In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1067 The most important thing is spending money.
When money was mentioned, Liu Heiying's expression became more serious, and he looked more composed.
"Brother Yun'er, we had the accountant take stock of the assets last month."

There were still more than 623,000 taels of silver left in the accounts.

In addition, Baisongbu delivered three large truckloads of gold dust two months ago.

It amounted to over 1,300 taels of silver, said to be a token of gratitude for the military equipment and provisions we supplied.
Lord Pan from Liaodong also sent 120 cartloads of iron ore.
It's all top-quality refined iron ore, enough for the weapons workshop to use for more than half a year. They said it was to thank us for helping build the cement workshop.

He paused, his tone light and cheerful:

"Trade is also booming, with trade with the grasslands and Korea becoming increasingly prosperous."

Just from furs, tea, sugar, and ironware, they earned 1.07 million taels in a year, and they estimate they can earn even more next year.

The workshop's goods are currently in short supply.
Goryeo also sent envoys, saying they wanted to deepen cooperation.

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes:
"Not bad, they have a fairly solid financial foundation."

He looked up at Liu Heiying, his tone firm:
"Don't save this money, spend it as soon as possible."

"Spend it?"

Liu Heiying was stunned for a moment:
"Brother Yun'er, we have enough to cover the expenses of our workshops, farms, and city defenses. Where should we spend any more money?"

"Money is nothing but a pile of waste paper if it is not transformed into strength."

Lu Yunyi shook his head, his eyes deep:

"The world will be in chaos sooner or later, and the current forces are not enough."

First, equip the militia with military supplies in advance, providing each member with a short sword, as well as sufficient shields and crossbows for future use.
Secondly, we need to improve the workshop equipment. In production, only continuous investment can produce good products.

Third, continue to cultivate more land and store more grain. In times of chaos, grain is more valuable than silver.
Fourth, increase the monthly wages of artisans and soldiers, and establish schools in garrisons and newly built cities to enable the children of military households to read and write, thus stabilizing morale.

He took a sip of tea and continued:
Money is inanimate, but people are alive.

Only by spending money in these areas can it become a real force.

"The commander is generous; only then can those who follow us feel at ease. This is the only long-term solution."

Liu Heiying pondered for a moment, then nodded emphatically:
"I understand. I'll have Wu Su'an and the others draft a detailed expense plan and implement it as soon as possible."

Lu Yunyi hummed in agreement, then changed the subject, his expression becoming somewhat subtle:

"There's something else I'd like to discuss with you."

"Brother Yun'er, what's the matter?"

Seeing his appearance, Liu Heiying's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely felt that this was no small matter.

Lu Yunyi's fingertip landed on a list on the table, and he slowly said:

“I want to transfer Tuoluhuchaer to the capital and make him the deputy commander, specifically in charge of training those militiamen.”

"what?"

Liu Heiying's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with disbelief:

"Brother Yun'er, you're not kidding, are you?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head: "Of course it's not a joke."

Liu Heiying spoke urgently:
"Brother Yun'er, although he is now obedient and submissive..."
But that's because we're strong enough to give them benefits!
No one can really know what he's thinking!

Besides, we're the ones who cut off his hand; he might never forget that grudge.

Now they've brought him to the military headquarters and made him train the militia.
If he were to secretly sabotage things, the consequences would be unimaginable!

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his voice rising several decibels:

"We have plenty of men under our command who are capable of fighting and training, and many of our veteran brothers are still earning seniority in various garrisons."

Why insist on finding an outsider like Toruhuchar?

Seeing his excited expression, Lu Yunyi didn't immediately refute him. Instead, he picked up his teacup and slowly sipped, waiting for him to finish before gently setting the cup down, his tone calm:

"Black Hawk, I've thought about all of what you've said."

"It's precisely because he has a history with us that I feel comfortable letting him come."

Liu Heiying was stunned, his face full of confusion:
"What's the point of this?"

