In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 990 Going against the current, if you don't advance, you'll fall behind.
"We can't go!!"

Du Pingping's hair stood on end, and her voice trembled with urgency:
"Sir, you can't go! Madam is in danger!"

He suddenly realized that these nobles were all ruthless characters who had risen to power through rebellion.

They kill without blinking an eye and act without any rhyme or reason.

The sudden appearance of the Duke of Song in Jurong County was already suspicious.

If something were to happen to them, they would have no way to explain it to the palace.

After much deliberation, Du Pingping concluded that the Duke of Song was bold enough to do such a thing.

After all, His Majesty had issued edicts on several occasions strictly prohibiting frontier generals from having private meetings with princes in the interior.
But the Duke of Song not only met with the King of Zhou, he met him several times.
In the end, His Majesty was unable to do anything to him.

Lu Yunyi sat behind his desk, his expression calm to the point of indifference.

My gaze fell on a corner of the document, and gradually drifted into a daze.

"Do you think the things Marquis Jingning did have anything to do with the Duke of Song?"

Du Pingping's expression changed drastically, and she stammered, unable to speak.
He dared not voice such speculations that involved nobles.

Lu Yunyi changed his question, tilting his head slightly as if deep in thought, and said:

"Perhaps we have misunderstood King Zhou."

King Zhou had just moved back to Henan from Yunnan; how could he dare to take such a risk at this time?
"To allocate so much silver to disrupt land prices in the capital, unless he doesn't want to stay in Kaifeng anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Du Pingping suddenly realized what was happening and stammered:
"Is the matter of the Dongning Trading Company being orchestrated behind the scenes by the Duke of Song?"

"not sure."

Lu Yunyi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly:
"The Duke of Song is the father-in-law of the King of Zhou. It is only natural for a father-in-law to help his son-in-law manage his business."

Or perhaps, the Dongning Trading Company was originally owned by the Duke of Song.
They were merely using the name of the Zhou king to deceive others.

Du Pingping's pupils contracted violently!
He suddenly understood many of his previous doubts.

Military personnel were indeed involved in the recent anti-Party case.
Not only the Marquis of Jiangxia of Zhongdu, but perhaps also the Duke of Song,
And the powerful noble forces hidden behind the major trading companies.

The situation, which had just eased slightly, instantly became complicated again.

Even the most intense disputes in the imperial court would at most result in the execution of three or nine generations of a family.

But if there is unrest in the army, tens of thousands of people could die at any time.

When war breaks out everywhere, the foundation that the Ming Dynasty has worked so hard to build will probably collapse in an instant!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in his heart, and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Lu, if you really can't go, why not invite Duke Song to the capital instead?"

He can see me if he wants, and he won't if he doesn't.

Since the situation is already set in stone, the confiscation of the Jingning Marquis's residence is a foregone conclusion.

Even if the Duke of Song pleads on their behalf, it won't change the outcome.

Lu Yunyi looked up at Du Pingping, his eyes filled with amusement:

"Lord Du, you are the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

I am the Director of the Market and Commerce Bureau. Our two departments have a long-standing feud.

When Mao Xiang was alive, he wished he could send me to Jurong right now to see how things would develop.

Why are you suddenly concerned about me?

Du Pingping's face stiffened, then she forced a smile:

"Lord Lu is joking. Lord Mao may have a personal grudge against you, but I do not."

Moreover, our two departments have long since reconciled.

Now that we're investigating the case together, we should continue to support and help each other in the future.

Lu Yunyi smiled and shook his head, downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, stood up, and picked up his long sword.

"Lord Du, you are not ruthless enough."

They dare not take risks when doing things, which instead limits their own progress.

I'm a soldier, and in battle, morale is the most important factor.

The fighting is still going on; if I don't go, wouldn't that be considered admitting defeat?

As he spoke, he picked up the knife and strode outside.
He stopped at the door, turned back with a half-smile:
"Lord Du, would you like to come along?"

