In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1051 Planning Ahead Ensures Victory

Entering the inner hall of the government office,

The warmth that rushed towards him made Lu Yunyi feel even more tired.

Looking at the familiar furnishings before him, and the table piled high with documents,
Lu Yunyi's face darkened instantly.

It was as if he had never left in the past six months.

He took off his armor and cloak and tossed them casually onto the chair.
He walked to the desk and patted the heavy documents.
Turning to look at Liu Heiying, who was pouring tea, he asked with a smile:

"Why are there so many documents?"

Liu Heiying poured two cups of tea and handed one to him.

His face was dark and his eyes were sunken, clearly from days of overwork. He sighed and said:

"Brother Yun'er, ever since the road construction started in the east, there's been so much work to do every day."
Documents from Liaodong arrive every few days.

At this point, Liu Heiying lowered his voice and added softly:
"Some changes have occurred on the Goryeo side. After Yi Seong-gye suffered two major defeats, he has loosened his control over the Goryeo Wang clan considerably."

The Goryeo court is now in a strange state of equilibrium.

Wang was unable to retaliate, and Yi Seong-gye did not press his advantage.

On the contrary, many officials in the court have close ties with us and are busy doing business with us.

Wang Junping's status in Goryeo also rose accordingly.
He can get his hands on many rare items that even we can't obtain, and at very low prices.

When business was mentioned, Liu Heiying's face lit up with excitement.

His eyes gleamed, as if he had seen gleaming silver.

"Brother Yun'er, especially those ginseng and deer antlers..."

Before it even reached Daning City, it was all pre-ordered by wealthy families in the city.
Even merchants from Beiping were searching everywhere for them to buy.

Even if there's no stock right now, it's fine. They'll leave the money there and send the rest when the goods arrive.

Lu Yunyi paced back and forth, holding his teacup, and nodded slightly:
"The changes in the situation in Goryeo were expected."
No matter how capable Yi Seong-gye was, he was ultimately a border general.

After suffering a major defeat, his prestige plummeted, and with Wang Junping's meddling, this strange balance naturally formed.

But this balance cannot last long.

Once Yi Seong-gye recovers, the Goryeo royal family will still be suppressed.

He looked at Liu Heiying and pressed for an answer:
"What kind of things did they send?"

"Ginseng, deer antler, warhorses, paper, celadon, spices, the Four Treasures of the Study, and some precious aquatic products."

Liu Heiying replied:
"Fortunately, it's cold now, so the fish were frozen and sent to Daning, and the meat is still relatively fresh."

I heard that a few months ago, the Goryeo royal family caught a fish bigger than a person, and the whole of Goryeo worshipped it as an auspicious omen.

Later, Wang Junping sent one over.
They also said that there are actually many of these things in the sea.

It's just that they were difficult to catch in the past, so no one bothered to do it.

The atmosphere in the Goryeo court is currently low, so they captured him as a prize.

Lu Yunyi nodded. The warhorses, paper, and even pine soot ink from Goryeo were all rare and valuable items, let alone ginseng and deer antlers.
As for the fish
Lu Yunyi thought for a moment. There were quite a few fish in the sea that were bigger than a person, so he didn't ask any more questions and sat down to ask:

"Are the Jurchens safe and sound lately?"

"Hey"

Liu Heiying's expression turned strange, and he nodded blankly:

"I don't know what's wrong with the Jurchens this year, they've actually stayed in the mountains and haven't come out, they haven't even gone to plunder from Goryeo."

Military staff speculated that it might be because too many people were killed during last year's military campaign.
Now that there's enough food, they've finally settled down.

Lu Yunyi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded slightly:
That should make sense.
What about the grasslands? Yesuder is dead.
The Tatars and Oirats are fighting again; many people must have fled to Lake Buyur, right?

Liu Heiying's expression instantly turned serious, and he nodded solemnly:

"Brother Yun'er, ever since the internal strife in Bei Yuan reignited..."
More and more people are fishing in the sea, and three more large groups moved here a few days ago.

