In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 672 Warlike Soldiers, Operation Plans Obsolete

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the holiday season was over, but the city of Daning was even more bustling than usual.

Today, not only is Anhe Street packed with people and long queues, but even the four city gates have long lines.

The reason is that the road repair plan launched by the commander needs to be registered here.

Early in the morning, before dawn,
The people got out of bed and excitedly rushed to the four city gates.

They swore they had never been so excited during a holiday in their lives.

The yamen runners and clerks at the four city gates were all smiles.

Today wasn't supposed to be a day for them to go to the yamen, but the military commander gave them a generous sum of money.
Reward those who "work overtime".

In short, the city was still filled with a joyous atmosphere.

In the new city garrison southwest of Daning City, all joy was gone, replaced by a somber and desolate atmosphere.

A cold wind blew gently, carrying a thin layer of snowflakes that swirled and collided in the air.

As dawn broke, the sound of dense and orderly footsteps echoed across the central drill ground of the garrison.

Squads of soldiers emerged from their tents, long swords in hand and armored, and began to assemble.

They chatted and laughed, but a hint of excitement shone in their eyes.
After a good New Year, it's time to go to the battlefield to fight and make contributions. This is what a good life is all about!
Many soldiers who had not participated in the battle saw their comrades standing on the drill ground and their eyes flashed with envy as they clenched their fists tightly.

Although the commander gave out enough bonuses last year
But last year is last year, and this year is this year.
After receiving the reward money, they were even more eager to make a name for themselves and kill the enemy!
The atmosphere in the new city garrison was heavy and somber, while the atmosphere in the main hall of the garrison's office was much more relaxed.

Lu Yunyi, dressed in armor, sat at the head of the table, chatting and laughing with the generals present.

Most of them were generals from the former army's scout units, or were fellow townsmen from Qingzhou.

Wu Fuliu sat on the lower left; his official title was Vice Commander of the New City Guard.

When Lu Yunyi was not at the garrison, he was in charge of many of the garrison's military affairs.
Compared to before, he has matured a lot and gotten quite tanned.

Lu Yunyi looked at the one-armed young man behind him:
"Little Shunzi, it's been years since I last saw you, how come you've grown so tall?"

Xiao Shunzi had long since lost his youthful naiveté; standing there, he was incredibly tall, probably close to 1.8 meters.

It looked rather strange that only one arm was empty.

Xiao Shunzi scratched his head shyly:

“My lord, I’m eighteen now, it’s time I grew taller.”

"Haha, good, good. Are you married yet?" Lu Yunyi laughed heartily and continued to ask.

"Not yet," Xiao Shunzi replied.

"Not yet? Is there a girl you like?"
"I'll have your sixth brother propose marriage to you then," Lu Yunyi joked.

Xiao Shunzi stammered, his dark cheeks flushed red:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Wu has agreed to my request and will propose marriage next year."
The main reason is that I want to save some money.

Lu Yunyi understood immediately; it turned out that he already had a girl he liked.

He looked at Wu Fuliu, his expression serious:
"As an adult, you must keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn't get fooled."

When it's time to propose marriage, don't be stingy with the betrothal gifts.

"Contribute more money; if it's not enough, just tell me, and everyone can chip in. We can even marry a fairy!"

"Hahaha--"

Laughter was deafening.

Xiao Shunzi lowered his head, looking at the severed arm, his eyes red-rimmed.

He was a wounded soldier in the first battle and has been working in the Qingzhou Trading Company for the past two years. He thought that this was how his life would be.

I never imagined that I would one day return to the military.
And the many adults in front of us
They haven't forgotten the friendship from back then.

This made Xiao Shunzi feel that his life had been worthwhile.

Wu Fuliu sat there, the warm air in the room making his face flushed and his blood flow faster.

The joy of returning home after achieving success had not yet faded from his heart.
His current status allows him to hold his head high in front of his entire family.

More importantly, he proved himself, proving that the young lady hadn't made a mistake back then.

