In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 648 Greed Blinds Logic, Bringing Disaster to the Country and the People

Inside the left wing, candlelight flickered.

The bronze incense burner inside the room emitted a warm glow.

This caused Lu Yunyi, who was sitting behind the sewing machine, to blush slightly.

He stared intently at the needles that were being inserted and withdrawn repeatedly, lost in thought.
With a gentle press of the pedal under my foot, the needle began to swing rapidly up and down.
Lu Yunyi pulled the cloth along at a steady pace.
The beautiful "da da da" sound came over, so crisp and pleasant to the ear.
But very quickly, the needle got stuck.
It made a "thump" sound, similar to one of panic and helplessness.
The sewing machine also vibrated slightly.

The punctures above and below the pillow then ceased.

Lu Yunyi looked at the scene before him,
Suddenly overwhelmed with irritation, he couldn't help but burst into a tirade:
"What the hell do we do this to? Can't you give me some face?"

After finishing his tirade, Lu Yunyi took a large gulp of tea.

Reaching out, I grabbed the long needle and pulled it forcefully out of the mink fur.

Instead, they re-threaded the needle onto the nose of the machine and aligned the mink fur.

He has done this countless times.

"Is the mink fur too stiff? Or is there something wrong with the needle? How come a person can pull it out, but the sewing machine head can't?"

Lu Yunyi felt like he had a splitting headache.
This sewing machine in front of us is the thirty-ninth experimental machine.
They were able to sew two layers of fabric smoothly.
Furthermore, the failure rate is very low, and even if something goes wrong, maintenance and repair are very simple.

But unfortunately, things always go wrong with precious materials like mink fur.

Either the needle can't be pulled out, or the thread is stuck at the back and can't be knotted; there are problems everywhere.

Lu Yunyi stood up, holding the mink fur.
I walked up to the lamp and carefully examined each and every pinhole on it.
He knew that continuing to try so stubbornly would not yield good results.

Let's find the problem first.
But where is the problem?
Lu Yunyi had never been a tailor before and was completely clueless!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi strode to the door and forcefully pulled it open.

I tried to use the cold wind to dispel the restlessness in my heart.

A gust of cold wind hit him, making Lu Yunyi's breath catch in his throat.
But soon, upon seeing the scene before him, Lu Yunyi's expression became even more blank.

Before their eyes, Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi's mouths were tightly gagged.

He was carried over in a flurry of activity, supported by four soldiers.

The soldiers also saw Lord Lu standing at the entrance of the yamen.

The scene became momentarily frozen and awkward.

Feng Yunfang glanced back at the adult, then quickly ran forward and scolded:
"What are you doing!"

The soldiers were flustered and offered explanations all at once.
As Feng Yunfang listened, he smelled the alcohol emanating from the two men, and his expression grew increasingly strange.

"Alright, alright, leave them here and you can go back."

Feng Yunfang waved his hand, signaling his guards to come and help them up.

Then he came to Lu Yunyi's side.
He recounted what he had just learned, leaving Lu Yunyi stunned on the spot.

He slowly shook his head and sighed:
"Help them all in, and prepare two bowls of honey water for them."

"Sir, why don't we move them to the side rooms for accommodation?"

Feng Yunfang looked at Xie Jin, who was almost driven to madness, with some apprehension.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand: "Go quickly."

"Yes!"

Before long, the two were forced onto chairs in the yamen (government office).

They each held a cup of hot tea, looking somewhat disheveled.
But after all that fuss, the haze in their eyes had lessened a bit!

Especially Yang Shiqi,

He was now fully awake, his face as black as ink.

Lu Yunyi paced back and forth in front of the two men, holding the mink pelt, and asked with a somewhat strange expression:

"Tell me, have you two had enough of the Commandery and want to fly to the heavens?"

"No, no, Your Excellency, I dare not," Yang Shiqi quickly shook his head.

Xie Jin, however, looked at him with red, bloodshot eyes.
"Lord Lu, I want to hear an explanation."
Why did the Commander-in-Chief aid and abet the tyranny, compete with the people for profit, and even condone smuggling?

