In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 725 Poor Public Support, Rare Treasure

The door opened, and Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin stood in the doorway.

Although both were dressed respectably, their faces were covered in dark red, chapped skin.

There were also some small scabs clinging to his face, as if he had just walked out of the mud.

Upon seeing Tan Wei emerge from the door,
They quickly squeezed to the side, their faces showing respect.
After Tan Wei left, they turned their attention to Liu Heiying inside the house.

Yang Shiqi bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Lord Liu. May I ask what your orders are?"

Xie Jin also bowed, his expression softening considerably, no longer displaying his former arrogance.

Liu Heiying looked at them, his gaze lingering on Xie Jin with some surprise:
"Why does it feel different?"

Yang Shiqi's expression remained unchanged, while Xie Jin lowered his head, almost clenching his fists.

Yang Shiqi stepped in to defuse the situation:
"Lord Liu, Brother Da Shen and I have been traveling around various places, responsible for surveying and mapping some land."

The experiences they encountered are too complicated to explain in a few words.

We were both ignorant and narrow-minded before; please forgive us, Lord Liu.

"Oh? Come in quickly. Tell me what happened to you."

Liu Heiying showed interest and quickly invited them into the house.

Inside the house, a warm stove burned, and the two began to pour out their grievances.

At first, only Yang Shiqi spoke eloquently and was relatively careful with his words.

But as the conversation unfolded, Xie Jin joined in, and his words became increasingly heated!
Traitors and corrupt officials emerged one after another!

Now, his eyes are bloodshot and his breathing is rapid.

Even after talking for half an hour, he was still rambling on and on:

"Half a month ago, Brother Shiqi and I went to retrieve the fish-scale yellow register from Huangtu Village."

They still make things difficult for us even though the drawing was already finished long ago.

We tried everything we could, but they just wouldn't give it to us.

Brother Shiqi and I went back and forth more than ten times, and it was always something that was missing.

Finally, they insisted on having documents from five years ago before they would give it to us! We don't have those!

"and after?"

Liu Heiying listened with great interest and asked questions.

Xie Jin's eyes were bright and full of interest:
"Later, we got together and decided to steal the ledger!"

"Steal?" Liu Heiying's expression was strange.

Yang Shiqi added:

"My lord, there's really no other way."
Only after we received the Yellow Register did we realize why they had been obstructing us in every way.

Huangtu Village has over 400 mu of arable land, occupying a very good location, nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

However, in the original ledger,

There are only thirty-seven mu of land, of which more than three hundred mu are missing!

At this point, Yang Shiqi's expression turned solemn as he recounted his experiences over the past period.

He felt it was even more exciting than the first half of his life.

Xie Jin, his face full of apprehension, continued:
"Lord Liu, there must still be problems with the fish-scale yellow register from Huangtu Village."
It can't be just over 400 mu; those people must have used methods like shortening the land measurement rope to cover up another portion!

Liu Heiying's expression was solemn. "The reason."

Xie Jin said, "We don't have any evidence yet."

But after stealing the accounts, the people of Huangtu Village simply let it go; they didn't come to the garrison to look for us, nor did they chase after us.

The previous obstruction was just an act; they can just stop pursuing it like that!

Yang Shiqi nodded in deep agreement:
"What's even stranger is that when the garrison commander went to collect this year's tax revenue with the fish-scale yellow register..."
Huangtu Village actually handed it over readily and decisively.

No nonsense, just get ready.
After discussing it with my friend Da Shen, we realized we'd probably been tricked.

The 400 mu of land listed in the Yellow Register is fake; Huangtu Village must be hiding much more land!

Liu Heiying pondered for a moment, carefully recalling the location of Huangtu Village and the local customs and traditions, and nodded in agreement:
“You must be right, Huangtu Village should be hiding more land.”

Having received the adults' approval, the two of them immediately became indignant.

Yang Shiqi had seen many such cases of deception and cover-ups, and remained relatively calm.
But Xie Jin was furious:

"This is outrageous! They kept saying the village was having all sorts of difficulties, and I believed them. Turns out it was all a ruse."

"Sir, the fish-scale yellow register of Huangtu Village needs to be re-surveyed!"

Liu Heiying looked at him with a half-smile:
"After you noticed something was wrong, you didn't report it to the government office?"

