In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 615 Rong'er, your hands are even more delicate than before.

The main office in the center of the rear hall of the Commander-in-Chief's Office
It was the office of Commander-in-Chief Zhou Xing.

When Lu Yunyi arrived, many of the officers from the Commandery had already arrived.

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded to them as a greeting.

Some adults, however, looked at him with rather strange eyes.

They looked him up and down, their eyes filled with horror.

Some people couldn't help but exclaim in their hearts:

"too young."

Lu Yunyi ignored this and simply stood quietly at the front of the line that had been cleared.

A short while later, an official hurried out.
He bowed to everyone present, then looked at Lu Yunyi and said in a deep voice:
"Lord Lu, Lord Zhou invites you in."

"Ah."

Lu Yunyi nodded and stepped into the yamen.

Compared to the side room on the left, this office is much more spacious.

Upon entering, a huge furnace immediately catches the eye.
The charcoal inside the furnace was burning fiercely, and the heat was intense.

There was a partitioned room on the left side of the room, and now the screen had been pulled back, revealing a huge table.

A middle-aged man in his fifties stood there with his hands behind his back.

He was broad-shouldered and burly, and despite the cold weather, he was only wearing casual clothes.

The door opened, and a gentle breeze ruffled the hem of his clothes.

Perhaps sensing the cold wind,
He turned around and saw who it was.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Zhou Xing's face bore the distinctive "plateau red" characteristic of people from northern Xinjiang.
His skin was rough and cracked, with obvious cuts next to the wrinkles, clearly showing that he had been through a lot.

Lu Yunyi stepped forward quickly and bowed in greeting:

"Your humble servant Lu Yunyi greets Lord Zhou."

Zhou Xing stood there for a long time, looking Lu Yunyi up and down.

After a long while, he shook his head with a sigh:

"This is incredible, absolutely incredible!"
I have long heard that you are a leading figure among the younger generation of the Ming Dynasty.
They were highly disciplined in their military campaigns and acted with composure.

I never expected you to be so young; you're about the same age as my son.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Xing showed a hint of regret:
"Oh dear, look at my mouth, I can't keep it to myself, please don't take offense."

Lu Yunyi remained calm and nodded slightly.

"My achievements today are entirely due to the cultivation of the imperial court and good fortune. I dare not be arrogant."

Zhou Xing was quite surprised to see him so polite.

He strode forward and pointed to the wooden chairs lined up beside him:

"Please sit, Lord Lu."

Yesterday I was out on patrol of the border and was unable to personally greet Lord Lu; I hope you will not take offense.”

After Lu Yunyi sat down, he said with a smile:

"Lord Zhou, I am originally from Daning and I am well aware of the importance of border defense."

If Your Excellency were to come to greet me, I would be filled with trepidation.

"Hahahaha, Lord Lu is indeed a promising young man, his words are so eloquent."

Zhou Xing burst into laughter, quite impressed with Lu Yunyi.

"I've heard that Lord Lu is from Qingzhou?"

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly:
"He is from Qingzhou. He joined the army in the fifteenth year of Hongwu, and it has been quite a few years since then."

"The fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign? Seven years have passed?"

Zhou Xing was somewhat surprised, as seven years in the army was not a long time.

But he quickly realized the crux of the problem.
The person in front of me is only in his early twenties. Seven years is almost 30% of his life, which is quite a long time.

"Lord Lu's promotion is so rapid that it is rare in both the court and the public. I'm sure there are many people in the capital who are gossiping about it."

"To be honest, Lord Zhou, since returning to Yingtian after the campaign against Luchuan..."

The rumors never stopped, and they were as nasty as they could get.

Fortunately, we northerners are already used to such vulgar language and won't bother arguing with them.

"Hahaha!"

Zhou Xing laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly:

"That's right, don't bother with them."

Northern Xinjiang has been experiencing heavy snowfall year after year, leading to food and financial shortages. Maintaining the status quo is already a challenge.

Every time I return to the capital, I am subjected to ridicule and sarcasm; it's utterly absurd!
They all said I hadn't done a good job.
But when they asked them to come, not one of them dared to.
They're all hiding in the south, living a life of comfort and ease. It's utterly absurd!

A look of surprise flashed across Lu Yunyi's eyes.
The Lord Zhou in front of me seems to be a bit outspoken.

If these words were to reach the capital, they would likely cause another uproar.

