In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 738: Soldiers will block it, water will cover it

The next morning, just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM),
A rickety carriage, pulled by a white horse, arrived at the Qingping Escort Agency located on Beishi Street.

Lu Yiliu lifted the carriage curtain and slowly stepped down.
He was still dressed in a white robe and holding a folding fan, looking very elegant.

At the entrance of Qingping Escort Agency, two cleaning staff members saw him arrive.

One of them stood up warily and asked:
"What is it? Escorting goods or transporting cargo?"

Lu Yiliu glanced at the simple gate of Qingping Escort Agency.

He nodded slightly, thinking to himself,
As the saying goes, "It is not the depth of the water that matters, but the presence of a dragon that makes it sacred."
Although this escort agency was inconspicuous, it was much more impressive than the Snowwalking Trading Company, which he had spent a lot of money decorating.

Lu Yiliu smiled and said:
"Please trouble you two to inform me that I am Lu Yiliu from Taxue Trading Company. I wish to see Manager Hu because there is news about what happened a few days ago."

The two men relaxed slightly after hearing this, and one of them turned to announce it:

"Wait."

A short while later, a middle-aged man in his thirties, dressed in a brocade robe, hurried out with a smile on his face:

"Manager Lu, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Wang Xin, the manager of Qingping Escort Agency. Please come in."

Lu Yiliu smiled and followed Wang Xin inside.

The courtyard inside the security escort agency was extremely large.

A dozen or so untethered carts, scrubbed clean, leaned against the corner of the wall.

On the other side were tall, magnificent horses tethered in the stable, each one exceptionally brave and imposing.

Several bodyguards were still training in the courtyard.

Seeing this scene, Lu Yiliu felt a sense of comfort spreading through her heart.

It looks simple, but everything is in good order.

Before long, the two sat down in the main hall.

Wang Xin smiled and waved, signaling the waiter to close the door.

After the door closed, Wang Xin's expression turned slightly serious, and he said in a deep voice:

"Manager Lu, please give me the information. Once it's verified, I will settle the payment with you."

"for you?"

Lu Yiliu looked at Wang Xin with some surprise, then glanced around.
Where is Manager Hu?

Wang Xin smiled:
"Manager Hu is currently busy with some other matters and cannot get away for the time being."

If Manager Lu is worried about handing the message over to me...
I can pay 30% of the silver upfront, and the remaining 70% after confirmation.

Lu Yiliu seemed to realize what was happening, pointed to the escort agency around her, and tentatively asked:

"You...have many such places of refuge?"

Wang Xin smiled brightly, appearing harmless.

However, the scars on his body clearly revealed that the person before him was also a ruthless character.
"Manager Lu, there are countless messages every day."
"How can a single escort agency possibly sift through all that information and extract useful details?"

"That makes sense."

Lu Yiliu nodded repeatedly, without any hesitation.
He then took out a letter from his pocket and handed it over, saying in a deep voice:

"I have found the person's trail. Please take a look, Manager Wang."

Wang Xin regained his seriousness, took the letter, and opened it to read.

The letter was very long, and the more Wang Xin read, the more serious his expression became.
He glanced at Lu Yiliu, his wariness of the man growing stronger.
They were able to find out that Tang Xingbang's trip out of the city was fake.
Finally, Wang Xin looked away from the letter, his face thoughtful, and said in a deep voice:
"Manager Lu, was the last person to leave the city in a caravan bound for Kaifeng? Can you confirm that?"

Lu Yiliu smiled broadly, her face showing certainty:

"It's quite a coincidence that the caravan's stop at the same cargo depot belongs to the Taxue Trading Company."
Some of the return shipments were even facilitated by Taxue Trading Company.

After accepting Manager Hu's commission,
Lu arranged for people to be stationed in densely populated areas such as carriage and horse shops, distribution points, and shipping points.
They even enlisted the help of the city's beggars' gang, and finally, yesterday evening, they discovered traces of the person.

After comparing information from multiple sources, it was confirmed this morning that Mr. Lu arrived.

Wang Xin nodded repeatedly, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes; this was truly an unexpected delight.

He knew that large trading companies like Taxue Trading Company not only did their own business, but also engaged in pimping.

Some merchant caravans came to Beiping, and it would be a huge loss if they returned empty-handed.

