In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 811 Business Profit Sharing, Youthful Discipline!
At 9:30 in the morning, Lu Yunyi left the Ministry of Revenue.

The pleasantness he had shown upon arrival was completely gone, replaced by a terribly gloomy expression.

When the guards, including Feng Yunfang, learned the whole story, they dared not speak, feeling that the imperial court was bullying them too much.

Year after year, they never paid their salaries.

However, they breathed a sigh of relief, as their salaries were being paid on time.

Lu Yunyi stood at the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue, hands on his hips, staring intently at everyone passing by.

Many officials were so afraid of being stared at by him that they dared not enter the yamen, waiting anxiously in the distance, preparing to return to the yamen only after he left.

Lu Yunyi's greatest wish right now is for a member of the Imperial Guard to walk past the door.
Then he would certainly not hold back and would give them a good beating.

However, after waiting for a long time, no one from the Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi's voice was heavy:
"Let's go back home!"

"It's just some salary, if it's gone, it's gone, I don't care!"

Despite saying that, the accompanying guards exchanged bewildered glances.

She clearly cares more than anyone else, but pretends to be indifferent.

When a powerful person gets ruthless, they can even deceive themselves; this official position is truly not one that just anyone can hold.

The large group left the Ministry of Revenue and headed towards the main gate of the imperial city.

As they walked to the entrance of the Ministry of Works, they happened to run into Liu Sili, who was strolling out.

"Father-in-law." Lu Yunyi stopped and bowed.

Liu Sili sized him up, glanced at the fierce-looking guards following behind him, and asked:
"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Reporting to my father-in-law, when I went to the Ministry of Revenue to collect my salary, they informed me that His Highness the Crown Prince has fined me another year's salary!"

Lu Yunyi poured out his grievances, completely ignoring the officials passing by and pretending not to see them.

But the officials couldn't pretend they didn't hear it, and they all walked past with shocked expressions.

In their view, this man who founded the Yingtian Trading Company,
Having a fortune of ten thousand pieces of gold is an understatement; one must have at least a fortune of a million pieces of gold.
If they had that much money, they could pay any amount, not just salaries, to go to the government office!

"Alright, alright."

Liu Sili felt a headache coming on and quickly stopped him, saying:
"The company is holding a shareholders' meeting tomorrow to discuss dividend distribution. Will you be attending?"

"Ok?"

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, then immediately realized that he had forgotten about it.

"Father-in-law, how much money will we get?"

Liu Sili pondered for a moment, then shook his head:

"It's hard to say; it depends on the court's decision."
Moreover, now that the business has an additional steward, the Market Affairs Department's ideas should be heard, so a meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss it.

But don't worry, according to the rules you set beforehand...

The dividends will definitely be plentiful; I've done the math.
With your share, getting eight or ten thousand taels shouldn't be a problem.

Lu Yunyi looked shocked. If he remembered correctly,
His share was only three percent, and he only managed to get it after being pressured by a group of adults. How could he get ten thousand taels of silver for that little bit?

He felt that the earning power of Yingtian Trading Company had been underestimated.

"Father-in-law, what time is it tomorrow?"

"The day's plan starts in the morning, so the matter of profit sharing is bound to be a big argument. It's better to start early, so we've set it for the morning after the morning assembly."

"Alright, I'll be there then. But it's you who will be there."

Lu Yunyi looked puzzled and pointed to the Ministry of Works not far away, his meaning clear.

Liu Sili shook his head:

Something's happened.

Liu Sili pulled Lu Yunyi aside.
He recounted the news that King Zhou wanted to meet the Duke of Song and how the group responded.

Lu Yunyi remained calm and pretended not to know anything.

"Father-in-law, I think we should report this matter to His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible."
King Zhou was stubborn and wouldn't listen to anyone else.
But if His Highness the Crown Prince gives the order, he should be able to return in time.

Liu Sili waved his hand:

"That's their business. Lord Qin summoned me today."
Isn't it just that they want to use the power of the trading company to get things done?

But I didn't say anything. They were the ones who were anxious, not me.

Lu Yunyi chuckled to himself. His father-in-law had been in the capital for a long time and was becoming increasingly adept at handling such situations.

"Father-in-law, has Liu Zixian set off yet?"

Liu Sili's smile faded, and he nodded slightly:
"We set off a long time ago, and I arranged for family members to take care of and escort us along the way."
If he could reach Liaodong, he would have escaped with his life.

