In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 960 An Unprecedented Experience

That night, three thousand imperial guards swarmed out of the imperial city.

The entire Xi'an Gate Outer Street was sealed off.

The soldiers stood in neat rows on both sides of the road.

The torchlight stretched out like a long dragon in the eerie night.

The summer heat has not yet subsided.

But this bizarre scene only added a sinister touch to the capital.

Several main roads leading from outside Xi'an Gate to the Upper and Middle City were blocked.
The night watchman was ordered to stay at home and not move around, leaving everyone wondering what had happened.

Ordinary people could see the orderly imperial guards running past through the crack in their doors.
Startled, he quickly shrank back.

The last time we had such a large-scale operation was when we were arresting traitors.

On Fudong Street, a group of about five hundred soldiers in black armor escorted fifteen carriages as they slowly moved forward.

Xu Zengshou sat on the foremost warhorse, head held high and chest out, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. His sharp gaze swept across the darkness ahead, and he soon spotted the trail of torches stretching at the end of the road.

A young man, also wielding a long sword, stood at the forefront; it was none other than Guo Zhen, the Imperial Son-in-Law and Commandant!

Upon seeing him, Xu Zengshou breathed a sigh of relief, dismounted, and quickly went to greet him.

Guo Zhen also came forward to greet them.
His gaze immediately fell on the carriage behind him, a look of confusion on his face.

"Now that we've handed over the items, we can leave."

Xu Zengshou took the document handed to him by his personal guard and passed it to Guo Zhen, trying to keep it calm.

Guo Zhen took the document and gently opened it. It did not specify any particular item, but it bore the seal of the Market and Exchange Bureau.

"Yun Gong, what's inside? Why is it so grand?"

Xu Zengshou raised an eyebrow and suddenly laughed, his neat white teeth standing out especially in the darkness.

"This is something everyone likes, and everyone is eager to have it."

Guo Zhen's eyes showed even more doubt. He raised an eyebrow, moved closer, and lowered his voice to a whisper:
"Is it a newly developed firearm?"

Xu Zengshou's face darkened:
"Brother Guo, only those of us who join the army like firearms, not everyone."

"Too."

Guo Zhen nodded, deciding to ask his father when he got back:
"Then I'll head back first. You all should go back and rest early."

"Um"

Xu Zengshou nodded and waved his hand gently. Soldiers in black armor then pulled the carriage forward.

The heavy wheels creaked and groaned on the ground, much to the surprise of the soldiers who were receiving the troops.

"What on earth is this thing that's so heavy?"

At the same time, the main gate of the Kaiping Prince's Mansion was wide open, and five black carriages were pushed into the mansion by soldiers.

Duke Chang Sheng, the founder of the state, stood at the door, looking at the carriage in a daze.

The lanterns overhead swayed slightly, casting his light on and off.

"Master, please come inside quickly, there are too many people and too many eyes outside."

Until the steward beside him reminded him,

Chang Shengcai suddenly realized something and snapped back to reality.

He turned to look at the carriages parked in the courtyard, and his attendants struggling to unload the large chests from them.
I was somewhat shocked, and also somewhat frightened.

"Is there really no problem with making money this way?"

In less than three months, the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver doubled.
Five hundred thousand taels of silver became one million taels of silver.
This speed frightened him.

In particular, he had made money before and knew that the more money one had, the harder it became to double it.

Turning 10,000 taels into 20,000 taels isn't too difficult; he could do it himself.

But from 500,000 taels to 1 million taels
He asked himself honestly, based on his own abilities...

It is already extremely difficult to accomplish something in twenty years, and there may even be losses in the process, and it may not even be completed.

All his thoughts subsided, and only one question remained in his mind:

"How much money did Lu Yunyi actually make this time?"

In the Cao State Duke's Mansion, Li Zengzhi, Li Fangying, Yuan Hong, the Vice Commissioner of the Rear Army Commandery, and Yuan's wife stood in a storeroom in the back hall, staring blankly at the neatly opened boxes in front of them.

