In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1039 Requesting Yu Tongyuan to be granted a marquisate
"Reinstated to his original position?"

Mao Xiang was stunned on the spot.

His feud with Lu Yunyi was known to everyone in the capital, and both sides even lost a lot of men because of it.

He was imprisoned for his involvement in the anti-Party activities, but was later released to atone for his crimes by investigating the anti-Party members.

Lu Yunyi actually wants to help him get back to his post?
This is even more bizarre than the Crown Prince's poisoning.

Du Pingping stood to the side, her face pale, her fingertips unconsciously gripping the hem of her official robe.

During these two months, Mao Xiang was imprisoned, and the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard fell into his hands.

Although I am overwhelmed by paperwork every day and worried about making a mistake every night,
But the feeling of wielding power is ultimately hard to give up.

But he also knew his own limitations.
It's acceptable to do trivial tasks like planting spies and developing subordinates.

However, when it comes to dealing with and confronting the powerful figures of the Six Ministries and the Governor's Office, they are ultimately at a disadvantage from the start.

Thinking of this, he felt little resentment, but rather a sense of relief.

These days, he feels like he's walking on thin ice.

On one hand, they had to deal with the probing of various factions in the court.
On the one hand, they had to suppress the discontent of the old guard within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They were also exhausted from investigating the case of the prince's poisoning.

Hearing Lu Yunyi's plan, a huge weight was lifted from his heart.
But necessary dissuasion was still needed, so he took a deep breath and quickly spoke:
"Lord Lu, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
Lord Mao was, after all, a criminal, and His Majesty had imprisoned him in a fit of rage.
Reinstating him now would likely anger His Majesty!

Mao Xiang glanced at him, his vigilance returning.

He harbored a deep grudge against Lu Yunyi.
If Lu Yunyi were to enter the palace now and recommend him for reinstatement, what would His Majesty think?
What will the Crown Prince think? Will he assume that the two of them are secretly colluding?
For the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, colluding with foreign officials was a fatal taboo.

"Could he be trying to use this opportunity to kill me?" Mao Xiang wondered to himself.

Lu Yunyi glanced at Du Pingping, but didn't respond, instead looking directly at Mao Xiang:
"Do you think I want to hurt you?"

Mao Xiang remained silent for a long time, his mind racing, before finally shaking his head slowly and asking:

"Why?"

He finally voiced his doubts:
“We have a long-standing feud, and my reinstatement would not benefit you.”

"Whether or not someone is an enemy depends on their stance, not on personal grudges."

Lu Yunyi's tone was flat:
"Of course, we do have a deep personal grudge, and I will definitely settle accounts with you in the future, but that's another story."

With the Crown Prince now seriously ill, the struggle for the throne is rife with intrigue, and various factions in the capital are deeply entrenched in their own power struggles.

As the eyes and ears of His Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard must not fall into the hands of mediocre people.

Although Lord Du is talented, he is neither decisive nor ruthless enough in the face of the complex situation in the capital.

As for Darma, who was hiding in the shadows, acting in secret might be acceptable.
Once they are put on the stage, they are just a motley crew, incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.

You are ruthless, capable, and know how to maintain appropriate boundaries. You have been navigating the complex relationships with important officials in the court for many years.
In such a critical moment, if His Majesty and the Crown Prince don't use you, who else can they use?
"Does His Majesty release you so you can just sit around and do nothing all day?"

Mao Xiang glanced at Du Pingping.

Judging from the recent situation in Beijing,

His Majesty released him from prison, indeed with the intention of having him do some work.

However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had made too many enemies, and no one petitioned for his reinstatement.

Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard itself did not want him to regain power.

Unexpectedly, in the end, I would have to rely on this arch-enemy for help.
For a moment, Mao Xiang felt a mix of emotions and sighed softly:

"The matter concerning Zhu Jinyu was decided by someone else on their own initiative; it was not my intention."

Upon hearing this, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Lu Yunyi frowned, his gaze towards Mao Xiang filled with absurdity, and he reprimanded him without any politeness:
"Have you gone mad from being locked up in jail? I'm talking to you about the state of the world, but all you're thinking about is your dealings on the Qinhuai River?"

Mao Xiang and Du Pingping were both taken aback, then fell silent.

