In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 951 Listening to Thunder in Silence

Lu Yunyi held the stack of documents but didn't unfold them immediately. Instead, he looked up at Mu Jinghe.

The dim candlelight fell on her face, making the redness at the corners of her eyes even more noticeable.

Stray hairs still clung to her cheeks, adding a touch of innocent charm.

He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips gently brushing against her earlobe, causing her body to tremble slightly, her eyes filled with shyness.

"Don't rush to look at this."

Lu Yunyi's voice was soft and slightly hoarse, the fatigue from days of travel still lingering.

"You've come all the way from the trading company and waited at the manor for half a day; you must be tired."

Upon hearing this, Mu Jinghe's cheeks flushed even redder, but she still stubbornly shook her head:
"How could I be tired when I get to see you, my lord?"

Even so, her fingertips unconsciously gripped Lu Yunyi's sleeve.

She leaned slightly closer to him, clearly having taken his words to heart.

Seeing this, Lu Yunyi smiled slightly, put down the documents, and reached out to pick her up around the waist.

Mu Jinghe exclaimed in surprise and subconsciously hugged his neck, pressing her cheek against his shoulder. She could clearly smell a faint scent of dust mixed with a hint of cold, metallic smell, but this scent made her feel exceptionally at ease.

"grown ups."

Mu Jinghe was about to speak when she was interrupted by Lu Yunyi's gaze.

A hint of a smile played in his eyes as he walked steadily toward the inner hall, his voice low:
"There is a soft couch in the inner room, rest for a while."

The inner room was even quieter than the outer room, with only a small lamp lit above the soft couch.

The dim lighting made the room feel warm and cozy.

Thick brocade cushions were laid on the soft couch.
The incense burner next to him was filled with calming incense, and the smoke curled upwards.

Lu Yunyi gently placed Mu Jinghe on the soft couch.

Just as he was about to straighten up, she grabbed his sleeve.

Her eyes held a hint of spring, and her voice was barely audible:
"Sir, where are you going?"

"Blow out the lamp."

Mu Jinghe let go of his hand.

A short while later, the candle went out.

The couch wasn't very large, and Mu Jinghe could clearly feel him getting closer.

The two were very close, their body heat mingling together.

Mu Jinghe moved closer to him and gently rested her head on his shoulder.
Strands of hair fell onto his clothes, carrying a faint fragrance that lingered and intertwined with his scent, creating a particularly tender and intimate atmosphere.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of a night watchman's drum came from outside the window. The deep, resonant sound drifted in through the window cracks and was particularly clear in the night.

When the candles were relit, the inner room was filled with light and shadow.

Silvery candle tears streamed down the candlestick, forming a small puddle, like solidified moonlight.

The brocade quilt on the soft couch was half-drawn, with some stray black hairs clinging to the edges, which stood out against the off-white brocade.

The fragrance of lotus blossoms still lingered in the incense burner, now tinged with a slight warmth.
It becomes soft and lingering, and when it brushes past the tip of the nose, it always carries a touch of indescribable allure.

Mu Jinghe lay on the soft couch.

Her cheeks were pressed against a cool brocade cushion, and her eyelashes were still damp.

I haven't recovered from the shock yet.

My whole body felt like it had been dismembered; I didn't even have the strength to lift my hand.

Her hair was disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her flushed cheeks, trembling slightly with her breath.

Her back revealed snow-white skin, with a few faint red marks still visible.

She squinted as she watched Lu Yunyi get up.

"grown ups."

Mu Jinghe's voice was still soft and sweet, with a slight tremor at the end.

She tried to open her eyes, but could only manage a narrow slit.
Watching Lu Yunyi's figure flicker in the candlelight.

He bent down to pick up his outer robe, draped it over his arm, and
"Rest a little longer, I'll go check the documents you brought, then we'll have dinner."

Mu Jinghe blinked, her eyes still misty, unable to see clearly, only knowing that she followed his figure.

Seeing him about to leave, she instinctively reached out, her fingertips barely grasping the hem of his shirt, the touch so light it was like a feather landing on it.
"Sir, don't go too far."

"It's not far, it's right here."

