Chapter 74 Catching Butterflies

Chapter 74 Catching Butterflies

Chapter 74 Catching Butterflies
Pingyang City, Zuixian Tower.

Top floor private room.

"The Central Plains has good wine, good food, and good girls. In comparison, the prairie is really boring."

"Sir Yi, this is exactly their weakness and my strength. In such a gentle and wealthy place, the people are greedy and insatiable. Once the world changes, how can we resist the rolling grassland cavalry?"

Yi Muxing laughed: "Mr. Qiu is knowledgeable and speaks well. No wonder the prince said you have the talent of a prime minister."

"Alas, Qiu has only read a few books on strategy, but he is still not good at literature or martial arts. I am a failed scholar, but Prince Huoduan has not given up on me and has taken me in as his aide. I will rule the world in the future. It is already a great pleasure for me to have a family background."

Qiu Zhigui was from Taiyuan Prefecture. He was talented in both civil and military affairs since childhood. However, his father was implicated for corruption when he was the prefect and he was unable to enter the official career for the rest of his life. Later, he took the initiative to go to the grassland and made friends with Huo Duan, the third prince of the Oirat tribe.

According to the tradition of the youngest son guarding the stove, if nothing unexpected happens, Huo Duan will be the future leader of the Wala tribe. When the Golden Family declines, he may even become the master of the Wolf Court.

Both of them spoke in low voices. After all, they were in the Ming Dynasty and were still a little cautious.

The table was filled with Zuixianlou’s signature dishes, sixteen in total, including things flying in the sky, running on the ground, and swimming in the water, as well as fruits and vegetables that were out of season. Although they looked novel to outsiders, they could only serve as decorative side dishes.

Although Yi Muxing was a nobleman of the grassland, the usual banquets were just roasted yellow sheep with mare's milk and wine, and it was rare to have such a sumptuous meal. He immediately threw away his chopsticks and spoon and used his hands to grab the food and put it into his mouth.

Qiu Zhigui was keen on fame and fortune and had little interest in food and sex.

"Mr. Qiu, please eat. It will be difficult to get such dishes when you return to the grassland."

Qiu Zhigui filled Yi Muxing's glass with wine and said, "Master Yi, Zhang Yu is ungrateful and refuses to be conferred the title. Are we going back to the grassland like this? I'm afraid Prince Huo Duan will think that you and I are incompetent."

Although Huo Duan is the youngest son favored by the Grand Tutor, his two elder brothers are also very powerful. Each of the three parties has a group of people working for them. They fight openly and secretly for the position of the crown prince, and the conflicts are very fierce.

"There's nothing we can do about that. You've already said that the Qingfeng Village leader has great martial arts skills and his flute sounds like a bamboo. Even if we put the two of us together, we're no match for him. Besides, we're still in Qingfeng Village. We can't force him to do something, right?"

Yi Muxing shook his head and gnawed on the golden and crispy roast pigeon. He was Huo Duan's Na Ke'er, and they had a companionable friendship. He was not worried about being treated coldly if a job went wrong.

"Master Yi's words make sense, but we should do something so that we can give an explanation to the prince when we return."

"What's Mr. Qiu's plan?"

"It's not a good calculation. In Pingyang, there is the Dragon Scale Society in the north and the Qingfeng Village in the south. The two families are at loggerheads. If the Qingfeng Village refuses to budge, why don't we go find the Dragon Scale Society?"

Yi Muxing often traveled between the two places and had a good understanding of the Ming Kingdom. Those prestigious tyrants would not put down their arrogance and cooperate with the Wolf Court until the Ming army suffered a complete military defeat.

"Mr. Qiu, the Dragon Scale Society is a righteous underworld force. The Ming people have a strong sense of family and country. Few bandits and robbers are willing to accept the title of the Wolf Court. How could a righteous person with such a reputation as Lin Kun agree to it?"

Qiu Zhigui didn't know what he was thinking of. He sneered and said in a sarcastic tone, "The so-called good and evil are just a face. The present is different from the past. Qingfeng Village is gaining momentum. Longlin Society is in urgent need of external assistance. They may not reject our kindness."

Yi Muxing thought for a moment and slapped the table, "If we can win over the Dragon Scale Society on this trip, Prince Huo Duan will be very happy indeed. Shanxi is adjacent to the grasslands, and with the Dragon Scale Society, a local tyrant, entrenched in Pingyang, it will be much easier for us to buy food. If this is accomplished, maybe the Grand Tutor will reward you and me."

Pingyang Prefecture is located in the central part of the country. The Wolf Court can only send three or five spies at most to sneak in disguised as a merchant caravan, and there is no smell of war.

Datong Prefecture in the north was one of the nine important border towns of the Ming Dynasty. It was dotted with garrisons, forts, and watchtowers, and small groups of troops from both sides were often fighting on the border.

