The low-key prince summons trainees from the Imperial Household Department at the start of the game.

Mao Honghui was the last of the three to set off.

It wasn't because he was slow, but because the mansion he was visiting was the toughest nut to crack in the entire game.

Marquis of Anxi, Cao Jun.

He did three things before he set off.

The first thing I did was go to the accounting office of Heshengyuan and obtain from Li Hongling all the records of money transactions between Longsheng Bank and the Marquis of Anxi's residence over the past three years.

Secondly, he went back to his duty room and took out a thin file from the locked drawer.

That was all the intelligence that Lu Changfeng's Beggars' Sect had gathered over three months regarding the activities of the Cao family's collateral descendants in the capital.

Thirdly, he changed into an inconspicuous gray cloth robe, without any attendants or carriage, and went out through the back gate of Heshengyuan. He then hired a sedan chair at the alley entrance and took a long route that circled most of the capital.

The Marquis of Anxi's residence is located in Yongningfang, on the east side of the imperial city. The two stone lions in front of the gate are half a foot taller than those in the Grand Commandant's residence.

Unlike the bustling scene in front of the Grand Commandant's mansion, the area in front of the Marquis of Anxi's mansion was unusually quiet.

The gatekeeper took Mao Honghui's visiting card, glanced at the words "Mao Honghui, the third manager of Heshengyuan," and showed no expression on his face. He simply let him wait in the small hall next to the gatekeeper.

This wait lasted for more than half an hour.

Mao Honghui sat upright in his chair, his back ramrod straight, without pacing impatiently.

He didn't try to ingratiate himself with the doorman; he just sat quietly.

Finally, a man who looked like a butler came out and led him inside. They passed through three courtyards, went around a rockery, and arrived at a secluded flower hall.

The flower hall was simply furnished, with a painting titled "Autumn Hunting in the Frontier" hanging on the wall. In the painting, a general was drawing his bow and shooting an eagle, while his horse's hooves trampled the yellow sand.

Below the painting is a long table made of rosewood, on which rests an old, unsheathed knife with a deep nick on its blade—a knife that has truly seen battle, killed people, and had its blade chipped.

Cao Jun sat behind the desk, dressed in an indigo casual robe. He was in his early fifties, with slightly graying temples, a long face, thick eyebrows, and a pair of eyes that exuded a calm yet profound air characteristic of a seasoned general.

He was toying with a bronze arrowhead in his hand. The arrowhead was rusted and its shape resembled a three-edged armor-piercing awl commonly used by the Qiang people of Northwest China.

He didn't offer Mao Honghui a seat, but merely raised his eyelids to glance at him. His gaze swept over Mao Honghui indifferently, yet Mao Honghui felt as if an invisible knife was held to his neck.

"Heshengyuan has been making waves in the capital lately," Cao Jun said bluntly, his voice low but sharp and deliberate, each word distinct. "I've heard you're trying to take all the businesses in the capital for your own use. So, is it my turn, Longsheng Bank, today?"

Mao Honghui remained neither humble nor arrogant. He first bowed slightly, then sat down uninvited in the chair opposite Cao Jun. He straightened his clothes before looking directly into Cao Jun's eyes, his tone calm and sincere.

He frankly admitted that Heshengyuan was indeed in talks with major businesses in Beijing about cross-shareholding cooperation, before changing the subject.

This reveals the role of Longsheng Bank in this business battle.

Longsheng Bank, instigated by others, engaged in vicious competition with Heshengyuan.

He directly accused Longsheng of using interest rates two percent lower than the market rate to specifically recruit Heshengyuan's bank customers. In addition, he also spread rumors in the market that Heshengyuan's bank deposits were empty and that it was relying on interbank lending to survive.

This tactic is no longer fair business competition, but rather an attempt to undermine the foundation of Shengyuan.

Cao Jun paused for a moment as he played with the bronze arrowhead.

He put down the arrow, picked up the teacup on the table but didn't drink it; he simply tapped the rim of the cup gently with the lid.

Longsheng Bank was owned by the Marquis of Anxi's family, a fact well-known in the business community of the capital.

This is no secret. When Longsheng Bank was first established, it lacked sufficient capital. It was the military funds deposited by the Marquis of Anxi that became the bank's prized possession, which led to Longsheng's later success.

In recent years, Sun Bainian, the head manager of Longsheng Bank, would personally deliver account books to the Hou residence every December to pay his respects.

Although Cao Jun rarely interfered in the day-to-day operations, he couldn't ignore the fact that his own businesses were being used as pawns in the market.

Mao Honghui keenly caught the moment when Cao Jun's fingers paused.

He knew that his words had hit the nail on the head.

Cao Jun is not afraid of business battles, but he will not tolerate others using the name of the Marquis of Anxi's mansion as a weapon.

He continued his account, revealing in detail the operations of Sun Bainian, the head manager of Longsheng Bank.

Sun Bainian has hinted in public on more than one occasion that "He Shengyuan is ignorant of its own limitations and has offended people it shouldn't have."

Everyone present knew perfectly well who this "person you shouldn't mess with" was referring to.

Wanli Trading Company used this to its advantage, drawing Longsheng Bank into the heart of this commercial battle.

Ultimately, the initiator of this business war was Wanli Trading Company, while Longsheng Bank was merely used as a pawn.

The words "being used as a pawn" carried more weight in Cao Jun's ears than any business agreement.

He was a military officer by birth, and what he hated most in his life was being used by others.

However, Mao Honghui did not pursue this topic relentlessly, but rather touched upon it briefly and then changed the subject.

"If it's just normal business competition, then there's absolutely nothing to say to Shengyuan."

"But their methods have gone beyond the realm of commerce and have infiltrated the power struggles within the imperial court."

"As Your Excellency knows, Heshengyuan is not without powerful backers."

Mao Honghui spoke these words in a calm tone, yet Cao Jun's gaze sharpened slightly.

He didn't ask who was behind Sheng Yuan.

It would be unusual for a business in Beijing to reach the scale of Heshengyuan without talented people behind it.

Mao Honghui did not specify, but only mentioned "people in the palace" in a subtle way, implying that the other party had connections in all twelve inner court bureaus.

He didn't elaborate further, but simply let the words slowly ferment in Cao Jun's mind.

Taking advantage of Cao Jun's silence, he pulled out the thin file from his sleeve.

It wasn't an account book, but rather intelligence gathered by the Beggars' Sect, which was gently placed on the table.

The intelligence records the times and places of Qian Wanli, the owner of Wanli Trading Company, and Sun Bainian of Longsheng Bank, who had recently met privately several times.

And Qian Wanli's wife, that distant cousin of Yuwen Taibao, sent people to the Ministry of Revenue's Canal Transport Department to inquire about the records of Heshengyuan's canal transport procedures.

Each piece of intelligence is accompanied by specific time, place, people, and corroborating evidence.

When Cao Jun turned to one of the pages, his fingers moved noticeably slower, and a thin layer of frost appeared on his angular face.

Mao Honghui knew he didn't need to say anything more.