Mr. Qi

  "Alright, I won't speak nonsense in front of a wise person. It was me who did it. May I ask which temple's god are you?" Liu Ziguang instead loosened his grip on the knife handle and asked with a relaxed tone.

  "It doesn't matter who I am, what matters is that we are friends. You can take the Dowager's things, I don't care; you can sell them to the Tartars or the Qing people, I still don't care. Last night I saw the Eastern Depot guard who was drunk and drowned in the Qinhuai River after sneaking out of Lianfeng Inn. Now no one knows about this except me."

  "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you and silence you?" Liu Ziguo sneered with a ferocious expression.

  "I'm afraid, of course I'm afraid. General Liu, who shook the city of Li, would easily take my life. But you won't kill me, because I can bring you benefits, unimaginable benefits." The middle-aged man remained calm and composed, taking out a folding fan to fan himself twice.

  Hmph, don't think you can intimidate me with your weapons. Do I look like I wouldn't recognize that fan is made of steel? Liu Ziguang had gained confidence in his heart; he was afraid of me, he begged me, he was bribing me.

  "Tell me, what kind of benefits?" Liu Ziguang was eager to know what chips middle-aged people had in their hands.

  "I've already given it to Miss Peng. Miss Peng, would you please take it out and show it to General Liu?" The middle-aged man made a polite gesture with his hand.

  Peng Jingrong took out a document covered with seals for Liu Ziguo to see. "This is the Ministry of War's IOU for one million taels of silver, with this, we can go to the Ministry of Revenue to collect the silver tomorrow."

  "The corrupt Zheng, a former officer in the Ministry of War who accepted bribes, has been dismissed and is now languishing in the prison of the Southern Town's Garrison Command. The Zheng Baihu who came to your place, Jianfeng Inn, to cause trouble has also been dismissed; besides, the case of the beautiful woman who caused a disturbance in the world has been dropped by the plaintiff. This can be considered an old man's gift." said the middle-aged man with a smile.

  After taking over the document and looking at it, the white paper, black ink and red seal seemed to be real. The middle-aged man's sincerity was quite sufficient, and he had the ability to dismiss the Ministry of War's personnel and demote the Jin Yiwei Baihu. Liu Ziguang returned the document to Peng Jingrong, "Speak, what do you need me to do?"

  "For now, it's not necessary, but I think we can be allies. What the Emperor has given you, we can also give you," said the middle-aged man.

  Wow, you even know about the secret agreement between me and Little Emperor. You really are all-knowing!

  "Then... can you also recommend me as a general?" Liu Ziguang decided to test him.

  "The position of General is too small, with General Liu's actual strength, it should be at least a Provincial Military Governor."

  I was right, I said so at the time when Zhu Youxiao and I discussed these matters without a third person present. It seems he didn't know that the Emperor's offer to me was General of the Imperial Guard and Minister of the Imperial Court, and only allowed me to be a Provincial Military Commander, no matter what aspect, at least for now there is no malice, this ally has been made.

  "Since you are so sincere, Mr. Liu is willing to form an alliance with you. I don't know what kind of people you are, but now that we're all one family, can't you reveal a little bit?" said Liu Ziguang.

  "Hehe, my surname is Qi, you can call me Mr. Qi from now on. As for the person above me, I'm not at liberty to disclose that information yet, please forgive us. In the future, I will contact you two again. If you have any matters, you can leave a message with the mute old housekeeper in this courtyard, remember to use rice paste to write."

  The encrypted letter, it seems that Lao Gong is from a security background. Liu Ziguang couldn't help but take another two glances at him. His footsteps were solid and his lower body was stable. There were calluses on his hands, he's a seasoned practitioner.

  "It's getting late, I won't keep you two any longer. The carriage is ready, please follow me." Mr. Qi led the way in front, sending them out the door.

  Peng Jingrong got on an ordinary carriage rented by Ma Xing. Mr. Qi whispered to Liu Ziguang, "General Liu, I didn't mention in front of Miss Peng that you brought back a charming little girl at dawn, General, you have to admit it to me, hehe."

