These words sent a chill down Zhang Liang's spine. He quickly waved his hands and explained, "My lord, you misunderstand. They were the only ones who came to ask my brother and me if we wanted to make money together. We didn't agree. In this time of national crisis, who would want to make money off ordinary people?"
"Don't you think so, Lao Yang!"
"Yes, yes, no honest person would make money off ordinary people."
"Can someone who makes money off ordinary people still be considered a decent person?"
"Disgusting!"
Watching the two dukes working in unison, Li Chang'an asked with a smile, "So, are you two planning to abandon the darkness and embrace the light?"
Zhang Liang immediately stood up and declared, "I believe in the Ming Dynasty and I believe in you. The evil forces will not have a good end."
Yang Guofu also stood up: "Me too!"
"Then I, Li, thank you both, Dukes."
"You're too kind, Your Excellency. If there's anything you need us to do, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Hmm, not for now. You can just stay with the rice merchants as usual. If there's any news, just send someone over to let us know."
Li Chang'an patted the two men on the shoulder: "I believe that both of you Dukes are smart men and know that you should stand on the other side."
Zhang Liang immediately replied, "Of course we know that. We are officials, and what we do is for the Ming Dynasty. They are merchants, and what they do is all for money."
"How could we possibly collude with them? Wouldn't that be beneath us?"
"Alas, Duke Zhang is mistaken in what he said."
Li Chang'an pointed to the sky and said, "Everything we do is to serve the people."
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