Zhou Quantai had a smile on his face. He asked the servant girl to bring him a gold-headed walking stick to support him. He led Butler Liu and the servants out of the main hall in a very dignified manner. They passed through the huge front yard and walked to the gate. They found more than ten servants kneeling on the ground. Obviously, they were frightened by the battle array outside. None of them dared to even raise their heads.
They were all useless things! Old Master Zhou cursed in his heart. After tonight, I will send all of you out to recruit new people.
Zhou Quantai thought to himself. Then, he walked out of the manor unhurriedly. He looked up and saw that there was indeed a large formation. There were soldiers outside wearing black armor and holding weapons. There were at least two to three thousand of them, filling up the entire Zhoujia Alley.
The leader of these soldiers was riding on a black horse from the Western Regions. Although he was not old and had not grown tall, he wore bright yellow armor and looked very dignified.
Without a doubt, this was Crown Prince Zhu Biao. Yellow was not something that ordinary people could use, not even princes. Only the Emperor and Crown Prince could use it.
"I, Zhou Quantai, pay my respects to the Crown Prince and kowtow to him!”Zhou Quantai knelt down and kowtowed. This old man was over sixty years old, but he didn't neglect his manners.
He was clear in his heart that the other party was the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, and held the power of the country. He had hundreds of thousands of troops under him. He definitely could not fight head-on. Who could withstand a head-on fight? Therefore, he had to use some tricks.
However, before using any tricks, there was one thing that was very important. He had to do what he should do first. He did not want others to find an excuse to hold onto him.
Therefore, he had to bow when he should. Not only did he have to bow, but he also had to bow piously so that others would have nothing to say.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince has come to my residence so late at night. What is the matter? But no matter what it is, as long as it is within my ability, I will do my best. If it is beyond my ability, I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince will not make things too difficult for me!”
Zhu Biao sat on the horse's back and looked at the old man kneeling at his feet. He thought to himself that he was indeed an old fox. He spoke without revealing a drop of water. He guessed that the other party was also on guard against him, the Crown Prince, suddenly taking advantage of a certain sentence and making trouble.
But…old man, you're wrong!
"Zhou Quantai, don't you know why I'm looking for you?”Zhu Biao asked lazily as he played with the reins of his horse.
Old Master Zhou pretended to be confused." Crown Prince, I really don't know. I've always been a well-behaved businessman who works for the benefit of the villagers. I'm respectful and law-abiding. I really don't know why Your Highness has brought so many soldiers here so late at night!”
Zhu Biao glanced at Zhou Quantai indifferently."Then think about it carefully! I advise you to think clearly before you speak!"
Zhou Quantai's heart skipped a beat because he had seen the cold killing intent in the Crown Prince's eyes. He immediately felt that it was unbelievable and wondered if it was because the moonlight was weak at night that he could not see clearly.
However, he still had to say something.
Zhou Quantai organized his words in his heart while Huang Zuo sighed with a look of realization,""I have a clue. Is the Crown Prince here because of the closing of the Zhou Clan's grain store? Crown Prince, you have to listen to this commoner's explanation. We are open to do business. Why would we reject our customers for no reason? This commoner really had his own difficulties! Firstly, there wasn't much food left in the house. This commoner had a big business and many people in the house. He had to save it to satisfy his own needs. He asked the crown prince to forgive this commoner's selfishness!”
"Hmm…what else? If there's a one, there must be a two. Tell me!”Zhu Biao tilted his head and looked at Zhou Quantai, seemingly accepting his explanation.
Zhou Quantai secretly laughed. Children were indeed easy to fool. The killing intent he saw in the other party's eyes was indeed the reflection of the moon!
His mind turned and he pleaded,"Your Highness, can you let me get up and answer first?" I'm old and my legs are a little stiff. If I kneel for too long, I'll faint!”
Zhu Biao smiled." Then get up and answer me. I've always respected my elders!"”
Zhou Quantai was completely relieved now. His plea just now was actually a test. From the feedback, it was just as he had expected. There was nothing much going on tonight. The Crown Prince was just here to show off. He could completely understand it. After all, children wanted to make up for it in other places after taking a blow in one place.
"Your Highness, the second problem is that the price of the grain is too high. Eight wens can't even recover the capital. It's better not to sell it. At least the grain is still there.”
Of course, he was talking nonsense. The purchase price of this batch of grain, including the transportation fee, was less than four coins. Moreover, many of them were collected from the tenants of his own village farm. He did not spend any money at all.
"I understand!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you won't use this to punish this commoner, right?”
Zhu Biao smiled and suddenly said loudly,"After investigation, the local tycoon Zhou Quantai colluded with the Mongolians to oppress the Han Chinese and persecute their compatriots. He forsaken his ancestors and took the thief as his father. He helped the Yuan Court purchase and sell the materials controlled by the Ming Dynasty's army and funded the Yuan Court's military expenses and food to fight against the Heavenly Army! Today, I, in the name of the Ming Crown Prince, have betrayed his country. This crime will not be pardoned and will be executed immediately! Their adult children will be punished as well. Children under the age of ten, their families, and servants will be sent to Jingzhou to repair the dike to atone for their sins!”
Zhou Quantai turned pale with fright and was utterly terrified. The decent smile on his face turned into fear as he hurriedly pleaded for mercy," Your Highness, this is a false accusation. There's no evidence…"
Before he could finish his words, Chang Qing, who was beside Zhu Biao, drew his saber at lightning speed after receiving Zhu Biao's signal.
"Your Highness, spare…spare my life!"
Chang Qing casually waved his hand, and a large white-haired man fell to the ground.
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