Upon returning to Gyeongju this time, even his father-in-law, who was usually cold on the outside but warm on the inside, treated him with great kindness.
To be honest, he didn't resent his father-in-law.

After all, he was just a servant at the time, and his entanglement with the young lady of the house was a disgrace to the family.

Fortunately, his father-in-law didn't beat him to death with a stick.

Instead, they sent him to join the army, which led to his current success.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Fulu looked at Lu Yunyi, stood up respectfully, and bowed deeply.
"Your subordinate will always remember your kindness in helping me out; I will never forget your great kindness."

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, glanced at the surrounding generals, and then looked at Wu Fuliu:

What are you doing? Sit down quickly.
Why have you become so polite after just a few months?

Wu Fuliu stood up straight, looked around, and noticed that everyone present was somewhat solemn.

He took a deep breath:

"My lord, people of humble origins like us never dared to dream of having such a high status."

If it weren't for the adults leading us brothers through the Ming Dynasty, winning countless battles...
We figured we'd still be living a life of hunger and hardship in this remote border region.

"Yes, yes. If it weren't for your help, we wouldn't be where we are today. We might still be working as porters in the garrison."

A rugged-looking middle-aged man also expressed his feelings.

He was Wang Xingbang, the commander of the Xinchengwei garrison, who had once been a lowly soldier transporting provisions in the army.
In just three years, their statuses have changed dramatically.

These words seemed to resonate with many people, who then spoke up to express their gratitude.

Most of them were soldiers from Qingzhou and Liaodong.
Following the vanguard scouts in their campaigns across the north and south
They have all achieved remarkable success.

"Sit down, sit down."

Lu Yunyi sat at the head of the table, repeatedly pressing his hand down.
"Our achievements today are inseparable from favorable timing, location, and human factors."

If it were today
Even if you and I were capable, we wouldn't have a powerful enemy like the Northern Yuan to whom we could gain merit.

At this point, all the generals present sat down, looking regretful.

"Yes, how did the Northern Yuan court end up in the west?"
If only we were still at Fishing Lake.
"Then we'll have a chance to make a contribution," Wang Xingbang said with deep feeling.

Several large tribes have recently arrived from the north.

But given their courage, they wouldn't dare cause trouble here.

Another person spoke.

Wang Xingbang thought for a moment and asked:
"I heard that the Doyan Three Guards are located right next to the Jurchens. I wonder what the enemy there is like?"
Staying here all the time isn't a solution.

If you want to forge elite troops, killing the enemy is the fastest way.

Wu Fuliu nodded in deep agreement.

No matter how rigorous the daily training is, they will never become elite soldiers if they never fight on the battlefield.

Once you have a solid foundation, you may only need one or two battles to complete the transformation!

Wu Fulu is also somewhat of a pity:
"Most of the well-equipped grassland tribes to the north don't dare to come here."

How could those savages from Liaodong, who can't even get enough to eat, dare to come and run wild?

We still need to think of a way to take the initiative.

After speaking, Wu Fuliu looked intently at the person above him, his face full of anticipation.

Although we are about to send troops to Longwei Mountain.
But this was just a band of bandits, with no more than a thousand soldiers capable of fighting. This achievement was far too small.

Moreover, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, the merits of suppressing bandits and killing enemies were not comparable.

The imperial court might not even issue any reward money; they might only issue a commendation.

Lu Yunyi sat at the head of the table, looking at the pairs of eyes filled with fervor, a hint of helplessness flashing in his own eyes.

He finally understood the difficulties the imperial court faced.
There are so many soldiers in just one garrison, eager to kill the enemy and make a name for themselves.

How many are there in the entire military command? And how many are there in the entire country?
Especially after his name and achievements were intentionally publicized by the Governor's Office,

Ambitious people all over the world want to rise to the top in the war.

When he was in the capital, several governors of the governor's office often complained to him!
Lu Yunyi also knew that it was better to block than to guide, so he held back:
"Don't worry, the major tribes in the north are all very safe right now."

Even if we wanted to send troops, we couldn't find any excuse.

