In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 945 Summoning Lord Lu to the Capital

The atmosphere in the yamen was quiet. The two men stood before the geomantic map in silence for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Yunyi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Your Highness, I only wish to provide the court officials with an alternative."

If Beiping is established, and the capital is indeed to be moved...

Who would abandon a prosperous and stable Beiping to rebuild a dilapidated Guanzhong?
If we're talking about personal motives, I, an official from Daning,

If the capital is established in Beiping, the Beiping Regional Military Command will also benefit.

If the capital were to truly move to Guanzhong, then the Great Ning Kingdom would likely decline and fall.

Zhu Di slowly turned around, the candlelight casting interplay of light and shadow in his eyes.

He stared at Lu Yunyi for a long time, then a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on his lips:

"Yunyi, we've known each other for years, why bother with these formalities?"
For you, Da Ning is just a place you can easily hold onto with a wave of your hand.
It's not worth going to such lengths for it, even going so far as to reopen trade routes between Korea and the grasslands.

Lu Yunyi's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

The night wind outside the window swirled with dust, gently tapping against the window frame and making a soft, rustling sound, which made the study even quieter.

Zhu Di walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured Lu Yunyi a cup of tea. The rising steam blurred his expression.

"Is it difficult for you to establish such a large Yingtian Trading Company and stabilize Daying?"

He pushed the teacup towards Lu Yunyi, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"Speak, what is it that you truly want to do? If I can help, I will certainly do so."

Lu Yunyi stared at the tea swirling in his cup and remained silent for a moment.

The composure on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of seriousness.
"Your Highness, what I am truly worried about is His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Prince?"

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the teacup.

"As I just said, the Crown Prince is safe and sound in Guanzhong, but there are troublemakers in Xi'an."

"Your Highness, do you really think that Marquis Yongping is simply reselling military supplies?"

Lu Yunyi's voice carried a hint of coldness.

"He operated in Shanxi for nineteen years, and through a marriage alliance with the Prince of Jin, his power became deeply entrenched."

With His Highness the Crown Prince there, it was as if he were right under someone else's nose.
Every move we make is being watched—how dangerous!

Zhu Di leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

He was well aware of the dangers in Shanxi, but the Crown Prince was the heir apparent chosen by his father, the Emperor.

The Emperor has his reasons for sending the Crown Prince to the North.
As a mere vassal king, he had no say in the matter.

"I know what you're worried about."

Seeing his solemn expression, Lu Yunyi continued,

"Your Highness is afraid of angering His Majesty and being accused of interfering with the Crown Prince."

But Your Highness, think about it, what would happen to the court if something really happened to the Crown Prince?

"At that time, the imperial court will inevitably be rife with bloodshed, and the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty will be shaken!"

Zhu Di suddenly opened his eyes, a fierce glint flashing within them:
"What do you want me to do?"
The Emperor cared more about the Crown Prince's safety than anyone else.
"If I were to rashly submit a memorial stating that the Crown Prince is in danger in the north, Father would only think I am trying to sow discord."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes:
"I did not ask Your Highness to directly submit a memorial stating that the Crown Prince is in danger."

"Your Highness may submit a memorial to His Majesty, requesting permission for His Highness the Crown Prince to return to the capital, or to visit Beiping."

The trade routes to Beiping have just been opened, and we would like to invite His Highness the Crown Prince to come and take a look, and offer some suggestions for the livelihood of the people in the north.

Having visited Guanzhong and Shanxi, a trip to Beiping (Beijing) doesn't seem unreasonable.
This way, it won't seem deliberate, and it will also pull His Highness the Crown Prince out of that troublesome situation.

Zhu Di stared at the map, remaining silent for a long time.

He knew Lu Yunyi's words made sense, but doing so was too risky.

"Your Highness, time is of the essence."

Lu Yunyi's voice carried a hint of urgency.

"The longer His Highness stays in Shanxi, the greater the danger he will face."

Since Xie Cheng and his ilk dared to resell military assets, they're sure to do even more outrageous things!

Even if Xie Cheng didn't do it,
The powerful clans in Shanxi and the many officials in the court who opposed moving the capital would not give up easily.

If they become desperate and resort to desperate measures, even with guards protecting His Highness the Crown Prince, he might not be able to defend against a sneak attack!