Lu Yunyi tapped the table surface lightly with his fingertips:
"First, Toruhuchar is truly capable."

He was once appointed as the Marshal of Doyan by the Northern Yuan Dynasty. He showed his talent at the age of sixteen. His ability to lead troops and train soldiers was better than that of Li Xian and Zhang Bin.

Moreover, he had been a tribal chief and knew how to train ordinary people who had never been on the battlefield, which was perfect for training militia.

"Secondly, he has no way out now."

After a pause, Lu Yunyi continued:

"The three guards of Duoyan rely entirely on us for food and weapons. He is a smart man and knows what he should and shouldn't do."

"Third, and most importantly, there are more and more grassland people in the city."

They were all working the land for the commander, so they deserved a certain status.

Otherwise, wouldn't our slogan of treating everyone equally become empty words?
Tuoluhuchaer enjoys considerable prestige among the people of the grasslands. Bringing him up would keep him under close watch and also reassure the people of the grasslands in the city.

Furthermore…

Lu Yunyi pursed his lips and said softly:
“His Highness Prince Ning may be going to his fiefdom soon. When he comes to Daning City, it will inevitably cause a great commotion. The military command will need someone to play the bad cop.”

"what?"

Liu Heiying's eyes widened suddenly:
"Why so fast?"

Lu Yunyi sighed and rubbed his temples:
"His Highness Prince Ning mentioned this matter to me when we were in the capital."
I thought it was a joke at the time, but I didn't expect it to be so fast.

News has come from the capital that His Majesty plans to send several princes to their fiefdoms soon, to keep them away from the turmoil in the capital.

The shock on Liu Heiying's face slowly faded.

Instead, a hint of undisguised seriousness appeared on his face, his brows furrowed in a deep frown.
“Brother Yun’er, a prince taking up his fief is no small matter.”

He lowered his voice very low:
"His Highness Prince Ning is, after all, a member of the imperial family, and he has come by imperial decree. We must be respectful on the surface."

If he tries to interfere in the affairs of the Commandery or plant his own people, should we stop him or not?

He paused, his tone full of concern:

"Now, whatever we want to do, we can get it done with just a word."

Workshops, soldiers, and laborers were all at his command.

But when the vassal king arrives, rules and regulations must be observed in everything.
"I might still be hampered by him, how could I be as adept as I am now?"

Seeing his anxious expression, Lu Yunyi smiled faintly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly:

"Black Hawk, you're overthinking it. The princes' return to their fiefdoms is merely a temporary measure by His Majesty to keep them away from the turmoil in the capital."

Military and financial power in Daning City, as well as its vital industries such as workshops, agricultural settlements, and trade, are all under our control.
The people's hearts are with the Commander-in-Chief.

What right does a foreign vassal king have to seize power?
Moreover, Prince Ning is still young, just a child. He can't cause any trouble.

Liu Heiying thought about it and felt that what he said made sense, but he still felt a little uncomfortable:
"That's true, but suddenly there's an outsider here, and we have to be mindful of etiquette in everything we do, which is always a hassle."

Lu Yunyi continued:

"When His Highness Prince Ning comes to Da Ning, the Commandery must take him seriously and give him the respect he deserves."
The princely residence and the treatment he received were all in accordance with regulations, so that he could live a peaceful and stable life as a prince.

As for the affairs of the commander, he had no say in them.

If we know what's good for us, we can all live in peace.
If he doesn't know what's good for him, there are plenty of ways to make him back down.

He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes becoming deep and thoughtful:

"Furthermore, His Highness Prince Ning has always been cautious in the capital, and this time his enfeoffment was out of necessity."

Although he will bring some subordinates, I believe they are all intelligent people and won't make a fool of themselves.

Time flies, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

The snow in Daning City gradually stopped, and the streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with red lanterns hanging all over the shops on both sides of the streets and alleys.

