In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 668 Arsleng Makes a Visit
"Does the Taiji know him?"

His reaction startled Mi Bin, who asked in surprise.

A deep sense of apprehension flashed in Bayar's eyes. He nodded, then shook his head.
"I have never met him, but after the royal court was breached that day..."

Many people went to the grasslands of Baisongbu.
When they talked about the battle that day, they mentioned a man named Arsleng.
It is said that he led the Ming army and broke through the camp in one fell swoop.
But in the end, it vanished without a trace.
Everyone guessed that he had defected to the Ming Dynasty.

Now that I've heard what Manager Mi said, it seems there really is such a thing.

Upon hearing this, Mi Bin's face showed a look of absurdity.
After much deliberation, he decided not to hide it:

"Taijitsu, you are unaware of the following."

Lord Lu was originally from Daning, living in Qingzhou City, the northernmost part of Daning, which used to be Nahachu's territory.

"what?"

Bayar stood there stunned, the enormous shock leaving him turbulent and unable to think clearly.

He thought of the various legends about Arslan that he had heard a year ago.

Thinking of the fear on those people's faces,
He clearly remembered that many people also looked regretful.

It is said that if Arsleng were loyal to the grassland royal court, the royal court would not have been defeated.

Moreover, he also knew that because of Arslen's existence,
This significantly reduced the oppression of smaller tribes by larger ones.
They were terrified that another traitor like him would emerge and wipe out all the people of the grasslands.

Now, however, someone told him,
This person was originally from the Ming Dynasty, which Bayar found somewhat unacceptable.

He had even admired this hero of the grasslands before.
He dreamed of him joining the Baisong tribe and together conquering a vast empire.

"Ah"

Bayar suddenly laughed, then shook his head somewhat helplessly.
No wonder they disappeared without a trace.

He was originally a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty court and was already a powerful figure. Why would he covet power on the grasslands?

"Is he in Daning City right now?" Bayar asked.

"He is the Deputy Commander of the Capital Garrison, in charge of all important affairs of the yamen."

"By the way, the affairs of the Three Guards of Duoyan also fall under his jurisdiction."

Mi Bin didn't hide anything; such information could be easily found out by asking around in the city.

"Can I see him?" Bayar asked, as if possessed.

"See him? That killer star, why would you want to see him?"
You don't know this, but just these past two days...
He squeezed nearly 200,000 taels of silver from Huang, Wang, and Hu Chongyi.

Now, none of the merchants in our city dare to show their faces.

People would avoid his carriages and horses, fearing he might target them.

A hint of apprehension flashed in Mi Bin's eyes, and he quietly shrank back.

Bayar's eyes still shone brightly, even showing a hint of excitement:
"Is that so? With so much money involved, they're probably going to be severely weakened."

"Who can argue with that? In the past, those families made a fortune every year."
This year, things have been quiet, and not even a banquet was held.

Taiji, I advise you not to rush to meet him.

This person is wicked; it's a wonder he managed to find even the slightest opportunity.
"He'll bite down and won't let go, tearing a chunk of flesh from you," Mi Bin advised.

Seeing Mi Bin's apprehension, Bayar's smile faded, and he too felt a growing sense of apprehension.
"Should we be more careful with this delivery?"

"That's not necessary."

Mi Bin waved his hand, which was unusual for him.

"The white sugar I'm going to sell you is from his trading company."

Regarding smuggling, the commander turned a blind eye and continued with the usual practices.

"Turn a blind eye?"

Bayar was somewhat surprised, muttering to himself as he asked:
"Please explain in detail, Manager Mi."

Then, Mi Bin gave a general account of what had happened in the past two months.
Bayar's expression changed repeatedly as he listened, recalling the bustling scene in the north of the city:

"Is Manager Mi saying that he's using this method to give each of the city's residents ten coins?"

"Huang Huai and Wang Ze are the ones who secretly scheme against each other."
They found some gang members and brought the man over for just a few coins.

