In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 770 Even the dying cannot escape the mundane.
Upon entering the Song residence, Lu Yunyi felt a sense of novelty.

This place is not as extravagantly luxurious as other mansions in the capital.
Instead, it reveals a simple and unpretentious nature.

The ground wasn't paved with expensive bluestone slabs, but with some gravel, which felt bumpy and uneven when you stepped on it.

The greenery in the courtyard was quite ordinary, with two willow trees leaning against the corner of the wall.

Some branches climbed over the wall, as if searching for freedom.

There were also some unidentified weeds growing very lushly around.

Although it looks uneven, it has a kind of chaotic beauty.

The small courtyard in front of the main hall is one of the few places in the mansion paved with bluestone slabs.

It had been worn smooth and shiny, even turning somewhat black.

Judging from their distribution, it seems that someone is training a military formation here.

Song Wan'er noticed Lu Yunyi's gaze and explained with a smile:

Grandpa often talked about the "Six Arts of a Gentleman".
It's said that students study books, but in the end, it's their physical strength that matters most.
Without a strong physique, even if one becomes an official, there is no future, let alone competing with others.

So my grandfather often led some students from the Imperial Academy to practice boxing at home.

At this point, Song Wan'er raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with joy:

"Lord Lu, Wan'er also trained with them for a period of time."
But later, her father felt that it was disgraceful for a girl to engage in fighting, so he stopped the idea.

Lu Yunyi looked enlightened and smiled as he spoke:

"Miss Wan'er, regardless of age or gender, everyone should prioritize physical health."
Otherwise, if life gets better and better, but you're unable to enjoy it, that would be a real regret.

A faint blush crept up Song Wan'er's neck, as if she had thought of something.
She turned slightly to the side and asked:
"How is Lord Lu's health?"

"I?"

Lu Yunyi abruptly stopped in his tracks as he was about to step into the house.

He met Song Wan'er's slightly mischievous gaze, and frowned.
“That would be excellent. I’ll let Miss Wan’er see it another day.”

Upon hearing this, Song Wan'er's red lips moistened, she gently pursed her lips, and lowered her head:

"Lord Lu, please go in quickly, don't keep your grandfather waiting."

"Cough cough."

Lu Yunyi cleared his throat and stepped into the main hall.
Upon entering, he was overwhelmed by the aroma of herbs.

He sniffed, looked at the gaunt old man sitting at the head of the table, and his face showed shock.

After a year apart, Song Na has changed drastically.

His former ethereal and otherworldly demeanor had vanished, replaced by a gaunt and emaciated appearance.
He looked like a withered old locust tree.
Thin and wrinkled, it exudes an undeniable stench of decay.

"Mr. Song, what's wrong with you?"

Song Na beckoned him to sit down.

A forced smile appeared on his withered face, the wrinkles already beginning to compress his features.
It made his eyes and mouth sink in so deeply that he looked like a skull.

His voice was dry, like a bellows made of wrought iron, with a heavy, panting sound:

"I'm old, sick, and about to die."

Lu Yunyi's expression was solemn as he glanced behind him.
Song Wan'er, no longer as frivolous as before, retreated with a heavy expression and closed the door tightly.

The door that was about to close blocked out the sunlight.
As Hehe shut down, a clear dividing line was formed between darkness and light, until the darkness squeezed out all the sunlight that had enveloped Song Na, plunging the room into gloom.

"Sit down, don't be shy."

Lu Yunyi sat solemnly at the lower left and said in a deep voice:

"Has the palace not sent any imperial physicians?"

Song Na remained silent for a long time, instead straightening up and repeatedly stroking her chest.
Finally, he took out a medicine bottle, pulled out a red pill, and swallowed it. Only then did his complexion regain its rosy hue.

He raised the medicine bottle in his hand and gave a dry laugh:
"This is the medicine given by the imperial physicians; it will make this old man feel more energetic."
Otherwise, on this day, I wouldn't be able to get up or speak.

Lu Yunyi involuntarily gripped the armrest of the seat, his breathing becoming somewhat uneven.
Song Na was a scholar from the former Yuan dynasty, and he was a man of great knowledge and experience.
His presence in the imperial court represented not only himself, but also the last vestiges of the brilliance of the Yuan dynasty's scholars.