The two men froze, Xie Jin even more furious:
We found the clerk in charge of this matter.
They said there would be absolutely no problem, and if we felt there was a problem, we could test it ourselves.

Yang Shiqi's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice:
"Sir, this kind of perfunctory behavior..."

There are quite a few of these throughout the entire command; I urge Your Excellency to investigate thoroughly.

Liu Heiying remained calm after hearing this, stood up, and poured a cup of tea for each of them.
"This matter ends here. Do not investigate further or publicize it."
The complete surveying and mapping of the Yellow Register of Fish Scales has been completed in Huangtu Village.

"Why!" Xie Jin couldn't sit still any longer.

This trip,
He had already realized that the imperial court and government offices did not simply issue an order and immediately gather all the wise men.

Instead, they shifted blame and deceived their superiors and subordinates.

But now that we know something is wrong, how can we tolerate not investigating it?

Liu Heiying picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slammed it down on the table.

"In the midst of battle, to win a fight, one must adhere to one principle."
"When besieging an army, leave an opening; when pursuing a desperate enemy, do not pursue them."

The two exchanged a glance, both wondering how this had gotten involved in war again.

Liu Heiying explained:

"The progress in drawing the Fish Scale Yellow Book is already extremely rare, and at least it is a good start."

If you push someone too hard at this point, the tense situation will only worsen.

If all the local garrisons unite to outwardly comply but inwardly defy,
Hard-won achievements can vanish into thin air.

It would be better to leave it at that, with both sides taking a step back and reaching a delicate balance.

As for the matter of the fields in Huangtu Village that you mentioned...
We'll launch another attack during the next round of supplementary drawing.
Remember this: haste makes waste. Take it slow.

Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin were not stupid; they immediately understood the reasoning behind it.

Dusi wanted to know when to quit while he was ahead!

The other hidden fields will be ignored and drawn later when there is an opportunity.

However, both of them felt somewhat unwilling.

Yang Shiqi asked softly:
"Sir, may I ask when the next drawing will be?"
If such practices of concealing land for farming are allowed to continue unchecked, I fear that other regions within the capital will follow suit.

"Three years, until the first three-year plan is completed."

Liu Heiying did not hide anything and added:
"The situation in the capital is still unstable, the people are unsettled, and they still have doubts about the capital."

Three years later, the sweet potatoes were harvested in abundance, and all roads led to Daming. The surrendered Yuan people became Ming people.

Only then can this kind of thing continue to be promoted.
Otherwise, with the current strength of the commander, no matter how hard they try, they cannot accomplish this.

Presumably, you went downstairs for a stroll.
You could also sense the resistance from the various garrisons towards the military command.

The two men looked extremely solemn. After exchanging a glance, they nodded emphatically.

"Do you know why?" Liu Heiying asked with a smile.

The two shook their heads vigorously, like rattles.

"The superior and subordinate government offices are two naturally opposing entities, and each level of government office cooperates while confronting the other."

The only thing that could potentially cause changes or alter the situation is the people involved.

For example, the head of a lower-level government office is a confidant of the head of a higher-level government office.
Furthermore, lower-level government offices often have their own cronies within them.
Only in this way can the two government departments work together to accomplish more government orders.

The current commander has very poor public support.

The soldiers and civilians in each garrison recognize their superiors, not their commanders, let alone the decrees of the imperial court thousands of miles away.

To change this, we need to gain more people's approval first.
So we have to wait.
Once the commander has ensured everyone has eaten their fill,

Once everyone knows that following the commander will lead to a good life.

At this time, the fish-scale yellow book was drawn.
"Of course, someone will do it for the commander, and it won't be as difficult as it is now."

The words were spoken in a roundabout way, leaving the two of them feeling completely confused and bewildered.

The two lowered their heads in thought. Yang Shiqi reacted quickly, speaking thoughtfully:
"Like the present-day Daning City?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xie Jin understood and his expression changed to one of sudden realization.

Liu Heiying smiled and nodded:

"Compared to last year, the government orders in Daning City are now much more efficient and effective."

At the commander's order, officials and clerks at all levels worked together with unprecedented efficiency.

When the government decree was issued to the people, the residents in the south and north of the city did not offer much resistance and silently obeyed the order.