Du Pingping felt her lips were dry and quickly shook her head:
"Lord Lu, I must remain in the capital to investigate the case and cannot leave."

"Then you should focus on investigating the case."

Lu Yunyi left out a sentence, his tone carrying a hint of reminder:

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been poisoned this time."
The Imperial Food Bureau, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Imperial Palace Administration, the Imperial Medical Academy, and the Ministry of Revenue all failed to uncover any clues.

Think carefully about how the Embroidered Uniform Guard should conduct themselves if His Majesty investigates.

Du Pingping stood in the room, watching Lu Yunyi's figure disappear outside the yamen gate, her pupils trembling violently.
The palace has only dealt with the people in the Imperial Food Bureau so far; there has been no action taken by other government departments.

But His Majesty would never be so merciful; he must be observing how things develop and seeing how the various government departments behave.

So what should the Embroidered Uniform Guard do?
He wanted to chase after him and ask what was wrong, but found that Lu Yunyi had already disappeared.

At this moment, Wang Tong, a centurion, walked in and asked in confusion:
"Sir, what's wrong with you?"

Du Pingping snapped out of her reverie, shook her head, and her eyes regained their resolve:

"Go to the Heavenly Prison."

Fifteen minutes later, the heavy prison gates slowly opened, and a suffocating musty smell wafted out.

Du Pingping walked past the line of prison guards to the deepest part of the prison.

The place has long lost its former elegance; the tables, chairs, benches, and study are all gone.

Only a tattered straw mat remained on the dark, damp ground.
A urine bucket sat in the corner, its pungent odor mixed with the musty smell, making one want to vomit.

On a straw mat, a middle-aged man dressed in prison clothes with disheveled hair sat leaning against the wall.

He stared blankly at the slivers of light filtering through the prison window.

His face was covered in dirt, leaving only an indescribable mess.

Du Pingping stood outside the cell, her lips slightly pursed, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

If I had seen this scene two months ago,
He might secretly rejoice.

But now, all that remains in my heart is fear.

If things continue like this, Mao Xiang today will be like himself tomorrow, or even worse.

He looked at the jailer, his tone icy:

"From now on, Lord Mao's expenses should be treated according to preferential standards. What kind of situation is this!"

The jailer's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with shock, but he dared not ask any more questions and quickly bowed:
"Yes, Lord Du, I will arrange it immediately!"

He waved his hand and left with a group of prison guards, leaving Du Pingping alone outside the cell.

Only then did Du Pingping's taut back finally relax, and she sighed.

"Lord Mao, your humble servant has come to see you."

Mao Xiang, lying on the straw mat, finally turned his sluggish head.

Looking into those lifeless eyes, Du Pingping felt a chill run down her spine.
How did he get so thin?
The Mao Xiang before me had lost his former majesty; his cheeks were sunken.
His dark skin clung tightly to his bones, making him look like a skeleton.

"hehe."

Mao Xiang opened his mouth, his dry voice like the hinge of a long-neglected wooden door, extremely grating:
"What are you doing here? Have you found the flintlock rifle?"

Du Pingping was taken aback, then nodded with a wry smile:

"We've found them, but we haven't found the killer yet."

A glimmer of light flashed in Mao Xiang's desolate eyes, and he seemed to regain some vitality:

"So...you've come to let me out?"

Du Pingping shook her head, and the light in Mao Xiang's eyes instantly went out:
"Then what are you here for?"

"A more troublesome matter has arisen, and I am not confident in dealing with it, so I have come to seek your advice."

Du Pingping briefly recounted the recent events, concluding with her concerns:
"My lord, the capital seems peaceful now, but I have a feeling that something is not right."

If His Majesty investigates further, the Embroidered Uniform Guard might also be implicated.

