Li Zhi and Zhu Guoneng exchanged a glance, neither of them expecting Du Yucheng to suddenly ask this question.

Underground gangs?

Why is General An Yuan asking this?

Is it because there's no more fighting on the border that they're going to come to Yanchuan to crack down on organized crime?

Seeing that the two men did not respond for a long time, Du Yucheng said with a smile, "Don't say that there are no gangs in Yanchuan. It's not a shameful thing. Doesn't Changsui have them too?"

Zhu Guoneng carefully considered his words and said, "General An Yuan, the term 'underground gang' is just a name. They are actually businessmen just like us. It's just that their identities are different, and their channels are different. They may be a bit reckless in their actions, but they all abide by the rules."

Du Yucheng said, "It seems that Boss Zhu is quite familiar with them!"

"We're not exactly close, just some normal business dealings," Zhu Guoneng said honestly, without trying to hide anything.

Li Zhi interjected, "Boss Zhu is right. Some of them were convicts, and some were even slaves, so they couldn't do business openly. But that doesn't mean their goods are problematic. The Prefect's Office also has strict control over them in this regard, so there won't be any trouble."

Zhu Guoneng then asked, "Why did General An Yuan suddenly ask about this?"

Du Yucheng smiled and said, "Just out of curiosity."

Zhu Guoneng said, "Mr. Li and I are both self-aware people. General An Yuan certainly won't take a liking to us at first glance and want to befriend us. So please speak frankly if you have any questions, General. If we can help you, then we will be qualified to continue drinking with you in the future."

"Boss Zhu is truly a man of character!"

Du Yucheng gave a thumbs-up and said, "There is indeed something I need to ask you two about."

"Please speak, General."

"To be honest, my father has a distant relative who has been separated from him for many years. He was very close to my father when he was a child. My father has been looking for him and recently learned that his son works in the underground gang in Yanchuan City and is with a man called Ninth Master."

At this point, Du Yucheng clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Please introduce me to Master Jiu so I can inquire about my relative."

Zhu Guoneng and Li Zhi exchanged a glance, then couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Du Yucheng asked in confusion, "Why are you two laughing?"

Zhu Guoneng said, "General, you don't know this. This Ninth Master... is not someone we can just see whenever we want."

"Why is that?" Du Yucheng frowned and said, "A gang leader like you has such a big attitude?"

Li Zhi sighed and said, "Ninth Master's underground businesses are all over Yanchuan, and he has hundreds of loyal subordinates. That's something that Boss Zhu and I can't compare to."

"Don't you have business dealings with him?"

"We do have business dealings, but the people who contact us are all Ninth Master's men. To be honest, we've never even seen Ninth Master."

"Okay, then tell me where he lives, and I'll go find him myself."

Li Zhi shook his head and said, "How could someone in their line of work let people know where they usually live?"

Zhu Guoneng clasped his hands and said, "General, it's not that we don't want to help, but that we really can't."

"Heh!" Du Yucheng sneered, "It's ridiculous that I, a mere local bully, can't even see his face!"

Li Zhi and Zhu Guoneng dared not respond, thinking to themselves, "General An Yuan, don't you understand the principle that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake?"

Unable to get any information from them, Du Yucheng did not want to waste any more time and said, "In that case, I will not make things difficult for you two, but I hope you can keep an eye out for me and let me know immediately if you have any news."

Li Zhi said, "General, you can try going to the Prefect's residence."

"Can the governor find Ninth Master?"

Du Yucheng knew that Prefect Li Dai was Zhao Huan's student, and he also knew that a dignified prefect could certainly find a gang leader, but if he had to go through Li Dai, it would inevitably let Zhao Cheng know.

Then the plan failed.

Du Yucheng only asked this question deliberately to avoid arousing Li Zhi's suspicion.

Unexpectedly, Li Zhi then said, "I'm not looking for the prefect, I'm looking for Cheng Xu."

Du Yucheng became interested and asked, "Who is Cheng Xu?"

Li Zhi said, "Cheng Xu is the chief clerk of the prefect's office. As far as I know, some of the prefect's office's private businesses are handled by Cheng Xu. Given his status and position, if he wants to do business with the underworld, it must be through Ninth Master."

"I understand, thank you both!" Du Yucheng's eyes lit up.

...

evening.

Cheng Xu left the prefect's residence and got into a carriage.

After Ma Tiezhou and Zhu Shan left Yanchuan City, he became the chief clerk of the prefect's office under Yuan Yun's arrangement, assisting Li Dai in governing the area, and felt that he had started a new life.

He served two governors in Yanchuan City. Although his hometown was Qingdong City and his uncle was the steward of the Marquis's mansion in Qingdong City, he had long regarded himself as a Yanchuan native.

He took the job very seriously and lived up to Yuan Yun's expectations, managing all aspects of the work in an orderly manner.

Ma Tiezhou described him as wise and resourceful, and he himself was very confident in himself.

Throughout the past year, Cheng Xu had been closely monitoring Zhao Cheng's southward movements, paying even more attention to Zhao Cheng's experiences than Li Dai had.

He discovered that Zhao Cheng was someone who appeared indifferent to worldly affairs, but in reality harbored hidden ambitions.

In business, you have to be the biggest and strongest.

They also discovered that Zhao Cheng was a good master who was happy to take care of those around him.

After taking over Jiangyang County, Wu Sisi became the head of the Oriental Chamber of Commerce in Jiangyang County.

After taking over Yunjing County, Huang Hua became the person in charge.

Don't say that the Eastern Chamber of Commerce belongs to the Xiao family; Cheng Xu doesn't believe it.

Anyone who uses their brain to analyze the development and arrangements of the Chamber of Commerce will know that Zhao Cheng is the one in charge behind the scenes.

Cheng Xu longs for greater opportunities in the future.

As long as he performs well at work now, the stage for him to showcase his talents in the future will definitely not be limited to Yanchuan City!

With this expectation in mind, Cheng Xu was always ready...

Just then, someone outside the carriage said, "My lord, there are people requesting an audience."

Who is it?

He said his name was Du Yu Chengdu.

“Du Yucheng…” Cheng Xu was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, isn’t this General An Yuan?

The four young players who are currently enjoying great popularity!

"parking!"

Cheng Xu quickly called for a stop, and after getting off the carriage, he indeed saw a tall and upright young man standing to the side.

"You wait here," Cheng Xu instructed his subordinates, then strode up to Du Yucheng and asked, "Are you General An Yuan?"

Du Yucheng smiled broadly at Cheng Xu, the same smile he had when facing Li Zhi and Zhu Guoneng.

“Registrar Cheng, we met at the banquet at the Right Prime Minister’s residence.”

"There were so many people back then, yet General An Yuan still remembered me. I am truly humbled!" Cheng Xu bowed slightly, thinking to himself, "I certainly didn't remember you..."

Du Yucheng asked, "Could we find a place for a short chat?"

Cheng Xu said with difficulty, "To be honest, I am on my way to a banquet."

Du Yucheng thought for a moment, then turned to the side and said, "Then let's take a walk together. There are some things I'd like to ask Registrar Cheng about."

"General, please!" Prefect Cheng Xu gestured, following behind Du Yucheng.