In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 935 The Calamity of Zhurong and the Residence
A day later, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed from the east of Daning City!
Cavalrymen, densely packed together, charged into Daning City, kicking up clouds of dust.

Two quarters of an hour ago, the official road at the east gate of Daning City had been cleared.
A road was specially cleared for Lu Yunyi to return.

The merchants lined both sides of the road watched the cavalry surge past.
Instead of showing dissatisfaction, he appeared pleased.
it is good!
This is how our cavalry of Da Ning should look.
Only in this way can trade routes be protected from plunder.

Now everyone understands that force may not be used, but it is absolutely indispensable.

As I pondered this, five hundred soldiers entered the city.
Four hundred and fifty of them went straight to the northern camp of the city, their movements fluid and seamless!
The remaining fifty guards followed Lu Yunyi closely, heading straight for the military headquarters.

Upon arriving at the government office, Lu Yunyi dismounted, flicked his sleeves, and...
He hurried inside, his face extremely grave.

Beside him, the deputy commanders and other key officials quickly followed.

Liu Heiying had lost a lot of weight, and his expression was grave as he followed Lu Yunyi, reporting non-stop:
"The three guards of Duoyan returned half a month ago. All combat missions have been completed, and the captured supplies have been delivered to the Commandery. The distribution has also been finalized. Brother Yun will check later. If there are no errors, they can be distributed."

Lu Yunyi walked briskly and nodded slightly:

"You can handle this matter yourself. What's the matter with the letter?"

Liu Heiying's expression darkened further, and he deliberately lowered his voice:
"His Highness the Prince of Yan sent a letter; he received a secret message from the Prince of Qin's residence."
A fire broke out at the Crown Prince's residence, killing more than ten guards. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was unharmed, however…

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as he pulled another letter from his robes and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"This letter was sent through a secret channel. The Prince of Yan said he was not sure whether His Highness the Crown Prince had encountered any trouble in Shanxi."

Lu Yunyi's hurried steps abruptly stopped, his face so dark it could drip water, his voice barely concealing his anger:

"I told you long ago you shouldn't have gone! But you insisted on going anyway!"
Now look what's happened! Such a huge incident is bound to cause endless trouble!

Upon hearing this, the officials following behind him immediately became serious, and their steps became even more disciplined.

Upon entering the main hall of the military headquarters, Lu Yunyi immediately took a seat at the head of the table, and the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly heavy and eerie!

Everyone held their breath, and several officials looked utterly helpless.
Construction has begun on the road from Liaodong to Daning, and the road from Daning to Beiping is nearly half completed.

This should have been a day of double happiness.
It's absurd that news from thousands of miles away could cause such a commotion!
"Did the people from the Snowwalking Merchant Guild go out to gather information? Don't they have caravans heading to Guanzhong?"

Duan Zhengze, sitting to the left, trembled and quickly replied:
"My lord, the Snowwalking Merchant Guild has already sent people to investigate."
But strangely, no one in Xi'an knew about this news; everything remained calm.
The people from the Snowwalking Merchant Guild even asked their subordinates if there had been a mistake.

"No news?"

Lu Yunyi frowned, took a deep breath to suppress his frustration:

"No news is the biggest news; things must be complicated."

"Let them continue investigating. Once they have any news, send it back immediately by express courier, at any cost!"

"Yes!" Duan Zhengze quickly sat up straight.

Lu Yunyi turned his gaze to Li Xian, who was sitting to his left, and said in a deep voice:
"Lord Li, you previously served as an official in the Northern Yuan, so you should have some acquaintances in the Tatar tribe. Could you perhaps try to obtain information indirectly from the Tatars?"

Li Xian looked troubled and was about to speak when Lu Yunyi raised his hand to stop him:
"It's common knowledge that the Tatars and Oirats have agents on the border; you don't need to explain."
"I only ask you, can you do it?"

Li Xian's lips trembled twice, his expression gradually hardening, and he said decisively:
"My lord, I will make arrangements as soon as I return, and strive to have news within a month."
However, I cannot guarantee whether I will be able to find out the truth.

"Just do your best. We'll provide whatever money or conditions you need. The Commander-in-Chief will give you full support!" Lu Yunyi's reply was equally straightforward.

He then looked at Wu Su'an behind him and asked:
"Have there been any unusual developments in trade between Beiping and Daning recently? Has the amount of money flowing in and out increased or decreased? Have there been more or fewer merchant caravans?"

Wu Su'an sat up straight, glanced at the document in her hand, and said loudly:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, due to the arrival of spring, trade has increased significantly in the past month."
Compared to winter, the transaction volume increased by 40%, and the number of convoys increased by at least 30%, both within the range predicted by Dusi.

As for money, due to the addition of a batch of fine furs, money transactions doubled, which was in line with the Bureau of Finance's estimates.

Overall, trade between the two regions was unaffected.

Lu Yunyi's solemn expression eased slightly, and he nodded gently.

