In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 944 The City of Trade and Commerce, a Hub of Four Directions
An hour later, all the generals in the study left.

The crown prince Zhu Gaochi and his second brother Zhu Gaoxu wanted to stay in the study.
But after being driven away by Prince Yan, Zhu Di, only the two of them remained in the study.

Prince Zhu Di of Yan sat at the head of the table, the dim candlelight illuminating his dark face and long beard, leaving half of his face hidden in darkness.

Below him, Lu Yunyi remained completely hidden in the shadows.
If it weren't for the bright blue and white porcelain teacup, he might not have been noticed at all.

The atmosphere inside the room was extremely tense.

Neither of them spoke immediately, but instead held their tea and pondered quietly.

Time passed slowly, and half an hour went by.

A figure appeared at the door; it was the commander of the guards from the Prince of Yan's residence.
His deep voice came in and said:
"Your Highness, the entire area has been searched. You can rest assured."

Only then did the Prince of Yan put down his teacup, shift his gaze to Lu Yunyi, and reveal a hint of emotion:
"Is the journey to Liaodong going smoothly?"

Lu Yunyi also put down his teacup and said calmly:
"Your Highness, raising 500,000 taels of silver from Goryeo is going smoothly so far."

Zhou E, the deputy commander-in-chief, has been imprisoned by the military commander.
His entire gang was also wiped out.

If all goes well, the road should be repaired within two years.

In addition, the road from Goryeo to Liaoyang City also needs to be repaired.

Yi Seong-gye has written; he will provide the funds.

Previously, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, had maintained a calm expression.
But upon hearing that Yi Seong-gye was going to contribute money, he finally showed a hint of surprise:

"He's so decisive?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head and scoffed:
"Your Highness, foreigners have always been the type to not shed tears until they see the coffin."

"I fought against Yi Seong-gye in the northwestern part of Goryeo, and defeated two of his armies in succession, which led to a truce."

"Oh?"

A surge of excitement welled up in Prince Yan Zhu Di's eyes, and his dark fists clenched tightly, as if he couldn't wait to be on the battlefield!
How strong are the Goryeo soldiers?

"The armor and weapons are adequate. Most of the weapons used by ordinary border troops are made using iron smelting technology from the early Hongwu period. They are not enough to deal with us, but they are sufficient to suppress the domestic population and deal with the Jurchens."

Yi Seong-gye's personal guards used standard weaponry from around the tenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380).

Their military discipline was also much stricter, not much different from that of Usar Khan's personal guard.

However, they had been out of practice for a long time, their military strategies were outdated, and their vigilance was insufficient.

Prince Zhu Di of Yan secretly noted these words down, somewhat surprised:
"This Yi Seong-gye is really something; he can control the government and also manage the military."

It's a pity he was born in the wrong place; Goryeo (Korea) couldn't tolerate someone like him displaying his power.

Lu Yunyi did not object to this.
There are many strong people in this world, but no matter how strong one's personal abilities are, without the right environment to grow, one can only live a small, isolated life.

This was the case with Yi Seong-gye, Nahachu, and Silunpha.
If they had been born in the Ming Dynasty, they would have been able to govern a region without a doubt.

"What is the purpose of your hasty visit?" Zhu Di asked.

"Your Highness, one reason is for trade with the North."

The Beiping Regional Military Command, Liaodong Regional Military Command, Goryeo, and the grasslands have all been opened up; now only Beiping remains to be opened.

Once the five regions complete their trade exchanges, they may not necessarily be inferior to those in Jiangnan.

"Yes, I've been thinking about this too lately."

The northern grasslands have a large population, and they need food, drink, and other necessities. If trade can be established with them, it would be easy to support the entire population.

I will order the three departments to handle this matter swiftly, and I will also speak to the authorities at Shanhaiguan.

However, I think you should personally pay a visit to Zhou Xing.

"Your Highness, I have already written to Lord Zhou; otherwise, we would not have been able to pass through Shanhaiguan so smoothly."

"Um"

Zhu Di's eyes flashed with admiration as he saw how well he had arranged things.
"Yunyi, the North is missing someone like you who is dedicated to getting things done."

If you were born twenty years earlier,

Now the North can at least stand on equal footing with the South, and is not constantly hampered.

A few days ago, six people from the north passed the imperial examination.
One from Shanxi, two from Shandong, two from Beijing, one from Henan, and a whopping twenty-five from the South—it's truly enviable!

Lu Yunyi was not surprised by the list and continued:

"Your Highness, please don't rush, we must take it slowly."

