Chapter 115: Scheme

Hongwu Year Five, June.

Yingtian Prefecture has entered midsummer; painted boats on the Qinhuai River crisscross, and sheng music and songs never cease.

In the riverside tavern, the Jiangnan salt and sugar merchants gather in a private room, their faces solemn.

"Gentlemen, the court's new law has been in effect for half a year, and our business has already lost seventy percent," said Suzhou salt merchant Chen Wansan, over fifty, his thin long face full of worry.

Seven or eight people at the table, all well‑known Jiangnan merchants.

In previous years at this time they would be calculating how much silver they could earn this year; now they can only sigh at the ledgers.

"Brother Chen is right; when the new Salt Method appeared, salt prices fell by half, the sun‑drying fields produced salt quickly and abundantly, and our salt‑cooking stalls now can't even earn a wage."

Hangzhou salt merchant Zhou Dehai sighed.

"Sugar is even worse; the court's white sugar is white and fine, and cheap. My sugar piles in the warehouse can't be sold!" Wang Yuanwai, a sugar merchant from Songjiang Prefecture, slammed the table and said.

The others fell silent.

Half a year ago, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, by imperial order, implemented the new Salt Method and new Sugar Method.

The Sea Salt Sun-drying Method increased salt output fivefold and cut costs dramatically.

The white sugar produced by the White Sugar Refining Technique far surpasses the quality of traditional brown sugar.

The common people enjoyed the benefit, and the court's salt tax and sugar tax rose sharply, but these traditional salt and sugar merchants saw their business plunge.

"Have you investigated thoroughly? Who actually presented these two methods…" Chen Wansan lowered his voice and asked.

Zhou Dehai glanced around before whispering, "The rumors from the palace say it was Wu King Zhu Yong who presented them."

"Wu King… the one who is a fierce commander, whose single hammer can smash open a city gate?" Wang Yuanwai stammered.

"Exactly; it is said he received the technique in a dream from an immortal and offered it to the emperor," Zhou Dehai nodded.

"An immortal's gift… I think it's a demonic method! Our fine salt and sugar trade has been thrown into chaos by his meddling!" Chen Wansan sneered.

Someone whispered, "Brother Chen, we must not speak like that…"

"What are we afraid of! Our few families have been in the salt‑and‑sugar trade for generations, the family fortunes accumulated over ancestors, and now they are about to collapse! Are you willing to accept that?" Chen Wansan glared angrily.

Everyone looked at each other, all unwilling.

But what can we do…

Opposing the court is a crime punishable by extermination of the Nine Clans.

Seeing the hesitation, Chen Wansan suddenly said, "I heard… outside the city, at White Cloud Temple, a master of the White Lotus Sect has arrived."

"White Lotus Sect! That's…" someone exclaimed.

"Silence," the master said, "the court's implementation of demonic methods disrupts order and is a sign that Heaven will send disaster; to preserve our businesses we must… purge the ruler's side." Chen Wansan gestured and whispered.

When the three words "purge the ruler's side" were spoken, everyone's complexion changed.

This is rebellion!

"Brother Chen, this… is too risky!" Zhou Dehai said trembling.

"Risky—if we continue like this, all our assets will be lost! Think about it: Wu King presented the salt and sugar methods; what will he present next?"

The Spinning Wheel Method has already dropped cloth prices by thirty percent; with a few more, what chance do we have left? Chen Wansan sneered.

The others were silent.

Chen Wansan continued, "The master said the White Lotus Sect has one hundred thousand followers in Jiangnan; if we provide money and grain, they can rise up.

Then they will march into Yingtian, purge the ruler's side, eliminate the demonic officials, and restore the old system."

"Can it succeed?" someone hesitated.

"How could it not? The court's elite are all in the north; Yingtian Prefecture's garrison is only thirty thousand; Wu King is brave, but one man cannot hold back thousands of troops."

"If we cooperate with the White Lotus Sect both inside and out, we might have a chance," Chen Wansan said, hatred flashing in his eyes.

Wang Yuanwai gritted his teeth, "Brother Chen is right; if we don't risk it now, the family business will be gone. My Wang family will contribute one hundred thousand taels!"

"My Zhou family will put up eighty thousand!" Zhou Dehai also pledged.

The others, seeing this, all pledged donations.

Chen Wansan nodded satisfactorily, "Good! After you return, quietly contact the clan's youths and the guard household staff, and prepare weapons.

When the White Lotus Sect is ready, we will act!"

"What about Wu King…" someone worried.

"Leave Wu King to me. My Chen family has a concubine's daughter who works as a maid in Wu King's mansion; when the time comes, I'll find a way to slip something into the food…" Chen Wansan said maliciously.

The others understood and fell silent.

Outside the window, the songs on the Qinhuai River continue, but they cannot mask the murderous intent in the private room.

……

June twentieth, Wu King Mansion.

Zhu Yong was strolling in the courtyard, holding his daughter.

Xiaohuanhuan is over a month old, chubby and fair, smiling at everyone.

Guanyin Nu sat on the corridor, stitching, and smiled at her husband's posture holding their daughter.

"Prince, Huan Huan needs to be fed," the wet nurse said.

Zhu Yong reluctantly handed his daughter over and sat beside Guanyin Nu.

