In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 906 Cooperation in Confrontation
Inside the military tent, Lu Yunyi sat behind his desk.

He stared silently at the letters laid out on the table, his brow furrowed, a strange look in his eyes.

The letter was sent by Yi Seong-gye; it was written with great conviction and sincerity.

His words and actions conveyed the message of stopping the war and maintaining peace.

Moreover, judging from the fact that they will meet again at the end,

Yi Seong-gye was indeed a smart man; he knew who the enemy was and was able to communicate with them.

After a moment's thought, Lu Yunyi made a decision and looked at Gong Xianzhi:

"Call Zou Jing over for me."

Gong Xianzhi left in a hurry.
Before long, Zou Jing, dressed in black, strolled in, his face calm, holding several documents in his hand.

Lu Yunyi gestured with his chin toward him and asked:
"What document?"

"Documents concerning the defense of Shun'an City and the urgent need for food supplies."

"Food supplies are running low?"

A look of doubt flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes:
"Isn't it enough?"

"It's enough, enough for fighting in Goryeo, but if the return journey is long, then it's not enough."

Zou Jing's voice was flat, like that of a wooden man.

Lu Yunyi nodded in understanding after hearing this:

"What do you mean?"

"Your subordinate would like to know the route back."
The General Staff received three routes, two of which led west into Liaodong, thus eliminating the need for extensive provisions.

If the majority decides to return via Jurchen territory,

That would require at least double the amount of provisions just to barely sustain the effort.

Lu Yunyi fell silent in response.
The situation is still unsettled, and the matter is not yet resolved.

He couldn't offer a specific strategy, only possible directions.
While this approach ensures thorough preparation, it may also lead to uncertainty and confusion among subordinates.

After a pause, Lu Yunyi spoke:
"Let's wait and discuss this matter after it's been resolved."

"Please hurry, General. If it's already March..."

The snow in the Jurchen lands should have melted somewhat by then, making the mountain roads difficult to traverse; we must make preparations accordingly.

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"Okay, I'll let you know in advance."
"I called you here to show you this document. Do you think you should meet with Yi Seong-gye?"

As he spoke, he handed over a letter from the table.

Zou Jing took it, opened it, and examined it in his hand, his expression slightly grave.

He read it over and over again, and finally spoke:

"General, it's better to avoid trouble than to get involved. It's best not to see him."

Yi Seong-gye is a cunning and calculating man. This letter is probably intended to distract us and buy time for subsequent troop deployments.

Do you think Yi Seong-gye would dare to attack us?

Zou Jing nodded:

"He might not have dared to do it a few years ago, but he has already effectively rebelled, so there's probably nothing he wouldn't dare to do."
General, you can no longer look at him with the same eyes you used to.

Holding absolute power for a few years is enough to change a person's character.

Especially in small countries like this, arrogance, conceit, and self-satisfaction must have already permeated his surroundings.

Whether Lee Seong-gye can remain calm is another matter.

Lu Yunyi's expression turned slightly serious after hearing this, and he nodded gently.

"That's right. When you're surrounded by good people, it always makes you feel complacent."

Upon hearing this, Zou Jing's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he was about to speak...
But Lu Yunyi suddenly looked up:

"We can talk about it when we get back. This is the military, not a government office. We don't hold public denunciation meetings here."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Zou Jing's eyes, and she regained her cold demeanor:
"I hope the general will not forget his original aspirations and will be cautious and prudent in marching and fighting."

There were at least fifteen instances of carelessness in this battle.
Three of these locations could cause significant losses to the team.

"Alright, alright. I'm going to meet with Yi Seong-gye, what do you think?"

Zou Jing's face darkened: "This is the sixteenth time I've been careless."

"You disagree?" Lu Yunyi asked.

"If you disagree, it's better for both of you to avoid meeting face-to-face."
We'll continue to be Jurchens, and he'll continue to be a wise and capable minister and general of Goryeo.

"This is like burying your head in the sand."

"Some things are just self-deception."

Lu Yunyi shook his head helplessly:

"Li Chenggui won't have much time to live in peace."

