Inside the market, seeing the Wuhuan people beaming with joy as they held their grain, Zhang Rang and Yang Biao couldn't help but exchange a smile.

"This humble servant greets Prefect Yang and Attendant Zhang!"

After sending away the dozen or so Wuhuan people, Yuan Yi, the steward of the Yuan family, noticed that Zhang Rang and Yang Biao had approached and hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

"Hmm! No need for formalities! How much coal have you purchased today?"

Yang Biao nodded to Yuan Yi, and seeing more than ten large trucks loaded with coal not far behind Yuan Yi, Yang Biao asked a question.

Yuan Yi replied respectfully, "To the Prefect, it's about 50,000 catties!"

"Hmm~, how come there's only so little...?"

Yang Biao frowned. Fifty thousand jin seemed like a lot, but it was clearly not enough to supply Luoyang and the entire north.

Although there are hundreds of powerful and influential families in this market, there are only ten stalls.

Because of the engineering college, Yang Biao instructed the Wuhuan people to prioritize trading with the Yuan family, but this is how little they traded in a day.

"Yes...! I don't know what's going on lately, but the purchases are getting less and less. We're considered to be doing quite well; some other people are only collecting a few thousand catties a day..."

Yuan Yi also shook his head and sighed.

"Hmm! I understand! You may continue with your work..."

"I respectfully see off Prefect Yang and Attendant Zhang!"

Seeing another group of Wuhuan people transporting coal approaching, Yang Biao gave an order and then walked with Zhang Rang toward the next stall.

"Attendant Zhang, something seems amiss. I have been sending people to spread the word in Wuhuan, and logically, the number of people mining coal should be increasing. Why do I feel like there are so few people?"

After visiting several stalls, Yang Biao frowned again. The market was extremely deserted compared to the previous few days.

Yang Biao has been busy making coal stoves recently, so he handed over all the business in the market to Zhang Rang. As a result, he hasn't come for a few days and this is what happened.

"Hehe~, Prefect Yang, there's no need to worry. It's just some petty scoundrels causing trouble! It'll be fine in a few days..."

Seeing Yang Biao's expression revealing a hint of dissatisfaction, Zhang Rang couldn't help but smile and glance at Liaoxi.

"A petty scoundrel...?"

Yang Biao's expression shifted, and he immediately thought that it was possible that local powerful figures in western Liaoning were behind the trouble. The profits from coal were enough to make those people lose their minds, and it was not impossible for them to do something reckless.

Zhang Rang laughed and said, "Prefect Yang, there's no need to worry. You can go back and focus on making the coal stoves. Leave the rest to me! I'll give you a satisfactory answer within five days!"

Yang Biao looked at Zhang Rang and nodded, "That's good! Then Zhang Changshi will be in charge here..."

Although the two of them understood each other implicitly, there were still some things they couldn't say directly.

After the two parted, Yang Biao, escorted by several guards, left the market and returned to western Liaoning to continue preparing for the coal furnace manufacturing work.

In the afternoon, Zhang Rang returned to his residence and, as soon as he opened the door, saw Jia Xu sitting inside with several spies from the Investigation Department.

"Hey, next time you're coming, can you at least give me a heads-up? You're always so unpredictable...!"

Zhang Rang paused for a moment, then frowned and sat down opposite Jia Xu.

"What? Is Attendant Zhang afraid that I'll discover something...?"

Jia Xu looked up at Zhang Rang, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He was somewhat interested in this eunuch who even his superior, Yang Qiu, was quite wary of.

"We've always acted with a clear conscience, so what's there to be afraid of? Tell us immediately if you've discovered anything..."

Zhang Rang's face darkened. Jia Xu's gaze made him feel extremely uncomfortable. If he could, he would rather face Yang Qiu than be with Jia Xu.

Jia Xu chuckled softly, then waved his hand. Chen Hu, who was standing nearby, immediately led several spies from the Investigation Division out.

After Chen Hu and the others left, Jia Xu took out a slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Rang.

"Attendant Zhang, I have thoroughly investigated the matter concerning the coal...! Here is a list of those involved; please take a look!"

"Hiss~, so many people?"

Upon receiving the list, Zhang Rang was taken aback by the sheer number of names, which encompassed almost all the powerful figures in western Liaoning.

"You're not planning to use us to start a massacre here, are you?"

Zhang Rang then put down the list in his hand and looked at Jia Xu with a gloomy expression. He had long heard that this man was not a good person, but he was even more ruthless than he had imagined. If they acted according to the list he provided, at least tens of thousands of people would suffer.

"Hehe~, Zhang Changshi, what are you saying? You know, greed blinds the eye. Those people are too greedy and can't help but reach in. It's perfectly normal!"

Faced with Zhang Rang's questioning, Jia Xu simply smiled calmly.

Zhang Rang couldn't help but snort, "Hmph~, then I should thank you for providing me with this information!"

Jia Xu's lips curled slightly upward, then he shook his head. "No need for thanks, it's all just to share His Majesty's burdens! If Attendant Zhang has any needs, I will naturally do my utmost!"

"Alright then! We'll take care of things here!"

Jia Xu's appearance annoyed Zhang Rang, but he couldn't find anything wrong with it. He then sullenly put the list into his sleeve.

Jia Xu nodded slightly, then stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhang Rang.

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