Volume One, Chapter Three: A New Approach

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“Your Majesty, breakfast is ready,” Wang Cheng’en reported softly.

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly and stepped toward the imperial kitchen. Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadow upon the vermilion floor tiles. Along the way, palace maids and eunuchs fell silent, bowing their heads respectfully.

The kitchen was filled with fragrant aromas. Delicacies were neatly arranged, pleasing to the eye, the nose, and the palate. Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne inlaid with gold and silver, as Wang Cheng’en personally served the dishes.

“This braised lion’s head meatball is a new creation by the imperial chefs. Please, Your Majesty, give it a taste,” Wang Cheng’en introduced quietly.

Zhu Youjian nodded absentmindedly, eating while his mind wandered. It had been fifteen hours since he had mysteriously crossed over to this time, as per the system’s pace of one to two times per minute…

“System, calculate how much silver you have given me since I arrived,” he asked silently.

The system responded immediately:

Traversal time: May 12, 1640, Shen hour (15:00)
Current time: May 13, 1640, Mao hour (06:00)
Elapsed time: 15 hours
Total silver: 900 taels

“Nine hundred taels…” Zhu Youjian murmured softly. A considerable sum for an individual, but merely a drop in the bucket for the national treasury.

“Is Your Majesty dissatisfied with the meal?” Wang Cheng’en cautiously inquired, noticing his distraction.

“Not at all,” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “By the way, check if there have been any capable eunuchs recently in the palace.”

“Your Majesty, I do know a few,” Wang Cheng’en was about to elaborate.

“Hold that thought,” Zhu Youjian interrupted. “I want you to investigate their backgrounds thoroughly, especially their connections with the outer court.”

“Understood.”

Zhu Youjian resumed his meal, contemplating the system’s tasks. Gathering one hundred taels of silver was not difficult; the challenge lay in recruiting trusted aides and establishing an intelligence network.

“Wang Cheng’en,” he spoke again.

“At your service.”

“If one were to open a shop in the capital, where would be the best location?”

Wang Cheng’en was momentarily taken aback. “Your Majesty means…”

“I’m merely asking casually,” Zhu Youjian replied calmly.

Yet in his mind, he was calculating: a shop could serve as both a cover for intelligence gathering and a means to legitimize the system's silver. The key was finding a suitable person to manage it.

“By the way, you mentioned a young eunuch named Cao Huachun who was quite clever?”

“Yes,” Wang Cheng’en nodded. “That boy works swiftly and is quite sharp.”

“Bring him to me.”

Soon after, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old eunuch entered nervously. He was small and delicate in appearance, but moved with agility.

“I am your servant Cao Huachun, paying respects to Your Majesty,” the youth knelt and kowtowed.

Zhu Youjian scrutinized him. “I hear you serve in the imperial kitchen?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I assist there.”

“Do you know how to keep accounts?”

“A little,” Cao Huachun answered cautiously. “I keep records of the kitchen’s daily expenses.”

Zhu Youjian nodded. “Do you know how much silver the kitchen spends yearly?”

“About... thirty thousand taels?” the boy replied.

“Thirty thousand?” Zhu Youjian sneered. “The accounts say fifty thousand. You must be well aware where the extra twenty thousand went?”

Cao Huachun’s face paled, sweat beading on his forehead. “Your Majesty is discerning! That is... that is...”

“Rise,” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “I do not intend to punish you.”

The boy stood shakily, eyes lowered.

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“I ask you, into whose pockets has the surplus silver gone?”

“This…” Cao Huachun hesitated, then gritted his teeth. “Mostly the head eunuch Liu Ruoyu. He said it was to manage affairs in various places…”

“Do you have proof?”

“Yes! I keep records!” the youth hurriedly declared.

Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly. “Very good. I have a task for you.”

“Your servant is ready to obey, Your Majesty.”

“I want to open a shop in the city. How about you manage it?”

Cao Huachun was stunned. “I... I’m afraid I dare not…”

“Afraid?” Zhu Youjian said calmly. “Compared to embezzling kitchen funds, this is honest business.”

The youth knelt. “Your Majesty, spare me! I was forced…”

“I said I won’t punish you,” Zhu Youjian looked at him. “As long as you serve me well, there will be plenty of opportunities for you.”

Cao Huachun kowtowed again. “Your servant will do his utmost!”

“Wang Cheng’en,” Zhu Youjian instructed, “take him to find a shop in the busiest part of the city.”

“Your servant will obey.”