If you're not careful, you could be labeled as a warmonger.

Besides, the northern expedition hasn't even started yet; even if we were to mobilize troops, the imperial court wouldn't agree.

"Sir, we can say that they sent people to provoke us, let's fight first and talk later!"

The voice was strong and clear, causing Lu Yunyi's face to darken. "Wait, don't rush."

"It's only the beginning of the year, and winter isn't over yet. Even if we were to launch a military campaign, we'd have to wait until spring or autumn."

Upon hearing this, the generals present exchanged glances and saw the burning desire in each other's eyes.

The meaning of this statement couldn't be clearer.
We'll mobilize this year!
"Sir, which one is it?"
"Give us a sneak peek so we can prepare," Wang Xingbang said excitedly.

"Xingbang! Such important military matters cannot be easily inquired about!"

Wu Fuliu let out a shout.

Wang Xingbang probably also felt it was inappropriate, gave an embarrassed smile, and pulled his head back.

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"The most important task for the Commander-in-Chief now is to build roads and bridges."
We'll find some work for each of your garrisons then.

"How can so many people manage if they only farm?"

Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
Feng Yunfang rushed in, ignoring everyone present.
He walked straight to the head of the table, bent down, and whispered:

"My lord, this is an urgent message from His Highness the Crown Prince, delivered from the capital.

The messenger went to Daning City, but found you were not there, so he followed me here.

A hint of doubt flashed through Lu Yunyi's mind, but he nodded slightly:

"I'll be there shortly after you've settled everyone in."

"Yes."

After saying goodbye, Feng Yunfang quickly left.

What happened left everyone present looking at each other in bewilderment?
Lu Yunyi laughed:
"You all gather together and refine the battle plan, identify and address any shortcomings, and depart promptly at noon."

Many generals immediately stood up, cupped their hands in agreement, and said yes!

Lu Yunyi nodded, stood up, and walked straight out of the government office.
"What happened?" someone asked, puzzled.

"Could something have gone wrong? I hope we can't cancel the fight."

"Shut your jinxed mouth. They're about to send out troops. How could they possibly fail?"

The second hall of the garrison is not far from the main hall and is used by the garrison to entertain guests on a daily basis.

Lu Yunyi walked over hurriedly, his face grave.
I've already guessed the expedited content in my mind many times.
His biggest fear was that the northern expedition would go wrong.

If something goes wrong there, it can have far-reaching consequences.

The purge of the imperial court will be suspended, and many of the arrangements in Da Ning will also be halted.
With mixed feelings, Lu Yunyi saw several people drinking water from large bowls in the second hall.

They were dressed in ordinary cotton clothes, with some mud on their bodies, and their hair was messy and tangled, making them look quite disheveled.

When Lu Yunyi saw them, his brows furrowed.
The pace gradually slowed down.
Why aren't they couriers? And why aren't they wearing armor?
Lu Yunyi looked at Feng Yunfang with a questioning expression.

Feng Yunfang nodded slightly, his eyes showing approval.

Having received confirmation, Lu Yunyi suppressed his remaining doubts and quickly walked over:

"What about the letter?"

Those people suddenly turned around.
They were wolfing down their food, each holding a large bowl in one hand and pastries in the other.

Upon seeing Lu Yunyi, they quickly swallowed their food, put down the pastries and large bowls, and stood there straight.

One of them stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

Your humble servant, Fan Xuan, a guard of the Crown Prince, pays his respects to General Lu!

Lu Yunyi looked him over and quickly recognized his face in his mind; he was indeed a guard of the Crown Prince.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Fan Xuan took off the bundle he was carrying, hurriedly opened it, and then took out three documents and handed them over:

"General Lu, one of them is a letter written by the Crown Prince himself."
The other document is a certificate from your subordinate.
There was also a copy of a memorial to the throne.

Feng Yunfang stepped forward and carefully took the document.

Then he placed it on the table to the side, took out gloves and a magnifying glass from behind his waist, and carefully examined it.

