In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1044 Secret Meeting with the Prince of Yan
Half an hour later, King Zhou left the post station with his men.

Despite his best efforts to hide it, the smile on his face was still impossible to conceal.

Li Zhigang stood at the door, watching the departing figure of the Prince of Zhou.
He then turned to look at Lu Yunyi inside the post station, his eyes filled with doubt.
They clearly thought the King of Zhou had come to cause trouble, so why did he leave so easily?

He went into the house and asked impatiently:
"Sir, what... what's going on?"

Lu Yunyi sat at the head of the table, holding a teacup in his hand, and said calmly:

"The reason why the King of Zhou was able to return to Henan was because His Highness the Crown Prince pleaded for him."

Even if he did something outrageous, he could not be moved away again in a short time, otherwise the palace would lose face.

Therefore, the King of Zhou was someone worth winning over.

A flash of understanding crossed Li Zhigang's eyes, and he quickly pressed for an answer:

"But His Highness Prince Zhou's reputation is not very good."

"Don't worry about your reputation."

Lu Yunyi spoke calmly:
"All the world's hustle and bustle is for profit. If the construction company builds a cement workshop in Henan in the future, we can give him some shares."

Pay a small amount of money to have a feudal lord protect your business.

That's how you make big profits later; it's a worthwhile investment.

Li Zhigang looked enlightened. Although he was somewhat reluctant to give up the shares, he knew that this was the best solution.

If he offends the King of Zhou and is pressured by the officials of the Three Departments, his position as a political advisor will be in real trouble.

"Sir, the construction company wants to build a cement workshop..."
"I see quite a lot; isn't this a bit excessive?"

Lu Yunyi pondered for a moment, then said softly:
"Not many. Cement and concrete can be used for more than just building roads and dams; they have many other uses as well."

If enough workshops are built, they can supply the market for at least several decades.

To avoid having to rush into construction in case of an emergency later, which would be too late.

Li Zhigang nodded repeatedly.

He already had a strong preference for cement and concrete.

Now, the Yellow River flood control efforts have proven their effectiveness.

Wealthy households are starting to use this thing when building houses; we should definitely build more workshops.

Lu Yunyi continued:

"A group of craftsmen will come from Daning after the New Year."

The first step was to build cement workshops, and the second was to teach locals how to make cement, implementing a mentorship system where experienced workers guide newcomers.

I have entrusted the Zhou king to look after you, but you must not let your guard down.

Craftsmen are the foundation of a nation's strength and prosperity.

The imperial court granted them artisan status so that they could work steadily and have a stable income regardless of drought or flood.

"I do not wish to see artisans from Daning ostracized in Henan."

Li Zhigang's expression instantly turned solemn, and he rose and bowed deeply.
"Rest assured, my lord, as long as I remain in Henan, I will never allow them to be bullied."

Ma Dake, standing to the side, also suppressed his fierce aura and spoke in a deep voice:
"Rest assured, sir, I will protect them."

Lu Yunyi's expression relaxed as he smiled and gave his instructions:

"Just do your job well."

When serving as an official in the court, the most taboo thing is to overstep one's authority and interfere in matters that are not within one's purview.

Otherwise, even if you get things done well, you'll still be ostracized by your colleagues.

A hint of doubt flashed in Ma Dake's eyes.
Although he didn't fully understand, he still carefully wrote it down and bowed, saying:

"Yes, sir, I understand."

Lu Yunyi took a deep breath and waved his hand:
"Go back and get some rest for the night."

I will be setting off with my men tomorrow, so there's no need for you to see me off. It's best to keep a low profile.

Although the two were reluctant to part, they still respectfully rose:

"Yes, sir, we shall take our leave."

"Go."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, and after the two left,
He stared at the empty room, the smile on his face gradually fading, his eyes becoming vacant, and even his gaze losing focus.

After some time, Basong came in carrying wine and dishes.
Seeing him deep in thought, I didn't dare disturb him, but gently placed the wine and dishes on the table and whispered a reminder:
"My lord, please have your meal. The poison has already been detected."

"Yes, you've worked hard."

Lu Yunyi snapped out of his daze and gave the order:

“Tell the brothers to hold on a little longer on the road, and when we get to Beiping, we’ll arrange a good meal for them.”

