In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 669 The Tide Rises in Liaodong, Waves Fly High

The Lu family mansion retains the rugged style of the nobility of the grasslands, with little alteration.
Even the side hall seemed exceptionally spacious.

The furniture inside was of moderate size.

However, it seemed out of place in the vast space, appearing somewhat cramped in the empty hall, and the overall layout was inexplicably strange.

Bayar paced back and forth in the hall, his brow furrowed.

He has always believed that a person's personality traits can often be gleaned from their behavioral habits and home furnishings.

The peculiar decorative style before him made him secretly speculate...
That renowned Prince Arslen,
They are definitely not someone who gets caught up in details, and may even be completely indifferent to external things.

Otherwise, why would such an incongruous arrangement be allowed to exist?

With this in mind, Bayar felt more confident about the upcoming meeting.

Just as his thoughts were racing,

The guards from the Lu family mansion poked their heads in at the gate, their voices steady:

"The master has arrived, come out to greet him."

Upon hearing this, Bayar immediately stopped and quickened his pace toward the door.

Stepping out of the room, the hazy moonlight mingled with the flickering candlelight.

A tall figure strode over, accompanied by two fully armed guards.

A man held a long sword, its blade gleaming coldly.
The other man carried a crossbow on his back, the bowstring taut, exuding a chilling aura.

Even from a distance, Bayar could feel the powerful pressure emanating from the other party.
A sense of unease welled up in my heart.
It's unclear whether this oppressive aura stems from the other party's identity.
Or is it a misconception arising from knowing about the other person's deeds?

As the person approached, Bayar saw their face clearly.
A young and serene face, very handsome.

However, beneath this calm surface, a turbulent undercurrent seemed to be brewing.

Bayar's breath hitched, and he became inexplicably nervous, even feeling a bit ashamed of himself.

He was secretly amazed; he had never seen someone so young yet possess such a powerful aura.
Even the Tianbao Nu and Dibao Nu of the Northern Yuan Royal Court paled in comparison.

This difference does not stem from power, but from a difference in mindset that comes from within.

When he met the other person's calm gaze,
I felt like a primitive man, insignificant and nowhere to hide.

"What are you looking at?"

A cold, clear voice suddenly rang out, pulling Bayar back to reality.

At this moment, the newcomer was already standing in front of him, his eyes revealing undisguised condescension.

Bayar was startled and quickly took a step back, respectfully bowing and saying:
"Bayar pays his respects to His Highness Arsleng."

Lu Yunyi glanced at him indifferently, then stepped into the reception room.

Bayar dared not delay and hurriedly followed him inside.

Inside the room, Lu Yunyi sat down at the head of the table.

He gestured to the chair below him, indicating that Bayar should sit down.

“I haven’t used the name Arsleng for a long time,” Lu Yunyi said.

Bayar clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:

"Lord Lu, although you haven't used the name Arisleng for a long time..."
But your legend still circulates widely on the grasslands, and I have long admired you.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Bayar with the gaze of an eagle.

The man in front of me was in his thirties, his face radiating maturity and composure.
Yet the words he uttered were so obsequious that they made one wary.

"I have no dealings with the Baisong tribe," Lu Yunyi said coldly.

“Lord Lu, you may not know this,” Bayar explained.
"The Baisong tribe originally grazed their herds in the west, but unfortunately, the former troops of the Northern Yuan royal court seized our pastures."

We were forced to migrate to this dangerous place in the east because we had nowhere else to go.

For the people of the grasslands, Fishing Lake is...
It is both a sacred site symbolizing orthodoxy and a dangerous place rife with conflict.
Because this area is adjacent to the Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens, the situation is complex.

"Did you hear my name from those defeated Northern Yuan soldiers?" Lu Yunyi asked.

“Exactly,” Bayar replied quickly.

Lu Yunyi scoffed:
“The former Northern Yuan troops seized your pastures. Logically, you should hate me even more.”

Bayar had anticipated being asked this question, and he said sincerely:
"My lord, to be honest, we did harbor resentment towards you at first."

But the people of the grasslands have always admired the strong.
Your ability to decisively defeat the Northern Yuan royal court is something our entire tribe greatly admires.

