In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 663 Father and Son's Night Talk on Dismantling Shanhaiguan
The welcoming banquet at the Lu residence was very lavish, featuring hot pot, a specialty of Kanglelou Restaurant, and barbecue from Tianshengfang in the south of the city.
There were also snacks from Guangmingfang, and vegetables transported from Beiping.

After the meal, the atmosphere was more harmonious than ever before.

Madam Liu was very satisfied with her several generous and well-mannered daughters-in-law, and her smile never stopped.

As always, Master Lu maintained a serious expression, his face constantly tense.
But whenever he sees the lively scene on the table, a smile always appears on his lips.

Lu Yunyi brought him some fine wine and drinks that had been sent from Beiping.

Overjoyed, both father and son drank quite a bit, but remained sober.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the servants began to clean up the mess.
The family then sat down in the tea room.

They chatted casually.

The warm, moist temperature of the cage made everyone's cheeks flush, and their eyes were almost overflowing with joy.

Lu Yunyi introduced them to Pu'er tea from Yunnan.

As always, Master Lu performed the old-fashioned and tedious tea-making techniques.

After tidying up, I finally drank the first cup of tea.

At this moment, Lu Yunyi had already finished drinking a pot of wine.

Time flies,
After Lu Yunyi recounted his experiences traveling all over the country in a fairly accurate manner,

As night fell, the women began to leave one after another.

In the end, only the father and son remained in the tea room.

The effects of the alcohol from the meal had dissipated somewhat, and the father and son sat facing each other at the square table, the atmosphere somewhat somber.

Lu Yunyi drank tea cup after cup, his usual composure gone.

Lu Jianzhi glanced up briefly, pursed his lips, and asked:
"Anything on your mind?"

Lu Yunyi was about to shake his head, but he quickly realized that the person in front of him was his father, so he nodded.

Lu Jianzhi also noticed this behavior.

"It's perfectly normal to be wary of everyone in officialdom."

But whether they are generals leading troops into battle or officials governing a region,

They are all human beings.
Humans experience emotional fluctuations, including joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

Yunyi, your father knows absolutely nothing about officialdom and politics.
But as a father, I want to tell you that in life, you should have clear thoughts and understand your true nature.

If you have anything to say or do, then go for it.

Be less wary and more trusting towards your subordinates and those around you.

Doing so will not reduce difficulties in things, and may even increase some troubles.
But for you, it will be much easier, and you will be able to do more things.

Whether a single sip or bite is good or bad remains to be seen.

Lu Yunyi easily understood the meaning behind those words, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

He had read many ancient books and knew most of the principles contained therein, but knowing and being able to apply them are two different things.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi's gaze sharpened, and he spoke softly:
"Father, I intend to repair the official road from Shanhaiguan to Daning City early next year to enhance trade."
However, the commandery was short of funds.

Even if they petitioned the imperial court, they would receive very little support, and the process would take a long time.

So I resorted to some extreme measures to extort money from the merchants in the city.
Now that things are almost done, I still feel that doing this is not entirely honest and lacks a sense of integrity.

Lu Jianzhi placed the teacup on the table, lowered his eyes to gaze at the tea leaves floating in the cup, and after a long while said:

"Yunyi, as stated in the Huainanzi."
"Techniques are about adapting to the times and responding to changes," while "the Way" is the fundamental principle of the world.

When Guan Zhong served as prime minister of Qi, he established the "Nine Ministries of Light and Heavy Industries" and implemented a monopoly on salt and iron.
While seemingly competing with merchants for profit, he actually used tactics to uphold principles, ultimately ensuring that the granaries of Qi were full and that people were well-mannered.

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip, his gaze growing increasingly profound:

"Shang Yang's reforms, including moving a log to establish trust and punishing the Crown Prince's tutor to clarify the law, were ruthless in their methods, but they did not deviate from the path of strengthening the country and enriching the people."

If one clings to the name of "uprightness and integrity" while ignoring the suffering of the people and the safety of the border regions, then one is truly putting the cart before the horse.

Repairing official roads and opening up trade routes between the north and south is a way to benefit the country and its people.

As for the means of raising silver from merchants, it is merely a matter of expediency in 'tactics'.

Are you so worried because you fear rumors circulating among the public and the government?

