In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1050 Returning to My Homeland, My Original Aspiration Remains Unbroken

The lead laborer's pupils constricted sharply upon hearing the name Lu Yunyi.
The wary look on his face froze instantly.
The spear in his hand also lowered unconsciously.

He took a step forward, squinting as he tried to examine it closely.
When they saw the young man in black armor in front of them...

He seemed unable to believe his eyes.

At this moment, an older laborer nearby moved closer.

Using the lights shining from the campsite, he repeatedly examined it.
Suddenly his eyes lit up, and he let out a deafening exclamation:

"Lord Lu!"

"It really is Lord Lu who has returned!"

This exclamation, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a thousand waves in the procession of laborers.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the composed man before them, their wariness quickly replaced by ecstasy.

"Lord Lu!"

"The master is back! The master is back!"

Shouts rose and fell, quickly spreading throughout the entire camp.

The workers who were busy at work, the soldiers who were cleaning their weapons, and the cooks who were preparing dinner...

They all stopped what they were doing and rushed over.

The camp erupted in cheers, the laborers' faces beaming with excitement.
As they crowded around Lu Yunyi, many people felt a sudden pang of sadness.

"Lord Lu! You're finally back!"

The young laborer who had been leading the group reacted quickly, threw down his spear, stepped forward, and knelt down with a thud.
He kowtowed heavily to Lu Yunyi, his voice choked with emotion:
"Chen Hu, captain of the third laborers' team! Greetings, sir!"

The laborers and workers behind them followed suit, kneeling down in unison and shouting:

"Greetings, Lord Lu!"

The loud voice resounded through the sky and echoed across the wilderness for a long time.

Lu Yunyi quickly stepped forward to help Chen Hu up, and then gestured to the crowd to help him up as well.

"Everyone, please get up quickly, the ground is cold."

Everyone stood up and surrounded Lu Yunyi, talking all at once, their faces full of genuine excitement.

In the past six months, Daning City has changed dramatically, and life has undergone earth-shattering changes.

As the first laborers to join the road construction team, they reaped considerable rewards.
The laborers at the forefront now earn three coins or more per month.
Such wages are extremely rare even in Yingtian, let alone outside the Great Wall.

"My lord, we've all missed you terribly these past six months!"

"Sir, we have already repaired over five hundred li of road."
In another six months, we'll have direct access to Shanhaiguan!

"Sir, the officers in the army lead us in drills every ten days."

They even said they'd show you what they were capable of when you returned!

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the familiar and unfamiliar faces, his heart filled with emotion.

Among these people were Han Chinese from Daning, tribal herders who had submitted to the regime, and refugees who had fled there.
Now they have all settled down in Daning, dedicating their blood and effort to the 800-mile official road.

"thanks everyone!"

Lu Yunyi took the brass trumpet handed to him by Basong.

The sound was soft yet clear, reaching everyone's ears:

"This 800-mile road is the lifeline of Da Ning and the shield of the northern frontier. You are all heroes of Da Ning!"

When I was in the capital, I often received documents from the military command.

Your deeds are recorded above, and seeing them with my own eyes today, they have certainly lived up to expectations.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present showed excitement.

Even with heavy snow falling from the sky,

Their hearts remained warm; the adults before them had given them a way out, given them a new life.
This kindness is heavier than anything else.

Some middle-aged men secretly wiped away tears from the corners of their eyes, afraid of being seen by others.

Lu Yunyi's gaze swept over the rough, cracked skin, the red cheeks from the cold, and the bright red blood seeping between their fingers, and he was filled with mixed emotions.

Having grown accustomed to the respectable people of the capital,

Looking at the somewhat disheveled faces outside the pass, he felt a complex mix of emotions.

But he knew that these people were the very foundation upon which he stood firm in the court.

If we lose them, no matter how high our official position,

Without that, it would be difficult to achieve what it has today, let alone protect itself.

Lu Yunyi chatted with everyone for a long time afterward.