You just got back, you don't know yet.
When Tianjin Wei arrived a few months ago, in order to procure food and supplies,

The commander practically sold everything he owned.
They even misappropriated a considerable amount of silver, barely managing to scrape together enough. And now, the provisions for Tianjin Wei have been secured in just three days, without the Commander-in-Chief exerting much effort.

Hearing this, the two of them finally understood and nodded repeatedly.
Their faces quickly lit up with anticipation; if the entire command post were united as one...
At a single command, none dared disobey; the energy unleashed was unimaginable.

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Lord Liu."

Yang Shiqi stood up, bowed deeply, and seeing that Jin was still standing there in a daze, he quickly helped him up.

"Thank you, Mr. Liu."

Although the Lord Liu before me is very young,

But they also had to admit that what the person in front of them said made a lot of sense and that he knew more than they did.

"Alright, let's get to work."

Liu Heiying stood up and swept the table.
He quickly found a stack of documents, picked them up, and handed them over.

"This stack of documents is all related to the drawing of the Fish Scale Yellow Book."
Among them are lawsuits, murder cases, disputes, and some matters that require calculation.

You've done this many times, you're quite experienced.
Let's take a look and see which ones are exaggerated.
Which points are well-founded and supported by evidence? Feel free to ask me about any controversial ones.

Their eyes widened suddenly, a glint of excitement flashing in them as a surge of excitement welled up inside them.

They never expected that they would be summoned to handle military documents.

Such matters are not something people of their status should be involved in.

"Yes, my lord!"

Seeing their excited expressions, Liu Heiying smiled meaningfully.

I vaguely remember doing the same thing when I first started handling military documents.

I was full of enthusiasm, but after a few days I felt like dying.

The two worked quickly and soon put together two tables not far away.
He picked up his brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and abacus, and began studying without stopping.

The burden on my shoulders suddenly felt much lighter.

Liu Heiying felt refreshed.

He stood up, took the robe,
He strolled leisurely out of the yamen, ready to wander around the yamen.

As for going outside, he would absolutely not go; it's dangerous!
Wandering around the military headquarters

It's already May, and although the weather is unpredictable, it's much less cold now.

A gentle spring breeze brings endless comfort.

Especially in this remote region beyond the Great Wall, far from the turmoil of the capital,

Any disturbance that reaches here will become insignificant and easily bearable by Toshi.

Liu Heiying walked through every office in the back hall.
Under the onslaught of promotions, raises, and year-end bonuses,
The clerks in the government office were more energetic than ever before, walking with a brisk pace, and the officials were even more dedicated.

Compared to clerks, they not only received rewards but also had the possibility of promotion.

Today, Wu Su'an's experience ranges from a clerk to a clerk, and then to her current position.
In just one year, they covered the distance that many officials would take a lifetime to cover.

It has already been widely sung!
Especially during such turbulent times, officials were arrested almost every few days.
The vacant spots were immediately snapped up by a swarm of people.

Just one matter concerning the Daning Vanguard

This created at least a dozen vacant official positions, driving the military officers of the Commandery into a frenzy.

Liu Heiying was very satisfied with the current situation of the commander.

The only regret is that Brother Yun'er isn't at the Commandery, so he does all the work.
Not only am I exhausted, but I also get yelled at.

Soon, he arrived at the place where the spoils were stored.

Just like before, it's very close to the cafeteria and heavily guarded!

Upon his arrival, the guards immediately stood at attention.
"grown ups!"

"Okay, open the door."

The door was opened, and inside, more than a dozen soldiers were standing guard in various places.
Upon seeing him arrive, he also stood up.

As Liu Heiying walked, he nodded, his eyes falling upon large boxes filled with seals from the military commander.

There must be thirty or forty of them, and they are all filled with gold and silver jewelry.

Liu Heiying stepped forward, lifted it with his hand, and felt a heavy weight.
His eyes narrowed with joy; he must weigh at least several hundred pounds!

Considering that the Jurchens were a place where even food was scarce,
Liu Heiying shook his head with a sigh:

"Brother Yun'er is right. Even in the poorest places, there are people with immense wealth."
These Jurchens are truly ruthless.

