In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 730 The Prosperity of Da Ning Begins Today

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the morning light, like a sharp sword, fiercely cleaved the sky.

The black curtain melted away like ice and snow, changing from deep black to dark blue.

As the morning light grew brighter...

The deep blue sky gradually turned into a light blue, and the dark world was illuminated.

The northern camp of Daning City
The Tianjin garrison soldiers woke up at this time and eagerly packed their belongings.
Some of the quickest ones have already started packing up their tents.

Today is the day the sweet potatoes are planted, and also the day we leave Tianjin.

Although it was evening when I left
But a day's absence couldn't dampen their eagerness to return home.

After experiencing such arduous battles in Liaodong, it was a miracle that they were still alive.

If I could go home again and have a hot meal at home, I would have no regrets in this life!

The cooks started a fire to prepare breakfast, and billowing smoke began to rise.

Thanks to the supplies from Daning City, the food was infused with the aroma of meat and fine rice.

Many passing soldiers looked captivated.

Finally, as I was about to leave, I was able to have a good meal.

Just then, a group of uninvited guests appeared at the camp gate.

The leader was Tan Wei, the Vice Commander of the Beiping Regional Military Command.

Behind him stood Commander Asu and Hong Yishan from the prefectural government.

Behind him were more than a hundred soldiers, all clad in armor and armed with weapons.

Seeing that things were not going well, the guards quickly turned back to report to their superiors.

Before long, Huang Yingzhi, who had just put on his armor, walked out with a big smile, his voice booming:
"Brother Tan, you're leaving tonight, why are you here so early to see me off?"

Tan Wei's expression remained unchanged, even somewhat solemn, without showing his usual cheerful demeanor.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Huang Yingzhi slowed her pace.
His smile gradually faded, and by the time he reached the group, his expression had become equally serious.

"What's going on here?"

Tan Weishen handed over the document in his hand:

"General Huang, on the orders of Lord Lu..."

All departures from Tianjin are suspended. Further departure plans will await the Commander's decision.

"Wow—"

The moment the words were spoken, an uproar erupted at the camp gate.

The Tianjin garrison soldiers looked at each other in disbelief, not understanding what had happened.

Just a few days ago, they kept coming over to urge them to leave.

Why are you changing your mind now?

Huang Yingzhi looked at Tan Wei, her brows furrowed:

"Lord Lu? Lord Lu is back?"

"I just returned to the city yesterday."

"Then why won't you let us leave?"

A sense of foreboding welled up in Huang Yingzhi's heart, just like when he was in Liaodong.

Tan Wei did not answer this question. Hong Yishan, who was standing next to him, stepped forward and handed over a document as well.
"General Huang, a traitor has appeared in the city."

The Commander-in-Chief suspects there has been contact with Tianjin Wei, and requests General Huang's cooperation in the investigation!

"Traitor? Another traitor?"

Huang Yingzhi's heart skipped a beat.
He feels a chill run down his spine whenever he hears those two words.

After so many years of peace, it seems there are an unusually large number of rebels this year.

Hong Yishan opened the document, took out a portrait from it, and held it up in front of him:

"General Huang, the person above is Tang Xingbang, the Vice Commander of the Daning Central Guard."

Now the authorities need to investigate everyone who has been in contact with him.
And there were also generals in Tianjin who had contact with this person!

"Tang Xingbang?"

Huang Yingzhi looked at the portrait, a thoughtful expression on his face.
He was certain that he did not know this person.

At this moment, Tan Wei turned slightly to the side and said softly:

“General Huang, this man is the nephew of the Marquis of Yan’an. Lord Lu suspects that the news about the goods has been leaked.”

Huang Yingzhi tensed up, and her pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints.
He remained silent for a long time.
No wonder they had to suspend departures from the city; the matter was indeed that important.
Soon, Huang Yingzhi became nervous.

He knew exactly what the goods were.

He even contributed his share.

Goods had to be transported by canal to leave Beizhili.
"They should be investigated!"

Huang Yingzhi quickly realized what was happening and spoke up decisively.

He looked at the portrait in Hong Yishan's hand and asked:
"May I take this portrait?"
Before this morning, I would have guaranteed that
Find everyone who has had contact with Tang Xingbang!