Only when it was completely dark did he mount his horse and head towards Daning City with his personal guards.

It's still hundreds of miles to Daning City from here.
Even traveling day and night, it would take two days, not to mention the heavy snow that made the roads difficult to travel.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, and we headed north along the trail of lights stretching into the darkness.

The laborers at the construction site stood at the edge of the camp.

Staring blankly at the torches merging into the distant camp lights, an endless surge of energy suddenly welled up within me.

The thought of my wife and children being able to work in the textile factory...

Children can attend school for free.

Even without wages, they are willing to work until they die.

Moreover, they are now truly experiencing the taste of a peaceful life.
I never want to go back to the days when I was poor and had no clothes to wear and no food to eat.

They secretly vowed that anyone who dared to ruin this hard-won good life would be punished.

Even against the Northern Yuan cavalry, they dared to fight back at the cost of their lives.

Time flies, and three days pass in the blink of an eye.

A troop of people galloped along the wide official road outside Daning City.

Lu Yunyi took the lead, reining in his horse.

Bei Xiao raised its forelegs high, then slammed them down heavily.

It emitted a deep, resounding boom, carrying immense power.

It was just dawn, but the gates of Daning City were already open.
The caravan that had spent the night outside the city began to slowly enter.
Caravans, civilians, and laborers were also flowing out of the city.

Many people saw this team,
They all cast surprised glances, thinking it was soldiers from some unit.

Soon, He Zhixue, the garrison commander of the western city, noticed something amiss.

He tightened his belt, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, stepped forward, and asked loudly:
"Where are you from?"

But after taking just a few steps closer, his eyes suddenly widened.
His gaze was fixed on Lu Yunyi's warhorse, Beixiao.

Beixiao, as a top-tier steed on the grasslands, was significantly taller than ordinary large horses.
The horseshoes were firmly planted on the ground like giant bowls.

His muscles were bulging, and thick white mist rose from his body, making him appear even more heroic and dashing.

Although He Zhixue was just a low-ranking officer guarding the city,
Having witnessed large-scale battles and fought enemies, he could tell at a glance that this warhorse was no ordinary horse.

He looked again at the figure on the warhorse, and was first taken aback.
He then rubbed his eyes, as if he couldn't believe his own judgment.

"grown ups?"

He Zhixue couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, instantly attracting the attention of everyone present.

He looked at it several times before finally confirming the person's identity.

The appearance of Lord Lu when he left half a year ago is almost the same as it is now, except that he has become a little thinner.

Upon recognizing Lu Yunyi, He Zhixue quickly ran forward and knelt on one knee:
"Junior Flag Bearer He Zhixue greets Your Excellency!"

Lu Yunyi sized up the young man, who was in his early twenties.

He looked older than his actual age due to the hardships he had endured.

Lu Yunyi vaguely remembered this name, as it had appeared several times in the documents of the military command.

"It's Zhixue," Lu Yunyi asked with a smile.

Have you found a wife yet?

He Zhixue was taken aback, then suddenly looked up, his face full of surprise.
He never expected that the adults would remember that he was not yet married.

In the areas outside the Great Wall, it is extremely rare for someone to be over twenty years old and still unmarried, and there are even quite a few who become fathers at the age of fifteen or sixteen.

His cheeks flushed slightly, and he gently shook his head.

"Reporting to you, sir, not yet."

He paused, then added somewhat sheepishly:

"Last year, when I heard that you were going out on official business, I lost interest in looking for you."

Thinking that if war were to break out in the future, they would seize a beautiful one from the northern tribes.” Lu Yunyi was taken aback upon hearing this, but then realized that he was referring to the conflict with the Baisong tribe last year, and immediately burst into hearty laughter:
Hahaha! What ambition!
If there's a chance in the future, I'll take you to the Northern Yuan royal court to rob it. You can take whichever one you like!

I will give you silver to buy land and houses!