Mao Xiang sat up straight, his face showing shock. So many things had happened in just one month?
His heart sank; such poisoning was no easy feat, accomplished in a single day.
If we trace it back, he, as the former commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, would probably also be implicated.

After thinking carefully, he asked in a deep voice:
"Didn't the Embroidered Uniform Guards stationed at the Imperial Kitchen notice anything amiss?"

Du Pingping shook her head helplessly:
"No, but I can assure you that they were not involved in the treason."

"Neglecting one's duty is also a capital offense, what's the difference?"

Mao Xiang muttered to himself, his heart sinking lower and lower; there was no way he could get out now.

Seeing the change in his expression, Du Pingping said softly:
"My lord, what should I do now to avoid being purged in the future?"

Fearing that Mao Xiang would not offer advice, he added:
"Only by ensuring my own safety can I slowly devise a way to rescue you."

Unexpectedly, Mao Xiang leaned back against the wall, looking relaxed.

"Although the Heavenly Prison is not a place for humans to stay."

But since leaving the government office, I've felt much more at ease.

No more living in constant anxiety, no more guarding against conspiracies and schemes.

Over the past few months, I've actually come to like it here.

He looked at Du Pingping, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"How does it feel to be in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Holding the power of life and death in your hands, isn't it exhilarating?"

Du Pingping stood there, her eyes gradually becoming vacant:

"My lord, those who are not in this position do not know its hardships."

I've certainly seen what it's like to be the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Since I took over, I've lost 19 pounds.
If possible, I would prefer to return to Yunnan.

"hehe."

Mao Xiang smiled:
"The common people and officials, seeing our imposing presence, assumed we wielded immense power."

Little did they know, within the imperial court, we were nothing more than a discarded rag.

Those big shots, anyone can step on them.

Du Pingping's face showed bitterness:
"I didn't understand before, but I do now."

Mao Xiang leaned against the wall and struggled to his feet, his body swaying slightly.

He walked to the cell bars, leaned against the pillar, and whispered:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the sword in His Majesty's hand."

You can't do things well if you keep looking back and forth and hesitate like this.
He failed to please the nobles and court officials, and offended His Majesty as well. He was only one step away from death.

"In all my years in command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I've only come to understand one thing."

"what's up?"

"The knife must be sharp and ruthless enough!"

When faced with danger, there can be no hesitation. Even if it's iron in front of you, you must do your best to cut it down.

Even if the knife breaks, the owner will still repair it.

But if the knife has its own thoughts and hesitates to step forward,

Even the finest sword will end up being used as a table cushion.

Du Pingping stood there, inhaling the overwhelming stench of decay, and said in a deep voice:
"You mean, continue the investigation?"

"If it were me, I wouldn't just investigate, I'd investigate thoroughly!"

Mao Xiang's tone was decisive:

"Investigate not only the Marquis of Jingning, but also the Marquis of Jiangxia, the Duke of Wei, the Duke of Kai, the Duke of Song, and the Duke of Ying."

Even the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers must be investigated; let's turn this place upside down!

Du Pingping felt her whole body tighten:

"My lord, isn't this a bit too crazy?"

Mao Xiang looked at him indifferently, a mocking smile on his face:

"You've never fought a war, you don't understand the ways of battle."
Some generals can defend passes and cities simply by virtue of their reputation.
It wasn't because the enemy was kind, but because he truly had a record of killing countless enemies.

For the Embroidered Uniform Guard to command respect, they had to prove they had the ability to investigate and bring down their leaders.

Otherwise, why would the Six Ministries, the Nine Ministers, and the Five Military Commissions be afraid of you?

Just because you're allowed to carry knives in the capital? Ridiculous!

Du Pingping was stunned on the spot, and suddenly realized that what he said made a lot of sense.

Mao Xiang continued:
"The fact that Lu Yunyi sought cooperation with you, and that the Six Ministries ignored you, shows they think you're easy to bully."

Why don't they approach me for cooperation?
After such a major incident, you still expect to have a peaceful time in the government office?

