In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1022 A Web of Intricate Interests
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Yunyi slowly opened his eyes.

Feeling the softness beside him, he let out a sigh of emotion.
Being impeached all the time isn't without its advantages.
At least you won't have to attend the morning assembly at 5 a.m., and you can sleep until 7 a.m.

However, even so, Lu Yunyi still threw off the covers and got up early.

Mu Jinghe, who had been sleeping soundly, slightly opened her eyes, her face still languid, a hint of weariness flashing in her eyes:
"Sir, please get some more sleep. Aren't you tired?"

Lu Yunyi got up, dressed, and said with a smile:
"Go to sleep. Go to the trading company after you've had enough sleep. It won't delay your ability to make money."

Mu Jinghe blinked blankly, gave a soft "hmm," and then closed her eyes again.

Lu Yunyi got up and left the house, intending to wash up in the courtyard first and then practice his shooting.

But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw that the sky was still overcast with a pale blue tinge.

The butler rushed over, looking flustered.
"Master, a man claiming to be the guard of the North Gate has come to visit. He says his name is Zhong Rui."

Lu Yunyi frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

His mind raced through the numerous documents of the Beijing Army.

There is a commander named Zhong Rui in the Leopard Wave Guard, but it is unknown whether he is the one who came to visit.

Did he say what it was about?

"He didn't say, he only said that there was something important that he had to report to the adults in person."

Lu Yunyi pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly:
"Let him in."

"Yes."

Lu Yunyi was not in a hurry to see Zhong Rui.

Instead, he washed up first, then stretched his body in the courtyard before heading to the front hall.

Taking advantage of the faint light of dawn,
He saw a middle-aged man pacing back and forth in the main hall, looking uneasy.

The man was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with dark skin and a thick beard, and looked quite reliable.

"Are you Zhong Rui?"

The middle-aged man was pacing with his head down when the sudden sound made him shudder.

He quickly looked towards the doorway and saw a young man standing there.

Just as I was about to ask who they were, I realized what they meant, and at first I was stunned, then my face lit up with shock:

"This humble general, Zhong Rui, commander of the Leopard Wave Guard and garrison commander of the North Gate, pays his respects to Lord Lu!"

Lu Yunyi looked him up and down, then walked straight to the head of the table and sat down.

"Sit down. What brings you here?"

Zhong Rui took a deep breath and slowly sat down at the lower end of the table.

A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, but it ultimately hardened into a resolute expression as he said in a deep voice:
"My lord, yesterday when I was on duty at the north gate, I discovered that someone was passing messages from the north camp to outside the city."

I found this matter suspicious and had my own suspicions, so I came to report it early this morning.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes as he looked at him with a half-smile:
"Someone has violated the prohibition. Why didn't you report it to your superiors? Instead, you came to my residence?"

Zhong Rui's expression suddenly calmed down, and he pursed his lips.
Lower the volume so that only the two people can hear it:
"My lord, I am from Shanxi, while my superior is from Yangzhou."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the main hall suddenly froze.

Basong, standing not far away, gripped his long sword tightly, his gaze toward Zhong Rui carrying a strange undertone.

On the other hand, Lu Yunyi's face showed a hint of relief.
Suddenly he laughed, letting out a long sigh, as if he had relieved himself of his worries.

"As I've said, there are northerners in the court and the army."

You did a great job. What message do you think you were conveying?

Zhong Rui felt a wave of relief wash over him, realizing he was drenched in cold sweat; he had made the right bet.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the North City Camp yesterday housed three thousand wealthy households who had been relocated from Guanzhong."

This humble general suspects that someone intends to undermine the relocation project.
That's why I came here so abruptly; please don't take offense, sir.

Lu Yunyi nodded and looked at him with a smile:
"You're very concerned about these wealthy families?"

Zhong Rui answered slowly, her tone tinged with trepidation:
"My lord, the imperial court has relocated wealthy households to Guanzhong several times."

Each time, I kept a close watch in secret, fearing someone might sabotage things.

Lu Yunyi leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed, and asked him with a half-smile:
"You support moving the capital?"

Zhong Rui was taken aback, not expecting this high-ranking official to be so direct.

He no longer hesitated and said in a deep voice:

"This humble general is from the north, and naturally supports moving the capital."
Whether it's moving to Xi'an, Taiyuan, or Beiping, it will be of great benefit to my hometown.