“Remember,” Zhu Youjian said to Cao Huachun, “the shop is a front for trade but primarily for gathering intelligence. You’ve been in the kitchen for years; you must know many channels, right?”

“I understand,” the boy’s eyes brightened. “I often overheard news from various places while working there.”

Zhu Youjian nodded. “Go. I will provide Wang Cheng’en to give you one thousand taels as startup capital.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After they left, Zhu Youjian checked the system panel:

[Task Progress:
Collect 100 taels of silver
(Completed: 900 taels)
Recruit one trusted aide (In progress)
Establish one intelligence point (In progress)]

He smiled softly. Cao Huachun seemed a promising talent—sharp, capable, and with leverage over him. Just the kind of spy he needed.

“System, does this count as task completion?” he asked silently.

The system replied immediately:

[Task not yet completed. Requirements:
Trusted aide loyalty above 90%
Intelligence point formally established and operational]

Zhu Youjian pondered. He needed to give Cao Huachun some incentives to secure his absolute loyalty.

“Wang Cheng’en,” he called.

“At your service.”

“What do you think of Cao Huachun?”

“Your Majesty, he is quick-witted and efficient, but…” Wang Cheng’en hesitated.

“But what?”

“He is too cunning. I fear he might be two-faced.”

Zhu Youjian smiled. “No matter. As long as we hold his leverage, he cannot betray us.”

Wang Cheng’en nodded. “Your Majesty is wise.”

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Zhu Youjian stood. “Let’s go see which shop they chose.”

“This…” Wang Cheng’en hesitated. “But Your Majesty, you still have court duties…”

“No matter,” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “Just say I’m unwell. Those ministers only talk nonsense anyway.”

He changed into plain clothes and quietly left the palace with Wang Cheng’en.

The capital’s streets had already come alive—vendors shouting, passersby chatting, the clatter of horse-drawn carriages weaving a vibrant tapestry of life.

Zhu Youjian walked among the people, observing their faces—some smiling, some furrowed with worry—all struggling to make a living.

“Your Majesty, they’re over there,” Wang Cheng’en whispered.

Zhu Youjian looked toward the direction indicated. Cao Huachun was standing before a three-story shop, scrutinizing it carefully.

“This is a fine shop,” Zhu Youjian nodded. “Good location, large frontage—ideal for business.”

He approached, and Cao Huachun quickly knelt. “Your Majesty…”

“Rise,” Zhu Youjian glanced around. “No one here would recognize me; no need for formalities.”

The boy stood, excitedly explaining, “This shop is well situated—teahouse to the left, tavern to the right—lots of foot traffic. It even has private rooms upstairs, perfect for…”

He suddenly stopped, realizing he had almost revealed too much.

Zhu Youjian smiled. “Indeed. Perfect for gathering information. You are a clever one.”

Cao Huachun relaxed and continued, “And the price is reasonable—only eight hundred taels…”

“Done. This will do,” Zhu Youjian interrupted. “Negotiate with the owner; price is flexible.”

“Yes!” The boy ran off joyfully to talk with the shopkeeper.

Zhu Youjian watched his retreating figure, then checked the system panel again:

Task Progress Update:
Collect 100 taels of silver (Completed: 900 taels)
Recruit one trusted aide (60% complete)
Establish one intelligence point (30% complete)

“Almost there…” he murmured.

At that moment, Cao Huachun returned excitedly. “Your Majesty, it’s settled! The owner agreed to seven hundred taels…”

“Excellent,” Zhu Youjian nodded. “Manage it for now. I’ll visit again soon.”

“Yes! Your servant will not let Your Majesty down!”

Watching the boy run into the shop happily, Zhu Youjian turned to Wang Cheng’en. “Investigate the owner’s background. If there’s any problem…”

“Your servant understands. If there’s trouble, we’ll silence him forever,” Wang Cheng’en said, bowing.

Zhu Youjian nodded in satisfaction. This was the trusted aide he sought—both clever and loyal.

“Also,” he added, “tell Cao Huachun that I am pleased with his work. If he can accomplish a few major tasks for me…”

“Your servant understands,” Wang Cheng’en smiled knowingly.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the street. Several Imperial Guards were arresting someone—no doubt another culprit caught.

“Let’s go,” Zhu Youjian turned. “There are important matters awaiting at the palace.”

Glancing at the sky, he thought inwardly: the first step was finally taken. Next, it was time to deal with the corrupt officials.

In a nearby teahouse, a scholar in a blue robe quietly observed everything. He sipped his tea lightly, a gleam of sharp insight flickering in his eyes.