Zhu Di raised his head and looked at Lu Yunyi, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"I don't understand why you are so worried about the Crown Prince's safety?"
Although Xie Cheng is powerful, my elder brother is, after all, the crown prince. When he travels to the frontier, he will naturally be protected by troops, and there won't be any problems."

Lu Yunyi sighed; he didn't know how to explain it either.

Could it be that the Crown Prince died mysteriously after returning from the north?

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Zhu Di shook his head and said in a deep voice:
"Alright, tomorrow I will submit a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting that His Highness the Crown Prince come to Beiping for an inspection."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Lu Yunyi stood up and bowed deeply.

Zhu Di waved his hand:

"No need to be polite, it's about the road construction in Beiping."

I was of no help; it was all your own fault.

I'm doing my part now.

"Therefore, you will stay in the manor tonight. I will have a guest room arranged for you."

"Your Highness, the Prince's residence is a sensitive place, so it's best to limit the number of outsiders staying overnight. This is also for safety reasons."

"I have already instructed my subordinates to arrange accommodations, so I will not trouble you any further."

"Alright, whatever you say. Come to my residence for a feast tomorrow, and I'll have the cook prepare a delicious meal."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

When Lu Yunyi bid farewell to Zhu Di and walked out of the gate of the Prince of Yan's mansion, it was already late at night.

The night breeze, carrying the lingering chill, mingled with the warm light filtering through the mansion, and felt refreshing on my face, blowing away most of the fatigue from days of travel.

Lu Yunyi looked up at the outline of Beiping City.
The bluish-gray city walls resembled a sleeping dragon under the moonlight.
Stretching for dozens of miles from east to west, the battlements on the walls are arranged in a staggered pattern.

A lamp was hung every three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

The orange-yellow light spread along the city wall, making the majestic city appear even more imposing.

"As expected, it has the foundation of Yuan Dadu." Lu Yunyi sighed softly.

Compared to Yingtian's exquisite beauty,
The city of Beiping exudes a majestic and imposing atmosphere.

Because it was a military town, the streets were nearly twice as wide as those in Yingtian, and the bluestone slabs were laid flat and solid.

The shops along the street had already closed, and last year's Spring Festival couplets were still pasted on the doors.
Although the edges and corners have faded, they still exude a sense of everyday life.

A few guesthouses occasionally let in a dim, yellowish light through their windows, causing the welcoming signs in front of their doors to sway gently.

The villa arranged by Taxue Trading Company is located deep in Rouge Alley in the west of the city.

Although located on the edge of the bustling city, it is exceptionally quiet.

Pushing open the two ebony gates, one enters a courtyard paved with bluestone slabs.
Several old locust trees were planted on both sides, their branches casting dappled shadows in the moonlight and rustling in the wind.

The light was on in the paper windows of the main room.
You can vaguely see figures moving inside; clearly, someone is waiting.

"Lord Lu! You've arrived!"

As soon as he entered the courtyard, an elderly man dressed in a royal blue silk robe quickly came to greet him with a warm smile on his face. He was Shi Yu, the third manager of the Beiping branch of Taxue Trading Company!
He was about fifty years old, with a goatee, and his eyes were shrewd but not mercenary.

"Come inside and warm up. I've prepared hot tea and some freshly warmed mutton soup."
You must be tired from your journey, please have something to eat.

Lu Yunyi followed him into the main room.

The interior was simply yet elegantly furnished, with an eight-immortal table against the wall and four armchairs on either side.
A set of celadon teaware was placed on the table.
The charcoal brazier next to it was burning with silver charcoal; the flames were small, but the room was very warm.

As soon as he sat down, Shi Yu personally poured him a cup of hot tea and was about to call for someone to bring him soup, but Lu Yunyi waved his hand:

"Don't rush to eat."

Shi Yu quickly agreed, but then suddenly clapped his hands, and ten women walked out from behind the screen.

Each of them wore a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with delicate plum blossoms embroidered on the hem, and their hair was styled in double buns, adorned with small silver hairpins.

Holding a pipa in her hands and carrying a fruit platter, she stood to the side, looking delicate and charming.

