In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1049, Chapter 1061: Making the Wind and Snow Bow Down

Outside Shanhaiguan, the north wind howled and snow fell heavily!
The world was a vast expanse of white, and in this deathly silence, a few black dots suddenly appeared, struggling to move.

The howling cold wind ultimately failed to stop them.

Monggo Asir stepped into the snow, which was half his knee high.

Only when he took the next step did he forcefully pull his leg out, his long, narrow bamboo pole probing through the snow.

Only after confirming that everything is safe can we proceed to the next step!
Behind him, a dozen or so people were each performing their duties.

Some people were carrying large and small bags, panting with every step.

Some people, holding hard-covered documents, continued writing and drawing even though their hands were already covered in frostbite.

Others held up binoculars, observing the terrain and muttering about directions and topography.
This advance survey team came from Daning City.
Finally, a year and a half after the road construction project started, we arrived at Shanhaiguan!

Asir gazed at the towering pass nestled between the mountains, and at the majestic city gate.
His gaze became somewhat unfocused, and his body trembled slightly.

Looking back on those nearly twenty days of snow and wind surveying, I still find it hard to believe.

They actually did it.

As the most elite surveying team in the entire road construction project,
To ensure the progress, they took the lead without hesitation.

Even amidst the raging snowstorm, we must continue our journey.
The route was repeatedly compared with the one provided by Dusi.
Investigate potential errors and perform cross-verification calibration.
Asir turned around; his mink coat was already stained white by the snow, and his tiger-skin hat was covered with a layer of frozen snow.

Her face was wrapped in a scarf and a thick mask, revealing only her eyes; even so, her eyelashes were covered in white frost.

"How was it? Any mishaps?!"

Asir shouted with all his might, trying to drown out the howling wind and snow.

"Yes! There are six flaws. We'll recheck them after the snow stops. It shouldn't be a big problem!"

The young man holding the document responded loudly in return.

He dragged his heavy body, leaving a rut in the snow.
He walked over to Asir and handed him the document.
Upon seeing this, Asir burst into a tirade of curses:

"Put on gloves! You're risking your life by not following the rules?"

The young man chuckled, shoved the document into Asir's hand, then took out gloves from his bag, put them on, and explained:
"There are only a few miles left, aren't there?"
I'm trying to draw it carefully so that nothing goes wrong at the last minute.

As he spoke, he held up his gloves:
"Wearing this makes it difficult to draw accurately."

Asir shook his head helplessly and took the document, turning the pages one by one.

The yellowed pages still bore stains of melted snow.
However, the route map drawn with charcoal is very clear.

Every mountain, every gentle slope, and every depression is marked in detail, leaving nothing out.
Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from behind.

Unlike them, who stumbled along, one step at a time,

Instead, it was the crisp sound of horses' hooves breaking through thin ice and crushing snow.

With unstoppable momentum, it sped towards us from the direction of Shanhaiguan.

"Who?"

The team member holding the telescope suddenly turned around.

His hands, red from the cold, gripped the lens tightly, his eyes warily fixed on the pass.

In this desolate, snowy landscape, apart from these reckless survey teams,

How could there still be a large force?

Asir also tensed up instantly.

He haphazardly stuffed the documents into his robes and raised his hand to press the short sword at his waist.

He followed the gaze of his teammates.
The side gate on the west side of Shanhaiguan, which is rarely opened, creaked open.

Behind the heavy city gate, a group of soldiers in black armor escorted a tall figure as they rode out on their steeds through the snow.

The snow spray kicked up by the horses' hooves flew up and condensed into tiny ice particles in the cold wind.

The soldiers' armor was covered in snow, yet they maintained their orderly ranks, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

"That is."

Asir squinted, and the white frost on his eyelashes fell off in a flurry.

He stared at the leader.

His black armor stood out against the white snow, the copper studs on it gleaming coldly.

Even though they were more than a hundred steps apart,
You can also sense the composure and sharpness in that person's brows.
He knew that figure all too well!

"My lord? It's Lord Lu!"

Behind Asir
A young team member suddenly cried out in surprise, his lips, which were purple from the cold, trembling.

An unbelievable light flashed in his eyes.

The shout broke the silence of the group.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up. The fatigue and wariness on their faces were instantly replaced by surprise.

At the same time, Lu Yunyi also reined in his horse.

He had just crossed Shanhaiguan Pass and was preparing to lead his troops northward at a faster pace.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of those familiar black dots in the snow.

At first, we thought they were hunters from beyond the Great Wall or patrolling soldiers.
Upon closer inspection, the mink coats on those men's bodies and the surveying tools on their backs clearly indicated that they were the surveying team from Daning!

"How could it be them?"

Lu Yunyi frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He remembered reading the regulations sent by the military commander before setting off.
The survey team is to proceed in stages according to plan.

Traveling south from Daning, it will be at least next spring before we reach Shanhaiguan.

How come they've already arrived when it's only the beginning of winter?

"My lord! It really is you!"

Asir had already realized what was happening.
Ignoring the knee-deep snow, he strode off toward Lu Yunyi.

His teammates followed suit.

