Chapter 139: Greed

A batch of demolition work was soon completed in an orderly fashion.

Following the arrival of the first batch of compensation funds, the first demolition of the old city district was placed on the schedule. After dispersing the commoners, the craftsmen from the Weapon Bureau buried explosives inside the houses.

Then came a few "Bang! Bang! Bang!" sounds.

For a moment, smoke and dust rose everywhere, yellow earth filled the sky, startling the branches and leaves of the tall locust trees and weeping willows into trembling, and sending forest birds fluttering away.

When the smoke and dust dispersed, Zhang Yunxiu covered his mouth and nose, leading a team of men slowly into the ruins. He was seen walking in the front, followed by a middle-aged man wearing a green official robe.

That was Ou Sui, a Director of the Ministry of Works responsible for this matter.

Further behind were Han San, the commander of the Western City Military Commission, and a group of Junior Officials.

Standing upon the ruins, Zhang Yunxiu looked at Ou Sui and said with a smile, "Director Ou, this Beijing city has too little land. The imperial court must not only distribute housing to officials but also to the commoners. Therefore, there is a great deal of strategy involved in how to build houses."

"It seems that Department Head Zhang has had a plan for a long time?" Ou Sui smiled.

"It is not much of a plan, just some small suggestions." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and waved his hand, giving a wink to Han San, who hurriedly stepped forward holding a blueprint.

After it was carefully unfolded, one could see a four or five-story-high earthen building, with thirty windows densely distributed on it.

As the few of them lowered their heads to examine it, Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, "The land is too small; if we are to build, we must build high. Where originally only one family could live, we want to make it so twenty families can live, and still let the commoners live comfortably."

"Hmm, this method is good. Ordinary commoners are not particular about these things, as long as they have a place to settle down and live."

Ou Sui nodded and agreed.

"Also, look here." Zhang Yunxiu pointed at a map and continued to direct, "This is the center of the entire West City. A large piece of land must be left here to build a commercial street to attract business."

"Understood."

"Alright, I won't say much more. I am a layman at building houses; you, Director Ou, are the expert. Besides, it would be a layman directing an expert. You have full authority over the rest; just go ahead and do it with confidence."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and encouraged him.

"I am no expert either, I have just seen a bit more than others. Department Head Zhang does not need to flatter me." Ou Sui said modestly, nodded in agreement, and took his subordinates and craftsmen into the ruins to conduct surveys and inspections.

Zhang Yunxiu took the opportunity to step aside and no longer disturbed them.

He could only offer suggestions on the overall picture; if he were truly asked to build a house, he would not be able to tell the good from the bad. Simply put, he stopped worrying about these things and left it to Ou Sui, the expert, to handle.

As soon as he left the ruins, having walked only a few steps, he saw Wang He running toward him from afar, jumping like a flower cat.

Upon seeing each other, Zhang Yunxiu frowned and asked, "What is it? In such a rush, speak slowly."

"Yes, yes." Panting heavily with two puffs of white mist, Wang He took two Silver Dollars from his bosom, handed them to Zhang Yunxiu, and said, "Young Master, please take a look at this thing first."

Zhang Yunxiu took them, looked at one side, then the other, and did not find any major differences.

He was confused in his heart, raised his head to glance at Wang He, and asked, "What is it? Is there a problem with these Silver Dollars?"

"This piece was not made by us; it is lighter than the ones we make. Because they do not have our mold, this pattern looks blurrier than ours. Some places are even connected together." Wang He nodded, pointing at the Silver Dollar on the left.

"You—you mean, someone is imitating the imperial court's Silver Coins and casting them privately?" Zhang Yunxiu was greatly shocked.

"Most likely."

Nodding, Wang He said this fact with difficulty.

It turned out that late last night, he had gone to an antique shop on Qipan Street, preparing to see if he could pick up any bargains.

He picked and looked, finally selecting a piece of Song Blue and White. The person did not know its value, and after some haggling, he bought it with tears in his eyes.

When the boss gave him change, he took out two one-tael Silver Dollars.

He was already a master of forgery, and these Silver Dollars were supervised by him; he knew the weight of every single piece.

Just from this, he felt a sense of alarm in his heart, took the Silver Dollars, and ran back home.