If he can't make it, then he deserves it.

"Father-in-law, we've already saved him, what's a little more effort?"

"Ah~"

Liu Sili sighed and said with a touch of melancholy:

"You have no idea, ever since I became the head manager..."

Even distant relatives and friends gathered around.

Some of these people still have a debt of gratitude to their families; if we don't let them get close, people will gossip about us behind our backs.

Now is the perfect time to use Zixian's situation to give them a warning.
Making money peacefully is fine, but don't get involved in anything dishonest. If things go wrong, nobody will be happy.

Liu Sili remembered something and asked:

"Now there's a Market Regulation Bureau above our heads, and Han Yike is in charge."

In the future, the business will inevitably face constraints.
Do you think the business should go with the flow or fight back?

"Me?" Lu Yunyi was somewhat surprised.
“Father-in-law, you are now the head manager of the business. What right do I have to speak?”

"You built this business from scratch, don't you feel any remorse?"

“Father-in-law, as you know, I’ve always been the same way when it comes to money.”

Liu Sili shook his head helplessly.
"The trading company is very powerful now, especially after its recent misuse of public resources, which has made many people wary."
I suspect that when it comes time to distribute dividends, some people might cause trouble.

I'm currently hesitating: should I relinquish some power, or fight to the death?
"Give me an idea, you're full of clever ideas."

Lu Yunyi raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice:
"Father-in-law, peace can only be achieved through struggle."
If we're easy targets, everyone will try to bully us.
That trading company will eventually belong to someone else, and the imperial court doesn't want to see that happen.

A glint flashed in Liu Sili's eyes, and he nodded slightly:

"I know what to do now. Is there anything else?"

If there's nothing else, you can go to the government office to check the accounts and make preparations.

"I won't look at the accounts. It's best to avoid suspicion regarding such an important matter."

"If I don't want to watch it, I don't want to watch it. I've already made a lot of money anyway."
By the way, what was the matter when the Marquis of Yongding said he wanted to buy iced tea yesterday?

The trading company isn't involved in the military at all.
If we set this precedent, we'll offend quite a few people.

Lu Yunyi was aware of some of the procurement activities within the Ming army.
Due to a shortage of funds and a long usage period, the price is more than double that of ordinary products.

Many of these businesses were financed by various noble families using their own money, even though they never saw any returns.
But this was also a way for nobles to expand their influence in the military.

If it's because of the matter of Marquis Yongding,
The army's large-scale purchases of goods from Yingtian Trading Company could cost them their jobs.

"Father-in-law, selling a little water isn't necessary."
Moreover, the Marquis of Yongding has only recently been granted his title and his power base is still weak.

It's possible that they were trying to leverage Yingtian Trading Company's support to compete with others.
As long as Marquis Yongding can stabilize the situation in the army, Yingtian Merchant Guild will not get too involved.

"Oh, then I'm relieved. The business is growing bigger and bigger."
Roads in the surrounding villages are also planned to be built at the same time.

If you offend too many people at this time and cause any trouble, then you'll be in real trouble.

"Father-in-law, the road is long and arduous, but if you keep going, you will reach your destination."
Although there may be twists and turns, we will eventually reach our destination.

"Hehe." Liu Sili chuckled and nudged Lu Yunyi:
"You little rascal, you're so young, yet you speak with such eloquence!"

"Alright, you can go about your business now. I need to go back to the yamen."

"Father-in-law, take care!"

Lu Yunyi bowed deeply, and Liu Sili led his men away.

Lu Yunyi stood silently in thought at the entrance of the Ministry of Works. After a long while, he waved his hand:

"Let's go to the large workshop."

The Grand Workshop was the most bustling place in the entire southern part of Yingtian City.
It connects to Jubaomen Street to the south, and further north is Fudong Street, where Yingtian Prefecture is located.

The reason this place is so prestigious is that the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion is located on the east side of the Grand Workshop, occupying an entire street.

Further east lies Zhangde Street, where the powerful and wealthy reside.

Today, this place is still packed with people.

Merchants, vendors, and ordinary people entering Yingtian City through Jubao Gate all pass through here.

Lu Yunyi did not choose to ride a horse, but instead rode in a carriage, simply because the weather was too hot.

Arriving here, through the curtains,

Lu Yunyi felt a wave of heat rush towards him, along with a cacophony of noise.

