Chapter 79: Cocoon Food

The old senior official didn’t spell it out, but his meaning was clear: the Elimination Army’s “Platoon Leader” rank is unranked.

The Elimination Army falls under the Embroidered Uniform Guard; if it were an Embroidered Uniform Guard Platoon Leader, it would be a proper seventh-rank post! But in the Elimination Army, only a Company Commander reaches the lower ninth rank.

Xu Yuan was tempted, but after thinking it over, he said: “Old Master, let me consider it further.”

“Fine.” Ma Tianshou felt slight disappointment: “Your merit this time was immense. Don’t worry—our Purification Office… at least in our Jiaozhi South Office… has no habit of stealing others’ achievements. I will report your deeds truthfully to the court, whether or not you choose to join the Purification Office. I’ll submit a memorial to beg His Majesty to pardon your family’s status as convict laborers from He Gong Alley.”

“Thank you, Old Master.” Xu Yuan wasn’t moved—this old man likely knew little of the events from back then, as his stepmother had said.

He’d oversimplified things.

In the afternoon, Fu Jingyu and Xu Yuan went again to wait outside the South Gate.

Ma Tianshou specifically added: “Bring the person to me the moment they arrive.”

Xu Yuan worried the reinforcements wouldn’t arrive in time, but fortunately, no mishap occurred this time. The two waited only half an hour before the South Office’s main force arrived.

Exactly one hundred and twenty men, galloping in a thunderous wave.

Each horse’s leg bore speed-enhancing talismans resembling “Soaring Clouds” and “Riding the Wind!” Xu Yuan inwardly whistled—Purification Office was truly wealthy.

Fu Jingyu followed his master’s orders precisely, even without greeting the leading Police Inspector, and headed straight for the inn.

With manpower secured, Ma Tianshou immediately issued orders.

One group would covertly surveil the Chen household; another, with Fu Jingyu, would head to Tiemenbao.

He then summoned the County Lieutenant: “Gather some men—locals, inconspicuous, preferably idle street types—and have them secretly watch all four city gates. I’ll assign a Captain to each gate to accompany you.”

Don’t ask about the rest. If you spot suspicious individuals entering or leaving, identify them and report to the Captain.”

The County Lieutenant immediately accepted the order without hesitation.

After dismissing the County Lieutenant, only Ma Tianshou, Yan Lao, Fu Jingyu, Xu Yuan, and the Police Inspector remained in the room.

The Police Inspector, named Xiang Qinghuai, had served the old master for twelve years. Seeing that every arrangement made no effort to exclude the local boy, he realized this was the young man the old master had singled out.

Ma Tianshou gestured to Xiang Qinghuai: “Before you left, did anything stir in the Northern Capital?”

Xiang Qinghuai shook his head: “No news has reached us. These past few years, Chen Liangxuan’s faction has been unusually quiet.”

“Quiet?” Ma Tianshou sneered. “If I’m right, their people will arrive soon.”

Xu Yuan’s mind stirred—watching all four gates was to catch people from the Northern Capital?

Chen Liangxuan’s allies?

Xiang Qinghuai said: “If they depart from the Northern Capital by water, taking fast steamships, it will take at least half a month to reach here.”

Ma Tianshou shook his head: “They must have more than just Chen Liangxuan here in Jiaozhi. No need to summon men from the Northern Capital—they’ll arrive faster than you expect.”

Ma Tianshou had already planned ahead: “Jingyu, tomorrow you and Xiao Xu head to Qihe Terrace. I’ll assign Qinghuai to Tiemenbao.”

“Yes, sir!”

Ma Tianshou turned to Xu Yuan: “Xiao Xu, would you be willing to help?”

Xu Yuan asked: “Old Master, what exactly are Chen Liangxuan and Qiao Zian doing in Ghost Witch Mountain?”

Yan Lao had mentioned something before, but his knowledge was limited.

Ma Tianshou: “We still don’t know what Chen Liangxuan intends, but we have a theory…”

Ma Tianshou paused. Xiang Qinghuai immediately rose, formed a hand seal with both hands, and pushed outward—a silent ripple spread, slowly filling the entire room.

Xu Yuan saw the magical ripple like a transparent membrane enveloping them.

Only then did Ma Tianshou continue: “Fourteen years ago, the court reopened the Malacca Official Factory and appointed Su Bingyue as its Director.

Su Bingyue and Chen Liangxuan were classmates.

Investigations show Su Bingyue smuggled goods to Red Hair Barbarians and Blue-Eyed Foreigners from the Malacca Official Factory, earning over four million taels annually.

The most profitable item was called ‘Cocoon Food’—one tael of Cocoon Food could be exchanged for one tael of gold in Red Hair Barbarian lands, and it was perpetually in short supply.

Cocoon Food originates solely from ‘outside the realm.’ After Chen Liangxuan retired and returned home, he suddenly began exchanging letters with Su Bingyue.”

Xu Yuan frowned: “They think Cocoon Food grows in Ghost Witch Mountain?”

Ma Tianshou nodded: “This is our hypothesis after piecing together clues. Whether it’s true, you must investigate.”

Xu Yuan still had doubts: “Just for this, Chen Liangxuan dares to murder a senior Purification Office official like you?”

Ma Tianshou laughed loudly: “You truly don’t understand what hundreds of thousands of taels mean! Not just me—even the Purification Office’s Seal Keeper, they’d kill!”

Xu Yuan nodded, then asked: “If we uncover the truth, can we root them out completely?”

Ma Tianshou snorted, as if reluctant to say more.

Yan Lao stepped in: “Once we establish their crimes, we have justification. The powerful factions in court who can oppose them will pounce at the sight of such wealth—confirm their guilt, then seize the profitable operation for themselves.”

Xu Yuan understood. He nodded: “Alright, I’ll go with Fu Captain.”

“There’s no time today. Go home, rest. Depart with Jingyu tomorrow morning.”

“Your servant obeys.”

After Xu Yuan left, Xiang Qinghuai produced a document: “Old Master, this is the dossier on Xu Yuan, as you specifically requested.”

Ma Tianshou took it—a few thin sheets. The front covered He Gong Alley, which he already knew. He skipped ahead and found, as expected, the added details about Xu Chuanyang.

After reading it, Ma Tianshou, his face troubled, passed it to Yan Lao.

Yan Lao glanced at it and exclaimed: “Xu Chuanyang’s patron is Lin Qifeng?! No wonder… no wonder he pushed Xu Yuan into the Elimination Army!”

Ma Tianshou sighed: “Lin Qifeng loves using bold, aggressive men—but fears them too, so he always keeps their families under his thumb.”

Fu Jingyu sat like a meditating monk beside them, as if he’d heard nothing.

…

Xu Yuan met Song Lu at the inn’s entrance.

Song Lu handed him several silver notes with one hand: “The Master gave you this extra reward. Court rewards take ages to arrive. The Master says you can use this for expenses while helping us.”

Xu Yuan accepted without protest. After leaving the inn, he counted them—two hundred taels total!

The old master was generous.

And thoughtful—the notes came in various denominations.

In the Ming Empire, these were technically called “Treasure Notes,” first issued by the Hongwu Emperor.

But within a few years, they became as worthless as toilet paper, and were discontinued.

Two hundred years ago, the court reintroduced Treasure Notes. They held their value and have been used ever since.

Xu Yuan went to Wangjing Fang, bought two pieces of jewelry for his stepmother, then purchased meat, vegetables, rice, and flour, and carried them home.

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(End of Chapter)