Their faces were filled with barely suppressed excitement.
The previous fatigue seemed to be mostly dispelled by this unexpected encounter.

Asir was running too fast, slipped, and fell heavily into the snow.

He didn't bother to brush the snow off his clothes, struggled to his feet, and continued rushing forward.

He stopped panting as he ran to Lu Yunyi's horse and bowed to Lu Yunyi on horseback.

His hands were red and swollen from the cold, with cracks and bloody cuts at his knuckles, mixed with snow water and mud, making them look particularly shocking.

"Asir?"

Lu Yunyi dismounted, walked up to him, and glanced at him and his teammates behind him:

"What are you doing here? According to the plan, the survey should not reach Shanhaiguan until next spring."

Asir looked up, his scarf and mask already soaked with sweat, his lips trembling and turning purple from the cold, his voice hoarse from a long journey:

"My lord! The road construction is progressing much faster than expected!"

He paused, took a breath, and continued:

"After you left Beijing, the craftsmen of Daning improved the cement mix ratio."
They even invented a simple road roller, which greatly improved the efficiency of road construction. Now the road has been built to the Karachin area.

Our survey team cannot hold back.

They had to work day and night to get there ahead of the majority, which is why they arrived at Shanhaiguan today.

As he spoke, he took out the document, which had been warmed by his hands, from his pocket and presented it to Lu Yunyi with both hands:
"Sir, look, this is the route map we've completed."
The mountains, rivers, and gentle slopes along the way are all clearly marked.

There are only six minor flaws; it will be usable after another check once the snow stops.

Lu Yunyi took the document, his fingertips touching the creases and water stains on the pages, and he understood.

He opened the document; the lines drawn on it were neat and clear.

Every key terrain feature was marked with red charcoal.
Even the snow depth and soil texture are briefly noted.
It's clear they really put in a lot of hard work.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Meeting an old friend, Lu Yunyi was also filled with emotion.

He closed the document and handed it back to Asir, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes:
"With such terrible weather, traveling day and night to conduct surveys, were there any accidents?"

"No no!"

Asir quickly shook his head, a simple, honest smile appearing on his face:

"The commander provided us with enough cotton-padded clothes, dry rations, and medicine for our wounds."

It was tough, but the brothers all pulled through!
"Several brothers had frostbite on their hands and feet."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi turned to his personal guards and gave them instructions:

"Basong, bring out the wound medicine and the strong liquor to keep warm, and give them to the brothers."

"Have some more horses brought to carry them through the pass."

"Yes, sir!" Basong responded and left, soon returning with several guards carrying medicine chests and leading horses.

Asir and his teammates quickly expressed their gratitude, their eyes filled with excitement!
This was also the first time they had ever been so close to adults!

During this period, even when the adults were not at the command post,

But everyone in the commandery knew that

Who brought about these earth-shaking changes?

Especially for grassland people like Asir, they almost regard him as a god.

Some simple and honest herders, out of respect,
They even set up a memorial tablet for Lu Yunyi at home.

Asir's family had one; it was arranged by his mother.

Looking at their cracked skin and the determination in their eyes, Lu Yunyi felt a sudden surge of relief.

Daning is thriving!

"You must be tired from your journey, so please go through the pass and rest first."

I ordered someone to inform the garrison commander of Shanhaiguan to arrange barracks and hot meals for you.

After we've rested enough, we'll organize the route map and return it to the road construction team.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his voice firm and resolute:
"Your early completion of the survey has made a great contribution to the road construction."

Upon returning to Daning, I will personally report to the Commander-in-Chief.

"Each of you will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, and the wounded brothers will receive an additional thirty taels for medical treatment."

"One hundred taels?"

The team members were instantly in an uproar, their faces filled with disbelief.

As the advance team, they were paid several times more than ordinary people, earning a full two taels of silver per month!
A hundred taels is an amount they could only earn in four or five years!

Asir was so excited he couldn't speak; his lips trembled as he bowed deeply to Lu Yunyi.
"Thank you, Lord Xie! Your subordinates thank you on behalf of our brothers!"

"No need to be polite."

Lu Yunyi waved his hand, a hint of a smile in his eyes:
"This is what you deserve."

The roads you built are the foundation of Daning, and you were pioneers in their construction; your contributions are certainly significant.

He looked up at the sky; although the wind and snow had lessened slightly, there was still no sign of it stopping.

The distant horizon was shrouded in snow, a vast expanse of white.
Daning is still in the north, a long way away.

"It's getting late, I need to get back to Daning."

Lu Yunyi mounted his horse and gave Asir some instructions:

"Be careful in everything after entering the pass. If anything happens, you can ask the garrison commander of Shanhaiguan. Take good care of your injuries and don't make money only to die before you can enjoy it!"

"Rest assured, sir! I will certainly handle this matter well!"

Asir straightened up and respectfully replied.

Lu Yunyi nodded, said no more, and gently spurred the horse's flanks.

Bei Xiao let out a neigh and galloped forward through the snow.

More than a thousand guards followed closely behind, their horses' hooves clashing.
They left hoofprints of varying depths on the snow.
Gradually, they merged into a winding trail, speeding northwards.