"Lord Lu, you've traveled all the way from Liaodong; I'm afraid you haven't had a proper rest."
These girls were specially chosen by the younger generation.

She can play music and also serve people.

Just relax tonight and don't worry about anything else.

Lu Yunyi's gaze swept over the women, then turned to Shi Yu and smiled:

"Manager Shi, you're too kind. I've come to Beiping on official business, not for pleasure."

"Let them go. I have something to tell you."

Shi Yu nodded repeatedly, waved for the woman to leave, and then awkwardly poured Lu Yunyi a cup of tea.
"It was my oversight, Lord Lu, please forgive me." "It's alright."

Lu Yunyi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and only spoke slowly as the warmth spread through him.
"The silver transported from Goryeo this time was thanks to the caravan of the Taxue Trading Company."

If you weren't familiar with the Goryeo post roads...
Silver won't get to Liaodong so easily.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yu's eyes lit up immediately.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming a bit lighter:
"Lord Lu, you're too kind! It's an honor for the Taxue Trading Company to serve you!"

Lu Yunyi continued:

"If the trade route from Beiping to Liaodong is opened in the future, we will need your help even more."

"That's nature! That's nature!"

Shi Yu quickly agreed, as if he had mustered up his courage, and lowered his voice to say:

"Lord Lu, I have been waiting for you today because there is something else I would like to discuss with you."

"what's up?"

"Our firm wants to do a deeper business deal with Daning City."

"What kind of business?" Lu Yunyi asked calmly.

Shi Yu took a deep breath and said softly:

"Sir, you may not know this, but other places are extremely envious of the cement produced in Daning. I wonder if we could allocate a larger share to our trading company?"

"cement?"

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly! You wouldn't believe it,"
Nowadays, Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and even Henan are all facing severe cement shortages.

Cement produced in Beijing is already expensive, and there's not enough for even their own needs.

If transported to the north, the price becomes incredibly high.

However, cement was cheap in Daning City and could be delivered quickly.

The roads in Beiping are currently being leveled.

Someone approached the charlatan, saying they were willing to pay fifteen coins per pound for cement if he could obtain it!

He paused, then lowered his voice, with a hint of mystery:

"And there are some people on the grasslands. Last month, several large merchant guilds that traveled across the grasslands found the scoundrel."

They said they wanted to repair a permanent residence and warehouse, but were worried about rain washing them away, so they were willing to pay thirty coins per kilogram for cement!

"As far as I know, a pound of this product sells for only two coins in Daning, but it sells for nearly ten times that amount when transported to Shanxi or Beiping, and more than twenty times when transported to the grasslands!"

At this point, the fervor in Shi Yu's eyes bordered on madness.
He had never seen such a highly profitable business before.

"My lord, the precious furs you handle in Yingtian are in such high demand that they cannot meet the supply."

The fact that one piece could sell for nearly three thousand taels of silver has spurred many people to action.

But the scoundrel knew that such a business was too time-consuming and laborious, and far less lucrative than selling cement.

Although cement is cheap,

Buying tens of thousands of kilograms at a time is truly a good business!

If we could sell the cement from Daning,

I guarantee that the net profit will be at least 30,000 taels a year.

"Sir, you take the lion's share; the Snowwalking Trading Company will only take a small portion to cover our costs."

Lu Yunyi paused in his hand holding the teacup, his fingertips gently stroking the rim.

The Snowwalking Merchant Guild certainly has a knack for doing business.
Once the cement finds a market, cooperation will begin with merchants in various regions.

Even if cement itself doesn't make money, the business can still make a fortune through other aspects.

"How much share do you want?" Lu Yunyi looked up at Shi Yu, his gaze sharp.

Shi Yu felt a little nervous under his gaze, but still forced himself to speak:
"I'd like to transport 200,000 jin (100 tons) from Daning every month."
If sales are good, then gradually increase the quantity.

Rest assured, the shipping costs will be covered by the company itself, and customs duties will be paid according to regulations. We will absolutely not cause you any trouble!

"Two hundred thousand catties isn't much," Lu Yunyi said slowly after a moment's thought.
"Two conditions."

Shi Yu felt his heart pounding and quickly nodded:

"You say!"