Hong Yishan looked around somewhat blankly.
The anticipated difficulties did not materialize, which relieved him.

"General Huang, please take the portrait and make a rubbing."
However, those who have been in contact with Tang Xingbang will be subject to our investigation.

Please give your instructions, General Huang.
As long as no one has done anything wrong, the Military Command's Office will absolutely not make things difficult for anyone!

Huang Yingzhi nodded emphatically:
"I know that the three Tianjin guards will cooperate fully!"

After speaking, he looked at the soldiers guarding the city and waved his hand:
"Open the door and make way for the adults!"

Despite the soldiers' strange feelings, they still agreed:
"Yes!"

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the sky was already bright.

The city of Daning was unusually quiet today.

There was no bustling activity of people going to the government office or to work, and no people gathered in front of the various notices.

Everyone spontaneously set off from their homes and headed towards the nearest city gate.

Today can be said to be the most important day for the entire command.
This is the day the new species of sweet potato is planted!
It is also the time for spring plowing.

In the vast expanse of land outside the city,
Not only should sweet potatoes be planted, but also wheat and many other grains.

This period began on this day and continued until October.

These days are crucial to the livelihoods of the people within the jurisdiction next year.

Everyone surged toward the city gates as if on a pilgrimage.
Soon the official road sandwiched between the fields was completely crowded.

All the fields have been covered with red cloths symbolizing joy, and large drums have been placed at the edge of the fields.

A respected elder from the surrounding villages, dressed in a robe and wearing a headscarf,

Holding drumsticks, they waited for the auspicious time.
In front of the fields and ditches, some farmers responsible for tending the fields were already standing there, with baskets beside them containing tender green rice seedlings.

A gentle breeze blew by.

Everyone seemed to smell the aroma of a bountiful wheat harvest.

Everyone pursed their lips and smiled faintly.
At the east gate of Daning City, Lu Yunyi, dressed in full regalia, led a large group of military officials out of the city gate in a grand procession.

Behind the procession were a group of family members and ordinary citizens.

Stepping out of the city gate, a bright and open space suddenly appeared before me.
The view ahead made countless people hold their breath.
The chaotic tent construction site has now been cleared away.
The wide, clean official road below was revealed, large enough to accommodate sixteen carriages side by side.

The original dirt road has disappeared, swallowed up by a newly grown cement road.
It resembles a complete silver-white silk ribbon, stretching out from the far east gate.

A feeling of exhilaration and comfort filled people's hearts, and many held their breath.

Even the opposition, who vehemently oppose the road construction,
Seeing this scene before him, he was somewhat shaken.

Is road construction really a waste of manpower and resources?
Seeing the scene before him, Liu Heiying nodded in satisfaction.
"Brother Yun'er, I ordered all the tents at the construction site outside the city to be removed yesterday."

We should take this opportunity to promote it properly, so we don't have to get scolded all the time.

Lu Yunyi stared blankly at the road ahead.

Same world, same land, different time, yet I saw the same things.
A feeling that was both familiar and strange washed over me.

"Good, well done. This is the way out for Da Ning from now on."

Beside her, Sun Ling, who was usually slovenly,
He carefully trimmed his beard and put on a brand-new, luxurious robe.

For him, spring planting and autumn harvest are the most important days of the year.

But at this moment, he was also utterly astonished by the road before him.

I felt like I was seeing something that didn't fit into the world.

The earthy yellow earth made the silver-gray road look even more out of place.

"Is this the road you're going to build?"

Lu Yunyi's eyes were bloodshot, and his whole body exuded a hollowness born of exhaustion.

"Old Master Sun, if you have the opportunity to go to Yingtian, you will see even more."
The villages there must all have paved roads like this by now; they're much more impressive than the roads in Daning."

"Yingtian? Yingtian also has such an official road?"

Sun Ling's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, revealing a deep longing.
I wish I could go to Yingtian City right now and see what exactly happened.

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment, then gently shook his head:
"The official road to Yingtian is flanked by farmland, making expansion very difficult."
The only option is to repair the existing road; rebuilding from scratch would be too costly.

