In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 628 Enticing with Great Profits, Killing Without a Trace

The leader of the Three Guards of Duoyan, accompanied by his guards, followed the soldiers into the city.

Upon hearing of their arrival at the city gate, many nomadic people gathered around.

Looking at these former "kings" who had once ruled them, the crowd had complex expressions.

Therefore, the eldest of the Yuan Liao kings witnessed this scene.

His beard trembled slightly, and his pupils swayed gently.

He experienced both the height of the Yuan Dynasty and its chaotic escape.

This former Yuan territory has now become the domain of the Ming dynasty.

Here, tall city walls were built, and wide roads were paved.
He even became the commander of the Ming garrison, a nominal Ming military officer.

His inner journey is something he finds difficult to explain to outsiders.
Soon, he saw red paper posted all over the north of the city, along with large black characters on it.

Many people have noticed this as well.

"Grow sweet potatoes if you want to eat your fill."

"If you want to eat well, raise pigs."

What is a sweet potato?

A hint of confusion flashed in Azashili's eyes.
As for pig farming
His lips twitched slightly, believing this to be yet another blind move by the Ming Dynasty court.

"Is Commander Wang planning to raise pigs?"

On the side, Tongzhi Tabing Timur asked thoughtfully.

"Hmm, posting such notices everywhere, it seems there is such an intention."

"Don't call me king in the city, call me Your Excellency."

Tongzhi Tabing Timur's face stiffened, and he nodded with some grief and indignation.

"Yes."

At this moment, Tuoluhuchaer looked strange and sneered.

"There's not even enough food for people, what are we going to feed the pigs? Let them eat grass?"

Upon hearing this, some of the people accompanying him laughed.

They had tried raising pigs before, but each attempt ended in failure.

Cows and sheep can eat grass, and pigs can also eat grass.

But when they get older, they stop eating them and might even bite the sheep.

King Azashili of Liao suppressed his contempt and gently shook his head.

"Perhaps the imperial court has a solution."

"Method?"

Tuoluhuchaer's lips curled into a contemptuous smile, and he said nothing more.

Before long, the group arrived at the military headquarters.

Azashili looked at the crowds coming and going from the government office, his eyes full of doubt.

Why isn't anyone coming out to greet us?

Everyone's hearts sank. From this subtle change, they realized that the commander seemed to have changed.

Tuoluhuchaer said calmly:
"Although Lord Zhou is not easy to deal with, he still has the proper manners."

The fact that he's suddenly gone probably means he has someone backing him up, making him feel more confident.

The King of Liao, standing to the side, listened to their conversation, slowly shook his head, and sighed.

"You and I are now officials of the Ming Dynasty's garrison. How can a superior greet a subordinate?"

We are here today to ask for a favor.

"Looking at you all, I think you should go back. I'll handle this myself."

Having said that, the King of Liao dismounted.
He deftly tied his warhorse to the horse post at the entrance of the military headquarters.

The atmosphere was somewhat strange, and everyone's expressions kept changing.
In the end, they all sighed and dismounted to follow.

Even if they don't want to accept it, they have to face reality.

At this moment, Feng Yunfang came out and glanced around, seeing many familiar faces.

His gaze lingered for a moment, especially on Torukchar's broken hand.
He personally directed the soldiers to cut off this hand.

"My lords, please come in. Lord Lu has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Is Lord Zhou not here?"

King Azashili of Liao recognized Feng Yunfang and asked with a smile as he walked.

Feng Yunfang said calmly:
"Lord Zhou has gone to Beiping to recuperate, and Lord Lu is now in charge of the affairs of the Commandery."

If you need anything in the future, you can write to me directly.

The group suddenly slowed their pace, and the three guards' leaders displayed different expressions, their faces changing drastically.
A faint sense of crisis and urgency welled up in my heart.

Lord Zhou has actually gone to recuperate.
No wonder the commander's attitude changed so drastically today.

The group remained silent as they entered the headquarters, immediately noticing something amiss.

