In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 819 The Yingtian Trading Company's Employee Housing Security Plan Will Be Discussed Later
The night was as dark as ink, slowly enveloping the entire city of Yingtian.

The occasional sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing through the streets and alleys was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Inside the Lu residence, the moonlight was thin, filtering through the thick clouds and casting dappled shadows onto the bluestone path, adding a touch of desolation to the ancient house.

In the study in the backyard, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Lu Yunyi's tall and straight figure.

He was engrossed in his documents, his brow furrowed, occasionally writing furiously.
Time passed slowly. Lu Yunyi lifted his head from his desk, rubbed his tired eyes,
My gaze inadvertently drifted to the window and I realized that the night was already deep.
He glanced at the water clock beside him and a sense of surprise welled up in his heart.

In the past month, regardless of wind or rain,

Mu Jinghe would always arrive at the mansion before midnight, and the two would fuss over something before going to sleep.

It's already past one o'clock, why hasn't it arrived yet?
Just as Lu Yunyi was deep in thought,
A series of hurried yet steady footsteps came from outside the door.

Lu Yunyi recognized the sound of Feng Yunfang's footsteps.
Thinking that Mu Jinghe had finally arrived, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

However, after Feng Yunfang knocked on the door and then pushed it open to enter,
"My lord, Minister Li Zhigang of the Ministry of Works requests an audience, saying he has important matters to discuss."

Lu Yunyi was slightly taken aback.
"Li Zhigang? What's he doing here so late?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, they say that the matter from a few days ago has been resolved."

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment, then regained his composure and nodded.

"Invite him in."

A short while later, Li Zhigang entered the study.

He was dressed casually, travel-worn, and looked exhausted.
Upon seeing Lu Yunyi, he gave a slight bow and then got straight to the point.

"Lord Lu, there is a reason for disturbing you so late at night."

We have just received news that His Highness Prince Zhou has arrived in the capital.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi frowned, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Stopped?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhigang was taken aback and glanced at Lord Lu with some surprise, confirming his suspicions.

He informed the Minister of Qin that King Zhou was planning a secret meeting with the Duke of Song.

It might just be Lord Lu right in front of us.

No wonder Lord Qin sent him here to report.

Li Zhigang didn't keep anyone in suspense and recounted his experiences on this trip.

"My lord, I received orders from Lord Qin three days ago."
Send your subordinate to Shangyuan County to find King Zhou and persuade him to return to the capital, preventing him from meeting with the Duke of Song.

But King Zhou remained obstinate, refusing to return to the capital and instead choosing to wait in Shangyuan County.

Left with no other choice, I had to head towards Fengyang to find the Duke of Song.

After searching extensively, they found no trace of the Duke of Song's forces and had no choice but to return to the city.
But upon my return today, my superior informed me that His Highness Prince Zhou had already been taken to the capital by His Highness Prince Yan and his men.

After listening to Li Zhigang's explanation, Lu Yunyi nodded slightly. The matter was indeed reasonable.

The fact that King Zhou was waiting for Duke Song in Shangyuan County must mean he had some confidential matter to discuss.
Even if it's risky, we must wait.
The route taken by the Duke of Song back to the capital must have been extremely secretive.
For Li Zhigang and his group to find the person was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

However, Lu Yunyi was still somewhat surprised that it was actually the Prince of Yan who brought the person back.
After a moment's thought, Lu Yunyi asked:
"Is this an order from His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Li Zhigang shook his head solemnly, "It was His Majesty's order."

"Huh~ When did the King of Zhou enter the capital?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is said to be in the afternoon."

He was led by His Highness the Prince of Yan through the back gate of the imperial city at Xuanwu Lake into the capital, without alerting anyone along the way.

Lu Yunyi did not speak immediately after hearing this, but stood up and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
After a long while, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he said softly:
Is there anything else you need today? Just something to report?

"Lord Qin, would you like me to inquire whether today's events will have any impact on flood control?"
Jingzhong Cement Workshop is now operating at full capacity.

Lord Qin is afraid that all this money will be spent without any results.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi was taken aback and abruptly turned to look at Li Zhigang.
"How did the cement workshop start producing? Did Lord Qin invest his share of the profits?"