This Lord Lu is even more ruthless than rumored.

Lu Yunyi took a deep breath and calmed himself down a bit.

His gaze swept over the fallen maple leaves in the courtyard, and his voice deepened:

"I need to leave the capital and return to Daning. The palace needs a pawn who can fight the rebels head-on and be at the forefront."

After much thought, someone as ruthless as you is the most suitable candidate.

It can both deter those forces that are eager to make a move and
This will also allow us to continue investigating the truth behind the prince's poisoning.

As for others, they have too many options and cannot afford to gamble everything.

Upon hearing this, Du Pingping's pupils suddenly contracted.

He suddenly understood. No wonder His Majesty had been cold towards him lately, rarely even summoning him.
It turns out that he was unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility of directly fighting against the rebels.

Thinking of this, Du Pingping felt a wave of fear wash over her.
Fortunately, I wasn't very capable and wasn't pushed into the limelight.
"Lord Lu, are we going to continue this fight? Isn't it too dangerous?"

Lu Yunyi stared at Du Pingping in astonishment, then smiled helplessly:
"A war that's easy to fight, is it our turn?"
The battles that could allow us to rise to prominence in the capital must be incredibly difficult and have no chance of victory.

Only by winning battles that seem hopeless can we have a chance, even if it's just a slim one.

If it weren't difficult or dangerous, it wouldn't be our turn at all!

This general was born into a northern border region and served in the army for ten years, dealing with messes that others were unwilling to handle.

Only by winning these battles can we have a chance to gain entry into the inner sanctum.

I understood this principle ten years ago.

"Lord Du is over forty, and still hasn't figured it out?"

Du Pingping's face turned pale, feeling a sharp aura rushing towards her, and she quickly lowered her head:
"This humble official understands."

At this moment, Mao Xiang spoke softly, his tone tinged with uncertainty:
Will His Majesty agree?

"His Majesty will not agree, but the Crown Prince will."

Lu Yunyi's words were concise and to the point, carrying an undeniable certainty.
"If the Crown Prince agrees, then His Majesty agrees."

Mao Xiang took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and bowed deeply to Lu Yunyi:
"If he can truly be reinstated, Mao Xiang will certainly prioritize the greater good and investigate the truth behind the Crown Prince's poisoning!"

As Du Pingping watched from the side, the last glimmer of hope in her heart vanished.

He shook his head with a wry smile and bent down to pick up the shards of porcelain from the ground.

His fingertips were cut by sharp shards, and blood seeped out, but he was completely unaware.

Well, being able to unload this heavy burden might not be a bad thing.

Just then, Lu Yunyi spoke again, his tone still calm, but he dropped an even bigger bombshell:
"The second matter is that I will jointly petition His Majesty with several ministers to grant Yu Tongyuan the title of hereditary noble."

"what?"

This time, not only was Du Pingping so shocked that she stood up again,

Even Mao Xiang, who had just straightened up, staggered and almost fell over.

He stared at Lu Yunyi in disbelief, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion, his voice trembling with shock:
"Are you crazy?"

Who is Yu Tongyuan?

That was their common enemy!
Mao Xiang remembered the incident on the Qinhuai River very clearly.

As a result, the Embroidered Uniform Guard lost a commander of one thousand and several commanders of one hundred, suffering heavy losses and becoming a laughing stock for others.

Du Pingping stammered as she asked:

"Lord Lu, are you perhaps mistaken about something?"
"Governor Yu has a grudge against both you and Lord Mao. Granting him a marquisate would be like raising a tiger to cause future trouble."

Mao Xiang also stared intently at Lu Yunyi, his eyes filled with accusation:

Yu Tongyuan is now settled in Jiancheng, Sichuan.

"Unless something major happens, he won't be able to return to the capital for several years. Why drag him out?"

Lu Yunyi picked up the teacup and gently blew away the foam.
His movements were so composed that it was as if what he had just said was not about bestowing a title upon his enemy, but merely a trivial matter.

He looked up at the two of them and said slowly:
"Given the current situation, we absolutely cannot act alone."
We must unite all those who can be united, as much as possible.

Although Yu Tongyuan has a grudge against you and me, he has no grudge against the palace and is quite influential in the navy.