Merchants are the most sensitive people in this world.
At the slightest sign of trouble, they will immediately cower and hide, and this will be reflected in all their arrangements and operations.

At least for now, the impact of the incident has not spread.

"In recent days, we have been purchasing tea and grain from Beiping in Guanzhong. We are closely monitoring whether the supply is timely, and all relevant documents must be reported urgently!"

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away." Wu Su'an quickly jotted it down.

Lu Yunyi then looked at Prefect Hong Yishan:
"Is there any further news from the imperial court regarding the establishment of a province and three offices under the Northern Pacification Command?"

Hong Yishan's expression was subtle, and he said directly:
"Reporting to Your Excellency, I have submitted twelve memorials in the past five months."

The imperial court's attitude has clearly changed, from initially withholding the funds to now offering vague statements.

My humble opinion is that if we persist, the court might agree within two years.

When did the attitude change begin?

Hong Yishan pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

"Two months ago."

Upon hearing this, the officials present all frowned.
Calculating the time, it turns out to be almost exactly the same time as the incident in Guanzhong.

Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, Hong Yishan asked softly:
"My lord, is the court's change in attitude related to the affairs of Guanzhong? Isn't that a bit far-fetched?"

Before Lu Yunyi could speak, Liu Heiying glanced around and explained:
On the battlefield, one must deduce the enemy's intentions from their deployment.
The same applies in the imperial court. Changes in the ministers' attitudes can, to some extent, reflect shifts in the situation.

If a series of changes occur together, creating a significant difference, it indicates that something major is happening, even if we are not yet aware of it.

Everyone looked thoughtful, but Lu Yunyi didn't let the topic continue.

He picked up the warm tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp, then said in a deep voice:

"From this day forward, the defenses at the West Gate will be doubled, and inspections of trade routes must be thorough and meticulous."
No controlled items may leave Beiping.
Especially strategic materials such as sugar, iron, and cement.

No matter how things develop in Guanzhong, we must not show any strength at this time.

If we get caught doing something wrong, everyone will be in deep trouble!

"have you understood!"

The officials stood up in unison, their faces solemn: "Yes, sir!"

"Alright, everyone get back to work. These days, all the official documents from various government offices should be submitted directly!"

"Yes!"

As the officials gradually withdrew, Lu Yunyi let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, his mind churning with complex emotions.

Seeing his appearance, Liu Heiying, who was standing to the side,
He didn't speak immediately, but gave him a moment to catch his breath.

Once Lu Yunyi's breathing had gradually calmed down, Liu Heiying slowly spoke:
"Brother Yun'er, things might not be as bad as you think, don't worry too much."

Lu Yunyi closed his eyes slightly and gently shook his head:

"Stubborn. His Highness the Crown Prince is just as stubborn as His Majesty."

The moment the South Korean government fell from power, he immediately began planning to move the capital. Isn't this just pushing people to the brink of desperation?

Who knows what will happen after the capital is moved?
Could it be a system of merging the poll tax into the land tax? Could it be a system of unified public service and unified tax payment?
Will the preferential treatment for those who passed the imperial examinations be revoked? Who dares to bet on that?

If we don't intervene now, are we going to wait until the situation is settled after the capital is moved before we regret it?
well."

Liu Heiying felt his lips were dry.

He thought back carefully and realized that the imperial court had been working on this for the past five years without stopping.
He quelled the rebellion of Nahachu, compiled the Yellow Register of Fish Scales, and rigorously investigated corruption. Even the first duke of the founding of the nation, the Duke of Han, was imprisoned.

If I were a local tycoon, I would probably be terrified!

The imperial court pressed closer and closer.
If we don't fight back, our space for survival will only shrink.

"Brother Yun'er, this might just be a warning."
"As long as His Highness the Crown Prince behaves himself and returns to Yingtian, everything should be fine."

Lu Yunyi suddenly opened his eyes, sat up straight, and sighed deeply:
"The Crown Prince is so stubborn, would he back down so easily? Last year, the ministers of the Six Ministries and the Military Governor's Office all advised him not to go to Guanzhong, but he still went!"

These words sent a chill down Liu Heiying's spine for no apparent reason, and a sense of fear arose in his heart.

He took a few steps closer, lowering his voice to a whisper, like when he was a child:
"Brother Yun'er, what should we do if something really happens to the Crown Prince?"

"Cold salad!"

Lu Yunyi leaned back in his chair. He could bear the physical fatigue, but the weariness in his heart was impossible to hide.
"If something really happens to the Crown Prince, the most dangerous person will be the General. At that time, we will inevitably be implicated."

"This this."

Liu Heiying instantly grasped the key point.

For Lan Yu, if something were to happen to His Highness the Crown Prince,

Whether it's a son succeeding a father or a brother succeeding a brother, he will not have a good ending.

His face was extremely pale, and a rare look of panic appeared in his eyes:

"Brother Yun'er, if something happens to the General, won't it implicate us?"

