In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1032 One step back, every step back
Inside the Market and Commerce Bureau office, Lu Yunyi was buried in piles of documents.

He looked at the accounts sent by Yingtian Trading Company.
He pondered the potential drawbacks of using paper money instead of silver.

This is a matter of life and death concerning money.

One hidden danger could lead to complete failure, or even cause a deficit in the national treasury.

Fortunately, apart from potential inflation, there seem to be no other drawbacks at present.

But the biggest problem right now is...

It is the reason why the imperial court does not use the silver that has been confiscated.

If the imperial treasury is empty, the paper money will become worthless.

It is not that the imperial court would intentionally allow the value of the paper money to be depreciated.
Rather, the circulation of gold and silver among the general public would undermine the credibility of the paper money.

When there is enough gold and silver in the market, paper money becomes unnecessary.

How can this situation be stopped?
With His Majesty now in power, employing a firm and decisive approach, his word is law in court, so there is naturally no need to worry.

But what will happen in the future is hard to say.

"Ugh"

Lu Yunyi shook his head, silently muttering to himself:

"Why think so much? We only live for a few decades anyway, so let's trust the wisdom of future generations."

Even so, he still managed to find the top-secret documents retrieved from the Ministry of Revenue.

I want to review the income and expenditure of previous years to analyze the impact of overseas silver inflows on the Ming Dynasty.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Basong rushed in, his expression solemn:
"My lord, General Xu has sent a messenger back with a message saying there is urgent military information and that there is blood on their armor."

Lu Yunyi's pupils contracted.

Despite being mentally prepared, he was still slightly taken aback.
This traitorous party actually dares to openly mobilize troops to intercept and kill wealthy households?

"Where is the man?"

"They are waiting for you in the side hall."

Lu Yunyi stood up and hurried towards the side hall.

Before long, he saw a young soldier in his twenties.

The other person had a bloody gash on their face; the wound had long since dried.

The armor was still covered in dust and dark red bloodstains, clearly indicating that a fierce battle had just taken place.

The soldier was taken aback when he saw how young Lu Yunyi was.

Basong whispered a reminder from the side:

"What are you standing there for? Take out the letter!"

"Ah, yes!"

Only after being reminded did the soldier realize what was happening. He quickly took out the sealed letter from his pocket and respectfully handed it over.

"Reporting to Lord Lu, this is a letter sent by General Xu, who instructed me to deliver it to you personally."

Lu Yunyi took the letter, nodded, and said to Basong:
"Go and order someone to prepare fine wine and food!"

"Yes!"

He then turned to the soldiers:

"Don't leave yet, I still have something to ask you later."

After saying that, Lu Yunyi turned his gaze to the letter.

He reads extremely fast, memorizing the information after a quick glance, and then reading it again to make sure it's accurate.

Only then did his expression gradually become serious, his brows furrowed, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Who exactly are the rebels and traitors?

In his speculation, even if Jiang Xiahou was not the leader of the rebel party,

They should also be the ones who remain silent and fuel the flames.

But now the opponent's performance has completely exceeded expectations.

They actually sent troops to kill the rebels and help Xu Zengshou escape.

Lu Yunyi's first thought was to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.

But he quickly abandoned the idea, as mobilizing three thousand soldiers was too difficult.
The number of powerful and influential figures involved is unknown.
Such a huge price to pay just to keep a minor official position is really not worth it.

Even remaining inactive would be a safer option.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi suppressed his doubts and looked at the soldier, asking:

"What are the casualties in the military?"

"Reporting to Lord Lu, the brothers suffered minor losses, with no more than a hundred casualties."

The enemy's armor and weapons were mostly very old and worn.

"If we hadn't rashly entered Luoma Slope, the casualties would never have been so high."

Lu Yunyi looked thoughtful and nodded slightly:
"Thank you for your hard work. Recount everything that happened that day in detail, making sure you don't miss any of the details you saw."

"Yes!"

The soldiers then began to recount what they had seen and heard that day.
Lu Yunyi listened and nodded, his expression sometimes puzzled and sometimes flashing with ruthlessness.

A quarter of an hour later, the soldier finished his account.

Lu Yunyi stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder:

"Well done, you've had a hard day. Go and rest, eat and drink well, and don't forget your reward before you go."

"Thank you, sir!"

The soldier looked pleased and was taken away by the official.