Lu Yunyi pointed to the square table in the corner of the inner room.
Mu Jinghe then let go. She lay face down on the couch, her face turned to the side, her eyes still confused and lifeless.
Lu Yunyi sat not far away, opening the documents one by one.

His brows, which had initially been relaxed, gradually became furrowed!

There were some things he hadn't taken to heart, treating them merely as the aftermath of a conflict.

However, in the records of fields and houses,
He discovered that things were far more complicated than he had imagined, and that even regional vassal kings were involved!
For example, King Zhou, who had just returned to Henan.

His trading company acquired two mulberry-growing businesses in the east of the city through near-coercive tactics.

These two trading companies were originally among the top silk suppliers in Yingtian City.

More importantly, the silk they possess is valuable, but the land they own is even more valuable.

These lands are scattered throughout the eight counties of the capital region, and nearly a thousand people rely on them for their livelihood!

However, the issue of relocating the capital is still under debate and no clear result has been reached.
Mulberry planting has already been stopped.
Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi looked completely bewildered.
How could such a radical and destructive act be done by one's own family?
What was King Zhou really thinking?
His gaze lingered on the words "Dongning Trading Company".

Could it be that this trading company is merely using the name of the Zhou king, and that someone else is actually in control?

Lu Yunyi continued reading, quickly finishing the book.
Records were kept of every detail, big or small.
However, many of these were isolated incidents unrelated to the relocation of the capital.
The most noteworthy issue is the conversion of mulberry trees to grain.
In addition, some merchants wanted to separate Yingtian Trading Company from the Market Exchange Bureau, believing that the Market Exchange Bureau was a burden.

There are also people secretly gathering manpower.

Planning to open a branch in the north!
This matter is currently only circulating within the upstream and downstream supply chains of Yingtian Trading Company.

It hasn't caused a huge uproar yet.

But Lu Yunyi knew that if this news broke, the impact would be no less than that of abandoning mulberry trees for grain!
Yingtian Trading Company is now highly integrated with the livelihoods of the people in the capital region.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the upstream and downstream industries rely on it for their livelihood.
Any change could very well trigger chaos throughout the land!

If Yingtian Trading Company were to open a branch in the north, it would undoubtedly confirm the rumors of the capital being moved in the city, and the panic throughout the capital region would intensify!
In this way, a tiny spark could ignite this powder keg.

"It's very difficult."

Lu Yunyi silently muttered to himself,
Now, we are truly surrounded by enemies.
This has nothing to do with right or wrong, nothing to do with individuals, it's just a matter of perspective!
Time passed by little by little, and in the blink of an eye it was Hai Shi, which is around nine o'clock in the evening.

Mu Jinghe, who had been in a daze, groggily opened her eyes.
He spotted the young man not far away at a glance, and a foolish smile crept across his face.

"My lord, when is it?"

Lu Yunyi was awakened from his reverie by the voice.

His gaze returned to focus, he glanced at the clock on the table, and said softly:

"It's already 11 PM, get up and eat, or it'll be midnight."

Mu Jinghe didn't get up, but simply let her hand hang limply over the edge of the bed, and asked:

"My lord, have you read the documents I brought? Were they helpful?"

As she spoke, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, as if she were asking for credit.

"I've finished reading it. It was very helpful to me. Thank you."

Lu Yunyi smiled and got up, sat down by the bed, and ran his hand over her smooth back.

Mu Jinghe quickly got goosebumps.
"The northern trade routes have been opened up."
Once the roads between Goryeo and Daning are repaired, more foreign treasures will be transported to Yingtian.

Managing your business well will not only help you solidify your position in the capital, but also protect you.

When all the women in the capital know that you are the manager of Miaoyinfang and Hongfenglou...

Ordinary people can't touch you, so you can focus on making money.

Feeling the tingling sensation on her back, Mu Jinghe murmured:
"My lord, with you behind me, who would dare to cause me any trouble?"

"To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. I am merely a minor commander, though I may have some ability in the local area."
Upon arriving in the capital, they were no different from ants.

Always maintain a sense of awe and never be complacent.

"If I understand, I'll simply close the business and go to Daning City myself."
"Then, I'll live next door to you, and you can climb over the wall tonight, sir."

Mu Jinghe chuckled, seemingly lost in thought. Lu Yunyi's face darkened, and he patted her bottom.
"Alright. Get up. Eat your meal and get some rest. I haven't slept for three days."