"What do you say?"

Lu Yunyi opened his eyes and glanced at him:
"If I were to rebel, do you think you would fare well?"

Liu Heiying blinked blankly, then slumped weakly into his chair, his face expressionless.
"Brother Yun'er, if you are plotting a rebellion, my entire family will surely be exterminated."
"But thankfully, there aren't many people in my family."

He shook his head, finally coming to his senses, and his eyes regained their sparkle:

"No, no, how could the General plot a rebellion?"

Lu Yunyi didn't explain much, only muttering:

"Life is unpredictable; no one can foresee what will happen next."

"Forget it, let's not think about these worries for now. How are the kids at home?"

Liu Heiying slumped down again, his face full of exhaustion:
"There are only three things I do every day: eat, sleep, and cry loudly."
For some reason, he started crying as soon as he saw me. It's so infuriating.

Speaking of lighthearted matters, Lu Yunyi tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a slight smile:
“The child is still young and doesn’t recognize people. Since you’re often not home, it’s natural that he’s becoming distant from you.”

Liu Heiying raised an eyebrow and leaned closer with a sly grin: "Brother Yun'er, how about I take a break and we can work things out?"

Lu Yunyi glanced at him, a meaningful smile appearing on his face:
"Want to rest? You're still a long way off."

Trade negotiations with Goryeo have been finalized, and Yi Seong-gye will not take action against the royal family in the short term, so the border will enjoy a period of peace.

If we don't seize this opportunity to intensify our efforts to open up trade routes, it will be too late once chaos ensues.

I plan to go to Beiping soon to discuss this with His Highness the Prince of Yan.

Otherwise, it's all for nothing if we just shout from outside the pass but don't cooperate from inside.

"what"

Liu Heiying's face instantly turned sour, and his dark skin seemed to darken even more.
"I'm going on another long trip. I... I want to spend more time with my baby."

"Cough cough."

Lu Yunyi was also a little embarrassed, so he coughed lightly and said seriously:

"The Dusili still needs to cultivate reliable reserves."

Weren't Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin helping to process the documents?
Give them specific official positions so they can gain more experience. It would be a waste to leave such two talented people unused.

By the way, among the students from the capital, there was one named Xia Yuanji.
He's very good at accounting; he could work in the accounting department or help Li Xian manage the accounts for the trading company.

Liu Heiying was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow and said:
"Brother Yun'er, you've also noticed that Xia Yuanji is unusual?"

"Not bad, he's methodical and learns quickly, but his health is too weak."

The first time I saw him was at the clinic. What happened?

He's already working as a manager, in charge of the accounts.

Wu Su'an praised him several times, implying that she wanted to keep him here and prevent him from going back to take the imperial examinations.

"They've already gone?"

Lu Yunyi was taken aback and couldn't help but sigh, "Gold shines wherever it is."

Whether or not he takes the imperial examination is up to his own will. Although he can become an official without taking the examination, his potential will be much lower.

“I’ll have Wu Su’an ask him about it later.”

Liu Heiying nodded and noted it down, then said:

"Brother Yun'er, is it possible to get some information through the capital? For example, through the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Mu Jinghe?"

Lu Yunyi frowned slightly.

Liu Heiying nodded:
"Sun Si'an sent word that Mu Jinghe passed two tests, so it can be basically concluded that she did not betray him."

She now has close ties with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
If we can get even the slightest clue from her, it will be worthwhile.

"Um"

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"Has she been sending a lot of letters lately?"

"Yes, one every ten days."

Liu Heiying instructed his personal guards to fetch the letter.
“Brother Yun’er, look, none of these have been dismantled.”

Lu Yunyi took the letter and nodded slightly:

"I understand. I'll subtly inquire about Hua Jieyu later. Is there any news?"

Liu Heiying shook his head with a solemn expression:

"Since Tao Xuan and Yue Yao died last time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has not sent any more messages, and the spies at home have not made any moves. It's as if the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly gave up on Da Ning."

"will not."

Lu Yunyi denied it:

"Mao Xiang and I have a deep-seated hatred for each other, and I will not give up easily."
Something else must have taken up his energy, leaving him no time to attend to this matter.
Just keep an eye on it.

By the way, how is Ya-rong doing? Is she pregnant?

Liu Heiying scratched his head:
"She should be pregnant; she hasn't been feeling well lately."

"Yes?"

Lu Yunyi's eyes lit up, and then he smiled:
"Alright, Black Hawk, the Liu family is counting on you to carry on the family line. Your uncle will be thrilled to know."
Now that I'm back, you don't need to stay here anymore.

I'll spend more time at home with my two younger siblings these days; I'll handle the affairs of the military headquarters.

But let's make this clear first: I'm going to Beiping soon, so you can't slack off.

Liu Heiying's ecstatic expression vanished instantly, replaced by dejection, his voice low and somber:

"Okay, I understand."

(End of this chapter)