Or is it fear of the various opinions circulating in the capital's court?

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes, then he laughed:
"I think so. I had already thought about this on the way here, and I made up my mind after seeing that the people in the city were starving."

As for the final result, I have considered it in my mind, and it's roughly correct.

Lu Yunyi's knuckles, stroking the rim of the cup, turned slightly white, and the candlelight cast flickering shadows in his eyes.
"What I've always worried about is that once a precedent is set, it will be difficult to stay true to myself in the future."

I've seen far too many merchants colluding with government officials to hoard goods and speculate on prices.

Today I take silver in the name of justice; will others follow suit tomorrow, using the same pretext to line their own pockets?

He tilted his head back and drank the remaining tea in his cup, his Adam's apple bobbing as he made a dry, hoarse sound.
"What I fear even more is that this expedient measure will be misinterpreted by those with ulterior motives as an oppressive policy, and I will only be condemned."

Lu Jianzhi pondered for a long time,
"When Guan Zhong governed Qi, although the commercial taxes were heavy, they were used to benefit the people."

Although Shang Yang is gone, the Qin laws have endured for a thousand years.

The Way of the King is vast and impartial, without any partisan bias. The righteous path cannot be altered by the opinions of petty people.

In the past, when Zichan cast the bronze tripod of punishments, Shu Xiang of Jin rebuked him for "abandoning propriety and seeking knowledge from books," yet the state of Zheng prospered greatly.
The people sang: "I have sons and brothers, Zichan teaches them; I have fields, Zichan cultivates them."

Justice resides in the hearts of the people, and right and wrong will be judged by history.

"During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Wang Jing devoted all the government's money and grain to the Yellow River management project. People at the time criticized him for wasting the people's resources and manpower. However, after the Yellow River had been calm for eight hundred years, people realized that his achievements would last for a thousand years."

If we take the 'Tao' as our standard, why should we fear that the expediency of 'technique' will be distorted by others?

Xunzi said, "Do not be tempted by praise, nor fear slander."

To abandon actions that benefit the people out of fear of criticism would be to betray the duty of an official.

Master Lu's expression turned serious:
“Yunyi, you were originally from Daning.”

His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince have assigned you to Daning so that you may bring prosperity to your hometown.

In a place as icy and snowy as Daning, learned scholars and officials with lofty ambitions would not come; they would flock to Yingtian.

As for the imperial court, His Majesty, and His Highness the Crown Prince, whether it was Daming under their feet, Suzhou and Hangzhou beside them, or Jiangxi and Fujian, which were rich in wealth, they were all the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Others may have prejudices, but His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince cannot.

If you harbor resentment over things that haven't even happened yet, and fail to handle matters properly, the court will truly be disappointed in you.

Lu Yunyi listened quietly, his eyes somewhat dazed, as if he had returned to his childhood many years ago.

Back then, his father was just as talkative as he is today, spouting many profound truths that he couldn't understand. At that time, he wished his father would stop talking.

But today he understands all these profound principles, and even listens attentively, hoping his father will say more.

Whether it's leading troops into battle or governing the people, officials have little to rely on; victory or defeat, honor or disgrace, all depend on themselves.

What's worse, once things get to this point, everything the people around you say, whether true or false, is good news, which makes Lu Yunyi feel a sense of unreality.

His work was progressing too smoothly in Daning, which made him somewhat suspicious.
He seemed oblivious to whether there was an abyss ahead.

His father's words today brought him some peace of mind.

Lu Yunyi spoke softly:
"Father, what do you think is the path to becoming a true enlightened person?"

Lu Jianzhi's pupils contracted slightly, knowing that what he was talking about was not simply taking over the territory to the Ming Dynasty, but the more difficult issue of winning people's hearts.

After pondering for a long time, Lu Jianzhi pointed to the map of the Ming Dynasty hanging on the wall, his fingertip lingering on the vast territory north of the Great Wall:

"When His Majesty recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, he established nine important border towns and implemented the policy of 'migrating people to strengthen the border,' relocating people from Jiangnan to the north to cultivate the land. Do you know the profound meaning behind this move?"

The candlelight cast flickering light on his face.
"They say they're farming, but in reality they're cultivating people."

It was like planting seeds of the Ming Dynasty's laws, writing system, and etiquette into this land.

