In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1054 Da Ning, No Way Out

Beiping Commandery, Daning City, Lu Mansion Main House.

The charcoal crackled in the fireplace.

Sparks occasionally flew up, landing on the blue bricks and cooling instantly.

Lu Yunyi suddenly opened his eyes, his chest heaving violently, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
The back of my undershirt was already soaked, sticking stickily to my skin.

He looked around, panting.

The familiar carved wooden bed, the fox fur cloak hanging beside the bed curtains...

There are also unique carvings on the roof beams.

Only after seeing all this did Lu Yunyi suddenly realize...

I am at my home in Daning, not in the Xi'anmen Third Alley in Beijing.

"call"

Lu Yunyi let out a long sigh of relief, raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, his fingertips were icy cold.

The nightmare I just had was too real.
The crown prince lay gaunt and pale on his sickbed, while Lan Yu stood in the hall, holding a sharp blade.
The King of Yan's armor was stained with blood.

He himself was surrounded by soldiers, and the scene was filled with the clash of swords and the fighting.

I've been having nightmares every night for the past two weeks.
But this scene of massive fighting was far more brutal than in the past.

Even though it has been half a month since I returned to Daning,

The constant turmoil in the capital continued to haunt him, making it difficult for him to sleep.

"Husband, you're awake?"

A gentle voice sounded from the bedside, tinged with concern.

Lu Yunyi turned his head and saw Mu Chuting walking over with a basin of warm water.
She was wearing a moon-white nightgown, and her long hair was loosely tied back.

A few stray hairs fell beside her cheeks, making her eyebrows and eyes appear even more gentle and graceful.

She placed the copper basin on the low stool beside the bed, picked up a handkerchief, dipped it in warm water, and...

She gently wiped Lu Yunyi's forehead and cheeks with tender movements.

"Husband, are you having another nightmare?"
For the past two weeks, you haven't been sleeping well.

Lu Yunyi held her slightly cool hand.

The sensation from my fingertips calmed my chaotic thoughts slightly.
"It's nothing, it's just that things in the capital are too complicated, and I can't let it go for a while."

I know you're suffering inside.

Mu Chuting sighed, her voice very low:

"My father wrote that the situation in Beijing is becoming increasingly delicate."
Various factions within the court are making moves in secret; you are caught in the middle, which will certainly put you in a difficult position.

She paused and then said:
"But now that you have returned to Daning..."

Even if things are chaotic in the capital, as long as Da Ning remains stable, you will have a way out.

Lu Yunyi felt a warmth in his heart, raised his hand to stroke her hair, and smiled:
"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

He didn't want her to get too involved in these dangers, so he decided to leave some things unsaid.

Mu Chuting knew his temperament.

There was no point in asking further about things the other person didn't want to say, so I could only nod.

"It's getting late, please get up and wash up."
Breakfast is ready; it's your favorite mutton porridge and flatbread.

Lu Yunyi nodded in agreement and got out of bed.

Mu Chuting helped him change into a dark black casual outfit, with a jade belt tied around his waist.

Shedding the sharpness of armor, it gained a more refined and composed air.

The two walked out of the bedroom side by side.

We walked through the corridor toward the main hall.

The snow in the courtyard had not completely melted.

The sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.

Several strings of red lanterns hung under the eaves, exuding a festive atmosphere.

Upon reaching the main hall, one sees the elderly steward, Uncle He, with his gray hair, directing his servants to sweep away the remaining snow on the steps.

Uncle He was an old man from the Xiping Marquis's residence who followed Mu Chuting to the area beyond the Great Wall.

He was honest and kind, and managed the affairs of the household in an orderly manner.

But upon seeing his figure, Lu Yunyi suddenly paused, his gaze slightly fixed.

He suddenly remembered something crucial.
It's time to clean up the spies that have been planted in Daning City in the capital.

In the two weeks since he returned, he has focused all his attention on military affairs and secret preparations.

They completely forgot about this most crucial step.

Da Ning is now thriving and its power is growing stronger day by day.
Although some of the Imperial Guard's informants had been removed, many remained.

Various factions in the capital will also set up new undercover agents, and there are even spies hidden in his home.

He is now preparing for the worst-case scenario.
He even prepared to become a member of the rebel party.
These hidden informants must be eliminated as soon as possible.

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Seeing him standing there in a daze, Mu Chuting couldn't help but feel a little puzzled and asked softly.

Lu Yunyi snapped out of his daze, his face regaining its composure, and smiled at her:

"It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered something that I need to deal with when we get to the yamen."

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Mu Chuting did not press him, but simply nodded:

"Then don't overwork yourself, take care of your health."

Breakfast was already laid out in the main hall.

The warm mutton porridge was steaming, and the baked flatbread was golden and crispy.
There were also several delicate side dishes, all of which were Lu Yunyi's favorites.

Liu Wanyi and Deng Lingyun were also waiting here. When they saw Lu Yunyi arrive, they both smiled.

Seeing that he was absent-minded, Liu Wanyi said softly:
"Husband, come and eat. We can deal with the matters at the yamen there. It's more relaxing at home."

