In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 728 Dense Roots, People Leave, Tea Grows Cold
The main hall of the Liu family mansion

When Liu Heiying stepped into this place, Han Guanyu, the commander of the Daning Central Guard, was pacing anxiously in the main hall, his face full of anxiety.

Upon arriving at the Liu residence, he noticed that it was heavily guarded and the atmosphere was tense.
This made him feel uneasy.

Upon seeing Liu Heiying arrive, Han Guanyu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly went to greet him:

"This humble servant greets Lord Liu."

Liu Heiying looked him up and down.

Han Guanyu's roots are not in Daning or Beiping.
But in the distant Yingtian,

He came to Daning to gain seniority, so he can be considered to have a powerful background.

Han Guanyu felt uneasy under his scrutiny, and his expression grew increasingly serious.

After a long while, Liu Heiying finally looked away, sat down at the head of the table, and pointed to the chair at the foot of the table:
"Lord Han, please sit down."

Han Guanyu breathed a sigh of relief, sat down, and quickly said:
"Lord Liu, I was truly unaware of your wife's childbirth today."

"If I had known about this earlier, I wouldn't have been so hasty in firing the cannon."

Liu Heiying's expression remained unchanged as he calmly asked:

"The other three locations at the four city gates also held events today in preparation for planting sweet potato seedlings."

Why were cannons dragged out only from the south gate?

If I remember correctly, whether it's gunpowder or cannons...
These are all strictly controlled weapons.
The Commandery is not currently at war.

How did Da Ning Zhongwei obtain the cannons and gunpowder?
"Lord Han, I demand an explanation."

Han Guanyu's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and his breathing became slightly heavy.

He feels extremely wronged now.
It was supposed to be a good thing, so how did it turn out like this?

A casual glance at Liu Heiying's face, as black as charcoal,
After much deliberation, Han Guanyu decided to take the initiative to confess.

In his opinion, it wasn't a big deal.

By proactively explaining things clearly, any suspicious activity can be investigated sooner, preventing you from finding yourself in a passive position.

Taking a deep breath, Han Guanyu said in a deep voice:
"Lord Liu, to be honest..."
The Hongwu iron cannons and cannonballs were all issued during the last drill.

There were still a few shells left after the drills.

I was thinking of celebrating when the sweet potatoes were planted, so I didn't return them.
After all, white-collar workers are free targets; why not take advantage of them?

"Lord Liu, you must believe what I'm saying!"
"This humble servant truly did not know that Your Majesty had given birth today."

Liu Heiying raised his hand and pressed it down:

"Alright, the department will investigate this matter thoroughly."
I believe what Lord Han said.
But the deed has already been done, and at this crucial juncture.
I cannot help but have these wild thoughts; please forgive me, Lord Han.

Han Guanyu's face stiffened, his lips trembled slightly, but he ultimately didn't invoke his backer:

"Lord Liu, the Commander is investigating, and I will do my utmost to cooperate."

"Hmm, I have a question for you."
Was the idea of ​​using cannons for celebration Lord Han his own, or someone else's?

Or perhaps, Lord Han, upon careful consideration,
What prompted Lord Han to prepare a cannon-firing celebration?

Liu Heiying quietly observed Han Guanyu; the man before him had a powerful background.

There are both reasons for intentional and unintentional actions.
However, with the precedent of Qu Qingfeng's dismissal and investigation,
Liu Heiying still wanted to believe that Han Guanyu hadn't done it intentionally.

After all, the root of all these struggles is still getting promoted and making money.

If one loses their official position because of this, it would be a great loss.

Han Guanyu seemed to be deep in thought, racking his brains.
A figure flashed through his mind, and his brows furrowed instantly.

Liu Heiying asked in a deep voice:
"What did you think of?"

Han Guanyu's expression was serious and somewhat unpredictable:

"Lord Liu, the idea of ​​celebrating with cannons reminded me of the customs of my hometown."

Every spring, when planting begins, people set off firecrackers to pray for favorable weather and a good harvest.
However, artillery was not originally needed for training exercises at the Da Ning Central Guard.

