Park Moo-di knew Zhao Cheng's temperament and had heard Zhao Yan talk about what had happened in Jiangcheng recently. He understood that Zhao Cheng had a lot of things to do. Although he called her Ah Cheng, he didn't dare to play around like he did when they were kids.
He sat down opposite Zhao Cheng, his expression turning serious, and said, "After I opened up the trade route from Yanchuan to Changsui, Lü Bin has already set up distribution points. Goods from Yanchuan can be sold without any worries, and business is booming."
Zhao Cheng tapped his fingers on the table and said, "Get to the point, instead of saying anything bad!"
"yes……"
Park Moo-di swallowed hard, then continued, organizing his thoughts: "We'd only been doing this for two months when we were targeted by Changsui's black market. Lü Bin said that peace brings wealth and he didn't want any trouble, so he agreed to cooperate with them. At first, the cooperation went smoothly, especially with 'Yingyingying' selling exceptionally well, which boosted the business even further. But those guys in the black market got increasingly outrageous, demanding exorbitant prices from us..."
Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "Changsui Black Market? Could it be the underground gangs of Changsui City?"
Park Moo-di nodded vigorously: "It's an underground gang! Ah-cheng, do you remember? When we were kids, we happened to see them fighting at night."
"I remember, what's the situation now?"
“They were very tough. If Lü Bin and I didn’t agree to their conditions, they would use any means to make our business impossible.”
"Do they know you're from the Eastern Chamber of Commerce?"
“I know.” Park Moo-di sighed and said, “The Eastern Chamber of Commerce has no influence in Changsui.”
Zhao Cheng frowned slightly and asked, "What is Lü Bin thinking now?"
Park Moo-di said, "Lu Bin said we can't cooperate with them anymore, or they'll gradually devour us. But if we're going to resist, we should make a big scene and wipe them out in one fell swoop. I think this is too big of a deal, so I told him to hold off and come over to ask you first."
“I support Lü Bin.” Zhao Cheng said without hesitation, “Lü Bin’s willingness to say such things means he is going to use his connections in the palace.”
Park Moo-di asked suspiciously, "Who exactly are his connections in the palace?"
Zhao Cheng said, "You're with him every day, how could you not know? His actions this time are just a perfect opportunity to expose us."
Park Moo-di said, "But Lu Bin said that since I'm coming to find you, I hope you can provide assistance."
“I can’t spare anyone to give him,” Zhao Cheng shook his head.
After a pause, Zhao Cheng continued, "However, I can't just leave you to fend for yourselves. Here's what I'll do: I'll write a letter to Zhou Chuan, and you can take it back to Changsui and give it to him."
"With Zhou Chuan's help, the underground gangs really are nothing."
Park Moo-di hesitated for a moment, then said, "But Zhou Chuan is now an official, and he's one of the emperor's men. Would he help us?"
"What? You don't have any friends now that you're an official?"
"That's not all. His sister was still in Changsui when you married the Princess and took two concubines..."
Zhao Cheng winked at Park Moo-di and said impatiently, "Just give him the letter. If he doesn't help, then I'm just blind."
...
Changsui City.
After reading the letter, Zhou Chuan looked at Park In-di and said, "You can just come to me directly for this kind of thing. Why bother making a trip to Jiangcheng?"
Park Moo-di laughed and said, "I was just afraid of troubling you, Lord Zhou..."
Zhou Chuan said seriously, "I remember you weren't this thin-skinned."
Park In-di: "..."
Zhou Chuan burned the letter over the candle flame and said, "You are the young prime minister's childhood friend, and your father and the right prime minister are sworn brothers, so don't have any messy thoughts. The young prime minister's affairs are my affairs, and I have no choice but to take responsibility."
Park Moo-di clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhou Chuan and said solemnly, "I'll remember this!"
Zhou Chuan nodded and said, "Go back and tell Lü Bin that I will come to find you after I have arranged the affairs in the palace."
Noon.
Yulin Shooting Range.
The five hundred Imperial Guards were divided into ten square formations, and under Zhou Nuo's command, two formations would compete in each round.
Fixed targets, moving targets, mounted archery, and hopping shooting—the Imperial Guards in each square formation had very specific roles.
Zhou Nuo was not tall and looked very young. She didn't wear armor because she was hot, making her appear extremely small and frail on the field. However, the five hundred burly men treated her with utmost respect, and their eyes were full of admiration as they looked at her.
On the first day Zhou Nuo was their instructor, she said that if anyone's archery skills surpassed hers, she would immediately step down.
The military is, by its very nature, a place where strength matters.
Especially these Imperial Guards... In Zhou Nuo's words, they were considered elite compared to the Jing Army, but while they were good at swords and spears, their archery skills... were simply rubbish!
When Zhou Nuo displayed his incredible archery skills, all five hundred people were dumbfounded.
Zhou Nuo has an extremely keen sense of perception. Before the first round of the competition was even over, she realized that she was being targeted.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure with long, flowing hair standing outside the shooting range.
"You can continue!"
With a shout, Zhou Nuo ran off the field, laughing, "Brother, you're here!"
Zhou Chuan reached out and patted Zhou Nuo's head, saying, "Our sister has made something of herself; she can even lead troops now."
Zhou Nuo said, "How could I possibly lead any soldiers! I'm just teaching them archery."
Zhou Chuan said with satisfaction, "You've really grown up, girl. You weren't this humble before."
Zhou Nuo asked, "What was I like before?"
“If you had heard me praise you like this before, you would have said…” Zhou Chuan crossed her arms and mimicked Zhou Nuo’s tone, “Of course! I, Zhou Nuo, am not only the heroine Zhou, but also the great general Zhou!”
"Huh? Hahaha!!!" Zhou Nuo burst into laughter.
Zhou Chuan laughed with his sister for a while, then suddenly became serious and asked, "Xiao Nuo, are you tired?"
Zhou Nuo nodded and said, "It's tiring, but I've also benefited a lot from teaching them. I really enjoy it!"
"Do you really like her?" Zhou Chuan observed his sister's expression.
"I really like it!"
Zhou Chuan thought for a moment and said, "The young prime minister sent me a letter."
"Oh..." Zhou Nuo responded indifferently.
Zhou Chuan said, "The eldest princess is pregnant. In a few more months, the young prime minister will become a father."
Zhou Nuo paused for a moment, then said, "Congratulations to him."
"The letter also inquired about your situation."
"I don't care. Why doesn't he dare write to me himself?"
"I, as your older brother, won't interfere in your private affairs. I'm just telling you the truth."
After a pause, Zhou Chuan recounted how Zhao Cheng had asked him for help in dealing with the Changsui black market.
Zhou Nuo asked doubtfully, "Brother, did you agree to it?"
Zhou Chuan said, "Of course. I passed the martial arts exam and didn't have time to accompany him south, which I already feel guilty about. Now that he's asking for my help, I have no reason to refuse."
Zhou Nuo turned his head away and said, "If brother wants to help, then he can go. I'm not going!"
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