Now look what happened! We've lost a lot for a little. In trying to save a few taels of silver, we've lost tens of thousands of taels.

By the way, those gang members were also thoroughly wiped out in the morning.
I heard that they'll be forced to work as laborers when the road is repaired next year.
"Everyone else has money, only they don't," Mi Bin said.

“Road construction? I heard a young boy mention it on my way here. What is it?” Bayar asked.

Mi Bin didn't know why he was so concerned about things within Daning City.

But after considering the cooperation for a long time, he patiently explained the matter in detail.

Bayar finally understood, his eyes gleaming:
"Are you saying that Manager Mi took so much silver from the merchants in the city to repair the road?"

My informant in the yamen told me...

Besides distributing rewards to various government offices and providing various festive foods to the people, that silver was used to...
"They're all stored in the government office; no one is allowed to approach them," Mi Bin explained.

"call"

Bayar let out a long sigh, holding his teacup, lost in thought.

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to meet the renowned Arsleng.

I want to ask him some questions and ask him for some guidance.

But Bayar didn't say it explicitly; instead, he looked at Mi Bin and tentatively asked:

"Does Manager Mi think his actions are good or bad?"
To be honest, Manager Mi, on the way here, I felt the city was much more lively than usual.

Mi Bin sighed deeply, his expression unreadable:
"If ordinary people live better lives, will we still have good lives?"

Bayar was taken aback, then nodded helplessly:
"That makes sense."

After saying that, he took out a letter from his pocket and handed it over:

"There's a business opportunity in the Northeast. I wonder if Manager Mi would be willing to take it on?"

Mi Bin opened the letter with some surprise and took out the letter paper.

The handwriting that came into view was crooked and distorted, but it was still barely legible.

The more I looked at him, the more serious his expression became, and there was even a strange look in his eyes.
"This Xiyang? A Jurchen?"

Yes, they are Jurchens.
He hoped to purchase some ironware, as well as supplies such as salt, sugar, and tea, from Shiramatsu.
"We'll trade it for furs, gold, and silver from the mountains," Bayar said.

Mi Bin frowned, his heart pounding.
Without a doubt, this is a big business.

But, as far as he knows,
The Jurchen people of Northeast China have always purchased these items from Liaodong.

Why the sudden need to purchase from Shiramatsube?
"Taiji, something's happened in Liaodong?"

Mi Bin tentatively asked, after these two months of hardship,
He had long ago decided that he would be extremely cautious in doing business from now on.
After all, the situation in Da Ning has changed, and they can no longer act as recklessly as before.

Bayar nodded slightly:
"Marquis Tang Shengzong of Yan'an has been summoned back to the capital."
The Jurchens, suddenly without their support, were thrown into chaos.
The various units have been fighting for a long time to seize the limited supplies, resulting in a bloodbath.

"Is the business in Liaodong in the hands of the Marquis of Yan'an?"

Mi Bin's heart pounded; it was the first time he had ever heard of such a secret.

"I suppose so. In the past, those Jurchens relied on the support of the Commander-in-Chief and the Marquis of Yan'an."

They provoked us several times, and the Bai Song tribe fought several battles with the Jurchens.

Now that their backer is gone, they'll have a hard time getting through next winter.
"Then they clung to me like dogs," Bayar said.

"Gudong."

Mi Bin swallowed hard, a look of disbelief on his face.

I thought that Lord Lu's tolerance of smuggling in the city was already going too far.

Unexpectedly, the Liaodong forces were even more valiant.
The Marquis and the Commander-in-Chief were actually the backers of those savages.
"Does Taiji want to do business with them?" Mi Bin asked.

Bayar nodded:
Who would turn down money?
Doing business with these savages not only allows you to make money, but also gives you the opportunity to control them.

At the very least, if they dare to damage the grasslands again, cut off their iron tools!