Regarding the connection between Beiping, Beiping Military Command, Liaodong, and Goryeo...
If we don't talk to Yi Seong-gye, who else can we talk to?

Therefore, we must meet him, at least to see what kind of person he is and whether we can cooperate.

Zou Jing pursed his lips and said in a deep voice:

"Yi Seong-gye is old. General, you can wait patiently until he dies."
According to research by military doctors, the rate of sudden death among military generals is three times that of ordinary officials.
The higher the position, the worse the health. Yi Seong-gye, now in command of both the army and the government, must be mentally and physically exhausted.

If he hadn't possessed an extraordinary physique, he probably would have died within a few years.

Lu Yunyi's expression turned strange.
If I remember correctly, Yi Seong-gye lived to be seventy-three, so he had seventeen years left before he died.
Lu Yunyi discovered that for those in power, such as His Majesty in the palace and powerful ministers from foreign lands,
No one could do anything about them; they could only hope they died soon.
In fact, these kinds of people can endure their illness for a long time by sheer willpower and the itch in their body.

A glint of inspiration flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes, and he said in a deep voice:

"I have made a decision on this matter. I will tentatively meet with Lee Seong-gye to see if there is any opportunity for cooperation."

"General, you should think carefully. Once we meet, Yi Seong-gye will have your life in his hands. If he informs the court about this, things will not end well."

Zou Jing calmly offered a reminder.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"It's not that mysterious. I'm stationed outside the Great Wall, and the court officials are already wary of me. It's good that I make some mistakes."

Moreover, the court was not ignoring Goryeo; it was simply preoccupied with other matters.
Originally, this was to quell the turmoil in Goryeo.

Although they might verbally curse and swear, deep down they're happy to see it happen.

Zou Jing looked helpless and gently shook his head:
"General, even if the generals in the court think you are right..."

But they still submitted memorials impeaching you, and even launched attacks against you.

"Let them be. The Grand General and His Highness the Crown Prince will protect me in the court."

"General, you are becoming arrogant because of your favor."

"Alright, the situation in the imperial court is a complete mess."

When things get chaotic, this little thing in Korea won't even matter.

You have someone prepare to contact Yi Seong-gye and discuss where to meet.

Furthermore, the General Staff must be wary of enemy attacks from the northeast; it is highly likely that Yi Seong-gye will pursue both peace talks and military action simultaneously.

Seeing that he could not persuade him, Zou Jing sighed deeply:

"General, I will remember this matter for you. Please take a good look at it when you get back."

"rest assured!"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, displaying his generosity.

A quarter of an hour later, Zou Jing and the staff sat around the table, the candlelight flickering and illuminating their solemn faces.

The pen tip scratched across the paper.
Neat lines of handwriting appeared, and soon a reply was written.

Zou Jing, holding the letter, approached Lu Yunyi and respectfully said:
"General, the reply has been drafted. Please take a look."

Lu Yunyi took the letter and read it carefully.
The letter was well-written, demonstrating both a sincere willingness to meet and discuss matters with Yi Seong-gye.
They also subtly probed Goryeo's intentions and issued some warnings.

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Okay, send it over."

Soon, the letter was delivered to the Goryeo army behind them and handed to Yi Seong-gye.

Yi Seong-gye sat inside his tent, slowly unfolding the letter.

His gaze swept over the words on the paper, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

He hadn't expected the Ming people to be so bold as to actually be willing to meet with him.

Yi Seong-gye put down the letter and fell into deep thought.

Li Zhilan, who was standing to the side, asked softly:
"Prime Minister Li, what is the meaning behind the Ming dynasty's actions?"

Yi Seong-gye narrowed his eyes slightly and said:

"Since they dared to accept the agreement, they must have something to rely on."

However, this is also a good opportunity for us to find out their true colors. What do you think?

Li Zhilan frowned slightly and said, "Prime Minister Li, the enemy and we are not clear now. Although meeting in person can help us find out the truth, there are also risks involved."

If we can use this opportunity to buy some time...
Giving the troops in the Northwest more time to maneuver is not a bad idea.

