In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 608 Go ask, go see, what exactly happened.

It's close to midnight, around 12 o'clock at night.

Zhao Mian left the Ministry of Justice.

He did not go home, but instead traveled to No. 15 Beishi Street.

This is the Liu residence, which is also the home of his father-in-law.

Zhao Mian gently knocked on the brass ring.

The spacious gate opened quickly.

He darted inside.

Before long, he met Liu Sanwu, a Hanlin scholar who was over seventy years old, in the inner study.

Liu Sanwu sat behind his desk.

Quietly gazing at a piece of calligraphy and painting on the table, offering their critique and commentary.

He took sips of tea every now and then, appearing very relaxed.

Hearing footsteps and the sound of the door opening, Liu Sanwu looked up at Zhao Mian, who had entered the room:
"Seung-jun is here?"

"father in law."

Zhao Mian bowed in greeting.

He then sat down unceremoniously on a chair to the side, his face somewhat somber.

after awhile,

Liu Sanwu then put away the calligraphy and paintings on the table.

He took his teacup and sat down next to Zhao Mian.

Seeing Zhao Mian's gloomy face, Liu Sanwu asked with a smile:

"How did things go?"

"Liu Sili's attitude was tough, so the matter wasn't resolved. We'll continue tomorrow."

Zhao Mian said calmly.

Liu Sanwu smiled and nodded:

"This guy does have some skill."

If he admits it so easily, I really look down on him.

Did any other adults go tonight?

Liu Sanwu had deep-set eyes, and a glint of light flashed in them.

Zhao Mian shook his head:

"No, there was only one Liu Sili from beginning to end, along with many employees of the trading company."

"That's right."

The Korean envoy has arrived in Beijing, and no one dares to make any rash moves.

There are no tigers in the mountains, and the monkeys are kings.

When the Korean Duke was away, they all jumped around excitedly, acting like they were the most important people in the world.

They've all behaved themselves now.

Liu Sanwu's voice was deep and resonant, and his words carried a hint of cheerfulness.

A hint of worry flashed across Zhao Mian's face as he stroked his beard:
"Father-in-law, this is not a long-term solution."

How long can the South Korean public stay in Gyeongsang?

and…

This time, the Korean minister came to Beijing.
It seems they intend to confront His Majesty; the outcome is still uncertain.

Liu Sanwu grinned.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, like winding mountains and rivers.

"Throughout history, there has never been an emperor who shared the world with the people."

They either had the backing of a powerful family or the backing of a noble family.

Now that the aristocracy is gone, the central court can only rely on scholar-officials and intellectuals.

Even His Majesty,
Before Liu Ji died, didn't he rely on scholars like you and me?

His Majesty now feels he is in his prime and wants to make some changes.
He implemented new policies and compiled the Yellow Register of Fish Scales, always thinking of the people's well-being.

But this is just an experiment.

All things in the world often lead to the same destination, despite their different paths.
From prosperity to decline.

After His Majesty dies and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the court will no longer be so powerful.

Then it will be up to you and me to govern the country.

At this point, Liu Sanwu shook his head, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes:
"It's a pity that I'm getting old and I'm afraid I won't live to see that day."

Zhao Mian also looked sentimental and let out a long sigh:

"I hope so."

"This is the way of the world."

Liu Sanwu said calmly, exuding a sharp aura.

Zhao Mian paused for a moment, then said:

“Father-in-law, Lu Yunyi is my junior apprentice no matter how you look at it.”

If we could win him over, the situation would be much better, and I wouldn't have to be the one leading the charge.

When Zhang Heng came to see me today, I was still a little hesitant.

After all, doing this is... a bit of a thankless task.

Liu Sanwu glanced at him with a smile and shook his head:

"Not putting in the effort when you should"

How can you expect to get a share of the credit later?

"That makes sense... But what about Lu Yunyi?"

Liu Sanwu said calmly:
"Don't worry about him."

