In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 679 Truth and Lies
"Brother Yun'er, what happened? Why is there such a big change all of a sudden?"

Liu Heiying followed Lu Yunyi back to the yamen, his face as black as charcoal.

"Plans can't keep up with changes. We've been doing things smoothly these days, so we've become a bit complacent and unprepared."

As Lu Yunyi spoke, he tossed the documents onto the table and sat down, somewhat annoyed.

"We should have anticipated this long ago; as the struggle intensifies..."
The Ming Dynasty is in turmoil, and our location, as a crucial link between Liaodong and Beiping, is of paramount importance.

Lu Yunyi smiled somewhat helplessly:
"Looking back now, it's hard to say that Lord Zhou didn't know something beforehand, given how quickly he ran away."

"Lord Zhou?" Liu Heiying was taken aback, his expression suddenly turning strange.
"Yes, they left in such a hurry."

We initially thought he genuinely didn't crave power, but it turns out he was just avoiding danger?

"It's just a guess, and whether it's true or not is irrelevant."

We're now in charge of managing Daning, and we're the ones who will handle any issues that arise.

Let's think about how to deal with the uncertainties ahead.

As Lu Yunyi spoke, he pressed his hand down, gesturing for Liu Heiying to sit down.

After sitting down, Liu Heiying pondered for a moment and asked:

"Brother Yun'er, the original battle plan was to begin in ten days, so what about now?"

"Postponed. We must wait until the three Tianjin guards pass through, no matter what."

We originally thought the palace was only ordering us to act, but we didn't expect there was another force operating openly.

The three guards in Tianjin were providing cover for us.
We must give them our full support; supporting them is supporting ourselves.

Liu Heiying clearly understood this principle, but he scratched his head, looking troubled.

"Brother Yun'er, I'm afraid the others in the Commandery might misunderstand."

What I'm doing now is all self-destructive and altruistic.
Given this situation, it's hard to guarantee that no one will harbor dissenting opinions or create obstacles.

"There's nothing we can do about it; where there's a policy, there's a countermeasure."
Da Ning was ultimately a military commandery, and could not ensure that orders were strictly enforced in the army.

Do your best no matter what.

Oh, and write a letter to Wu Fulu.
He was instructed to send his rear guard directly to Daning City instead of going to Quanningwei.

"it is good."

Liu Heiying nodded slightly, a sudden sense of unease rising in his heart:
"Brother Yun'er, I have a feeling that something is off about this whole thing."
Liaodong is strange, Beiping is strange, and even the palace is strange.
Could there be some kind of trap we're unaware of?

Lu Yunyi picked up the Crown Prince's secret order from the corner.
"I've thought about this matter. There's no problem with the handwriting, and there's no problem with the order."

If the letter isn't leaked during its journey, we should be the safest.
But what might be unsafe is Tianjin Sanwei.

Liu Heiying's mind sank. Just a few days ago, he had discussed the strategy of besieging a stronghold and ambushing reinforcements, and coordinating attacks from within and without.
Tianjin Wei arrived in such a hurry today.

This made him feel as if some unseen force was orchestrating this.
Otherwise, what a coincidence!

"If the three guards of Tianjin fall into the trap, it will greatly weaken the prestige of the imperial court."

Liaodong has fallen, and the troops that came to its aid have also been defeated. The people are surely filled with panic.

We're so close to Liaodong; we might get caught up in the crossfire too.

Liu Heiying gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

"What's going on? Things were just starting to go smoothly, and now there's this unexpected trouble."

I was already planning to use half of the cement to build the pigsty.

Now we're in trouble – we're short-handed, we've run out of money, and we have to take the fall for these bastards.

Are the people of Liaodong just eating vain?
"How come some savages couldn't be stopped?"

"Stay calm, things will change regardless of our will."

We don't hold such high positions or authority.

Now all we can do is focus on the task at hand.
You just mentioned that the pigsty needs to be built, and that the money should be used from the road repair budget.
"Since we've already taken 50,000 taels, a few thousand more won't make a difference."

"Brother Yun'er, this is a huge project worth 220,000 taels of silver!"

There was already a shortfall of 60,000 taels, and now another 50,000 to 60,000 taels have disappeared, making a total of 100,000 taels in one go.

