In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 1060 Public-Private Partnership: Leaving People Alive

When they returned to the Beiping Regional Military Commission office, the sun was already past noon.

The snow melted into trickles under the warm sun, dripping onto the bluestone slabs and splashing up tiny water droplets, adding a touch of life to this solemn government office.

Lu Yunyi pushed open the door of the yamen, and a wave of warmth rushed towards him.

He took off his black cloak, casually draped it over the back of his chair, and walked straight to the desk to sit down.

A pot of tea was warming on the table.

He picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and took a small sip.

The rich aroma of tea spreads across the tongue, finally allowing the tense nerves of the past month to relax for a moment.

"Finally, I can take a breather."

Lu Yunyi leaned back in the large wooden chair, his toes lightly touching the ground.

Unconsciously, I started humming a little tune, feeling a rare sense of ease, and even the air seemed to lighten up.

Looking at the thick stack of documents on the table.
He casually picked up the top book and flipped through it absentmindedly.

The document contains details about the spies arrested last night.

As he flipped through the pages, the smile on Lu Yunyi's lips gradually faded.

He raised an eyebrow, his expression turning strange.

He gripped the edge of the document with his fingers, pondering to himself:

"When did Daning City outside the pass become such a coveted place?"
In the early years, it was a harsh and cold place that no one wanted to come to.

Now things have gotten really complicated. The Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Six Ministries, the Three Departments, the vassal kings, even Korea and the steppes are all getting involved to plant spies. It's really strange.

He closed the document, picked up his teacup, took another sip, and his gaze darkened.
Although this is proof of the growing strength of Da Ning,
However, with all forces keeping a close eye on Da Ning, we must be even more cautious in our future actions and cannot afford to make the slightest mistake.

"My lord, Lord Duan requests an audience."

Basong's voice rang out from outside the door, soft and respectful, not daring to disturb them further.

"Let him in."

Lu Yunyi straightened up, his relaxed demeanor vanishing, and he regained his composed appearance.

With fingertips, I pushed the document to the corner of the table and placed the paperweight on it.

The curtain was lifted, and Duan Zhengze strode in.

He was around forty years old and of average build.

He was dressed in a gray-brown official robe with a gilded jade belt around his waist.

With a gentle smile on his face, he didn't look like a military commander in charge of land reclamation; rather, he seemed like a friendly silk merchant.

"This humble general, Duan Zhengze, greets Your Excellency!"

Duan Zhengze bowed respectfully, his waist bent just right, his tone was respectful, and his smile deepened, even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes exuded friendliness.

"sit down."

Lu Yunyi raised his hand in a gesture, his gaze falling on him:
"Basong, pour Lord Duan a cup of tea."
"You've come to see me today, is there some business to discuss?"

Duan Zhengze sat down, took the hot tea from Basong, held the cup with both hands, and said with a smile:

"Sir, this is not a chore, it's a good thing."

Over the past three years, the Daning workshops have flourished, trade routes have become smooth, and merchants in the city have all benefited.

In the past, traveling along the grassland trade routes carried the risk of being robbed by bandits.

Now, the commander has launched a powerful attack, wiping out all the bandits and outlaws.

Now that there's a bumper sweet potato harvest and grain prices are stable, even ordinary people can eat their fill every day.

Some merchants, grateful for your kindness, would like to arrange a meeting with you tonight. They say they'll find a quiet place to offer you a drink and express their gratitude.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi gently traced the rim of the cup with his finger, pondering for a moment.

Merchants in the city are the backbone of Daning's economy.

Although all kinds of workshops that directly produce goods belong to the Daning Commandery.
But the workshops' cotton, iron ore, soldiers' winter clothing, and rations...
Many businesses rely on them for cash flow, operating under the same public-private partnership model as Yingtian Trading Company.

It's been a month since I came back.
Refusing would seem too distant.

Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi looked up at Duan Zhengze:

"Alright, where shall we meet? Let's keep it simple and quiet."

When Duan Zhengze saw that he had agreed, his eyes lit up and his smile widened.
"Don't worry, sir, it will be absolutely quiet!"

We decided to go to Kanglelou Restaurant on Anhe Street in the north of the city. It was elegantly decorated and the food was authentic.

Moreover, the rules are strict, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter.

"Okay, let's go there."

