In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1042 Unexpected Visitor
As December arrived, the weather suddenly turned cold.

The cold wind howled without restraint, producing a deafening roar, as if vying with the Yellow River for supremacy.

However, it is clear that the Yellow River, which has entered the dry season, is no match for such a cold wind.

The sky was overcast, and the world was shrouded in a gray haze.
The dried-up river water, constrained by the dikes on both banks, rushes towards the sea.

Even during the dry season, the sheer force of the torrents is still quite terrifying.

On the dike in Zhonghe Town outside Kaifeng City,

Li Zhigang, with his thin frame, stood quietly on the top of the dam.

Gazing at the rushing Yellow River, his eyes were vacant, as if he were lost in thought.

Not far away, thousands of laborers were still busy on both sides of the dike.
A group of people were walking slowly along the embankment, trying to check for gaps in it.

In the past, their hearts were always heavy.

In the past, if a crack was discovered at this time, it had to be carefully repaired before the following spring.

Otherwise, if the dikes collapse during the rainy season, nearby villages will suffer.

But at this moment, the team was chatting and laughing as they checked, showing none of their usual tension.

The reason is that the dikes today are made of cement, concrete, bamboo reinforcement, hemp rope, and clay, making them extremely hard.

The Yellow River embankment stretching for hundreds of miles upstream is the best proof.

Even during the flood season in July and August, it can withstand the largest flood peaks without any gaps.
The current amount of water during the dry season is negligible.

at this time,

The sound of rapid hoofbeats broke the laughter and chatter of the group.

Many people stopped what they were doing, looked up,

A dozen or so men on warhorses were seen galloping towards them.

Everyone looked surprised.

Didn't the soldiers who were helping out leave long ago? Why are there still people coming?
Over the past year, the Henan Provincial Administration Commission recruited laborers and hired craftsmen to build dikes.

The Henan Military Command also dispatched soldiers from more than ten garrisons to assist in the operation.
Now that it's December, the soldiers have withdrawn due to the cold weather.

As the caravan drew closer, the crowd grew increasingly astonished.
Although the leader was wearing standard armor,

However, the patterns and ribbons on the helmet clearly conform to the regulations for the deputy commander of the garrison.

Li Zhigang, who was on the embankment, also heard the noise and turned around to look.

A middle-aged general dismounted and strode onto the embankment.

Li Zhigang stepped forward, forcing a smile:
"General Ma, what has happened?"

The visitor was Ma Dake, the Vice Commander of Xuanwu Guard of Henan Province.

He remained tall and muscular, his rough hands always gripping a long sword, exuding a fierce aura unique to the battlefield.

Upon seeing Li Zhigang, Ma Dake hurried along, but his eyes revealed surprise and delight. He quickly said:

"Lord Li, we just received news that Lord Lu has led his men into Kaifeng territory and will arrive in Zhonghe Town tonight."

"Lord Lu?"

A look of confusion flashed across Li Zhigang's eyes, then he suddenly realized what was happening and his eyes widened in shock:
"Lord Lu? What brings him here?"

"The message said that the affairs in the capital had been settled and he was preparing to return to Daning."

"It's settled?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhigang's brows furrowed instantly, and his heart skipped a beat.

Although his official rank was not high, he had worked in the Ministry of Works for a long time.
They also undertook the construction work for the Yingtian Trading Company.
He has a fairly active network of connections and can hear a lot of news in Beijing.

Now I hear that Lu Yunyi is going back to Daning
A sense of unease welled up within him; things could not possibly end so quickly.

"Lord Li, are you not welcoming Lord Lu?"

Seeing his serious expression, Ma Da asked in surprise.

Li Zhigang snapped out of his thoughts and quickly shook his head:
"No, no, General Ma, don't overthink it."
"I am simply surprised; matters in the capital shouldn't have been resolved so quickly."

Ma Dake didn't understand the intricacies of life in the capital, nor did he think too much about it. He smiled and said:
"Since you have left the capital, there must be no major problems."

Lord Li, should we inform the officials of the Three Departments of Henan about this matter?