Asir and his teammates stood in the snow, watching Lu Yunyi's group gradually disappear into the distance.

Only after the figure disappeared into the swirling snow did he slowly withdraw his gaze.

"Brother Asir, Lord Lu is indeed very generous!"

A young team member rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, his face full of excitement:
"A hundred taels of silver! I can build a new house when I get back!"

Another young man, his face flushed with excitement, couldn't help but exclaim:
"One hundred taels of silver. This time I'm going to have a really good time and find the prettiest girl!"

Asir couldn't help but smile as he watched his brothers' jubilant expressions.

He already had double pay.

With the added bonus, life is getting richer and richer!

He glanced at the sky and said in a deep voice:

"Alright, let's hurry up and get through customs and rest."

Once we've rested, we'll double-check the route map and send it back as soon as possible.

Lord Lu is back; we must handle things flawlessly.

"it is good!"

The team members responded in unison, their faces full of enthusiasm.

After leaving Shanhaiguan, the wind and snow gradually subsided, and the sky slowly revealed a few rays of light from its deep gray.

Lu Yunyi's steed, Bei Xiao, seemed to have caught a whiff of its homeland.

Its hooves grew lighter and faster as it trod across the snow-covered wasteland, kicking up bursts of snow mist.

More than a thousand personal guards followed closely behind.
The black armor gleamed with a cold, sharp light in the sparse sunlight.

The ranks were as neat as if cut by a knife, and the sound of horses' hooves was as deep as thunder, echoing across the open plains.

After a day of rapid travel, as dusk approached...

Suddenly, a continuous outline appeared on the distant horizon.

At first it was just a faint gray shadow, but as it drew closer, it gradually became clearer.
It was a construction site that stretched as far as the eye could see!
It stretches out along the boundary between the wilderness and the hills.

Like a dormant dragon, one end connects to the majestic Shanhaiguan Pass, while the other stretches towards the distant Daning.

"Sir, look!"

Basong reined in his horse, his voice tinged with surprise, and pointed into the distance.

Lu Yunyi took the telescope, squinted, and looked inside.
An indescribable surge of emotion welled up within me.

The official road stretches for eight hundred li, leading from Daning into Shanhaiguan!
This project, which seemed like a fantasy to outsiders,
It has now taken initial shape.

In the distance, countless craftsmen and laborers were busy on the desolate plain.

The hardened cement pavement had a bluish-gray sheen.
In the twilight, it stretches into the distance like a solid jade ribbon.

On the unfinished section of the road, workers are methodically mixing cement and laying aggregates.
Steam rose gently from the mixing tank.
Intertwined with the cold air of the wilderness, it formed a thin layer of mist.

Even more impressive are the camps that wind their way along the construction site.

Rows of neat, blue tents stretched as far as the eye could see.

Like stars dotting the wasteland.

Outside the tent, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney.

The lights from the cooking fires gradually illuminated the night, creating a sea of ​​lights.

At the edge of the camp, there was a watchtower every few dozen steps.
The laborers, holding long spears, scanned their surroundings warily.

The distant storage area for supplies,

Timber, stone, and cement bags were piled up into a small mountain.
"Okay! Okay!"

Lu Yunyi reined in his horse, dismounted, and stood on the smooth ground.
Looking at the magnificent scene before him, his eyes were filled with satisfaction.

Even though I've been away for more than half a year, I still keep this 800-mile road construction project on my mind.

As we see it now, the project is progressing far beyond expectations, and the construction site is in good order.
A big stone in my heart finally fell to the ground.

Just as they approached the camp by about a hundred paces,
A sharp shout suddenly came from the watchtower in front of the camp:
"Who goes there? Halt!"

Immediately following was the urgent sound of bugles!

The next moment, the tent curtains at the edge of the camp were lifted one after another.

Dozens of laborers dressed in soft armor and carrying knives and spears rushed out.

They moved swiftly, forming a neat defensive line in the blink of an eye.
The long sword in his hand was drawn, and the tip of his spear was pointed directly at Lu Yunyi and his group.

He looked alert, his eyes were sharp, and he showed no sign of panic.

Basong stepped forward, blocking Lu Yunyi's path.
He took out the token of the Commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army from his waist and handed it over, saying in a deep voice:

"Lord Lu has returned to Daning! Report this immediately!"

The lead laborer was a young man in his twenties.
He was tall, with a somewhat aged face, and a very determined look in his eyes.

He gripped the spear tightly, his brow furrowed.
"The construction site is under martial law. No one of unidentified identity is allowed to approach!"

Seeing this scene, Lu Yunyi couldn't help but smile, feeling even more gratified.

These laborers mostly looked like local people from Daning and nomadic people from the grasslands who had submitted to the government.

I never imagined that in just six months, I would develop such a high level of vigilance.
Black Hawk is indeed efficient!
Lu Yunyi stepped forward, patted Basong on the shoulder, and gestured for him to step back.
Then he spoke gently to the leading laborer:
"I am Lu Yunyi, which unit do you belong to? Let your superior come out and see me."

(End of this chapter)