Lu Yunyi didn't rush back to the main hall, but instead sat in the side hall, lost in thought.
The situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
It's impossible to tell who the rebels are and who the emperor's supporters are!

He sighed, rallied his spirits, and got up to leave the side hall.

Instead of returning to his office, he walked straight out of the yamen gate, preparing to head to the governor's mansion.

But as soon as they reached the entrance, they encountered officials from the Governor's Office coming towards them.

The clerk, upon seeing him, beamed with joy and quickly said:

"Lord Lu, the Duke of Wei requests your presence."

"understood."

Before long, Lu Yunyi arrived at the Central Military Governor's Mansion.

He paused slightly, slightly taken aback, upon seeing the narrow, cramped doorway.
Turning his head to look at the Six Ministries not far away, its decoration was almost identical to that of the Governor's Office.

Having grown accustomed to the newly renovated, luxurious gates of the City Exchange,
Seeing these old doors for the first time felt a little strange.

Soon, he arrived at the main hall of the Governor's Mansion.
Upon seeing Xu Huizu, who was pacing back and forth with documents in his hand, Xu's eyes were filled with anxiety and unease.

"Wei Guogong!"

Lu Yunyi greeted everyone as he entered.

Xu Huizu immediately turned his gaze over and hurriedly asked:
"You've read the documents, haven't you? There really are rebels who dare to ambush and kill wealthy families!"

"I have already reviewed it," Lu Yunyi nodded.
"As for the rebels, I never expected them to be so blatant as to actually dare to take action within the territory of Zhongdu."

Xu Huizu led him into the inner office, keeping his voice as low as possible:
What's your opinion on the matter of Marquis Jiang Xia?

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, then smiled wryly:

"Duke of Wei, to tell the truth..."
The original intention was to use the trip to the wealthy households to find out who the real rebels were, and it would be best if we could entice Jiangxiahou to send troops.

But I never expected him to be the one to come to the rescue. Now that the situation has turned out this way, I, not being there in person, am somewhat unable to see through it all.

Xu Huizu was stunned, his gaze suddenly becoming profound:
"Are you trying to lure Jiang Xiahou into intercepting and killing you?"

"In my humble opinion, Zhongdu must be a stronghold of the rebels."

As the Marquis of Jiangxia, who was currently stationed in charge, was highly suspicious, he wanted to take this opportunity to confirm it.

"Are you crazy? What if something happens to Zigong?" Xu Huizu's face was extremely serious.

Lu Yunyi's expression was serious:
"Duke of Wei, if Zigong, as the heir of the Prince of Zhongshan, cannot stand alone, it will be a great disaster!"
We are all military generals who have long since disregarded life and death.
To die on the battlefield is a kind of honor!

"But he's still young!" Xu Huizu was furious, his breathing becoming heavy.

But upon seeing Lu Yunyi's youthful face, he suddenly found himself speechless.
Isn't this person in front of me also capable of handling things independently at a young age?

"Forget it, let's not talk about this for now."

Xu Huizu changed the subject:
"Who do you think is pulling the strings behind the scenes to mobilize 3,000 troops?"

"In my opinion, it is a group of people working together behind the scenes."

Lu Yunyi said, "If he were truly a powerful marquis, there would be no need for him to go to such lengths to assemble weapons."

"Ah."

Xu Huizu nodded:
What you say makes sense, but have you ever thought about this?
"Could it be that the rebels are deliberately using this method to mislead us and conceal their true identities?"

"Duke of Wei, this price is too high."

Lu Yunyi retorted: "Unless they never intended to succeed from the beginning, they would definitely go all out."

If someone could exchange the sacrifice of three thousand soldiers for stability and trust,
Apart from the Duke of Xin and the Duke of Song, no one else possessed such power, yet these two dukes had no need to flaunt it like this.

"Why can't it be Marquis Jiangxia?" Xu Huizu pressed.

“If it were Marquis Jiang Xia who was in charge, he wouldn’t need to show his face at all, as it would only increase suspicion,” Lu Yunyi said.

Xu Huizu couldn't figure it out for a moment, his brows furrowed slightly.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly realized what was happening. For Zheng Liushou, who commanded 50,000 elite troops,

As long as there is no concrete evidence of treason, no one dares to convict him.

Showing up now would only increase suspicion, which is really not worth it.

He sighed, his face showing worry, and sat down in the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Can't things be more peaceful?"