Mu Jinghe nimbly got up.
Ignoring the fact that she herself was completely naked, she reached out to straighten Lu Yunyi's clothes.
In the southern part of the capital, in a shabby alley, an inconspicuous wooden door is tightly closed.

There wasn't even a wooden sign above the door; the base of the wall was covered in moss, blending in with the low houses on either side.
Anyone passing by would just think it's an ordinary family's home.

But if you push open that creaking wooden door...
But inside, it's a completely different world.
The path, paved with blue bricks, is flanked by white marble railings.
At the end was a five-bay main hall, with copper bells hanging under the eaves.

At this moment, the bell tongue was wrapped in cotton wool, so it could not make a sound when the wind blew.

Only one mutton fat lamp was lit in the hall, its flame hanging low.
The light was concentrated above the table, even the faces of the people sitting in the chairs were hidden in shadow.

A faint scent of ambergris mingled with the aroma of pre-rain Longjing tea in the air.
Yet, it couldn't suppress a faint, almost imperceptible, sense of menace!

"cough"

A soft cough broke the silence; the sound came from the direction of the person in the main seat.

The man rested his elbows on the rosewood table, his fingertips tracing the rim of the teacup, his voice aged yet steady:

"Everyone is here?"

The words had barely left his lips when a soft clinking of teacups came from the shadows on the east side. Someone asked:

"Is our hasty meeting today because of Lu Yunyi's return to the capital?"

"if not?"

The voice of the person at the head of the table carried a hint of coldness.

"As soon as he arrived in the capital, he sent all the clerks of the Market and Exchange Bureau home and replaced them with a group of palace eunuchs."
Han Yike has been cleaning up this mess for half a year.
He dared to take action as soon as he got back; he's determined to eradicate long-standing problems!

The hall was quiet for a moment, with only the candlelight flickering occasionally.

The person in the corner picked up their teacup, took a sip, and slowly said:

"In the evening, people from the Ministry of Revenue went to the Market and Exchange Office to deliver documents."
When he tried to inquire about the allocation of funds and provisions, the eunuch directly turned him away.

They even said they would not accept anything that wasn't ordered by His Majesty.

The man at the head of the table gave a cold laugh, tapping his fingers lightly on the table with a slow but undeniable force.
"His desire to seize power is simply to stabilize commerce and trade in the capital."

After the Crown Prince left the capital, land and housing prices dropped by 40% compared to last year. We finally managed to create a climate of fear and uncertainty...

If he can revitalize the Market and Exchange Bureau, all his previous efforts will have been wasted.

"What should I do?"

The man on the left pressed on, "We can't just watch him stabilize the situation, can we?"

"No hurries."

The voice of the person at the head of the table deepened.

"He had just returned to the capital, and his position was not yet secure; the accounts of the Market and Exchange Bureau were a complete mess."

Even if those eunuchs could read, it would take them half a month to figure it out.
Let's use these two weeks to start another fire.

Everyone in the room silently looked up, even their breathing became softer.

"Starting tomorrow, we will sell off large tracts of land and drive down prices by another 30%."
They sent people to spread rumors that the capital had been moved north and that Yingtian would henceforth be merely a secondary capital, with fields and houses rendered useless.

"Press another 30%?"

Someone was taken aback.
"The price of land in the west of the city has now fallen to five taels per mu."

If we reduce the price by another 30%, we'll only have 3.5 ounces left, which will put us under a lot of pressure.

If this pushes the people too far, they might start a riot.

"It's good that things are getting out of hand."

The tone of the person at the head of the table was utterly devoid of warmth.

"The common people want to make trouble, the merchants want to make trouble, the scholars want to make trouble, and the powerful and wealthy also want to make trouble!"

There are many complaints from the public.
We can do whatever it takes to trip up Lu Yunyi and prevent him from wanting to oppose us.

The person at the head of the table added,
When the prices of land and houses are only 30% or even 20% of last year's levels...
The order for the merchant guild to lead the way in cancelling their leases prompted other merchants to follow suit, forcing the landlords to lower their prices.

"When should we make our move?" someone asked.

The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting a long shadow of the person in the main seat.