Liao King Azashili's eyes were full of doubt:

"Why do these people seem like completely different people?"

He personally witnessed a clerk carrying documents, hurrying along the courtyard.
Even when he slipped and almost fell, he didn't stop at all.

He remembered that when he last came, these people were all listless and lifeless.

Tuoluhuchaer's expression also turned serious, and his heart sank.
"The Commandery has changed? When will I finally get my chance to rise in the ranks?"

He thought to himself that he was young enough and had a long road ahead of him.

Perhaps we can wait until the Ming Dynasty's control over the area outside the Great Wall declines.

That's when his opportunity came.

But now, Du Si's proactive approach is undoubtedly a heavy blow to him.

Thinking of the young man who cut off his hand,

Tuoluhuchaer's breathing suddenly became rapid, and his wounds throbbed with pain.

That man was younger than him, yet more capable.
If that person stayed outside the pass for decades...

The three guards of Duoyan will have no chance at all and will be forever controlled by others.

Each person had their own thoughts, and Feng Yunfang led them into the main hall of the meeting room to take their seats.

"My lords, please wait a moment."
Lord Lu is currently handling matters concerning the Military Command; he will arrive shortly.

Everyone nodded with smiles, but their smiles were somewhat stiff.

They said they had been waiting for a long time, but now they're making them wait. Ming people lie without any shame.

At this moment, Marshal Doyan, Tuoluhuchaer, suddenly stood up.

"Since Lord Lu is still busy, I would like to go to the outhouse."

Feng Yunfang smiled and nodded, then beckoned an official to lead the way.
The clerk was waiting outside the latrine when Tuoluhuchaer went inside.

There happened to be a clerk inside pulling up his trousers.
The two exchanged a silent glance and raised their eyebrows slightly.

As the clerk left, he discreetly slipped a neatly folded note into Marshal Doyan's hand and then walked out.

At the entrance, the clerk saw him come out and quickly greeted him with a smile.

"It's Old Wang. How much money did you make yesterday?"

"Sigh, it's not much, it's just a reimbursement of the rewards from previous years."

Now the women in the house can finally have some peace and quiet.

"Haha, your Judgment Division pays out more, while our Records Division pays out less."

The clerk, referred to as Old Wang, waved his hand.

"The harder the work, the more we get paid. Lord Lu said yesterday that he will give us bonuses again next year, so we should work hard."

Okay, I'll go get busy now.

"Go."

Inside the outhouse, Marshal Duoyan listened to the conversation between the two, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

"No wonder it's different, they've given out money."

Before long, Marshal Doyan and his officials returned to the meeting hall and sat down comfortably.

He looked at the steaming bamboo cup on the table, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The King of Liao, standing to the side, held a cup and said with a smile:
"This is a fine product from Yingtian. Look how exquisitely this bamboo is woven."

"If we sold it to the Jurchens, I wonder how much money we could make."

How much money could those savages have?

If you ask me, we should sell it to the Oirats and Tatars; they have the money.

King Azashili of Liao stroked his beard and spoke with a smile.

Tuoluhuchaer watched the two chatting and laughing, and sighed inwardly.

The influence of the Ming Dynasty was ubiquitous.

Anything from the open market can fetch a high price on the grasslands; it's incredibly profitable.

He understood that it wasn't the item itself that was valuable, but rather the power of the Ming Dynasty.

People from the grasslands will follow the strong and imitate their clothing, food, housing, and transportation.
Suddenly, an immense pressure weighed heavily on Toruhuchar's heart, making it hard for him to breathe. How could he, alone, turn the tide?
"Da da da."

The sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts, and the discussion inside the room came to an abrupt halt.

A young man in armor appeared at the doorway and stood there quietly!
His youthful appearance left everyone present somewhat dazed, and they all turned to look at Tuoluhuchaer.

King Azashili of Liao was the first to regain his senses, quickly stood up, and put on a warm smile:

"Lord Lu, it's been a long time."

The King of Liao also quickly stood up and bowed.

It was only then that Tuoluhuchaer came to his senses and stood up to bow.

