Dun for debt

  "Tens of thousands of taels of silver were used up in just one night? Came to do business?" Liu Ziguang was puzzled, this Zhu Tiandao was very strange, with skills in science, divination, and martial arts, now he's even started doing small trades, truly mysterious.

  "It's Liu brother, I've been waiting for you for a long time. This stall isn't mine, I'm just playing along." Zhu Tianxia said while operating, and soon brought up two bowls of fragrant duck blood vermicelli soup, with emerald green scallions, white duck intestines, yellow duck liver, brown duck blood, grayish transparent mung bean vermicelli, and bright red chili oil. This kid's craftsmanship is really not bad.

  "Fifty cents, thank you." Zhu Tianxia held out his hand for the money with a serious face. Liu Ziguang was taken aback and smiled: "A close brotherhood is clear in its accounts, no mistake, Little Ding, give him fifty cents."

  Ding Libin handed over five 10-wen Tianqi heavy treasures to Zhu Tiandong. The latter chuckled and explained, "I don't care about this little money, but doing business has to have a business-like appearance. Even if it's family members eating together, you can't not give them money. Besides, this business isn't mine, let's just consider it taking care of Old Man Wang. How about this, next time we go eat at the restaurant, I'll treat."

  "Alright, I'll remember that, Little Ding. Call all the brothers over, two bowls each. Give your brother a show." Liu Ziguang said while eating, the taste was actually not bad, and the ingredients were fresh and natural. He didn't expect Zhu Tiandao to be a versatile person. "By the way, what did you mean by saying I made you wait for a long time just now?" Liu Ziguang asked.

  "Haha, didn't you say last time that you were coming to the Ministry of War on business? Coincidentally, my stall for doing business is just next to the West Flow Bay, right next to the Ministry of War. I came over to wait for you and see if there's anything I can help you with. Yesterday, you gave me a silver note worth 150,000 taels, plus you saved me once before. It wouldn't be right if I didn't help you out a bit, would it?" Zhu Tianxia said with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand, as if he could grasp the opportunity easily.

  "Zhu Xiaodi's tone is not small, brother I thank you first, I'm going to the Ministry of War's Armory Department to urge for a debt of one million taels, it's not a trivial matter." Liu Ziguang said, this Zhu Tianxia looks very mysterious, could he be the son of a royal family with the surname Zhu... that would make him share the same surname as the Emperor.

  As they were speaking, a blue sedan chair was carried over, followed by four personal guards. The small gate of the Ministry of War opened slightly and someone shouted, "Lord Zheng has arrived, hurry up and line up!" It turned out that the Vice Director of the Military Equipment Bureau had come.

  Liu Ziguang hastily put down the bowl and pulled Zhu Tianxia to run into the government office, but was stopped by the gate-keeping imperial guard at the entrance. "What is this little guy doing?" The imperial guard was referring to Zhu Tianxia, who was dressed in ordinary clothes, and it didn't make sense for a commoner to rush into the Ministry of War's office.

  "Oh, I'm a fellow from the nearby Tianxiang Building. The military officer inside just sent someone to call me in to order food." Zhu Tianxia started telling lies with a straight face, showing great talent for deception.

  There were many people coming and going at the gate of the yamen, and the guards couldn't tell who was genuine or not, so they just waved their hands and let them in.

  Arriving at the entrance of the Military Supplies Department, Director Zheng had already gone in to work. The long dragon at the entrance also started moving, it seems that Director Zheng's efficiency is very high, rushing to work on a busy morning without even washing his face, starting to handle official business or receiving bribes.

  The power of the Military Supplies Department is very great, procuring weapons, military materials, finished products, and allocating supplies to various troops all have to go through the Military Supplies Department. Armor, weapons, knives, guns, bows and arrows, uniforms, tents, defensive equipment, war chariots, warships, all the military equipment used by the millions of troops in the Ming Dynasty are purchased here, it is absolutely a lucrative position.

  Those in front of the Jiangnan Silk Store, the soldiers' war clothes were all made of silk, not for good looks but to wrap around arrowheads and reduce harm. Therefore, silk was also a major procurement object. There are also people from Wuchang Shipyard and Changzhou Qiushuyan Machinery Factory. On the Yangtze River, East China Sea, and South China Sea, all steam-powered paddle-wheel ships were opened by Wuchang Shipyard. In the plains of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan, troops were transported mainly by train, and military trains were all purchased from Qiushuyan Machinery Factory's locomotives and carriages. There are also a few people from Ligu Iron Factory, whose steam-powered crossbows are excellent for city defense, and other knives, guns, swords, spears, and armor also occupy a considerable share. They are important suppliers of the Ministry of War's Ordnance Department.

  Luckily they arrived early, there were only a few people waiting in front, and Lord Zheng handled official business quickly, approving it very fast. The representatives of the several businesses in front one by one smiled and took out the approved documents, thanking them profusely as they backed away. In less than two cups of tea's time, it was Liu Ziguang's turn to go in.

  Both sides sat down, and the young servant looked at the tea. Liu Ziguang didn't make any polite remarks either, gesturing to the deputy manager to take out the receipt issued by the Ministry of War and the previous contract, showing it to Governor Zheng: "Governor Zheng, our Ligu Iron Factory has an account with the Ministry of War that already amounts to 1,064,500 taels of silver in receivables. According to the contract, this should have been settled three months ago, but not a single cent has been paid yet. Please, sir, have mercy and pay us the silver so we can continue production and contribute to the imperial court. We will definitely remember your kindness and set aside some silver for your transportation expenses."

  Although the words are not polite, the meaning is very clear. Paying back debts is a matter of course, and since you promised to pay for transportation costs, it's reasonable to expect payment without any excuse.

