In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1064 A wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to act.
The night was as dark as ink, and the cold wind howled through the streets and alleys of Daning City, carrying snowflakes.

Liu Heiying's black horse galloped towards the direction of the military headquarters, its hooves thundering like drums as it broke through the snow.

The lanterns at the military headquarters were already lit.
Huge red lanterns hung on both sides of the gate, their dim yellow light penetrating the wind and snow, casting dappled patterns of light on the bluestone slabs.

Upon seeing that it was Liu Heiying, the guards at the gate quickly stepped forward to take the reins, their expressions respectful yet wary.

The news of the assassination attempt had already spread throughout the government office, and everyone was on edge.

"Is Lord Lu still in the yamen?"

Liu Heiying dismounted, his voice heavy with the panting of a long journey, and brushed the snow off his shoulders.

"Lord Lu hasn't left yet; he's still inside looking at documents."

Liu Heiying nodded and strode inside.

Crossing the front yard, the snow under the porch had been swept clean, leaving only a few shallow footprints.

The door to the government office was ajar, and a faint candlelight shone from inside.

Liu Heiying raised his hand and pushed open the door, a wave of warmth wafting in.

He paused, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and quietly walked in.

Lu Yunyi was indeed still sitting behind his desk, having changed out of his black cloak and into a moon-white casual robe with the sleeves rolled up.
He held a wolf-hair brush in his hand, annotating a document with a focused expression.

"Brother Yun'er".

Liu Heiying spoke, his voice much lower than expected.

Lu Yunyi didn't even look up, but paused briefly before saying calmly:
"Why haven't they gone back yet? Basong, pour him a cup of hot tea."

Basong, who was inside, came out in response, holding a white porcelain teacup filled with warm tea, and handed it to Liu Heiying.

Liu Heiying took the teacup, his tense nerves easing slightly:
"Brother Yun'er, we've found the trail of those assassins!"

Lu Yunyi then stopped writing and slowly raised his head.

His eyes were calm and expressionless, revealing no emotion whatsoever. He simply looked at Liu Heiying and gestured for him to continue.

Liu Heiying took a deep breath and recounted the findings of the autopsy one by one:

"When Zhang Bin first investigated, he said that the assassin's cloth and needlework were from the Imperial Textile Bureau in the capital, and the oilcloth on the knife handle was also a specialty of the capital. It looked like the Embroidered Uniform Guard or some kind of assassins kept by adults."

But I still felt something was off, so I had Qin Yuanfang and Zou Jing check it again.

He paused, his tone tinged with disbelief:

"Those assassins' stomachs were full of Northwestern food!"
Mashi (a type of flatbread), Tuotuomo (a type of steamed bun), steamed pork with rice flour, and Youcha (a type of tea) are all dishes unique to Xi'an.

He raised his hand to wipe his face, his speech becoming increasingly rapid:
"And the training marks on their bodies are unique to the Northwest Army's stick fighting techniques."

Qin Yuanfang and Zou Jing concluded that these assassins were most likely from the Northwest!

"I've already sent Zhang Bin to arrest the owners and staff of two restaurants in Daning City that serve Northwest cuisine."
They also sealed off three nearby streets and conducted house-to-house searches.
Let's see if we can find their hiding place and their accomplices.

As Liu Heiying spoke, his fists clenched unconsciously:

"Brother Yun'er, this matter is definitely not simple!"
His Highness the Crown Prince is seriously ill, and we are his staunch supporters.

The assassins are coming from the Northwest; this is clearly an attempt to weaken His Highness the Crown Prince's power, and then…

He became more and more excited as he spoke, but then suddenly became speechless.

This matter is far too significant; once it is confirmed that it was orchestrated by forces in the Northwest,
This inevitably involves a power struggle for the throne.

The slightest misstep could unleash a storm that sweeps across the Ming Dynasty.

"Do you think the man was sent by the King of Qin?"

Lu Yunyi's face remained expressionless.
He even picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and moved with unhurried ease.

Liu Heiying instantly tensed up, lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear him:
"I can't help but overthink."

"understood."

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly, his tone as calm as if he were talking about something trivial.

Liu Heiying froze, his excitement instantly turning to cold as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
"Brother Yun'er? Is this all you're going to do?"