Li Zhigang was immediately conflicted.

Lu Yunyi has now been granted the title of Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, making him a top-ranking official of the second rank.

When such an important person passes through, one should, in principle, greet and receive him.

But he was also aware of the grievances of the officials in the three departments of Henan.

The two million taels of silver allocated for flood control went directly into his hands without going through the Three Departments.

Officials from the three departments were quite dissatisfied with this.

After all, with such a large sum of money, one can reap considerable benefits simply by handling it once.

Moreover, he had heard that one of the managers under Prince Zhou had a grudge against Lu Yunyi in the capital.

Even King Zhou himself lost a lot of money because of Lu Yunyi.

Thinking of this, Li Zhigang gently shook his head:

"Let's forget about it. Lord Lu is always in a hurry."

If the three officials were to host a reception, it would inevitably be a grand affair; it would be better to keep everything simple.

Ma Dake nodded repeatedly:
"That's what I was thinking too, then I'll make the arrangements."

Li Zhigang nodded:
"Thank you for your trouble, General Ma. I will arrange things on the dike and then go with you to greet him."

"it is good!"

As dusk fell, Zhonghe Town became even more tranquil, enveloped in twilight.

The Yellow River flowed mournfully below the dam, a cold wind whipping up fine sand.

They flapped the wine flags at the entrance of town, making a rustling sound.

When Lu Yunyi and his group arrived at the town entrance,
The last rays of the setting sun were slowly sinking below the horizon.

The lanterns hanging outside the post station have been lit, their dim light illuminating the three faded wooden characters "Zhonghe Post Station".

"grown ups!"

Li Zhigang and Ma Dake were already waiting at the entrance of the post station.

Seeing Lu Yunyi dismount, the two quickly stepped forward and bowed in unison.

Li Zhigang was still thin, with a little dirt on his official robe.

Ma Dake, dressed in full military attire, had copper studs on his armor gleaming coldly under the lamplight.

Her eyes were filled with excitement as she looked at Lu Yunyi, and her hands clenched slightly.

Lu Yunyi reached out and helped the two of them up.
His gaze swept across their faces, and he chuckled and joked:

"It's been a long time since I last saw you, Lord Li. You've become even thinner. It seems you've put a lot of effort into the task of flood control."

Da Ke still looks energetic, and appears more clear-headed than before.

Ma Dake scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly:
"When I was fighting alongside the adults, I only knew how to charge into battle; I had no idea how to be an official."

Having spent a year in the local military garrison, even if it was just a period of hardship, I've gained some experience.

Li Zhigang smiled too, his eyes filled with genuine respect:

"My lord, you must be tired from your journey. Please come into the post station to rest. I have prepared hot water and food for you."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and instructed the post station manager to settle the accompanying soldiers. Then the three of them walked into the post station together.

Several withered old willows were planted in the courtyard.

A cold wind blows, and the bare branches sway gently.

Upon entering the main hall, a servant served hot tea, the steam dispelling some of the chill.

Lu Yunyi sat in the main seat, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
His gaze fell on Ma Dake, and he went straight to the point:

"Da Ke, you were the bravest vanguard in battle. How have you been these past two years in Xuanwu Guard?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Dake's smile faded slightly.

Her hand tightened around the teacup, and her tone carried a hint of frustration:

"My lord, to be honest, working in a local garrison is far less enjoyable than going on a campaign with you."

In war, it's a real battle; whoever has the skill goes first.
But inside the garrison, it was all just scheming and backstabbing.

He paused, as if he had finally found someone to confide in after holding back a lot of things:

"I come from a military background and don't understand those intricacies. The officials in the garrison are either sons of noble families or have inherited their positions from their fathers."

Not only were they slow in doing things, but they were also always thinking about occupying military farmland and embezzling military pay.

The subordinates wanted to reorganize, but were hindered at every turn; even training the troops required them to defer to others.

Lu Yunyi listened and suddenly burst into laughter.
Laughter echoed in the quiet hall, easing the somber mood.
"Da Ke, do you think that just because you have a high official position, you can do whatever you want?"