After moving to Buyur Lake, we discovered that...
The Ming Dynasty not only did not exterminate us, but also traded goods and established trade relations with us.

Life is so much better now than before.

Gradually, we stopped resenting the remnants of the royal court who had seized the grasslands.
And there are quite a few women in the tribe who admire you.

It is precisely because of what you and the Ming army have done that
Only then can our tribe live a peaceful life and eat cabbage and grain.

Although there was some sincerity in these words, they still sounded quite cheesy.

Lu Yunyi listened with a frown, then looked at Bayar with a strange expression.
He knew in his heart that anyone offering unsolicited kindness was either up to no good or a thief.

So he asked directly:

"Speak, what business do you have with me?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Bayar's face after his intentions were exposed.
But he quickly composed himself and said:

"Lord Lu, the situation in Liaodong has changed."
The Jurchens wanted to do business with the Baisong tribe, purchasing ironware and daily necessities from the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing the words "Liaodong," Lu Yunyi's eyes sharpened, a fierce glint flashing within them, and an aura of power gradually spread around him.
"Liaodong is clearly peaceful and the people live and work in peace. Where is the chaos?"

Bayar pursed his lips and lowered his voice, saying:

"The Marquis of Yan'an, who had been guarding Liaodong, left a few days ago."
After he left, the Jurchens' supply of materials was cut off.

Now they'd fight over a single iron pot.
A few days ago, they even went to the territory of the Baisong tribe, attempting to plunder, but fortunately we repelled them.

"What nonsense!"

Lu Yunyi remained expressionless, his tone icy.

"Liaodong belongs to the Ming Dynasty; the Jurchens are people beyond the reach of civilization."
What does their shortage of supplies have to do with Liaodong?

As long as they don't provoke the Ming Dynasty, Liaodong will naturally ignore them.

Even so, Lu Yunyi knew in his heart that a storm was coming.

This marquis, who had guarded Liaodong for eight years, was finally about to return to the center of power he had always longed for.

However, what awaited him was not promotion or honor, but death.

"Lord Lu is right. Liaodong and the Jurchens have no connection whatsoever."

Bayar quickly echoed,
"Now the Jurchens have approached the Baisong tribe, wanting to purchase supplies."
However, our tribe is really short of resources.

Therefore, I earnestly request the Ming Dynasty court to lend a helping hand and assist the Bai Song tribe in overcoming their difficulties.

The Bai Song tribe wishes to establish a lasting friendship with the Ming Dynasty and agree not to invade each other's territory.

As he spoke, he performed a deep bow, seemingly very sincere.

Lu Yunyi scoffed and said sarcastically:
"The Jurchens couldn't get anything from Liaodong, so they came to rob you."

You gave in so easily?

We should gather our troops and fight them.

If your Baisong tribe lacks the capability, I can send Ming troops from the Commandery to assist you.

Bayar's heart tightened suddenly.

He was well-versed in military strategy and naturally understood the story of "borrowing a path to attack Guo".

For a moment, he couldn't fathom the true thoughts of the adult before him.

Not knowing whether what he said was true or false, I had no choice but to change the subject:

"Lord Lu, the Bai Song tribe hopes to establish trade relations with the Beiping Capital Commandery."
We need to buy some supplies from the Ming Dynasty to get through this winter.

There's a saying in the Ming Dynasty: "All talk and no action is useless."

Lu Yunyi's tone was mocking, yet it carried a chilling undertone.

"The Baisong tribe is entrenched at Buyur Lake, eyeing the Ming Dynasty with covetous intent."
You think you can just start a trade war like that? What about the reputation of the Ming Dynasty?

Bayar's heart skipped a beat.
He knew full well that the Bai Song tribe was currently powerless to contend with the Beiping Regional Military Command.
Even the once-powerful Northern Yuan royal court dared not easily invade.

"What are your requirements, Commander? Bai Songbu will do his best to meet them."

"The Commander-in-Chief doesn't have any special requirements," Lu Yunyi said calmly.
"As long as you behave yourselves in the north..."

The commander won't cause you any trouble, and I don't have the time for that either.

As for the Jurchens, fight if you can win, and disperse if you can't.