Bai Songbu also sent a document, asking us how to handle the situation.

"How did you respond?"

Liu Heiying shrugged:

"It's their own business if the grassland people go to Fishing Lake to seize pastures and grain. Let the Baisong tribe handle it themselves."

Whether they fight or make peace is none of our business.
If war is to break out, then military equipment and provisions will naturally need to be purchased from the military command.
Even if they don't fight, they still have to buy their daily expenses from us, so we can make money either way.

Lu Yunyi suddenly laughed, looked north, and felt a strange feeling.

Faced with the control of the workshops and elite troops of Da Ning...

No matter what choices the people of the grasslands make, they will ultimately have to contribute to Daning and send silver to Daning.

In fact, if they did not submit to Da Ning, they would have a hard time even getting through the winter.

Thinking of this, a hint of regret flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes:
"These days of making money so easily probably won't last much longer."

He looked up at Liu Heiying, gesturing for him to sit down, his tone becoming more serious:
"Something has happened in the capital. We need to change our strategy. We can no longer let the grassland people develop unchecked."

When it came to serious matters, Liu Heiying sat down with a solemn expression.

He had long suspected that Lu Yunyi's sudden return must be due to something major happening in the capital.

They might even have been at a disadvantage in the game before rushing back.

"Brother Yun'er, what exactly happened in the capital?"

Lu Yunyi gave a brief account of the situation in the capital.

Liu Heiying's face grew darker and darker as he listened, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
The once warm and cozy government office suddenly turned icy cold, with chills shooting straight up from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

He stared blankly at Lu Yunyi, his pupils contracting sharply, his voice trembling:
"Brother Yun'er, is the Crown Prince really beyond saving?"

"do not know."

Lu Yunyi shook his head and continued:
"But many things, once you have a choice, mean you've reached a dead end."

Liu Heiying's breathing suddenly quickened, and he hurriedly asked:
"Then what should we do?"

Lu Yunyi rubbed his temples, concealing the weariness in his eyes, and sighed:
"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If the Crown Prince, this great tree, falls, all the branches and leaves on the tree will suffer."

Moreover, I believe the problem doesn't lie with the Crown Prince, but with the Grand General.

Liu Heiying looked puzzled:
"What do you mean?"

Lu Yunyi didn't say it explicitly, but waved his hand:

"I'm just guessing; things haven't reached that point yet, so I dare not draw any conclusions."

In short, we need to conserve our energy and build up our strength during this period.
Even if the world truly changes drastically, we won't be caught off guard.

Having said that, he took out a document from his pocket and handed it over:
"Has the document for Yingtian Construction Firm to borrow craftsmen from Beiping Commandery been delivered?"

This is the passage document from Shanhaiguan, and also the approval document from the Beiping Military Command. Hurry up and send the person in.

Upon seeing these two documents, Liu Heiying was suddenly stunned.
Based on what he had just heard about the situation in the capital, a chilling guess began to form in his mind.

He knew perfectly well that the craftsmen and laborers on the construction site were no ordinary people.
They were all trained militiamen.
During the road construction in the past two years, countless bandits and outlaws attacked, but without exception they were all driven back.

These people had both combat experience and skills; they could be called soldiers or civilians.

Now that they're being allowed to enter the pass, and with so many people being transferred, he can't help but have some doubts.

He tentatively asked:

"Brother Yun'er, when it comes to the artisans and laborers entering the pass, should we choose those from the front or the back?"

The road construction site of Beiping Metropolitan Commandery.

The initial section was far from the city, with harsh weather and difficult supply lines.

Those doing the work were either soldiers from the Tuntian Guard.

They either need rigorously trained laborers; only militarized management can get things done.