It was Deputy General Tang Xingbang who said it.

"say what?"

Liu Heiying's expression turned serious as he questioned Liu.

"It is said that Lord Liu's use of firearms is superb."

Five hundred men routed the rebels, leaving them utterly routed.
So I want to practice too.

"Only then did I request muskets and cannons from the Commander-in-Chief, hoping to practice them a bit."

Where is Tang Xingbang?

Liu Heiying's face was as black as ink as he asked in a deep voice.

"Uh..." Han Guanyu looked somewhat embarrassed and stammered.

"My lord, Tang Xingbang asked for leave a couple of days ago to return to his hometown to visit relatives."

"Visiting relatives?"

Liu Heiying's eyes narrowed, and he instantly sensed something was wrong.
"Sir, Tang Xingbang, he
He has been working diligently all these years and has been away from home for nearly five years.

I'm taking advantage of the improved weather to ask for leave this time.
"This humble servant agrees."

Han Guanyu's voice grew softer and softer.

He now feels that something is not right; what a coincidence!

Where was he born?

Liu Heiying asked a question.

"He's from Fengyang, the nephew of the Marquis of Yan'an in Liaodong."

"We didn't go to Liaodong to avoid danger, but instead stayed in our Daning."

As he spoke, Han Guanyu, somewhat wary, offered a reminder:
"My lord, Tang Xingbang is highly valued in the Marquis of Yan'an's household, and I have benefited greatly from his influence."

"Tell me carefully."

Liu Heiying had already made up his mind.

Tang Xingbang did this intentionally.

Furthermore, he may have already gained some understanding of the affairs in Liaodong, which is why he fled in haste.

Han Guanyu confessed in detail:

"My lord, before you and Lord Lu arrive..."

The various garrisons under the jurisdiction of the military command were frequently in arrears with their pay.

The brothers all relied on their own abilities and displayed their unique skills.
Like the previous Daning vanguard,
With Lord Qu's connections, they were never short of money.
Because it allowed them to trade with Beiping and import some goods.

And the central defenders in my position at Da Ning are not so lacking.

It was only because Tang Xingbang would write to Liaodong during times of difficulty that...
The Marquis of Yan'an would then specially approve the delivery of some fine iron to Daning.

With this refined iron, we can exchange it for money with the commander.
Thanks to this connection, Da Ning Zhongwei has always lived a very comfortable life.

Liu Heiying had heard about this matter before.

The garrison troops stationed in Daning City were responsible for commerce and trade, and engaged in business activities.

Located in sparsely populated border garrisons, they barely managed to keep the military headquarters running by selling contraband.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Heiying looked at Han Guanyu:
"When Tang Xingbang returned to his hometown to visit relatives, were the soldiers of Tianjin Garrison allowed to return to Daning?"

A look of doubt flashed in Han Guanyu's eyes.
I don't understand what this has to do with Tianjin, but I'll be honest anyway:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, at that time, Tianjin Garrison had already established a large camp outside the city."

Tang Xingbang was also having drinks with his military friends and invited me to go with him.

However, I was extremely busy with the arrangements for the sweet potato planting, so I was unable to go.

Liu Heiying's expression was solemn. After learning about this, everything made sense.

Tang Xingbang's friend in Tianjin Weizhong revealed to him the events that had occurred in Liaodong.

Tang Xingbang knew the situation was not right, so he quickly took revenge and left Daning.

Liu Heiying looked at Han Guanyu and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Han, the clerk will come later to ask some questions about Tang Xingbang."

Please tell me the truth, Lord Han.
If the matter is investigated and it is ultimately confirmed that Lord Han has no connection with it, then I will not pursue the matter further.

Han Guanyu breathed a sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from his heart.
"Please rest assured, Lord Liu, I will speak frankly and without reservation."

After he finished speaking, he hesitated before asking:

"May I ask, sir, did Tang Xingbang do this under someone's orders?" As the city's commander, he knew that the entire military headquarters was in complete chaos.