At that time, the commandery can accept your people.

By the way, when you entered the city this afternoon,
Having lingered in the north of the city for so long, they must already know about the road construction plan by the commandery.

At that time, your people can come and work.

The commander treated everyone equally, and wages were paid as usual.

Bayar's face turned deathly pale instantly, cold sweat poured down his back, and his heart was filled with turmoil:
"How did he know I entered the city this afternoon? Was my every move being monitored by the military commander?"

He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and asked:
"Does Your Excellency know that I entered the city today?" Lu Yunyi glanced at him and said slowly:

"This is the city of the Ming Dynasty, and also the location of the Military Commandery."

Bayar instantly understood that the Dusi Yamen's control over Daning City far exceeded his expectations.

Perhaps the previous transactions had already been observed by Du Si.
They just haven't exposed it yet, turning a blind eye.

Thinking of this, a deep sense of dread welled up in his heart.

The power of the Ming Dynasty was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

Once the road is completed, Daning City will be even more impregnable and invincible.

Just as Bayar was lost in thought,
Lu Yunyi stood up, looking down at him with a calm yet authoritative tone:

"Now that we're in Daning City, we must abide by the laws of the Ming Dynasty."

Don't do anything outrageous, and don't use your status to oppress the people.

Otherwise, my sword will show no mercy.

After saying that, he stepped out of the side hall, leaving only the words "See the guest out."

The guard at the door came in and gestured for Bayar to leave.

Lu Yunyi returned to the study and saw Mu Chuting engrossed in reading.

Hearing the noise, she looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes:
"Husband, you're back so soon?"

Lu Yunyi took off his cloak as he laughed:
"He's just a grassland man, nothing much to say about him."

"Is that man Shiramatsube Taikichi?"

Mu Chuting put down her book, stood up, and brushed the thin layer of snow off Lu Yunyi's shoulder, her eyes full of doubt.

"Yes, the city defense troops noticed him entering the city that afternoon."

I didn't expect him to cause me trouble before I even went to see him. How strange.

Lu Yunyi sat down behind his desk, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

"What trouble has he caused my husband?"

Mu Chuting brewed another cup of hot tea, handed it to Lu Yunyi, and said with a smile,
"Husband, just ignore him. Don't get upset and hurt yourself."

"It's not that I'm angry; the news he brought is very important."
The Marquis of Yan'an, who was stationed in Liaodong, has returned to the capital, and smuggling in Liaodong has ceased.

Lu Yunyi seemed to be deep in thought, then pulled Mu Chuting to sit on his lap.

Mu Chuting's eyes sharpened. She came from a family of officials.
Having experienced the ups and downs of life in the capital, he was quite knowledgeable about court affairs.
"My lord, shall we begin?"

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly: "Mm."

"My husband, there's something I don't understand."

"How could the Marquis of Yan'an in Liaodong be involved in the affairs of Lianghuai?" Mu Chuting asked curiously.

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"I don't know the specific reasons either, but I can speculate a bit."

In the nineteenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380), Lin Xian, the commander of the Mingzhou Guard, was exposed for colluding with Japanese pirates.
Interrogation revealed that he had been sent to Japan on Hu Weiyong's orders to collude with the Japanese monarch and his ministers.

He then managed to get himself reinstated to his original position.

There are even testimonies that they discussed borrowing elite Japanese troops.

If this is true, from where did these soldiers enter the Ming Dynasty?
The Shandong coastline is heavily defended and too dangerous, so the only option is the Liaodong route.

Upon hearing this, Mu Chuting covered her mouth in disbelief:
"Husband, is such a thing really true?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was somewhat solemn, and he sighed softly:
"Hu Weiyong has been dead for many years, and it is impossible to distinguish between right and wrong now."

But with such rumors circulating, it's possible that Lin Xian has someone else backing him.

"Is he a South Korean?" Mu Chuting asked cautiously.

"There are many suspicious points in this matter."

With my current official position, I am unable to ascertain the key details.

However, Liaodong's unique geographical location, connecting Korea and Japan, has always made it an important smuggling route.

Nowadays, maritime trade is strictly controlled, and exchanges with these two countries are now limited through Liaodong.
Then, further turnover of goods would make sense.

