In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 933 Wealth Rolls In

Three days later, the wind in Liaoyang finally carried a hint of spring warmth.
The remaining snow melted into trickles at the corner of the wall, meandering down the cracks in the bluestone slabs, bringing a touch of freshness.

At dawn, the officers of the military command carried rolled-up notices and, wading through the dew, went to the streets and alleys to post them everywhere!

"Make way! Let me see!"

At a street corner tea stall, a simply dressed farmer pushed through the crowd and craned his neck to look at the notice.

The old man next to him, wearing a felt hat, could read and squinted as he slowly read aloud:

"The imperial court has decreed that the official road from Liaoyang to Daning be repaired, and construction will begin after the spring plowing season."

We are recruiting laborers. Two meals a day will be provided, and each person will receive 150 copper coins per month. If they can help move stones, an additional 50 coins will be awarded!

"What? Two coins?"

The rough-looking man's eyes lit up immediately, and he reached out and grabbed the old man's sleeve.
"Are you sure you didn't misread it? When did such a good thing happen?"

The old man stroked his beard and smiled:
"There's no mistake! Look at this inkpad, it's the seal of the Commander-in-Chief!"

Look at you, so pathetic!

Last year, when the Beiping Metropolitan Commandery was repairing roads, I heard that's how it was done. Farmers went to work, and their families were able to save some extra money!

The moment those words were spoken, the crowd erupted in uproar.

A woman came over and asked, "Can I go? My husband's legs were frostbitten last year. Can he go do the laundry and cook?"

Everyone looked at the clerk in front, who quickly greeted him!

"I want them all! I want them all!"

"As long as you're willing to put in the effort, men, women, young and old can all find work and be fed!"

In an instant, the whole street became lively.

Some people rushed home, wanting to call their neighbors to register together.

People surrounded the clerk, asking about the specific date the work would begin.

Even the families of soldiers who had lost their livelihoods due to the mutiny had a glimmer of hope in their eyes.
The freezing days of winter finally have a glimmer of hope!

This intense enthusiasm was palpable even to Zhang Gou, who was in the post station.

He stood by the window, listening to the noise outside, the document in his hand almost crumpled from his grip.

The common people eagerly awaited the road construction, the wealthy were busy dividing the profits, and the military commander was busy making preparations.

As the imperial envoy, he seemed like an outsider, with a bellyful of questions he had nowhere to put.

An attendant came in to report that a long queue had already formed at the registration area.
Even farmers who had settled in the fields outside the city came to join the fun.
"understood"

Zhang Gou gave a faint reply, turned around and sat back down at the table, flipping through the densely packed records.

Meanwhile, in the warm pavilion of the Liu family mansion, a completely different, leisurely scene unfolded.

The pavilion was built in a corner of the garden, surrounded by thick cotton curtains.

Inside, charcoal was burning, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Lu Yunyi leaned back on the soft couch covered with fox fur, his eyes closed, playing with a piece of translucent Hetian jade in his hand.

Deng Lingyun stood behind him, her slender fingers gently pressing on his shoulders and neck.

The pressure was just right, not too light or too heavy, to massage away the fatigue of the past few days.

Qiuhe squatted beside the soft couch, massaging Lu Yunyi's legs, occasionally looking up to ask:
"Young Master, is that enough force?"

"that is it."

Lu Yunyi squinted and looked out of the pavilion.

The remaining snow has completely melted, and tender green buds are sprouting on the willow branches.
A few sparrows landed on the railing, chirping and pecking at food, already hinting at the arrival of spring.

He picked up the hot tea from the small table and took a sip.
The rich aroma spread across my tongue, finally easing the tension of the past few days.

“My husband, things have been quiet with Lord Pan these past few days. He hasn’t sent anyone to deliver any messages, so you’ve had some peace and quiet.”

Deng Lingyun said softly as she massaged the area.

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"Once the road construction begins, there will be endless work to do. Who will have time to look for me?"

Just as he finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the pavilion.

Butler Liu Zhong lifted the curtain and entered, holding a document in his hand. He bowed and said:
"My lord, Lord Pan has sent someone with a document, saying it's urgent."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes.
"Say Cao Cao Cao Cao has arrived."

Qiuhe jumped up immediately, took the document, and handed it over with a smile.

Lu Yunyi took the document and unfolded the letter.

The ink was still a little damp, indicating that it had been written recently.

The letter stated that Zhang Gou was currently investigating the origin of the 200,000 taels of silver.

Not only did he inquire with Yu Xin at the post station, he also asked someone to investigate the background of the Taxue Trading Company in Zhenjiang Fort.
His tone was full of frustration as he asked Lu Yunyi if he could think of a way to get Zhang Gou back to the capital sooner.

