In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 925 The Imperial Envoy Arrives
The mud on the west gate of Liaoyang City had not yet dried completely.
Although the sun was warm in late March, it couldn't penetrate the chill that had accumulated over the winter.

The city gate had already been cleared, and the soldiers of Dingliao Central Guard were lined up in two rows.
His armor was damp, and the spear in his hand pointed diagonally at the ground.

The tip of the gun reflected the sunlight, gleaming with a cold light.

Pan Jing stood at the front, dressed in a military officer's robe with a jade belt tightly fastened, his face showing a hint of anxiety.

Lu Yunyi stood beside him, his black armor still on, snowflakes still clinging to the crevices.

He was much more composed than Pan Jing, his gaze fixed on the bend of the official road in the distance, as if he were pondering something.

Zhou E stood slightly to the side, his ashen face made by his official robes.

Yu Xin and Cheng Jun stayed at the back, Yu Xin clutching an account book in his hand.
He would occasionally look up and gaze at the end of the official road.
They were trapped here by this battle of the commandery.
Now that the imperial envoy has arrived, they are hoping to take this opportunity to escape.

"coming!"

Someone shouted, and everyone turned their heads at once.

Just beyond the bend in the official road, two apricot-yellow flags appeared, embroidered with the three characters "Censorate".
It rustled in the wind.

Immediately afterwards, a carriage with a blue canopy drove out.

The wheels rolled through the mud, and the splashed mud was blocked by the wooden planks beside the cart, so the shafts didn't get dirty.

The carriage was followed by about twenty cavalrymen, all of whom were guards from the Censorate.
He was dressed in black, with a long sword at his waist, and was an excellent horseman.

The soldiers straightened up abruptly, their spears striking the ground with a resounding clang.

Pan Jing straightened his official hat and strode forward.

Lu Yunyi and Zhou E followed closely behind, and Yu Xin and Cheng Jun also quickly caught up.

The carriage stopped at the city gate, and the driver stepped forward to lift the curtain.

A minor official came down first, carrying the seal box, and then Zhang Gou bowed and walked out.

He was about forty years old, with a thin face and three short tufts of beard on his chin.

He wore a scarlet robe of a Vice Censor-in-Chief, with a black jade belt around his waist.
Although his boots were covered in mud, he didn't look disheveled at all.

He raised his hand to straighten the hem of his robe, his gaze sweeping over the crowd that came to greet him, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"Lord Pan, it's been a long time."

Zhang Gou first bowed to Pan Jing, speaking politely.

Pan Jing quickly returned the greeting, his face beaming with smiles:
"Lord Zhang, you must be tired from your journey. Everyone in Liaoyang is looking forward to seeing you!"

Zhang Gou then turned to Lu Yunyi, his eyes showing more respect.
Although Lu Yunyi belonged to the Beiping Regional Military Commission, he also held the title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. In terms of seniority within the Censorate, he was Lu Yunyi's superior.

"Lord Lu, we meet again."

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly, his tone calm:

"You're too kind, Lord Zhang. You must be tired from your journey. Please go into the city and rest first."

When it was Zhou E's turn, Zhang Gou simply gave a perfunctory bow.

"Master Zhou."

Zhou E forced a smile and returned the greeting:

"Lord Zhang, you have traveled a long and tiring journey. I have prepared a simple banquet at the post station."

Finally, Yu Xin and Cheng Jun stepped forward and bowed.

"Your humble servants Yu Xin and Cheng Jun greet Lord Zhang."

Zhang Gou recognized them and nodded: "You two don't need to be so polite. Thank you for your help with the silver last time."

After exchanging pleasantries, Pan Jing was about to invite Zhang Gou into the city.

Zhang Gou suddenly spoke, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"My lords, may I trouble you to come with me to take a look at the road construction site?"

He paused, his tone still gentle:
"The main reason I came to Liaodong this time is to check on the progress of the road construction by the Commandery. His Majesty is concerned about the roads beyond the Great Wall and is afraid that it will delay the spring planting."

"What's the latest on the road construction?"

Zhou E's smile froze instantly.

He glanced at Pan Jing instinctively, only to find Pan Jing bent over adjusting his official robes, seemingly unaware of his odd behavior.

He turned to look at Lu Yunyi, but the other man was staring at the soldiers at the city gate with a calm expression.

Zhou E felt a sinking feeling in his heart.
During this period, he has been openly and covertly obstructing road construction, seizing materials and deploying troops as a show of force.
The fear is that once the road is repaired, Pan Jing and Lu Yunyi's power will be even more secure.