Tell them to stay home and wait for the Imperial Guards to search their homes.
Preventing an investigation is tantamount to betraying the Party!

Do I really need to teach you such a simple principle?

"But what if a court official impeaches us?"

Mao Xiang gave him a strange look, then suddenly laughed:

"Are the Embroidered Uniform Guard afraid of impeachment?"

Du Pingping suddenly realized that Lu Yunyi, despite facing hundreds or even thousands of impeachment memorials, was still doing what he was supposed to do.
Although he claimed to be reflecting on his actions at home, he merely stopped attending court; he still went to the government offices as usual.

Even when the ministers who impeached him met him, they still bowed respectfully.

Thinking of this, a sudden surge of vigor arose within him, his eyes lit up, and he bowed deeply to Mao Xiang:
"Thank you for your guidance, sir! After this matter is over, I will do my best to get you out."

Mao Xiang slowly sat back down on the straw mat, and said with a wry smile:

"Take care of yourself first."

Du Pingping stopped arguing, quickly left the prison, and gave instructions to the Imperial Guards waiting at the gate:
"Quickly, prepare the horses! Let's go after Lord Lu!"

Jurong County is one of the eight counties of Yingtian, located southeast of Yingtian City.

Located at the end of the Huai River, this area boasts a dense network of waterways and beautiful scenery.

Because of its proximity to the capital, the people lived in peace and contentment, enjoying a harmonious and peaceful life.

As evening approached, the orange-red sunset, like molten gold, poured onto the official road outside Jurong County.
The main road has been paved with cement.

Like a silver ribbon, it meanders through the yellowing fields.

A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of rice paddies.
It made pedestrians on the road feel more comfortable.

On the official road, a group of over a hundred people stood out conspicuously.
The young man at the head of the group rode a tall horse.

A sense of oppression emanated from the area he surveyed, causing passersby to quickly move aside and give way.

Lu Yunyi reined in his horse and looked back.
The cement road stretched to the horizon, and horse-drawn carts carrying goods moved smoothly along it.

He was somewhat surprised that the imperial court acted so quickly.
Even Jurong County, which is only 30 miles from Yingtian, has paved roads with cement.

No wonder the commerce in the capital is becoming increasingly prosperous.
A commercial network based on cement roads and centered on Yingtian has begun to take shape.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a blue robe, with a refined and scholarly air, walked towards the entrance of the county town.

"May I ask if you are Lord Lu?"

Lu Yunyi nodded: "Who are you?"

"I am Tang Yanbo, a staff officer under the Duke of Song. I am here awaiting your presence, sir."
"If it is convenient for you, sir, you may enter the city first. The Duke of Song has already ordered that lodging and food be prepared for you."

Just as Lu Yunyi was about to respond, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from behind him, accompanied by familiar shouts:
"Lord Lu! Wait for me!"

He turned around and his expression instantly turned strange.
After confirming with his binoculars that the person was indeed Du Pingping, he was even more surprised.
Why is this fat man here? Could something have happened in the capital?
When Tang Yanbo, who had come to greet them, saw the dozen or so riders arriving wearing conspicuous flying fish robes, his expression changed slightly.
But he quickly recovered and stepped forward with a smile:

"Since Lord Du has also come, let's enter the city together. Duke Song has been waiting for a long time."

Du Pingping reined in her horse, panting as she stopped beside Lu Yunyi.
His slightly plump face was covered in mud from his journey.
"Lord Lu, I've finally caught up with you!"

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow: "What is this, Lord Du?"

Du Pingping glanced at the staff officer beside her and lowered her voice:
"I have already consulted His Majesty and have been granted permission to accompany you to meet the Duke of Song."

Tang Yanbo's smile instantly faded slightly.

His gaze toward Du Pingping held a hint of scrutiny, yet he maintained a polite demeanor.

"My lords, please follow me."

(End of this chapter)