If such figures could be granted titles and honors, they would be enough to serve as a banner, at least enough to contend with the rebels.
Moreover, as a descendant of a noble family, he had delayed inheriting his title and had no way out.
If he returns to the capital, he will surely devote himself wholeheartedly to serving His Majesty and the Crown Prince.

"Aren't you afraid he'll cause you trouble after he's made a marquis?" Mao Xiang frowned.

Lu Yunyi chuckled and shook his head helplessly:

"If we lose this time, we won't even be able to save our lives. Why would we care about these personal grudges?"
Mao Xiang, you are the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and you know more secrets than I do.
But when it comes to judging the current situation and future trends, you are far inferior to me.

To tell you the truth, I was originally going to return to Daning, but I'm just temporarily putting down my fists.

As soon as the situation stabilizes and the Crown Prince's condition improves, the palace will surely strike even more fiercely.

But if there's no chance to throw another punch after this retraction, everything will be over, and chaos will be imminent.

Throughout history, it is known that once a rebel party seizes power, it will inevitably launch a counterattack and seek revenge!

"You might survive outside the pass, but inside, you'll be the first to die!"

Lu Yunyi's words struck Mao Xiang's heart like a heavy hammer.

He stood frozen for a moment, the doubt and hesitation in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by sharpness and decisiveness. Yes, now that things have come to this...
How can they possibly have the right to dwell on personal grudges?
If the rebel party truly seizes power,

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he probably wouldn't even have a chance to defend himself; he might be beaten to death on the spot in the capital.

Mao Xiang took a deep breath, his posture becoming even more solemn than before:

"What you say is absolutely right. I was short-sighted before, only thinking about personal grudges, and almost ruined the overall situation."

If I am reinstated, I will dedicate myself to investigating the traitors and uncovering the truth behind His Highness the Crown Prince's poisoning. Even if it costs me my life, I will not flinch!

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly.

What he wanted was precisely this resolute determination to go all in.

In the current situation, only by going all out can we have a chance of survival.

Lu Yunyi said calmly:

"After you are reinstated, you need to keep a close eye on four people."

"please say."

Mao Xiang immediately focused his attention and even softened his breathing.

Du Pingping also came closer, her eyes full of tension, afraid of missing a single word.

"Liu Sanwu, Fang Xiaoru, Huang Zicheng, Xu Guan."

Lu Yunyi spoke slowly and deliberately, and with each name he uttered, Mao Xiang's brows furrowed more deeply.

"These four people?"

Mao Xiang suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment:
"Liu Sanwu is a senior official in the court, and is known for his loyalty and integrity."
Fang Xiaoru was Prince Yunwen's teacher, and he taught him daily at the Eastern Palace.

Huang Zicheng and Xu Guan were both members of the Hanlin Academy.

Although they often criticized the new policies, they never overstepped any boundaries. Are they a rebel party?

Not to mention Mao Xiang, even Du Pingping, who was standing to the side, was so shocked that her mouth dropped open.

These individuals were either literary leaders or close advisors to the Crown Prince.

By all accounts, they have absolutely nothing to do with the term "rebel party."

Lu Yunyi glanced at Du Pingping, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated for months, but couldn't even get close to the rebels!
He took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"Would a traitor wear those two words on their face?"

Keeping a close eye on them is definitely the right thing to do; there must be a huge interest group behind them.

My grandmaster usually seemed harmless.

However, after Song Lian's death, he became the top scholar, enjoying immense prestige among intellectuals, with students and colleagues all over the country.
I suspect that Xu Guanneng's ability to win six consecutive awards was orchestrated by him behind the scenes.

Furthermore, Fang Xiaoru was able to remain in the Crown Prince's residence because Liu Sanwu, through a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, arranged for him to be personally selected by the Crown Princess.
Even General Lan Yu couldn't drive him away, there must be something fishy about this!

We must investigate thoroughly and uncover his clandestine activities.

"What about Huang Zicheng and Xu Guan?" Mao Xiang pressed.

"Although the person behind Huang Zicheng is unknown, judging from his attitude towards the precious paper, he must be related to those prestigious families."

Lu Yunyi's tone was indifferent:
"The implementation of the new policies and the circulation of paper money have affected the interests of landlords and gentry."