After reading the letter, Lu Yunyi casually placed it on the small table, his face expressionless.

Seeing his calm expression, Deng Lingyun couldn't help but ask:

"Husband, Lord Pan is already anxious, why aren't you flustered?"

"Why are you panicking?"

“Zhang Gou couldn’t find anything out. The merchants in Zhenjiang Fort had already withdrawn, and Goryeo didn’t dare to tell the truth. He couldn’t come up with anything new.”

Even so, he still stood up and said:

"However, we should also go to the Commandery, so that Lord Pan won't be restless."

Qiuhe quickly stepped forward and handed Lu Yunyi his outer robe.

Deng Lingyun helped him fasten his belt and whispered her instructions:

"Be careful on the road, it's still chilly outside."

Lu Yunyi nodded and followed Liu Zhong out of the warm pavilion, heading towards the military headquarters.

Inside the military headquarters, Pan Jing was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, the blue bricks under his feet worn smooth by the wear.

There was a cup of cold tea on the table, and several rolls of road construction blueprints were piled up next to it, but I had no interest in looking at them.

Hearing footsteps outside, he quickly turned around and saw Lu Yunyi, at which point a hint of relief appeared on his face.
"You're finally here!"

Lu Yunyi walked in and casually placed Pan Jing's letter on the table:

"Lord Pan, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Why aren't you in a hurry?"

Pan Jing pulled him to sit down and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.
"Zhang Gou is a member of the Censorate, and his ambitions are sky-high!"

If he finds out the money is connected to Goryeo, we'll all be in trouble!

Lu Yunyi held the teacup and blew on it to cool it down.

"Don't worry, Wang Junping is keeping his mouth shut, and even Li Chenggui has admitted his mistake. How can he possibly investigate?"

"But he's always investigating!"

Pan Jing rubbed his hands together, his tone filled with anxiety.

"He also visited Zhou E in prison yesterday."

Although Zhou E hasn't given in, who knows if that old fox will resort to baseless accusations to escape punishment?

Lu Yunyi raised his eyes:
“Zhou E won’t. The more he talks now, the faster he’ll die.”

After a pause, he said again:
"If all else fails, you and I can jointly submit a memorial to the imperial court."

They said the road construction required the imperial envoy to return to the capital to report, and that Zhang Gou should go back as soon as possible; as a fourth-rank censor, he couldn't stay in Liaodong indefinitely.

Pan Jing's eyes lit up:
"Alright, I'll have someone write a report right away!"

He was about to call for his attendants when Lu Yunyi stopped him.

"Don't worry."

Lu Yunyi took a sip of tea and said slowly:

I'll be returning to Daning in a few days.

"I'm leaving. There's no point in Zhang Gou staying here; he'll naturally go back."

"Are you going back to Daning?"

Pan Jing was stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's fine, out of sight, out of mind. With you gone, I'll have fewer worries."

Lu Yunyi smiled but didn't reply.

Pan Jing remembered the letter on the table and picked it up:
"A document has arrived from the capital, sent by His Highness the Crown Prince. Would you like to take a look?"

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow, immediately reached out and took it, opened the sealing wax, and pulled out the letter.

The letter paper was made of hemp paper produced in Guanzhong, with a rough texture, and the handwriting on it was neat and strong.

The content describes the Crown Prince's affairs in Guanzhong.

The mapping of Guanzhong is progressing smoothly.

Several possible official road routes have been marked.

However, Guanzhong suffered from two years of severe drought.

The crops in the fields withered and died, and many people fled the famine.

If it weren't for the sweet potatoes sent from Yingtian for trial planting last year...
Even if the people manage to grow some grain in the mountains, who knows how many more people will starve to death.

Finally, he mentioned one more thing.
Discussions about moving the capital are growing louder in the court.
Some said they should move to Guanzhong, some said they should move to Beiping, and many more said they should stay in Yingtian. In short, the debate continued.

After reading the letter, Lu Yunyi held it in his hand.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the letter and blurring the handwriting, but he couldn't feel happy. Seeing his serious expression, Pan Jing couldn't help but ask:
"Do you think it's possible for His Highness the Crown Prince to move the capital?"

Lu Yunyi held the teacup, his fingertips lightly tapping the rim, and remained silent for a moment:

"I don't know."

"You didn't know either?" Pan Jing was taken aback.
Lu Yunyi's eyes held a subtle glint in them:

"Relocation is not a trivial matter; it involves too many issues."

Most of the veteran officials in the court have their roots in the south; who would want to come to the north?