After hearing this, Lu Yunyi chuckled softly:
"Just because of this, you came to the capital to make a scene after drinking?"

At this point, Yang Shiqi also widened his eyes and spoke up for justice:

"My lord! We must be wary of collusion between officials and businessmen!"
The student just saw Lord Duan chatting and laughing with a group of merchants.
His behavior sent chills down the students' spines!

Xie Jin was even more direct:

"The obscuring of virtuous officials by wicked ministers is like the obscuring of the sun and moon by floating clouds!"

This was said by Lu Jia of the Han Dynasty.

It is said that in officialdom, some treacherous officials, in order to consolidate their positions and gain more personal benefits,
They resorted to any means to deceive the monarch and prevent virtuous and capable people from entering the court.

They were like floating clouds, obscuring the monarch's vision.
This prevented the imperial court from appointing truly talented individuals.

Lu Yunyi understood his meaning, but didn't take it to heart.
Instead, he slowly sat down, looked at the two of them, and spoke softly:
"Are you talking about the sugar issue?"

“Exactly!” Xie Jin sat up straight.

“This matter is of great importance, and it is understandable that you do not know about it. There is no need to delve into it.” Lu Yunyi waved his hand.

"Those who receive official salaries should not compete with the people for profit!" Xie Jin's eyes widened suddenly!
"Ah"

Lu Yunyi chuckled, took a sip of tea, and sighed deeply with a touch of melancholy:
"Jie Jin, your heart is extremely pure, I will not hold it against you."
But your open and veiled mockery of me,
Do you think I can't understand you? You think you're so well-read?

"As long as you understand, that's good." Xie Jin straightened his neck, becoming even more smug.

"Brother Dashen, you mustn't be rude!" Yang Shiqi quickly dissuaded him.

"Hey." Lu Yunyi waved to stop him.
"Let him see if there are any solutions in the 'Ten Strategies for Peace'."
This would allow ordinary people to earn ten coins for free every day.
Or perhaps it would give them something to do in this freezing weather.

Xie Jin's breath hitched, and his face instantly turned bright red.

Since arriving in Daning, I have seen many different aspects of the city.
He also realized how naive the "Ten Strategies for Peace" contained.
So he hasn't wanted to mention it much lately.

Once lifted, all ten of his toes must grip the ground tightly.

Now he feels even more ashamed.

"Lord Lu, the Ten Strategies for Peace certainly cannot achieve this."

But the commander's actions were absurd.

This is even more of a disregard for national law, compounding their mistakes.

Lu Yunyi shook his head helplessly, nodded at Xie Jin, and said with a smile:

"Jie Jin, two years ago when you were speaking eloquently in the Wuying Hall, discussing the 'Ten Strategies for Peace'..."

Do you believe that your words are absolutely correct, and that you yourself are incapable of being wrong?

Xie Jin's face stiffened.

"And now? Do you feel ashamed of what you said two years ago?"

Lu Yunyi continued to tease him.

The annoyance caused by the sewing machine has been greatly reduced.

In other words, how do you know whether what you're saying is right or wrong?

Xie Jin was momentarily speechless, but he quickly retorted:
"Jie Jin does not know whether what he said today is right or wrong."

But knowing the rights and wrongs of the Ming Dynasty's legal code
What we're doing now is a series of mistakes, and an act that completely disregards the law.

As for the so-called ten coins...
If such petty gains are worth disregarding the law, then this money is better left unpaid.

"Why not?" Lu Yunyi asked with surprise, then continued speaking eloquently:

"Ten coins a day might seem insignificant to you."
But for the people in the city...
However, this substantial income is enough to support their three meals a day.
It's unreasonable of you to prevent them from making this money with just a few words.

Xie Jin's tone became increasingly impassioned:
"Although the common people covet the profit of ten coins..."
However, the Analects, in the chapter "Shu Er", states that...
Wealth and honor gained unjustly are to me like fleeting clouds.

If this leads to the disruption of the court's discipline,
If one day treacherous officials run rampant and public resentment boils over, wouldn't we be losing more than we gain by focusing on the small?