As the candlelight flickered, the silvery-white light shone unmistakably into their eyes.

"Too much, far too much!"

This was the first time they had ever seen so much cash.
This is a completely different experience from the notes issued by money shops!
Even though the Yuan family had made a fortune from sweet potatoes last time,
This time, she understood why her husband had been so restless.

They even went to great lengths to distribute money abroad.

They built bridges and roads, and even gave money to other provinces.

There's no other reason than that the money came too quickly, which is frightening.

She had never seen anything so rapid as to double 400,000 taels of silver in just 70 days.

"How much money did the Market and Exchange Bureau actually make?"

Li Zengzhi, who was also involved in the matter, trembled, feeling somewhat flustered.

If I'm not mistaken, all this silver belongs to those powerful and wealthy families.

There has been a lot of news in Beijing today.

Many people lost everything, and some merchants even lost all their savings.

And that money is right here in front of you.

For some reason, the silver in front of him was so bright and dazzling that he could see blood dripping from it.

Li Fangying, standing to the side, was even more bewildered.
He only gave some money to his sister-in-law and second brother.

He didn't say when he would pay it back, he just said he would get a share of the profits.

I was just hoping to earn a few thousand taels of silver for pocket money, but to my surprise, it doubled.

Li Fangying is completely bewildered and has no idea what happened.

At this moment, the eldest, Yuan Hong, took a deep breath and said in a deep voice:
"Alright, the market exchange company certainly makes much more money than this, but that's not something we need to consider."

They all took their money back.

Be careful these days, don't cause trouble, and don't make a fuss.

Li Zengzhi nodded vigorously, as if pecking at rice.

"Yes, yes, that's right, that's right."

Inside the imperial city, several officials from the Left Army Commandery also received the silver they had been longing for.

Looking at the neatly arranged large boxes,
Xiao Qi, who was in charge of money and grain, called the clerks forward to count the money and grain.

When the box was opened, revealing gleaming silver ingots, everyone held their breath.
At this moment, Marquis Zhu Shou of the Zhulu had only one thought:
That's too timid. You should have bet your entire fortune two months ago; that would have been a huge win!

Thinking of this, Zhu Shou stepped forward and said to Xiao Qi:
"Lord Xiao, is this silver going to be used up so soon? Would it have been worth more if it had been kept in the Market Exchange Bureau?"

Xiao Qi straightened up, holding the ledger, a helpless expression on his face, and said calmly:
"My lord, the Market Trading Company has already made enough money and no longer needs our silver."

It is reasonable to make early repayment now.

Moreover, it doubled in two and a half months.
Even smuggling money couldn't be done at this speed; sir, please don't be greedy.

"Yes Yes Yes!!"

Marquis Chongshan, Li Xin, wholeheartedly agreed with this statement and nodded repeatedly.

He was quite wealthy.

But all the money I've invested over the years has either been scammed or resulted in huge losses; I've never had such a successful investment.

Li Xin was completely impressed that it doubled in just two months.

Others also tried to dissuade him, saying that trying to do too much at once would lead to failure.

With such a large sum of silver in hand, the Left Army Commander-in-Chief's Office
I hope to get through this year with ease.

However, everyone felt a slight sense of regret.

If he hadn't invested his own money, he would have made a fortune by now.

Hou Xian entered the main hall of the Market and Commerce Bureau with documents in his hand.

"Sir, the money from each household has been returned."

The money from Yingtian Trading Company and the construction company will be transported after the curfew ends tomorrow.

At the head of the table, Lu Yunyi was looking at documents.

Although most of the businesses currently controlled by the Market and Exchange Bureau are in dire straits and teetering on the brink of closure,
But some of them are not beyond saving.

Some workshops are only one order away from success; if they persevere, things can turn around.

If they don't get what they're looking for, they'll have to close down.

Hearing Hou Xian's words, he raised his head:

"Nothing went wrong, right?"

"Reporting to you, sir, everything went smoothly regarding the silver."
But many people were secretly observing, some even using binoculars to observe from a distance. By the time the brothers rushed over, everyone had already vanished.