Fortunately, once you turn into Guanglan Street from Dagongfang, the place immediately becomes quiet and peaceful.
The people coming and going were all servants and attendants from various mansions.

Before long, the carriage swayed and rattled until it arrived at the first shop on Guanglan Street.
Even from a distance, you can see craftsmen bustling about, hammering and tinkering with the exterior walls of the shops.

The shop occupies a huge area, several times larger than the restaurants outside.
Moreover, with a height of four stories, it stands out from the crowd on Guanglan Street.

Lu Yunyi stepped down from the carriage and stood at the door, gazing inside.

It's fair to say that any mansion on Zhangde Street will have this outstanding shop right outside its door.

Upon realizing this, Lu Yunyi nodded with great satisfaction.

In business, location is paramount, especially when dealing with the powerful and influential. Lu Yunyi was certain that simply acquiring this shop...

The luxury goods business is already half done; the other half requires providing ample emotional value to these wealthy ladies.
With Mu Jinghe's skill level, there's naturally nothing to worry about.

"I didn't realize this woman was so capable."

Lu Yunyi praised him in his heart, then felt a pang of regret.
Such a capable woman entered the den of thieves, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and still couldn't escape.

Just then, Lu Yunyi's eyes narrowed as he looked at a person lingering not far from the shop.
The man was acting suspiciously, glancing over every now and then with a wary look in his eyes, and his constant wiping of sweat on this hot day was quite comical.

"Jinyiwei?"

Lu Yunyi knew that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been purging internal spies due to their conflict with Yu Tongyuan.

The entire government office was almost empty, a devastating blow.

Under such circumstances, how could they possibly send someone to monitor the business?
Lu Yunyi was a little confused, so he looked at Feng Yunfang behind him and pointed at the man:

"Go, bring that man to me."

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang's eyes narrowed, and with a slight wave of his hand, more than a dozen riders charged forward.
Seeing that things were going badly, the man turned and ran.

But how could two legs outrun four? They were quickly brought back.

When he was pressed in front of Lu Yunyi

He was trembling all over, his face pale, clearly terrified.

He was probably around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with an extremely plain appearance and tired eyes; he looked like someone who had been brutally beaten down by society.

This made Lu Yunyi frown.
While the Imperial Guards in the capital were indeed outrageous, they shouldn't have gone this far.

"Tell me, who sent you?"

"Young master, I don't know what you're talking about."

Lu Yunyi moved back and stood in the shade:

"I, Lu Yunyi, have no intention of wasting words with you."

"Confess honestly, and I'll let you go. If you don't, I'll kill you right now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud "whoosh".

Basong drew his long sword from his waist and held it to the young man's neck.

He trembled even more violently, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"My lord, I really don't know anything."

"Stop talking nonsense, stand in the sunlight and keep watch."
How could the Imperial Guard have someone as stupid as you? Confess honestly!

Upon hearing this, the young man looked shocked, abruptly raised his head, and realized why he had been targeted all at once.

His face turned ashen in an instant, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.
But soon, he started crying.
She cried, tears and snot streaming down her face, her voice trembling with sobs, and said haltingly:

"My lord, I was truly forced into this situation."

My name is Ji Gang, and I was originally a scholar from Linyi, Shandong.

He had come to the capital to take the imperial examination hoping to achieve fame and bring glory to his ancestors.

But who could have imagined that they would encounter rebel troops halfway through their journey, losing all their money and even most of their books and clothes?

Ji Gang wiped away his tears and continued:

"I was penniless, hungry, and exhausted, and I begged my way to the capital."

After arriving in the capital, I searched everywhere for work, hoping to earn some money so that I would have a place to stay and eat when I took the exam.

But this capital city is full of high-ranking officials and nobles.

I'm just a humble scholar, with no relatives or friends, so nobody wants to talk to me.

His eyes were filled with despair and helplessness, and his voice trembled:

"Just when I was at my wit's end..."
One day, I was strolling down the street when I suddenly encountered a group of people.

They were dressed in government uniforms, claimed to be members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and asked me if I was willing to work for them.

They said that as long as I obeyed, they would give me food to eat.
They can also give me some money and let me take the imperial examination next year.

I was starving and just wanted a place to stay, so without thinking much, I agreed to their request.

Ji Gang's body trembled slightly, and a look of fear appeared on his face:

"They took me to a place, made me a document token, and gave me a knife."

Then they told me to come here and keep an eye on this shop.