Li Zhigang nodded sheepishly and gave an awkward smile.
"My lord, you are unaware of..."
After receiving the money, Lord Qin was in high spirits.
The workshop manager took away nearly ten thousand taels of silver with just a few words.

Lord Qin probably regretted it that very night and sent someone to tell the cement workshop not to open the kiln yet.
But to everyone's surprise, the cement workshop went even further, working through the night and lighting more than a dozen furnaces.

Now there's no stopping it, even if we wanted to.

Lu Yunyi's lips twitched. It seemed that not only ordinary people, but even high-ranking officials like him couldn't control themselves once they took money.

Li Zhigang probably felt a little embarrassed and quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Lord Qin also devoted himself wholeheartedly to flood control."

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has given a precise estimate: next year's rainfall in the upper reaches of the Yellow River will be even greater than this year's.
If we don't build dikes and reservoirs, we'll face breaches everywhere, just like this year.

Lu Yunyi waved his hand:
"Since the Imperial Observatory has already spoken, why worry about the King of Zhou?"
Flood control is a matter of paramount importance for the nation.
Even without King Zhou, there is still King Li. Flood control is a must, it's just that it will be a bit troublesome.

"Don't worry, Lord Li, you won't lose your position as a councilor."

They received a positive response from the important person.
Li Zhigang felt a rush of blood to his head, and his eyes turned bloodshot in an instant!

Three months ago, he was a fourth-rank councilor, with an unknown number of people in the world and an uncertain future.

Three months later, he had already overcome the most crucial hurdle in advancing from the fourth rank to the third rank, becoming a third-rank official!

He knew that many high-ranking officials had spent their entire lives trying to overcome this hurdle, but they could never get past it.
And so, by a twist of fate, he became one.
Seeing his excited expression, Lu Yunyi smiled and said:

"Lord Li, you are a capable man."
Now that His Majesty recognizes your loyalty, the position of Councilor is not your end, but your beginning.

Once the Yellow River is tamed, we can take the next step forward.
Those were local officials and department heads.
You must do your job well and never let His Majesty and the Crown Prince down.

Li Zhigang felt his blood boiling and surging.
He is now the highest-ranking official in Songjiang.
If one could become a high-ranking official or a provincial governor,

That would make them famous throughout Songjiang, and their family would never decline.

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhigang managed to calm himself and quickly bowed deeply.
"This humble official is very grateful for Lord Lu's patronage. If it weren't for this trip to the Henan Military Command..."
I fear I am still struggling in the mire, unable to extricate myself.

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly and said calmly:
"Lord Li, this is your opportunity."
Just like when I inexplicably encountered the General's campaign against the Northern Yuan.

If you catch it, you catch it; if you miss it, you'll find yourself falling further behind.
Fortunately, we've both escaped the quagmire.
I hope that when we meet again, Lord Li will have risen to a higher position and become a high-ranking official of the third rank.

Li Zhigang looked grateful. As a native of Songjiang, he had not a single powerful patron in the imperial court.
But ever since I started working for the adult in front of me last year,

He received promotions and wealth without exception, which made him feel grateful.

Li Zhigang bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I am deeply grateful."

"Alright, you look so tired, go back and rest."

King Zhou has returned, and your departure for Henan shouldn't be far off. You'll be quite busy then.

"Yes, I'll take my leave now."

Li Zhigang bowed respectfully again and slowly withdrew from the study.
The study was dimly lit by candlelight. Lu Yunyi walked behind his desk, sat down, and appeared deep in thought.
Once Henan begins water management, it will not only quell the Yellow River's long-standing turmoil but also allow cement factories to develop rapidly.

Similarly, once concrete dams block the floods,
Construction companies will also experience rapid growth.

After all, ordinary people build a house to live in for their descendants for hundreds of years.
With such a strong material as concrete, why would they use fragile loess?

The only problem is that unless the construction company reaches a certain scale, the finished product price will remain high.
For ordinary people, building a house with concrete is an incredibly difficult and potentially life-threatening endeavor.

How can we scale up operations and reduce costs?