He put down his teacup, his tone carrying a hint of seasoned wisdom:
"The higher the official rank, the more constraints one faces, and the less comfortable one feels."

As the saying goes, "Those in a position should fulfill their responsibilities," and the greater the official position, the greater the responsibility.

No rush, we can proceed slowly and steadily.

Ma Dake paused, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes:
"What do you mean, sir?"

"You are a military general, your foundation lies in military power and in the training of soldiers."

Lu Yunyi spoke solemnly:
You don't need to get involved in the infighting within the garrison.
All you need to do is train your troops well and ensure proper defense.

The imperial court will have to resort to force sooner or later.
The remnants of the Northern Yuan dynasty in the northern frontier have not been eliminated, and local chieftains in the southern frontier also frequently rebel.
"At that time, what we'll lack are generals like you who can fight battles."

He looked at the renewed light in Ma Dake's eyes and continued:

"You should spend a few more years gaining experience in Henan and thoroughly understand the ins and outs of the local health stations."

If there are opportunities for promotion in the future, or if there is war in the northern border region,
I will devise a plan for you, so you can return to the battlefield and fight a good, satisfying war.

Ma Dake suddenly stood up, bowed deeply to Lu Yunyi, and said with a hint of emotion in his voice:

"Thank you, sir! I've been looking forward to this day!"
"With just a word from you, sir, I would go through fire and water without batting an eye!"

"Sit down."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, a smile in his eyes:

"We're brothers who've been through thick and thin together, so it's too formal to say such things."

After Ma Dake sat down, Lu Yunyi turned to look at Li Zhigang, who was listening quietly to him, and softened his tone:
"Lord Li, how is the task of controlling the flood going?"
Before I left Beijing, I heard that the dikes in Henan had begun to show results.

When the topic of flood control was mentioned, Li Zhigang's eyes lit up instantly.
His previous restraint had largely dissipated, and he stood up, bowed, and said:
"Reporting to my lord, I have successfully completed my mission."

Construction began in the spring of the 23rd year of the Hongwu reign (1394), and nearly two years have passed since then.
They jointly constructed over 400 li (approximately 200 kilometers) of dikes along the Yellow River.
From Kaifeng Prefecture to Guide Prefecture, more than twenty dangerous shoals along the way have been reinforced.

He paused, his tone tinged with pride:

"The adults initially suggested using cement mixed with bamboo reinforcement and clay to build the dike, and it proved to be very effective."

During this year's flood season, the Yellow River rose to levels that would normally cause its banks to breach, yet the newly constructed dikes remained completely unmoved.
The people of dozens of villages along the river no longer need to flee their homes like they did in previous years.

"Okay, okay!"

Lu Yunyi nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of approval:

"Water management is a matter of vital importance to people's livelihood. Protecting the Yellow River means protecting the hearts of the people."

His Majesty and the court have both recognized this achievement.

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief appeared on Li Zhigang's face.
But he quickly frowned, his tone carrying a hint of concern:

"However, while I was in Henan, I did not get along well with the officials of the Three Departments."

Especially recently, the two million taels of silver allocated for flood control were directly disbursed by the Market and Exchange Department, bypassing the other three departments.
They harbored considerable resentment and constantly made things difficult for each other.

Some even threatened to make sure their subordinates failed their performance evaluations.

Lu Yunyi smiled knowingly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly:
"You don't need to worry about this. Before I left the capital, I already spoke with Lord Hou, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

He will personally oversee your performance evaluation.

Your efforts in controlling the floods have benefited countless people; everyone in the court can see that.
The Ministry of Personnel will never bury your achievements because of pressure from a few individuals.

A huge weight was lifted from Li Zhigang's heart.
He let out a long sigh of relief and bowed deeply to Lu Yunyi:
"Thank you, sir! I have no way to repay you but to continue guarding the Yellow River dike and live up to your trust!"

"This is enough."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down:
"The people's ability to live and work in peace and contentment is more important than anything else."

After Li Zhigang sat down, he held the warm teacup, but his fingertips were still a little cold.

