Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

Zhu Chongba said, ”Haha, I thought that Chen Jiusi’s Huangzhou Prefecture was different from other places, but now it seems it’s no different from the others.”

Hearing this, Tang He behind him said, ”It’s estimated that the money Chen Jiusi uses to repair roads comes from extorting passing merchants and travelers.”

Listening to the two, Ma Xiuying said, ”We haven’t gone forward yet; let’s not make assumptions until we fully understand the situation. Let’s go ahead and take a look.”

Zhu Chongba wasn’t quite convinced by Ma Xiuying’s words since he knew all too well about these checkpoints.

At this moment, Zhu Chongba and his group arrived at the checkpoint and saw a few soldiers in clean uniforms coming out, cupping their fists and saying, ”Please hold on for a moment for an inspection.”

Zhu Chongba looked at the soldiers at the checkpoint and gave Tang He a glance.

Tang He immediately took out a one-tael silver ingot from his pocket and handed it over, saying, ”My dear officials, there are only some ordinary fur goods on the carriage; please be lenient.”

Upon hearing this, a soldier said, ”Dear guest, don’t do this. We don’t accept silver coins; we just need to inspect.”

The soldiers outright refused, and Zhu Chongba didn’t have a good impression of it, further frowning as it seemed they were rejecting because one tael of silver was too little. This kind of extortion was quite severe.

Zhu Chongba said, ”Then let the officials check.”

With that, the soldiers immediately got on the carriage to inspect the goods. A soldier came to the front of the carriage and said, ”Sorry for the trouble, we also need to have a look inside the carriage.”

Zhu Chongba slightly frowned, but Ma Xiuying inside the carriage lifted the curtain and said, ”It’s just us two ladies in here.”

The soldier took a look and said, ”Alright, no problem with the goods?”

”No problem.”

”Go ahead!”

The soldiers immediately allowed Zhu Chongba to pass, which surprised him. ”You set up this checkpoint purely to inspect goods?”

The soldiers replied, ”That’s right.”

”Shopkeeper, it’s time to leave.”

Zhu Chongba was about to ask more questions when Ma Xiuying spoke from inside the carriage, deliberately changing ”Chong Ba” to ”shopkeeper.” Seeing this, Zhu Chongba took his people and left, noticing those soldiers were diligently inspecting the next group without any behavior of demanding silver coins.

Zhu Chongba said, ”These soldiers are interesting; they’re not greedy for silver coins?”

Tang He said, ”Are there soldiers in this world who aren’t greedy for silver coins?”

Ma Xiuying said, ”Their military discipline is evidently well-trained.”

Zhu Chongba deepened his understanding of the soldiers under Chen Jie.

Thinking about it this way, as soon as Zhu Chongba left, one of the soldiers said, ”That person just now looked a bit like that Zhu Chongba from the notice we received. We should report it.”

Upon hearing this, another soldier said, ”It should be. Let’s report it!”

The checkpoint soldiers quickly reported. They had two tasks: the first was to intercept smuggled contraband, and the second was to verify the information of those entering Huangzhou Prefecture.

If there are individuals they need to pay attention to, they will immediately report, and someone will be specially assigned to monitor them.

The checkpoint soldiers quickly reported, and at this time, Zhu Chongba said to Tang He, ”When we go back, we also need to train the checkpoint soldiers. If any dare to be greedy, we’ll cut them.”

Tang He said, ”Understood.”

Zhu Chongba said, ”Chen Jiusi really has some skills. I thought he was just strong in martial power!”

Thinking this, the team immediately moved forward.

They arrived at a town in Huanggang Prefecture, and upon reaching the town, they found its prosperity rivaled that of Haozhou Prefecture City.

This small town had everything for sale.

At this time, Zhu Chongba and his group found a shop that included accommodation and meals.

Zhu Chongba, Ma Xiuying, Tang He, and Li Shanchang sat at a table, ordering four bowls of noodles and some side dishes.

Soon, the food and drinks were served.

Zhu Chongba took a bite and said, ”Delicious, the shopkeeper’s skills are good.”

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, ”Haha, our ancestors have been making noodles, so it’s naturally tasty.”

Zhu Chongba smiled without speaking, continuing to eat the noodles heartily, until he picked out a shrimp meat from his bowl.

Seeing the shrimp meat, Zhu Chongba paused and said, ”This shrimp meat is big. Is it river shrimp?”

Hearing this, the shopkeeper said, ”This is not river shrimp but sea shrimp. Our Huangzhou Prefecture has ships going to the seaside to purchase seafood. This shrimp meat is dried at the sea and brought back here; it’s truly amazing, so fresh!”