Now that the imperial envoy has arrived, he immediately brought up road repairs. Isn't this just walking into the line of fire?

Pan Jing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied:

"Lord Zhang is compassionate towards the people, I will take you there right away!"

The construction site in the west of the city isn't far from here; it's only a fifteen-minute walk.

Lu Yunyi nodded: "Alright, let's see if we have enough ironware at the construction site. We've made quite a bit at the Yingchengzi Iron Mine."

Yu Xin and Cheng Jun exchanged a glance, both noticing Zhou E's embarrassment.

Zhang Gou didn't notice Zhou E's expression.

Or rather, he noticed it but didn't point it out.

He raised his hand to signal to the crowd:
"Then I'll trouble Lord Pan to lead the way."

The group walked towards the construction site in the west of the city. When the people on the road saw that it was an imperial envoy's entourage, they all kept their distance and only dared to peek out from the street corners.

Zhou E followed in the group, his steps a little unsteady, his mind racing.
If Zhang Gou asked about the reason for the road construction delay, what should he say?
This is now a proper imperial envoy.

Upon returning, you must report to His Majesty and the Six Ministries of the Imperial Court.

If not handled properly, it could result in being publicly criticized in the imperial court.

The construction site in the west of the city was indeed not far away; a fence could be seen from afar.
Inside, a dozen or so laborers were shoveling mud with shovels, and there were piles of wood and ironware next to them.

Pan Jing pointed to the construction site and said to Zhang Gou:
"As you can see, sir, the construction site was shut down for a while due to heavy snow a few days ago. Now that the snow has melted, we are working hard to catch up on the work."

Zhang Gou stepped forward, bent down, and touched the ironware piled to the side.

It felt cold to the touch and had some rust on it.
"Are these iron tools enough?"

Pan Jing interjected:
"It's enough for now. A new batch of chisels and shovels has been forged at the Yingchengzi iron mine and will be delivered in the spring."

"Once construction actually begins, it will be sufficient."

Zhang Gou's eyes narrowed, he pointed to the not-so-large construction site ahead, and asked:

"Has construction not actually started yet?"

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat strange, and Zhou E cursed inwardly.

The route from within the Great Wall to Liaodong inevitably passed through the Beiping Regional Military Command.
How could he not have seen what the construction site there looked like?
In fact, Zhang Gou always kept the construction site with tens of thousands of people in his heart, and often sighed that man can conquer nature.

The so-called construction site in front of us doesn't look like road repair; it looks more like they're leveling a yard.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhang Gou looked at the officials present and continued to ask with a smile:

"My lords, have I asked the wrong question?"

Pan Jing smiled and explained:
"This is just preliminary preparation. The cement workshop in the city is not yet completed, and the required sand has not yet been delivered."
It may still be some time before construction actually begins.

However, according to the progress of the Northern Pacification Command,
Once work begins, the pace will be fast.

Zhang Gou nodded, not dwelling on the matter, and instead asked the laborer beside him:

"Do you pay your wages on time?"

Upon seeing that it was an imperial envoy speaking to him, the laborer quickly put down his shovel, bowed, and said:
"Your Honor, wages are paid monthly, and there has never been a delay."

Zhang Gou's expression relaxed a little.
Even if you've given prior instructions, it's fine.
As an imperial envoy, he was always given some face by others, who would not delay his wages.

He looked around curiously and asked:
"Lord Pan, I would like to ask how many people the Commander plans to hire for road repairs this time?"

I imagine there are tens of thousands of people working on the construction site of the Beiping Military Command.

Pan Jing's smile froze, and he sighed inwardly.

If he had enough money, he would naturally want to hire more people.
Only when the people have money in their hands can trade be promoted. This is a principle we learned from the Yingtian Trading Company.

but now.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke frankly without lying:
"The commander is prepared to hire 10,000 men, and the remaining gaps will be filled by conscripting laborers."

"Oh?" Zhang Gou looked over in surprise.
"If I remember correctly, the document submitted by the Commander to the court stated that all road repairs should be carried out by hired laborers. Why is it like this now?"

"The commander has recently encountered some unforeseen circumstances and is temporarily unable to raise that much silver."

Zhang Gou looked enlightened and nodded with a smile:

"I understand, I understand. Local government offices always have complicated affairs, and it's normal for unexpected situations to arise."