"if not?"

Lu Yunyi looked up at him and asked in return:
"Does this mean I can just go to the Northwest to settle scores right now?"

"Coco is fighting for the throne! They've come all the way to our doorstep, and they've even dragged His Highness Prince Qin into it!"

Lu Yunyi put down his pen, leaned back slightly against the wide chair back:
"Ever since the news of His Highness the Crown Prince's serious illness spread, the Ming Dynasty has been in turmoil."

The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.
With his illness becoming serious, various forces naturally began to stir.

Some wanted to protect the crown prince, while others wanted to take his place.
Some people want to fish in troubled waters, while others want to take the opportunity to weaken their opponents.
"What strange or unusual things do you think are impossible?"

Liu Heiying was stunned. He suddenly understood why Brother Yun'er had started making arrangements so hastily after returning, even though some of these arrangements were not to be used for several years.
The current peace and tranquility is merely an illusion; the real conflict has already begun.

Lu Yunyi said slowly:

"I've been in the capital for so long, and I've clashed with all sorts of people, with undercurrents of conflict."

Even when I left the capital, I couldn't tell who was friend and who was foe.

At times like these, the transformation between friend and foe can happen in an instant.

They'll do anything for power and status.

Even the crown prince could get into trouble in the Northwest.

What's so strange about people from the Northwest running around causing trouble in Daning City?

As for whether it was the King of Qin, there's no way to verify it, and it's not worth wasting too much time on such a matter.

Lu Yunyi paused, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes:
"I had long anticipated that someone wouldn't let me stay in Daning peacefully."
I just didn't expect them to come so quickly and with such crude methods.

Fifty suicide soldiers who had never been on the battlefield, and they deliberately left so many openings.

Do you think I'm far away in the north, far from the emperor's reach, and easy to deal with?

Even so, Liu Heiying still felt a heavy weight in his heart and tentatively asked:

"So, Brother Yun, do you think it was His Highness Prince Qin who did it, or those marquises?"

"Hard to say."

Lu Yunyi said calmly:

"The forces in the Northwest are deeply entrenched, including border generals, vassal kings, former dynasty nobles, and merchants with extensive connections."

These people are all capable of doing this.

We cannot draw conclusions without conclusive evidence.

"but."

He abruptly changed the subject, a cold smile playing on his lips:

"Since they dare to make a move, then don't blame us for being impolite."

Daning is not a place they can come and go as they please. We must follow the clues and find out who's behind it all.

"Yes!"

Liu Heiying nodded. Seeing that Brother Yun was so calm, his anxiety gradually dissipated.

He suddenly remembered something and said:
"By the way, Brother Yun'er, I've already given the orders."

"Not a single word of today's autopsy findings is to be leaked. If the news gets out, it could alert the perpetrators."

Lu Yunyi stood up and stretched, his bones cracking slightly.

He walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, instantly making him feel much more awake.

"With the Crown Prince seriously ill, the situation in the Ming Dynasty will only become more and more chaotic."
What we can do now is to hold onto our small territory of Daning and accumulate strength.

As long as Da Ning is stable, no matter what happens in the future, we will have a place to stand.

The method for storing the Thunderclap Seeds must be tested tomorrow, and they must be sent to the capital as soon as possible.

He then gave the following instructions:

"And as for Bayar, weapons and food must be supplied on time."
He should take control of Buyurhai as soon as possible to stabilize the northern border region.

If Bayar doesn't have the ability, then send the elite troops of the Doyan Three Guards.
The Doyan Three Guards currently have no shortage of food or armor.

Three letters a day demanding war; this can't go on like this.

"Okay, don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Liu Heiying said in a deep voice, his tone firm.

Lu Yunyi turned around, a faint smile on his face:
"Go back and rest first, there's no need to panic."

"it is good."

Liu Heiying responded and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lu Yunyi:
"Brother Yun'er, don't overwork yourself, take care of your health."

Lu Yunyi smiled and waved:
"understood."

Liu Heiying gently closed the door, and the yamen returned to calm.

After sitting back down at his desk, Lu Yunyi picked up the urgent report from Yingtian Trading Company, which detailed the events in the capital over the past month.