Qiu Zhigui nodded and said, "The grassland has been hit by a cold disaster. The white-haired wind has been blowing for forty consecutive days. Countless cattle and sheep have frozen to death. The Grand Master must be worried about food and fodder."

Yi Muxing whispered, "I heard from Prince Huo Duan that last month, 100,000 shi of grain and grass were supposed to be transported from Ming to the grassland. The deposit was paid, but something happened and it has not been transported yet. The Grand Master was furious and secretly sent a team of people to Shanxi."

"One hundred thousand shi of grain?"

Qiu Zhigui was surprised, this was not a sum that an ordinary wealthy businessman could raise.

As they were talking, the door was suddenly kicked open and dozens of big men swarmed in.

"Catch the spies. Anyone who dares to resist will be killed immediately!"

The two men stood up, held down their weapons and were about to fight, but they saw that the people coming were wearing Feiyu costumes, holding embroidered spring swords, and had eight crossbows loaded with short arrows, pointing them at them, and their faces turned pale immediately.

Qiu Zhigui forced a smile on his face and bowed, saying, "Sir, is there any misunderstanding? This is a merchant from Gongliangwei of Zhenlubao in Datong Prefecture. We are discussing the fur business." Gongliangwei is a small grassland tribe that surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. It has a population of about ten thousand and has been settled in Zhenlubao for sixty years. They are engaged in livestock and fur business, and there are many merchants in the tribe.

"Make it up! Keep making it up."

"Hey, you really know how to enjoy yourself. This table of food and wine is worth a month's salary for me."

Ji Ling walked forward, looking at the two of them with a smile, then he sat on the edge of the table, took a new cup, washed it with water, poured in "Jin Hu Shao", and drank three cups in a row before he was satisfied.

The Dragon Scale Society has been entrenched for many years, and it is the only one that has its hands in all walks of life. Officialdom is not very profitable, and it is not only the prefect Fang who suffers, but also the life of a captain of the Jinyiwei is not easy.

It is easier to fish when the water is muddy.

Ji Ling narrowed his eyes and smiled, "You came to Pingyang Prefecture, running around everywhere, visiting seven underworld forces, are you planning to do human skin business? Do you really think that the Jinyiwei can't get any wind of it, and the prefectures and counties of Daming can let you go in and out as you please?"

Qiu Zhigui whispered, "As the saying goes, leave some room for error when doing things, so that we can meet again in the future. I have received some money and would like to invite you gentlemen to have a drink first. I hope you will be so kind as to send me a generous gift in the future."

Ji Ling chuckled and brushed off his Feiyu robe: "No need to thank me. I will present you to you and change my robe. That will be the best gift."

Since Yesen took charge of the Wolf Court, the grassland has been thriving. The Ming army has suffered several defeats, which did not hurt the foundation, but it also shook the court. Emperor Yousheng regarded border affairs as his top concern and attached great importance to military achievements. Many ministers in the court were promoted for their border affairs and military achievements.

If there is something good on the top, it will be great on the bottom.

The Jinyiwei offered generous rewards for capturing secret spies from the grassland.

"take away!"

Seeing this, Yi Muxing was about to draw out his scimitar and fight to the death.

Qiu Zhigui quickly stopped him and said with a smile: "No matter how twisted and turns there are, we will eventually figure it out. Let's follow this gentleman. The Jinyiwei Yamen is also a place where people are reasonable."

The Jinyiwei confiscated the weapons of the two men, put iron shackles on them, and escorted them out of Zuixianlou, attracting the attention of many guests in the building.

"Everyone, eat and drink well. The Jinyiwei are doing their job and should not disturb the innocent people."

Ji Ling walked down from the third floor and bowed to the guests with a smile.

He waved his hand and a plump, fat man came over immediately.

Ji Ling whispered, "Fatty Zhang, Zuixianlou is doing good business, and all the money has gone to the grassland spies."

The fat man smiled bitterly and said, "Master Ji, you can't make such a joke."

Ji Ling leaned against the stairs, brushed the sleeves of his Feiyu suit, and asked with squinted eyes, "Are you kidding? Do you know me well?"

The fat man quickly stuffed a banknote into his sleeve and said, "Master Ji, you have worked hard on this mission. Please accept this small token of your appreciation."

"Be more proactive next time, don't make me look like I'm kneeling down to beg for money."

Ji Ling took two steps forward, then suddenly stopped and took out a picture from his arms.

"Have you seen this person?"

Fatty Zhang leaned over to take a look. The portrait was of a woman who was wearing a half-mask shaped like a swallow's tail, leaving only her eyes, mouth and nose exposed. She looked quite delicate, and had a heroic air.

"Seen?"

Fatty Zhang shook his head: "I haven't seen it."

Ji Ling put away the portrait and asked: "Why are you looking at it for so long if you haven't seen it before?"

(End of this chapter)