Lu Yunyi let out a long sigh, his eyes gradually becoming vacant.

If he were in the central leadership, he might know more inside information.

But in the remote border region of Daning, we can only speculate.

Although the outcome was predetermined, the process was full of variables.

One wrong move and a good thing can turn into a bad thing.
Opportunity and danger are often separated by a fine line.

Mu Chuting silently got up, walked behind Lu Yunyi, and gently massaged his shoulders:

“My husband, I have recently reread Sun Tzu’s Art of War and have gained some insights from it.”

The chapter on military competition states that...
Therefore, it is as swift as the wind, as slow as the forest, as fierce as fire, as immovable as a mountain, as unpredictable as darkness, and as powerful as thunder.

My husband is now stationed in Daning, far from the turmoil in the capital, and is as stable as Mount Tai.

If we can act swiftly and decisively in road construction and trade, we will surely be invincible.
Today I saw in the city that the people were very happy to learn that there were opportunities to work.

The entire population of Daning will be my husband's support.

Even if the South Korean government wanted to harm you, they would have to think twice.

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Public opinion can sometimes be a lifesaver, and sometimes it can become a death warrant," Lu Yunyi remarked.

"And now? Is public opinion a lifesaver or a death warrant for my husband?" Mu Chuting asked curiously.

"It's a temporary lifesaver."

Mu Chuting smiled, and her grip became even gentler:
"That's good."

"But I worry that in a few years, this public opinion will become a death knell."

Lu Yunyi's fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest of the seat.

Mu Chuting looked puzzled and was about to ask a question when Lu Yunyi continued:
"The Duke of Han is getting old, and he wants to fight for the interests of the nobles of Lianghuai."

His Majesty is getting old, and for the sake of the stability of the Ming Dynasty, he may have to take drastic measures.

How the situation will develop at that time is truly unpredictable.

After saying that, Lu Yunyi slowly closed his eyes, a feeling of exhaustion washing over him.

Although I had already prepared myself mentally

But when these momentous events, so prominently featured in history books, were about to unfold...

He still couldn't help feeling excited and apprehensive.

Because behind this lies a bloody storm.

Mu Chuting asked cautiously:

"My lord, will this affect Da Ning?"

Lu Yunyi kept his eyes closed and said calmly:

"Qu Qingfeng, the commander of the Daning Vanguard, came from Beiping with the aim of vying for the vacant position of Assistant Commander."

His father, Qu Jiarui, was the Right Provincial Governor of Beiping and a fellow townsman of Han Guogong.

His Majesty has always liked to eliminate problems completely.

Once the power struggle in the capital is over, Qu Qingfeng will likely face a terrible end.

"I never imagined danger was so close."

Mu Chuting was shocked. She had thought that coming to Da Ning would allow her to stay away from the court's intrigues.
But unexpectedly, the turmoil continued to follow them relentlessly, and there was no way to avoid it.

Just then, light footsteps and Qiuhe's cheerful voice came from outside the door:
"Young Master, Young Master, dinner's ready!"

The door creaked open, and Qiuhe skipped and hopped in.

But upon seeing the scene inside, she immediately shut her mouth and became stiff.

For some reason, she was always somewhat afraid of the second wife in front of her.

"Young Master, Second Madam, dinner is ready," Qiuhe said timidly.

Lu Yunyi opened his eyes, saw her timid and hesitant appearance, and couldn't help but laugh.
Turning back to Mu Chuting, he said:
"Qiuhe seems a little afraid of you, so don't bully her."

Mu Chuting rolled her eyes at him: "You make it sound like I'm a wicked woman."

She looked at Qiuhe and said gently:

"Qiuhe, you don't need to be so reserved at home anymore. Just tell the servants to do these things."

“Yes, Madam,” Qiuhe replied softly.

Lu Yunyi sat up and waved at him:
"Get the young master's clothes."

"it is good."

Qiuhe was delighted and quickly ran to the clothes rack.
He took off his robe and stood obediently to the side, waiting.

Lu Yunyi walked over, put on his clothes, and ruffled Qiuhe's hair:
"Let's go and eat together."

(End of this chapter)