This scene left Fan Xuan slightly stunned, not understanding what was happening.
A short while later, Feng Yunfang handed the document to Lu Yunyi, gently shaking his head to indicate that there was no problem.

Lu Yunyi then took it and opened the document verifying his identity. He quickly looked surprised.

Not only did it contain Fan Xuan's official documents and the Crown Prince's seal, but it also contained the imperial jade seal.

Lu Yunyi suppressed his thoughts and opened another document.

The text above is short, quite brief.
But it made his expression freeze, and a fierce aura naturally emanated from him.

The document records the incursions of the Jurchens into the Liaodong border region.
He then opened the last letter.
[The Jurchen barbarians have invaded the border, causing heavy losses to the Liaodong Commandery. You are hereby ordered to mobilize troops to investigate the matter.]

If this happens, all those who invade the border should be killed. This must be done in secrecy and not spread outside.

—Zhu Biao.
For a general, being able to fully understand the emperor's intentions lays the foundation for promotion and wealth.

Lu Yunyi is one of the best among them.

There wasn't much text above; Lu Yunyi only actually read four words.

If this is true.

Now that they had received news from the enemy's borders and knew the losses were heavy,
Then those four words seem too abrupt.

Clearly, the palace was unaware of what had happened in Liaodong and suspected foul play.

That's why such military orders were issued without going through the Ministry of War or the Governor's Office.

With a "snap," Lu Yunyi closed the document and handed it to Feng Yunfang:
"After returning to the city, hand it over to Zou Jing for comparison."

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang took the document and put it away.

Lu Yunyi looked at Fan Xuan, his expression unchanged, with a smile on his face:
"You have had a long journey. I will have someone prepare food and lodging for you so that you can rest well in the new city garrison."

"Thank you, sir!" Fan Xuan replied.

"Does Your Highness have any other instructions?" Lu Yunyi asked.

Fan Xuan glanced at his colleagues beside him and said:

"Reporting to General Lu, His Highness the Crown Prince instructed us that there is no rush to return."
"Follow General Lu's orders and return when the time is right."

Lu Yunyi nodded, understanding the Crown Prince's meaning:
"In that case, there's no need for food and lodging."

"Later, I will return to Daning City with you, where I will make arrangements for you."

"Yes!" Fan Xuan replied.

Lu Yunyi hurriedly walked out of the second hall and instructed Feng Yunfang beside him:

"Go prepare the horses; we'll return to the city later."

"Yes!" Feng Yunfang replied solemnly and ran off quickly!

Lu Yunyi returned to the main hall of the government office, where the group was still chatting and laughing.
Seeing that he returned so quickly, she immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.

But seeing how solemn his expression was...
The group looked puzzled again. What had happened?
Lu Yunyi gestured with his hand, made no polite formalities, and sat back down at the head of the table, saying in a deep voice:
"Something has happened at Dragon Tail Mountain; the original battle plan is null and void!"

Everyone immediately became serious, straightened up abruptly, and their faces were filled with solemnity.

"Wu Fuliu!"

Wu Fuliu suddenly stood up, his face grave:
"grown ups!"

Lu Yunyi spoke in a deep voice:
"From now on, martial law will be enforced at the New City Guard camp, and anyone entering or leaving the camp will be subject to strict scrutiny!"
The original plan was for 1,000 elite troops and 2,000 garrison soldiers to leave the camp as usual, head towards Longwei Mountain, and station themselves in Quanningwei.

Five days later, another two thousand elite soldiers were summoned, along with three thousand elite warhorses.

They marched north from the garrison, covering their tracks, and met up with the vanguard at Quanningwei.

This matter is top secret. Anyone who leaks it will be court-martialed!

Lu Yunyi's cold gaze swept over everyone present, making them tense up.

Although Wu Fulu did not know why he issued such a military order,

But for soldiers, obeying orders is their duty!
"Yes, my lord!"

"Execute it."

After speaking, Lu Yunyi quickly stood up and walked out of the hall, bringing with him a gust of cold wind.
The generals were left looking at each other, wondering what had happened.

(End of this chapter)