Once the capital relocation is complete and the entire court moves to the north, there will be no longer any distinction between southerners and northerners.

"Relocating the capital is difficult."

"Your Highness, this is the second matter I have on this trip."

"May I ask, Your Highness, what exactly happened in Shanxi? Why did Your Highness go there again? Is His Highness the Crown Prince safe and sound?"

As he spoke, Lu Yunyi deliberately lowered his voice, making the entire study feel even more sinister.

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression unreadable, and said calmly:
"His Highness the Crown Prince investigated the Yellow Registers of the North and discovered that most of them were forgeries."

Especially important cities such as Taiyuan, Xi'an, and Datong.

They also discovered that many people were colluding with the Tatars outside the Great Wall, reselling military supplies, and even the latest muskets were leaking out, which forced some people to take desperate measures.

"what?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was one of astonishment, his entire body radiating murderous intent:
"Who is so bold as to act so recklessly?"
Didn't the Governor's Office permit the sale of ten-year-old weapons at the border? Why are they selling the newest ones? Aren't they already making enough money?

"Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant."

If the people of the grasslands were really as easy to fool as the Koreans, that would be one thing.
The Tatar leaders had seen the latest weaponry and firearms during the last battle.
Why would you buy something from ten years ago?
If there are willing buyers and the price is high, naturally some people will take the risk.

According to my information, the person in charge of this matter is Marquis Yongping, Xie Cheng.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi's pupils suddenly contracted, and his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

The worst has happened!
He had imagined countless possibilities.

They might be local powerful families, influential figures, or officials who opposed moving the capital.
The person I least want to see is this Marquis of Yongping.

Marquis Yongping, Xie Cheng, was a founding nobleman.
He served as the commander of the Taiyuan Garrison from the fifth year of the Hongwu reign (1386), which is now the commander of the Shanxi Garrison.

He served for nineteen years, consistently controlling the military and political power of the Shanxi Military Command.

In particular, his eldest daughter married Prince Zhu Gang of Jin.
This can be considered a model of cooperation between nobles and regional princes.

The entire Shanxi province was meticulously managed, and its influence was immense.

When local officials become deeply entrenched in one place for too long, corruption is bound to arise.

Even if Xie Cheng himself was unwilling, he couldn't stop his subordinates.

What worried Lu Yunyi even more was whether the attack on the Crown Prince was related to the Prince of Jin. And how accurate was the information that was sent?

He clearly remembered that the news from the Prince of Yan's residence came through the Prince of Jin.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, sat at the head of the table. Seeing his grim expression, he said in a deep voice:
"The Crown Prince is currently unharmed. Regarding the fire incident last time..."

It seems someone is deliberately trying to confuse the situation and incite conflict between the two sides.

"Your Highness, while this speculation is reasonable, we should not take chances."

Marquis Yongping has deep roots in the family, and His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly went to Xi'an.

He said that a cornered dog might resort to desperate measures as a deterrent, which is understandable.

Zhu Di waved his hand, looking helpless:
"Don't make statements without evidence."

As long as the Marquis of Yongping remains in power, without solid evidence, no trouble can be stirred up, as that would put the Emperor in a difficult position.

Lu Yunyi fell silent.

On one side is the eldest son, and on the other is the third son.
If possible, harmonious coexistence is the best solution.

For His Majesty, the two should not be allowed to quarrel unless absolutely necessary.

Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi sighed:
"Your Highness, I am relieved to know that His Highness the Crown Prince is safe and sound."

After speaking, Lu Yunyi hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

"Your Highness, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

“Speak, there’s no need for such formality between us.”

Lu Yunyi sat up straight, his expression solemn:

"Your Highness, the matter of moving the capital is still undecided, you must not give up."

If there is an opportunity to move the capital to Beiping (Beijing), we must seize it!

Upon hearing this, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, tensed up.
These words struck a chord with him.

He was originally a border vassal king.
They struggled to survive in this bitterly cold and icy land.

If the imperial court could move to Beiping, the entire city would be completely transformed.
His life would be much better, and his status would rise significantly. However, for a long time...

He never dared to mention the idea of ​​moving the capital to anyone else.

This matter is far too complicated; even if he were a prince, he couldn't afford to offend the scholars in the south.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Di saw the resolute look on Lu Yunyi's face and asked:

"You mean, take advantage of this opportunity?"

"Your Highness, time is of the essence."

Moving the capital is not something that can be accomplished in one or two years.
Even if it's decided now, it will probably take twenty years to actually complete the relocation of the capital.

