Chapter 78

Since Zhang Ke had guessed that someone was plotting against him, he decided to turn the tables. On the surface, he was escorting supplies and provisions, following He Shixian on the expedition. In reality, he had already prepared another group of people.

Zhang Ye sent his adopted son, Xiao Youzi, with two chests of gold and silver, loaded onto a horse-drawn carriage identical to Zhang Ke's. At the crossroads, the two convoys collided, and dozens of carriages became entangled in a chaotic mess.

After the confusion, the supply convoy moved forward. By this time, Zhang Ke's carriage had been switched with the one carrying the silver, and he had secretly left the city under Xiao Youzi's protection.

"Thank you for your help, I am truly grateful!"

Zhang Ke said, pulling out a 200-tael silver ticket from his sleeve and handing it to Xiao Youzi. Zhang Ke was not yet a wealthy man, and 200 taels was no small amount, but he knew that it was necessary to spend some money to get things done!

Sure enough, Xiao Youzi took the silver ticket with a smile.

Waving his fingers in a delicate gesture, he said to Zhang Ke with a smile, "Young Master Zhang, my adoptive father has been in Liaodong for ten years and has considerable power. After you leave Shenyang, there will be merchant caravans to help you along the way, and there will be horses at the post stations to ensure a smooth journey home."

Zhang Ke smiled and said, "Thank you for your efforts, I am deeply grateful!"

Xiao Youzi escorted Zhang Ke to the ten-mile pavilion and was about to leave.

"Please wait a moment, Sir!"

Zhang Ke smiled and said, "There is a message for Sir Zhang. The corrupt and greedy officials, who form a tight-knit group like a large tree, must have their branches cut off first, then the main trunk destroyed, and finally, the roots must be uprooted!"

"Alright, I will remember that and tell my adoptive father when I return."

Xiao Youzi turned to leave again, but Zhang Ke bit his lip, stomped his foot, and reluctantly pulled out a large envelope from his chest.

"Sir, please take this!"

Xiao Youzi quickly turned back, took it in his hand, and felt its thickness, unsure of what was inside.

"Is this your poetry, Young Master Zhang?"

Zhang Ke shook his head and smiled, "I am not skilled enough to write good poetry, and I wouldn't dare to show it. This is a highly confidential plan. Please hand it to Sir Zhang personally, and he will understand!"

Xiao Youzi smiled broadly, "Young Master Zhang, I will do as you say!"

Xiao Youzi walked a few steps and suddenly turned back, smiling, "Young Master Zhang, are you safe now?"

Zhang Ke laughed and pointed to a nearby carriage, "Sir Youzi, I am not worthy of such good fortune. Please take these two women back for Sir Zhang!"

Xiao Youzi chuckled, "Young Master Zhang, I can agree to anything else, but not this. My adoptive father specifically instructed that since you found them, you should take them away and deal with them as you see fit. Young Master Zhang, you are a fine young man, and that girl is a beauty. Don't waste her."

Xiao Youzi laughed and mounted his horse, leaving Zhang Ke alone, frowning.

The two women were Fang Yunqing and Xiang Ling, both captured along with Zhu Jinhai. However, their involvement in the case was limited; they only knew that Jin Wangguan intended to give Fang Yunqing to He Bian.

Zhang Ke had given Fang Yunqing to Zhang Ye, hoping to use the opportunity to bring down He Bian, but Zhang Ye shook his head. Although eunuchs had been castrated, loneliness and emptiness were common, and many eunuchs and palace maids were paired up. Outside the palace, receiving beautiful women was also normal and not worth making a fuss over!

Zhang Ke was merely disappointed at losing the chance to bring down He Bian, but he didn't think much more about it. He didn't expect Zhang Ye to send the two women to him, which was just causing trouble!

"Sir, what should we do?" Wu Boyan asked in a low voice.

"What else can we do? We can't just leave them on the road to freeze to death. We'll have to take them with us!" Zhang Ke said irritably.

The group quickly left Shenyang and set off on the journey home.

Zhang Feng sat on the carriage, looking at the vast snowy landscape, and couldn't help but stretch, his bones cracking.

"Brother, it was a close call. I used to dream of achieving great things and serving the country, but now all I want is to go home, taste my mother's vegetarian dumplings, and see how much Hui has grown. Girls change a lot as they grow up, who knows how beautiful she might be!" Zhang Feng rambled on.