His death marked the end of an era.

Lu Yunyi thought of the emperor in the palace, and of those elderly nobles.
Once they are all dead, the last vestiges of the chaotic end of the Yuan Dynasty will vanish with the wind, and the world will enter a new phase.
For a moment, Lu Yunyi felt somewhat lost.
The end of an era is so heavy. I felt nothing when I experienced it firsthand, but when I looked back, I was suddenly shocked to realize how far I had come.

"Mr. Song, is there no cure?"

"Young man, I also have a wild ginseng king at home, intercepted from the Jurchens of Liaodong. Could it cure the illness?"

Song Na gently shook her head:

"I'm eighty years old, and it's time for me to go. Don't waste such a good thing."

"I have invited Lord Lu here today because I have a favor to ask of you."

Lu Yunyi's expression changed slightly. He had fallen into a trap; it's hardest to refuse a dying person's request.

After thinking it over, he sighed softly:

"Mr. Song, if I hadn't returned to Yingtian, would the matter still have been accomplished?"

Song Na nodded with a smile:

“It can be done. Although I am just a teacher, I can still get things done when I am on my deathbed.”

Previously, I had intended to ask the Duke of Wei to handle this matter.
But upon hearing that Lord Lu had returned, even the Duke of Wei had to step aside.

Lu Yunyi's lips twitched slightly. As he faced death, Song Na spoke with increasing recklessness.

"Mr. Song, what is it? If I can do it, I will do my best."

Song Na sighed deeply, her expression complex.
I have three sons.
The eldest son, Song Lin, is a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and is now a censor; the second son, Song Fuzu, teaches in his hometown; and the youngest son, Song An, is idle and lazy.

"If I die, this family will likely fall into ruin."

Lu Yunyi looked enlightened and was deeply moved.

Even a well-read and knowledgeable person like this, in the final period of his life, cannot escape the common concern of considering his family.

"Mr. Song, as a newly appointed scholar, you are an official in the Censorate and have a bright future ahead of you."

As long as one follows the proper path, donning the scarlet robe and becoming a fourth-rank official is a certainty; how can there be talk of decline?

Song Na raised his head, looked Lu Yunyi up and down, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration:

"If he were as smart as you, I wouldn't have any worries."
Unfortunately, he became foolish from reading too much; all he learned were bookish principles.
These principles make a great teacher, but when applied to officialdom, they lead to certain death.

He's recently suffered several setbacks in silence.
"If it weren't for my continued existence and the resulting deterrent effect, he would have been sent running home long ago."

Lu Yunyi thought of Song Lin's stubbornness and nodded slightly:

"Politics without human compassion is short-lived, but adults don't seem to understand this principle."

Upon hearing this, Song Na looked up, somewhat speechless, and sized up Lu Yunyi:
"That's well said. I've been teaching for half my life and it took me half my life to understand this principle."
"It's no wonder your official position has risen so high, given how young you are to understand this."

After she finished speaking, Song Na asked softly:
"Are you aware that some people in the Yingtian Trading Company are lining their own pockets?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

“My father-in-law once told me this.”

"you do not mind?"

"There are only two ways to unite others."

Either they must relinquish their interests and benefits, or they must share common ideals and beliefs.

Yingtian Trading Company has reached its current position due to both factors.
They would go to such lengths to maintain the business only if they received benefits.

Otherwise, given the nature of Yingtian Trading Company's business, even with the imperial court's backing, they would face immense difficulties and their progress would become increasingly challenging.

"well."

Song Na's eyes lit up, she nodded repeatedly, and let out a long sigh:
"I thought you would be indignant, or you might swallow your anger and remain silent."

But I never expected you to accept it so calmly.

If Song Lin shared your thoughts, I wouldn't have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, he doesn't understand.

Lu Yunyi smiled and said:
"Mr. Song, please feel free to tell me what you want me to do."

Silence fell over the dimly lit room.
Song Na's expression changed several times; she seemed to slump down and bent over.

"I haven't asked anyone for help in all these years, and now that I'm suddenly asking for help, I feel a little embarrassed."