Local powerful families also had their own plans; Guanzhong had suffered from drought for two years, and the people were impoverished.
How much would it cost to rebuild the capital?
Although the imperial court has some surplus funds, building a new capital is still too difficult. It will inevitably involve exploiting wealthy families, and these wealthy families are not easy to deal with.

There is significant internal resistance, and the Northern Yuan will not stand idly by from the outside.
It will be very difficult for this to succeed.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Pan Jing's eyes, and he sighed.

"But I hope it can be done. If we move to Guanzhong, it's still in the north, after all."

"If Liaodong could be connected to the capital, that would be wonderful! We'd be rolling in wealth!"

Lu Yunyi didn't speak, he just looked out the window.

If the relocation of the capital goes through, things might improve in Liaodong.
But if it fails, the world will descend into chaos.

"Don't think so much."

Lu Yunyi withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
"Let's fix the road first, and leave the rest to fate."

Pan Jing nodded, picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it; he just looked at Ye Fuchen.

The yamen quieted down, with intermittent sounds of commotion from outside drifting in.
The shouts of ordinary people registering for the exam were lively and full of life, but they only made the atmosphere inside the government office feel even more somber.

After a while, Lu Yunyi stood up:
"You can handle the memorial matter yourself. I'm going back to my residence now. I'll come back tomorrow to finalize the details with you."

Pan Jing saw him to the door.
Only after watching his figure disappear through the door did he turn around and return to the yamen.

The letter was still lying on the table; he pursed his lips when he saw it.
"Southerners have always been wealthy; all the good things are found in the south."

If the capital city were to move north, life in Liaodong would be much easier.

When Lu Yunyi returned to the Liu residence, it was already getting dark.

As soon as he entered, he saw the steward Liu Zhong waiting at the door, who quickly came to greet him.

"Young master, the master is waiting for you in the main hall, and the eldest and second masters are also there."

Lu Yunyi remained calm:
"Is there a problem?"

Liu Zhong seemed lost in thought, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, before giving a slight smile:
"It seems to be some mining-related matters, and we're waiting for your decision."

"Okay, let's go."

"Yes."

As you enter the main hall, a warm feeling washes over you.
A brazier of silver charcoal burned in the hall, its flickering light making the rosewood tables and chairs appear even more lustrous.

Old Master Liu sat at the head of the table.
He was wearing a dark brown brocade robe and holding a hand warmer in his hand.

On the left is the eldest brother, Liu Sizhen, wearing a blue cloth long gown and holding a teacup in his hand.

The third brother, Liu Sirui, on the right, seemed more forthright. Upon seeing Lu Yunyi enter, he quickly stood up and waved with a smile.

"Yun Yi is here, please have a seat."

The old man smiled and waved, pointing to the chair beside him.
Spring is just around the corner. Although it will be warmer, we still need to wear more clothes.

Lu Yunyi bowed respectfully, sat down in the chair, and accepted the rice wine offered by Liu Zhong.
"Thank you for your concern, Grandfather. There's a heater on the road, so it won't be cold."

"I just heard from Liu Zhong that you returned from the Military Command? Is there something important with Lord Pan?"

"It's nothing major, just discussing some details about starting the road construction."

Lu Yunyi took a sip of rice wine, his tone indifferent.

"There are many laborers signing up right now,"
We need to finalize the arrangements for stones and tools first, so as not to delay the construction schedule after spring plowing.

"It's time to make a decision sooner rather than later. I went to the quarry in the west of the city yesterday."

The workers are all sharpening their chisels, waiting for the notice to begin work.

Old Master Liu's gaze fell on Lu Yunyi, carrying a mixture of scrutiny and admiration:
"You and Lord Pan dealt with Zhou E, such a troublesome person, so cleanly."

Even the Wen family obediently switched sides.

This kind of skill is not something an ordinary person possesses.

Lu Yunyi put down his wine cup, his face expressionless.
"It's just a matter of course. Zhou E went against the tide, so his position was never solid."

These words made Liu Sizhen's heart tighten.
He had personally witnessed Zhou E's power in Liaodong.
His men were everywhere in the government offices and garrisons.

But Lu Yunyi and Pan Jing, after only a few months in the game, turned this seemingly hopeless situation around.
Even the trade negotiations with Goryeo were completed quietly.

This thoughtfulness and skill,

It startled him, someone who had been struggling for decades.

Liu Sizhen cleared his throat and gave Liu Sirui a wink.

Liu Sirui understood, and quickly took out two neatly folded brown paper packets from her pocket, placed them on the table, and pushed them in front of Lu Yunyi:
"Yunyi, take a look at this."

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow, reached out and picked up a paper package.
Upon opening it, there were two land deeds inside.
The paper is yellowed and the edges are worn, indicating that it is quite old.

