Farewell in Beijing again

  Another day passed, and the Addison family's redemption of their property was being processed. The rectification campaign on the Refining Sword was also underway. All the partners' files were called up for careful examination: which year they joined the business, who introduced them, where they came from, whether they had any other background, whether they had any gambling debts, whether they had family members being kidnapped or coerced, whether they had any unusual economic activity, and whether they had fallen into an emotional whirlpool. These were all within the scope of the investigation. Of course, these investigations were carried out in secret, without alarming that hidden mole.

  Most of the apprentices were brought from the iron factory and were familiar with each other, while a few local apprentices in Nanjing couldn't even enter the back hall. So who reported to Mr. Qi that Deputy Liu had eaten 20 eggs for breakfast? The cook and the young apprentice who swept the floor were the most likely to know about this matter. After some probing questions, it was finally learned that the cook had mentioned this incident to the egg seller while buying vegetables. Was it really that simple? Time was limited, and they couldn't afford to delay any further. Liu Ziguang asked the head clerk Han Yitao to continue monitoring the cook, as an insider would eventually reveal their true intentions. Whether Mr. Qi was a friend or foe, being constantly watched made him feel uneasy, always sensing eyes on his back.

  The surrounding households had already inquired clearly, and most of them were law-abiding citizens. Only one household was suspicious, which was Liu Ziguo's family who moved in after they arrived in the capital. The whole family, including the old master and mistress, young masters and misses, seemed to be living a normal life, but their physical appearance differed greatly. The parents were short, while the children were very tall. Every night, there would be reflections from glass mirrors on Miss's embroidery building, indicating that someone was using binoculars to spy on this side. After Deng Kun's counter-surveillance, it was confirmed that they were official personnel, but it was unclear whether they belonged to the East Factory or the Brocade Guard, or if Han Yitao had a way to transplant several branches of lush and leafy Chinese parasol trees over, planting them at the root of the wall surrounding the courtyard, blocking the line of sight completely.

  The carp hanging on the windowsill was indeed laughed at by the three-flower cat. The kitten still has rich human emotions, knowing that good fortune should be shared together. Three dead mice were thrown onto Liu Ziguang's desk as a return gift, making him cry with laughter. If there is an opportunity, taking in this beautiful three-flower cat would be a great job for a working cat, stealing things and gathering intelligence would be absolutely effective, and when not working, keeping it at home as a pet could also eliminate the mouse infestation.

  As for Xiao Ba Wang Sun Gang, Liu Ziguang had other plans. Letting a guy with tattoos all over his body and a notorious reputation be in charge of gathering intelligence was clearly not suitable. However, there was another profession that suited his showy, ferocious, and righteous personality - the underground black society. Since gangs were legal anyway, why not set up one's own gang in Nanjing?

  Relying on collecting protection fees and usury is not enough, and it's also not dignified. Liu Ziguang's plan includes casinos, brothels, hotels, pawnshops, and a taxi company. The most distinctive one is the taxi company. In the capital city, high-ranking officials and nobles travel by sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages, while ordinary merchants hire rickshaws pulled by men or donkeys. Most people still choose to walk, but walking is too slow, and sedan chairs are not much faster. Horse-drawn carriages are expensive, but the capital city has a vast area with wide and flat roads, making it suitable for rubber-wheeled vehicles. The market potential is enormous. There are many idle laborers in the capital who have the strength but not the courage to become thugs. Organizing them, each with a rickshaw, they can pull passengers everywhere, gather information without drawing attention, and earn a considerable income. By educating their thoughts during peacetime, they can also be organized into an army at critical moments.

  After the business is started, the rickshaw can be changed to a slightly more complex motorcycle. With the development of society, it can eventually be changed to an automobile. To firmly grasp the Beijing taxi market this big cake, we must start from now on, expand and monopolize.

  All of this requires a huge amount of financial support, and although Liu Ziguang has some silver on hand, he can't invest it all at once. He plans to have everyone contribute shares: those with people will contribute people, those with money will contribute money, and those with technology will contribute technology. Liu Ziguang will be responsible for providing vehicles and training drivers, while Sun Jian and his son will handle daily management and deal with various relationships. Ding Libin was left in charge of accounting, and at a young age, he was already in charge of the entire accounting department - the young man was extremely excited. As for the legitimate business, Sun Jian was very supportive, mobilizing old connections to recruit several hundred physically strong poor people, who would be trained first, and then as soon as Liu Ziguang's rickshaws arrived, they could open for business with great fanfare. The name had already been decided: "Zi Guang Rickshaw Company".

  Before leaving, Liu Ziguang secretly met with Zhu Youxiao again. The location was still at the beautiful Xuanwu Lake. This time it was on a small boat, and there were only two people on the boat, eliminating any possibility of eavesdropping.

  Liu Ziguo first complained that it was difficult to sell calligraphy, paintings and antiques. The young emperor also expressed understanding. Fortunately, the Longpan incense was divided into small pieces and sold in Suzhou, exchanging several tens of thousands of taels of silver, which are now all handed over to Zhu Youxiao.

  Zhu Youxiao not only didn't take any silver, but instead gave Liu Zigang 500,000 taels of silver.

  "I order you to secretly build an arsenal, specializing in the production of hot air balloons and flying sky wings. Help me train a heavenly army and generals. I will slowly allocate personnel and materials to you, but not too much at once, as the Empress Dowager and the Nine Thousand Years are watching me closely. This silver is also useless to me, it's better to put it in your hands where it can be used. Remember, hurry! My time is running out."

  Silver is a good thing, Liu Ziguang hurriedly thanked: "I will not disappoint your majesty's trust, I will forge a flying heavenly soldier, restore my Zhu family's orthodox, and let your majesty be a real emperor."

  "It's not suitable to delay, in three months I'll be 16 years old, the grand wedding is approaching, I've already received news: The Empress Dowager and the Ninth Prince have each selected a batch of beautiful women for me to choose from. In fact, I don't even have the right to choose my own wife, this is just another battlefield for them to fight for power, only this time it will be more intense than before. Whoever controls the Empress will control the future heir. Hmph, once there's an heir, this puppet emperor will die suddenly or become a fool on some unknown day. So, whether it's three months or a year, it's my last chance to make a move. I hope that by then, Brother Liu's Flying Heaven Army can be trained, time is not waiting for me!"

  Additionally, six designers skilled in drawing were sent to Liu Ziguang, along with five pedal-style Flying Wing aircraft and several machine tools. Also included were a full set of drawings and two baskets of carrier pigeons for sending messages. These people and things had already boarded the ship ahead of time and left the capital city, waiting at Hongze Lake to rendezvous with Liu Ziguang's boat.

  Technical personnel are more precious than silver. With technical personnel and drawings, production is much faster.

  After they had finished discussing their business, the small boat also reached the shore.

  "Liu brother, when you left the capital, I didn't see you off. Hurry up and train the Flying Heaven Army, we'll meet again in the capital." Zhu Youxiao stretched out his right hand. Liu Ziguang also stretched out his right hand, and the two hands slapped tightly together.

  "Goodbye, Beijing!"

  Originally this chapter had a lot of content, but in order to make the structure more rigorous later on, 2,000 words were deleted. Please forgive me.

  The third volume begins, what's good is called a coup