Deng Lingyun was shy and didn't dare to say much, but she nodded repeatedly, her wide eyes revealing a hint of playfulness.

Lu Yunyi shook his head, and said as he sat down:

"With things so urgent, how could we not be anxious?"

"Let's wait until it catches fire before we talk about that. Let's eat first!"

Liu Wanyi handed him a bowl and chopsticks, which Lu Yunyi took and sat down, eating and pondering at the same time.

"Husband, what are you thinking about? The porridge is getting cold." Mu Chuting reminded him when she saw him holding the spoon without moving it for a long time.

"Oh it's all right."

Lu Yunyi snapped out of his daze, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and put it in his mouth.

The warm porridge slid down my throat, and my thoughts became clearer.

He quickly finished a bowl of porridge, stuffed two pieces of baked flatbread into his mouth, and stood up:

"I'm leaving now. There's still a lot to do at the yamen. Don't wait for me for lunch."

Liu Wanyi shook her head, noticing his thin clothing, and reminded him:

"Put on your cloak. The carriage is already waiting at the door. Don't ride the horse."

"Okay, got it."

Lu Yunyi quickly left the main hall, got into the carriage, and headed towards the Military Command's office.

The carriage swayed and rattled, its tracks creaking and groaning on the flagstones.

At this time, the city of Daning was already filled with the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

Red lanterns were hung up by the shops on both sides of the street.

Many people carried New Year's goods and walked back and forth with smiles on their faces.

The children were chasing and playing on the street.
Holding sugar figurines and windmills, laughter and cheerful chatter filled the air.

Seeing this scene, Lu Yunyi felt a little dazed.

If it weren't for the heavy snowfall, he would have almost thought he had returned to Yingtian City.

The carriage soon arrived at the military headquarters.

Upon seeing that it was Lu Yunyi, the soldiers at the gate immediately bowed respectfully.

Lu Yunyi got off the carriage, strode into the yamen, and headed straight for Liu Heiying's office.

Liu Heiying had just arrived and was currently buried in documents, casually flipping through the urgent official documents submitted yesterday.

Hearing the noise at the door, he looked up, saw it was Lu Yunyi, and stood up with a smile:
"Brother Yun'er, you're here? Have you had breakfast?"

"have eaten."

Lu Yunyi nodded, sat down in the chair opposite him, and got straight to the point:
"Black Hawk, there's something important I need to tell you."

Seeing his serious expression, Liu Heiying knew it must be something urgent, so he quickly suppressed his smile and said in a deep voice:
"Brother Yun'er, what's the matter?"

"Clean up the eyeliner."

Lu Yunyi's voice was low, his eyes sharp:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guards in the capital, as well as spies sent by other forces, must be eliminated as soon as possible. In particular, none of the informants in the Military Command and key locations in the city should be left alive."

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying's pupils suddenly contracted.

In fact, the commander had already discovered many spies.
I've simply kept it as a controllable target.

To avoid having to arrest them all and then send new spies to the capital, requiring a complete re-investigation.

But now the situation has changed drastically, and what they need to prepare must be kept extremely secret and must not be discovered by the people in the capital.

He nodded, a serious expression on his face:

"In the past six months, there have been many unfamiliar faces in the military headquarters, and their behavior has been somewhat strange."

Of the nearly 130 people we've publicly identified, we have concrete evidence for only half; the rest are just speculation.

"Evidence is not important."

Lu Yunyi said calmly, "The situation is urgent now, and there is no time to investigate slowly."

Anyone transferred to the Commandery in the last two years, whose origins are unclear, or who acts suspiciously, will be arrested and secretly interrogated.

If it's confirmed to be eyeliner, remove it directly without hesitation.

Liu Heiying nodded, understanding his determination, and then asked:

"Does anyone in the house need to clean?"

Lu Yunyi pondered for a moment. Both his home and Black Hawk's home harbored members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

These people are extremely well hidden and should be the trump card of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He thought for a moment, realizing that official business was never handled at home, so keeping it around wouldn't hurt, and shook his head.
"Forget about the family members, we must leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard with some hope, so that they can keep their hopes alive."

Has Hua Jieyu received any new orders recently?

Liu Heiying shook his head, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes:
"After the changes in the Imperial Guards in the capital, their contact with Da Ning was severed."

Hua Jieyu received no new instructions, and she was now worried that she might have been exposed.

"It doesn't matter if she's exposed, so she doesn't have to live in fear."

Lu Yunyi didn't care at all:
"She is currently in Daning. Does the Embroidered Uniform Guard dare to come and clean house?"

If Mao Xiang and Du Pingping had the guts, they wouldn't have been so hesitant and timid in the capital.

Liu Heiying nodded emphatically:
"Yes, I'll make the arrangements right away. We'll clear out all the suspicious people within three days."

"Ah."

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"This matter must be kept secret and not made public."

After dealing with these people, act as if they never existed, and don't let anyone suspect anything.

"Don't worry, Brother Yun'er, I know what to do," Liu Heiying said.