The roads in front of every household have been swept clean.

The children, dressed in new clothes, chased and played in the snow, their laughter ringing out.

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner.
The entire city was enveloped in a lively and peaceful atmosphere.

The front courtyard of the military headquarters was now packed with people.

Officials, clerks, workshop managers, and heads of agricultural settlements at all levels
They lined up in neat rows, their faces full of anticipation.

Lu Yunyi, dressed in the official robes of a second-rank official, stood on the steps with a calm expression, while Basong and several guards stood beside him.

"You've all worked hard all year."

Lu Yunyi's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"This year, everything has gone smoothly for the Commandery. Workshops have increased production, the military farms have yielded a bumper harvest, and trade is thriving—all thanks to everyone's efforts. As per tradition, this year's annual reward..."
It's still three months' salary.

Add two shi of rice, one shi of flour, twenty jin of oil, and five jin of sugar per person.

As soon as he finished speaking, whispers arose from the crowd. Many officials looked excited, as these things alone were equivalent to several months' salary for them.

Lu Yunyi raised his hand to press down, and continued:

"In addition, each official and clerk will be rewarded with a live sheep."
In addition to the aforementioned rewards, the artisans in the workshop received an extra string of copper coins.
Each household that participated in the land reclamation project received an additional bolt of coarse cloth and two jin of cotton, so that everyone could make new clothes for the New Year.

Upon hearing this, the crowd became even more excited and shouted in unison:

"Thank you, Lord Lu!"

The officials smiled modestly, the clerks wore expressions of joy, and the artisans and farmer representatives were so excited that their faces turned red.

These past few years, following the commander, my life has become increasingly prosperous.

The annual reward is more generous each year.
Not only could they receive a salary and grain, but they also had meat and cloth, making life a hundred times better than before.

"The warehouse of the commander is well stocked, so please take what you need."

A faint smile appeared on Lu Yunyi's face:
"After receiving your reward, go home and celebrate the New Year with your family."

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month after the New Year, the military commander held a banquet at the drill ground, and everyone gathered to celebrate.

"Thank you, sir!"

Cheers erupted again, and the crowd lined up in an orderly fashion, following the accountant and soldiers to the treasury to receive their rewards.

Everyone's face was beaming with smiles as they congratulated each other.
As they discussed their plans for the New Year, the entire military headquarters was enveloped in a festive atmosphere, offering a rare moment of relaxation.

Meanwhile, in Beiping, eight hundred miles away, the atmosphere was completely different.

Prince Yan Zhu Di's military tent was set up in a military camp outside Beiping City. The tent was brightly lit, and the air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur.

Several neatly sealed hand grenades were arranged on the table.
There was also a small bag of gunpowder next to it.

Two craftsmen from Daning City stood respectfully to one side.

Zhu Di, dressed in a black brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, had a resolute face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He was bending down to carefully examine the fist-sized black object before him.

"These are the new firearms of Da Ning?"

"Your Highness, that's right."

The lead craftsman quickly bowed and replied:
"This item is called a hand grenade. It is made with the latest granular gunpowder from Da Ning, and its power is several times greater than that of ordinary gunpowder."

Once the fuse is lit, it will explode in about three breaths after being thrown out, capable of injuring people and livestock within several meters, and easily piercing armor.

Zhu Di nodded slightly, said nothing, and turned his gaze to the bag of gunpowder.

The eldest son, Zhu Gaochi, stepped forward slowly. He was slightly overweight, with a gentle face and a steady tone, appearing more mature than usual.
“Father, this thing is small and much lighter than some of the gunpowder used in the army.”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded repeatedly, scratching his head and cheeks, appearing somewhat impatient:

"Dad, let's find a place to test its power and see just how strong this grenade really is!"

Zhu Di looked up at Zhu Gaochi, a faint smile playing on his lips:

"You're quite impatient. Fine, go try it out in the open space outside the camp and let everyone see what it's like."

