"Whose knife should I borrow?"
"Changsui has Mujingwan underground, and Yanchuan also has underground gangs."
Yu Changsi, dressed like a scholar, spoke of murder as if reciting poetry, saying, "I know the boss of an underground gang is called Ninth Master. You can go find him. Gangs usually employ assassins. As long as you can afford it, it won't be a problem to have them take Zhao Cheng's life."
“The best place to find them is…” Yu Changsi tapped on the table and continued, “Destroying the evidence is their forte.”
Du Yucheng's eyes lit up, and he said, "This is a brilliant plan! Sir, where is Ninth Master?"
Yu Changsi shook his head and said, "I don't know about that. You'll have to find the person yourself. The only thing I can do for you is to keep Wei You occupied for a few days and postpone your return date."
"Also... as I just said, getting rid of Zhao Cheng is beneficial to the Left Prime Minister's residence, so I'll make a decision and allocate a thousand taels of gold to you. That should be enough to buy Zhao Cheng's life."
"Yes!" Du Yucheng's mood immediately improved, and he said, "As long as Ninth Master is in Yanchuan City, I will definitely be able to find him!"
Yu Changsi couldn't help but laugh and said, "General An Yuan, this is Yan Chuan City, not the battlefield in Mobei, nor the suppression of rioters in the three counties of Xinbei. You can't act recklessly. Ninth Master is a gang leader, and his power in Yan Chuan is much greater than yours. You can only ask him for help. If you are not polite to him, you will probably be the one who dies."
Do you understand this principle?
Du Yucheng thought for a moment and asked, "Then how do I go find it?"
"As far as I know, there are two big merchants in Yanchuan City who are close to the underworld. One is named Li Zhi and the other is named Zhu Guoneng."
With that, Yu Changsi got up to leave, saying, "That's all I know. The rest is up to you."
Du Yucheng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I will not let you down, sir!"
Yu Changsi raised his index finger and waved it, saying, "This has nothing to do with me. I just gave you an idea."
"Understood!" Du Yucheng realized.
Yu Changsi pushed open the door and left without looking back, as if he had never been there.
...
A restaurant in the east of Yanchuan City.
In a private room on the second-floor terrace, sat two people, one fat and one thin.
Despite being the wealthiest merchants in Yanchuan City after Su Wansan's downfall, the two dressed very simply, looking like ordinary people who had no worries about food and clothing, rather than being particularly rich.
There was no other way. The Right Prime Minister's wife was frugal and simple. Now that the Eldest Princess had become the young mistress of the Right Prime Minister's residence, she also advocated the Right Prime Minister's wife's simple lifestyle. After being reprimanded by the Eldest Princess, the two dared not be ostentatious in their lives and actions. In order to avoid repeating Su Wansan's mistakes, they both kept a low profile and kept a low profile.
That's right, these two are Zhu Guoneng and Li Zhi.
Li Zhi glanced at Zhu Guoneng's large belly, got up and walked to the edge of the terrace. Looking at the large restaurant across the street that was hanging up its signboard, he sighed, "If this Oriental Restaurant opens, I don't know how much business our two restaurants will lose!"
Zhu Guoneng scoffed and laughed, "This restaurant is the Oriental Chamber of Commerce's first restaurant project. You can tell from the name that the Xiao family has ambitions for this restaurant. What do we have to complain about?"
"Furthermore, the Oriental Restaurant is managed by Young Master Li and is located in Yanchuan City, so its backers are the Young Prime Minister and Her Highness the Princess!"
"You have a temper?"
Li Zhi laughed sullenly, "I was just venting, I don't have any temper!"
As he spoke, Li Zhi clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the Right Prime Minister's residence and said, "Back then, my uncle Li Shou colluded with powerful ministers Er Zhu Hua and Tu He, and the emperor wanted to execute their entire clan. It was the Right Prime Minister who stood up to plead for my uncle, and only then did the Princess show leniency to my Li family, killing only my uncle. Otherwise, how would Boss Zhu have met me?"
"The Right Prime Minister and the Eldest Princess have been very kind to my family. After the Eldest Princess came to Yanchuan, she also took good care of us, allowing us to do business with the Young Prime Minister. I have only gratitude for the Right Prime Minister's residence and have absolutely no other intentions!"
Zhu Guoneng laughed and said, "Boss Li, what are you saying to me? You're making it sound like I'm the Prime Minister's confidant! Sigh... Because of my sister's matter, it's too difficult for me to become the Prime Minister's confidant. They probably have a prejudice against me..."
Li Zhi tentatively asked, "When the Eldest Princess killed Zhu Shan, didn't you feel any resentment?"
"I hate it, of course I hate it!"
Zhu Guoneng suppressed his smile, slammed his fist on the table, and said angrily, "But what I hate is that crazy girl Zhu Shan who's gone mad with greed! I've warned her countless times that once she goes to Jiangcheng, she should settle down and not have any more crooked thoughts. But instead, she's caused such a huge mess!"
"It's only because the young prime minister and the princess are so magnanimous that my Zhu family would suffer along with them."
"She's truly a femme fatale!"
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about these unfortunate things!" Li Zhi poured wine for Zhu Guoneng and changed the subject, saying, "Why would a dignified General Anyuan, who was just personally appointed one of the Four Supreme Junior Generals by the Emperor, want to invite us?"
Zhu Guoneng shook his head and said, "I don't know. But you've heard about what happened in front of Hongxiu Tower. He has a grudge against the young prime minister. If he wants to talk to us about things that are not good for the young prime minister, you know what to do, right?"
Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "I'll agree first, and then inform the young prime minister."
"But he's a victorious general, he shouldn't be so foolish as to plot against the young prime minister in Yanchuan." Zhu Guoneng sighed, "The young prime minister is now the true king of Yanchuan!"
Li Zhi quickly covered Zhu Guoneng's mouth and said sternly, "Some things are better left unsaid, or you might get into trouble for what you say!"
Zhu Guoneng's eyes widened, and he immediately slapped himself hard in the mouth.
Just then, the waiter's voice came from outside the door: "This way, esteemed guest."
The door opened, and Du Yucheng, dressed in casual clothes, walked in.
"General An Yuan!!" Li Zhi and Zhu Guoneng quickly stood up to greet him.
"Please, gentlemen, have a seat. We met at the banquet at the Right Prime Minister's residence!" Du Yucheng patted his hands, smiling warmly as if the unpleasant experience had never happened.
"Yes, yes, I've met you before!" Li Zhi said familiarly. "I even toasted the general!"
"Haha, yes, I remember. This is fate between me and Boss Li." Du Yucheng filled his glass and laughed, "In that case, let's drink to our hearts' content today!"
"Come on, Mr. Zhu, let's have a drink together!"
Li Zhi and Zhu Guoneng were both skilled businessmen who knew how to make friends and create a good atmosphere. Before long, they became familiar with Du Yucheng.
After several rounds of drinks, Du Yucheng got down to business, saying, "Yanchuan City truly lives up to its reputation as the Eastern Capital of the Great Jing Dynasty. During my time in the city, I have witnessed the people living in peace and prosperity, the city maintaining order and tranquility, and even at night there are few petty thieves or roosters. I am deeply impressed!"
"Gentlemen, are the underground gangs in Yanchuan City... not operating?"
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