Zhu Chongba’s expression changed upon hearing this, ”Sea shrimp?”

The others may only be concerned with the food itself upon hearing about the shrimp meat, but not Zhu Chongba; he picked up on Huangzhou Prefecture’s shipping and naval capabilities.

It’s essential to know that navigating from the Yangtze River to the estuary is extremely treacherous, with a high risk of shipwrecks. Therefore, the quality of boats must be high since it’s sea transportation.

The fact that Huangzhou Prefecture could send merchant teams to the seaside to bring seafood inland for sale revealed its shipping capability. If a naval battle were to occur with Chen Jiusi, it would indeed be quite challenging.

Thinking this, Zhu Chongba’s pace of eating noodles slowed down, with a somber expression. It’s truly remarkable how Huangzhou’s exceptional qualities are revealed from such non-obvious places.

At this moment, Ma Xiuying looked at the dishes on the table and said, ”Look here, this daylily seems to be from Shu, this cured meat should be from Xiang Land, and this...”

Ma Xiuying pointed at the food on the table, noting many items were not local. Such occurrences might not seem extraordinary in the future, but at present, it was something else.

In times like these with underdeveloped transport, gathering delicacies from various regions onto one table was a significant feat.

Do not underestimate this meal; even in these times, the saying ”food is the primary need of the people” holds true just as the later ”vegetable basket project.”

This meal reflects many things.

For example, the gathering of dishes from the south and north indicates one thing: Huangzhou Prefecture’s commerce and shipping are highly developed.

The result is that delicacies and drinks from all over converge on the table of a small restaurant in Huangzhou Prefecture.

Understand that if a small restaurant can acquire such quality goods, it means the whole of Huangzhou Prefecture is abundant with such food items from all around.

At least enough to supply to a small restaurant level.

Upon this realization, Ma Xiuying and Li Shanchang couldn’t help but exclaim that Huangzhou Prefecture was indeed more formidable than anticipated.

With this thought, Zhu Chongba said, ”Tang He.”

”Brother.”

Zhu Chongba said, ”Take note. When we return, we must find a way to develop warships, or else we’re unlikely to compete with Chen Jiusi in the southern waters.”

Tang He said, ”Yes, brother. I’ll consult second brother when we return.”

Zhu Chongba nodded lightly.

In this moment, Zhu Chongba nodded, his eyes filled with seriousness, and said, ”The more I see of Huangzhou Prefecture, the more alarming it becomes, the more terrifying it feels.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuying, beside him, said, ”Chongba, don’t feel so pressured. Coming to Huangzhou Prefecture is good; at least we can see the gap between us and Huangzhou Prefecture. You should consider Chen Jiusi a teacher and learn his administrative skills.”

”Even if you learn eighty percent of it, our Haozhou will undergo a dramatic transformation.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chongba furrowed his brows and said, ”Me, become Chen Jiusi’s apprentice?”

Ma Xiuying said, ”Learning from the strong isn’t shameful!”

Zhu Chongba said, ”We’ll see. I can also achieve what Chen Jiusi has.”

Zhu Chongba stubbornly said, for a man’s dignity must be preserved.

Ma Xiuying, seeing her husband’s stance, did not press further. She knew that if he truly saw the advantages in others, he would surely learn.

”Yes, it should be Zhu Chongba of Haozhou. Send the message back to the Prefecture City immediately, inform the City Lord, and also note that it seems Zhu Chongba is learning some policies of Huangzhou Prefecture. Could this be unfavorable for Huangzhou Prefecture? Quickly inform the City Lord!”

In the Prefecture City of Huangzhou Prefecture, Chen Residence.

At this time, Chen Xiaohu hurried into Chen Jie’s study. Chen Jie looked at him, puzzled, and said, ”What’s wrong?”

”Elder brother, our spies just reported that Zhu Chongba secretly entered our Huangzhou Prefecture.”

”Entered secretly?”

Chen Jie was puzzled upon hearing this, then quickly laughed, ”Doesn’t Zhu Chongba have my invitation? Why sneak in?”

Chen Xiaohu said, ”According to the spies, he seems to be inquiring about our local administration methods, as if he intends to learn our administrative methods of Huangzhou Prefecture!”

”Learn from me?”

Chen Jie was puzzled, then the corners of his mouth curled up.

Chen Xiaohu, a bit anxious, said, ”This can’t do. If he learns all our administrative methods, what should we do? Should I issue an order to cause some confusion to mislead Zhu Chongba?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie said, ”No, let him learn as much as he wants!”