Zhou Xing noticed the surprise in his eyes and smiled:
"What, do you think I'm wrong?"

"Lord Zhou, I just feel that what you said was too direct."

If the capital finds out, there will be no shortage of criticism.

"Am I afraid of them?"

Zhou Xing's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes widened:

"I can't wait for them to impeach me so they can transfer me back."

"Let whoever wants to eat this sand from the north."

Lu Yunyi pursed his lips, a helpless expression on his face.

It seems that this insult included him as well.
This Lord Zhou in front of me is really outspoken.

However, based on what I saw and heard in the capital,
What Zhou Xing said was true; indeed, no one in the north was willing to come.

The situation in Shanxi and Shaanxi was slightly better.
Although it is just as cold, it is much better than Daning.

Seeing that Lu Yunyi remained silent, Zhou Xing looked at him and said directly:
"Did those people in the court just throw you here because you're from Da Ning?"
If you ask me, this is clearly someone deliberately bullying you.

Our Great Ming Dynasty has a vast territory with many wonderful places.

"How could a young person with such a bright future like you come here!"

Seeing that he was getting more and more excited as he spoke, Lu Yunyi interrupted him with a smile:

"Lord Zhou, the reason I came to Daning is partly because I am a native of Daning."

Ultimately, however, it was because the Northern Pacification Commandery had just been established.

The imperial court sent officials to assist Lord Zhou in maintaining order.

At this point, Lu Yunyi's expression became somewhat strange, and he shrugged:

"However, Da Ning is indeed a place that people avoid at all costs these days."

I am from Qingzhou, and after many twists and turns, I have ended up serving as an official in my hometown.
And the fact that no one stopped them speaks volumes about the current state of Da Ning.

In the present Ming Dynasty, although the rule of "Southerners serving as officials in the North and Northerners serving as officials in the South" was not written into the Ming Code.

But whether it's the Ministry of Personnel or the palace...

Most of them adhere to this approach and implement the practice of appointing officials to positions in different locations.

Of course, there are some exceptions.
For example, the Beiping Regional Military Command, the Liaodong Regional Military Command, the Wusizang Regional Military Command, and the Duogan Regional Military Command.

These places are located on the frontier and conditions are harsh.

If they could find a good official position in a better place, they wouldn't come here.

Therefore, when there was a shortage of local officials, native chieftains were appointed.
Alternatively, people from Liaodong could be assigned to positions in Daning, and people from Daning could be assigned to positions in Liaodong.
People like Lu Yunyi, who were born in Daning and served as officials there, were not uncommon.

But it's rare to see someone in such a high position as him.

The atmosphere inside the yamen became somber.
Zhou Xing leaned back in his chair and sighed with emotion:
"Lord Lu, our Great Ning is a place that people despise."

They'd love for you to come.

A few days ago, a group of grassland people came from the north, saying they had nothing to eat and wanted to seek refuge with the Ming Dynasty.

I took them all in.

But unexpectedly, these heartless bastards...
They actually stole grain from a garrison and ran back to the north. It's outrageous!
You're still young. It's best to stay out of things as chaotic as Daning.

Before you came, the Duke of Xin had already written to me, telling me not to make things difficult for you.

Even if you can't stay in Da Ning and want to leave, I cannot stop you.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes. Tang He?

I've only met him a few times, why would he write a letter specifically to speak on my behalf?

Lu Yunyi kept this in mind, then smiled and said:
"Lord Zhou, you flatter me."

Although Daning is currently in chaos, with proper governance, it can become a prosperous place like Beiping.

Zhou Xing suddenly smiled and waved his hand:
"That's what His Majesty said when he sent me to Da Ning."

But I waited and waited, and even after the military headquarters was built, they still wouldn't let me return to the capital.

Sigh. At first, I was just like you.
With lofty ambitions and boundless aspirations, he was determined to govern Daming well and make it a permanent part of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

But three years have passed, and then another three years, and I really have no other choice.

The wealthy families who migrated from within the country, as well as the grassland people they brought together, each had their own problems.

The key issue is that the two sides don't get along, putting the commander in a difficult position.

If we help the wealthy households, the grassland people will cause trouble, saying that the imperial court is biased.

If we help the grassland people, the common people will accuse the commander of being a traitor, and we'll end up pleasing neither side.

This has given me a real headache.

Listening to Zhou Xing's nagging, Lu Yunyi felt the same way.