But it doesn't matter; a dying man has no sense of propriety or shame.

"That's right, given the abilities of my three sons, it's only a matter of time before they ruin our family."

I hope that Lord Lu can lend them a hand at this crucial moment.
Even if they don't soar to great heights, at least let them live a peaceful life.

Lu Yunyi's expression was strange:
"Mr. Song, your students and former subordinates should be able to handle this kind of matter. It's unlikely that they would come after me."

"Heh," Song Na chuckled dryly and nodded slightly.

That makes sense.

But the court is in chaos and tension; even the six ministers cannot guarantee their own longevity, and I cannot trust others.

"Mr. Song, you jest. I am stationed on the frontier and do many dangerous jobs."
Nowadays, they are also a thorn in the side of many people.

Perhaps I am even worse off than them, and my head will roll long ago.

"No"

Song Na chuckled dryly and waved her hand:

"This mess outside the Great Wall is one that no one in the court but you can handle."

As long as the imperial court still cares about Daming and Liaodong outside the Great Wall, they won't do anything to you.

Lu Yunyi thought Song Na was flattering him, so he smiled.

"Daning and Liaodong have been under the control of the Ming Dynasty for many years, and they have always been like this. They can function without anyone else."

"Lord Lu, please don't be modest. Just think about it."
If we were to take a high-ranking official of the fourth rank or above from the imperial court and send him to Daning or Liaodong, who could clean up such a mess?

Military generals are rough and ruthless in their actions.

Suppression often backfires, and Zhou Xing is a case in point.

But if a civil official were sent...

The methods are weak and unable to control those who surrender. They will likely rebel every few days, and sooner or later the people will suffer.

Looking at the entire court, only Lord Lu is capable of balancing both.
You are a military commander who has killed countless people, yet you are also a strategist who has saved countless lives.

Until someone else like you appears...

As long as the imperial court isn't foolish, Lord Lu will be fine and will be able to continue to exist.

At this point, Song Na seemed a little tired and was slightly out of breath:

"Over the past few decades, I've come to understand one thing."
Temporary glory is insignificant; what matters is who lives the longest and lasts the longest.

Many adults today enjoy unparalleled glory.
But if a real crisis occurs, they will be the first to fall, because they can be replaced.

Just kidding.
Even if you were to throw me into the position of Minister of the Six Ministries, I could keep things going for a long time without falling into chaos.

But if you were to send this old man to Daning beyond the Great Wall...

To truly figure out how to raise people

He might be hacked to death at the entrance of the government office soon.

The difference between them became increasingly clear to me as I approached my death, which is why I sought out Lord Lu.

After Song Na's flattery, Lu Yunyi was not pleased, but instead became wary.

If Song Na's explanation truly reflects the thoughts of the court officials,
He is currently on the mountaintop.
It seemed like a life of endless glory, but as soon as the court found a replacement,

The first person would kick him down, especially as the day of his execution drew ever closer.
Seeing Lu Yunyi's solemn expression,
Song Na was also a little stunned. What was going on?

I swallowed my pride and showered him with compliments, but why didn't this kid appreciate it?
After a long while, Lu Yunyi brought up other things:
"Mr. Song, a few days ago Miss Wan'er told me that the court officials were preparing to arrange for the princes to be enfeoffed, and Da Ning was among them?"

Song Na's expression was strange; she knew the person before her wouldn't act until she saw the benefit.

However, this also put his mind at ease.
If someone agrees without any conditions, it's actually more unsettling to people.

Song Na took out a pill from her bosom, put it in her mouth, swallowed it, then took a document and handed it over:

"Lord Lu, take a look. These are the princes who are scheduled to be enfeoffed this year and next year."

Lu Yunyi frowned, stood up, took the document, and opened it to examine it.
In the past two years, five princes have been preparing to be enfeoffed as kings and take up their fiefdoms.

They are Zhu Gui (13th son), Zhu Zhan (16th son), Zhu Quan (17th son), Zhu Pian (18th son), and Zhu Hui (19th son).

It also listed more than a dozen possible locations for enfeoffment, given by the Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of War.

Da Ning was among them, and appeared quite frequently.

These possibilities arise from the three princes' enfeoffment.

