In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 623 The Great Ning Dynasty Has Changed
The next day, slogans with red backgrounds and black characters were posted all over Daning City.

Especially in the area inhabited by the grassland people in the north of the city, and in the area inhabited by the Ming people in the south of the city!
[The gates of Daning are open, friends from the grasslands come, and all who come are Daning people!]
[The spirit of the grasslands, the warmth of Daning—once you're here, we're all from the same root!]
[The roads connect the grasslands and the Han lands; let us all strive to become heroes of the Ming Dynasty!]
Even the once clean exterior walls of the Commander's Office were now covered with these kinds of propaganda slogans.

This made the faces of the many officials who were passing by extremely strange.

What's going on here?
Many people wore mocking expressions, with the corners of their mouths slightly upturned.

Is it really just based on these seemingly naive words?
That you think you can win over the hearts of the grassland people? That's a joke!

However, this move did attract a lot of attention.

Passersby and merchants alike were all awestruck by this sight.

The shock did not stem from the content of the slogan.

It's not about the slogans themselves, but the determination they demonstrate.

The commander has consistently avoided discussing the polarization within the city, even feigning ignorance.
It's as if the problem doesn't exist if it's not mentioned.

But today, the series of actions taken by the commander have stirred up the emotions of many people.

At least, the commander has begun to make some progress.

Especially the grassland people in the north of the city,
He remained remarkably calm upon hearing that he would be able to start farming next year and harvest enough food.

Even if there are a few troublemakers, they will be suppressed by the tribe or the street itself.

Everyone's thinking was simple: it's winter now, and spring is only a few months away.

Let's wait and see; a few months won't make a difference.

As a result, the city became surprisingly peaceful.

Inside the military headquarters, Commander Zhou Xing looked at the incoming and outgoing documents with an extremely solemn expression.

Part of it consisted of opinions from the city's residents collected by the military command.
There were also inquiries from officials at various levels regarding the change in the attitude of the military commander.

The message conveyed throughout was the same: we can't keep messing things up like this!

"Humph!"

Zhou Xing snorted coldly, threw the document in his hand aside, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes.

"What rubbish! When they're not doing anything, they're always yelling about taking action."

Now that you've done it, you're complaining all the time. Why do you get to say both good and bad things to me?

So, the Commander-in-Chief is caught in the middle, hated by everyone? Damn it!

Zhou Xing cursed under his breath, picked up a bamboo cup, and drank the tea in one gulp.

Then, he looked at the cup with some emotion.

"This cup is nice, small and exquisite, and it doesn't get hot to the touch, but it cools down too quickly."

If it were used in Zhili (present-day Hebei), it would be just right.

Zhou Xing shook his head, looked towards the door, and called out:

"Is everything ready?"

The guard at the door turned around and answered solemnly:

"Reporting to you, sir, all matters at home have been settled."
The clothes and bedding in the yamen were all packed, and we were ready to depart at any time.

"it is good!"

Zhou Xing sighed and stood up.

He looked at the numerous unread documents on the table and burst into laughter.

"Quickly, send all these documents to Lu Yunyi."

From now on, I'll leave these things to him. Finally, I can have some peace and quiet.

"Oh, right, summon all the officers of the Commandery and say goodbye to them!"

Two guards strode in, tidying up the documents as they answered:
"Yes!"

Not long after, in the main hall of the military headquarters,

The officers of the military command arrived with documents and paper, their expressions somewhat grave.

Along the way, they kept whispering among themselves.

"It must be that Lord Zhou thinks the slogans in the city are inappropriate and plans to rectify them."

"Not necessarily, it could also be strong praise."

The commandery is so lifeless right now; any movement would be good.

What's wrong with a lifeless atmosphere?
It's so cozy to be warming up by the fire in the dusi in the dead of winter.

"Let whoever wants to do the work outside do it!"

The crowd murmured amongst themselves as they entered the meeting hall, but automatically fell silent.
The previous dismissive attitude has also disappeared.
Instead, he wore a solemn expression, as if he were about to deal with some important matter.

