Chapter 3: Properly Utilize Storage Space! The Shen Family!

Quickly!

This bandit den has been completely cleared out.

All forty-plus bandits have been dealt with.

Many imperial soldiers dug a massive pit and buried all the bandits’ corpses inside.

“Reporting to the Company Commander.”

“There’s a large cache of gold, silver, and jewels inside the bandit den.”

“They were looted goods.”

A Platoon Leader hurried over to Liu Lei to report.

Upon hearing this,

Liu Lei waved his hand.

The soldiers followed in droves.

Zhu Ying was among them.

Soon,

they reached the innermost room of the bandit den.

Through the door, they could see over a dozen chests lined up inside; the lids were open, revealing Hongwu Tongbao [copper coins], silver, a small amount of gold, and various jewels.

“These bastards looted so much wealth,” Liu Lei muttered, startled.

“Company Commander.”

“These bandits may not be ordinary ones.”

“And it’s impossible for just dozens of bandits to have amassed this much gold and silver.”

Zhu Ying spoke up.

Liu Lei turned to look at Zhu Ying and smiled: “Say what’s on your mind.”

“Today I killed five bandits. From their fighting style, I noticed they weren’t disorganized—they seemed well-trained.”

“And their accent wasn’t from our Great Ming—it sounded like those Jianzhou Tartars beyond the border,” Zhu Ying said slowly.

Hearing this,

Liu Lei nodded: “You’re right. When we first clashed, I noticed it too—these bandits moved as one unit, far from ordinary. They must really be barbarians from beyond the border infiltrating our Great Ming.”

“Enough.”

“Move all this wealth out and transport it back to the county seat.”

“Since these bandits are tied to the Tartars, we must report this to the Battalion Commander, who will escalate it upward—we can’t handle this ourselves,” Liu Lei said with a smile, waving his hand.

“Your servant obeys.”

The soldiers all responded in unison.

Seeing all this gold and silver, every soldier’s eyes gleamed.

Yet,

with Liu Lei and two Platoon Leaders present,

none dared to steal.

This was the Hongwu era of the Great Ming—Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang showed zero tolerance for corrupt officials; military discipline was strict. Anyone caught stealing would be beheaded at best, or have their entire clan exterminated at worst.

“These bandits really were rich.”

Zhu Ying walked up to one chest, staring at the silver inside, stunned.

Yet,

“I have a cubic storage space. Taking a little won’t be noticed.”

“Besides, it’s looted wealth—still uncounted.”

Thinking of his unlocked storage panel, Zhu Ying felt a quiet thrill.

Immediately,

Zhu Ying crouched down, one hand resting on the chest’s contents, the other supporting its bottom, as if testing its weight.

“Kid Zhu.”

“This is too heavy—you can’t lift it alone,” chuckled an old soldier beside him.

“I’m just testing how heavy this chest of silver is—I’ve never seen so much silver before,” Zhu Ying replied with a grin.

“Damn.”

“It really works.”

“One hundred taels of silver just vanished into storage—no one noticed.”

“Don’t be greedy. This much is enough—one hundred taels can support an ordinary family for years,” Zhu Ying calmed himself, gazing at the hundred taels of silver resting in his storage space, deeply pleased.

Naturally, no one noticed this process.

Set out! Return to the city!

This bandit den was over ten miles from Ansha County—the journey back would take time.

…

Beiping Prefecture!

The Shen family, hailed as the wealthiest in Beiping Prefecture and even dubbed the wealthiest in the Great Ming.

Throughout Beiping, folk say the Shen family’s wealth rivals the imperial treasury, that they are richer than a nation.

Their patriarch, Shen Wansan, is renowned as the Great Ming’s richest man.

Inside the Shen family’s main hall!

The aged Shen Wansan sat in the main seat, flanked by his many sons.

“Father.”

“Everything is done.”

“That boy has been enrolled in the Danning Garrison’s military rolls.”

Shen Rong, the eldest son, said with a cold sneer.

“Once enrolled in military service, there’s no discharge except for injury or completing thirty years of service. And Danning is a border prefecture—besides the Northern Yuan, there are countless barbarian tribes and bandits everywhere. Far more dangerous than garrison service in the interior.”

“Zhu Ying won’t live to return,” Shen Wang added with a smile.

“Hmm.”

Shen Wansan nodded.

“For the prosperity of our Shen family, we’ve wronged him.”

“But compared to our family’s future, Zhu Ying is but one man. Now that he’s enlisted, our betrothal to him is null and void.”

“Rong.”

“Go personally to the Lü household in Ying Tianfu . If you succeed, our Shen family’s status will be even more secure,” Shen Wansan told Shen Rong.

“Rest assured, Father.”

“Fourth sister will surely become Lü Hao’s concubine,” Shen Rong immediately pledged.

“Does Yan’er object to this?” Shen Wansan asked.

“Fourth sister has never liked Zhu Ying. Now that she can marry into the Lü family, she’s delighted,” Shen Rong replied at once with a grin.

“Good,” Shen Wansan nodded approvingly: “Our Shen family’s legitimate daughter is far too good for a fallen boy.”

Hearing this,

Shen Wansan’s many sons all laughed, filled with excitement.

Who is Lü Hao?

The younger brother of Consort Lü, the Crown Prince’s concubine. Though currently a concubine, she controls all internal affairs of the Eastern Palace, and her son is the Crown Prince’s eldest—he is almost certain to inherit the Eastern Palace. Consort Lü will likely become the Crown Prince’s principal wife, even Empress.

Such a golden opportunity.

How could the Shen family miss it?

Merchants value profit above all.

For profit, they’ll do anything.

And this chance to ally with the imperial clan? Shen Wansan would never let it slip.

“Father.”

“To prevent Zhu Ying from later slandering our Shen family, I think we must finish this thoroughly,” Shen Rong suddenly spoke up.

Hearing this,

Shen Wansan’s expression shifted slightly, but after a brief pause, he nodded: “Handle it as you see fit. Take funds from the family treasury if needed.”

“Rest assured, Father.”

“I’ll make sure this is done cleanly—no trace left for our Shen family,” Shen Rong smiled.

Outside the hall,

Whoosh.

The hall door swung open.

A stunning girl in a pale blue long dress rushed in, her face flushed with anger, pale with fury.

“Father.”

“How could you treat Brother Zhu Ying like this?” Shen Yuer cried out angrily.

At the sound,

Shen Wansan and his sons all turned their gazes toward Shen Yuer.

But after seeing her, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“This has nothing to do with you.”

“Leave.”

Shen Wansan said coldly.

“If you don’t want Fourth Sister to marry Brother Zhu Ying, go speak to Brother Zhu Ying directly—why are you treating him like this? Why try to kill him?” Shen Yuer asked, her face filled with anger.

“When did a concubine’s daughter gain the right to appear before the throne?”

“Leave.”

Shen Rong frowned and snapped coldly.

“Go away.”

Shen Wansan refused to even glance at Shen Yuer.

Shen Yuer’s face was filled with resentment and helplessness, yet her worry was palpable.

……

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(End of Chapter)