In Gyeongju, the government had taken in many of Nahachu's former followers, and this situation occurred at that time as well.

Eventually, the government simply stopped caring and let it fend for itself.

"Lord Zhou, this is precisely why the imperial court assigned us to Daning."

"Daning is located outside the Great Wall; if the people's hearts are not appeased, trouble will inevitably break out sooner or later."

"Hey!"

At this point, Zhou Xing's eyes widened:
"You've hit the nail on the head. The problem is that it's outside the Great Wall."

The wealthy households, ordinary people, and even soldiers who had moved there all wanted to go back.

Look at those officials outside. Countless people come to me every year begging me to transfer them back to the mainland.

Not to mention officials from other government departments, they received three letters a day!

I dare not agree to any of them.
Now, I'm already thankful as long as they come to the yamen (government office) at all.

Lu Yunyi's expression was extremely grave; the situation had actually deteriorated to this extent.

After Zhou Xing finished speaking, his anger seemed to have subsided, and his complexion improved considerably.

He spoke with a smile:
"Lord Lu, wait a few days..."
"You're familiar with all the affairs of the Commandery and know everyone there. The Northern Pacification Commandery is now in your hands."

"what?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes as he looked at Zhou Xing:

"Lord Zhou, are you being transferred?"

Zhou Xing snorted coldly:
"It's not that easy. I was going to Beiping to recuperate."

Previously, no one was in charge of the situation, and I was unable to get away from it.
"Now that you've arrived, it'll give me a break."

Lu Yunyi's face was full of disbelief.

Suddenly I realized that the Northern Pacification Command is truly a case of the upper beam being crooked and the lower beam being crooked as well!

Zhou Xing, the commander-in-chief, was also thinking about how to slip away as soon as possible.

How could the officials and clerks under their command possibly work peacefully here?

"My lord, as the Commander-in-Chief, you are the highest-ranking official of the Northern Pacification Command."

Such actions would likely damage one's reputation.

Zhou Xing waved his hand fearlessly:
"It's settled then."

I've been here in the north for almost ten years now, and I haven't had a break.

Now that you've arrived, and you're quite capable, I can finally focus on recuperating without worry.

If nomads from the northern grasslands invade, don't be polite to them; fight them if necessary, and kill them if necessary.

I have faith in your abilities.

"My lord, how long will you be gone this week?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was strange. Seeing that he was determined to leave, he asked softly.

"How long? We'll talk about that after I've fully recovered."

Don't worry. You can go all out and get things done during this time.
Anyway, that's just how things are in Da Ning; it can't get much worse.

After Zhou Xing finished speaking, he picked up his teacup:
"Alright, I won't keep you for dinner or drinks. Please make yourself at home, Lord Lu."

"This"

"Lord Zhou, I shall take my leave."

Lu Yunyi looked utterly bewildered, unsure of what to say.

This was the first time he had ever seen a superior willingly relinquish power.
Beiping Commandery is located in the north, where it gets dark very early.

The beginning of the You hour, which is around 5 pm.
It was already dark when the day ended, and the entire government office had just closed for the day.

It is worth mentioning that, because the Northern Pacification Commandery was located outside the pass,
In addition to customs and other factors, although there is a curfew here, no one cares.

Sing and dance as usual, have fun to your heart's content!
At least in the short hundred meters that Lu Yunyi walked out of the yamen,
I've already heard that many officials are planning to go out for a drink to relax.

Lu Yunyi did not intend to stop it.
Eating, drinking, and having fun are the best ways to relieve stress.

This is especially true in Daning, where it is cold and dark early.

If even the nights are strictly controlled, people will be driven crazy.

Upon arriving at the yamen gate, Lu Yunyi declined the drinking invitations from several assistant magistrates.
He then agreed to their request to treat them to drinks after seeing his old friend, which allowed him to escape.

It must be said that the officials and generals of Daning were much more straightforward than those of Yingtian.

When you get along with them, you feel an instant connection.

It is rare in Yingtian for newly appointed officials to gather together for drinks.

At the entrance of the yamen, a carriage was already prepared, and Liu Heiying poked his head out from inside:

"Brother Yun'er, come quick, it's cold outside."

Lu Yunyi looked around and saw that the people in the yamen were either on foot or on horseback.

He then made his decision and waved his hand:

"Let's go on horseback."