They then secretly colluded under the guise of opposing the new policies.
In the past two months, I have received no fewer than two hundred impeachment memorials, from all over the country, with the furthest originating even from Guangzhou.
Besides these wealthy and powerful men, I can't think of anyone else with such great ability.

At this point, Lu Yunyi paused, then added:
"Besides these four people, you also need to investigate someone else immediately, named Qi Tai."

"Qi Tai?"

Mao Xiang was taken aback: "Which department does this person belong to?"

"do not know."

Lu Yunyi stated frankly:

"According to the information I have received, this person is extremely important. We must find him as soon as possible and keep him under close surveillance!"

"His place of origin and family background?"

"I don't know, I only know one name!"

Du Pingping and Mao Xiang exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what Lu Yunyi was up to.

But Mao Xiang did not refuse, and nodded slightly:

"I will have someone investigate this carefully."

Mao Xiang quickly changed the subject:

"The people Lord Lu mentioned are all scholars, unlikely to interfere with the court's decisions."

The real rebels should be hiding within the Six Ministries and the Governor-General's Office. Who do you think they are?

Lu Yunyi glanced at him, his tone laced with sarcasm:

"Who among the Six Ministries, do I need to tell you?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had placed agents in the homes of the high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries.

You know better than I which officials are colluding with which forces.

These people appear to have their own specific roles, but they are secretly connected. If one dares to dig deeper, more accomplices will naturally be implicated.

Mao Xiang nodded emphatically, already having made his plans.

He knew that this reinstatement was by no means a return to his former glory.
Instead, they stepped into an even more dangerous vortex, where one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.

"I understand."

Lu Yunyi was silent for a moment, then said:

"You don't need to interfere with Yu Tongyuan's ennoblement; I will join forces with several veteran generals to submit a memorial to the throne."

If this matter succeeds, after Yu Tongyuan returns to the capital, you should find an opportunity to communicate with him.
Let him put aside his personal grudges for the time being and unite against external threats.

Otherwise, if our forces fall into internal strife, we will have no chance of winning, and everyone will be doomed.

"I see."

The two then discussed some more details.

As dusk approached, Lu Yunyi stood up:

"I'm leaving now. From today onwards, we don't need to contact each other privately anymore, lest we give others something to hold against us."

I will submit the memorial requesting my reinstatement tomorrow.

During this period, you should secretly make preparations, and once the order is given, you should begin the operation.

Mao Xiang stood up, his expression a mixture of emotion and complex feelings:
"I never expected that you would be the one to help me in the end."

Lu Yunyi ignored him, turned around and walked out, his steps steady and without hesitation.

Only Mao Xiang and Du Pingping remained in the courtyard.

The autumn wind swirled up fallen leaves from the ground, circling around the stone table, creating a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.

Du Pingping was the first to speak, her voice trembling slightly:

"Lord Mao, don't you think..."

Lord Lu seems to know something.
I always felt he was taking a desperate gamble, but the situation wasn't actually that bad.

I originally thought that both sides would cease hostilities and the court would return to stability.

Mao Xiang remained silent, his brows furrowed.

Didn't he feel the same way?
However, judging from Lu Yunyi's past experience in anticipating the enemy's moves in military campaigns,
This person indeed possesses foresight and insight far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Mao Xiang pondered for a long time, slowly sorting out his thoughts, his voice hoarse:

"The root of the problem lies in the Crown Prince's serious illness."

"But why would he take such a desperate gamble?"

Du Pingping was puzzled:
"The new policies have been temporarily suspended. He left the capital and returned to Daning to continue serving as the commander-in-chief. He could have lived a peaceful life, so why does he seem to be risking his life?"

Mao Xiang glanced at him, his expression complex:

“He can’t afford to gamble. If something really happens to the Crown Prince, the world will be in chaos. Who can guarantee peace and stability in the future?”

Du Pingping lowered her head, her unease growing stronger.

He suddenly remembered what Lu Yunyi had said earlier.
"If we lose this time, we'll lose our lives."

"Lord Mao, do you think we can win?"

Du Pingping raised her head, her eyes filled with trepidation.

"do not know."

Mao Xiang slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of bewilderment, yet also a touch of resolute determination:

"But as members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, we had no choice but to fight with all our might, either to win or to die."

(End of this chapter)