The roads outside the city are under construction, the fish-scale yellow registers are being drawn, and strife is everywhere.
There was also the incident of rebels a few days ago.
The level of excitement far surpasses that of the past few years.

Han Guanyu hoped to gather some information to distance himself from this conflict.
That way, if something like this happens again, I won't be dragged into it for no reason.

Liu Heiying stood up and replied:

"The situation still needs further investigation, so please rest assured, Lord Han."

After speaking, Liu Heiying stood up and strode out of the main hall.

Han Guanyu was left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Not sure what happened.

Upon arriving at the front yard, Liu Heiying immediately spotted Hu Xiaowu rushing over.
He had a look of excitement on his face:
"My lord, Lord Lu has sent back a scout who says he will arrive in Daning City tonight."

"tonight?"

Liu Heiying was stunned for a moment:

"Why so soon? Wasn't it originally scheduled for the end of June?"

"The scouts say the Jurchens have all fled to the mountains; continuing the fight would be too costly."

Hu Xiaowu confessed honestly.

"Okay, okay!"

Liu Heiying's tense expression immediately relaxed.
His tense back relaxed slightly, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

A sense of security, as if someone was there to support me, immediately welled up inside me.
The worries I had about Tang Xingbang suddenly felt much lighter and less bothersome.

"Tell people to prepare wine and food, so we can have a welcome-back dinner for the brothers and Brother Yun when we return tonight!"

"Yes!"

In early 7 PM in Beiping, the remaining sunlight was almost gone.
Orange-red light shone through the gaps in the clouds.

The light cast dappled patterns across the entire city of Beiping.

At the north gate, Tang Xingbang arrived hurriedly with more than a dozen guards.
I was covered in dust from the long journey, and my skin was dry and cracked.

At this moment, the city gates were about to close.

Tang Xingbang looked at the crowd still in line, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes.
After a moment's thought, he made a decision.

He led his brothers across the queue and headed toward the city gate.

"Hey, hey, stop right there! Where did you come from? Line up!"

The city's defenders had sharp eyes, and their spears immediately stood at attention.
He stopped the approaching warhorse and rebuked it.

The soldier glanced briefly at the person in front of him.
Despite wearing general's armor, he remained fearless.
They were guards of Yanshan, subordinate to the Prince of Yan. No matter how high their rank, they were no higher than the Prince of Yan!

Tang Xingbang was aware of the special nature of Beiping, and even dismounted, revealing a warm smile.

He quickly pulled out the official documents and seal from his pocket:
"This general is Tang Xingbang, the Vice Commander of the Central Guard of Daning."
I have come to Beiping on the orders of Lord Lu to discuss important matters with Lord Qu, the Right Provincial Governor of Beiping.
Please, brother, be lenient and let us enter the city quickly.

"Da Ning?"

The soldier took the seal and examined it carefully; the frivolity in his expression lessened considerably.
Regardless, the difference in quality is undeniable.

"Wait, I'll go and report to the master."

"Thank you for your understanding!"

Before long, the city gate guards emerged from the city gate tunnel.
Holding the official seal in his hand, he looked at Tang Xingbang with a half-smile:
"General Tang, your Great Ning is quite arrogant."

They threaten to build roads at the drop of a hat, causing widespread anxiety.
Merchants coming and going are all clamoring for roads to be built in Beiping too.

Tang Xingbang's face darkened. He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his anger.

"General, this matter was decided by the Commander-in-Chief, and I have no power to interfere. May I ask if we may enter the city?"

"let's go."

The garrison commander, looking impatient, returned the seal and documents, muttering under his breath:
"What's with the attitude? If something happens, we'll have to come to Beiping!"

Tang Xingbang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
The bodyguard beside him was a little anxious and suddenly grabbed the hilt of his sword at his waist!

"What? You want to resort to violence?"

Seeing this, the garrison commander frowned and cursed:

"This is Beiping, not Daning. You all need to be careful!"

"you!"

"okay!"

Tang Xingbang gave a low shout and glanced indifferently at the garrison commander:
"Enter the city!"