How much stuff would I have to sell to earn that much money?

Hearing him say that, Lu Yunyi found it hard to calm down.

Money, money, money! You can't do anything without money if you want to get things done and achieve something!

This was especially true for the imperial government; without money, they could not move an inch!
"Don't worry, wait until the road is almost finished."

We can also sell tricycles and bicycles, and the sewing machine can also be sold.

If all else fails, we'll wipe out the entire Baisong tribe this time we return; we can easily scrape together 100,000 taels of silver.

"Brother Yun'er, we can't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs!"
According to the plan, Baisongbu should stay for at least a year; otherwise, where would they sell all that sugar?

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"Don't rush, plans can change quickly."

The white pine section can be kept or not; at worst, it can be sold later as Duoyan Sanwei.

We'll send someone to ask the Three Guards of Doyan later.
"Why hasn't the mink fur arrived yet? They're taking so long."

When the Three Guards of Duoyan were mentioned, Lu Yunyi was stunned.
His eyes showed a thoughtful look, which quickly turned cold and ruthless!

"Brother Yun'er, what's wrong?"

Seeing the changes in his expression, Liu Heiying couldn't help but lean closer and ask.

Lu Yunyi's voice was calm, yet it added a chill to the room:
"The documents from the capital were dated early December. The Doyan Three Guards are located next to the Wild People and Liaodong."
How come they didn't know something happened in Liaodong?

Liu Heiying was stunned, and immediately clenched his fists.

That's right, if Da Ning doesn't know, how could the Three Guards of Duoyan not know?
Suddenly, Liu Heiying's lips went dry, and a series of terrifying conjectures surfaced:

"Brother Yun'er, could it be that the Three Guards of Duoyan are cooperating with Liaodong to cover for us?"

"Wait a minute, even though Tuoluhuchaer and his ilk may not be very capable, surely they can tell who is giving the milk, right?"

They're living off Daning now, how can they possibly get involved with Liaodong?

Liu Heiying felt himself enveloped by a deep mystery.
The once clear situation suddenly became extremely complicated, to the point that it was impossible to see clearly anymore.

"That's the problem. Although Torukhchar is arrogant and ambitious..."

But he is also someone who can see the situation clearly and knows when to yield and when to stand firm.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have had to go to so much trouble with the sweet potatoes and mink fur.

Compared to the cooperation between Tuoluhuchar and his forces and Liaodong, I am more inclined to believe that…

"What to believe?"

Lu Yunyi paused, his voice cold:
"There are no bandits on the border."

Liu Heiying's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart suddenly tightened.

"There is no border incursion, or the situation is far less serious than described in the memorial."

Lu Yunyi's eyes shone brightly, feeling that a huge question in his heart had been answered.

The previously murky situation became clear at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying's expression did not improve at all.
Instead, he became nervous, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his pupils trembled slightly.
"Brother Yun'er, don't scare me. It's not like we're really killing each other, is it?"

"It's hard to say, but I think there might be some changes when Tianjin Sanwei goes to Liaodong."

The office fell silent immediately.

The two sat silently in their respective chairs.
Only the crackling sound of exploding firewood could be clearly heard.

After a long silence, a resolute look flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes:
"Here's what we'll do: send an official document urging the three guards of Duoyan to send the mink pelt over as soon as possible."
And let Tuoluhuchaer come to the capital.
Tell them you have something urgent to discuss and it needs to be done urgently!

"What if he doesn't come?"

Liu Heiying blurted out a sentence as if possessed, which startled even himself.

Lu Yunyi's killing intent surged, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes:
"If they don't come, treat them all as enemies and make appropriate arrangements."

Feng Yunfang's voice rang out from outside the door:
"My lord, the Three Guards of Duoyan have sent men to deliver the sable pelts; they're just outside the North Gate."
Would you like to take a look? There are quite a few.

Lu Yunyi suddenly raised his head, his face full of astonishment.

However, his rage was not interrupted; instead, he laughed heartily.

"Speak of the devil and he appears; let's go see."

Liu Heiying also laughed.

Since the mink fur was delivered normally, the probability of something going wrong with the Duoyan Sanwei is very low!

The two hurriedly rode away from the command post.