A proud and arrogant nature

I'm young now, and all I want to do is make a name for myself and do everything myself.

Little did they know that they were making enemies of the entire world.

Why not share the benefits with others?

Why would someone think of him when others benefit from something?
See, they slunk away to Daning.

"I think this is a kind of protection for him in the palace."

Zhao Mian said.

"It is about protection, but there are many ways to protect it."

Transferring people to the ends of the earth

This isn't necessarily protection; it's more a case of both advantages and disadvantages.

Your nephew,
When you get older, you'll realize things aren't that simple.

You should spend more time with him then, because I won't live to see that day..."

“Father-in-law, I’m tired of hearing you talk about life and death all the time.”

"Hahahaha, I'm just going to keep repeating it."
My constant nagging annoyed even the King of Hell and the Heavenly Emperor, who told me to keep this old man a little longer.

Liu Sanwu burst into hearty laughter.

Then he stroked his long beard:

"As a scholar born in a chaotic world, all I have ever seen in my life is fighting and killing."

It is truly a great regret that we did not live to see a world in harmony.

“Father-in-law, there is still a chance… News has come from the palace that His Majesty’s health is not good.”

"I haven't taken a walk in the palace or ridden a bicycle these days."

Zhao Mian's eyes deepened.

"Oh? That's good news."

His Majesty has seized absolute power, but he's finally failing...

"That will make things a bit easier for us officials."

Zhao Mian suddenly felt somewhat lost, yet also somewhat sentimental:

"Father-in-law, if His Majesty passes away, will the situation really improve? His Highness the Crown Prince is also very strict."

Liu Sanwu glanced at him:
"Afraid?"

Zhao Mian hesitated several times before finally nodding:
"A little."

Liu Sanwu smiled with relief:
"You're just too young; you haven't experienced the change of emperors."

Starting with Emperor Yingzong of Yuan
I have served as emperor of the Yuan dynasty for seven years.

If His Majesty were included,

In my lifetime, I have lived under eight emperors.

Each change of the throne was no less than a change of dynasty.

The imperial court's decrees, policy directions, and even foreign policy strategies will all undergo a transformation.

It is common for government decrees that were originally directed eastward to suddenly turn westward.

The extremes must be reversed.

Once His Majesty passes away
At least the harsh policies imposed on our officials will change, or at least be eased somewhat, which will make things much easier.

Moreover, the situation might not just ease a little, but could even take a complete 180-degree turn.

So you don't need to be afraid. The more frequently the throne changes hands, the more chaotic the world will become.
The more secure our officials' positions become.

Zhao Mian took a deep breath and nodded heavily:

"I understand."

"Go back and rest early."

I'm getting old and need less sleep.

You're still young, you need to rest and sleep more; that's how you live a long life.

Zhao Mian slowly stood up and bowed deeply:
"Thank you for your explanation, Father-in-law. I will take my leave now."

"go Go."

Liu Sanwu waved his hand and slowly stood up.

He went behind the desk.

I continued looking at the calligraphy and painting on the table.

The next morning, the sun rose as usual.

The people of the capital began their day's work as usual.

They could either go to work or serve in government offices.

But passersby on Fudong Street discovered that
Yingtian Trading Company did not open for business as usual. Instead, a large crowd gathered at the entrance, with clerks and runners from various government offices surrounding the company.

Some people had already gathered around, wanting to see what had happened.

Liu Sili, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, stood at the entrance of the trading company, looking utterly dejected.

His eyes were sunken, bloodshot, and his hair was a mess.

Not far from him were Zhang Heng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites; Ling Han, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice; and Zhou Zhiqing, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

There were also a group of yamen runners and clerks accompanying them, totaling nearly three hundred people.

They completely surrounded the Yingtian Trading Company.
Employees outside couldn't get in, and employees inside couldn't get out; the scene resembled a human wall.

"My lord...should we ask the officials of the Governor's Office and the Ministry of Works?"