Yi Seong-gye nodded and said:

"Pass on my military order to inform the Ming people that we will meet at Yuehua Plain in two days."

"Yes."

Two days later, the sky was still overcast.

The thick clouds were like a huge curtain, pressing heavily on the earth, creating a sense of oppression.

A biting northwest wind howled past, stinging one's face.

The swirling snow dust filled the air, blurring the entire world.

Both sides set up tents on either side of Yuehua Plain.
Flags fluttered in the wind around the tent, rustling loudly in the gale.

Lu Yunyi, along with Gong Xianzhi, Tuoluhuchaer, and ten others, rode their warhorses slowly toward the agreed-upon location.

The guards stared intently ahead, their faces wary.

On the other side, Lee Seong-gye, along with Lee Ji-ran and ten others, headed towards the agreed-upon location.

Yi Seong-gye rode a tall, warhorse, his posture upright and his eyes deep.

Soon, the two sides met in the center of Yuehua Plain and arrived at the tent that had been set up in advance.

Lu Yunyi reined in the horses and glanced at the crowd opposite him.

Finally, the focus shifted to Li Zhilan, who was in the lead. She was slightly taken aback. Where was Li Chenggui?
At this moment, Lee Seong-gye was also sizing up Lu Yunyi.

He was somewhat surprised when he saw Lu Yunyi's youthful face.
I never expected that the Ming generals would be so young.

But he quickly regained his composure, pretending to be an ordinary general, and silently followed behind Li Zhilan.

Lu Yunyi slowly shook his head and sat down. After scanning the crowd opposite him, he suddenly smiled and said:
"Prime Minister Li, why hide your true colors like this? Is there something you can't face people with?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Seong-gye was startled, and a look of shock appeared on his face.
He didn't expect that Lu Yunyi would see through his identity at a glance.

Li Zhilan was also slightly taken aback, but then he reacted and forced himself to remain calm, saying:
"Your Excellency has mistaken me for someone else. This is a general from Goryeo, not Prime Minister Lee."

Lu Yunyi laughed heartily and said:

"Li Zhilan, stop hiding it."
I have seen your portraits in the palace.
Although it was only a fleeting glance, how could I possibly mistake someone like Prime Minister Li?

Seeing that his identity had been exposed, Yi Seong-gye no longer concealed it.

He rode his horse slowly forward, taking Li Zhilan's place, and looked calmly at Lu Yunyi, saying:

"You have a good eye, sir. May I ask your name?"

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly and said:

"I, Lu Yunyi, have come to Goryeo with some matters I wish to discuss with Prime Minister Li."

Upon hearing the name, Lee Seong-gye and the others were instantly shocked, as if a thunderbolt had struck their ears.

Everyone tensed up, their pupils suddenly contracting.

His eyes were filled with deep apprehension as he looked at Lu Yunyi.

In those eyes, there was fear, but even more so, reverence.

The name Lu Yunyi
It is very famous and renowned among the surrounding countries.

Especially last year, he led his army to defeat three Jurchen tribes.
This earned him the secret gratitude of many Koreans.
The court breathed a sigh of relief, especially Yi Seong-gye, who could now focus more on the reforms.

And today, I actually met him here!

And so young
Considering the various rumors circulating these days, everyone found it even more hard to believe.

How could the youngest commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty be here?
Lee Seong-gye stared intently at Lu Yunyi, trying to find the answer in his face.
But the person in front of me remained calm, without even the slightest ripple in their eyes.

He inwardly praised it:
"Well-deserved!"

Taking a deep breath, Lee Seong-gye suppressed his shock and gestured for the tent to open.

"General Lu, please come in."

Lu Yunyi dismounted and led the group inside first.

The tent was extremely simple, with snow underfoot and simple wooden chairs on both sides.

Lu Yunyi and Li Chenggui sat down one after the other, and the atmosphere inside the tent became particularly oppressive.

The wind was still howling outside, making the tent flap loudly.

Lee Seong-gye couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with disbelief:
"Are you... really Lu Yunyi?"

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly, his smile revealing composure, as if he were at home.
He nodded slightly and said:

"Indeed, Prime Minister Li, I have long admired your name."