"Yes, my lord."

Two days later, the winter in Beiping was several times more frigid than in Henan.

The howling north wind whipped up heavy snowflakes.

It swept across the majestic city wall, turning the blue bricks and gray tiles into a pure white expanse.

The moat was covered with a thick layer of ice, and the water beneath it flowed silently.
The withered willow branches on the bank, covered in snowflakes, whistled in the wind, creating a desolate scene.

After the first snowfall, the streets were deserted.
Occasionally, people wrapped tightly in cotton-padded coats would hurry by, their footprints quickly covered by the fresh snow.

Inside the Prince of Yan's mansion, the Taihu stones in the courtyard were piled up with snow, making them look bloated.
A few red plum blossoms quietly bloomed, topped with snowflakes.

The specks of crimson against the white snow added a touch of aloof vitality.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the study, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, dressed in a dark blue casual robe with a jade belt around his waist, sat upright before the desk.

He held a document delivered by express horse from the capital in his hands, his brows furrowed slightly.

His face was resolute, his eyes sharp, his nose high and straight, and his lips tightly pursed, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

Beside the table, Yao Guangxiao, dressed in a black monk's robe,

Holding a string of prayer beads in her hand, she calmly gazed at Zhu Di.

Although he was a monk, he showed no signs of being detached from the world; his eyes were deep and unfathomable, revealing wisdom.

"The matter of Mao Xiang's reinstatement and Yu Tongyuan's ennoblement has taken another turn."

And then there's Yun Lu and Yun Yi. They actually left the capital so hastily to return to Daning.

Zhu Di put down the document, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and spoke with a hint of regret:

"I thought he could hold out in the capital for a few more days, but I didn't expect His Majesty to order a truce so quickly."

Yao Guangxiao spoke slowly, his voice low and calm:

"His Majesty's actions are likely intended to protect His Highness the Crown Prince."

With the crown prince seriously ill and the court already in turmoil, another purge could cause unforeseen changes.

The most important thing right now is to defuse the situation and allow the Crown Prince to recuperate in peace.

“But this is not like Father Emperor’s personality.”

A hint of doubt flashed in Zhu Di's eyes:
"Father Emperor has always been decisive and efficient. How could he give up so easily when the rebels have not been completely eliminated?"

Mao Xiang was reinstated to investigate the case, but no action was taken for a long time. Yun Yi took the lead in requesting a promotion for Yu Tongyuan.

The Emperor neither agreed nor rejected it; this ambiguity was truly unusual.

"His Majesty is getting old."

Yao Guangxiao sighed softly, and the rosary beads slowed down a little:
"The Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation, and His Majesty is now acting with more consideration."

Zhu Di paused for a moment, then looked back at the document, his tone complex:
"It's a real pity that Yunyi left."

His power base in the capital was gradually stabilizing, and the Market and Exchange Bureau was gaining considerable influence.

"Did the Emperor grant him permission to leave the capital so suddenly? Did he sense some danger?"

Yao Guangxiao:

"Lord Lu has always been intelligent, and his ability to assess situations is unmatched."

His departure from the capital might be to avoid escalating the situation, or perhaps His Majesty wanted him to stabilize the border troops.

Either way, it is of paramount importance to the imperial court.

Just as the two were filled with doubts,
The study door was gently pushed open, and two figures walked in.

The man in front was slightly plump with a gentle face; he was Zhu Gaochi, the heir apparent to the Prince of Yan.
The person behind him was agile and had sharp eyes.

With a touch of youthful arrogance, he was none other than the second young master, Zhu Gaoxu.

“Father, Master Yao.”

Zhu Gaochi bowed respectfully, his tone gentle.

Zhu Gaoxu also cupped his hands in greeting, his face still bearing the chill of the wind and snow.

Zhu Di looked up at the two of them:

"It's snowing heavily outside, how did you get here?"

"We heard that Father was discussing matters in the capital, and we two children were curious and wanted to listen," Zhu Gaochi said with a smile, walking over and sitting down.
Zhu Gaoxu stood to the side, his gaze fixed on the documents on the table, his eyes full of curiosity.

Zhu Di didn't mince words, pointing to the document:

"You all should take a look; the world is far from peaceful."