Pan Jing sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"Actually, we've already saved a lot of money."
Originally, we planned to start construction in winter, but the construction environment was complex then, with heavy snow and wind, requiring a large workforce and causing significant wear and tear on equipment.
Spring is almost here, so we don't need to spend so much money. It's a trade-off. Zhou E stood to the side, unable to get a word in edgewise.

I felt extremely uncomfortable, as if countless eyes were staring at me.

After wandering around for a while, the group quickly returned from the construction site and went to the council hall of the military headquarters.

A charcoal fire burned in the hall, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, while tea and snacks were laid out on the table.

Pan Jing and Lu Yunyi sat at the head of the table, Zhou E sat to the left at the lower end, and Zhang Gou sat to the right at the lower end.
Yu Xin and Cheng Jun sat further back.

As soon as the tea was poured, Zhou E spoke first, trying to change the subject:
"Lord Zhang, have you encountered any mishaps on your journey from Beiping?"

I've heard things are rather unsettled beyond the Great Wall lately; bandits are causing trouble.

Zhang Gou picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and said calmly:

"We didn't encounter any bandits, but after entering Liaodong, the roads became muddy due to the melting snow, so we moved a bit slower."

He then changed the subject and returned to the road construction:

"Lord Pan, how is the preparation of funds for road repair going?"

Although His Majesty and the other officials didn't urge us, I could tell from their words that this was the gist of it.

Pan Jing put down his teacup, a smile spreading across his face:
"Lord Zhang, the court can rest assured about the silver; there is enough for road construction."

Zhou E nodded in agreement:
"The Commander-in-Chief has account books. If Lord Zhang wishes to see them, I will immediately order someone to bring them to him."

Zhang Gou waved his hand:

"There's no need to look at the ledgers; I trust you gentlemen."

Although he said that, his gaze swept over everyone in the room.

Although everyone was laughing, the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

They chatted for another half hour, mostly about road construction.

Zhou E occasionally chimed in with a word or two, but Pan Jing subtly deflected his response.

As the sun began to set, Zhang Gou stood up and said:

"It's getting late. I still need to go back to the post station to organize documents. Let's stop here for today."

Everyone rose to see Zhang Gou off from the military headquarters.

Pan Jing wanted to invite him to stay for dinner, but Zhang Gou politely declined.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Pan. I have just arrived and have some documents to attend to. I will trouble you again another day."

After seeing Zhang Gou off, Zhou E excused himself that he had official business to attend to and hurriedly left the military headquarters.

Pan Jing watched his retreating figure and sneered:
"Hmph, he's quick on his feet, probably afraid Lord Zhang will question him about the road construction!"

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"Lord Zhang knows what he's doing, so we don't need to say more."

Zhang Gou and his trusted confidants had just returned to the inn, sat down, and taken a sip of hot tea.
A messenger dressed in a blue cloth shirt came to his door and handed him an unsigned letter:
"Someone asked me to deliver this to the Imperial Envoy."

Zhang Gou frowned, opened the letter, and his face instantly darkened.

The letter paper was ordinary bamboo paper, and the handwriting was messy but forceful:
"Lu Yunyi, under the guise of inspecting the iron mines of Sanwanwei, led his troops into Goryeo without authorization, committing arson, murder, looting, and countless acts of rioting, resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands of soldiers and civilians."

We implore Your Excellency to thoroughly investigate and bring justice to the people of Goryeo!

The text was short, but after reading it, Zhang Gou's expression became extremely solemn, a hint of absurdity flashing in his eyes, along with deep suspicion.
To lead troops into Goryeo? To burn, kill, and loot?

Zhang Gou knew that Lu Yunyi was a fierce general from beyond the Great Wall, who had repeatedly defeated the Jurchen and steppe tribes.

He was one of the generals most relied upon by His Majesty and the court outside the Great Wall.

This man was particularly adept at making money, and even the high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries praised him highly.
Would such a person go to Korea to burn, kill, and loot?

Zhang Gou's first reaction was disbelief.
Lu Yunyi has plenty of money.
He desired power, and nearly 60,000 troops in the Northern Pacification Command were now under his control.
He had heard from Lord Zhan that Lord Lu, in order to avoid military merit, would not report minor incidents by the military commander.

What was he doing in Goryeo?
Zhang Gou slammed the letter onto the table, tapping his fingers on the surface, his expression grave.

He naturally didn't believe the contents of the letter, but the act of delivering it made him extremely cautious.

Someone sent a message as soon as he arrived in Liaodong. Doesn't that mean they had been watching him for a long time?
He pondered for a moment, then summoned his attendants:

"Go and invite Lord Yu Xin over. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him."