At this point, a fierce glint flashed in Bayar's eyes.
His entire demeanor changed.
His previous refined demeanor vanished without a trace, and even his voice became erratic.

"Is Manager Mi interested in taking on this business?"
If Manager Mi has any concerns, that's fine.
Business in Baisong Village continues as usual; I can find someone else to do business with the savages.
Hu Chongyi and Huang Huai, having suffered such a large loss, would likely be quite willing to do this business.

Mi Bin's heart tightened, and he clenched his fists.

The reason why the Mi family was able to maintain its position among the top tier of merchants in Daning City was...

It was precisely because of their connections with many tribes, including the Baisong tribe,

There is a steady stream of income every year.

If people like Hu Chongyi were to do business with the Jurchens,
Who knows how arrogant they'll become.

Taking a deep breath, Mi Bin spoke in a low voice:
"Taiji, allow me to return and discuss this with my elder brother."
It's not that the Mi family doesn't want to do this business now.

"But now the Commander is keeping a close watch on us, and the slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin. The Mi family needs to be more secure."

Bayar nodded:
"No rush, it's good to let those Jurchens go hungry for a few meals."

Mi Bin didn't say anything after hearing this, but instead brought up the sugar business: "Taiji, how about we settle the goods outside the city tomorrow?"

“Excellent, cash on delivery.”

Bayar nodded with a smile, showing his sincerity.

Whew. Mi Bin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After this part of the business is completed
The losses suffered by the Mi clan in the Duoyan tribe have been completely made up, which puts him in a great mood.

"Taiji, shall we go have some fun tonight?"
The brothels in the city have brought in many beautiful girls from the capital.

Mi Bin leaned closer, raised an eyebrow, and looked like a treacherous villain.

Bayar shook his head:

"No, there are too many people around today, I'd better go back to my lodgings to rest."

"How about we go to Sanminglou for some drinks? They're all good wines from Beiping."

"No, I'm a little tired."

Having said that, and seeing his repeated refusals, Mi Bin did not press the matter.
He was even secretly pleased, as he didn't like drinking and socializing.

He prefers to be the lord at home rather than the grandson outside.

“Then I will send someone to escort Taiji back.”

"Thank you very much, Manager Mi."

Number 15 Sanbao Street was a house purchased by Bai Songbu within Daning City.

This is where the city's high-ranking officials and nobles reside.
The environment is serene, the houses are exquisite, and even the ground is spotless.

The powerful and influential families of the Baisong tribe and other major grassland tribes.
They would usually buy houses in the Ming Dynasty cities and would often go into the city for leisure.
After all, the cities of the Ming Dynasty were much more prosperous than those of the tribes.

No. 15 Sanbao Street is a three-courtyard house.
Located on a street corner, it is not conspicuous or eye-catching.

After Bayar arrived, he sat quietly in the main hall.
He sipped the brewed tea, his eyes thoughtful.

The dim candlelight shone on his face.
The light cast flickering shadows on his face.

It was already dark, but the city was bustling with activity.
Through the main hall's main entrance, one could still faintly see fireworks shooting into the sky.
The gasps of surprise seemed to be right next to my ears.

After an unknown amount of time, hurried footsteps sounded, and a guard rushed closer.
"Taiji, I've already inquired."

The Lu residence is located on Sanbao Street, no more than three hundred paces from here.

Bayar paused in his tea-drinking hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Also on Sanbao Street?"

As far as he knew, the houses on Sanbao Street were ostensibly owned by the Ming people.
However, the majority of them belonged to the nomadic elites of the grasslands.
What's this Lord Lu from the Capital Garrison doing on Sanbao Street?

"I heard that his wife was from Liaodong."
Lord Lu is staying at his wife's residence.

"Oh? He's a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family?"

Bayar seemed thoughtful; he knew that Lord Lu was very young.

If the father-in-law had helped, things would have made much more sense.

The guard's expression was strange, and he gently shook his head.

