinglong nodded: "That's right. You, the shopkeeper, were once a commander of thousands of troops. Who would have thought you'd be sitting here cross-legged, drinking tea with me?"

"What am I?" Zhang Liangbi waved his hand. "That wealthy merchant from Jiangnan, that's what you call someone with real status."

"Who is it?" Li Jinglong asked.

Zhang Liangbi uttered three words: "Fifth Prince".

Li Jinglong was truly astonished: "Where did this crown prince come from? Besides the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, is there another crown prince in this world?"

"Zhang Shicheng's adopted son, known as the Fifth Prince, was also a fierce general in his time," Zhang Liangbi said.

"He's still alive?" Li Jinglong asked in surprise.

Zhang Liangbi gestured for him to speak softly and continued, "At your age, it's normal that you don't know about those things from back then."

"Back then, Xu Da and Chang Yuchun led a large army to besiege Huzhou. Zhang Shicheng was anxious and sent his fifth son, along with Lü Zhen, with 60,000 elite troops to garrison Jiuguan and build a fortified camp. The Ming army cut off the supply lines, and Jiuguan was cut off from reinforcements. The fifth son and Lü Zhen were eventually defeated and surrendered. After this battle, Zhang Shicheng lost an important ally."

"They surrendered, and Zhu Yuanzhang didn't kill them?" Li Jinglong was surprised.

Homophones are all dead to Lao Zhu.

Would Zhu De spare the enemy commanders?

"Young man, back then Zhu Yuanzhang wasn't the emperor yet. He was known for recruiting talented people and was quite benevolent," Zhang Liangbi said.

Li Jinglong: "————"

At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang was only the Prince of Wu, and he was still fighting to the death with Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng.

If he had dared to indiscriminately kill surrendered generals back then, would the next one have dared to surrender?

The King of Wu, who once fought on the battlefield in tattered armor, is no longer the same person as the paranoid old emperor now sitting on the dragon throne in the Fengtian Hall.

So, Old Zhu was once clear-headed too.

"After the Fifth Prince and Lü Zhen surrendered, their tens of thousands of troops were incorporated into the Ming army, but the two of them were unwilling to stay and serve Zhu Yuanzhang," Zhang Liangbi said. "Zhu Yuanzhang did not force them to stay, but let them leave and even gave them silver for travel expenses."

"Give me back the silver?" Li Jinglong's eyes widened.

"He gave quite a lot." Zhang Liangbi chuckled. "Back then, Zhu Yuanzhang had to put on an image of a benevolent ruler for others to see."

Li Jinglong nodded slowly and asked, "Did the Fifth Prince later become a wealthy merchant?"

Zhang Liangbi nodded: "Although Zhang Shicheng was defeated and killed, he had been operating in Jiangnan for so many years, and his foundation couldn't be wiped out in a day or two. The Fifth Prince is Zhang Shicheng's adopted son, and he is a figure who can command a lot of support in the circle of gentry and wealthy merchants in Jiangnan. They dare not openly oppose the court, but they all secretly side with the Zhang family."

Li Jinglong thought about it and agreed.

After Zhang Shicheng was defeated, Zhu Yuanzhang hated the gentry in Jiangnan with a vengeance. He imposed heavy taxes on them, exiled them, and punished them. Wasn't this all to retaliate against them for supporting Zhang Shicheng back then?

"So you're going to do business with the Fifth Prince?" he asked.

Zhang Liangbi's eyes lit up: "The imperial court is now implementing the open market system. With the support of wealthy merchants in Jiangnan, I can exchange for more salt permits. These things are money!"

Li Jinglong was secretly alarmed.

The imperial court implemented the Open Market System, but the merchants below had long since formed a vast and intricate network. They were the ones supplying grain to the border and selling salt from the south, and among them were Zhang Shicheng's former subordinates, surrendered generals like Zhang Liangbi, and mysterious head managers.

No wonder Old Zhu is playing a grand game.

He became emperor, but the officials in the region were still the same people as before, and the gentry and powerful families didn't like him, Zhu the Elder.