"Didn't you repair it too?" Sun Ling pointed to the wide road ahead.
If I remember correctly, such a wide road can only be seen on the main road of Yingtian.
"The farmland in Da Ning is worthless; people will move aside if you give them some silver, and further afield it's practically unclaimed land."
But the fields in Yingtian are different; fields near Yingtian City can cost tens of thousands of taels per mu.
The imperial court can't afford to pay, so we can't just seize it by force.

Sun Ling thought it made sense, and he slightly pursed his lips:
"The land is the same, and the crops grown are the same, but the prices are worlds apart."

Land is always more expensive under the emperor's nose.

To be honest, Mr. Sun, his family was short of money when they were in the capital.

"I also sold a considerable amount of land outside Yingtian City, making a hefty profit."

"You're willing to sell that land?"

Sun Ling stared at him in shock.
Although this was the first time he had met Lu Yunyi,

But he knew countless people and had a deep appreciation for nature.
You can sense a carefree spirit about him.

There was also a sense of calm amidst the distance, which deeply moved him.

This not only shocked Sun Ling, but also the many officials accompanying him, who stared at him in astonishment.
Such a prime location, where every inch of land is incredibly valuable, how could they bear to sell it?
Lu Yunyi smiled calmly, flicked the rice seedlings in his hand, and said lightly:
"Once the sweet potatoes are harvested, the land won't be as valuable."

If you have relatives or friends in the capital, you can write to them and tell them about this.
Sell ​​whatever you have on hand now.
Once sweet potatoes gained popularity, land prices plummeted.
We can buy them back later and make a lot of money in the process.

You have all worked extremely hard these days.

Such information is rarely revealed to outsiders, so you should not spread it around either.

The adults following behind all looked thoughtful, somewhat puzzled by the meaning of the man before them.

Tan Wei tentatively began to speak:
"My lord, I plan to purchase some land near Yingtian in the near future."
So, according to you, now isn't a good time to buy?

"That's not true."

When sweet potatoes bloom everywhere, and when everyone realizes there's enough food to eat and land is no longer valuable...
Buy it then, after buying it
General Tan, just wait and see how much money you make.

Duan Zhengze seemed to have overheard some incredible secret and hurriedly spoke:
"Sir, didn't you say land wasn't worth much?"

Lu Yunyi glanced around and noticed that everyone was staring intently at him.
The decision not to conceal anything can be considered a perk of the Commander-in-Chief.

He smiled and spoke softly:
"Old Sun is right. It's all the same land, and we're growing the same crops. There's no reason for it to be so expensive."

But if land outside Yingtian is so expensive, does that mean it can grow gold?

Obviously not.

Ultimately, it's because the imperial court is there, and every inch of land under the emperor's feet is precious.

The fact that land is cheaper elsewhere has nothing to do with land in Beijing.
Even if you can't grow food, it will still be expensive.

By the time everyone realizes what's happening, the land will slowly rise again.

Not only did they save a lot of money, they also made a lot of money.

Therefore, General Tan, you must be cautious when acquiring land.

Tan Wei's eyes widened, and he held his breath.
The reactions of the officials present were largely the same as his.

They thought about it carefully, and it seemed to make sense!

"Alright, we're here to see the spring planting, why are we talking about such money-grubbing matters?"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and strode forward.

He walked with great style on the wide, flat, silver cement road, dressed in a long black robe.

A stark contrast emerged in everyone's minds.

The person before me truly has the ability to turn lead into gold.
The group walked forward along the wide cement road.
The people along the roadside cast a look of awe and gratitude in their eyes.

As the procession gradually approached the fields...

A vibrant atmosphere of spring plowing is sweeping in like a tidal wave.

In the fields, the people who had been waiting for a long time burst into cheers.

The respected elders from the surrounding villages were in excellent spirits.

The drumsticks in his hands were raised high and then brought down heavily.
The rousing drumbeats instantly resounded through the sky.

It's like the heartbeat of the earth awakening from winter!
"Boom boom boom——"

An elderly man with white hair stepped forward and asked:
"Sir, Elder Sun, may we begin?"

"What do you think?"

