Chapter 478: Investigation

The news that grain prices in Suzhou city fell back to twenty wen per jin spread through the streets and alleys.

The common folk ran around telling each other, and everywhere in the tea houses and taverns there were voices of discussion.

"Did you hear? The Ai family's granary was sealed by the King of the Realm, and the grain is being sold to the court at a low price."

"Well sealed! Those people hoarded and speculated, they got what they deserved!"

"Exactly! Twenty wen per jin, finally we can have enough to eat."

"..."

Zhu Yong sat by the window on the second floor of the inn, holding a cup of clear tea, listening to the chatter below, his expression calm.

The matter was resolved more smoothly than he had expected.

Ai Sa Ke knelt on the ground begging for mercy, the grain was sold at a low price, and the price fell back to its original level.

Everything proceeded according to his plan.

But Zhu Yong always felt something was off.

It was too smooth.

These Jews had been operating in Jiangnan for decades, their business spread across three prefectures, earning a profit of several million taels of silver each year; how could they surrender so easily?

"Prince, there is news from the Jinyiwei," Wang Gui said as he walked in from outside, his face looking uneasy.

Zhu Yong set down his tea cup.

"Speak."

"Grain prices fell, but cotton‑cloth prices rose; the cloth shops in the three prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang and Changzhou began raising prices yesterday, from two hundred wen per bolt to three hundred wen per bolt."

Zhu Yong frowned.

Grain prices drop, cotton‑cloth prices rise.

These Jews openly repair roads while secretly moving grain stores.

"Anything else?"

"Pawnshop interest also rose, from three percent per month to five percent, and the money shop's exchange commission increased, from one tael per hundred taels to two taels per hundred."

Wang Gui paused, then took a document from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

"The Jinyiwei also discovered several secret warehouses outside Suzhou city, hidden with grain and cotton‑cloth in considerable quantities, likely stored by the Ai family, waiting for the hype to subside before selling at high prices."

Zhu Yong took the document, glanced over it, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

These Jews present one face outward and another behind the scenes.

They claim to have corrected the mistake verbally, but secretly devise ways to raise prices.

If grain cannot be hoarded, they hoard cotton‑cloth.

If grain prices cannot rise, they raise cloth prices, interest, and fees.

"Where is Liu Zhen?" Zhu Yong set the document down.

"He is waiting outside."

"Let him in."

After a short while, Liu Zhen strode in, clasped his fists and said, "Prince, the Jinyiwei have uncovered the Ai family's details."

"Tell me…"

"The Ai family has been operating in Jiangnan for over thirty years; they not only run grain shops, cloth shops, pawnshops and money shops, but also salt distribution, tea distribution, maritime transport and shipping, with businesses in every trade, earning at least five million taels of silver profit each year."

Liu Zhen paused again and added, "Moreover, the Ai family's business is not limited to Jiangnan; they have branches in Huguang, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Beiping and other places, their trade spread nationwide."

Zhu Yong was silent for a moment.

Spread nationwide.

These Jews are more formidable than he had imagined.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"The Ai family also has business in Europe, connected with European merchants; they are said to have branches in Portugal, Castile, France and England, conducting large‑scale trade."

Liu Zhen's voice grew lower.

Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Europe also has business.

These Jews truly cannot change their nature wherever they go.

"Prince, should we arrest them?" Liu Zhen asked.

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "Not yet; first investigate thoroughly, see how much business they have across the country, who they associate with, and where the silver flows."

Liu Zhen replied with a nod and turned away.

Zhu Yong stood at the window, watching the street below.

The street bustled with people—peddlers with loads, women leading children, youths riding bicycles—a scene of peace.

But beneath this tranquil scene, hidden currents churn.

These Jews are like termites, gnawing away at Great Ming's foundations bit by bit.

"Wang Gui…"

"…is…"

"Send someone to Australia to deliver a message, have the third brother check whether there are Jewish businesses there."

"Yes."

"Send someone to Tie Mu Er Prefecture to deliver a message, have Zhang Wuhe and Chen Heng investigate whether there are Jewish businesses there."

"Yes."

"Send someone to the South Sea to deliver a message, have Mu Chun check whether there are Jewish businesses there."

"Yes."

"Send someone to Europe to deliver a message, and have the fifth brother and the fourth brother check whether there are any Jewish businesses over there."

"Yes."

Orders were passed down one after another.

Wang Gui noted each one, then turned around to make the arrangements.

Zhu Yong stood by the window for a long time, and only after the setting sun slipped below the horizon did he turn and walk out of the inn.

The night in Suzhou was very quiet.

From afar came the sound of silk and bamboo instruments, mingling with the water noise of the Qinhuai River, drifting in the darkness.

Zhu Yong rode his horse through the street, followed by Wang Gui and Liu Zhen.

Pedestrians were scarce on the street, the shops had already closed, and only a few wine restaurants kept their lights on, faintly echoing the sounds of rock‑paper‑scissors commands.

"Prince, where will we stay tonight?" Wang Gui asked.

"Huiying Tian."

Zhu Yong gave his warhorse a sharp bite, and the steed surged forward.

Wang Gui and Liu Zhen exchanged a glance, then hurriedly urged their horses to follow.

Three swift horses galloped through the night, their hooves echoing on the stone road like rapid drumbeats.

From Suzhou to Huiying Tianfu is three hundred li; riding a horse would require a night's journey.

But Zhu Yong did not want to wait.

He wanted to return as soon as possible to discuss with his elder brother.

If this group of Jews is not eliminated, Great Ming will never know peace.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Zhu Yong entered the Imperial City.

Inside Qianqing Palace, Zhu Biao was reviewing documents.

Seeing Zhu Yong come in, he set his brush down.

"Second brother, why are you here so early? Have you finished the matter in Suzhou?"

Zhu Yong sat on the chair, took the tea handed over by the eunuch, and took a sip.

"Elder brother, the Suzhou affair has hit a snag."

"What happened?"

Zhu Yong recounted the whole story of the Ai family from beginning to end.

Grain prices fell, but Cotton Cloth rose.

Grain prices stopped rising, yet interest rates went up.

Pawnshops, money houses, salt agencies, tea agencies, maritime transport, and shipping—all trades were seeing price hikes.

Zhu Biao listened, his complexion shifting from calm to a steely blue.

"Has it been investigated?" Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask.

"It has been investigated; the Brocade‑clad Guard found that the Ai family has been operating in Jiangnan for over thirty years, their business spread nationwide, and they even have contacts with merchants over in Europe."

Zhu Yong paused, then added, "Elder brother, these Jews are not simple."

Zhu Biao stood up, hands clasped behind his back, pacing within the hall.

"Spread across the nation and linked to Europe, what do they intend?"

"Make money, make big money, and then control Great Ming's economy," Zhu Yong said calmly.

Zhu Biao halted his steps, turned around and looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Elder brother, these Jews differ from our Great Ming merchants; our merchants earn money to buy land, build houses, and glorify their ancestors, whereas they earn money to lend, hoard for profit, and manipulate prices.

In Europe, no one welcomes them; they are expelled by nations, wandering everywhere, yet they never change their nature—wherever they go they seek money.

Where they go, the common folk there suffer."

Zhu Yong's voice was soft, but each word was clear.

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long while.

"Second brother, what do you plan to do?"