His Highness the Crown Prince still did not attend court, nor did he handle any official documents.
His Majesty is growing older and his thoughts are becoming increasingly unfathomable.

The clashes resumed in the imperial court, followed by an eerie calm.

It's like everyone's waiting, waiting for the real shoe to drop.

Lu Yunyi picked up a pen and paper from the side and wrote a line on the secret report:

"There is unusual activity in the Northwest. Keep a close eye on it and make arrangements in secret, waiting for the right opportunity. The timing of the activity is up to you." After writing the report, he folded it up and put it in a hidden compartment in his desk. Then he picked up a document about the workshop and began to read it again.

At the fourth watch of the night, the city of Daning was still shrouded in inky darkness.

The hurried footsteps of the city's garrison broke the deathly silence of the streets and alleys!
Zhang Bin received Liu Heiying's orders and dared not delay for a moment.

He personally led two detachments of city defense troops, splitting them into two groups.

We rushed towards Sai Shang Ju on Gulou Street in the south of the city.

Another route went straight to Mobei Tower on Anhe Street in the north of the city.

Military orders are absolute. The city's garrison soldiers, clad in black armor, with their long swords drawn half an inch from their sheaths, had eyes as sharp as eagles!
Shen Junhao, the manager of Sai Shang Ju, had just put on his clothes and gotten up when

I want to add fuel to the fire so that the market won't be short of fuel tomorrow morning.

But before he could even touch the stove, a loud bang came from outside the courtyard gate.
The courtyard gate was kicked open by the city defense soldiers, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in.

"Commander, this is an investigation! Everyone, stay put!"

The leading centurion shouted loudly,
The city defense troops rushed in and instantly took control of the courtyard.

Shen Junhao was so frightened that his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself:

"Sir, sir, spare my life!"

Without wasting words with him, the city guards swiftly bound Shen Junhao and his family with rope.
Along with the shop's three employees, two cooks, and their in-laws who lived in the backyard, they all pushed and shoved their way out.

Shen Junhao's wife was crying and sobbing:

"We just run a restaurant, we're law-abiding citizens, what crime did we commit?"

No one paid any attention to her cries.

The city defense troops acted swiftly, escorting the man onto the prepared carriage.
The carriage curtain was drawn back, leaving only the crunching sound of wheels rolling over the snow before disappearing into the darkness.

Meanwhile, the same scene was unfolding at Mobei Tower in the north of the city.

The shopkeeper, Wang Chengye, was a man in his forties.

He moved from the Northwest to Beiping in his early years, and then moved to Daning to open a shop. He is usually smooth and knowledgeable.

Upon hearing the commotion, he tried to calm himself down and argued with the city garrison:

"Sir, my restaurant is a legitimate business."

"The Commander-in-Chief is a frequent visitor; have you arrested the wrong person?"

But the city garrison only obeyed military orders and tied him up without saying a word.

Wang Chengye's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Seeing the waiters, the cooks, and even his distant nephew who was helping out in the shop being taken away, my heart sank.
I had a vague feeling that something terrible might have happened.

He dared not say another word, his eyes filled with panic.

In less than an hour, the managers, waiters, cooks, their families, and close associates of both restaurants arrived.
All thirty-seven people were taken to a side courtyard of the city defense army's yamen.

These people were tied to the pillars, thinly dressed, and shivering with cold.
Cries and pleas rose and fell, but were coldly silenced by the city guards.

The three streets in the north of the city were blocked off.
At this moment, some movement gradually began to occur.

As dawn broke, people began carrying their tools, preparing to go to work in the workshops in the north of the city.

Upon reaching the street corner, they were blocked by city guards wielding long swords and holding shields.

"Halt! This road is blocked. No passage allowed!"

The city garrison's voice was stern, leaving no room for negotiation.

The people were immediately in an uproar, their faces filled with confusion:

"Sir, what's going on? Why won't you let me through? I have to get to work!"

A blacksmith carrying a hammer said urgently. He was a key member of the ironworks. Although being late wouldn't result in a deduction in pay, it would have a bad influence.

"Yeah, we'd usually be through this time, why is it suddenly locked down today?"

"Has something happened?"

The murmurs grew louder, and one of the flag bearers shouted:

"Commander Fengdu, three streets are temporarily sealed off!"