"Sit down."

Lu Yunyi walked in quickly, carrying documents, and spoke as he went.

Once he was firmly seated at the head of the table, the others reacted and sat down one after another.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes.
I never expected that they would be so familiar with the rules of officialdom in less than two years since they submitted to the Ming Dynasty.

After everyone was seated, Lu Yunyi looked them over, a sigh appearing on his face:
"Gentlemen, the last time we met was last year in Yingtian. You all look pretty much the same."

The atmosphere inside the room immediately relaxed, and some of the people present began to smile.

King Azashili of Liao spoke with a smile:
"Lord Lu, you still look the same, still so young."

But this past year, we've wasted our time.
Lord Lu has already campaigned all the way to Luchuan, and his fame has spread far and wide.

Huining Wang Haisan Nan Daxi also nodded repeatedly.
He was forty-five years old, with a fierce appearance, but a very deep and resonant voice.
"Lord Lu, even though we are beyond the Great Wall, we have heard of your reputation. We are truly ashamed of ourselves."

"Hahahaha." Lu Yunyi waved his hand.

"My lords, there is no need for modesty."
I only fought a battle in Yunnan with the army; it was merely a matter of going with the flow.

But you gentlemen have made indelible contributions to the stability of Great Ning.

Now that the Three Guards have been established, Daning City has been rebuilt.

The people of the grasslands and the people of the Ming Dynasty lived together in the same city, in harmony and friendship—that is true merit.

Upon hearing this, King Azashili of Liao smiled broadly, and the atmosphere in the room became more harmonious than ever before.

He suddenly realized that Lord Lu was much gentler than he had been last year.
But the level of danger increases dramatically!

He couldn't believe that a military general with blood on his hands would suddenly become like this.

"We were all overjoyed to hear that Lord Lu was coming to Da Ning to take up a post."

Therefore, I and several colleagues rushed over, hoping to see you, sir.

Now that my wish has come true, I've never felt so happy!

Azashili showered him with compliments, a smile always on his face.

At this moment, he didn't seem like a grassland dweller from beyond the Great Wall, but rather like an official from the capital city of Yingtian.

Lu Yunyi nodded with a smile:

"Thank you all for your kindness. After receiving the appointment in the capital, I came here without stopping, just to see the prosperity of Da Ning."

Now that I see it, it truly lives up to its reputation!

Now that all of you gentlemen are here today...

Let's be frank and talk about the future development of Daning. How about it?

"Oh?"

King Azashili of Liao's eyes lit up, a look of flattery flashing in them, and he quickly nodded:
"I can't get it, I can't get it!"

We, the Three Guards, will stand with Da Ning through thick and thin, and together we will build this Northern Pacification Commandery into a land of plenty beyond the Great Wall!

Upon hearing this, Toruhuchar lowered his head and clenched his fists.
The officers from the military command who accompanied Lu Yunyi had very strange expressions on their faces.

Tan Wei was even more shocked!

Where have those arrogant and domineering grassland people gone?
Such fawning is utterly disgusting.

Lu Yunyi was also somewhat surprised, but simply smiled faintly:
"The description of 'Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall' is a bit of an exaggeration."

The most urgent task is to ensure that all regions under the jurisdiction of the capital have sufficient food and that the people have strong bodies.

"Eat your fill first, then we'll talk about other things."

At this moment, King Azashili of Liao nodded in deep agreement:
"Lord Lu is right. Winter has arrived, and the coldest time of the year is just around the corner."

The food reserves of the three guards of Keduoyan are still insufficient.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to look around and buy some food.

At this point, many people glanced at Tuoluhuchaer without making a sound, their expressions solemn.

Tuoluhuchaer took a deep breath, looked up at Lu Yunyi, and asked:

"Lord Lu, I wonder if the Commander has ever met my cousin, Urigen?"
Twenty days ago, I sent him to purchase grain and some ironware.

Logically, he should have returned to the tribal garrison ten days ago, but there has been no news of him since.

"Oh?"