Moreover, I will have more opportunities to go home.

To be honest, sir, the imperial court is located in Zhili.

My superiors and colleagues are mostly from the south, and as a northerner, I always feel out of place.

Over the years, I have never dared to ask for leave to return to my hometown, for fear that if I leave for even a day, my position will be taken over by someone else.

Even so, I have reached the end of my military career, and neither commendation nor promotion will be my turn.

Lu Yunyi's smile faded, and he said calmly:
"Both southerners and northerners are subjects and soldiers of our Great Ming Dynasty."
The bad apples aren't the people in the north and south, but the black sheep within them.

“What you say is true, sir. I have an official from Guangdong who treats me very well.”

On several occasions, when his subordinate was deliberately made things difficult, this superior officer stepped in to help him.

"What's his name?" Lu Yunyi asked casually.

"Reporting to your Excellency, his name is Zhan Yunze."
He is the Vice Commander of the Leopard Wave Guard, a native of Huizhou Prefecture, and is now over fifty years old.

Lu Yunyi's mind raced through numerous military reports and documents, and he quickly located the relevant record, nodding in approval.
"I remember him; he was a former general under the Earl of Dongguan."

The last time he appeared in documents was in the sixteenth year of the Hongwu reign, when he was already a commander.

So many years have passed, and there's still no promotion?

Shock flashed in Zhong Rui's eyes:

"It is said in the army that you have a photographic memory, as deep as the ocean. Having witnessed it today, I am truly impressed."

Lu Yunyi smiled and waved his hand.

Zhong Rui continued:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Zhan never forms cliques in the army, which is why he is isolated by several vice commanders, and the commander is also quite dissatisfied with him."

"I have noted it down, and I have also noted your merits."

Lu Yunyi nodded, gave him an encouraging look, and then said:
"Forget about last night, pretend it never happened. This is not a dispute you should get involved in rashly."

One wrong move, and the whole family could be in trouble.

Zhong Rui's breathing suddenly stopped, and then he gasped for breath.

How could he not know the gravity of this matter?
Those involved today are at least officials of the fourth rank or above with real power, or powerful figures holding prestigious positions.

As a low-ranking officer with no connections and who was also marginalized, he had no right to get involved.

But Zhong Rui considered himself to be somewhat perceptive.
Seeing that the relocation of the capital was becoming increasingly difficult these days, he finally could not hold back any longer.

He took a deep breath, struggled for a moment, then stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I have another question that I would like to ask you. I humbly request your clarification."

"Go ahead and speak, there's no need to be polite."

"Can the relocation of the capital still be accomplished?"

Zhong Rui's voice was cautious, tinged with uncertainty.

The hairs on my body stood on end, as if I had touched some unspeakable taboo.

Lu Yunyi remained silent for a long time, then nodded firmly:
"Don't worry, even if we fail this time, there will be a next time."

Zhong Rui's eyes dimmed; it seemed that even the adults didn't approve of this relocation of the capital.

But he wasn't too discouraged; he simply bowed deeply.
"The general knows."

"Alright, go back now, train hard and do your job well."

Go home to visit your family if you need to; there's no need to feel constrained.

Zhong Rui's breath hitched, keenly sensing the deeper meaning in the words, and he bowed again:
"Thank you, sir. I shall take my leave now."

Lu Yunyi looked at Basong and waved his hand: "Take him out the back door."

"Yes!"

After everyone left, Lu Yunyi sat in the main hall, remaining silent for a long time.

He didn't try to guess what message had been sent out of the city last night.
Because there are only two possible outcomes: either take action or don't.

The process is not important to the final result.

He took a deep breath, a rare look of weariness appearing in his eyes.
The world is in turmoil, and those who try to navigate its complexities exhaust themselves.

These days, the several tests,
All of this made him feel like he was punching cotton.

The initial implementation of a project often goes very smoothly.

But once you want to push forward and overcome the difficulties,
I'm always getting hindered and entangled by inexplicable people and things.
Or they simply drag things out until there's room for a turnaround.

As for the reason, he knew it well: within the entire court, 70% of the forces were observing from the sidelines.

They neither wanted the royalists to win nor the rebels to win; they were simply trying to maintain a tacit balance between the two sides in secret.

Unless something happens that incurs public and divine wrath, neither side can continue to advance.

