Chapter 480: Squid People

Quanzhou Port.

Hundred Household Officer Zhao Hu of the Brocade Guard stood on the pier, watching the steamship that had come from Australia in the distance.

The hull was coated with fresh tung oil, and a "Qin" flag hung from the mast; it was Prince Qin Zhu Shuang's ship.

The ship slowly docked, and the gangplank was lowered.

A middle‑aged man in brocade stepped off the ship, followed by several attendants.

Zhao Hu approached, raised his fist and said, "Shopkeeper Li, the Brocade Guard are conducting an investigation; please cooperate."

The middle‑aged man's expression changed.

"What case?"

"The squid people's business in Australia; Prince Qin has ordered us to investigate."

Shopkeeper Li's face grew even more displeased.

"This… this is a misunderstanding; I'm just a merchant…"

"Whether it's a misunderstanding, we'll know once we investigate."

Zhao Hu waved his hand, and several Brocade Guard rushed onto the ship to begin the search.

The hold was piled with goods—silk, porcelain, tea, medicinal herbs, and dozens of boxes of silver.

The ledger, hidden in a secret compartment at the bottom, was pulled out.

Zhao Hu opened the ledger and flipped through the pages.

The more he read, the darker his expression became.

"Shopkeeper Li, how many years have you been doing business in Australia?"

"F‑five… five years."

"In five years, how many shops has the Ai family opened in Australia?"

Sweat began to bead on Shopkeeper Li's forehead.

"T‑three… three shops."

"Grain store, cloth shop, pawnshop?"

"Yes…"

"How much silver have you earned?"

"Th‑this… this…"

Zhao Hu slapped the ledger shut.

"Take it back to the Capital City and submit it to the Prince for review."

South Sea, Java Island.

Thousand Household Officer Chen Wu of the Brocade Guard stood on the pier, watching the steamship that had come from Europe in the distance.

The hull was painted white, and a "Yan" flag hung from the mast; it was Prince Yan Zhu Di's ship.

The ship slowly docked, and the gangplank was lowered.

A man in a black robe stepped off the ship, sporting a large beard, a black hat, deep‑set eyes and a high nose bridge—clearly a squid person.

Chen Wu approached, raised his fist and said, "Mr. Ai, the Brocade Guard are conducting an investigation; please cooperate."

The Jew's expression changed.

"What case?"

"The squid people's business in the South Sea; General Mu Chun has ordered us to investigate."

The squid person tried to flee, but the Brocade Guard held him down.

A search of the hold uncovered dozens of boxes of silver and several ledgers.

Chen Wu opened the ledger and turned the pages.

The more he read, the darker his expression grew.

"Mr. Ai, how many years have you been doing business in the South Sea?"

"T‑ten… ten years."

"How many shops has the Ai family opened in Java?"

"F‑five… five shops."

"Grain store, cloth shop, pawnshop, money shop, salt depot?"

"Yes…"

"How much silver have you earned?"

"Th‑this… this…"

Chen Wu slapped the ledger shut.

"Take it back to the Capital City and submit it to the Prince for review."

Europe, Constantinople.

Brocade Guard Deputy Commander Ma Cheng stood on the steps before Hagia Sophia, watching the ironclad military camp in the distance.

Prince Yan Zhu Di was training troops inside the camp.

Ma Cheng walked over, raised his fist and said, "Prince, the Brocade Guard act on the order of the King of the Realm, coming to Europe to investigate the squid people."

Zhu Di paused, then said, "Second Prince wants to investigate the squid people?"

"Yes, the King of the Realm said the squid people have been hoarding and manipulating prices in Great Ming; after Great Ming eliminated their power, they still fear they might flee to Europe, so he sent the Prince here."

"The squid people are causing trouble in Europe too?"

"Yes, and they're even more formidable than in Great Ming."

Zhu Di frowned and said, "The squid people have been in Europe for centuries; they can't be driven out or exterminated, and Imperial Father has spoken of this before."

The Zhen Guo King said, "Even if we can't kill them all, we must keep killing until they are scared."

Zhu Di fell silent for a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll send people to investigate; you go to Paris to find my fourth brother, he has more information there."

Yingtian Prefecture, Wu Prince's Mansion.

Zhu Yong sat in the study, a pile of reports from various regions spread before him.

Australian, South Sea, European, Tie Mu Er's Mansion, Goryeo, and Japan reports were laid on the table one by one.

He flipped through them one by one.

The more he read, the darker his expression grew.

These squid men truly infiltrate everywhere.

In Great Ming they hoard and manipulate prices; in Australia they run pawnshops charging usury; in the South Sea they control salt and tea trade; in Europe they even have contacts with merchants.

"Prince, Liu Zhen is back," Wang Gui said as he walked in from outside.

"Let him in."

Liu Zhen strode in, clasped his fists and said, "Prince, the northern investigation is complete; squid men have businesses in Beiping, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, mainly running grain shops, cloth warehouses, pawnshops, and money shops."

"How much have they earned?"

"All together, an estimate of several tens of millions of taels of silver."

Zhu Yong's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

Tens of millions of taels.

These squid men have more money than the Great Ming treasury.

"Anything else?"

"They have contacts with officials everywhere; many officials have taken their money and done favors for them. The list is here."

Liu Zhen pulled a list from his bosom and handed it over with both hands.

Zhu Yong took it and gave it a quick glance.

It was densely packed with dozens of names: Prefects, County Magistrates, Provincial Administrators, Inspector Generals, and even a few officials of the Six Ministries.

"These people are quite bold."

"Prince, should we arrest them?"

"Not yet; first solidify the evidence, then sweep them all up." Zhu Yong placed the list on the table.

Liu Zhen replied with a nod and turned away.

Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the courtyard in golden light.

On the distant Qinhuai River, painted boats drifted by, and the faint sound of silk and bamboo instruments floated over.

A peaceful scene.

But he knew that beneath this peaceful scene, hidden currents surged.

These squid men must be eliminated.

"Prince, it's time for dinner," Guanyin Nu said as she walked in from outside.

Zhu Yong turned, nodded, and walked out of the study with her.

On the table were a few side dishes, a bowl of rice, a plate of pickles, and two pieces of marinated meat.

Zhu Qiongwu sat on the chair, his small hands gripping chopsticks, struggling to pick up the food.

Seeing Zhu Yong enter, he looked up and, in a babyish voice, said, "Father, today my older brother sent a letter, saying he saw many squid men in Europe."

Zhu Yong was startled, "Your brother wrote you a letter?"

"Yes, Uncle sent someone to deliver it." Zhu Qiongwu pulled a letter from his bosom and handed it over.

Zhu Yong took it and unfolded it.

Zhu Qiongwu's handwriting was crooked, but the content was clear.

"Father, I saw many squid men in Europe, black hats and big beards, just as you said. Uncle Wu said these guys have been in Europe for centuries, can't be driven out, can't be killed, like locusts."

I asked Uncle Wu, what to do if they can't be killed? Uncle Wu said, even if they can't all be killed, keep killing until they're scared.

Father, what do you think?

Zhu Yong finished reading the letter, a slight smile tugged at his mouth.

This kid, just like him.

"Father, what did brother say?" Zhu Qiongwu asked, looking up.

"He said he saw squid men in Europe."

"What kind of people are squid men?"

"Bad people, who specifically bully the common folk."

"Then what should we do?"

"Kill them."

Zhu Yong said it calmly, as if commenting on fine weather.

Zhu Yuanzhang took Empress Ma and the children to Europe, leaving court affairs to Zhu Biao.

Zhu Yong returned to Yingtian Prefecture, handling the squid men's affairs while staying with his family.