If we don't seize this opportunity now, we might not have such a good chance again.

After a pause, Lu Yunyi calmed himself down and continued:
"Your Highness, Beiping now has an advantage that Guanzhong cannot match."
Once the capital is established in Beiping (Beijing), this advantage will rapidly amplify, completely revitalizing the north.

"What advantages?" Zhu Di was so moved by what he said that his face turned red, and he quickly asked.

"Beiping is located in the center, which allows for trade with all directions."

Your Highness, since ancient times, places that serve as transit points for trade have always been extremely prosperous.

Meanwhile, Beiping was situated at the center of the northern defense line.
From Korea in the east to Shaanxi in the west, and from Lake Buyur in the north, not to mention the southern route...
Once it becomes a hub for trade and economic cooperation among all parties...
Even if the imperial court were to move the capital, it would never choose Guanzhong!
Now that Beiping has opened up the eastern and southern routes, the northern route is within easy reach.
"If we can open up the western route and build an official road from Beiping to the Shaanxi border, Beiping can become a de facto commercial capital!"

Zhu Di was deeply moved by these words.
He strode over to the map of the entire Beiping region hanging on the wall.

The candlelight flickered in the wind he stirred up, casting flickering shadows on the map.
The crisscrossing mountains, rivers, and post roads in the picture are made even clearer!
He reached out and picked up a wolf-hair brush from the table, dipped the tip in ink, but did not immediately put it down. Instead, he stared intently at the location of Beiping Prefecture on the map.

"Trade Transit Hub - A Hub for All Directions"

Zhu Di repeated the two words in a low voice, his eyes gradually brightening:
"Tell me in detail how the eastern and northern fronts are connected to Beiping."

Lu Yunyi also got up and walked to the map.
The finger points to the Yalu River, where the Liaodong Commandery borders Goryeo:

"The official road from Liaodong to Daning has been under construction. Extending it another hundred miles eastward from Liaoyang will connect it to the Goryeo post road."

If all goes well, trade can resume the following spring.

At that time, ginseng and cloth from Goryeo, and furs and medicinal herbs from Liaodong, were transported to Beiping along this route.
Then, turning south from Beiping, the profit margin on the eastern front would be enough to support the 50,000 troops of the Beiping Military Command.

"That's right! Back then, the Yuan capital, Dadu, relied on this route to transport supplies from the Northeast."

"The northern route is simpler."

Lu Yunyi pointed to the two passes, Juyongguan and Gubeikou, north of Beiping, on the map:

"The Baisong tribe has agreed to open trade routes within its territory."

From Beiping, one can travel through Juyongguan Pass and then along the grassland post road to reach the vicinity of Buyur Lake.

The grasslands lack salt, iron, and tea; we lack warhorses, cattle, and sheep.

As long as a trade market is established at Juyong Pass...
This served two purposes: preventing tribal disturbances and monitoring caravan movements.

Zhu Di's eyes grew brighter, and with a flick of his wrist, he drew an arc northward from Juyong Pass.
Connecting to the old lands of Hara and Horqin deep in the grasslands,

That was once the capital of Mongolia. Although it is now abandoned, it remains a vital transportation hub for various tribes on the steppe.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he drew two more horizontal lines in Tongzhou and Tianjin, south of Beiping:

"There's no need to worry about the southern route."

Tongzhou was a major port for grain transport. Silk and porcelain from the south were transported to Tongzhou via the canal, and then transferred to land routes to Beiping (Beijing).
"Distributing goods to the Northeast and Northwest, the money earned from transit could pile up like mountains!"

Before long, a painting centered on Beiping (Beijing) appeared.
A trade network connecting Korea to the east, Shaanxi to the west, the grasslands to the north, and the Grand Canal to the south.

It has been clearly outlined on the map with ink lines.

Zhu Di put down his pen, took two steps back to examine it carefully, and his breathing became rapid.

The candlelight illuminated his face, revealing an uncontrollable smile on his lips, and even the strands of hair at his temples seemed to tremble slightly with excitement.

"What a wonderful hub connecting all four directions!"

Zhu Di patted the map, his voice full of excitement:

"Back then, my father established the capital in Yingtian because the Jiangnan region was rich enough to support the founding wars."

But now the Ming Dynasty wants to firmly grasp the north, and the location of Beiping is far superior to that of Yingtian!

Seeing that he was interested, Lu Yunyi pressed his advantage and said:

"Your Highness, this is only trade."