Bian Rong also looked haggard.
He walked up to Liu Sili and asked in a low voice.

Liu Sili stared blankly at the crowd before him, his lips moved, but in the end he gently shook his head.
"If I was going to come, I would have come long ago."

There must be a reason why he hasn't come; there's no need to force him.

Bian Rong was filled with disappointment upon hearing this, and a nameless rage suddenly welled up within him:

"These adults are more eager than anyone else when it comes to dividing up money, but when trouble comes, not a single one of them is there."

Those around him shared the same sentiment and nodded in agreement.

Liu Sili shook his head, his voice weary:
Things are not always black and white.

Who wouldn't want to keep such a treasure that can lay golden eggs?

If it can be saved, who wouldn't come?

After a night of reflection, Liu Sili finally understood.

Everything changed after his son-in-law left the capital and the Duke of Han entered the capital.

He was unaware of the power struggles or battles for power and wealth involved.

But he knew that the business was closing down not because of any corpses or murders.
Rather, it was the result of power struggles within the imperial court.

Even his son-in-law's sudden departure from Beijing may have been partly due to this consideration.

But a problem that followed left Liu Sili perplexed:
"What should I do? Fight back, or compromise?"

Liu Sili felt that this problem was too difficult.

Upon arriving in the capital, he couldn't even distinguish between friend and foe.
We don't know who the enemy is, who the friend is, or what the other side is thinking.

This has left him feeling helpless and unsure how to proceed.

They could only watch helplessly as these people acted with impunity.

Suddenly, Liu Sili gave a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head helplessly:

"How could I, a mere fourth-rank official, possibly get involved in such a power struggle between high-ranking officials? It's truly overestimating my abilities."

Liu Sili suddenly felt somewhat frustrated; he felt pain all over his body.

The past month in the capital has been more tiring than the six years he spent as an official in Qingzhou.

"What a chore..."

Under the stunned gazes of everyone, Liu Sili leaned against the entrance of the trading company and slowly sat down.

He even leaned his head against the door, looking completely bewildered.

Seeing him like this, many officials were also dejected and disheartened.

If the adults are already like this, what else can they do?

Time flies, the morning sunlight is fleeting, and soon it's morning.

The sunlight became blinding, and the air was thick with sweltering heat.

Yingtian Trading Company was still surrounded by officials and yamen runners, and it was unclear when they would be freed.

The crowd of onlookers dwindled from a massive throng to a sparse one.

Passersby would only glance at it occasionally, then let out a sigh.

How could such a good business suddenly close down?
Are the items being sold too cheaply?
Old Man Yan from Tianfu Village had already heard the news about this place.

He rushed over with a group of villagers from Beijing.

Upon seeing the heavily guarded trading post, a sense of helplessness suddenly welled up within me.

If all the trading companies are closed, how can they do business with them?

Does the big prize I won a few days ago still count?
A real and harsh problem is before us:

It definitely doesn't count.

Yan Er sat somewhat forlornly in the shade opposite the shop, staring blankly at the still bustling shop ahead.

"These corrupt officials... just when things were finally getting better, they came to cause trouble."

If all officials in the world were like Lord Lu…

Yan Er thought to himself, but he understood that whether in the former Yuan Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty,
Officials who truly serve the country and its people are ultimately a minority, perhaps one in ten thousand.

"Ugh"

With a heavy sigh, Yan Er looked even older, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.

At this moment, a group of people from Wanshou Sugar Workshop arrived pushing a horse-drawn cart loaded with white sugar and brown sugar.

The heavy ruts rolled on the ground, making a creaking sound.

But when he saw the shop with its doors tightly shut, the head eunuch, Ma Ming, was somewhat taken aback.

How is this going?

After making some inquiries, everyone felt frustrated and bewildered.

The eunuch Ma Ming leaned back in the carriage, lost in thought, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"The master has only been gone for a day, and the business has already been shut down... This is outrageous!"