As he spoke, Hou Xian's expression became extremely solemn.

A panopticon is an absolute military secret.
The fact that it's even here says a lot.

Some military personnel supported the rebel party.

But Lu Yunyi's expression did not change at all.
Over the years, he has come to realize a truth more and more.
If you enjoy the benefits of something, you must also bear the troubles that come with it.
Nothing and no one is entirely without benefit or harm.

Just like now, making money by controlling price fluctuations.
It is foreseeable that such incidents will continue to occur frequently in the future.

The telescope was regarded as a powerful weapon for defeating the enemy in the military, but it was also used by those with ulterior motives.

Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"The matter is temporarily settled. As long as the land price remains around ten taels, there is no need to worry about it."

"But sir, those rebels have already suffered such a huge loss, are we just going to let it go like this? What if they keep throwing money away?"

"No, their cost is between twenty and thirty taels."
If the price falls any further, the land they own will truly be worthless.

Therefore, the only possibility is to raise prices, which is why the Market and Exchange Bureau wants to reserve land.

Unless they can scrape together a few million more taels,
We need to buy all the land we have, otherwise prices won't rise.

Hou Xian was completely bewildered by these words and didn't quite understand.
But after spending some time with them...
This esteemed person was generous with his knowledge, so he asked directly:

"Sir, if land prices rise again, it will be a good thing for us."

Lu Yunyi shook his head:
"It's not a good thing, let's leave it at that."

After saying that, Lu Yunyi saw that he still looked eager to learn, so he said:

"As the head of the Market and Commerce Bureau, I can use the money I earn to build bridges and roads, develop military equipment, and renovate houses."

What if it were someone else?
With millions of taels of silver in hand, who wouldn't be tempted if they could live a life of comfort with just a little bit?

And who can guarantee that future leaders won't have ulterior motives?
Of course, it's not that I don't like making money, but I don't like making quick money by draining the pond to catch all the fish.

Because I have countless ways to make more money.

By the same token, can others resist the urge to make this kind of quick money? Can you?

Hou Xian's eyes widened, and his face flushed red.

Even if he was a eunuch.
Who can resist the temptation of having millions of dollars in their hands?
I'm afraid even the highest-ranking officials of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers couldn't stop them.

Even people from the palace are not allowed.
He had witnessed firsthand more than once two managers fighting over a job that paid no more than a thousand taels of silver.
Even if some of the money is skimmed off, the amount left in hand is only a few dozen taels.

And now, it's several million taels!

Tens of thousands of taels of silver can be made with just a click of a finger.
Such temptation is beyond words.

"My lord, I understand."

"Well, the brothers have been busy with all this, so you can make a booklet and distribute the reward money."

Anyone from the palace who comes to help will receive one hundred taels of silver.
However, there is a prerequisite: keep your hands and mouth shut, and do not disclose any information about the Market and Exchange Bureau.

As for the safety of this silver, you can rest assured.
I have already spoken with Eunuch Li in the palace; they will protect you.

Hou Xian was taken aback. The excitement he had just felt gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of emptiness, as if he had returned to being an ordinary person. He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, sir!"

"Alright, get the accounts sorted out as soon as possible. I'm heading back to my residence."

After saying this, Lu Yunyi closed the document, blew out the candle on the candlestick, and walked out of the yamen.

Hou Xian followed beside him and whispered:

"Sir, you are now a thorn in their side, so you must be careful in everything you do."

"Do not worry."

Lu Yunyi nodded and walked out of the Market and Exchange Bureau without looking back.

Basong, who was on duty at the door, quickly came forward to greet them:
"My lord, shall we return to the manor?"

"Let's go."

A group of more than ten people left the gate of the Market and Exchange Office and headed towards the Meridian Gate of the Imperial City.

When Lu Yunyi reached the square in front of the palace, he looked towards the location of the Six Ministries.

The place was brightly lit, and one could see the Imperial Guards standing in various places.