In terms of military defense, Beiping is a naturally formidable city; just look at the map.”

He drew a circle with his finger along the mountains surrounding Beiping:
"To the west are the Western Hills, to the north are the Jundu Mountains, and to the east are the Yan Mountains. These three mountains guard the pearl, while only the south is a plain."

As long as we hold the three passes of Juyongguan, Gubeikou, and Shanhaiguan,
Even if the Northern Yuan were to recover to its former glory, it still wouldn't be able to breach the walls of Beiping.

Zhu Di followed his finger and his brows gradually relaxed:
Now that you mention it, it's true.

Back then, when the Prince of Zhongshan was stationed in Beiping, he relied on these passes to block the Northern Yuan's counterattack.

"If we establish our capital in Beiping, we can transport all the military supplies and equipment from the nine border regions there. This will save at least half the time compared to sending them all the way north from Yingtian."

"Not just military pay and weapons."

Lu Yunyi's voice deepened, becoming more solemn:

"Your Highness, Beiping is the site of the former Yuan Dynasty capital, Dadu."

During the Yuan dynasty's century-long rule, this place became their cultural center.

Most of the government offices, temples, and post stations in the city were remnants from the Yuan Dynasty and can be used with minor repairs.

More importantly, the people and scholars in the north felt a much stronger sense of identification with Beiping than with Guanzhong.

Although Guanzhong was once the capital of the Han and Tang dynasties, it has long been ruined due to wars.
The people there mostly migrated from the south, so their roots were not stable.

Zhu Di suddenly turned to look at Lu Yunyi, a flash of realization crossing his eyes:

"Is it the cultural identity you mentioned in your last letter?"

"Exactly."

Lu Yunyi nodded:
"If Your Majesty moves the capital to Guanzhong to Xi'an, the city will need to be rebuilt and the people's hearts need to be won back. It will take at least thirty years, or even fifty years, to stabilize the situation. If you move to Taiyuan, it will take even longer."

They could move to Beiping, where the existing framework of the capital city was already in place.

Scholars from the north were willing to come and serve as officials, and the grassland tribes also recognized Beiping as the capital of the great dynasty.

By occupying Beiping, we gain the moral high ground.

It would be much easier to win over the grassland tribes.
This is for the same reason that Usar Khan insisted on going to Buyur Lake to claim legitimacy.

Zhu Di looked at the old site of the Yuan capital marked on the map, his eyes filled with emotion.

He had been stationed in Beiping for many years and had long developed an affection for the city, but he had never imagined that the city held so many advantages.

As the candlelight flickered, he seemed to see what Beiping would look like in the future:
The streets were bustling with traffic, and caravans were pouring in from all directions.
The post station was filled with officials and scholars from all over the country, while the soldiers on the city wall were in high spirits.
In the distance, envoys from the grassland tribes, leading their warhorses, awaited an audience with reverence.

"Yes. Yuan Dadu. Ming Dadu," Zhu Di murmured.

"When I followed the general into Beiping, I felt that the city was grand and more open than Yingtian."

I was young then, and all I felt was how big the city was, without thinking much about anything else.

Now that you've explained it, I understand the significance of this city.

Seeing his agitated state of mind, Lu Yunyi softened his tone:
"Your Highness, relocation is no small matter; it involves the interests of everyone in the court."

Southern officials and scholars, captivated by the prosperity of Nanjing, were unwilling to migrate north.

The nobles in Guanzhong, who were thinking of taking advantage of the relocation of the capital, would also oppose Beiping.

Talk is cheap; we need to take action.

"We need to achieve results to show the court; only then can we turn things around."

Zhu Di nodded:

"How much silver and how long would it take to build the western official road from Beiping to the Shaanxi border?"

"As for the silver, it was jointly raised by five regions: Goryeo, the grasslands, Daning, Liaodong, and Beiping."
We absolutely cannot ask the imperial court for the money we need; we must find a way ourselves.

As for how to solve the problem that "there's always a way out"...

In terms of timing, as long as there are sufficient raw materials and Shanxi and Shaanxi do not obstruct the process,
"At that time, soldiers from the garrisons of Beiping, Daning, and Xuanfu will be mobilized to take turns constructing it, and it will be completed within three years."

"Three years."

Zhu Di pondered for a moment, then drew a dotted line on the western front with his finger:
"If we can open up the western route within three years and then streamline the trade routes on the eastern and northern routes, even if Beiping is not the capital, it can become the center of the north."

After saying all that, what do you want to do?

(End of this chapter)