"Emperor Taizu ordered the Prince of Zhongshan to rebuild Shanhaiguan, constructing the city with bricks and stones, not only to defend against enemies, but also to establish academies and markets within the pass, so that merchants and soldiers stationed on the border could all learn the laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty."

Now, those people from beyond the Great Wall speak Mandarin, practice Han etiquette, and worship the tablets of Confucius and Mencius; they have long considered themselves subjects of the Great Ming Dynasty.

At this point, Lu Jianzhi sighed softly:
"Shanhaiguan protects the people inside the pass, but isolates us, the people of Daning, from the outside."

He opened a school and performed ancient rituals for his father in the hope that the culture of the Central Plains could spread in Daning.

But ultimately, he was alone and powerless.

Lu Jianzhi tore down the map from the wall, spread it on the table, and pressed his knuckles heavily on the location of Shanhaiguan, causing the remaining tea in the teacup to spill out.

"If we want Daming to truly become part of the Ming Dynasty's territory, Shanhaiguan must be dismantled!"

"Shanhaiguan is not a barrier, but a shackle." Lu Jianzhi's voice was calm, yet his words were like a thunderclap.
"Your Majesty established the Nine Garrisons because the northern border was not yet pacified, and you had no choice but to build walls to defend yourself."

But now, twenty years later, the people inside and outside the Great Wall are all subjects of the Ming Dynasty, yet this wall has cruelly torn apart the people who are connected by blood!

Lu Yunyi looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.

He couldn't imagine that his usually gentle and rigid father would take such drastic measures in his heart.

Even he had never imagined dismantling the Shanhaiguan Pass.

All he wanted was to rebuild a Great Wall outside of Daning, encompassing Shanhaiguan.
Lu Yunyi was shocked for a moment and remained silent for a long time.
Only after Lu Jianzhi regained his previous calm and collected demeanor did he speak again:
“Father, I plan to build a Great Wall outside of Daning, so that Daning will effectively become part of the pass.”

A hint of praise flashed in Lu Jianzhi's eyes; to have such considerations...

This shows that the son had put a lot of thought into the resettlement of the people of Daning.

"Yunyi, Shanhaiguan is like a chasm."
It forcibly separated Daning from the Central Plains.

This made the area inside and outside the pass seem like two different worlds, making it difficult for people's hearts to connect.

If you were to build the Great Wall outside Daning now...

It seems like they are consolidating Daming, but what about Liaodong?
Liaodong was also part of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

One wall separated Beiping from Daning. In order to ease tensions, another wall was built to separate Daning from Liaodong.
This is treating the symptom, not the cause.

This will create a new rift between Liaodong and Daning.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi's body tensed up abruptly, and he froze on the spot.

Yes, is it worth it to build another wall just to remove one?
Lu Jianzhi didn't say anything to disturb him, just letting him think.

The candlelight flickered softly in the room, and the tea reflected the orange-red light, as well as the two figures sitting quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yunyi's gaze gradually sharpened. He didn't dwell on what had happened before, but instead turned to ask:

"Father, do you think a city should have city walls?"

Lu Jianzhi was somewhat surprised by this question. After thinking about it carefully for a moment, he said softly:

"There should be boundaries, but there shouldn't be city walls."

"Why??"

"Four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions are shrouded in mist and rain. The walls of Jinling once soared into the clouds, but they could not stop the changing of dynasties. Now, haven't they become Yingtian as well?"
The city walls could keep out bandits, but they couldn't stop people from growing distant.

It can contain the land, but it cannot contain the fusion of cultures.

If the people in the city live in peace and prosperity, and merchants come and go in great numbers, then even without city walls, this place is an indestructible paradise.

But if officials and the people are at odds, even if the city walls are built high, they will only be a cage that confines them.

Only the wall erected in the hearts of the people themselves is the most impregnable wall.

Lu Yunyi fell silent, his eyes beginning to wander as he pondered.
He imagined skyscrapers, neon lights everywhere, and the disappearance of brick and stone city walls.

But the walls in my heart are built high, stronger than ever before.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yunyi's gaze gradually became focused, and his entire being transformed from being unpredictable to standing tall like a mountain!

"Thank you, Father. I understand."

"But... I have many thoughts in my mind, but due to various constraints, I cannot realize them. What should I do?"