After explaining the matter, Lu Yunyi stood up and said:

"Alright, you go ahead with your work, I'll go check on the Bureau of Experience."

Upon arriving at the Bureau of Records, even though it was only the beginning of the day, the place was already bustling with activity.

A dozen or so officials sat around a large table.
The table was covered with ledgers and documents, and the abacus was clicking away incessantly.

On three tables in the corner of the house,

There were also piles of documents as tall as a person, filling the entire area.

Xia Yuanji, dressed in a long robe, stood in the middle.
Holding a calligraphy brush in his hand, he occasionally jotted something down on the paper, his expression focused.

Hearing footsteps, Xia Yuanji looked up and saw Lu Yunyi enter. He quickly put down his pen and bowed.

"This humble official pays his respects to Lord Lu."

Other officials also put down their work, stood up, and bowed.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"No need to be polite, you all go ahead with your work. Wei Zhe, come to the inner hall, I have something to tell you."

Before long, the two arrived at the inner hall.

Lu Yunyi sat down at the head of the table, gestured for Xia Yuanji to sit down as well, and then asked:

"The end of the year is approaching. How are the preliminary estimates of the year's income and expenditure coming along?"

Xia Yuanji readily cited the various data points and said softly:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, according to a rough calculation..."
Last year, Daning's GDP increased by more than 40% compared to the previous year.

This was mainly due to the newly started road construction project and sewing machine production workshops on the eastern route.

There were also trade relations with Goryeo (Korea) and the grasslands.

Lu Yunyi was not surprised by the result, nodded slightly, and praised:
"Well done. Your talent is truly wasted in Da Ning. Have you ever thought about taking it a step further?"

Xia Yuanji was taken aback and looked at him with a puzzled expression:
"What do you mean by that, sir?"

Lu Yunyi looked at him and said calmly:
"Go back to Beijing after the New Year."

"Back to Beijing?"

Xia Yuanji was even more astonished, his eyes filled with confusion:

"My lord, is there something I have done wrong? Or have I violated some rules?"

"neither."

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
“You did a great job, even exceeding my expectations.”

However, Daning is too small a place, and your talents cannot be fully utilized here.

Staying in Daning will only bury your talent.
"Only by returning to the capital can you achieve greater things."

Xia Yuanji stared blankly at Lu Yunyi, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

His arrival in Daning was purely by chance, arranged by the Ministry of Rites, and he never intended to realize his ambitions here.

But by chance, he came into contact with many new things and gradually developed a strong interest in Da Ning.

Over the past two years, he has devoted all his energy to Daning, spending every day on official business.

His sudden departure caught him off guard.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lu Yunyi continued:

"I have already written you a letter that allows you to study at the Imperial Academy."

Whether you take the imperial examinations or enter officialdom directly, it will be much easier for you in the future.

Xia Yuanji was still incredulous and couldn't help but ask:
"Sir, why?"
Daning is currently at a crucial stage of development.
"I am willing to stay and serve you, sir, and the people of Daning."

Looking into his sincere eyes, Lu Yunyi felt a pang of emotion, but still shook his head.

There are some things you don't need to know.

Listen to me, we'll go back to Beijing after the New Year. This is for your own good.

Xia Yuanji's expression was strange; he vaguely sensed a dangerous aura, yet he still felt unwilling.
"Since Your Excellency insists, I will obey."

"But I am truly puzzled, and I hope Your Excellency can give me a reason."

Lu Yunyi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:

"There is no way out here."

These five words, spoken lightly, carry an undeniable weight.

Xia Yuanji's heart skipped a beat as he looked into Lu Yunyi's deep eyes.

It seemed like I understood something, yet it also seemed like I understood nothing at all.

Lu Yunyi continued:

"Bringing the method of calculating gross domestic product back to the court, you will naturally find a place to use it."

Do not get too involved with Da Ning in the future, as it will be detrimental to your future.

Of course, no one can predict what will happen in the future. If the world is already settled, then that will be a different story.

Xia Yuanji stood there, his mind in turmoil.

During his year and a half in Daning, he witnessed firsthand the creativity of the area.

Various workshops sprang up, and the prosperity even surpassed that of his hometown in Jiangxi.

Moreover, recently, he has seen too many Northern Yuan people and Central Plains people living in harmony in the city.
There were even Jurchens and Goryeo people mixed in.

In the past, groups that fought to the death,
He had never experienced anything like the strange sight of them now working together so well.

He wanted to stay in Daning to see if there was another route between the Central Plains and beyond the Great Wall.

It's not just a matter of fighting to the death.

Seeing his expression change repeatedly, Lu Yunyi stood up and patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't overthink it. I have my reasons for doing this. After the New Year, when you return to the capital, you can put your talents to good use."

Xia Yuanji snapped out of his daze and nodded slightly.

He suddenly realized that he had never truly understood this young man.
They never truly saw through the turbulent waves beneath the Great Ning River.

Lu Yunyi sighed, left the Bureau of Records, returned to his office, and gave instructions to Basong:

"Go and invite Lord Li Xian here. Tell him I have something to discuss with him."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)