"Sir, they look down on people."

"Enter the city, but don't let it interfere with important business."

"Yes"

The guard hesitated for a moment, then fell silent.

After passing through the queue inspection, the group hurriedly entered the city and headed towards the Beiping Provincial Administration Office!

Walking on the streets of Beiping, one is greeted by a bustling crowd.

Their faces were etched with numbness and indifference as they watched the warhorses approach.

It takes a while for him to react and dodge.

The city market was equally bustling, with vendors calling out their wares incessantly.

As they ventured deeper, the group left the city's main streets and markets and arrived at an area densely populated with government offices, where many officials were leaving their posts.

Tang Xingbang suddenly realized that these officials were no different from the common people he had seen before.
Lifeless, like a living dead.

Moreover, although the streets were crowded with people,

But the sounds of talking and laughing were very faint; only the sound of horses' hooves could be heard.

An eerie atmosphere began to permeate the air, as if they were the only living people on the entire street.

Tang Xingbang frowned, a look of shock and confusion flashing in his eyes.

Beiping was the site of the Yuan Dynasty's capital, Dadu, and is now the economic core of northern China during the Ming Dynasty.
But for some reason, after seeing the bustling and noisy city of Daning, the city of Beiping before me seemed rather ordinary.

Empty, lifeless, filled with ordinary people and officials who had no hope for life.
The aura it exuded was far less powerful than that of Da Ning City.

In the present-day city of Daning, once the government offices and work hours are over...
The entire city was in an uproar.
The markets, restaurants, and taverns were bustling with people.

If you run too slowly, you won't be able to get a table at all.

In the past, Tang Xingbang thought that place was too noisy, full of barbarians from beyond the Great Wall.
But seeing Beiping in this state...
He suddenly realized that noise and commotion were actually quite nice.

Lost in thought, Tang Xingbang arrived at the Beiping Provincial Administration Office.
At this moment, many officials were walking out, their steps stiff, their faces devoid of smiles, showing no joy at the end of the office.

Tang Xingbang arrived at the gate, found the gatekeeper, and handed him his visiting card:

"I am the Vice Commander of the Da Ning Central Guard. I have come to pay my respects to Lord Qu and trouble you to inform him."

"Please wait a moment, sir."

Inside the office of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, Qu Jiarui, the Right Provincial Administration Commissioner, sat upright on a long bench.
His aged face was full of wrinkles and worry.
His hair was already gray in his fifties.
The wrinkles on his face crisscrossed like the ravines of mountains.
His eyes were vacant at the moment, and if it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he might have been mistaken for a corpse.

Qu Jiarui held a letter in his hand.
The letter was written by the Commander of the Da Ning Military Command, detailing the crimes of his son, Qu Qingfeng.

Although the letter has been here for some time

But he still takes it out to look at it from time to time whenever he has free time.

Whenever I see the handwriting indicating torture,
He felt a sudden throbbing in his heart; there is no greater sorrow than a broken heart.
If the son commits a rebellious act, once the truth comes out...
Even as the Right Provincial Governor, he was in dire straits.

Leaving my current position is only a matter of time.
Qu Jiarui glanced at the herbal tea on the square table beside him, his expression complex.

Even when a person leaves, the tea still retains some warmth; but he hasn't even left yet, and the tea is already cold.

Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door, and the old clerk's voice came from outside:

"Lord Qu, someone from the Da Ning Military Command has arrived and wishes to see you."
He was the deputy commander of the Daning Central Guard, named Tang Xingbang.

Qu Jiarui's eyes, which had been as still as stone, flickered slightly.
As if regaining some vitality, he took a deep breath and said softly:

"Let him in."

"Yes!"

Qu Jiarui looked at the empty desk, and slowly stood up.
He took some obsolete documents from the bookcase and placed them on the table one by one.

Soon the desk was completely full.

But when Qu Jiarui sat down, he found that he could see everything in the room without straightening his back, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

A month ago, his desk was piled high with documents,

Time has passed
(End of this chapter)