So they would ask some local merchants to find some goods to bring back, earning double the money.

In Beiping, the best company for this kind of business is the Taxue Trading Company.

"Manager Lu, I accept this news. I'll get the money for you right away, but..."

Wang Xin paused for a moment, then continued:
"I hope Manager Lu can provide me with detailed information about this caravan. I am willing to add another thousand taels."

"No need!"

Lu Yiliu raised her hand to stop him, her face still bearing a warm smile.

He pulled another document from his pocket and slammed it on the table.

"The caravan's stops along the way and the goods it disposed of are all recorded on the vehicle. Manager Wang, please take them."
This is our first time working together, let's be friends!

Wang Xin was taken aback, then laughed heartily and took the document:

"I'm determined to befriend Manager Lu, and we look forward to cooperating with him in the future."

"nature!"

Having said that, Wang Xin stood up and walked straight to the bookcase in the corner of the main hall.
He pulled out a square box, which looked quite heavy.

"when"

Wang Xin placed the box on the table and gestured for it to proceed.
"Manager Lu, these are receipts for five hundred taels of gold and seven thousand five hundred taels of silver."

You can send someone to Donghua Pawnshop to exchange for cash and paper money.
Of course, if there's anything Manager Lu likes at the pawnshop, he can buy it there.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yiliu's eyes as she forcefully pulled over the small box and opened it.

What comes into view are neatly arranged, gleaming gold nuggets.
At the very top, there was a thin sheet of Xuan paper.

They took it out; it was a receipt from Donghua Pawnshop, for exactly seven thousand five hundred taels of silver.

Lu Yiliu was greatly shocked.
If I remember correctly, Tung Wah Pawnshop was opened two years ago and is known for its strong financial resources and deep background.

"Manager Wang, is Donghua Pawnshop also part of your business?"

"I guess so, but it's being handled by other people."

"The value of our news is quite high; it would be too undignified to carry around paper money and gold everywhere."

Wang Xin smiled and continued speaking:
"With this receipt, Manager Lu can also go to Yingtian, where the Donghua Pawnshop can also accept it."

Lu Yiliu's pupils suddenly contracted, and she lowered her voice:

"Manager Wang, this is stealing some business from the money shops, and aren't you afraid of being investigated?"

"Donghua Pawnshop currently only has two branches: Beiping and Yingtian."

If those big money houses can't even tolerate this, then they are truly courting death.

As for whether it's in accordance with the rules or not.
Rules are always made by people. If you don't tell me and I don't tell you, who will know?

After hearing this, Lu Yiliu nodded in understanding.

He realized that he had underestimated the strength of these people.

I initially thought they were just intelligence brokers with some clandestine channels.

But now, they actually dare to steal business from those big money houses, clearly showing they have nothing to fear.

This made Lu Yiliu's imagination run wild. Could it be that this business really belongs to the Prince of Yan?
I thought about it for a long time, but I still couldn't find an answer.

Lu Yiliu closed the box, a look of emotion on her face:
"Manager Wang and Manager Hu are truly incredibly influential; I admire them greatly."

If you need anything in the future, just let me know.

Although the Taxue Trading Company is located in a remote corner of the city, it can still do quite a bit in Beiping.

Wang Xin stood up and laughed heartily:
"Thank you very much, Manager Lu. We will certainly not be polite in the future."

Lu Yiliu also stood up with a smile and cupped her hands in a respectful gesture:

"Farewell."

"Take care, Manager Lu."

Wang Xin escorted her all the way to the door, watching Lu Yiliu take the suitcase, get into the carriage, and leave before his smile faded.

He turned around quickly, without even having time to pack up.
He hurriedly ran to the side of the courtyard, mounted his horse, and shouted:
"Keep an eye on the house, I'll be right back."

Having said that, Wang Xin, with his agile figure, mounted his warhorse and galloped away.

At the northern camp, over a thousand soldiers of the Yanshan Right Guard began to assemble under the command of Deputy Commander Tan Yuan.

The entire drill ground was a sea of ​​black.
The dust kicked up by the warhorses and soldiers had covered the entire camp in a cloud of dust.

At the very front, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu stood side by side.

The two men, dressed in slightly smaller black armor, stood silently, staring intently ahead, their eyes filled with uncontrollable shock.