But let's make this clear beforehand: if we really get to the battlefield, we must fight desperately to kill the enemy and fight desperately to survive. Don't let your beautiful wife live a life of widowhood.

He Zhixue was thrilled to hear this, and the soldiers who gathered around him also looked on with envy.

"Don't worry, sir! I practice my spear and staff techniques at home every day. I'll be able to take them down one by one on the battlefield!"

"Very well, I'll be waiting to see how you perform!"

As Lu Yunyi spoke, he glanced at the laughing soldiers behind him and waved his hand:
"Enter the city!"

The group entered the city in a grand procession.

More than a thousand soldiers went straight to the western camp of the city.

Lu Yunyi then led his personal guards to the headquarters of the military commander.

Just as they reached the street in front of the government office, they saw a dark-skinned young man in armor, with a robust physique, hurrying out.

He was about to take the reins from the guard and mount his horse.

Lu Yunyi's eyes lit up, he raised his hand and waved, his voice booming:

"Black Hawk, where are you going?"

Liu Heiying, who had just put one foot on the stirrup, paused.
He suddenly looked up at the street corner, his dark face initially showing surprise.
He then broke into a jubilant smile and responded loudly in return:
"Brother Yun'er, you're back!"

Having said that, he rushed over.
Without saying a word, he picked Lu Yunyi up by the waist and spun him around.

Lu Yunyi stared at the swirling scene around him, momentarily stunned. The dam of memory collapsed, and his thoughts were instantly pulled back to ten years ago.

At that time, he was still thin and weak, returning from his first trip out of the city to draw maps.
Liu Heiying also picked him up and spun him around.

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, and he went from an insignificant soldier to a regional commander.

From defying the odds in the past to feeling lost and powerless today,
The tide of history surges forth like a mighty torrent, and even if one knows its course, it is difficult to defy its will.

"Okay, okay, put me down."

Lu Yunyi patted Liu Heiying on the shoulder.

"You and I are now generals guarding our regions, no longer the greenhorns we once were. We should be mindful of our dignity now."

Liu Heiying smiled as he put him down, his dark face flushed with wine, his eyes brimming with undisguised joy. He was clearly overjoyed.

"Brother Yun'er, why are you back so soon?"
The last letter from Beijing said you might not return until after the New Year.

When the matter of the capital was mentioned, Lu Yunyi's smile faded, and he sighed softly:

"Something unexpected happened in the capital, so I had to return early. How is the Commandery? You must be exhausted lately."

Liu Heiying's face instantly fell, and he nodded repeatedly, then pinched his cheek hard.
"Brother Yun'er, I've lost at least 20 pounds recently!"

Now that you're back, I can finally have a few days of peace and quiet!

Lu Yunyi smiled and patted his shoulder:

"You've had a tough time these past few days. Now that I'm back, I probably won't be leaving for a long time."

These words seemed to have a deeper meaning, and Liu Heiying was slightly taken aback. Before he could think about it further, he heard Lu Yunyi ask again:
"How is the child? Is he/she growing up well?"

Upon mentioning his son, Liu Heiying burst into laughter, then scratched his head:

“Brother Yun’er, the child is very good-looking, fair-skinned and chubby, unlike me who is dark-skinned. He takes after his mother.”

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"As long as the child is healthy, that's all that matters. The winters in Daning City are too cold."

In winter, Hua Jieyu could take the children to Guangning Qianwei, which is by the sea and warmer.

Liu Heiying shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum:
"Brother Yun'er, why are children so delicate?"
We've all grown up like this, and we've been healthy and without any major problems, haven't we?

Lu Yunyi nodded, stopped trying to persuade him, and patted him on the shoulder:

"Let's go back to the yamen. We're exhausted from the journey, and it's too cold."

Liu Heiying quickly stepped aside.

He took the reins from Lu Yunyi and patted Bei Xiao on the head:
"Brother Yun'er, this horse is really strong! It seems to have gotten even fatter in the past six months."