The handwriting on the land deed is in the old Song typeface.
The inscription reads "Nanpo Iron Mine of Qiaodong Town" and "Jianchangou Copper Mine," with Liu Sili's seal affixed at the bottom.

"What is this??" Lu Yunyi picked up the land deed, somewhat puzzled.

Old Master Liu sighed and explained:
"These two mines were purchased by me in Liaodong ten years ago for Sili."
Later, when he went to the capital to take up an official post, the mountains were high and the road was far, so he entrusted it to Sizhen and Sirui.

Liu Sizhen took over the conversation, his tone tinged with caution:

“Sili often writes to me from the capital, saying that I should find a reliable person to manage the mine to avoid waste.”

Now that you've come, I'm thinking of handing these two mines over to you.
How you handle it is entirely up to you; whether you open it or sell it, it's all fine.

Lu Yunyi held the land deed, his expression somewhat subtle.
To be honest, after acquiring the spoils from Goryeo and Jurchen,

He had completely forgotten about the mine.

However, he knew in his heart that the Liu brothers' quick surrender of the mine was not without reason.
It's definitely not as simple as just being unable to manage it.

They were afraid, and they also wanted to use this opportunity to curry favor and tighten their ties.

Seeing that Lu Yunyi remained silent, Liu Sirui panicked even more and quickly added:
"Yunyi, don't worry, both mines are clean and tidy, and there are no disputes."

I had someone appraise it before. If it's run well, it can earn a lot of money every year. Even if I sell it at the lowest price, it's still worth tens of thousands of taels of silver, it just takes a long time.

Lu Yunyi raised his eyes and looked over.

Liu Sizhen avoided his gaze, holding his teacup to hide his nervousness.

Liu Sirui rubbed her hands together, looking rather strange.

Lu Yunyi finally spoke, gently placing the land deed on the table:
"Grandfather and my two uncles have gone to great lengths."
However, this is my father-in-law's property. It would be inappropriate for me to take it over rashly. Perhaps we should wait until my father-in-law returns to his hometown to visit relatives before discussing it further?

Old Master Liu waved his hand, his tone firm:
"I've already written to Sili and told him."

The road construction currently requires copper and iron, so opening these two mines...

It provides road repair tools and generates some income at the same time—a win-win situation, what's wrong with that?

Liu Sizhen nodded quickly:
"The old man is right, Yunyi, you shouldn't refuse."

We're all family, and we trust your abilities.

Besides, it's better for the mine to be in your hands than for it to lie fallow in ours.

Lu Yunyi looked at the three people in front of him and chuckled.
He picked up the land deed, carefully examined the boundary description, and then asked:

Is there still anyone guarding the mine?

"Yes, each mine employs thirty farmers to guard it."
Living in a courtyard at the foot of the mountain, they had nothing to do except patrol.
If Yun Yi wants to start work, he can have them come and give him a reply at any time.

"it is good."

Lu Yunyi folded the land deed neatly and continued:

"Since my grandfather and two uncles trust me, I will accept it for now."

I will give the land deed to Wanyi later.

"She's used up a lot of her dowry over the years, and in the end, she still has to repay it all."

Old Master Liu was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then a smile appeared on his face:
“We’re all family. What’s Wanyi’s is yours. The mine is in your hands; you can do whatever you want with it.”

Grandpa Liu also looked at Lu Yunyi, his eyes full of satisfaction.

He initially agreed to let Wanyi marry Lu Yunyi.
What she valued was his military achievements and future prospects, as well as the bond with her childhood sweetheart.

Unexpectedly, the young man not only proved to be a skilled fighter, but also achieved remarkable success.

In retrospect, the Liu family really struck gold by getting on Lu Yunyi's good side.

The charcoal brazier in the main hall crackled and popped, the firelight reflecting on everyone's faces, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

"By the way, Yunyi."

Old Master Liu suddenly remembered something.
"Sili wrote from the capital saying that there has been a lot of discussion in the court recently about moving the capital. Do you think the move will go through?"

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious.

Even powerful families in Liaodong are concerned about this matter, so it seems that the current calm is just an illusion.

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and replied:

"Relocating the capital is no small matter. The court is currently engaged in fierce infighting, and there is a real possibility that the capital will be moved."

Liu Sizhen's eyes lit up:
"If we move to Beiping, Liaodong will benefit greatly. The trade routes will be smoother, and our business will be able to expand."

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"If the capital can really be moved, it will be a good thing for Liaodong."

However, His Highness the Crown Prince prefers Guanzhong, but who knows, it depends on fate.

(End of this chapter)