Zhu Gaochi picked up the document and quickly glanced through it, his brows furrowing:

"These anti-Party members are fanning the flames, and local powerful figures are taking the opportunity to cause trouble."

Why didn't the Emperor directly send troops to suppress the rebellion?

"Kill them all in one fell swoop, lest things get complicated!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di laughed:
“If war breaks out, it will have far-reaching consequences. If it incites a popular uprising, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Moreover, how can court infighting be resolved by killing people?
Unless the root of the problem is eliminated, the situation will only become more tense.

“Father is right, it is indeed inappropriate to send troops.”

Unexpectedly, Zhu Gaoxu, who hadn't said much until now, suddenly spoke, his tone somewhat serious:

"Weapons are instruments of misfortune; they should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary."

The situation in Beijing appears chaotic, but in reality, the rebel factions are fighting their own battles.

If the Emperor acts too hastily, it might force them to band together in rebellion, and it would also make the people think the court is tyrannical, which would be counterproductive.

The room fell silent the moment he said that.

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi with surprise in his eyes, his tone tinged with suspicion:

"Gao Xu, you actually have such insights? Where did you learn this principle?"

Zhu Gaochi was also quite surprised, as his second brother was known for his bravery, belligerence, and impulsiveness.
It's quite unusual that he could speak so calmly today.

Zhu Gaoxu's face showed a hint of smugness, and he regained his usual carefree attitude:

"It was Lord Lu who taught me!"

When Lord Lu came to Beiping on business last time, I asked him why he didn't just kill those rioters.
He said these words to me and told me to read more military books.

Later, I looked through military books and discovered that...

Those renowned generals always avoided fighting if possible, and even when they did fight, they aimed for a swift and decisive victory.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes flashed with a hint of realization, followed by a touch of emotion:

“My son, you’ve grown up. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to take care of you. I never expected that you would actually start reading military books on your own initiative.”

Zhu Gaoxu puffed out his chest and proudly showed off his belly to his elder brother.
Zhu Gaochi shook his head helplessly and didn't argue with him.

At this moment, Yao Guangxiao, fiddling with his prayer beads, spoke thoughtfully:
Although Lord Lu has left the capital, the plans he left behind still remain.

The Markets Administration controls commerce, and the Agriculture Administration promotes sweet potatoes; these are the foundations for stabilizing public sentiment.

Those who rebel are planning a coup, but it won't be so easy for them.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the study.

The gatekeeper bowed as he entered, holding a reddish-brown sweet potato in his hands, his expression puzzled.

"Your Highness, a guest is requesting an audience outside the mansion. He claims to be an old friend of yours, but he did not bring a name card and only presented this as a token."

"sweet potato?"

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with surprise.

He took the sweet potato, his fingertips touching its rough skin, and his doubts deepened:

"What does the person look like? Did they give their name?"

"Your Highness, the man was dressed in plain clothes, covered in snow and dust, and looked like he had traveled a long way. He did not give his name."

"Just say that once the prince sees this token, he will naturally know who he is," the gatekeeper replied respectfully.

Zhu Di and Yao Guangxiao exchanged a glance, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes.

He hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand:

"Let him in, and take him to the study."

"Yes."

The doorman acknowledged and turned to leave.

Zhu Di placed the sweet potato on the table, his eyes fixed on the doorway of the study, constantly guessing the identity of the person who had come.
Yao Guangxiao also stopped counting his prayer beads, his expression becoming wary.
Zhu Gaochi and his brother sat up straight and looked curiously towards the door.

A moment later, footsteps approached, and a figure appeared at the study door.

The man was tall and straight, dressed in plain, everyday clothes.

A few unmelted snowflakes clung to his shoulders, and his face bore the weariness of a journey, yet the composure and sharpness between his brows remained undeniable.

"Yun Yi?"

Zhu Di suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with shock, almost unable to believe his eyes:

"How did you get here?"

The person who arrived was Lu Yunyi.

He entered the study, bowed to Zhu Di, and his voice was somewhat hoarse, clearly from a long journey:
"Your subject Lu Yunyi greets Your Highness, Prince Yan."

A flicker of surprise crossed Yao Guangxiao's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, rose, and bowed deeply to Lu Yunyi.
"Greetings, Junior Guardian."