"Warhorses are extremely valuable now."

Lu Yunyi shook his head as he walked inside, "The food is better than the people."

Liu Heiying nodded in deep agreement:

"Recently, we brought in three thousand warhorses from the northern grasslands and kept them in the northern camp. They consume a lot of food every day."

Fortunately, the military headquarters is not short of food and fodder, otherwise they really wouldn't be able to afford to feed them.

"Three thousand warhorses?" Lu Yunyi looked surprised. "Where did you get them?"

Liu Heiying chuckled:
"The Bai Song tribe seized it from other tribes."
Brother Yun'er, you don't know, ever since we allowed them to purchase daily necessities in Dusi and resell them on the grasslands,

He launched attacks in all directions in the north, defeating the tribes that came from the Tatars and Oirats.

He would send many spoils of war directly to the command post, and these warhorses were among them.

Lu Yunyi nodded in realization; the Beiping Military Command did not actually provide much support to the Baisong tribe.

It was just opening up trade, but I never expected it to have such a positive effect.

He warned:

"Be careful that the Shiramatsu clan doesn't become too powerful. If they develop disloyal intentions in the future, it will be troublesome."

"Don't worry, Brother Yun'er, our people are keeping an eye on things."

Liu Heiying leaned closer and lowered his voice:

"Recently, there's been a trend within the military headquarters that's hoping the Bai Song tribe will rebel soon."

This way, everyone can fight, earn military merit, and plunder more money.

Lu Yunyi was taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and shook his head:

Why are you always thinking about war?

"Isn't it good that Dusi is doing well building roads and making money?"

After saying that, he asked about the road construction in Liaodong.
"How is the road construction going on the east side? Is it progressing smoothly?"

"Successful! Extremely successful!"

Liu Heiying nodded repeatedly:
"Brother Yun'er, people in Liaodong don't even consider the Jurchens as human beings."
They captured many wild men from the mountains to carry cement and transport sand.

They didn't pay wages, they only provided meals, and they worked day and night without stopping.

Those savages were honest; when they heard that they would have food to eat if they worked, they all came out of the mountains and forests to seek refuge in Liaodong.

A few days ago, Lord Pan wrote to ask if we needed any more people.

They offered to send some Jurchen people to help, without paying them, but I politely declined.

Lu Yunyi stepped over the threshold of the Military Commandery and nodded, saying:

"Those who try to gain small advantages often suffer big losses. These Jurchens who don't charge money are currently enjoying their benefits."

But the techniques and skills must be kept in our own hands; we can't let others learn them.

His steps suddenly stopped, and the leg that had stepped over the threshold retreated.
His gaze fell on the notice board at the entrance of the government office.

The notice board is twice the size it was when he left.
It was several feet long, and the documents bearing the seal of the military commander were neatly pasted on it.

At that moment, several people were turning away from the notice.
He stared intently at Lu Yunyi, his eyes filled with admiration.

Lu Yunyi smiled at them and continued walking into the yamen.

Upon hearing of Lu Yunyi's return, all the officials of the military command rushed out of their offices.

Some people even wiped their faces with towels while adjusting their armor, walking hurriedly.

Upon seeing Lu Yunyi enter the yamen, everyone was taken aback at first, then quickly bowed and paid their respects.

"This humble official greets Lord Lu!"

Looking at the familiar faces, Lu Yunyi couldn't help but smile.
Compared to the bustling but complex capital city of Yingtian, this place allowed him to let his guard down.

With a moment of relief, the fatigue from days of travel overwhelmed me, and my steps grew heavier.

He waved his hand, his tone gentle:

"Gentlemen, how have you been? Please go about your business now."

I'll take a short break and review the backlog of documents.

If there is anything important, I will summon you at another time, is that alright?

Everyone smiled and agreed.

Amidst a sea of ​​gazes, Lu Yunyi walked towards the back hall's government offices, his figure gradually disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

(End of this chapter)