The conference hall is very spacious and can accommodate 100 people.

After the officers and clerks of the Commandery sat down,

It doesn't feel crowded at all; on the contrary, there's plenty of space.

Many people turned their gazes to the several assistant commissioners who were already seated at the front, their eyes filled with doubt.

Why are they here so early today?

Not long after, Commander Zhou Xing, dressed in his official robes, strode in.

The officials present all stood up and said in hushed tones:

"Master Zhou."

"Sit, sit, sit."

Zhou Xing waved as he walked to the head of the table.

Even after he stood at the head of the table, no one else had taken their seats.

Only after he sat down and waved again did everyone else sit down.

Looking at the crowded conference hall, Zhou Xing's face showed a touch of emotion.

His gaze lingered on each person's face for a moment.

"Gentlemen here, we've worked together for many years now."

"I know all your faces all too well."

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at each other, puzzled.

Most people became wary.

I have a feeling that nothing good will come of those words!
However, Zhou Xing's next words,
They all looked astonished, their pupils suddenly contracting.

"In the coming days, I will be going to the Beiping Military Command to recuperate, and I may not be able to see you gentlemen for a while."

"Wow—"

The noise reached its peak instantly.
Everyone looked blankly at their colleagues.
I was shocked by the news and couldn't process it for a moment!
Next, they turned their attention to the chief magistrate and the four assistant magistrates at the head of the table.

Seeing their calm expressions, he understood a bit about it.

These adults already knew this; it wasn't just a whim of Lord Zhou.

"Lord Zhou, if the Commandery were to lose you, everyone would be filled with anxiety."

"It was an experienced official who spoke in a deep voice."

Many people nodded repeatedly, saying "Yes" and "Yes".

Even though the situation of the Northern Pacification Commandery is not good now,
But it was, after all, a major military stronghold of the Ming Dynasty, and the foundation that Zhou Xing had built up little by little.

He is the backbone of everyone.

Now that the capital city is finally on the right track...

But he's leaving? What kind of move is this?
Seeing the crowd discussing among themselves,

Zhou Xing suddenly felt a surge of reluctance before parting.

He blinked gently and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

He only let out a long sigh when the meeting room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"I have been in Da Ning for many years and have built twenty cities in Da Ning. My health has long since deteriorated."

Whenever it's rainy, I feel pain all over my body.

Even now, my arms and legs are still aching.

Therefore, I have decided to go to Beiping to recuperate and also to rest and recuperate.

After a pause, he continued.

"After I leave Da Ning, all the affairs of the Commandery will be handled by Lord Lu, assisted by the four Assistant Commanders."
We must ensure a smooth and peaceful winter.

brush--

A barrage of gazes, sharp as swords, shot towards Lu Yunyi.
What I saw was his youthful face and calm, unperturbed eyes.

For a moment, undercurrents surged in the conference hall, with everyone harboring their own thoughts.

Many people suspected that this Tongzhi (assistant prefect) from the capital...
Perhaps it carries a secret decree from the palace or even the imperial court.

Lord Zhou's departure from the Commandery is an unspoken understanding.

Does this mean they think we're not doing a good job?
Many people think this way.

Their thoughts were interrupted when Lu Yunyi spoke in a deep voice.

"My lords, Lord Zhou is getting on in years, so it is only natural that he goes to Beiping to recuperate."

Please, gentlemen, do not panic.

The duties of the Commandery will proceed as usual; we will simply await Lord Zhou's return.

"This"

The scene became noisy again, with many people wanting to speak but holding back.

He glanced at Zhou Xing from time to time, then at Lu Yunyi.

One had a completely white beard, while the other had barely grown any beard.

Absolutely ridiculous!
Zhou Xing waved his hand, gently stroked his beard, and said with a smile.

"I am older than all of you."
Daning is a bitterly cold place. How can you bear to let this old man stay here and freeze with you?
This time, I am only going there to recuperate.
I'll come back when the weather gets better or my condition improves.

As he spoke, Zhou Xing shook his head with some regret.