"Minmin, father says that when Huan Huan reaches a hundred days, I'll go to patrol the coastal navy," Zhu Yong said.

Guanyin Nu paused, then laughed, "When it's time, Prince, you are a general; you can't stay at home forever with us mother and daughter."

"I can't bear to leave you," Zhu Yong said naively.

"I also cannot bear to part, Prince, but the state's affairs are urgent. Go without worry; I will take good care of Huan Huan and wait for your return," Guanyin Nu set down her stitching, took her husband's hand and said.

Zhu Yong felt warmth in his heart and was about to speak when footsteps sounded outside.

It was Zhu Biao.

"Brother!" Zhu Yong stood up.

Zhu Biao smiled as he walked over, first glanced at Guanyin Nu and said, "You younger brother and sister look much better."

"Thank you, elder brother, for your concern." Guanyin Nu stood up and performed a bow.

"Sit, family need not be overly formal; second brother, I have something to tell you." Zhu Biao waved his hand, then teased Huan Huan in the nanny's arms, before speaking to Zhu Yong.

The two went to the study.

Zhu Biao sat down, his expression turning serious: "Second brother, lately in Jiangnan, something's off."

"What's up?" Zhu Yong asked curiously.

"After the new Salt Method and new Sugar Method were implemented, the salt merchants and sugar merchants in Jiangnan suffered heavy losses; I received a secret report that they are meeting clandestinely, full of resentment," Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Yong frowned and asked, "What do they intend to do?"

"Not clear yet, but certainly nothing good; I had the Yingtian Prefecture office keep a covert watch, and found several major merchants have contacts with the White Lotus Sect outside the city," Zhu Biao said, tapping the table.

"White Lotus Sect?" Zhu Yong frowned.

He knew about the White Lotus Sect; in his past-life memories, this sect often rebelled during the late Yuan and early Ming.

"Yes, the White Lotus Sect has many followers in Jiangnan, constantly restless; if they collude with those merchants, it could cause disaster," Zhu Biao said in a low voice.

"Then what to do? Should I go and arrest them?" Zhu Yong said.

Zhu Biao shook his head: "Without evidence, it's hard to arrest; moreover, it involves too many, Jiangnan aristocratic families are deeply intertwined; acting rashly would easily cause unrest."

He looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Second brother, how is your Longxiang Army training?"

"They're ready to fight; I've been watching daily, all thirty thousand have been trained," Zhu Yong said.

"Good, I've already secretly ordered the Five Cities Military Office to tighten security, but if anything happens, we'll still need your Longxiang Army. Second brother, stay alert these days; if there are any changes, dispatch troops immediately to suppress."

Zhu Biao nodded.

"Yes!" Zhu Yong replied.

Zhu Biao gave a few more instructions, then stood up and left.

After seeing Zhu Biao off, Zhu Yong returned to the back courtyard and said to Guanyin Nu, "Minmin, these days you take Huan Huan with you, go out less."

Guanyin Nu saw her husband's expression was off, hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

"Someone might cause trouble, but it's fine, I'm here." Zhu Yong gave a goofy smile, but his eyes were serious.

Guanyin Nu nodded, "I understand."

……

June 25, night.

In a secret room behind the back mountain of White Cloud Temple, candlelight flickered.

Chen Wansan and Zhou Dehai and other merchants sat at the lower seats; the upper seat was occupied by a middle-aged Daoist wearing a white robe, thin-featured, with sharp eyes.

"All benefactors, have the money and provisions been prepared?" the Daoist asked, his voice low.

"Master, they are ready: five hundred thousand taels of silver, one hundred thousand bushels of grain, three thousand weapons, all hidden in the manor outside the city," Chen Wansan said respectfully.

The Daoist nodded, "Alright, on the 15th of July, the Zhongyuan Festival, the Ghost Gate opens, perfect time to rise; that day Yingtian Prefecture will have a temple fair, crowds and confusion, our people can blend in easily."

"Master, what are the specifics?" Zhou Dehai asked.

The Daoist said, "At the Zi hour of July 15, I will set a fire in the city as a signal; the White Lotus Sect's three thousand followers will attack East Hua Gate, and your various household guards will attack West Hua Gate."

"The palace guard numbers only five thousand; with our inside-out pincer, we can definitely break in."

"What about Wu Wang's Longxiang Army and the other garrison troops..." Wang Yuanwai worried.

The Daoist sneered, "Except for the Jinwu Guard, the other garrisons are in the outer Military Camp; by the time they react, we'll already control the palace. As long as we capture the Emperor and Crown Prince, we can coerce the lords; why fear the Longxiang Army or the like?"

Chen Wansan gritted his teeth, "Master is right! Success or failure hinges on this move!"

"However, Wu Wang is fierce; we must eliminate him first. Chen benefactor, are the people you arranged reliable?"

Chen Wansan nodded, "All set; my niece Xiao Cui works in Wu Wang's kitchen; on the night of July 14, she'll poison Wu Wang's food."

The medicine is colorless and tasteless; three hours after ingestion it takes effect, leaving the body weak.

"Good! Once Wu Wang is eliminated, the great affair will be accomplished!" the Daoist clapped his hands and said.

The group discussed details further, not dispersing until the third watch.

What they didn't know was that on the secret room's roof, a black silhouette slipped away silently, vanishing into the night.