Soon we passed through the crowded north gate and arrived outside the city.
Upon arriving here, Lu Yunyi immediately spotted nearly two hundred large carts blocking the official road!
Each cart was loaded to the brim, with hemp ropes tightly binding the goods that exceeded the cart's capacity, making them appear very sturdy.

A moment of blankness flashed across Lu Yunyi's eyes.
How could there be so many?

Liu Heiying was the same, staring blankly at the scene before him.
This is not just a little bit; it's clearly more than the entire inventory of the entire military headquarters!
Just then, a familiar figure rushed over excitedly, mounted his warhorse, and dismounted as he approached.

"Toruhuchar greets Lord Lu and Lord Liu!"

Upon seeing him, Lu Yunyi felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.
A genuine smile appeared on his face, as did Liu Heiying.
After the two men laughed, the clerk, seeing his superior laugh, quickly joined in the laughter.

Tuoluhuchaer stared blankly at the row of smiling faces in front of him.
Some of my hairs are standing on end. What's wrong with me?
Immediately afterwards, he saw the usually stern-faced Lord Lu step forward.
He grabbed him with brute force and let out a deafening shout:

"it is good!"

"Torukhuchar, you've come at the perfect time! I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Tuoluhuchaer's expression changed repeatedly, finally settling on a strange look that seemed to be both crying and laughing:
"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Lu."

Lu Yunyi patted his shoulder heavily, then stood in front of the cart loaded with furs.
He tightened the hemp rope around his fingers, making sure it was very tight.
The layers of fur, each emitting a foul odor, were stacked thickly.

"Where did you get all these furs?"

Tuoluhuchaer, who was standing nearby, quickly replied:

"Reporting to Lord Lu, since returning to the clan's garrison..."

I then ordered my clansmen to go hunting, and some of them came specifically to hunt.

There are quite a few intact furs.

The mink, tiger, and leopard pelts, along with several bear pelts, were all hunted by the tribe's most elite hunters.

The remaining items, some of which were the family's stock, and some were traded with the Jurchens.

My lord, you are unaware of the true situation. The Jurchens are in complete chaos; they are struggling to survive.
"A single iron pot can be exchanged for ten fine mink pelts!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi's eyes flickered repeatedly, and he asked indifferently:
"What trouble could those savages possibly cause? Don't they live in the mountains?"

Originally, Tuoluhuchaer was a little uneasy about carrying so many furs at once, afraid that the adults wouldn't want them.

But now, seeing Lu Yunyi so warm and friendly,
Overjoyed, he happily recounted everything he knew:
"Several of the savage leaders were inexplicably killed."
And they happen to control the relationship with Liaodong.

Their deaths inexplicably severed trade with Liaodong.

The wild people living in the mountains are now starving and hungry, and their tribes are constantly fighting each other.

This fur-buying spree was also opportunistic; they bought a huge quantity at once.

At this point, Toruhuchar seemed a little embarrassed.
He scratched his head with his left hand and stammered:

"My lord, Haisa Nandaxi is still leading people to collect the loot; there should be quite a few more to come."
"I hope the company can collect it all at once; a lower price is fine too."

"No!"

Lu Yunyi decisively raised his hand to stop him from continuing:
"The price has been set, so it will be whatever price is agreed upon."

The commander would pay as long as there were furs to bring.
As for where the furs came from, the commander didn't care.

Tuoluhuchaer was overjoyed, and even the people following him couldn't help but laugh out loud—he's struck it rich! He's struck it rich this time!

"Thank you, sir."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and said in a clear voice:

"Alright, hand it over to the city defense troops for inspection, and then enter the city."

By the way, give the detailed list of furs to Dusi.
The two should be compared side-by-side; even brothers need to keep clear accounts.

"Yes, yes, that's right."

Tuoluhuchaer waved his hand hurriedly.
The person next to him handed a thick document to the accompanying official.

Liu Heiying remained silent.
Seeing Tuoluhuchar's appearance, I felt a strange sensation.

Is this considered being subdued by money?

However, based on what he said earlier, it seems that our previous speculation has been confirmed.

There was no border raiding at all, and those barbarians in Liaodong had no ability to run wild in Liaodong; all that happened was one-sided slaughter.