"Subsequently, the military command will establish a cement branch in Beiping and also build workshops, with joint funding from the Beiping Military Command and the Beiping Military Command."

"If you need to purchase cement in the future, you can get it directly from here."

"Secondly, selling cement to the grasslands is too risky."

You must demonstrate the benefits of doing this to both me and His Highness the Prince of Yan, or forget about it.

Shi Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood:

"Rest assured, my lord, the price will absolutely satisfy you and the Prince of Yan."

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"Money is something that you merchants value, but it is not important to us."

My point is, if we can use cement to obtain intelligence about the grasslands, or even win over some people, then this matter is worthwhile.

Shi Yu was stunned for a moment, then lightly slapped himself:

"My lord, I have been blinded by greed!"

The petty person understands; the petty person will do everything in their power to win over those powerful figures from the grasslands.

Seeing that Shi Yu agreed readily, Lu Yunyi picked up his teacup and took another sip:
"In that case, send someone to Daning tomorrow. Once the workshops in Beiping are repaired, we can purchase supplies from Beiping."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yu's smile almost overflowed.

He quickly stood up, bowed deeply, and bent even lower:
"Thank you, Lord Lu! Thank you, Lord Lu! The Taxue Trading Company will remember your kindness!"

"If you ever need me in the future, I will gladly die for you!"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down:
"No need to thank me, it's all mutually beneficial."

"You've made money, and Da Ning has gained another source of income; it's a win-win situation."

Shi Yu readily agreed and busied himself having mutton soup served.
He preferred doing business with Lord Lu, who always considered the interests of both parties, unlike other officials who wanted to take advantage of him and then take even more.

Before long, a steaming bowl of soup was served, sprinkled with chopped green onions and pepper, and the aroma instantly filled the entire house.

Lu Yunyi was indeed hungry, so he picked up the spoon and took a sip.
The soup was fresh but not greasy, and the mutton was stewed until tender, clearly showing that it was made with care.

"Lord Lu, please enjoy your meal."

Please feel free to stay in this villa. I've already had it prepared, and everything is brand new. If you need anything, just call me anytime.

Those women will also remain in the manor; if Your Excellency wishes, you may use them as you please.”

Lu Yunyi nodded and said nothing more.

The night was deep, and soon it was past midnight.

The guards at Guangning Gate had just finished their shift change.

Two courier horses, covered in sweat, came galloping towards them!

The sound of hooves was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

The rider was dressed in faded blue postal uniform, with a postal tally hanging from his waist. His hat brim was pulled down very low, revealing a dusty chin.

"Open the door! Urgent business from the Five Military Commands!"

Li San pulled on the reins, and as he dismounted, his legs buckled, and he almost fell over.
He traveled from Yingtian to Beiping, resting for only two hours in three days.
My ankles were already red and swollen from being rubbed by the stirrups, and I was holding on by sheer willpower.

The gatekeeper noticed the silver gleam of the official seal at his waist.

Then I noticed the urgent dispatch token stuck in the horse's back.
Not daring to delay, they quickly pushed the half-closed city gate open further to make way:

"Hurry up! The post station is just ahead!"

Li San led his horse into the city, the night wind whipping up the chill from the city walls and seeping into his neck.

He wrapped his postman's clothes tighter around himself and quickened his pace.

The inn was next to the city gate and specialized in catering to official business. Two kerosene lanterns hung at the entrance, their dim light illuminating the character "驿" (inn) clearly.

The shop assistant, who was dozing off behind the counter, jolted awake at the sound of horses' hooves, rubbing his eyes as he approached.
"Hurry in, hurry in, there's a heated kang (traditional Chinese bed) inside."
There was also some warm millet porridge, which was very filling to eat with pickled vegetables!

"Feed the horse with the best feed, and wake me up promptly at dawn tomorrow!"

Li San pulled out the official seal from his pocket. "You've missed official business, you'll regret it!"

Seeing his unfriendly expression, the waiter nodded vigorously.

"Don't worry! We'll tidy up your room right away and bring you hot water!"

"By the way, may I ask, sir, where are you going? I need to register."

Li San said in a deep voice:
"Go to the Beiping Military Command to summon Lord Lu to the capital."

The waiter carefully wrote down the details, then nodded slightly.

"Please come, guest. I will call you at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)