Duan Zhengze leaned forward again, lowering his voice slightly, with a hint of probing:

"Sir, there is one more thing the merchants would like to mention to you."

"what's up?"

"That's right, many merchants in the city come from humble backgrounds."
Although my business is doing well now, I always feel like I lack a proper title when I'm out in the world.

Last year, a shopkeeper went to Beiping Prefecture to make purchases.

He was also harassed by the local tax officials, who said that he, a commoner, dared to do such a big business.

They wanted to ask if they could be given a nominal title of "Master Yuanwai" (a low-ranking official title), so that it would be more convenient for them to do business in the future.

They said that if the deal went through, they were willing to donate some silver to the military headquarters to subsidize supplies.

Lu Yunyi paused, holding the teacup.

In the Ming Dynasty, the title of "Yuanwai" was a nominal official position reserved for local gentry and wealthy merchants. It did not have real power, but it was still a government regulation that symbolized recognition and honor.

It's understandable that merchants would want such empty fame.

After all, they were extremely wealthy, but since they couldn't become officials in the imperial court, this was the only way they could make up for it.

Lu Yunyi put down his teacup, his tone calm:

"I understand. I'll meet with them tonight and hear their specific thoughts before we discuss it further."

Although the title of "Yuanwai" was nominal, it was still related to the regulations of the imperial court.

"It can't be given away casually; there has to be a set procedure."

Seeing this, Duan Zhengze stopped trying to persuade him and nodded with a smile:

"Yes, yes, sir, you have considered everything very thoroughly."

"Then it's settled. After dark, this humble general will accompany you there, sir?"

“Okay, come over at 5 PM,” Lu Yunyi replied.

Duan Zhengze then made a few more casual remarks.

Then he got up to take his leave, his steps light and quick, clearly on his way to inform the merchants.

After seeing Duan Zhengze off, Lu Yunyi flipped through some documents and handled a few urgent official matters.

Before we knew it, it was already dark.

The snow outside the window was tinged with a dark white by the twilight, and lanterns lit up one after another on the street.

The dim light shone through the paper windows, adding a touch of warmth to the office.

At the stroke of midnight, Duan Zhengze arrived precisely on time, bringing with him a thick fox fur cloak:

"Sir, it's windy at night. Wear this so you don't get cold."

This is a fox fur sent from Korea a few months ago; I had a tailor make one for me.

Lu Yunyi took the cloak; it was warm to the touch, and the fox fur was soft, clearly indicating it was of superior quality.

He didn't refuse, draped it over his shoulders, and laughed:
"It's a waste."

"What are you saying, sir? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The two walked out of the military headquarters side by side; there were hardly any pedestrians on the street.

Only a few shops still had their lights on.
The cold wind carried a biting chill, yet it was also refreshing.

The carriage was already prepared, with black curtains hanging down.

Basong drove the cart slowly toward Anhe Street in the north of the city.

The carriage traveled for about 15 minutes before arriving at Anhe Street.

The area north of the city was originally inhabited by nomadic people from the grasslands.

In the past year and a half, due to the strong governance of the military command, many new workshops have been opened in the north of the city.
The boundaries between the south and north of Daning City have become much more blurred.

It's no longer the old pattern of people from the grasslands in the north of the city and people from the Ming Dynasty in the south.

Anhe Street is the busiest street in the north of the city.
Even at night, the area remains brightly lit, with teahouses and taverns lining both sides of the street.

Many artisans would come here after finishing their work, have some food and drinks, and then go home.

Although they were wearing work clothes, they were able to come here to eat, drink, and have fun.
They are either key members of the workshop or those in charge; ordinary people don't come here.

Even so, Anhe Street is now countless times more bustling than when Lu Yunyi first arrived in Daning City!
Kang Le Lou is located in the middle of the street and is a three-story building.

The exterior walls are made of blue bricks, the eaves are covered with black tiles, and two large red lanterns, each as tall as a person, hang at the entrance.

The three golden characters of Kang Le Lou (康乐楼) are particularly eye-catching under the lights.

Lu Yunyi was slightly taken aback when he saw this scene.
He didn't even know when the Kang Le Building had been renovated.

He stepped down from the carriage and looked at the sugar shop next to Kang Le Lou.

The gate was now closed, but the scattered footprints in front of it testified to the sugar shop's prosperity.

As Wanshou Sugar Mill produced more and more sugar, the price gradually dropped, and the number of people queuing at the door each day decreased significantly. But for Dusi, this was not a bad thing.