He said to write down any suspicious people he saw entering or leaving the premises.

I have no idea why they want me to do these things.

I asked them, but they wouldn't tell me.
They even said that if I didn't listen, they wouldn't let me take the exam next year.

"My lord, please forgive my rudeness and spare me."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi was shocked and froze on the spot.

Ji Gang? From Linyi? Coming to the capital for the imperial examination?
That's right.

The young man in front of me was crying like a child.
It turned out to be Ji Gang, who would later become the powerful commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At this moment, Ji Gang was spineless, timid, and helpless.
He was completely different from the ruthless and arrogant Ji Gang he remembered.

Lu Yunyi was utterly bewildered. He frowned, looked Ji Gang up and down, and asked:
"Since you are a scholar, why did you agree to their request so easily?"
Don't they know the reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital?

Ji Gang shook his head with a wry smile and said:
"My lord, I was truly desperate at the time."

I have no relatives or friends in the capital, and I am penniless.

If I didn't agree to their demands, I'm afraid I wouldn't even survive the day.
Moreover, I initially thought they were interested in my literacy so I could do clerical work; I never imagined they were there to keep an eye on the adults' shops.

Lu Yunyi remained silent for a moment, and seeing that he was still crying, he pondered to himself.

Although Ji Gang is currently down on his luck, he will surely become a prominent figure in the future.
If I can lend him a hand now, I might be able to create a positive connection.

Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi's tone softened a bit, and he said:

“Ji Gang, I am a Doctor of Crafts at the Imperial Academy. You are a scholar, and you should not be involved in these disputes.”

Now that you've encountered me, I'll give you a chance.

Upon hearing Lu Yunyi's words, Ji Gang's eyes flashed with shock, and he immediately kowtowed:

"The student has met the doctor."

"Get up, get up. I'm asking you, do you still want to participate in next year's imperial examination?"

Ji Gang wiped away his tears, then his eyes hardened, and he said:
"My lord, I have come to the capital to take the imperial examination in order to achieve fame and honor, and to make a name for myself among my ancestors."

Despite these changes,
But my ambition has never changed, and I naturally still want to take the exam.

Lu Yunyi nodded and said:

"Very well, I'll spare your life today."
I will pretend I don't know that you've become a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and I won't inform the Imperial Academy.

You also need to use your brain.
If you're being watched under the blazing sun, who wouldn't notice something's wrong with you?

Find a shady spot, watch quietly and discreetly, without being spotted.

Upon hearing this, Ji Gang's eyes filled with gratitude. He knelt on the ground again, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Thank you sir, thank you sir"

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and said:

"Get up, get up! How can you, a scholar, kneel down so easily? Have you no shame? This isn't how you 'hide your abilities and bide your time'!"

Ji Gang's lips trembled, but he remained silent.

Lu Yunyi shook his head, somewhat doubtful that the person in front of him could really become the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He looks utterly useless.

Give him ten taels of silver.

Feng Yunfang's expression was strange. He had come out today to collect his salary, but not only did he not receive it, he also lost ten taels of silver.

Ji Gang stared at the silver in his hand, tears welling in his eyes, stunned and incredulous.

He knelt down again with a thud and said:

“My lord, I have no way to repay your kindness, so I can only kowtow to you again to express my gratitude.”

"Get up, get up! How many times do I have to tell you?"
"You're a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, yet you still kneel all day. If Mao Xiang sees this, he'll definitely kill you."

Ji Gang stood up, and Lu Yunyi said:
"Now that you're a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it's too late to regret it. You'll just have to keep doing this for now."

Remember to keep your identity hidden. If you can get into high school next year, you'll still have a chance to turn things around.
If you don't win, you'll be stuck with that for life.

Ji Gang's nose started to sting again, and he almost cried again.

"Sir, I understand."

"Let's go, let's go. Remember to find some shade, don't be so obvious."

Watching Ji Gang's departing figure, Lu Yunyi sighed inwardly, once again harboring some doubts about the history books he had thoroughly studied.
Feng Yunfang walked to Lu Yunyi's side and asked softly:

"Sir, are we just going to let him go like this? What if he goes back and tells the Embroidered Uniform Guard about us?"

“Speak freely, do you think I’m afraid of him?”

"Let's go check out Blackhawk's mansion; see if the renovations are finished."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yunfang was slightly taken aback, and for some reason, he felt that the adult seemed to be in a much better mood.

(End of this chapter)