Suddenly, he looked up and smiled at Zhang Ke, "Brother, you seem like a different person. Tell me, have you been possessed by a demon?"

You're right, my brother has been replaced!

Zhang Ke only dared to think this in his mind. He smiled and said, "Brother, you've had a near-death experience and gained enlightenment. Why can't I have an epiphany? I was bedridden for two or three months, almost dying."

Zhang Feng lowered his head in guilt and then smiled, "Brother, I believe you could change, but skills don't just appear out of nowhere! Tell me, what did you give to Sir Youzi? You seemed to value it so much. Is it a clever plan to catch corrupt officials?"

"Brother, when I was sick, a white-bearded immortal would often appear before me, telling me about things 500 years in the future. He said that people could fly, dive into the sea, record sounds and images, and a single bomb could destroy a city..."

You're just boasting! Zhang Feng put on a skeptical face.

"Brother, I don't have time to chat. What did you give to Sir Zhang?"

"A great idea to cut off the root of the problem!" Zhang Ke smiled, "To be honest, it's a money-making idea."

"Money-making? I can only kill Tartars, and a head is worth 50 taels, a fair price. In the Ming army, everything can be faked, but the reward for a head is real. Brother, your idea must be worth 3,000 to 5,000 taels, or even 10,000 taels, otherwise, it wouldn't be impressive enough!"

Zhang Ke looked at his brother with a dumbfounded expression.

"Brother, you underestimate me. Is 10,000 taels worth boasting about? If we follow my plan, we can make at least 300,000 to 500,000 taels a year. If I handle it personally, a million taels a year is not impossible!"

Zhang Feng was drinking from a wineskin when he heard this, and the wine spurted out of his nose. He grabbed Zhang Ke's shoulder.

"Brother, I, I, I have little education, don't lie to me!" Zhang Feng stuttered, not surprised, but terrified.

A million taels! The annual military budget for Liaodong was only one or two million taels, already a heavy burden on the Ming dynasty. Even with the ability to turn stones into gold, it would be impossible to make a million taels in a year!

Zhang Ke smiled, "Brother, I'm not lying. The money-making idea is actually about trading gold and silver. If the palace wants to do it, with capital and influence, making a million taels a year is not difficult!"

Zhang Feng was completely stunned and said with deep regret, "Brother, you wasteful brat, do you know that I risk my life to get 50 taels for a head, and you give away a million taels? Are you trying to kill me with frustration!"

Seeing Zhang Feng wailing, Zhang Ke laughed heartlessly.

"Brother, I asked Sir Zhang, and Liaodong produces 40% of the nation's gold and silver. The gold and silver used for palace decorations and rewards, 90% come from Liaodong. This is the lifeline of Liaodong merchants! Once my money-making method reaches the emperor, we can take action against the Liaodong merchants, and our brothers can live in peace. Spending a million taels for peace is worth it!"

Zhang Feng reluctantly accepted this explanation but was still indignant.

"Brother, give you half a month. After the New Year, you must come up with another money-making idea, or you'll be facing my fists!"

The brothers laughed and joked on the journey, and Qiao Fu occasionally joined in. They changed caravans five times and finally arrived in Guangning without incident.

Zhang Ke personally wrote a long letter and had Ma Biao deliver it to Wang Huazhen, agreeing to visit after the 15th day of the first lunar month. Zhang Ke and his group hurried along, getting closer to Dashing Castle.

"Brother, we grew up in Dashing Castle, and I never thought you would become a reserve officer, but..." Zhang Feng suddenly looked up at the city wall and said with concern, "Brother, why do I feel that you are not very welcome here?"

Zhang Ke also looked up at the city wall and saw many ragged soldiers, all new faces, holding weapons, looking somewhat fearful.

"I am Zhang Ke, quickly send Tang Bi out to greet me!"

He shouted three times, and finally, a head appeared on the city wall, with beady eyes, shouting at Zhang Ke, "Zhang, don't push us too far. My brother is He Guangxian, a full-fledged general. If you touch a single hair on my head, my brother won't let you off!"

Zhang Ke and Zhang Feng looked at each other and smiled strangely. Qiao Fu pointed at the city wall, using the words he had just learned from Zhang Ke, and laughed, "Are you a monkey's jester?"