Chapter 163: The Treasure Under the Lamp

There is an old saying: those involved are confused.

With this hint from Chu Tuantuan, and thinking about the poor quality of Prince Zhen's new army on Xianrong Island—clearly having lost so many troops they were almost wiped out, yet finally breaking through Hancheng Prefecture.

I previously thought it might be because of the all-out help from the unfathomable Yin Xiansheng and his junior sister, which allowed them to turn the tide.

But now that I think about it, the national strength of Yuanshan is actually above Ming Song, and they certainly wouldn't lack experts at the 'Upper Armor' or even 'Heavenly' level.

The first time they suffered a loss was due to lack of preparation; how could they trip over the same stone twice!

With a complexion that shifted between light and shadow, Zhang Gui frowned and said:

"Brother Tuantuan, your theory is very likely.

But even if it's true, this is an 'open conspiracy' targeting the weaknesses of human nature.

There's no way to break it.

Even because it involves some unspeakable, dark thoughts of the 'current Emperor.'

Ordinary people can't even talk about it.

What can be done?"

Chu Tuantuan smiled bitterly and nodded, saying:

"Exactly, that's why I came to find you.

Now, news from Xianrong Island is very much in the eyes of the big shots in the Inner Court.

And Siyang Commandery is the Ming Song county closest to Xianrong Island;

The 'Dragon Gate Trading Bureau' was once the most effective local snake for the Inner Court in Siyang Commandery;

I am the person in the 'Dragon Gate Trading Bureau' who is most loyal and righteous to the inside and most smooth and slick to the outside.

So it is said that the Inner Minister and Chief Eunuch, Yang Gong Sanchun, personally picked the best from the worst.

And promoted me to be the new Great Leader Eunuch of the 'Dragon Gate Trading Bureau.'

Immediately after, because the current Emperor felt that the 'Fengwen Department' alone was not effective enough, he issued a secret decree to re-establish the Eastern Depot.

And I became the 'Chief' of the Eastern Depot in Siyang Commandery again.

It's just that apart from the seal and the edict, not a single penny was allocated.

It's truly wanting the horse to run while not wanting the horse to eat grass.

I'm also worried to death, which is why I thought of you after thinking it over.

I intend to get some free intelligence.

To deal with the 'three fires' of a new official.

As it happened, I heard you had returned from Xianrong Island.

By the way, you haven't been back for one day, but for three whole days and nights.

You really can sleep."

"Have I slept for so long? No wonder I feel like time has accelerated."

Zhang Gui showed a stunned expression.

While distracted, sensing the various changes in the 'Heavenly Craft Opening All Things' Nine Islands in the Eastern Inner Sea;

He said:

"You want to understand the various inside stories of Prince Zhen's traveling court during this period from me, right?

No problem.

If it's not extremely confidential, I should have heard people mention it to some extent.

Anyway, Prince Zhen is extremely at odds with me and even secretly killed my right-hand men in Zhihai Town.

I would love to trip him up..."

As he spoke, Zhang Gui detailed the situation on Xianrong Island over the past two months to Chu Tuantuan.

Finally, he analyzed:

"Actually, Prince Zhen just took Hancheng Prefecture again.

But because the name is big, his prestige has gathered rapidly.

Thinking about it, it's understandable.

After all, it was once the central ancient capital of a thousand-year island nation, naturally carrying some blessings of luck and feng shui.

Giving rise to many theories.

This is all I know.

Actually, Xianrong Island is like a colander; as long as there is money, any kind of intelligence can be..."

"Alright, Brother Gui, stop teasing me.

I already said that apart from the two hats of Great Leader Eunuch of the Dragon Gate Trading Bureau and Eastern Depot Chief of Siyang Commandery in Dongyue Sea Province,

Not a single penny was allocated to me.

Money from the Dragon Gate Berth wharf hasn't been collected for a long time.

Now I only live on the little silver collected from 'Tribute.'

And eighty percent of that has to be handed over to the Inner Court in the capital."

Chu Tuantuan's words sounded quite ridiculous.

It was already a time of national turmoil, internal and external troubles, and life-or-death survival.

Yet the key intelligence hub of the region still had to hand over silver to the Inner Treasury as usual.

The entire system was operating in such a rigid way, as if everything were normal.

"After the Middle Ages, the survival time of a dynasty was at most a thousand years, and at least only three or four hundred years.

Not to mention that Ming Song happened to encounter a peerless dominator in the enemy country of Yuanshan.

Truly, what can be done."

"But in the Yuanshan State, 'officials are divided into three classes, and people into four ranks.' If our Song Ming really falls into the hands of such people, everyone will truly be worse off than dead.

For this reason, we cannot be willing to be slaves of a fallen nation."

Chu Tuantuan heard the despondency in Zhang Gui's words and encouraged him.

"Alas, there is an old saying: 'Good birds choose trees to perch on, wise ministers choose masters to serve.'

The world is not just Ming Song or Yuanshan; some particularly civilized countries might be born with equality for all, without a 'slave' class at all."

Chu Tuantuan sensed that Zhang Gui had something in his words and asked suspiciously: "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing special, just feel that 'the car will find a way when it reaches the mountain.'

The future is full of variables, why should you be worried and frowning from now on?

Alright, our serious business is done.

Are you hungry?

There should be shrimp paste left by my mother, washed fresh vegetables and fruits, and stretched noodles in the kitchen.

Let's cook two bowls and eat."

"I am actually really hungry.

But I came so secretly, and after finally getting the intelligence I wanted, I would leak my whereabouts because of eating noodles.

Do you think it's worth it?"

"That naturally wouldn't be worth it."

Zhang Gui imagined Chu Tuantuan's reasoning and laughed first.

He reached under the pillow at the head of the bed and took out a stack of gold notes.

"This is the tax revenue I just collected from the cabinet in Zhihai Town.

I intended to use it for social visits after returning to Xianrong Island later.

I thought one thousand taels would be enough, but the people below were capable, so I earned more..."

"Alright, stop dawdling.

Friends have the friendship of sharing wealth.

Anyway, it has always been you who are rich and I who am poor between us.

As long as you are willing to give, when have I ever not accepted?"

Chu Tuantuan stood up, interrupted Zhang Gui, and pulled the gold notes directly from his hand.

Afterward, he tucked the gold notes into his bosom and took out an extremely thin, half-inch jade book.

He threw it into Zhang Gui's bosom.

"This was something I accidentally found in a book on the bookshelf in my godfather's study after I inherited his position.

This godfather of mine is truly the world's number one daring and meticulous person who is proficient in the 'darkness under the lamp' method.

If it weren't for his hint before he died that I needed to perform sacrifices according to the almanac one hundred days after his burial,

I probably would never have found it in my life."

"This is... the Great Leader Wang actually collected all of it!"

Zhang Gui had an intuition as soon as he touched it, and he immediately widened his eyes and blurted out.

"Yes, such a precious book, my godfather said he only got one part, but actually, he had hard-heartedly collected the whole thing.

It shows how capable and favored he was when he was working in the capital.

But in the end, such a person died so silently under the manipulation of the general trend."

Chu Tuantuan sighed and said.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 164 =====