Those who want to work at the workshop should show their waist tag, queue up, register, and then they can pass.

No one else is allowed to enter. Go home and await further instructions!

The people calmed down a bit and took out the wooden waist tags issued by the workshop.

The city guards checked each person's identity, registered their names, and allowed them to pass through in a slow but orderly manner.

Once you cross the street corner, you'll see that both sides of the street are lined with city defense troops.
Everyone looked solemn, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"What on earth happened? Why is there such a big commotion?" someone couldn't help but mutter to themselves.

"Who knows? Judging from this, it's probably not simple."

When the people arrived at the workshop, they found that there were also many soldiers standing at the entrance.

Even the usually amiable stewards looked solemn.

After the whistle blew to start work, the supervisors did not assign tasks as usual.
Instead, he summoned all the craftsmen and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow villagers, I have something to tell you. Last night, Lord Lu was ambushed by assassins on West Heng Street!"

"What?"

These words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding among the craftsmen.

"My goodness! Is Lord Lu alright?"

The steward raised his hand to quell the noise and continued:
"Don't worry, everyone. Lord Lu is protected by his personal guards and is safe and sound."

Those assassins were incredibly audacious, daring to carry out assassinations deep within the city of Daning!
The Commander-in-Chief is currently focusing on tracking down the assassin's accomplices, and the street blockade is also part of the manhunt for any remaining members.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a burst of angry roars erupted from the workshop:

"You son of a bitch! How dare you harm Lord Lu!"

A craftsman with a full beard was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged.

The hammer in his hand slammed down on the furnace with a clang:

"These bastards can't stand to see others do well. Drag out all those assassins' accomplices and tear them to pieces!"

The people were outraged, their fists clenched, their eyes filled with anger.

The changes in Daning in recent years

They saw it all and remembered it.

From a bitterly cold place that everyone avoids,
Today, merchants gather here and people live in peace and prosperity, all thanks to the strong support of the Military Command!
Lord Lu was their provider, the pillar of Da Ning.

Anyone who dares to assassinate him would be defying the will of the people.

"Don't worry, everyone, the Commander is already doing everything he can to investigate!" the steward announced loudly.

"All we can do now is work hard."
Complete the production of military equipment and supplies on time, and don't cause any trouble for the Commander-in-Chief!

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the city garrison headquarters, the merchants who had been arrested the day before were being released one by one.

Mi Chen leaned against the wall, his legs still wobbling.

He hadn't slept a wink all night, his face ashen white.
Her neatly styled hair came undone, revealing her haggard face.

A gust of cold wind blew, and he couldn't help but shiver, not from the cold, but from the lingering fear.

He had lived most of his life and seen many storms.

But I have never felt as terrified as I did last night. It was a kind of desperate despair that made me feel like I was on the verge of death!
One wrong word and you could be beheaded.

"Manager Mi, are you alright?"

Hu Chongyi walked over, his voice hoarse.

He was even more disheveled than Mi Chen; his cotton robe collar was stained, his lips were chapped, and his eyes still held a hint of shock.
But his past as a bandit gave him more composure than other shopkeepers.

Mi Chen shook his head, forcing a smile:
"It's nothing, I'm just a little weak."

Wang Ze, Huang Huai, and others also came out one after another.

They all looked haggard and walked with unsteady steps.

They supported each other as they slowly walked out of the city garrison headquarters.
No one spoke; a heavy atmosphere filled the air.

Just then, a shrill scream suddenly came from the yamen behind them, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Immediately afterwards, several more screams rang out in succession, one after another, sending chills down one's spine.

The merchants froze, quickening their pace in unison, none daring to look back.

The screams came from the direction of the prison cells deep inside the government office.
It's obvious that the people from the two restaurants that were arrested last night are being interrogated.

Hu Chongyi shrank back and lowered his voice:

"This is terrifying!"

Huang Huai's face turned pale, and his lips trembled:

"Thankfully, thankfully we weren't tortured."

Mi Chen took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Let's go home quickly. Remember, what happened last night is a secret. Don't mention it to anyone."

Also, be careful with your words and actions in the future, and don't cause any more trouble for the Commander.

(End of this chapter)