Chapter 54

"Easy enough. You're watching all the accounts here; if they don't match up, just have the Father-in-Law of the Nation pay the interest to those nobles when the time comes."

"I acknowledge the silver I received; as for the silver I did not receive..."

"Let them go find whoever they want!"

Isn't this just shifting the blame?

Zhu Youjian might not be good at other things.

But when it comes to shifting the blame...

This is a traditional skill that has been rigorously practiced since Zhu Youjian's great-grandfather Jiajing's generation.

If Zhu Youjian still cannot figure out such a simple matter...

Then he might as well abdicate immediately.

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words...

Wang Chengen's eyes suddenly lit up.

He immediately smiled and said,

"Your Majesty is wise! This old servant admires you, this old servant admires you!"

Hearing Zhu Youjian's plan...

The last stone in Wang Chengen's heart finally settled.

One month later...

The news that carts laden with Bai Yin were slowly entering the Bofu Sect completely shocked all the nobles and scholars of the Great Ming Empire...

51, Hong Hong Chengchou: This official will absolutely not be tempted by this!

Bofu Sect.

Zhou Kui, wearing a python robe, stood personally outside the gate of the Bofu Sect, clasping his hands and smiling at Zhu Chunchen,

"Duke of Cheng, come, come, come inside! Have the servants in the household count out this silver immediately; let us go to the hall for tea!"

Looking at the crates of Bai Yin in the courtyard...

The eyes of the dignitaries across the city immediately turned red.

Meanwhile, Hong Hong Chengchou, hidden within the sedan chair among the crowd, kept muttering to himself.

"Do not envy."

"Do not envy."

"These are all lies."

"These few fools will one day lose their entire capital..."

Just as Hong Hong Chengchou was muttering...

Exclamations suddenly came from outside the sedan chair from Wu Qinghou Li Guorui, Duke of Ying Zhang Zhiji, and Duke of Ding Xu Yunzhen.

"Father-in-Law of the Nation, our silver was delivered one day later than the Duke of Cheng's!"

Immediately, Zhou Kui's smiling voice clearly penetrated Hong Hong Chengchou's ears.

"Hahaha, it matters not, it matters not; one day makes no difference."

"Besides, since everyone's silver has been transported here, what difference does it make if I settle it tomorrow or today?"

After Zhou Kui said this...

Zhang Zhiji and the others actually felt somewhat embarrassed.

These nobles were originally military men.

Seeing the silver, each of them smiled so broadly their eyes narrowed into a single line.

Currently, the Great Ming has suffered disasters for consecutive years.

Harvests in various regions have been poor.

Even the income of the court's nobles has decreased significantly.

Although they all had family savings...

they had long been living off their past capital.

Suddenly finding such a path to wealth...

how could these people not be happy?

The young attendant beside him, seeing Hong Hong Chengchou's expression nearly twisted, asked in a low voice,

"Master, why do you not deposit some..."

Hong Hong Chengchou immediately roared,

"What do you know?!"

"Even a fool can see this is a trap!"

"They say they will settle the silver for them; look, will these few fools be able to take the silver back today?!"

"This old Master has seen this trick many times!"

"We will just watch from here and wait for these fools to come out empty-handed in a moment!"

Hong Hong Chengchou gritted his teeth and sat back down heavily in the sedan chair.

Not long after...

Zhang Zhiji, Li Guorui, and others walked out of the Bofu Sect with flushed faces.

Zhou Kui even came out personally.

He clasped his hands and smiled at the few men before him,

"Everyone, take your time; send someone ahead to your households to prepare."

"Otherwise, with so much silver, it is not safe!"

"..."

Right under Hong Chengchou's gaze.

The retainers of Zhu Chunchen's residence drove carriage after carriage straight toward the Duke Prefecture.

Seeing this scene, Hong Chengchou was completely stunned.

Did those few ruffians really manage to earn that silver?!

So many talented men of Jiangnan couldn't earn a single silver.

On what grounds do these few martial men deserve to make money?!

What pained Hong Chengchou the most was this:

When Zhu Chunchen took the silver to Zhou Kui, Hong Chengchou was right there beside them!

In other words, Hong Chengchou should have been picking up over a hundred thousand taels of silver for free today!

Thinking of this, Hong Chengchou nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

At this moment, the area outside the Retainer Bo Prefecture had already become a clamor of voices.

Princes and ministers from all quarters.

Be it this Marquis, that Minister, or this Grand Secretary.

They were all crowding at Zhou Kui's gate.

Everyone's purpose was surprisingly unified.

That was to beg Zhou Kui to accept their silver!

"Zhou Guozhang! You are imperial kin, and so are we! By reckoning, we are relatives too; you cannot forget us in such a good opportunity!"

"Exactly, is this business still on? I still have some silver in my residence!"

"Zhou Guozhang! Back when we were on Qianmen Street, you and I were close friends!"

"..."

Zhou Kui played the game of feigned refusal with masterful skill.

The nobles of the entire capital were instantly overwhelmed.

A voice suddenly arose in Hong Chengchou's mind as he sat in his sedan chair.

"You have already missed one opportunity."

"Do you intend to miss this one as well?"

"Even if it is a scam, what does it matter? Just withdraw in time!"

"We have seen such tricks many times; as long as we participate early enough, it is surely a guaranteed profit with no loss!"

"A bargain handed right to our door! If we don't take it, we are fools! What are you still standing there for!"