This fully demonstrates that the people in Daning City have a better livelihood.
They no longer need to rely on small businesses that earn a few copper coins a day to make a living.

At this moment, a waiter dressed in a blue long gown immediately came forward, his face beaming with a smile and his voice clear and bright:

"Lord Duan, you've arrived! This must be Lord Lu, right? I'd like to pay my respects to Lord Lu! Please come in!"

Duan Zhengze nodded to him and explained to Lu Yunyi:

"My lord, for safety reasons, I did not have them come downstairs to greet me."

Otherwise, if the whole city knows, it will have a bad influence.

Lu Yunyi nodded, satisfied with Duan Zhengze's arrangement:

"Lead the way."

The waiter clearly recognized Duan Zhengze and Lu Yunyi.
In the city of Daning, besides Lord Lu, there is no one else who can command such respect from Lord Duan.

Duan Zhengze smiled and said to the waiter:

"Lead the way to the private room."

The waiter acknowledged and led the two inside.

The lobby on the first floor was already quite full of guests.
Most of them were richly dressed merchants.
They were talking in small groups, their voices not loud, creating a lively but not noisy atmosphere.

The air was filled with the aroma of food.

It mainly features authentic northern cuisine, with some southern desserts mixed in.

The two flavors, one from the south and one from the north, are placed on the table without appearing out of place; on the contrary, they have a unique elegance.

The second and third floors were private rooms. The waiter led the two up to the third floor.

I walked to the door of the innermost private room, knocked gently, and then pushed the door open.

As soon as the door to the private room was pushed open, the noise inside instantly stopped.

Seven or eight merchants in brocade robes stood up abruptly, their smiles freezing on their faces, replaced by a hint of awkwardness at meeting their superior.

Mi Chen, who was in the lead, was the most experienced. He had dealt with the military commanders for many years and appeared rather calm.

"This humble citizen, Mi Chen, greets Lord Lu!"

Hu Chongyi, who was standing next to him, also stepped forward.
He used to be a bandit on the grasslands, dealing in furs, and had close ties with the areas beyond the Great Wall.

Now, riding on the momentum of the Baisong tribe,

His business expanded rapidly, and he recovered all the money that the commander had extorted from him last year.

However, he remained very reserved when he met Lu Yunyi.

They were afraid that this Lord Lu might try to extract money from them again someday.
"This humble subject, Hu Chongyi, greets Your Excellency!"

Wang Ze, Huang Huai, and the others also bowed, their heads hanging low.

Her gaze only dared to dart towards the gilded jade belt around Lu Yunyi's waist.

It was inlaid with several gemstones, representing the highest standard for a second-rank official.
Even in the entire Ming Dynasty, very few people could possess it.

Everyone present held their breath, afraid that their heavy breathing might disturb this distinguished guest.

Lu Yunyi glanced at them a few times, then waved his hand:
"Please sit down, don't be shy."

After saying this, he walked to the main seat, and Duan Zhengze sat down to his left.

Only then did the merchants dare to cautiously sit back down in their chairs.

The waiter quickly brought in the dishes.

A whole sheep was carried up by two workers; it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
They also sprinkled some imported spices, which looked like cumin, and the aroma instantly filled the private room.

Next came some Jiangnan pastries and northern specialties.
Before long, the huge round table was filled with dishes, colorful and very appealing.

"Sir, this lamb is a six-month-old lamb. Would you like to try some?"

Duan Zhengze picked up the silver knife and deftly cut off a piece of the tenderest leg meat.

It was placed on a white porcelain plate in front of Lu Yunyi.

Lu Yunyi glanced at Basong standing to the side, and seeing him nod slightly, he slowly began to eat.

"Yeah, it tastes good."

These words were like a reassuring pill, and the atmosphere in the private room became more relaxed.

After two glasses of wine, Mi Chen started talking.
Holding chopsticks in his hand, he said with a touch of emotion:
"Sir, we merchants owe our peaceful lives today entirely to your support."

Today, business is booming in Daning City, which has become a transit hub connecting the east and west.

We merchants also benefited from this; we truly admire your foresight, sir.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present nodded repeatedly.

Since Daning connected Liaodong, Goryeo, and Beiping, business has improved dramatically, reaching its peak.

There are no longer any scenes of people fighting to the death over a few hundred taels of silver.