Lu Yunyi stood in the middle of the yamen, seemingly ignoring the words, and instead looked around at the furnishings.
Compared to the luxury of the market,
This place is much simpler, even more so than the study in the Lu family mansion.

"Now that the rebels have really come out, how do you plan to report this to His Majesty?" Xu Huizu asked impatiently when he saw him lost in thought.

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, then said:
"Duke of Wei, I am the Director of the Market and Exchange Department, and I hold no official position in the Governor's Office."

The matter of the rebels instigating an uprising has absolutely nothing to do with me.

Xu Huizu's eyes widened suddenly; he witnessed Lu Yunyi's shamelessness once again.
He suddenly stood up and pointed at Lu Yunyi:
"You gave the flintlock pistol to Zigong, and you also informed him that there were rebels causing trouble!"

Now it's a complete mess. We haven't found any more traitors, and you want to hide in the background and keep quiet?"

Lu Yunyi smiled wryly and sighed, then said earnestly:

"Duke of Wei, I have recently been ostracized by the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites and other government departments, and there are many complaints among the people. It is already difficult enough to keep the paper money in circulation."

If we were to get involved in the matter of the rebels transporting wealthy people, I fear I would lose everything.
You are surely aware of how bad my reputation has become lately.

The office suddenly fell silent.

Xu Huizu looked wary; the court meetings these past few days had been attended by many wise men.

The scenes of vying to besiege the Market and Commerce Bureau and the Court of State Ceremonies are still vivid in my mind.

The Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Hanlin Academy, and the Court of Judicial Review

Even county magistrates in the capital region submitted memorials impeaching the Market and Exchange Bureau for disregarding national laws and disrupting monetary regulations.

He had often heard rumors that officials disliked paper money and preferred silver.
Only now do I truly realize how many people there are.

"Sigh, you've really stirred up a hornet's nest this time," Xu Huizu said.
"The matter of money law is escalating further, even more serious than the matter of the rebel party. I feel that now all sides are turning their guns on the Market and Exchange Bureau?"

"The Duke of Wei is wise."

Lu Yunyi nodded repeatedly:
"All officials who served in the court received their salaries in the form of precious paper money."

"Paper depreciates as soon as you receive it; it's far less valuable than silver. It's no wonder I incur resentment."

Having said that, he took a step closer and lowered his voice:

"To be honest, my official residence is located in the third alley of Xi'an Gate."

Over the past three days, more than 100 unidentified spies have been apprehended.

Various factions were involved, including more than a dozen people plotting the assassination.

"What? It's that serious?"

Xu Huizu was utterly shocked; he had never seen such a scene directed at a court official.

Lu Yunyi said sincerely, "No one in the world doesn't love money, but I am currently in a difficult situation."
I implore the Duke of Wei to understand and not implicate me in the affairs of the rebels, otherwise things will truly become unmanageable.

Seeing his earnest attitude, Xu Huizu shook his head helplessly:
“This is just one time, it won’t happen again.

If you wish to interfere in military affairs, you can request a position in the Commander-in-Chief's Office from the Crown Prince.
If things get messy then, no one can blame the Governor's Office.

"I understand," Lu Yunyi said, looking embarrassed, and nodded quickly.

Xu Huizu picked up the document beside him and said:

"Let's go, let's go to the palace together to meet His Majesty."

Even if you don't want to get involved, don't you want to hear His Majesty's opinion?

"Then this humble official will respectfully comply."

Inside the palace, the bluestone path was slightly cool from the autumn frost.

Lu Yunyi followed Xu Huizu toward the Wuying Hall.

The palace walls stood tall and imposing, their cold outlines silhouetted against the gray sky.

The clanging of armor from the patrolling imperial guards echoed from afar, making the palace all the more solemn.

Xu Huizu walked with steady steps, his dark red casual clothes swaying slightly.
"When you meet His Majesty later, be careful with your words."

The Crown Prince has been ill for a long time, and His Majesty is already in a bad mood.
Hearing news of the rebels mobilizing troops again today, I fear they will unleash their fury.

"The official knows."

Lu Yunyi nodded in agreement.

As they spoke, the Wuying Hall came into view.

The palace doors were open, and a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the aroma of ink wafted out.

Upon seeing the two approaching, the head eunuch at the gate bowed respectfully and led them inside.