I hope Your Excellency will learn from history.
Don't be the kind of person who is blinded by greed and brings disaster to the country and its people!

Lu Yunyi laughed.
"It's good to read a lot of books; you can speak eloquently and spout moralistic platitudes."
But, Jie Jin, let me tell you...
The people from the grasslands north of the city can't understand what you're saying.
They don't even know what ill-gotten gains are.

Their thinking was simple: if they had money, they would make it so they could eat well and live well.

Perhaps it's this daily ten coins, saving five coins for every five they earn...
"That way, if any minor illness or injury occurs in the family in the future, we can take them to see a doctor."

Lu Yunyi smiled as he stood up and walked to the window.

He tapped lightly on the window frame with his fingertips, gazing at the howling cold wind outside: "You speak very well, and you've quoted extensively from classical texts."

Only when granaries are full do people know etiquette; only when people are well-fed and clothed do they know honor and shame.

How can someone who can't even afford to eat have the energy to talk about morality?

Let's look at the city of Daning.
How many starving people froze to death last year? Do you know?

Xie Jin shook his head.
"I tell you, this is merely what is recorded in the documents."
There were 1,391 people, 80% of whom were in the north of the city.

Last year, a heavy snowfall on the grasslands left several small tribes with no way to survive, so they came to surrender.
But the commander refused to accept it.
They all froze to death outside the city. Do you know how many people that was?

Nearly six thousand, more than half of them women, children, and infants; corpses littered the fields.
The mass grave was located next to a grove of trees five miles north of the city.

You can see it if you dig down one foot; you can go and take a look.

"I went to great lengths to extract ten coins from these merchants and give them to them, and yet it's considered a mistake?"

He suddenly turned around, the smile fading from his eyes, his expression turning serious.
"You say the law is as solid as a mountain, but if the law cannot save lives, it is just a piece of paper!"
When Fan Zhongyan was in Hangzhou, he did not suppress grain prices when they skyrocketed.
Instead, he ordered a price increase, which drew widespread condemnation for his incompetence. But what was the result?

Merchants, hearing the news, began to transport grain, causing prices to drop due to the abundance of grain, and the people were finally able to survive.

In making choices, it's not enough to rigidly adhere to dogma.

Moreover, this is outside the Great Wall.

You are all from Jiangxi, born in a prosperous land, a land of fish and rice, and you don't take this Daning City seriously at all.

But I am a native of Da Ning.
Going back fifteen years, I was a native of the grasslands beyond the Great Wall.

If opportunities are not plentiful, those who froze to death outside the city last year...

Perhaps even my own remains lie there; I have no time to listen to your ramblings.

As he spoke, Lu Yunyi rummaged through the mink fur in his hand and said directly:
"Today I am going to do something extraordinary, to carve out a path to survival in this frozen wasteland!"
If you truly possess the talent to save the world, you should consider how to give the law flesh and blood.
Instead of standing on high above and using the words of sages to oppress people!

Xie Jin suddenly stood up, wanting to speak, but Lu Yunyi raised his hand to stop him.
"Go back and think about it carefully."
How can we ensure that people in Daning City don't freeze to death this winter?
If a perfect and appropriate solution can be devised, this matter will naturally be put to rest.

Okay, let's go back.

"Yunfang, take them home."

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang walked in, glanced at them, and then said:
"My lord, Zhang Huai'an requests an audience."

"He hasn't left yet?" Lu Yunyi asked, somewhat surprised.
Feng Yunfang smiled:
“These days, Lord Zhang and Wang Ding have been leaving the yamen at midnight, just a little earlier than you, sir.”

Lu Yunyi laughed: "You're quite diligent."

He glanced at Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi:

"Look, you two even have time to drink, what else is there to complain about?"

"Alright, let Zhang Huai'an in."

Before long, Xie Jin and his companion left.

Zhang Huai'an, disheveled and with bloodshot eyes, rushed in.
As soon as he entered, he rushed to the desk and placed a thick document in front of him.