Hu Chongyi echoed this sentiment:

"My lord! In the past, when furs were transported to Yingtian, the customs officials would embezzle them at every level."
We now have trade documents between the military command and Beiping.

The journey was smooth, and profits increased by 20% compared to before!
I have brought some small gifts for you, sir.
These are all the finest fox furs, perfect for making clothes for the ladies.

Lu Yunyi put down his chopsticks, picked up the plum wine, and took a sip. The sweet and sour aroma of the wine was just right to cut through the richness.
I appreciate your kindness, but there's no need for a thank-you gift.

"As long as you do business honestly, don't inflate prices, and don't cheat the people, that's the biggest help you can give to Da Ning."

He changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"Just now, Lord Duan said that you wanted the honorary title of Master?"

The merchants instantly perked up.

Wang Ze was the manager of Wang's Cloth Shop on Daliang Street, dealing in cloth. Upon hearing this, he quickly replied:

"My lord, it's not that I'm greedy!"

Last month, I went to Beiping Prefecture to buy cotton cloth.
The tax collectors, seeing that the common people had no official status, deliberately made things difficult for them and collected twice the amount of tax!
Having a title like "Master of the Household" would save a lot of trouble.

Huang Huai nodded quickly. He was the owner of Huang's General Store on Tongqu Street, specializing in purchasing original parts for workshops within the city.
"My lord, I am willing to serve the Commander!"
When the workshops need to buy cotton, ordinary people can go to the grasslands to help with the collection, and the price will never be unfair to the people.
If the military granaries run out of food, ordinary citizens will cover the shortfall; we will never let the soldiers go hungry!

Lu Yunyi nodded, his fingers lightly tapping the table:

“We can’t just give it to you casually, but you are all important merchants in Da Ning City, so the Commander can consider it. Don’t worry.”

These words caused an uproar in the private room, and the merchants' eyes lit up.

Although Lord Lu did not say it explicitly, his meaning was quite clear.

The atmosphere at the subsequent drinking party became increasingly lively.

The merchants repeatedly offered toasts, their words filled with gratitude.

Lu Yunyi didn't drink much, only taking occasional sips, listening to them talk about trivial matters related to the trade routes, and remembering them all.

About an hour later, after a satisfying meal, Lu Yunyi got up to take his leave.

The merchants all saw him off at the entrance of Kang Le Lou.
Only after watching him get into the carriage did she reluctantly return home.

With the prospect of becoming wealthy landowners, they felt more confident about their future business.

Duan Zhengze still needed to finalize the details of donating grain and purchasing cotton with the merchants, so he didn't accompany them, only instructing Basong:

"Be careful on the road, and send someone to report immediately if anything happens."

The carriage slowly drove away from Anhe Street. At first, there were still craftsmen returning home late, and the occasional laughter and shouts of waiters from the taverns could be heard.

The snow was crunched over by the wheels, making a soft, crunching sound, carrying a hint of everyday life.

Basong drove the cart, but his eyes kept scanning his surroundings warily.

He was Lu Yunyi's personal guard, and had followed him in battles for many years, so his intuition about danger was much sharper than that of ordinary people.

After traveling for half an hour, the carriage turned into West Heng Street.

This is the shortcut back to the military headquarters.

Although not as bustling as Anhe Street on ordinary days,

A few shops were still lit up, but they were unusually quiet today.

The lanterns along the street were either extinguished or left with only tattered paper covers, swaying like ghosts in the cold wind.

There wasn't even a footprint in the snow.

Only the carriage tracks stretched out forlornly, appearing particularly abrupt.

Basong's hand quietly rested on the hilt of his knife beneath the reins, and he spoke in a very low voice into the carriage:

"Sir, something is not right."

Lu Yunyi was leaning against the car wall, resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes and spoke calmly:

"what happened?"

"It's too quiet, please be careful!"

Having said that, Basong waved his hand:
"Spread out and maintain alert!"

The guards dispersed one by one, drawing their longswords and crossbows!
Lu Yunyi lifted the carriage curtain slightly and looked outside in the dim moonlight.

Sure enough, only their tire tracks were visible on the snow; it was unusually quiet.

"Don't panic, keep going and see what they're up to."

Lu Yunyi's voice was completely calm; years of battle had made him accustomed to danger.
"If you take action, leave them alive."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)