  Lord Zheng looked at the visiting card in his hand, pondering something. "The accountant of Ligu Iron Factory has been replaced, and it's only at this level. The imperial court is financially strained, and there is no money to pay recently, so I'll have to send him away."

  This was settled so quickly, Liu Ziguang was surprised, and it was too fast. No way, can't just walk away like this "Lord Zheng, the imperial court's finances are tight, how did the previous few people get silver? I'm familiar with Duke Wei, can you give me some face?"

  Magistrate Zheng's face turned fierce as he said, "How dare you! Does this official need your guidance on how to do things? This official handles matters impartially, with only the Emperor and the Nine Thousand Ages in mind, unaware of the Prince of Wei. Guards, escort him out!"

  Liu Ziguang's anger caused his hands to tremble, and Zhu Tianxia stepped forward from behind him, saying: "Lord Zheng, as far as I know, the imperial court's silver reserves are still quite abundant. In the recent large-scale war in the north, the emperor issued an edict stating that military supplies must be provided without delay or deduction. I don't understand where Lord Zheng's so-called financial difficulties come from, and why he would unjustly withhold payment, thereby hurting the hearts of merchants everywhere and damaging the imperial court's reputation. What is Lord Zheng's true intention? Where does he place the imperial edict? Where does he place the emperor?"

  "What a good world, every sentence is a murderous remark! The Military Supplies Officer was so angry that he was about to smoke: "You are just a lowly person, how dare you speak wildly and slander the court officials? Guards, take them out and beat them with sticks! From now on, no one from Lixin Iron Factory is allowed to enter the Ministry of War! As long as I am in charge of the Military Supplies Department, you can forget about getting a single coin! And don't even think about future contracts!"

  Mr. Zheng finished speaking, swung his sleeves and returned to the back hall. Several attendants from the military equipment department came over and escorted Liu Ziguang and others out.

  Although he wanted to follow Hou Tang and beat Zheng Daren until he was toothless, this wasn't a gambling boat on the Qinhuai River, but one of the six respectable departments of the imperial court. Equivalent to the 21st century's Ministry of National Defense, they absolutely couldn't be reckless. Liu Ziguang led his subordinates in being chased out of the Ministry of War with their tails between their legs.

  "Zhu Xiaodi, look at you, the more you help, the busier you get! Haha!" Liu Ziguo didn't mean to blame Zhu Tianxia, and his words were spoken with great ease. Even if he hadn't said those things, Lord Zheng wouldn't have approved their request for silver anyway.

  However, Zhu Tianxia was not happy at all. Yesterday, he had specifically checked the Ministry of War's memorial, which listed the recent expenses, including the one million taels of military equipment procurement costs for Liguojun Iron Factory. That's why he came here so confidently today, but unexpectedly, these people from the Ministry of War were so bold... this is a crime of deceiving the emperor!

  "Liu, it's my fault for not thinking things through and causing you trouble. But please rest assured, by this time tomorrow, I guarantee that you will have the silver. If not, I'll be disowned by my ancestors!" Zhu Tianxia looked like he had been infuriated by Lord Zheng and was speaking harshly.

  "Don't worry, I have a plan. Let's go drink, you just mentioned there's a Tianxiang Building nearby...". Liu Ziguang had already come up with several sinister ideas in his mind, such as blackmail, kidnapping the wife and children, gathering evidence of bribery, scandals, etc. All would be used on this Zheng guy, if not, he'd be done for, and they could try another official to see if he'd give in.

  "Alright, let's have a drink and clear our minds, I'll treat!" Zhu Tianxia brought Liu Ziguo and his men to the Tianxiang Building, where they reserved five large tables and a private room. The tables were filled with all sorts of dishes, and wine was served in large jugs. Liu Ziguo's twenty men ate and drank heartily downstairs, while he and Zhu Tianxia sat by the window in the private room drinking wine.

  Liu Ziguang always felt that there were some masters lurking around, keeping a distance from Zhu Tiandu, neither too far nor too close.

  "Zhu Xiaodi, it seems like there are some of your men nearby. Why don't you call them over and we'll open two more tables for them to eat?" Liu Ziguang said.

  "It doesn't matter, they will settle it themselves." Zhu Tianxia saw that Liu Ziguang had already discovered and did not deny it. "Brother Liu, this Zheng surname's Yuanwailang is really detestable. Tomorrow I'll find an Imperial Censor to impeach him, just you wait and see."

  It's indeed the son of an official or a royal family, and must be the son of a high-ranking official. I wonder who has more power between him and Wei Guogong, Liu Ziguo thought to himself. Smiling gloomily, he said: "He was impeached because he was disrespectful to His Majesty, ignored the imperial edict, and even put the title of 'Nine Thousand Years' before that of the Emperor! However, since he was so rude to us brothers today, this account will be settled immediately, or else I won't be able to sleep tonight."

  "How much?" Zhu Tianxia asked.

  "I've already sent someone to wait at the entrance of the Ministry of War, and as soon as Zheng comes out, there will be someone following him. Once we get to a deserted place, humph! I've already arranged for someone to buy a sack. If I don't beat him until he's picking up his teeth from all over the ground, my surname isn't Zheng!"

  After drinking for a while, someone came to report that Zheng's sedan chair had come out and was heading south with four guards.

  "Very well, let's investigate!" Liu Ziguang calmly gave orders while drinking his wine.

  They drank until someone came to report that Lord Zheng had entered a riverside house by the Qinhuai River. Liu Ziguang then put down his cup and chopsticks, calling out to Zhu Tiandao: "Let's go beat him up."