With the help of the lamplight, he saw that the plum blossom patterns and the handwriting on them were also a bit strange.

It was ruined.

He knew right then that he had run into counterfeiters.

In fact, he had a premonition in his heart long ago that someone would definitely take the risk; after all, the profit from these Silver Dollars was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine. Even though the imperial court had repeatedly issued strict orders forbidding private minting of coins.

But under the temptation of huge profits, the deepest greed in people occupied their brains, long ago making them lose all sense of family and friends.

His first reaction was to inform Zhang Yunxiu. Later, before his foot had even stepped out of the main hall, he pulled it back, thinking to himself: If this is investigated, what if it turns out that a large amount of fake Silver Dollars are in circulation? Wouldn't the real Silver Dollars suffer as a result? Besides, what if the investigation leads to some big shot? Wouldn't that be looking for trouble for himself?

He sat back down on the stool and kept the Silver Dollars pressed on the table for the whole night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

After struggling for an entire night, he got up the next morning dragging a weary body.

He still had to report this matter to Zhang Yunxiu.

As for whether to investigate or how to investigate, that was for this big shot to decide.

At this moment, when Zhang Yunxiu learned that someone was undermining the foundation of the Silver Dollars, he was instantly furious. Forging antiques or other things was one thing.

Now someone actually dared to forge this kind of thing.

Zhang Yunxiu also knew that this was an opportunity—a chance to kill the chicken to warn the monkey and alert those powerful nobles.

Whoever dared to stretch out their claws, he would chop those claws off! Thinking this, Zhang Yunxiu knitted his brows, turned his head to look at Han San, and ordered coldly, "I will give you one month. You take men to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter."

"Yes." Han San nodded in agreement and added, "However, I ask the Young Master to set a guideline for me."

"What guideline?"

"How far should I investigate? You must make it clear to me first, otherwise, I cannot fully exert my efforts."

"As long as you don't investigate up to the Emperor, you may investigate the rest as you please. Even if you investigate up to me, I will accept it!"

Hearing this, Han San immediately led more than ten subordinates and ran off quickly.

Wang He, who had been silent for a while, suddenly interjected, "Young Master, actually, the day these Silver Dollars came out, I knew that someone would definitely take the risk; this cannot be stopped."

"Moreover, these counterfeiters are timid. There are few Silver Dollars with a face value of one tael; most are five-mace and one-mace Silver Dollars. In my opinion, there is no need to make a big fuss about this."

"No."

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand, interrupting him, "Think about it. Our Silver Dollars have more weight and are exquisitely crafted. If they are mixed with these inferior goods, the commoners will definitely use these inferior goods and keep our Silver Dollars."

"In the long run, it will be these inferior goods circulating in the market instead."

Bad money drives out good—that is how it happens.

"Young Master, your vision is far-reaching; listening to you has truly cleared my mind," Wang He said with a chuckle, then added with a look of difficulty, "However, Young Master, I must still remind you: this counterfeit Silver Dollar, let alone you, even the Emperor cannot suppress it."

"I cannot control other things, but I only know that for those who forge Silver Dollars, I will kill one for every one I catch, and I will never be soft-handed."

Zhang Yunxiu stamped his foot and said indignantly.

"Also, you must hurry and add some things to that mold; don't let them produce new ones so easily. Call over all those brothers of yours who know how to forge, and have them specifically hunt down these fakes."

"Yes."

Wang He dared not delay and nodded in agreement once more.

Immediately after, Zhang Yunxiu gave Wang He some more details before letting him leave.

Seeing that it was still early, Zhang Yunxiu glanced in the direction of the Forbidden City, his heart sinking, and he climbed onto the carriage, ordering, "Go to the Forbidden City."

Half an hour later.

Zhang Yunxiu met the Wanli Emperor in the East Warm Pavilion, lowered his head, and reported the matter to him in detail.

"I know," the Wanli Emperor replied coldly and indifferently after listening, without feeling any anger at all.

It isn't that this forgery is by my brother, is it? You didn't actually do this yourself, did you?

Zhang Yunxiu slowly raised his head and looked at the Wanli Emperor on the dragon throne.

(End of this chapter)