Liu Heiying was taken aback, but didn't say anything.
He immediately jumped out of the carriage, leaped onto the warhorse.

"Brother Yun'er, it's so cold, why don't you ride in the carriage?"

Lu Yunyi glanced at him from his horse and said indifferently:

"Set an example by your own actions."

If we spoil both of us, wouldn't the officials follow suit?

"Oh, that makes sense."

Fearing he might not understand, Lu Yunyi reminded him:

"Daning City is not like the capital. In the capital, there are civil officials who can get away with it by riding in a carriage."

The people of Da Ning are all soldiers. If they ride in a horse-drawn carriage today, their reputation will be ruined tomorrow.

It's not worth it for temporary warmth.

“Brother Yun’er is right. Let’s ride horses then, since Daning City isn’t that big anyway.”

"Okay, you lead the way."

Half an hour later, it was already pitch black.
The two, accompanied by their personal guards, arrived at Anhe Street, the busiest street in the north of Daning City.

We found the restaurant on the street corner.

"Kang Le Lou!"

Lu Yunyi read the name on the archway and nodded gently:
"The name is good, and it matches the street name well."

Liu Heiying just chuckled, and the two dismounted. The waiter at the door quickly stepped forward to take the reins.

"How many people are there, sir?"

Lu Yunyi glanced at his personal guards behind him, then at the bustling Kang Le Lou in front of him, and said:
"I'd like a large private room, with the best food and drinks."

Liu Heiying nodded:

"Call your manager over again and tell her that an old friend has come and wants to eat bean noodles."

The waiter was taken aback, glanced at the two men, and became even more respectful:

"Alright, gentlemen, please come in!"

The two climbed the steps and entered the Kang Le Building.

Upon entering, the two raised their eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across their faces.

The building was brightly lit.

The warm yellow light illuminated the entire lobby.

The tables and chairs were arranged neatly, and were already full of diners.

The grassland people and the Ming people squeezed together.

They mostly talked loudly and drank freely, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

In the center of the hall, a huge wooden carved screen stands.

The screen is carved with landscape paintings, with clouds and mist swirling among the towering mountains.

Far from looking out of place, the screen added a touch of elegance to the restaurant.

The restaurant staff were extremely busy.

Holding steaming hot dishes, they moved freely between tables and chairs.

At the staircase, the wooden steps were worn smooth, and the handrails were wiped spotless.

As you ascend the stairs, the private rooms on the second floor are scattered throughout.

Led by the waiter, Lu Yunyi and Liu Heiying arrived at a spacious private room.

The private room was decorated in a more elegant and sophisticated manner.

A round table is placed in the center, surrounded by several carved chairs.

A painting depicting local customs and traditions hangs on the wall, showing scenes of harvest and herding for the people of Daning.

"Not bad, it's more unique than the restaurants in Beijing."

Lu Yunyi looked him over and praised him sincerely.

Liu Heiying kept chuckling, touching this and looking at that.

Not long after the two sat down, they heard slightly hurried footsteps outside the door.

The door was suddenly pushed open, and a slender, mature woman rushed in.

She wore a royal blue brocade dress with a black pleated long skirt embroidered with delicate gold thread outlining lifelike peony patterns.

The woman had a beautiful face, with slightly upturned phoenix eyes that were bright and sharp.

Beneath her high, straight nose were a pair of well-defined red lips.

At this moment, it was slightly open due to urgency, and it was panting heavily.

A faint blush rose on her cheeks from her hurried journey, adding a unique charm to her mature appearance.

As soon as she entered, her gaze quickly swept over the two of them.

He lingered on Lu Yunyi for a moment, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.

Then she looked at Liu Heiying, who had matured considerably, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.
There was surprise, there was reproach, but most of all, there were tears welling up in her eyes.

"You bastard, I'll kill you!"

The woman's voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of shrewishness.

She pulled out a dagger from behind her back and pounced on Liu Heiying!

Liu Heiying neither dodged nor avoided the dagger, allowing it to pierce his body.

Seeing blood flowing from his chest,

The mature woman stared in disbelief at all this, her eyes filled with unease and panic.

She rushed forward in a panic:
"General, why didn't you move aside?"

Liu Heiying grasped the newcomer's hand, his eyes filled with tenderness, and gently rubbed his palm together:

"Rong'er, it's been two years, and your hands are even more delicate than before."

(End of this chapter)