"You can walk slowly, but you can't stop."

"I know, kid."

The night passed in the blink of an eye, and today Daning City was especially festive.

Before dawn, the people in the north of the city quietly got up.

I found the couplets and the character "福" (good fortune) that the military commander had distributed a few days ago.
Thinking about how to make paste, I clumsily started pasting.

The weather was kind to us today; although it was still cold, there was no strong wind or snow.

In front of each house stood a row of simple, rustic stools.
You can also see the small bowls that hold the paste.
And a couplet that had been posted but then fell down.

The people were busy working in a flurry of activity.

I wanted to finish quickly so I could go queue up at Anhe Street!
At this moment, the line on Anhe Street was not only filled with children and women, but also with young adults.

Fortunately, Kang Le Trading Company does not restrict the whole family from queuing.

The people in the south of the city are very familiar with posting couplets and the character "福" (fortune/blessing).

After pasting up the couplets and the character "福" (good fortune), they wrapped themselves in thick clothes and went to queue up at the Kang Le Trading Company in the north of the city.

As the group walked, their murmurs could be heard:
"Why is this trading company located in the north of the city? Why not open one in the south as well? We have to travel so far every day!"

"Yes, yes, those grassland people are greedy too, they lined up early."

"In my opinion, if the weather were any warmer, those grassland people wouldn't go home!"

"Ha ha ha ha."

Laughter rippled through the group as they quickly arrived at the city's central command headquarters. Looking at the newly posted notice at the gate, one of them let out a cold laugh:
"See? Yesterday's fire incident really wasn't posted!"

Another person leaned closer, carefully examining the New Year's greetings on the notice, and muttered:

"Tomorrow is the New Year, how can we talk about such unlucky things? This New Year's greeting is quite well written. If you want to see about the fire, you'll probably have to wait until after the New Year."

At this moment, a scruffy-bearded hermit from the grasslands snorted coldly:
"What are you waiting for? How can such an important matter be posted on a notice board? Doesn't that mean this year is unlucky?"

"What are you yelling about?"

A middle-aged man, bundled up in thick clothes, glared and cursed:
"Every year, you set off so many fireworks and firecrackers in the north of the city, burning countless haystacks, yet you never say it's unlucky!"

"How can that be the same! You're talking like you're some nobody from the south of the city."

The two started arguing again, and soon the crowd of people in front of the notice joined in.

However, because there were soldiers standing nearby, they hesitated to make a move.

Lu Yunyi, who had rushed over, heard the argument in front of the notice and what they were saying, so the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Whether it's arguing, hating, or loving, it's much better than never speaking to each other again.

Upon entering the military headquarters and arriving at the left wing, Wu Su'an was already waiting there. Seeing him arrive, she immediately stood up, greeted him as "Sir," and handed over the documents in her hand.

"Sir, Manager Hu and Manager Shi are both willing to pay some money to ensure peace of mind."

"How much?" Lu Yunyi asked as he walked.

"Twenty thousand taels for each family."

Wu Su'an was terrified, but an unprecedented sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

Three months ago, he was just an unknown clerk.

Three months later, this money would flow through his hands, but he seemed oblivious to it.

"You think you can buy your life for 20,000 taels?"

That's too little. At least double it.

Wu Su'an was stunned for a moment, then bowed slightly:

"Yes, my lord."

After Wu Su'an left, Duan Zhengze walked in happily, holding documents in his hand; his voice preceded his arrival.

"My lord, this is great news!"

Lu Yunyi hung the clothes on the hanger, turned around, and asked with a smile:

"What happy event?"

Duan Zhengze handed over the document and said respectfully:
"Sir, these are the statements of Wang Ze and Huang Huai, and the two managers are even willing to offer some silver to ensure their safety."

Lu Yunyi stood there, somewhat bewildered, feeling as if he had heard those words somewhere before.

"How many?"

"Twenty thousand taels per family!"

Duan Zhengze was extremely excited!
"That's too little. They did something like that, and they expect the Commander to show leniency? They need at least double that amount!"

Duan Zhengze's eyes widened suddenly, and his breathing became rapid.

He had somewhat underestimated the ruthlessness of the man before him.

"My lord, I will take care of it immediately, and I will definitely get the silver!"

"Well, go ahead."

(End of this chapter)