"No rush. We need to let the fields and houses in the capital region lie on the ground like mud, so that no one dares to touch them."

"Wait until it drops to 10% before we buy. That will be the most panicked time, and it will be easier to buy then!"

"One-tenth?!"

A low gasp suddenly came from the shadows on the west side.
The man leaned forward slightly, the jade belt at his waist making a soft thud against the chair, his tone filled with disbelief:

"Land near the capital costs one tael of silver per mu! Even during the Yuan Dynasty, it wasn't this cheap."

"It will be ready in a few more days."

"If the price drops to 10%, the land we have is simply not enough. How much more silver will we need to spend?"

Even if each mu of land in the eight counties surrounding the capital were worth one tael of silver, it would still amount to several million taels. Where would we find so much cash?

"Money is not a problem." The person at the head of the table put down his teacup.
"Which of the salt merchants from Jiangnan, the tea merchants from Suzhou and Hangzhou, the maritime merchants from Fujian, and the porcelain merchants from Jiangxi didn't want to occupy land in the capital?"
They have plenty of money; let them provide the funds, we'll provide the solutions.

The person at the head of the table changed the subject and continued:
"Don't worry, everyone. The other day, those people from the Duke of Cao made a fortune using this method."

Judging from the information, Lu Yunyi should have informed them in advance.
Because many people in the Beiping Metropolitan Commandery also made a lot of money during that period.

"Heh. So this is an example of using someone's own methods against them?"

"Alright, it's settled then."

The person at the head of the table stood up, his robes brushing against the chair with a soft rustling sound.
"Everyone, disperse and leave in batches."

Everyone rose to their feet, their movements light and graceful.
The next day, before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the air in the alley was filled with the steaming aroma of breakfast stalls.

The fried dough sticks sizzled in the oil, and the aroma of soy milk filled the air.

What should have been an ordinary morning scene was anything but today!

The once quiet Yuxing Pawnshop was now packed with people even before dawn.

Old and young, farmers in short clothes, women wrapped in coarse cloth headscarves,
They were all clutching crumpled land deeds in their hands.

Some even kept them in their pockets, taking them out to touch them every now and then, as if afraid of losing them.

The morning light fell on their faces, and everyone's brows were furrowed, their expressions anxious.

"Brother Wang, your place is in the south of the city."
Yesterday they said it could sell for four ounces, but this morning I heard people say it's only three ounces at most!
If we wait any longer, I'm afraid we won't even be able to keep two ounces!

"That's right! My family has two mu of paddy fields..."
The brokerage firm said just the other day they could allocate some to wealthy clients, but today nobody's talking about it!

Why isn't this brokerage shop open yet? If it doesn't open soon, I'll suffer huge losses!

"Have you heard? Yesterday, Old Li from the west of the city sold his land to the Dongning Trading Company for a pittance, only three and a half taels!"
If it falls any further, it might really drop to a pittance!

A buzz of discussion filled the air.
In the teahouse across the street, Zhou Song sat by the window.

Holding a cup of cool tea, water droplets condensed on the cup's rim.

His gaze was fixed on the crowd at the entrance of the brokerage firm, his brows furrowed.

This scene of a deserted place one day and a swarm of customers the next felt somewhat familiar to him.
It's just like the last time everyone was scrambling to sell land and he made a fortune.
At that time, wealthy households who owned land near the capital...
They were all vying to make a move!
"Shopkeeper, you've been staring at it for half an hour, and we still haven't eaten."

The waiter brought up a plate of steamed buns and, seeing Zhou Song staring blankly downstairs, whispered a reminder.

Zhou Song didn't turn around, he just waved his hand, his voice a little hoarse:

"Leave it alone."

He pointed downstairs.

"Look, there were hardly any people yesterday, how come it's so crowded today?"

The waiter peeked through the window, then shrank back.
"I overheard someone downstairs saying that there were rumors circulating yesterday at the docks and markets outside the city."

The decision to move the capital has been made, and the land in Yingtian will become wasteland, so everyone is rushing to sell it.

Zhou Song frowned even more deeply; he was certain that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted downstairs, like a bustling market bursting into chaos:
"It's open! The door's open!"

"We need to sell land! Sell land!!"

(End of this chapter)