Zhu Gaochi and his brother were even more surprised and quickly stood up to bow:

"Greetings, sir."

Lu Yunyi straightened up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the crowd, and his expression was solemn:
"Your Highness, gentlemen, this is a long story."
I did indeed lead troops out of the capital, but since entering Henan,
I always felt that someone was secretly following me, and that someone was recording my movements along the way.

Left with no other choice, I had to secretly leave the group.

The guards led the group forward to distract the pursuers.

I then urged my horse onward and arrived in Beiping ahead of schedule.
Firstly, it was to avoid suspicion; secondly, I had important matters to discuss with His Highness.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di frowned, a flash of anger crossing his eyes:

"Someone dares to follow you? Is it one of those rebels in the capital? Or a powerful figure in the court?"

"It cannot be determined at this time."

Lu Yunyi shook his head, his tone slow and deliberate:

"But one thing is certain: there was more than one group following us. However, that's not important right now, as I have already shaken them off."

Yao Guangxiao then spoke, his voice calm:

"Lord Lu's move is indeed wise."

"Your Excellency has risked coming here; besides avoiding disaster, there must be something more important on your mind, right?"

Lu Yunyi looked at Yao Guangxiao, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and nodded:

“What you say is absolutely right, Your Highness. I have come here today to discuss a major matter concerning the state of the court.”

His Highness the Crown Prince is seriously ill, and His Majesty is advanced in years.
The rebels in the capital were stirring, and the remnants of the Northern Yuan forces in the northern frontier had not been completely wiped out.

Your Majesty is worried that if something happens in the capital,
The northern border will become a breakthrough point, and then the court will be beset by internal and external troubles, putting it in danger.

Zhu Di's expression turned solemn, and his tone became serious:
"You mean Bei Yuan is going to cause trouble?"
Yesuder had just died, and the Oirats and Tatars were still fighting amongst themselves; how could they have the mind to invade?

Lu Yunyi's gaze swept across the study, landing on the Zhu Gaochi brothers, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhu Di was extremely perceptive; seeing his expression,
He immediately understood, raised his hand, and said in a deep voice to his two sons:
"You are still young, and the dangerous affairs of the court are not for you to meddle in. Go back to your rooms and study first."

If Gao Xu dares to slack off or try to cheat, he'll be in big trouble!

Zhu Gaoxu's excitement hadn't faded yet, but upon hearing this, he pursed his lips.

He wanted to say something, but Zhu Gaochi quietly tugged at his sleeve.

Zhu Gaochi knew his father's temperament well; once he had spoken, there was no room for argument, so he quickly bowed and replied:

"My child obeys."

Having said that, he pulled the reluctant Zhu Gaoxu and turned away.

As he reached the door, Zhu Gaoxu glanced back once more.
Seeing his father's serious expression, he didn't dare to say anything more and hurriedly disappeared outside the door.

The study door slowly closed, keeping out the chill of the wind and snow.

Only three people remained in the hall, and the atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

The charcoal fire crackled, and sparks occasionally flew up, landing on the edge of the charcoal brazier and extinguishing instantly.

Seeing that the area around him was clear, Lu Yunyi stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice:
“Your Highness, the Northern Yuan itself is not to be feared. What is to be feared is that some people use the name of the Northern Yuan to carry out acts of chaos and destruction.”

Zhu Di's brows furrowed even more, and his fingertip lightly tapped the document on the table:

"You mean, the rebels are going to collude with the Northern Yuan?"
The Northern Yuan is now fragmented, with the Oirats and Tatars locked in fierce combat. Why would they have the mind to cooperate with a rebel?

"It is precisely because they are fragmented that they are easier to exploit."

Lu Yunyi walked to the desk, his gaze falling on the map of northern Xinjiang hanging on the study wall, and he gestured towards the Onon River area:
"Your Highness has guarded the northern frontier for many years and knows best the temperament of the various tribes of the Northern Yuan."
They are willing to risk their lives for whoever offers the most benefits.

The rebel faction's foundation in the capital has been shaken; although His Highness the Crown Prince is seriously ill, he has not lost power.
Although His Majesty has temporarily suspended the cleansing,
But if Mao Xiang is reinstated and investigates the case, sooner or later he will find them.

Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall; these people, to save their lives, will definitely take risks.

(End of this chapter)