Lu Yunyi frowned, his expression becoming extremely serious:

"Completely out of contact? There was heavy snow the other day, could they have gotten lost?"

Tuoluhuchaer slowly shook his head:
"My lord, my cousin has brought his most elite scouts..."
Even in heavy snow, they can still discern directions; please, Lord Lu, help me investigate.

"Yes, yes, Lord Lu."
Urgen came to buy grain to prepare for the winter.

Now that the man, the grain, and the ironware have all disappeared, I suspect that someone may be plotting something."

The Liao king, Azashili, also chimed in, his face full of anxiety.

Lu Yunyi felt something was strange.
But his face was very solemn, and he nodded heavily.
"I am aware of this matter and will send someone to investigate it as soon as possible."

I will inform you all as soon as I have any news.

As for grain, the Commandery still has some surplus. If the Three Guards need it, I can allocate some to you.”

"Then there will be more."

The voice of Liao King Azashili stopped abruptly, and he looked at Lu Yunyi in disbelief.

Should we approve some?
He almost thought he had misheard.

Seeing the equally shocked expressions on the faces of those around him, he realized he hadn't misheard.

"Lord Lu, do you know how grain is priced?" the King of Liao asked tentatively.

Lu Yunyi suddenly laughed:
"Price? The garrison asks the military command for grain, but there's never any reason for them to buy it."

Upon hearing this, the King of Liao felt a great sense of crisis!

The weasel is sending New Year greetings to the rooster, which is not a good idea!

In the past, when people came to ask for grain, they had to be humble and plead, and they still weren't sure they could get much.

In the end, you still have to spend money to buy it. Why are you suddenly being so merciful today?
Lu Yunyi continued with a smile:
"Not only that, I have also brought new seeds from Yingtian,"

Next year, we will conduct trial planting on fertile fields near Daning City.

If the harvest is good, it will be gradually promoted in Beiping County.

At that time, all the territories under their jurisdiction will be planted with this high-yield, easy-to-grow grain.
If all goes well, you might not need to buy grain from the military headquarters the year after next; self-sufficiency will be no problem.

what?
The people present looked at each other in bewilderment.

The King of Liao, the King of Huining, and Marshal Duoyan were all surprised.

Does such a thing exist in the world?
Meanwhile, Tan Wei and other officials from the military command looked on incredulously.

Why would you give this stuff to the people of the grasslands? Isn't that just asking for trouble?
However, out of trust in Lu Yunyi, and because there were outsiders present,
They all suppressed their doubts and sat there quietly.

"May I ask, Lord Lu, what is that thing? Can it really make our three tribes self-sufficient?" Azashili asked tentatively.

Lu Yunyi nodded:

"You should have seen the slogans in the city when you entered it."

This thing is called sweet potato. When it was first planted in Yingtian, it yielded ten shi per mu and was easy to grow.

Even in this icy, snowy land of Daning, if the yield were halved, it would still amount to five shi (a unit of dry measure).

"Five stones?"

Azashiri cried out in alarm, her pupils dilating violently.
He clearly remembered that last year, the grain yield per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.165 acres) was less than one shi (a Chinese unit of dry measure).
Now, five stones?
The King of Liao and Marshal Doyan also looked incredulous; they couldn't believe that the Ming people would be so kind.

Lu Yunyi continued:
"It may be more than that. The land in Daning has not been cultivated for a long time, and the soil is fertile."

If managed well, the yield per mu could reach seven or eight shi.

By then, there will be no shortage of food.

"What exactly is this sweet potato? Lord Lu, may we take a look?" Prince Huining stammered.

"You'll stay in Dusi today. We'll cook some sweet potatoes for you to try, or you can roast them."

So that you won't think I'm deceiving you.

Lu Yunyi spoke methodically.

As for the many subsequent matters...

"How about we discuss this after you've had a good rest tomorrow?"

After hearing this, King Azashili of Liao exchanged glances with the people around him and nodded repeatedly.

"I will follow your instructions, sir. Then I will take my leave."

(End of this chapter)