As heirs, they had witnessed large-scale troop movements and military drills.
But this is the first time I've gone so deep into it like this.

Compared to bystanders, they now have only one feeling.
There are so many people!

The army formation of over a thousand men had already completely blocked their view.

The camp gate was not visible, nor were the tents behind us.
All that could be seen were seemingly identical, dark-skinned faces.

And rows of black armor and long swords. A chilling atmosphere permeated the air, making the two of them hold their breath.

At this moment, Tan Yuan finished preparing his troops, turned around, and ran over.
Facing the two princes, he tried his best to soften his voice and avoid sounding harsh.
But the firmness in his voice still startled the two of them:
"Your Highness, Second Prince, the soldiers have all assembled."
The training content has been distributed, and our troops are ready to depart at any time!

Zhu Gaochi was still in shock, his face blank as he smelled the stench of warhorses.

Zhu Gaochi reacted faster.
His eyes were filled with excitement as he nudged the boss beside him.

Zhu Gaochi then woke up, composed himself, and said with a smile:

"This is the first time I've ever seen such a scene, and I can't help but feel a surge of emotion."

Lord Tan's management is skillful, and the soldiers' fighting spirit is strong and powerful; this is a blessing for our Great Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Tan Yuan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. To be honest, my 1,000-household unit is only used for ordinary defense and is far inferior to the elite troops that Your Highness Prince Yan took with you."

Even so, it's sufficient for some basic drills and firearms practice.

Zhu Gaochi looked surprised, turned to look at the Tianjin garrison soldiers gathered behind the fence on the right, and asked:

How do they compare?

Tan Yuan's face stiffened, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice:
"Your Highness, the more than 1,000 soldiers of Tianjinwei have just retreated from the Liaodong battlefield, and we are far behind them."

"Why? In my opinion, the battle formation before us is much more orderly than that of Tianjinwei."

Zhu Gaochi looked at the two armies and asked in confusion.

At this moment, Zhu Gaochi spoke with some impatience:
"Hey boss, why do you have so many questions?"

In my opinion, killing someone is as commonplace as killing a chicken in one's own home.

We may be dressed smartly and armed with sharp weapons, but we certainly won't be as quick and easy to kill as a disheveled servant in the manor.

On the battlefield, killing the enemy is all about the result.

This isn't just a pre-war show of bravado, is it, Lord Tan?

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu, who had a chubby face and was trying to act like a grown-up, Tan Yuan was speechless for a moment and could only nod reluctantly.
"What the Second Prince says is not without merit."
Our troops have never had the opportunity to fight on the front lines; they can only practice military formations in the barracks.
If even the army can't stand in formation, it only shows how pathetic we are.

Having received an affirmative answer, Zhu Gaoxu retorted to Zhu Gaochi:

"How about it, boss? I have the bearing of a great general, and my words are always to the point."

Zhu Gaochi was somewhat at a loss with his foolish younger brother.
All I could do was shake my head and sigh, whispering a reminder:
"Lord Lu said you have the potential to be a great general, but that doesn't mean you are a great general now."

You and I came to the army camp to study and observe.
Speak less, observe more, and do more.

Although Zhu Gaoxu listened, he pretended not to.

He simply straightened his chest and turned his head to one side.

Zhu Gaochi's eyes darted around, and he looked at Tan Yuan, smiling as he said:

"Lord Tan, my younger brother has been stubborn since he was a child, and he's also a bit slow-witted. Please bear with him!"

"Boss!"

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly turned his head, his eyes wide with anger.

Zhu Gaochi suddenly looked behind him:
"Lord Lu has arrived. We should set off now."

"Don't try to fool me, you're always playing these tricks!"

Lu Yunyi, clad in armor and carrying a document, arrived at the front of the battle formation.

Looking at the three people in front of him, one adult and two children, with some confusion:
"what happened?"

Zhu Gaoxu's face suddenly froze. He turned around and saw that he was really standing there, so he quickly took two steps back.

Zhu Gaochi smirked, a hint of smugness in his eyes.

Lu Yunyi's eyes were filled with confusion; he didn't understand what had happened.
But he didn't pay attention to that. Instead, he looked at Tan Yuan and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Tan, are you all prepared for our upcoming training exercise outside the city?"