Just as Lu Yunyi was deep in thought, Basong rushed back:

"Sir, the person has already been sent away."

"Was he not recognized when he arrived?"

"Rest assured, sir, the spies outside the mansion are cleared out every evening; there's absolutely no way they'll be discovered." Lu Yunyi nodded.
"Write down the names of Zhan Yunze and Zhong Rui in that brown booklet."

"Two people?"

Basong was taken aback, then realized what was happening:

"Yes."

Lu Yunyi responded, and then said:

"Basong, today I will teach you another lesson."
These upright and incorruptible generals are the backbone of the army.

However, they often progress slowly because they do not flatter their superiors or engage in scheming and currying favor.
The only way is to gradually build up seniority through ability and time.

But that doesn't mean they lack ability.

After all, the higher the position, the fewer there are; without someone to promote you, getting a promotion is incredibly difficult.

Basong looked enlightened and quickly wrote down what he had said:

"Thank you, sir. I will remember this."

Lu Yunyi stood up, walked to the desk next to him, and sat down.
He grabbed a pen and paper, quickly scribbled a few words, then put the note in an envelope and handed it over:
"Give this to Xu Zengshou and tell him to be careful."

"Yes!"

As the hour of Chen approached, the bright sunshine dispelled the chill of the autumn night and shone upon the earth.

In the square in front of Fengtian Hall,
The officials emerged one after another, each heading towards their respective government offices, their faces extremely grave.

Another somber day!
Since the proposal to abolish currency was put forward, not a single day of court assembly has been peaceful.

The debate today is even more intense.
There were even near-violent acts of violence in the imperial court.

This made the several mature and prudent adults shake their heads repeatedly.
The imperial court is the seat of the solemn laws of the country; how can one engage in public fighting simply because of differing political views?

Among the Ministry of Revenue's ranks, Vice Minister Fu Youwen had a gloomy face and sighed several times to ease his mind.

But upon seeing Kong Tianzong walking ahead,

He was so angry!

Today, the Ministry of Revenue is riddled with factions.

The attitudes of the Left Vice Minister and the Right Vice Minister were completely opposite.

They even got into a fight in the imperial court, making themselves a laughing stock for outsiders. It was utterly absurd!

Fu Youwen looked at Zhao Shunan, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue beside him, and asked:

"Has Yu Xin gone to Jiangnan and not returned yet?"

Zhao Shunan, a man in his forties, pondered for a moment before answering:

"My lord, Lord Yu's sister is seriously ill, and His Majesty granted him a three-month leave. Only a little over a month has passed."

"Humph."

A shadow of gloom flashed in Fu Youwen's eyes as he complained without restraint:
"That Yu Xin, he's quick to slip away!"
He risked his life to get promoted, but he left the capital before even taking office, letting Kong Tianzong get away with it.

I truly don't know if he'll be able to regain his position as Right Vice Minister after he returns.

Zhao Shunan's expression was also somewhat strange, and she felt equally uneasy.

The position of Vice Minister of Revenue, in charge of the nation's finances, is incredibly tempting.
This Lord Yu is quite something; he just left without a word, letting someone else reap the rewards.

Now, this Master Kong who picks the peaches...
He even relied on his family background to oppose his superiors at every turn in the government office.

Thinking of this, Zhao Shunan sighed.
He thought that if anyone could help him get a promotion, he would do anything for them!

"Minister, please don't be anxious. Isn't there Lord Lu from the Market and Commerce Bureau?"

He doesn't get along with our Lord Kong; perhaps we can borrow his help.

Fu Youwen frowned slightly after hearing this, and after searching around the crowd, it suddenly dawned on him.
Lu Yunyi was impeached several times during his return to the capital.
I can count the number of times I've attended the morning court session on one hand.

"Lord Lu has many affairs to attend to. When it comes to crucial moments, we still have to rely on ourselves."

The Treasury of Paper Money is currently delaying the establishment of more paper money exchange points.

Could we possibly be stumped by a mere eighth-rank official?

Replace that person with a northerner, preferably from Guanzhong. Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?

Zhao Shunan was taken aback, and quickly went through the list of Ministry of Revenue personnel in his mind.
Suddenly his eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice:
"Your Excellency, I recall that Xiong Xiangwen, the manager of the Treasury of the Treasury of the Imperial Paper Bureau, is from Hanzhong. This man is just right!"