"Sir, please come and take a look."

Lu Yunyi stared blankly at the stack of documents on the table, which was half his head thick:

"What's this?"

Zhang Huai'an explained:

"These are the preparations made by my subordinates."

This includes provisions, weaponry, and personnel deployment.
I originally intended to show it to General Liu.
But he went to the granary outside the city to check the stored grain, and thought he'd show it to you.”

Lu Yunyi suddenly became listless.

He stared at the document, which was half his head tall, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he sighed:
"Alright, just leave it here, come back tomorrow morning."

Zhang Huai'an was instantly filled with excitement, his body ramrod straight:

"Yes!"

"Then I'll be going now, sir."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"Don't come too early tomorrow morning, it's so thick, it'll take you a while to look at it."

Zhang Huai'an gave an awkward smile, "Yes!"

After Zhang Huai'an left, Feng Yunfang came in.
I glanced at the sewing machine in the corner.
He glanced at the documents on the table again, and hesitated several times before speaking.

“Just say what you want to say. Why are you being so hesitant now that you’re back in Daning?”

Feng Yunfang scratched his head and asked:

"Sir, you...aren't you planning to go home tonight?"

“Send someone back to tell the ladies that the government office needs to review the New Year's budget and they can't leave.”

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang was about to turn and leave.
"and many more."

Lu Yunyi pulled his head out of the documents, leaned back in his chair, and looked at him:

"Has Aunt Wang's daughter from the south end of the city arrived?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yunfang, who had been hesitant and had a strange expression, immediately became even more flustered.
She suddenly became shy, her whole face turning bright red!

"Sir, they arrived yesterday, along with Aunt Wang and the others."

"Really? They're here too?"

Lu Yunyi sat up straight, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes:

"How's that girl? Have you met her? Do you like her?"

"Uh"

Feng Yunfang hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded:
"She's pretty and a wonderful girl."

Lu Yunyi breathed a long sigh of relief and asked:

"Okay. When are we getting married?"

"My lord, the date hasn't been set yet. It might be next spring."

"Good spring! Spring is the time to plant sweet potatoes, and then we can share in the joy."
By the way, where do they live?

"I'm staying at my subordinate's home." Feng Yunfang felt even more uneasy.
"what?"

Lu Yunyi was stunned for a moment, then quickly burst into laughter:
"Is that so? Sharing a bed before marriage? That's quite ahead of its time."

Feng Yunfang looked up in shock.

My scalp felt itchy, as if it were saying, "How did you know!"

Lu Yunyi ignored him, thought for a moment, and said:

"Okay, I'll give you two days off."
Take them sightseeing in Daning City, and buy them some clothes and food.
Take the girl to pick out some jewelry.
They've come all this way just for you, their golden son-in-law, so we can't be sloppy with them.

As for guard duty, Lu Kang was brought over; he was extremely efficient in his work.

Feng Yunfang quickly spoke up:
"My lord, they have already told me that official business is of utmost importance."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
Stop saying these useless things.

What's the point of living a life spent solely on official duties?
Hurry back and take all the grassland specialties that Mi Chen brought today.
Those are all good things, but I'm not used to eating them.

Feng Yunfang hesitated for a moment, and seeing that he had lowered his head to look at the documents, he said:
"Yes, my lord."

As he reached the door, a voice behind him made him stop in his tracks.

"Oh, and don't forget to come to the Commandery tomorrow; it's almost the end of the year."
The commander plans to distribute some grain, oil, rice, and flour, and then distribute this year's rewards.

"Yes!" Feng Yunfang replied in a firm and resonant voice as he walked out.
Ten miles outside the city, the Daning Vanguard Army's granary was located.
Liu Heiying stood in front of the grain outlet, hands on his hips.

Looking at the smashed, empty grain rations, his face was full of ferocity!
All around, more than a hundred soldiers, clad in armor and armed with long swords and torches, illuminated the somewhat deserted camp.

Liu Heiying sneered, his voice booming:

"Who can explain to me where the grain is? Where did it go?"

(End of this chapter)