As the commander of a unit, Tan Yuan naturally knew the purpose of this operation, which was far more complex than the mere drills he claimed to be conducting.

Although he was apprehensive, he was also filled with excitement!

"My lord, we are ready and can draw our swords to fight the enemy at any time!"

But Tan Yuan changed the subject abruptly.
Looking at the two little ones standing there, staring at each other, he hesitated.

"My lord, the journey is long and dangerous. Do the two princes really wish to go together?"

Lu Yunyi also looked over, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes:
"If they don't come with us, we won't be able to get into Henan."

Tan Yuan couldn't help but look troubled and scratch his head:
"It's too dangerous, sir. Although our troops are mostly veterans, very few of them are still capable of fighting on the front lines."

"Lord Tan, it's alright."

At this moment, Zhu Gaochi spoke calmly:
"My brother and I are just training with the army. Do you think that something could happen to members of the imperial family on the territory of our Great Ming?"

At such a young age, he already possesses a composure and authority beyond his years.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"If you're afraid of everything, you'll get nothing done."

Soldiers from Tianjin also accompanied us on this training trip; nothing happened.

Tan Yuan's eyes widened slightly, then he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief:

"My lord, will General Huang also go?"

"Yes, I heard it's a firearms drill, and General Huang insisted on participating."

The Prince's Palace and the Military Command have already issued documents ordering the two princes to accompany the army and provide protection.

"call--"

Tan Yuan felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and shook his sweaty hands.

Although there is an honor in participating in such an important event,

But with veterans in charge, I can still feel at ease.

"Alright, let's assemble the troops and head south!"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and looked at the two boys:

"We have specially prepared chariots for you, though they are not as comfortable as horse-drawn carriages."
But it's much easier than riding a horse; you can stay there.

Zhu Gaochi suddenly straightened up, his eyes widened, and his voice boomed:

"I want to ride a horse!"

"Why ride a horse? Your bones haven't fully grown yet, and you're already going on long journeys. Be careful not to develop bowlegs. Just sit in a chariot."

After Lu Yunyi left those words,
He then turned and left, leaving Zhu Gaoxu stammering.

"Alright, second brother, you have to listen to me."
This time it's for real; I received several messages today.
Both Mother and General Lu look grave; don't make things worse.

Zhu Gaoxu's lips trembled, and he muttered softly:
"Only you can do that?"

As noon approached, the gates of the northern camp slowly opened, and a rousing bugle call suddenly rang out, echoing throughout the entire northern part of the city.

The weather is perfect today, with sunshine streaming down.

The light made the entire army's black armor shine brightly.

In the center of the Yanshan Right Guard, a well-decorated chariot adorned with golden hues slowly moved forward.

Two teenagers clung to the railing, constantly looking around.

Although his face was expressionless, the excitement in his eyes was unmistakable.

So impressive, so incredibly impressive!
In particular, the crowds that gathered there occupied both sides of the street.

When they cast envious glances at them,
This made the two of them feel that this is what a real man should be like!
Behind them, over a thousand soldiers from Tianjin Wei emerged from their camp.

The same sunlight did not illuminate their armor; instead, it made it appear even dimmer and duller.

However, the knife and axe carvings on it are clearly visible.

Many onlookers held their breath, feeling as if a fierce tiger had appeared in front of them.

Lu Yunyi and Huang Yingzhi walked side by side, one old and one young, each with their own distinct style.

Because Lu Yunyi was wearing ordinary black armor
Even though he possessed an extraordinary aura, he was still mistaken for a bodyguard.

I was quite envious of their chatting and laughing.

"General Huang, after the battle of Liaodong, Tianjinwei is truly a battle-hardened elite force."

Huang Yingzhi shook his head with a complicated expression:

"If possible, I would still prefer to be stationed in Tianjin and serve as a sinecure official."

Instead of what we're doing today, fighting off a foreign enemy and then rushing to fight our own people.

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"General Huang is overthinking it. Things may go smoothly and there may be no need for war."

Huang Yingzhi didn't believe a single word of this nonsense:

"If you had said this a year ago, I would have believed you."

But seeing the audacity of these scoundrels, I don't believe it from the bottom of my heart.

"No problem, we'll meet force with force and water with earth. On the territory of the Great Ming, how can we let the rebels turn the world upside down?"

"Lend your auspicious words."

(End of this chapter)