Lee Seong-gye took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

But his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner nervousness.

If the Ming army came, he wouldn't be too worried.

Goryeo was ultimately a country that could not be conquered.
Minor frictions were left underwater, and no major incidents were dared to occur.

But this person has always been unconventional.

Others might not dare to make a big move, but the person in front of them certainly would.

Moreover, Yi Seong-gye was certain that he would raise the issue high and then lower it gently afterward.

Because he now also controls power in Goryeo, he knows the thoughts of those in power.

She realized just how likable this person was.

He looked at Lu Yunyi with a complicated expression and said:

General Lu's name is renowned far and wide.
Having seen it today, I can confirm that its reputation is indeed well-deserved.
"I wonder what brings General Lu to Goryeo this time?"

Lu Yunyi leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of his chest, and said with a relaxed expression:
"Minister Li, let's not beat around the bush. The situation in Goryeo is unstable, and they are reinforcing their troops on the border, posing a threat to Liaodong."
As the suzerain state, our Great Ming Dynasty naturally cannot sit idly by.

The purpose of this visit is twofold: firstly, to assist Goryeo in stabilizing the situation;
Secondly, we came to see what was wrong with Goryeo and whether it could remain peaceful.

These words immediately changed the atmosphere in the military tent.

Yi Chenggui narrowed his eyes; from these words, he...

He heard the person in front of him expressing dissatisfaction with him, both of which were related to his holding power.

"Lord Lu, since the Ming Dynasty is the suzerain state, why are you still slaughtering my Goryeo soldiers?"

"What?" Lu Yunyi looked bewildered.

"The garrison of Sunan Castle," Yi Seong-gye said in a low voice, suppressing his anger.

"Oh, it's them. A good dog doesn't block the way."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, as if he didn't care about those thousands of lives at all.

Li Zhilan flew into a rage, abruptly standing up, her hair and beard bristling, glaring at Lu Yunyi, and shouting:
"Lu Yunyi! Although you are a wise general..."
Yet you treat human life so lightly, regarding our Goryeo soldiers as worthless. Is this the way your Great Ming Dynasty behaves?
If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, don't even think about leaving!

Lu Yunyi remained unmoved.
He sat upright in his chair, his eyes calm as still water, as if Li Zhilan's anger was insignificant.

He gazed silently at Li Zhilan until the tent fell silent again, then slowly spoke:
"Since you don't want to talk, let's part ways here and see who's the best on the battlefield."

Having said that, he stood up.

He straightened his clothes and prepared to leave with everyone.

Li Chenggui's expression changed; he hadn't expected Lu Yunyi to be so decisive.
They can leave whenever they want, without any hesitation or delay.

He knew in his heart that once Lu Yunyi left, it would be difficult to meet again, and the two sides would inevitably be drawn into war.

Whether he can withstand a formidable opponent like Lu Yunyi remains to be seen.

Yi Seong-gye stood up and said urgently:
"General Lu, wait!"

Lu Yunyi stopped in his tracks, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

But he quickly regained his composure and said:

"Is there anything else, Prime Minister Li?"

Yi Seong-gye took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down:

"General Lu, I hope you will forgive my words just now."

The situation in Goryeo is complex, and we are extremely anxious, which is why we lost our composure in this way.

"Prime Minister Li, I am not an unreasonable person."
However, the reinforcement of troops on the Goryeo border has created a threatening situation for Liaodong.
My Great Ming Dynasty had no choice but to react.

If Goryeo can give me a satisfactory answer, war can naturally be avoided.

Yi Seong-gye quickly said:
"General Lu, rest assured, Goryeo has absolutely no intention of being an enemy of the Ming Dynasty."
The reinforcement of troops at the border was a last resort, and we hope the general will understand.

Lu Yunyi smiled, sat back down in his chair, and said calmly:
"Since there's a misunderstanding, let's be frank and speak openly."
I know you harbor disloyal intentions and are pressing me relentlessly.
As a country that the Ming Dynasty would not conquer, Goryeo could not simply stand by and watch its royal family decline, could it?

(End of this chapter)