Upon entering the hall, the light suddenly dimmed.

There was no brazier lit in the hall, and the cold air seeped up the floor tiles.

At the head of the table, Zhu Yuanzhang was looking down at the memorials.

His figure was even more hunched than when he was last month, and a few more strands of silver had appeared among his jet-black hair.

Even his usually upright shoulders and back were slightly slumped.

Like those weathered old people at the village entrance, they have lost their imperial majesty and gained more of the vicissitudes of time.

"Your Majesty, Duke Xu Huizu of Wei and Lu Yunyi, the Director of the Market and Exchange Bureau, request an audience with Your Majesty," the chief eunuch announced softly.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two men, his eyes bloodshot.

He waved his hand, his voice hoarse:

"come in."

Xu Huizu and Lu Yunyi bowed respectfully.
"My lord, see your majesty."

"No gift."

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the chairs on both sides of the hall.
"Sit down. You all know about the attack on the wealthy household, right?"

Xu Huizu had just sat down when he stood up and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture:
"Your Majesty is wise. I have received Zigong's report."

"Thanks to Marquis Jiangxia's timely assistance, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the vermilion brush on the table and gently tapped the memorial, his face gradually darkening.
"Zhou Dexing does know how to be a good person."

His tone was neither happy nor angry, yet it made the atmosphere in the hall even more tense.

Lu Yunyi spoke at the opportune moment, presenting the detailed report sent by Xu Zengshou:
"Your Majesty, this is military intelligence sent by General Xu on horseback."
It contains a detailed account of the attack at Luoma Slope.
From discovering the rebels' tracks to deploying defenses and meeting the enemy, to Marquis Jiangxia leading his troops to their aid, every detail is included.

The eunuch presented the report to Zhu Yuanzhang.

He unfolded the report and examined it closely. The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed. He slammed the report down on the table, causing it to tremble.

"I have already retreated time and time again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely suppressed anger:

"Regarding the relocation of the capital, I have hesitated to push it forward due to consideration for the sentiments of the meritorious officials and their hometowns."

With the implementation of paper money, I have also authorized the Ministry of Revenue to proceed gradually.
Even Mingdao Academy secretly possessed prohibited books.

I did not immediately seal it up; I only ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate to conduct a thorough investigation!

Look, now they even dare to attack the procession escorting wealthy families; they're not going to give up!

He stood up, walked into the hall, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth:
"I have never mistreated a single one of my old brothers who fought alongside me to conquer the world."
The newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) has been entrusted with an important task by me.

But what about these people?
Driven by selfish desires, he dared to openly undermine the foundation of the imperial court!
"Must I kill them all?"

The last sentence was almost shouted out.

Zhu Yuanzhang's chest heaved violently.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his usual composure completely gone, replaced by rage.

Xu Huizu quickly stood up and bowed:
"Your Majesty, please calm down! The rebels are just a small group of clowns, not the mainstream of the court."

"We must not let them provoke our wrath and chill the hearts of the officials."

Lu Yunyi also stood up:

"Your Majesty, although this rebel army numbers three thousand..."

However, they were mostly a motley crew, and their weapons were old and worn, indicating that their foundation was not deep.
Jiang Xiahou's timely intervention also demonstrates,

Most of the nobles and officials in the court were loyal to the government and did not collude with the rebels.

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped in his tracks.
Looking at the two of them, the anger in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep weariness.

He sighed, his voice low and somber:

If Zhou Dexing truly has the heart of the imperial court...
Why turn a blind eye to the movements of the rebels within its jurisdiction and wait until wealthy households are in danger before taking action?
Is he demonstrating his power against me, or is he sitting back and watching the two tigers fight?

This question left Xu Huizu speechless for a moment.

He and Zhou Dexing were both nobles and he knew the thoughts of these founding veterans well.
They were both mindful of their brotherhood with Zhu Yuanzhang and unwilling to see their own interests harmed.
They often wavered between the court and themselves, displaying a very conflicted attitude.

Lu Yunyi pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Jiangxia's actions may be a result of weighing the pros and cons."

Zhongdu was a stronghold of rebels, and he was inevitably wary of being there.

His intervention to provide assistance at least demonstrates his stance of not colluding with the rebels, and can be considered an explanation to the imperial court.

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and looked at Lu Yunyi:
"Why are you making excuses for him?"

(End of this chapter)