Just as he drew his long sword from his waist, intending to open the box to take a look,
Hu Xiaowu rushed over, looking excited:

"My lord, my lord!"

Liu Heiying turned around and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"My lord, Haisanan Daxi, the deputy commander of Fuyu Guard, has arrived in Daning City with his men."
They also brought dozens of large trucks, saying…

Hu Xiaowu moved closer, lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear:
"It is said that Lord Lu and Tuoluhucha'er and others seized a portion of the spoils from the three Jurchen tribes."

Liu Heiying's eyes lit up, and he looked at him with some shock:
"So fast?"

Hu Xiaowu nodded repeatedly:
"According to him, it was Lord Lu who gave the orders to the three guards of Duoyan."

They retrieved it from the upper reaches of the Songhua River, and now it has been returned intact.

There was also an inventory list, which he said he would personally hand to the adults.

"Let's go and have a look!"

Liu Heiying led over a hundred soldiers to the East Gate without stopping.

I spotted the tall, imposing seaman at a glance.
He was leaning against the city wall at that moment.
He was drinking the cola sold by Kang Le Trading Company and eating meat pies, looking completely satisfied.

Upon seeing the person approaching, he quickly stood up straight and stuffed what he was holding into his subordinate's arms.
"This humble official greets Lord Liu!"

Liu Heiying dismounted and casually waved his hand:

"Don't be so polite, where's the stuff?"

"At the foot of the city wall, Asu said there were too many things blocking the way, so he asked me to move there."

Haisa Nanda Creek began to complain.

He also glanced provocatively at the middle-aged man not far away.

He looked like a grassland dweller, with thick hair and rough skin. He was Asu, the newly appointed commander of the Daning Vanguard.

"Sir, this fellow is extremely rude. Not only did he cut in line, but he also shouted loudly."
Look at the food you've eaten! Have your people clean it up!

Asu responded without any hesitation.
Pointing at the bamboo cup and knife paper on the ground, he glared fiercely at Haisa Nandaxi.

Liu Heiying's face darkened.
Indeed, whether they were Ming people or nomadic people from the grasslands, they were particularly adept at internal strife.

"Alright, alright, we're all from the same root, why are you fighting each other so fiercely? Stop arguing."

Liu Heiying looked at Haisanan Daxi.

"Clean everything up; maintaining the city is everyone's responsibility."
The slogan is right there, can't you see it?

Hai Sa Nan Da Xi shrank his neck and quickly waved for someone to clean up.

Before long, Liu Heiying arrived at the base of the wall.

I spotted the thirty-odd large trucks parked there at a glance.

It was stuffed full, piled up higher than half a person.

At first glance, it contains everything from raw herbs to weapons and armor.

"So many?" Liu Heiying was startled and looked at Haisa Nandaxi:
"List!"

"Sir, here it is!"

He took a package from his pocket, took out the documents, and handed them over:

"My lord, I received Lord Lu's document approximately seven days ago."

Let me lead a thousand men to Baiyue Pit, fifteen miles upstream on the Songhua River, to haul goods.
Someone was there to meet them, and they said that all subsequent pickup locations were there.

Since this was my first time delivering goods, I decided to come along as well, and also...

The sea-drenched man smiled sheepishly.
"From what Lord Lu is saying, there's still a lot to come."
You see, brothers, we can't let our work go to waste; we have to do something, we have to…”

"Don't worry, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits."

Liu Heiying's eyes practically lit up as he stared at the document.
The initial seizures consisted mostly of animal pelts and herbs, in huge quantities.

Liu Heiying made a rough estimate, just considering the quantity of herbs...

It might be enough for all the pharmacies in Daning City to use for several years.

Great stuff, this is really great stuff!

Liu Heiying opened the last letter again; it was from Yun'er.
It included some accounts of the affairs of the military command and the spoils of war, as well as some words of concern:

"Black Hawk, in the territory of the Huifa tribe."
I discovered two giant wild ginseng roots, probably around 600 years old.

According to them, it was discovered on the summit of Changbai Mountain and is the treasure of the Huifa tribe.

Your child is about to be born, and I might not be able to get back in time.
Take these two wild ginseng kings back to your residence, just in case.

"Order that security be strengthened within the manor, and that all maids and guards exercise extreme caution."

(End of this chapter)