"Yes!"

Yu Xin arrived shortly afterward.

Seeing Zhang Gou's pale face and somewhat subtle expression, he bowed and said:
"Lord Zhang, is there something you need from me?"

Zhang Gou pushed the letter in front of Yu Xin and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Yu, take a look at this letter. Have you heard of it?"

Yu Xin picked up the letter, quickly scanned it, and his expression changed repeatedly.

He put down the letter, his tone serious:
“Lord Zhang, I dare not conceal the truth. I have indeed received similar letters, saying that Lord Lu has entered Goryeo without authorization.”

But when I inquired with Lord Pan, he said that Lord Lu was in the 30,000 Guards.

"Oh?" Zhang Gou raised an eyebrow.
"Is there any evidence?"

"Yes!" Yu Xin nodded quickly.
"The 30,000 guards have delivered documents proving that Lord Lu was inspecting the iron mine."
He even offered some suggestions for improving the smelting methods, all of which are recorded.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gou's brows gradually relaxed.
He picked up the letter and read it again, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.
The letter appears reasonable at first glance, but it is full of loopholes and is clearly a deliberate frame-up.

"Lord Lu is the Commander of the Northern Expeditionary Command, overseeing the iron mines of the 30,000 Guards. Is it necessary for him to inspect them?"

Yu Xin said in a deep voice:
"I heard that Da Ning wants to purchase some military equipment and agricultural tools, and also wants to promote the planting of sweet potatoes in Liaodong."
This all requires specific equipment, which is why Lord Lu went to the 30,000 guards.

Zhang Gou nodded repeatedly, referring to the bumper harvest of sweet potatoes in Beiping Commandery.
He had also heard about it.

Even the food at the inn included sweet potatoes, and eating too much of it always caused bloating and flatulence.
"Is this also the reason why Lord Lu left his territory without orders?"

Yu Xin shrank back and quickly said:
"I don't know, my subordinate."

Zhang Gou smiled, folded the letter, placed it on the table, and said to Yu Xin:
"Lord Yu, please keep this matter quiet for now."

Lord Lu is a pillar of the court; we must not act rashly without solid evidence.

"When you return, keep a close eye out. If anyone sends a similar letter, report it to me immediately."

"Yes! I understand!"

Yu Xin bowed in response, feeling a sense of relief.
Now that the imperial envoy has arrived, no matter how much the court blames him, it won't be his fault.

After Yu Xin left, Zhang Gou sat down at his desk.
His gaze gradually turned cold as he looked at the anonymous letter.

His trip to Liaodong was ordered to inspect the progress of road construction.
But before they could even see much of the road ahead, they were already embroiled in a fight.

Moreover, the atmosphere today is particularly strange.
It seems the waters of Liaodong are deeper than he imagined.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and had already made up his mind.
No matter who tries to use him as a tool, he will never act rashly.

After all, what His Majesty cares about most is the road beyond the Great Wall, not the struggles within the military command.

At the entrance of the Liu family mansion,

Lu Yunyi's carriage swayed and wobbled back, where servants were already waiting at the door.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, everyone in the mansion swarmed forward.
The way they looked at him was somewhat strange.
They had all heard the rumors circulating in the city, and after making inquiries, they found that there was indeed some truth to them.

It's quite astonishing to associate this elegant young man with a great general who has fought on the battlefield.

Liu Wanyi stepped forward with a smile, looked him up and down, and said coquettishly:
"Husband, you seem to have lost some weight."

"Have it?"

Lu Yunyi opened his arms, gesturing for them to take a closer look.

"You've gotten even darker." Mu Chuting chuckled to herself as she whispered a reminder.

"It's gotten darker?" Lu Yunyi touched his face and burst out laughing:

"After a long and tiring journey, it's normal to be a little tanned. Let's go inside!"

The group of people entered the mansion in a large throng.

Before long, Lu Yunyi met Old Master Liu in the main hall and bowed deeply.
"This junior has met with my grandfather."

Liu Yanchen stood up with a smile:

"Come and sit down quickly. You must be tired from your long journey."

"It's not hard work, it's just that the roads are too difficult to walk in winter."

Liu Yanchen's expression turned serious, and he lowered his voice:
“You’ve come at the right time. I just received news that someone sent a letter to the new imperial envoy, saying that you have led troops into Goryeo without authorization.”

After hearing this, Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow and smiled calmly:
"Grandfather, don't worry, I sent someone to deliver it."

(End of this chapter)