His gaze was cold and sharp, sweeping over everyone!

Upon reaching the Meridian Gate, before even showing his identification badge,

Lu Yunyi and his group gradually slowed their pace.
At the edge of the horizon, a large, obese man waited quietly.

He stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by two guards.

The clothes he was wearing were the official robes of the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
But when he wore it, it didn't make him look imposing at all; instead, it looked rather comical.
It's like a nouveau riche in the capital suddenly rising to a high position.

"My lord, this person is up to no good."

Basong looked alert, drew his long sword from his waist, as if he would charge forward at a moment's notice.

Lu Yunyi looked helpless and shook his head:

"Put it away. This is the capital city. What could possibly happen here?"

Basong looked somewhat bewildered and put away his longsword.

The group continued walking forward and stopped in front of the three people.

Lu Yunyi looked him up and down and smiled:

"you are?"

Du Pingping waved her sleeve, revealed a smile, and bowed deeply:
"Du Pingping, Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, greets Lord Lu."

"You're Du Pingping?"

"It is indeed I, your humble servant. I once served in Yunnan and met Lord Lu two years ago."

At that time you were still a military commander.
Now, however, he has transformed into the Director of the Market and Trade Bureau, who is in charge of commerce and trade. This makes me, your humble servant, sigh with emotion.

"What are you feeling sentimental about?" Lu Yunyi asked in return.

Du Pingping's smile froze, and she continued:
"Lord Lu has made rapid progress, but I have stagnated in recent years."

Lu Yunyi didn't speak again, but just looked at him quietly, and a feeling of both composure and pressure followed.

Du Pingping's face stiffened even more.
Facing this young man, he felt a sense of powerlessness, as if he were facing a noble family.

It was a condescending contempt, showing no regard for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Basong gripped the hilt of his knife again, his eyes lowered.
We've already prepared an offensive plan!
In his opinion, the person in front of him was really strange, blocking the road without saying anything, acting all mysterious.

In this tense atmosphere, Du Pingping sighed and bowed deeply:
"Lord Lu, I have come here today to ask you for a favor."

"explain."

Du Pingping looked around:

"How about we talk in private for a moment?"

Lu Yunyi ignored him and strode forward.

"Wait, my lord, please hear me out, this concerns a matter of great importance to the court!"

Lu Yunyi snapped out of his daze, a hint of displeasure in his eyes, and frowned as he said:

"Shouldn't the Imperial Guards on the front lines be decisive and ruthless? When did they become so indecisive!"

"My lord, this matter is of great importance, and I must treat it with utmost care."

"Just tell me if you have anything to say."

"I have received news that a lot of silver has entered the capital recently. Money shops in various places are overcrowded, and there is a constant stream of carts and escort agencies transporting silver on the roads. I suspect that someone is trying to cause trouble."

Lu Yunyi frowned slightly:
"Are those rebels still allocating funds?"

Du Pingping nodded:
"Of the silver that entered the city today, some was returned to the money exchange, and the whereabouts of the rest are unknown."

My suspicion is that, having failed in their land price negotiations, they are now turning their attention to grain.

"Is the news accurate?"

"50% sure."

A hint of absurdity flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes; these people's audacity was somewhat beyond his expectations.

They wouldn't dare to do something so serious that could cost them their lives.
Instead, they are now testing sweet potatoes in various parts of the Gyeonggi region, and under these circumstances, they are even turning their attention to food production.

I must admit, his courage is commendable.

However, he quickly calmed down and said calmly:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is said to know everything under the heavens, but they only have a 50% certainty about it?"

"My lord, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard cannot travel to the heavens and the earth, especially when it comes to matters of commerce, which we only have a superficial understanding of."

Lu Yunyi frowned, looking at him with some surprise:
"Kunming Rongyuan Pawnshop is your business, isn't it? You're doing quite well. How can you say you only have a superficial understanding?"

Du Pingping froze on the spot, her pupils suddenly contracted, and a chill ran from the soles of her feet.

"How did he know?"

(End of this chapter)