"To be honest, I originally wanted to return to the palace to recuperate, but the palace rejected my memorial."

Left with no other choice, I had to go to Beiping (Beijing).

You must do your jobs well and cooperate with Lord Lu in handling the affairs of the Commandery.

If anyone breaks the rules, don't blame me for being ruthless, and certainly don't blame Lord Lu for being impartial!

"Alright, that's enough about that. I've already handed over all the documents you submitted to Lord Lu."

"You can discuss the follow-up matters with Lord Lu. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, amidst the bewildered glances of the crowd,

Zhou Xing stood up and quickly left the meeting room.

Many people stood up and followed from a distance to watch.

Zhou Xing walked out of the main hall of the conference room.

Standing in the spacious courtyard of the capital, I suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

He turned to look at the towering eaves of the main hall.

And the perfectly orderly blue bricks and green tiles, he murmured to himself.

"It's strange, now that it's time to leave, I feel a little reluctant."

However, he soon passed through the gate of the capital.

Seeing his wife, children, and elderly relatives waiting by the carriage, his heart was filled with joy.

"Finally, I can take a break."

Zhou Xing strode out of the command post.

He turned back to look at the group of officials who had followed him out, smiled slightly, and then waved.

"Go back and get back to work. The Commander-in-Chief has many matters waiting for you to handle."

"grown ups."

Many people stood inside the military headquarters.

That not-so-high threshold seemed to separate two worlds at this moment, or like the inside and outside of a cage.

Watching the carriage slowly set off,

The group then snapped out of their panic and confusion, a deep sense of unease rising within them.

The ever-amiable Lord Zhou has passed away.
The young and sharp-witted Lord Lu was welcomed.

They turned around and looked at the young man standing in front of the main hall, and a sudden panic gripped their hearts.

They knew that the once peaceful and lifeless Dusi might cease to exist.

Yiren Street, Daning City

The roads, covered in snow, had already been cleared by the servants of each household.

The bluestone pavement below, covered with white frost, was revealed.

The residents of this street are all wealthy and powerful.
They controlled the businesses of all trades in Daning City.

Many others had already been living outside the Great Wall before the establishment of the Daning Commandery.

After the establishment of the Commandery,
They naturally became powerful figures in Daning City and even the entire military command.

And the Mi family was the most outstanding among these powerful and influential people.

The Mi family's residence was located in the middle section of Yiren Street.

It occupies the most open and best location.

The stone lions at the entrance stood majestically amidst the wind and snow.

The vermilion gate was tightly shut, the copper nails on it gleaming, and the gold lettering inlaid on the plaque added to its majesty.

But today, the atmosphere in the entire Mi family mansion is extremely heavy!
Second Master Mi Bin has been arrested for two days.
The commander has shown no intention of releasing the man to this day.

This left Mr. Mi feeling uneasy.

On the street, the many servants who were originally sweeping the streets,

He would occasionally look up at the tightly closed door, his eyes revealing a strange look.

Although the snow had already been cleared away, they continued to clean with great enthusiasm, simply because their master had ordered them to keep a close watch on Mr. Mi outside and pay attention to his every move.

However, instead of hearing any movement from Mr. Mi, they felt the thin layer of snow on the ground tremble.

The bluestone slabs emitted a dull "thump, thump, thump" sound, which was clearly transmitted to their hands through the brooms sweeping the ground.

The earth is shaking!
The servants looked up blankly at the end of Yiren Street.

There, in the light snow,

A troop of black-armored cavalrymen slowly approached through the wind and snow.

The tall, imposing horse seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the weather, constantly shaking its head.

The massive hooves landed, and the vibrations grew louder as the distance closed!

"Gudu"

Those present swallowed hard, staring blankly as over a hundred soldiers walked past.

After walking along the clean Yiren Street, we stopped in front of the Mi family's house.

They hurriedly wanted to go back and report.
The homeowners on the street had already come out and stood in front of their gates, staring blankly at the scene.

Everyone heard the fierce shouts coming from the cavalry.