Back at the military headquarters, Lu Yunyi looked at Tuoluhuchaer, who had followed him, and said with a smile:

"The Three Guards of Duoyan have been a great help to me this time."

I must thank you all here.

"Sir, there's no need to be so polite. We have plenty of furs in our tribe, they're just sitting there anyway."

Lu Yunyi nodded, and then spoke thoughtfully:
"Since the fur trade is viable, the commander has another business opportunity recently. Would you like to take it?"

"what?"

Tuoluhucha'er's eyes widened, his face showing longing.

At this moment, he had put aside his previous grudges and only sought to strengthen himself, while also comforting himself in his heart:

"It's alright to endure humiliation and wait for an opportunity to do some business and make some money!"

Lu Yunyi pursed his lips, his face showing contemplation, and after a long pause, he said:
"You just said the savages caused chaos?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you want military merit?"

Lu Yunyi's casual remark left Tuoluhuchaer stunned on the spot.

"My lord, of course I want to!"

"Logically speaking, the Jurchen barbarians shouldn't be considered to have achieved military merit."
However, the Doyan Three Guards had only recently submitted to the Ming Dynasty and had not yet experienced the rewards given to those who had rendered meritorious service in the Ming army.

"I wouldn't mind letting your people experience it for yourself, what do you think?"

Turuhuchar's breathing became rapid.

A surge of heat rushed from the soles of my feet to the top of my head, and I quickly spoke:
"If you have any orders, please speak freely. The Three Guards of Duoyan will cooperate fully!"

Lu Yunyi laughed, a satisfied laugh.
He picked up a document from the table and handed it over:

"Look, the Jurchen barbarians have invaded Liaodong. The imperial court just sent an official document about it."

Tuoluhuchaer froze on the spot, thinking he must have misheard.

Are the Jurchens raiding Liaodong?

He quickly opened the document to examine it; the words were quite difficult to understand, but he could still make out the general meaning.
The more Tuoluhuchaer looked, the more his brows furrowed.

Finally, he looked up at Lu Yunyi:
"My lord, does the savage woman really possess such abilities?"
They can't even beat the Seaman of the West.

Lu Yunyi understood after hearing this, but he wore a helpless expression on his face:
That's how it is; it's already happened, and reinforcements are almost at Daning.
Although this military action took place in Liaodong, it had nothing to do with Daming.

However, the Doyan Three Guards are located next to the Wild Jurchens, so extra precautions must be taken.

If some foolish Jurchens were to barge in without thinking,
Killing him doesn't mean he doesn't qualify as a military achievement, don't you think?

Turuhuchar's heart was pounding.
This is not just a metaphor, but a direct statement.

"My lord, the Jurchen barbarians have always disregarded the law."

Although they are fighting against Liaodong, it's not impossible that the Doyan Three Guards will be involved.

"Yes, that makes sense." Lu Yunyi nodded repeatedly.
"In that case, send someone back to prepare."
The three guards assembled at least five thousand elite soldiers and waited nearby.
If the Jurchens really come, then we will attack them without hesitation.

This official promises that all those slain will be treated as enemy invaders and rewarded accordingly!

"Please rest assured, my lord, the Three Guards of Doyan are willing to defend the country and guard the borders!"

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if he couldn't wait to rush back to his clan.

Then they assembled their elite troops and charged directly into the heart of the Jurchen territory!
The savages they used to look down on,

Now it's all pure silver and military merit!

"Don't get agitated. It's not honorable to talk about this kind of thing. We must keep it a secret."
You will stay in the city for the time being and manage the fur business.
By entrusting the task of gathering troops to others, it will be easier to exonerate oneself should trouble arise later.

Of course, if there's no one in your clan you can trust, then going back is fine.
But we must wait for my message before we can take action.
A round trip like this might take several days.

After careful consideration, Tuoluhuchar decided to stay in Daning City.

At the very least, we should find out if there's anything fishy going on.
He didn't think that Lord Lu in front of him was such an easy person to talk to.

"Your humble servant will write back immediately and instruct Azashiri to gather his troops!"

"Alright, go ahead. But don't let this matter be revealed to anyone."

"If I hear any rumors, you will bear the consequences."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)