"Taiji doesn't seem like a son-in-law."
Because Lord Lu also has two concubines from prestigious families,

One is a young lady from the Mu family in Yunnan, and the other is a young lady from the Shen family in Yingtian.

"The Duke of Shen's mansion?" Bayar's eyes flashed with doubt.

"I heard she's the niece of the Duke of Shen."

"That's Deng Yu's granddaughter, from a prominent family."

Bayar rested his chin on his hand, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, he looked up and gave the order:
"We will send you a visiting card and pay you a visit shortly."

The guard was taken aback, his pupils contracting slightly:

"Taji, it's too dangerous!"

Bayar waved his hand:
"What danger could there be? Lord Dusi knows what's important. Go quickly."

The guard's expression changed repeatedly.

Seeing his resolute attitude, he hesitated for a moment before nodding and leaving.
Bayar sat in the empty main hall.
Feeling the cold wind blowing in from the open door, I was lost in thought.

Lu Yunyi had just returned to the Lu residence on Sanbao Street.
He was sitting leisurely in his study, quietly reading a military treatise.

Mu Chuting stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.

They would occasionally lean down and look at the contents of the military books together, which was a rare moment of leisure.

At that moment, a figure was reflected in the doorway.

There were still some dim traces of lights.

Seeing this, Mu Chuting smiled.
"My lord, it must be time to eat."

Lu Yunyi pulled his gaze from the military book and looked towards the door.

Just then, Uncle Wang's voice came from outside the door:
"Sir, someone has delivered a visiting card."

"Didn't I say that I won't accept any invitations or see any guests?"

Mu Chuting looked at the figure at the door with a sharp gaze.

"Madam, the messenger says he is an old friend from the grasslands."

A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Yunyi's eyes as he called out:
"Bring me the visiting card."

The door was pushed open, and Uncle Wang's hunched figure walked in.

He strode to the table and handed over the visiting card.

Lu Yunyi glanced at him discreetly, then examined the visiting card in his hand.

A distinctive, fishy smell emanated from the grassland people.

Open the visiting card; there are a few simple words on it:
"Bayar, the Taiji of the Baisong tribe, requests an audience with His Highness Arsleng."

Lu Yunyi's pupils contracted slightly, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't heard that familiar name for almost two years.

So much so that it's somewhat blurry in my memory.

As for Shiramatsu, if he remembered correctly...

This refers to most of the newly migrated grasslands near Buyur Lake, which have some connection with the Mi clan.

“Taiji…” Lu Yunyi seemed to be deep in thought.

In some large tribes, the leader is called Khan, and some people of high rank and power are called Taiji.

In some small and medium-sized tribes, Taiji means chief.

No matter how you look at it, Bayar doesn't seem like someone of low status.

But to send out a visiting card so casually is a bit too arrogant.

Lu Yunyi looked up at Uncle Wang and asked:

"Where are the people?"

"Reporting to the master, the person is outside the door."

"Let him in."

"Yes"

After Uncle Wang left, Lu Yunyi looked at the visiting card thoughtfully.

Mu Chuting lay down with great interest, a smile flashing in her bright eyes:

“Husband, these grassland people don’t seem to be afraid of you. They just came like this.”

"Ah"

Lu Yunyi smiled and shook his head:

"I don't know what he's up to."
"It'll be good to see it, though, and see what level the White Pine tribe is at."

Mu Chuting smiled gently:
"Let me get you your robe."

"Need not."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, got up, and was about to leave.

"Oh dear, it's cold outside. I hope you don't catch a cold, my husband."

Mu Chuting quickly ran to the side, grabbed the robe, and followed Lu Yunyi, draping it over his shoulders.

Feeling the sudden heaviness on his body, Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"This robe is too heavy."

Stepping out of the room, Lu Yunyi remembered something, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes:
"What are the three guards of Duoyan doing? The mink fur hasn't been delivered yet."

After saying that, he hurriedly walked towards the side hall.

(End of this chapter)