Lu Yunyi looked at the old man beside him and asked a question.

Sun Ling looked up at the sky; the clear sky was azure, with thick clouds drifting by.

"The auspicious time has arrived, let's begin!"

"The auspicious time has come——"

Spring plowing—

"start--"

The sound of the gong resounded like thunder throughout the heavens and earth.
The voice was deep and resonant, startling the birds on the branches.
The farmers responsible for farming vigorously tossed a handful of yellow soil they were holding, as a way of paying homage to the heavens!

"Plow—"

People flocked to the fields in droves.

They bent down and took the tender green sweet potato seedlings from the baskets on their backs, their movements skillful and gentle.

They had practiced these techniques countless times already!
On the ridges of the fields, strong young men led their oxen, shouting commands.

The cow's hooves pounded powerfully on the soft earth.

The plowshare turned over neat furrows, and the fragrance of soil filled the air.

The women followed closely behind the oxen, carefully planting rice seedlings into the ditches.

Then gently cover it with soil, leaving the seedling exposed.
Every movement is filled with longing for a bountiful harvest.

They were planting rice seedlings, but they were sowing the seeds for their future.
The children were laughing and playing by the field, running back and forth handing out rice seedlings.

The crisp laughter added a touch of joy to the lively scene.

Lu Yunyi walked to a field, squatted down,
He carefully observed the actions of the people planting rice seedlings.

Upon seeing this, an old farmer quickly stopped what he was doing and stood respectfully to the side.

Lu Yunyi asked with a smile:

"Grandpa, are there any special considerations when planting sweet potatoes?"

The old farmer grinned, revealing his wrinkled face, and said:
"Sir, Master Sun said..."

Sweet potatoes thrive in fertile soil, so sufficient base fertilizer must be applied first.
When planting, the soil should not be too deep or too shallow.

The spacing also needs to be just right; that way, the potatoes will grow more and bigger.

Lu Yunyi nodded seriously and said:

"That's good. From now on, we'll be relying on you to take care of things. Thank you for your hard work!"

The old farmer's face lit up with a smile upon hearing this:

"Don't worry, sir! We'll plant with all our might and grow crops to survive!"

Not far away, a group of teenagers...
Dressed in formal student attire, they huddled together, curiously observing the sweet potato seedlings.

Lu Yunyi walked over and asked:
"Are you here to learn about farming?"

One of the students quickly stood up, bowed, and said:
"Sir, the master said that food is the most important thing for the people."

Sweet potatoes are of vital importance to Daning, which is why I've come here specifically to learn about them.

Lu Yunyi nodded approvingly and said:

"Good! The beginning of Da Ning's prosperity did not come at the time when sweet potatoes were flowering and bearing fruit."
But today, the rice seedlings are planted in the ground, and you stand in the fields.

Lu Yunyi's voice gradually became more passionate, as if it possessed a mysterious magic.

He took a deep breath and said loudly:
"Fellow villagers, what you sow today is hope, and what you reap will be abundance!"
We work together

"Grow sweet potatoes well, and your life will become more and more prosperous!"

Upon hearing this, the students' eyes sparkled with excitement, and their breathing quickened.

Upon hearing this, the working people moved even faster.

Cheers and slogans rose and fell.

The echoes reverberated across the vast fields.

On the other side of the crowd, Sun Ling looked at everything before her, and her admiration for Lu Yunyi grew even stronger.

He turned to his entourage and said:

"Lord Lu is no ordinary man!"

The officials nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with recognition.

Even some idle officials behind him, who were initially feeling bored, found these words somewhat interesting.
Daning is prosperous Daning is prosperous
Is it really possible?

In the sky, several magpies flew merrily, chirping happily.

It seemed as if they too were cheering and applauding this lively spring plowing season.

A gentle breeze blows, and the tender green rice seedlings sway gently, showing people the vibrant vitality of the earth.

As time goes by, more and more people are joining in the spring plowing, and the fields are bustling with activity.

The people had a clear division of labor and worked together seamlessly, carrying water to irrigate and leveling the land.
Their clothes were soaked with sweat, and everyone's face was beaming with happiness.

The prosperity of Da Ning begins today!
(End of this chapter)