Chapter 58: Disturbances in the South

Zhao Yi reached into his robe and pulled out a thick stack of banknotes, not even bothering to look at them as he slammed them heavily against Zhang Tou's chest.

"A reward!"

"Every single brother involved in the research and development of the 'Thunderclap', your reward for this month will be multiplied tenfold!"

He pointed at the several scarecrows, now riddled with holes from the explosions, and shouted at the top of his lungs to all the gathered craftsmen and guards, "Did you all see that? In the future, whoever the fuck dares to mess with us, this will be their fate!"

"Oh, right," he seemed to remember something, turning his head to ask Zhang Tou, "Where are those two scoundrels, Li Jin and Li Yin? Where have they gone to slack off again?"

Zhang Tou hurriedly bowed and replied, "Reporting to the Young General, the two stewards said they were going to... going to inspect the business at the Immortal-Banishing Pavilion."

Inspect the business?

I'll believe that when pigs fly!

Zhao Yi cursed inwardly, but too lazy to bother with them any further, he gave instructions regarding the subsequent production matters and turned to leave the base.

...

The Immortal-Banishing Pavilion.

In today's Luoyang City, if you asked about the hottest place, it was neither a brothel nor a gambling den, but rather this restaurant that had been open for less than half a month.

Just as Zhao Yi walked up to the street corner, he saw a seemingly endless line snaking beneath its iconic three-tiered flying eaves.

He smacked his lips, detoured to the back alley, and slipped inside through the back door with practiced ease.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, two figures lunged at him like starving wolves seeing meat.

"Young General! My dear mother! You're finally back!"

"That's right, Young General! You went to Henan Circuit to settle matters, such a grand spectacle, and you didn't even bring us two brothers along! That's just too cold-hearted!"

The Li brothers, Li Jin and Li Yin, each grabbed one of Zhao Yi's arms and wailed so dramatically that anyone unaware would have thought Zhao Yi was their long-lost biological father.

Feeling dizzy from being shaken by the pair, Zhao Yi planted a kick on each of their rears.

"Piss off! I went to handle official business, not to go on a pleasure trip!"

At that moment, a graceful woman dressed in elegant, modest attire walked over with steady steps, holding a tea tray.

Liu Ruyan.

"Lord Zhao has returned." She offered Zhao Yi a gentle, refined bow and handed him a freshly brewed cup of hot tea.

Zhao Yi took the teacup, blew away the steam, and eyed her sideways. "Well? How is the business?"

Just as Liu Ruyan was about to speak, a figure materialized from the nearby shadows like a ghost.

It was Tian Yi.

An irrepressible excitement flushed his face, and he clutched a ledger as thick as a brick in his arms.

"My Lord!"

Tian Yi's voice was actually trembling.

"It's not just 'doing well'!"

"We've... we've made a fortune!"

He slammed the ledger onto the table with a loud *thud*, pointing at the densely packed rows of figures inside, his face flushed red with agitation.

"According to that... that hunger marketing strategy you suggested! Our 'Divine Grade: Sacred Nectar' is only sold in batches of ten catties a day! On the black market, it's already been bid up to nearly two thousand taels per catty! Those princes and nobles are practically fighting each other just to scramble for a single catty of wine!"

"And there's also the 'Celestial Grade: Jade Dew' and the 'Mortal Grade: Worldly Drunk', both of which are in constant shortage!"

"Half a month! Just half a month!" Tian Yi held up five fingers, then felt it wasn't enough and raised both hands. "Our turnover has already exceeded two hundred thousand taels!"

Two hundred thousand taels!

The Li brothers were petrified on the spot, their mouths wide enough to swallow an egg.

Zhao Yi remained quite calm; he had anticipated this outcome all along.

He waved a hand at Tian Yi and Liu Ruyan. "Alright, sit down and talk."

Taking a sip of tea, he said leisurely, "And we're just getting started? Remember, the better it sells, the more aloof we must act. The rules cannot be broken, and the prices cannot be lowered! We need to make those wealthy fools feel that being able to drink our wine is a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes!"

"Understood!" Tian Yi and Liu Ruyan chorused, their expressions so full of adoration they might as well have kowtowed to Zhao Yi on the spot.

Zhao Yi nodded with satisfaction and turned back to Tian Yi. "How goes the Shadow Guard?"

At the mention of official business, Tian Yi's expression instantly turned solemn.

Lowering his voice, he leaned in close to Zhao Yi.

"My Lord, I have not failed your mission."

"Relying on the Immortal-Banishing Pavilion, our network has fully expanded."

"Now, from north to south, across all thirteen circuits of Great Zhou, we have established our footholds and informants in every single region."

"It is safe to say that within the borders of Great Zhou, if we wish to know something, there is nothing we cannot find out!"

Pride was written plainly across Tian Yi's face.

"Not bad." Zhao Yi patted his shoulder in affirmation.

"Any special news?"

Tian Yi's expression grew heavier.

"There is."

"In the southern territories, the Prince of Zhennan has been showing some abnormal movements recently."

"Our agents in Southern Yue report that over the past three months, the Heir to the Prince of Zhennan has secretly slipped into the capital of Southern Yue three times to hold confidential talks with the Sovereign of Southern Yue."

"Although the content of their conversations remains unknown... Southern Yue has recently been massing troops along the border."

The Prince of Zhennan?

In Zhao Yi's mind, the image of an old feudal prince holding an army of three hundred thousand troops and guarding the southern borders for decades instantly surfaced.

What does this old bastard want to do?

Rebellion?

"Hah." Zhao Yi let out a cold laugh. "It seems someone thinks the skies of Great Zhou are far too peaceful."

He tapped his fingers on the table, a playful glint appearing in his eyes.

"Well done, Tian Yi. You're looking more and more like a proper intelligence chief."

"Keep watching them."

"Find out for me how many bowls of rice the Prince of Zhennan and his precious sons eat every day, and how many times they shit!"

"This subordinate obeys!" Tian Yi bowed and accepted the order.

Zhao Yi stood up and stretched lazily, his joints emitting a series of crisp, cracking pops.

With such a major issue brewing, it seems he'll have to go see that stinky woman again.

How annoying.

He waved his hand and strode away without looking back.

"Let's go, to the palace!"