"Mi Jing, head of the Mi family of Yiren Street in Daning City, come out and meet me!"

The long-silent gates of the Mi family slowly opened.

The spacious screen wall behind it, used to block the view, is then revealed.

The screen wall is carved with dragons and phoenixes, and features many mythical creatures from mountains and seas.

An elderly man in his sixties stood inside the door.
He walked out, wearing a heavy brocade robe and a rich man's hat, with a middle-aged man holding an umbrella for him.

"May I ask, General, what business do you have with this old man?"

Zhang Huai'an's face was cold and stern as he said in a deep voice:

"By order of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Lu, I have come to invite Master Mi to the Commandery for a chat. Lord Lu has some questions to ask."

Mi Jing stared blankly at the tall horse in front of him, and asked in a trembling voice:
"May I ask, General, where is my second brother now?"

Who is your second brother?

"Mi Bin."

"He spied on the city's defense secrets and has been detained. He will be executed next spring."

Mi Jing's body trembled violently, his hands, covered with age spots, shook incessantly, and his beard trembled as well.

"Why did it have to come to this?"

Zhang Huai'an didn't waste any more words with him, and coldly said:
"Mr. Mi, please."

"Father, you can't go."

The middle-aged man pulled Mi Jing aside and whispered something in his ear.

"We have to go, we can't not go. If we go, there might still be room for negotiation."

Mi Jing patted the middle-aged man's hand and instructed:

"Prepare the sedan chair."

Zhang Huai'an did not stop him, but just watched coldly.

The middle-aged man watched his father get into the sedan chair, then looked at Zhang Huai'an and asked:

"May I ask, General, when can I go to the Commandery to bring my elderly father back?"

Zhang Huai'an glanced at him and said indifferently:

"All matters shall be decided by Lord Lu, and I have no right to interfere."

"Walk."

With a flick of his whip, Zhang Huai'an led over a hundred soldiers, who escorted the sedan chair, slowly toward the commander's office.

Inside the headquarters, ever since Lord Zhou left this morning,
The atmosphere in the entire command post became somber and strange.

Everyone was distracted.
Even the patrolling soldiers sensed this unusual atmosphere.

They stared blankly at Wu Su'an, who was running back and forth with documents in his hands.

One of the young soldiers muttered to himself, "Brother, is this a meteoric rise to power?"

"Yes, now that Wu Su'an is in charge of the affairs of the Bureau of Experience, he looks much more dignified."

Do you still believe that hard work is worthwhile?
"It's just a matter of a big shot's word."

The young soldier thought for a moment, then nodded slightly:

"Useful... A thoroughbred horse meets a discerning eye, but first and foremost, it must be a thoroughbred horse."

If you don't do a good job, why would important people take notice?

The old soldier was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded:

"You do have some truth in what you said."

At this moment, they saw Wei Qiwen, the Vice Commander of the Capital Garrison, hurrying past, and immediately straightened up and bowed slightly:

"grown ups."

Wei Qiwen completely ignored him.

He rushed straight towards the office where Duan Zhengze was, without any hesitation!
The door was flung open, and Wei Qiwen rushed inside.

Seeing Duan Zhengze sitting behind his desk, lost in thought, he looked slightly flustered.

"Brother Duan, what are you standing there for? Something terrible has happened!!"

"what?"

Duan Zhengze looked at him with some confusion.

"Mi Jing has been arrested, but she was brought to the military headquarters and is currently waiting for Lu Yunyi in a side room!"

"what?"

Duan Zhengze was greatly shocked, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Wei Qiwen's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"You need to think of a solution quickly. That old guy Mi Jing is a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong."

If he confesses, we won't need to look for the White Pine Clan anymore; they'll all be finished!

"It's all over. What can we do now? Just wait to die?"

Duan Zhengze slumped into a chair, looking utterly dejected.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the doorway.

Feng Yunfang's head peeked in through the half-closed door.

He said respectfully:
"Lord Duan, Lord Lu requests your presence in the yamen."

(End of this chapter)