As soon as he finished speaking, soft footsteps came from outside the tent.
Princess Consort Xu of Yan, dressed in a plain brocade dress, entered with the help of her maid.

Her face was dignified, her eyes gentle, and she spoke softly:

"Your Highness, I heard that the new firearms sent by Da Ning have arrived, so I've come to take a look."

"The princess has arrived."

Zhu Di's tone softened somewhat:

"Perfect, let's take a look together, that way we can feel at ease."

Madam Xu nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the hand grenade on the table, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

The group left the military tent and came to the open space outside the camp.

The area had already been cleared away, and several rows of wooden target markers stood in the distance.

There were also several abandoned tanks covered in thick armor, used to test armor-piercing capabilities.

The generals in the military camp also rushed over upon hearing the news, gathering in the distance and looking on curiously.

Two craftsmen carefully took out a hand grenade and lit the fuse:

"Your Highness, gentlemen, please retreat!"

The craftsman shouted and threw the grenade at the target in the distance.

Everyone quickly retreated. Zhu Di held Xu Shi's hand, while Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu stood on either side, retreating to a distance of several dozen feet.

All eyes were fixed on the grenade that arced through the air.

The camp was silent, except for the distinct crackling sound of the burning fuse.

"Oh!"

A loud bang suddenly exploded, like a thunderclap, making people's eardrums buzz.

A thick plume of smoke shot into the sky.

Mixed with sawdust and dust, it spread instantly.

The nearby snow was blown away by the blast wave, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the direction of the explosion, as the smoke gradually dissipated.

The spot where the target had been was now a complete mess.

The wooden target was blasted to pieces, with fragments flying dozens of paces away.
Those abandoned war chariots had large holes blown in their armor.
The car body was also shaken to pieces, scattered all over the ground.

"Good guy!"

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, his eyes filled with excitement:

"What immense power!"

Zhu Gaochi also looked shocked, but his expression remained calm:

"The power is indeed astonishing, but the fuse burns too fast. What if it blows up our own people?"

Madam Xu clutched her chest, her face still showing signs of shock, and whispered:
"This is far more powerful than the firearms and mines currently used in the army."

Zhu Di stood still, his face expressionless, but his eyes grew increasingly solemn.

He stared at the chaotic scene, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly spoke:
"Lu Yunyi did not disappoint. This grenade is far superior to all the firearms currently used by the imperial court."

He turned to look at Zhang Yu beside him:

"Pass down the order to properly store these grenades, assign special personnel to guard them, and prohibit anyone from taking them without authorization."

Furthermore, have the artisans in the workshop study it carefully and try to make it as soon as possible.

"Yes! Your Highness!"

Zhang Yu responded, his expression very solemn.

He had personally experienced the war in the southwest and was well aware of the power of firearms.

Now, only three years later, the firepower of Daning's firearms has reached a new level, which greatly shocked him.

Zhu Di then looked at the two craftsmen from Daning, his tone softening considerably:
“You have done a good job. Go back and tell Lord Lu that I am very satisfied.”

"Yes! I will certainly convey this to Lord Lu!"

The craftsmen quickly bowed and greeted them, their faces beaming with joy.

"Let's go back to camp."

Zhu Di turned around, his tone regaining its usual composure:

"Let's plan this out carefully. After spring, we'll use these grenades to train the troops first."

Meanwhile, a caravan of carriages, escorted by the Taxue Trading Company, carefully left Beiping City and headed south!

A group of more than a dozen people escorted the carriage, their expressions tense and somewhat apprehensive.
The carriage contained the most powerful thunderbolt in the world today.
If it explodes unexpectedly midway,

None of them will survive!
The team leader glanced at the sky, checked the map again, and said in a solemn voice with a serious expression:

"Everyone, stay alert and keep an eye on the carriage!"

If all goes well, we should be able to reach the capital in about two weeks.

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)