  Liu Ziguang thought to himself that this guy was quite sharp, and if the young lady found out about this matter, it would definitely affect her own glorious image. He nodded his head: "Thanks."

  Suddenly thought of something and asked: "What if I don't help you with this?"

  Mr. Qi smiled slyly: "I believe General Liu is not a man who speaks without keeping his word, and besides, if we can invite the young lady here for the first time, we can also invite her again, and other people around the general..."

  So that's how it is, using the people close to me to threaten me. Liu Ziguang nodded in understanding, led his horse over, mounted it swiftly, and bid farewell to Mr. Qi with a bow, as the carriage also began to move.

  Mr. Qi waved goodbye from behind, "See you later, General Liu, and by the way, eating too many eggs is bad for your health, no need to eat twenty, three or four will do."

  Liu Ziguang slightly trembled, good guy, even I knew that I ate twenty eggs this morning, this intelligence work is really done at home, no wonder it's so arrogant.

  Just out of Beixin Street, a group of people came face to face, divided into two paths along the wall root, their weapons were all smeared with pot ash, not reflective. They were also wearing black clothes, it turned out that Deng Kun brought people over to support them.

  Liu Ziguang hastily went to meet them, and after a brief discussion, they divided into more than ten people to guard the horse-drawn carriage. Two were left behind as rear guards, two were sent ahead as scouts, and with strict precautions, they returned.

  Ding Libin couldn't enter the city, so he anxiously ran around in circles. Just then, a carriage belonging to some high-ranking official was about to enter the city. After the carriage went in, the city gate was going to close again. In his desperation, Ding Libin quickly came up with an idea and pretended to be a book boy who had fallen behind, sneaking into the city. He ran wildly all the way back to Lianfeng Inn to report the news. Deng Kun immediately gathered his men and rushed over, but they were still one beat too slow. The matter here had already been peacefully resolved.

  The young man is very clever, good, and the brothers' reaction is also quick, all have rewards.

  Liu Ziguang personally escorted Da Xiaojie back to the Guo Gong Fu, made arrangements for tomorrow's action plan, and then returned to Lianfeng Hao to rest.

  Back to Lianfeng's room, he first went in to wash his face and change his clothes. As soon as he stepped into the room, he was stunned. Before leaving, all the doors and windows were closed, but now there was a pile of trash on the desk. Someone had been in the room! Not good, he first checked under the bed for those valuable paintings and treasures. Fortunately, nothing was missing, and he let out a sigh of relief. Then he went to take a closer look at the trash on the table.

  Two door gods, Qin Shubao and Wei Zhenguan, one stove king, one "Don't Ask for the Bill" couplet hanging in a wine shop, the edges of the door god paintings were a bit tattered, it seemed they had been torn down from someone's gate. The stove king was even more worn out by smoke and fire over the years, only the "Don't Ask for the Bill" couplet looked relatively new. There were also a child's spinning top, several Huishan Da Afu dolls, a needle holder, and a ball of thread. What were all these things? Liu Ziguang was baffled.

  "Duncan!" He called in Duncan, who was responsible for guarding the place, and asked him, pointing to the things on the table: "Who put these things here? I told you to guard the room and not let anyone in. How did they get in?"

  Duncan was also puzzled, "I brought people to Xinbei Street before leaving two people at the door. This is Lianfeng No. 1 Courtyard, with high walls and fierce dogs outside. Ordinary people can't get in."

  Was it that report that I ate twenty eggs done by an insider? No, this kind of thing makes no sense. Was it her?

  "Duncan, from now on, you need to be aware of everyone around you, we have a mole here."

  "General, what kind of person is a mole?" Duncan rubbed his curly short hair, his black face full of confusion.

  "It's just that when doing things, you're not focused and always looking at what others are doing. Especially when there's nothing to do, they stare at me, the general, gathering intelligence on me. They're internal spies. Also, tonight, personally go outside the courtyard and check if there's anyone in nearby civilian houses monitoring us."

  "Yes!" Duncan bowed and left.