Fu Youwen looked thoughtful and gave the instructions:

"Find an opportunity to meet him, and subtly ask him if he is willing to be promoted and make money."

As for the current supervisor, go and gather two pieces of evidence against him. I will raise this matter during the deliberation at the yamen this afternoon.”

Zhao Shunan frowned and quickly replied:

"Don't worry, sir. This official is already infamous, and evidence of his crimes is readily available."

"Okay, get it done as soon as possible."

Nowadays, all ministries are vying to take the lead, and our Ministry of Revenue cannot lag behind.

Setting up more currency exchange points will also serve as a warning to those rebels, preventing them from pushing their luck!

"Yes!"

Outside the imperial city, as soon as the morning sun shone over the cement walls of the northern camp, the camp was already bustling with activity.

The wealthy families were already up.
Carrying bundles and leading children, they circled their own car.

Each cart had a strip of cloth of a different color tied to its shaft.
Red represents the front line, blue the middle line, and yellow the rear line.

This was specially arranged by Xu Zengshou yesterday.

It makes it easy to count the number of people and also prevents the group from getting separated.

"Mom, where's my tiger toy?"

A little boy in a cotton-padded coat tugged at the woman's clothes and cried loudly.

A middle-aged man nearby was rummaging through a suitcase, his brow furrowed deeply.
"Stop looking! How much is that thing worth? I'll buy you a new one when we get to Guanzhong!"

The maidservant beside them quickly tried to smooth things over:

"Don't worry, sir. I've seen that doll in the madam's dressing case. I'll go get it for the young master right away."

Xu Zengshou rode a chestnut horse, slowly moving forward along the procession.

Seeing this, a smile gradually crept onto his lips.

He wore a suit of bright silver armor, the plates gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

He held the riding whip in his hand, but hardly swung it.

He would only stop occasionally to check the cargo on the vehicle.
They were worried that these wealthy people might secretly bring too many things, and they were also worried that someone might be hiding items they shouldn't be bringing.

"General, the musketeers are all disguised."

The brothers had all changed into coarse cloth clothes, looking no different from the coachmen.

Gong Xianzhi rode alongside him on horseback, his voice kept very low.

His gaze swept over the rickshaw pullers in the squadron.
These people have dark skin and wrinkled skin.

He looks like a farmer who works the land year-round.
He was squinting as he looked around, just like any other ordinary person.

Xu Zengshou nodded, pulled on the reins, and looked back:

"Where is Li Fangying? Have him double-check the cavalry at the front, make sure no one is missing."

"I'm coming!"

Li Fangying rode over hurriedly on horseback.

Holding a roster in his hand, his face showed the eagerness of a young man:

"General, the vanguard of three hundred cavalrymen has all arrived, and the horse tack has been checked and there are no problems!"

He paused and added:
"There are a few wealthy families who want to go with the front group, saying that the front group is safe. Would you allow them to?"

"No."

Xu Zengshou refused without even thinking:

"The formation of the troops must not be disordered. The vanguard is cavalry, responsible for scouting the way. They can't move fast with the wealthy households, so let them return to the main force according to the original plan."

"Yes!"

Li Fangying responded and was about to turn around to reply when she saw a wealthy man in a brocade robe approaching.

This man was Master Wang, the owner of the silk shop in the west of the city. He bowed and handed over a silver ingot.
"General Xu, I have something to tell you."

My cart is loaded with silk, and I'm worried it might get damp on the road. Could you brothers please keep an eye on it?

Xu Zengshou did not accept the silver, but simply said:

"Don't worry, Manager Wang. Each team has soldiers specifically assigned to look after the goods. They won't get lost or damp."

You'd better get back to your unit quickly; we're leaving in fifteen minutes.

“good good”

Mr. Wang awkwardly withdrew his hand, turned around, and got into the squadron's vehicle.

Gong Xianzhi chuckled softly from the side:
"General, with your temperament, you mustn't offend the wealthy families."

"It's better to offend someone than to cause trouble." Xu Zengshou tightened the reins.

"Lord Lu Yunyi once said that military discipline must be strict and rewards and punishments must be clearly defined."

These wealthy households are troublesome; managing them according to military regulations will prevent trouble.

As they were speaking, a resounding time announcement came from the direction of the capital.

Xu Zengshou raised his hand and waved:
"set off!"

(End of this chapter)