He was silent for a moment, then looked up at Lu Yunyi.
With a hint of hesitation in her eyes, she finally couldn't help but speak:
"My lord, if I may be so bold as to ask, is His Highness the Crown Prince in the capital truly out of danger?"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became quiet.

Ma Dake also put down his teacup, straightened his posture, and his eyes were full of seriousness.

He knew that Lu Yunyi's backer was the Duke of Liang.

The Duke of Liang's backer is none other than His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness the Crown Prince suffers a misfortune, this whole group of people will be in serious trouble.

Lu Yunyi paused slightly in his teacup, sighed softly, and his tone deepened:
"His Highness the Crown Prince's health is indeed better than it was a few days ago."

The imperial physician said that her pulse had stabilized considerably, but she was still weak and needed to rest and recuperate.

He looked up at the two of them, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness that quickly turned into composure:
"His Majesty's order to temporarily quell the conflict is not out of fear of those undercurrents."

Rather, they did not want to cause further turmoil in the court while the Crown Prince was recuperating.

The crown prince is the foundation of the nation; if he is distracted by court intrigues, it would be a greater loss than a gain.

Li Zhigang's brows relaxed slightly, but doubts remained:

"But I have heard that rumors are spreading throughout the capital."
Moreover, Mao Xiang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been reinstated. Isn't he your mortal enemy?

"Rumors are just rumors."

Lu Yunyi interrupted him, his tone carrying a certainty:

"Mao Xiang was reinstated to his original post to investigate the truth behind the Crown Prince's poisoning, not to oppose me."

Don't worry, His Majesty understands.
If another purge is launched now, it will only give the rebels an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and disrupt the overall plan.

The so-called truce is nothing more than a delaying tactic.
Once the Crown Prince is fully recovered, the court will make its decision.

Ma Dake seemed to understand but not quite, yet he grasped the key point, scratched his head, and said:
"So, the capital won't be in chaos for the time being?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"That's right. You're in Xuanwu Guard, so just focus on training your troops to be strong and guarding the defenses of Henan."

Lord Li, you must continue to keep a close eye on the Yellow River dikes to ensure a safe flood season next year.

Doing your job well is a way of relieving the court of its burdens, and that's better than anything else.

He paused and added:
"As for what is happening in the capital, you don't need to speculate too much, and you shouldn't spread it around."

The people of Henan have just begun to enjoy a peaceful life; they must not let rumors disturb their peace of mind.

The three chatted for a while longer, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious.

Ma Dake spoke animatedly about his past exploits in the northern frontier, where he killed a Northern Yuan general.

Li Zhigang also opened up and started talking.

He cursed those greedy officials in the Three Departments.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the post station, accompanied by a servant's loud announcement:

"His Highness Prince Zhou has arrived!"

His words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the hall.

Li Zhigang and Ma Dake's expressions changed drastically in an instant.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.
I intended to keep a low profile this time and never informed the Zhou Prince's Mansion, so why did he suddenly come?
A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He put down his teacup, slowly stood up, and looked towards the doorway.

The door to the post station was pushed open.

A figure dressed in a prince's python robe walked in.

The newcomer was around thirty years old, and his face bore a resemblance to the current emperor.

With sharp eyes, a jade belt at his waist, and a steady gait, he...
He exuded the majesty of a prince.

Behind him were several guards from the Prince's Palace, each of them agile and vigilant, scanning the hall with wary eyes.

"Lord Lu has come from afar. I have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

Prince Zhu Su of Zhou entered the hall with a faint smile on his face.

His gaze fell on Lu Yunyi, his tone seemingly polite.

Yet it exudes an undeniable sense of oppression.

Lu Yunyi understood that the King of Zhou already knew his whereabouts, and his arrival today was by no means accidental.

He stepped forward and bowed in greeting:

"Your subject Lu Yunyi greets Your Highness Prince Zhou."

"When I passed through Henan, I intended not to disturb the local people, and I dared not inform Your Highness. I beg Your Highness's understanding."

(End of this chapter)