The latter part is closer to the garrisons and cities, making supplies convenient, and is mostly inhabited by ordinary people. Lu Yunyi remained calm and said indifferently:
"Since the goal is to help Yingtian Construction Company repair roads, we should naturally select the best craftsmen and laborers."

"Select workers from the very front of the construction site; they must be loyal and reliable."

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying understood completely: the storm had not yet begun, but preparations and arrangements had already started.

He took a deep breath and nodded emphatically:
"Don't worry, Brother Yun'er, I will take care of this."

Lu Yunyi reminded him:

"They left their hometowns to enter the pass to build roads, and the commanders should provide them with sufficient compensation."

Yingtian Construction Firm paid them their wages, and our Beiping Military Command also gave them a share.
They were delivered directly to their families who remained behind.

Then find stable jobs for their wives, and send their children to school so they can work in the interior with peace of mind.

Liu Heiying's pupils suddenly contracted, and he felt his lips go dry.
His rough fist clenched and unclenched, as if to completely eliminate their worries.

He nodded again, emphatically:
"Don't worry, Brother Yun'er, the Commander will definitely treat their families well."

After finishing his statement, Lu Yunyi took a sip of tea and continued:
I once secretly met with the Prince of Yan in Beiping.
He planned to amass military power to prepare for the upcoming situation.

But Beiping is too important, and there are too many informants there, so this task will fall to us.
Prepare in advance; if anything changes, the north must immediately descend into chaos!

These words made Liu Heiying's hand tremble violently.

The plan to control the opposition was formulated when they first arrived at the Beiping Military Command, and only the two of them knew about it.

I never imagined that it would actually come in handy in just a few years.

He stared blankly at Lu Yunyi, his conviction growing stronger.

Brother Yun had already prepared many contingency plans for the situation, which is why he made preparations in advance.
After all, Lu Yunyi has always been a strategist since childhood.

Liu Heiying suppressed his turbulent thoughts and replied with a solemn expression:

"Brother Yun'er, there are so many grassland people around Fishing Lake now, and quite a few tribes are cooperating with us."

If they support any of their rivals, chaos will erupt in the north.

"At that time, we will have control over the weapons, supplies, and food on both sides, and we will be able to control the intensity of the conflict!"

Lu Yunyi also sighed with some emotion, muttering to himself:

"Let's do it this way. Things have really come to this point; it's truly impossible to guard against them."

He looked at Liu Heiying and asked again:
"How are the sweet potatoes growing in Duoyan Sanwei? Is there a good harvest this year?"

Although Liu Heiying was puzzled as to why he suddenly brought up the Three Guards of Duoyan, he nodded repeatedly:
"This year's harvest is another bumper crop, with yields increasing by more than 40% compared to last year. Those people are getting better and better at farming."

Lu Yunyi was very satisfied:
"The Three Guards of Doyan are of paramount importance, as they control the vital passage between Liaodong and the Jurchens."

They took control of the area where the Three Guards of Duoyan were located.
"That would be tantamount to controlling Liaodong, the Jurchens, and Goryeo; this place absolutely cannot be lost!"

The two then discussed some routine matters of the military command.

As Liu Heiying spoke, Lu Yunyi flipped through the documents, gaining a deeper understanding of the situation over the past six months.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Lu Yunyi was exhausted. His deep-set eyes were almost closed, and his dark circles were frighteningly heavy.

Seeing that he was not in good condition, Liu Heiying refilled the teacup with hot water and said softly:
"Brother Yun'er, you should go home and rest early. Only when you are well-rested can you handle important matters calmly."

Lu Yunyi rubbed his temples and smiled gently:

"I'll talk about two last things, then I'll go home."

Liu Heiying sat quietly to the side, waiting.

Lu Yunyi's face darkened, and he said softly:
"Send a copy of the latest gunpowder developed by the workshop to the Prince of Yan's residence so that His Highness can see our achievements and put his mind at ease."

Liu Heiying's eyes widened suddenly.
The weapons workshops and new gunpowder in Daning City are top secret.