After reading it, Lu Yunyi closed it and placed it aside, smiling as he spoke:
"Mr. Song, the imperial court's conferment of fiefdoms to princes outside the capital is a family matter, and it is not appropriate for us generals who are leading troops in the field to interfere."

As for Daning, it's a harsh and cold place; if anyone wants to come, then let them come.

Song Na was taken aback:
“Aren’t you worried that the princes will cause trouble? These princes are not peaceful people.”

"As Mr. Song said before, the situation outside the pass is complicated, and others have no way to intervene."

Since that's the case, why should I worry?
It's nothing more than allocating some money each year for their upbringing; that's fine.

Song Na's face stiffened, realizing she had shot herself in the foot.

"A vassal king eating and drinking for free, are you happy about that?"

"Mr. Song, the enfeoffment of princes to foreign lands is a means of building border defenses and represents the determination of our Great Ming Dynasty to defend our territory."

If Da Ning were to be granted a fiefdom without a vassal king, wouldn't it appear to foreign powers that it could be abandoned at any time?

As for money, how much can you spend on food and drink?
"If we can avoid a war, we'll make a fortune."

After hearing these words, Song Na suddenly realized that this young man was far too difficult to deal with.

Moreover, this was the first time he had ever heard such a statement.
Even a cursory thought reveals the truth in this statement.

If Da Ning were to be attacked by an enemy, with the vassal king present, the imperial court would never give up.

It can be said that vassal kings existed in the border regions.
It can reassure the people and pacify foreign lands; in comparison, the money spent is negligible.

"This is the first time I've heard of a frontier military commander wanting a vassal king to take up his fiefdom."

Song Na shook her head and said:
"I won't hide it from you, the one currently tentatively chosen in the palace is the seventeenth prince, Zhu Quan."
His mother, Consort Yang, felt that place was not good.

They have been doing everything they can to obstruct it, and have even been pleading with His Majesty.

"You can go to the palace another day. If you have any complaints about the Seventeenth Prince, I can help you mediate."

Lu Yunyi laughed and said in a deep voice:
"Mr. Song, I have no objection to whoever is granted the title of Da Ning."
"The decision is entirely up to the palace; there's no need to trouble Elder Song."

"Ugh"

Song Na sighed and slowly shook her head:
"Is there anything else Lord Lu wishes to do? If I can help, I certainly will."

Lu Yunyi's eyes flashed, and he asked softly:

"Mr. Song, is Sun Si'an still studying at the Imperial Academy?"

Song Na was taken aback, blinked gently, and nodded:

"His excellent academic performance, quick learning ability, and ability to apply knowledge to new situations are likely related to his mature experience."

"That's good."

Lu Yunyi slowly nodded and asked:

"Can one take the exam to become a student?"

Song Na thought of something, and her voice became strange:
"According to him, he plans to return to his hometown next year to take the exam."

Lu Yunyi nodded in realization:

"So, he can't participate in the autumn imperial examination? That's a pity."

Song Na couldn't help but speak up:
"Lord Lu, cheating in the imperial examinations is absolutely unacceptable."

Lu Yunyi smiled:
"Mr. Song, you've misunderstood. Sun Si'an is from the North."
I fear he will be targeted in the imperial examinations, so I hope that Mr. Song can offer him some assistance.
We don't need excessive mentorship, just fair competition on equal footing.

"Lord Lu, the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty have always been fair."

Lu Yunyi shook his head meaningfully:

"Mr. Song, at our stage, it would be absurd to say such things."

Song Na fell silent, looking as if she had aged ten years, slumped in her chair.
After a long while, he nodded slightly:

"Since you've brought this up, then I won't stand on ceremony."

I can guarantee that if he truly possesses genuine talent and ability, he will not be suppressed.

Lu Yunyi nodded in satisfaction and let out a long sigh of relief:

"In that case, thank you very much, Mr. Song."

I will keep Lord Song's matter in mind, and if I can lend a helping hand, I will certainly do my utmost.

"Thank you."

Song Na struggled to stand up, but was unable to. She could only bow slightly in her seat.

Lu Yunyi slowly stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards him:
"Mr. Song, I'll take my leave now."

(End of this chapter)