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Yujia Village in Jurong County.

More than twenty large frames, neatly arranged, were placed on a cloth mat at the entrance of the village.

These are goods for Yingtian Trading Company; they were packed yesterday.

All that's needed is for someone from Yingtian Trading Company to come and take the goods away.

From a single guard at dawn, to a dozen or so at midday, and now to the entire village at nearly noon...

The scene went from quiet to noisy, and then back to quiet.

Everyone wore an unprecedented look of panic.

It all stems from one question:
Why didn't anyone from the trading company come today?

Why didn't those wobbly tricycles show up as usual?
They still remember that it was always a young man with one arm who led the way, named Ding Xu.

After an unknown amount of time, a gentle breeze blew over, carrying the noisy atmosphere of Yingtian.

This made everyone feel frustrated.

"We...can't just wait here. We have to go and ask, to see what happened."

Just a few days ago they were saying our bamboo was selling very well.

"You want more in the future, why didn't you come today?"

An elderly man sat up shakily from the bamboo basket and spoke in a trembling voice.

The sound broke the silence, and light returned to the empty eyes of those around them.

“Yes…we have to go and take a look. Even if we don’t do business with Yingtian Trading Company, we can still do business with other companies.”

"Yes...we should go and take a look. The business cannot go back on its word; the contract has already been signed."

The atmosphere shifted from deathly silence to noisy as everyone started talking.

The group loaded onto a donkey cart, selected the able-bodied men from the village, and headed towards Yingtian City along the newly paved cement road.

Yaojia Village, Jiangning County.

Large millstones were placed on the muddy ground at the entrance of the village.

There was a cement road not far away, and they were afraid that the millstone would damage the road, so they didn't put it on the road.

A group of strong, muscular men waited nearby.

After the people from Yingtian Trading Company arrive, they will have to load the millstone onto the carriage.

We also have to go with them and help them install it.

The merchant will provide a travel allowance at that time.

But today, I waited from morning until noon, and still no one showed up.

In the past, the merchants would arrive before dawn.

"We need to go and see what happened."

A strong, muscular man stood up and made up his mind.

It's clear that he has a lot of prestige.

As soon as he spoke, everyone else stood up, expressing their desire to go and see...

Soon, the millstone was left at the village entrance and guarded by women and children.

The group of able-bodied young men rode in donkey carts onto the brand-new cement road, heading towards the capital.

Chunshui Village in Jiangpu.

This place is famous for its water; streams flow gently down the mountain cliffs, bringing clarity and sweetness.

The villagers make a living from this.

At this moment, at the village entrance,

Bundles of bamboo were neatly arranged there, basking in the sunlight.

These bamboos are different from ordinary bamboos; their nodes are fine and dense, and each one is different.

Bamboo segments range in length from one finger to one palm, with a complete variety.

In the past, the villagers would have been happy at this time.

But today, they just couldn't be happy.

The merchants didn't come.

Bamboo can only be piled up in the corner.

The villagers' smiles vanished, and they looked listless, as if they had lost all their strength.

"We have to go check it out..."

What exactly happened? Waiting like this isn't going to solve anything.

A chubby-faced, half-grown child spoke up in the silence, as if igniting the still atmosphere.

"Yes, we need to go check it out..."

So the villagers pulled donkey carts and oxcarts, carrying bundles of bamboo, and set off for Yingtian, the capital city.

Similar actions were taken by Zhao Family Village, Chen Family Village, Liu Family Village, and Zhang Family Village in Shangyuan County, and Wang Family Village, Xiao Family Village, and Dai Family Village in Jiangning County…

For a time, the eight counties surrounding Yingtian seemed to become lively.

The tricycles that used to be on the official roads have disappeared, and the employees of the trading companies have also vanished.

Instead, countless donkey carts and oxcarts appeared, creating an unprecedented level of activity.

(End of this chapter)