  These trinkets were probably sent by Sanhua, she thought I liked these "calligraphy and paintings" and small toys. What a lovely kitty, turned around and had the kitchen prepare two sea bass hanging in the window, also considered a return gift.

  The next morning, Liu Ziguo and the elder sister met at the entrance of the Guo Gongfu. Today's tasks were twofold: first, to go to the Ministry of Revenue to retrieve one million taels of silver; second, to meet with Ai Disheng and recruit this talented individual. Once these matters were settled, the affairs in the capital would be temporarily concluded. The stolen silver and treasures from the imperial collection would be split 50/50 with the young emperor, after all, he had also provided intelligence.

  The Ministry of Revenue's affairs were handled very smoothly, and Mr. Qi's strength was not to be underestimated. The small officials in charge of issuing funds at the Ministry of Revenue repeatedly asked them if they wanted silver tickets or cash, or if they should convert it into gold? Nonsense! Several dozen tons of silver would require a lot of horse-drawn carriages, so of course, the most convenient and safest option was best. They only wanted silver tickets. It's worth noting that the financial system of this great Ming dynasty is quite strange. Silver is the base currency, copper coins and gold are auxiliary, and the exchange rate fluctuates at any time. Generally, one tael of gold can be exchanged for twenty taels of silver, and one tael of silver can be exchanged for 1,000 copper coins. Silver tickets, on the other hand, are equivalent to paper currency that can be exchanged for cash at any time and place, playing a role in accelerating circulation and promoting economic development. The silver tickets issued by Anhui's Day Rising Prosperity Bank were the most secure means of payment, and this bank's status was equivalent to that of the central bank.

  A thick stack of high-denomination silver notes was carefully counted by Ding Libin, the young accountant in the accounting room, who moistened his fingers with saliva and checked them several times. The money was then placed in a cowhide bag and carried out of the Ministry of Revenue, where twenty guards were waiting, all wearing soft armor under their clothes, steel knives at their waists, and wheel-lock pistols hidden in their chests. Behind them, quivers on their backs concealed repeating crossbows. One million taels of silver was no small sum, enough to pique the interest of any notorious outlaw.

  A group of people left the Ministry of Revenue as cautiously as a big winner leaving the lottery center, because something was lost in the palace and groups of officials and soldiers were patrolling and searching on the streets; the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Eastern Depot's runners were even busier, with informants and spies everywhere; the usual thugs who hung out on street corners had all disappeared, and the atmosphere in the capital was extremely tense.

  First, escort the large sum of money to Gu Gong's mansion, which is safer than Lianfeng Inn. After handling the silver ticket business, news from the Song Dynasty envoy arrived. Due to the sudden appearance of spies around the envoy's residence, the transaction cannot proceed normally. It was decided to avoid the storm and make another appointment for the transaction.

  Liu Ziguang took 100,000 taels of silver and left all the guards at the Gonggong Fu to keep watch, only bringing Ding Libin as his attendant. The two rode horses to Edison's home outside the Jubao Gate.

  Zhū Bǎo Mén is the main southern gate of Beijing, and also the largest and most magnificent one among the thirteen city gates. It has three layers of wall, four archways, with the inner Qinhuai River inside the gate and the outer Qinhuai River outside the gate. The gate faces a small hill called Zhū Bǎo Shān, also known as Yǔ Huā Tái. Edison's home is located in the small alleyway Xǐ Gǔ Xiàng between the outer Qinhuai River and Yǔ Huā Tái.

  Asking all the way, the neighbors heard that they were looking for Ah Cong, a strange person, and enthusiastically directed them to a small courtyard with a thatched door. Just as they were about to knock on the door, they heard a loud voice inside shouting: "Ah Cong, you borrowed 300 taels of silver for a month, and now the principal and interest together is 3,000 taels. You think you can just give us a few hundred taels to get rid of us? Where can I reason with you?"

  Liu Ziguang furrowed his brow, everywhere was a big ear hole, the usurers in the capital were indeed powerful, daring to raise the principal and interest by ten times in just one month, it's unknown how they calculated it.