Few people in the entire military command knew about this, and now they're going to inform the Prince of Yan?
"Brother Yun'er, why do we have to show this to the Prince of Yan? Wouldn't it be better for us to keep such a good thing to ourselves?"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"The Beiping Military Command and the Beiping Military Command are mutually dependent and indispensable."

If the Prince of Yan cannot withstand the pressure, we will suffer.

A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes:
"Although Da Ning was the capital of the Guanwai Commandery, it was always excluded from the core operating system of the imperial court."

Without the support of the Guannei Commandery, the products produced in the workshops would have no market.

Fortunately, with the advent of sweet potatoes, we no longer need to rely so heavily on food from within the Great Wall.
Otherwise, if you can't even get enough to eat, then you'll truly have nowhere to turn.

Liu Heiying made a note of this:

"Brother Yun'er, I understand. I'll make the arrangements right away."

Lu Yunyi lowered his voice again and continued:

"To prepare for future troubles, we must start early."

In particular, the supply chains of the three major commercial banks in Yingtian must be firmly controlled.

In this way, even if something changes in the capital,

Even if our business is seized by outsiders, we have a plan to deal with it.

Hearing this, Liu Heiying's eyes were filled with doubt, and his heart was pounding with tension.
He couldn't imagine what kind of upheaval could have caused the three major trading houses in Yingtian to fall into the hands of others.

He tentatively asked:

"Brother Yun'er, aren't you being a bit of an overreacter?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head and said bluntly:
"Don't take any chances; things will only be more serious than you imagine."
Yingtian Trading Company is now highly sought after, as it is closely linked to the livelihood of the people in the capital region.

It is no exaggeration to say that whoever controls these major trading companies controls the livelihood of Yingtian people.

Therefore, countless people are secretly watching it.
If the situation changes, the Yingtian Trading Company will be the first to suffer!

These words made Liu Heiying serious, and a sense of regret arose in his heart:
"It would be such a waste if such a large trading company fell into the hands of others."

Lu Yunyi raised his hand and pressed it down, saying softly:

"Yingtian Trading Company is just a five-story building, it's not important."

What's important is the thousands of workshops and ordinary people connected to it, which is the supply chain.

As long as the supply chain remains intact, even if Yingtian Trading Company were to disappear entirely, it could quickly rise again.
But without the supply chain, Yingtian Trading Company would be a mere shell of its former self. Do you understand this?

After a moment's thought, Liu Heiying nodded repeatedly:

"I understand this principle, but now Yingtian Trading Company's supply chain is all recorded."
A large portion of them were veterans who had retired from the military.

These people all left documents at the Governor's Office.

If anything goes wrong, those who plotted to seize Yingtian Trading Company will surely settle scores with these people.

His face was grim, and he tentatively began to speak:
"Brother Yun'er, it's too difficult to hide these people."

Lu Yunyi, with his deep-set eyes, nodded slightly:

"These veterans are scattered throughout the capital region, operating at least eight hundred to a thousand businesses."
It's simply impossible to hide them all.
Since that's the case, we have no choice but to find another way.

"Brother Yun'er, do you have a good idea?" Liu Heiying asked in confusion.

Lu Yunyi chuckled lightly and said calmly:
"Now that they have retired from the military, their connection with us is only recorded in the documents of the Governor's Office."

People can't be replaced, and they can't be hidden.
But once these documents are gone, who will know they were related to us?

Liu Heiying was stunned for a moment, then his pupils suddenly contracted:

"Brother Yun'er, do you mean to destroy those documents and hide these people's identities?"
But those documents are hidden deep within the Governor's Mansion; they are top secret.

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"There is a way."

Liu Heiying's expression was strange, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"What does Brother Yun'er want to do?"

Lu Yunyi's eyes were vacant, his voice was soft, and his fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair as he said indifferently:

"The quickest and simplest way is to burn them all."
(End of this chapter)