Lu Yunyi fell into deep thought, picked up a piece of Xuan paper from the side, and began to write and draw on it.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the once clean paper was now covered with messy scribbles, with only a few words in the corner remaining untouched.

"Yingtian Trading Company Employee Housing Security Plan".

Having clarified his thoughts, Lu Yunyi was in a good mood.
I picked up the teacup next to me and took a small sip, only to find that the tea leaves inside were already ice cold.

He paused for a moment, then smiled.
If Mu Jinghe were here, she would definitely be adding tea for him at all times.

Lu Yunyi put down his teacup and looked towards the door:
"Yunfang, come in for a moment."

Feng Yunfang entered the study with a respectful expression:

"grown ups!"

Lu Yunyi pointed to the wooden box containing ten thousand taels of silver on the bookshelf and instructed:

"Go and deliver this precious paper money to Mu Jinghe's residence."
I was planning to give it to her today, but she didn't come. Please take it to her and ask what happened.

Feng Yunfang walked to the bookshelf, lifted the wooden box down, and looked respectful:

"Yes, sir. Should we ask the brothers on surveillance?"

"Ask her. She's currently the closest person to the Embroidered Uniform Guard in our hands, so keep a close eye on her."

"Yes!"

Feng Yunfang turned and left, while Lu Yunyi took out a document from a drawer to the side.
More than a hundred names were written on it from top to bottom.

To his dismay, he had made preparations well in advance.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard recruited new members, not a single one was infiltrated into their ranks.
This made Lu Yunyi wonder if he had used up all his luck recently.

As a newly emerging elite, he was acutely aware of his weaknesses in intelligence.
Establishing an intelligence network is an urgent priority.
Before that, relying on a large tree was the safest and fastest method.

As long as someone can break into the core of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

So the information from the Embroidered Uniform Guard was essentially the same as their own, which saved them a lot of trouble.

But alas, luck was against him. Looking at the list, Lu Yunyi then thought of Ji Gang.

If I could make him work for me...
Lu Yunyi shook his head, dismissing the idea.

Ji Gang's original trajectory of growth was already good enough.

Random interference may not only fail to achieve good results, but could also backfire, resulting in the loss of a positive connection.

"Sigh, we're about to leave the capital. In the end, we still have to rely on Mu Jinghe."

The night was as still as water, and Yingtian City was gently shrouded by a huge black silk ribbon, and all was silent.

Occasionally, a few barks could be heard from the streets and alleys.

But it quickly dissipated into the deep night.
Only the faint echoes remained, making the surroundings even more tranquil.

The Mu Mansion was completely silent.

Mu Jinghe sat alone in front of her dressing table, the candlelight flickering.
It reflected her slightly haggard yet still stunningly beautiful face.

Those originally bright and captivating eyes
At this moment, however, it is dim and lifeless, hiding endless sorrow.

She stared blankly ahead.

My thoughts had already drifted far away, to all the little things we had shared together.

Thinking of Mao Xiang's aggressive threats today,
Thinking about the seemingly beautiful yet subtly dangerous relationship between myself and the adults...
Mu Jinghe felt a sharp, agonizing pain in her heart.

She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force, and her lips were bitten until they lost all color.

She didn't know what to do.

On one side is the man who dotes on her, and on the other side is the Imperial Guard who threatens her life.

She felt like a lone boat adrift in a raging storm.

It could be swallowed up by the surging waves at any moment.

“The shopkeeper’s”

Xiao Rou quietly entered the room and felt a pang of heartache upon seeing Mu Jinghe's distraught appearance.

She walked to Mu Jinghe's side and whispered:
"Don't be too sad, there will always be a way."

Mu Jinghe slowly turned her head and looked at Xiao Rou, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Xiaorou, what should we do?"

Xiao Rou also looked worried. She gently held Mu Jinghe's hand and comforted her:

"Shopkeeper, please don't worry. Perhaps things aren't as bad as they seem."

Lord Lu is so intelligent and capable; perhaps he can find a solution.

Mu Jinghe shook her head with a wry smile:

"Xiaorou, you don't understand how deeply I'm involved with the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Once Lord Lu finds out, there will be absolutely no chance for us anymore."

Just then, there was a slight knock on the door.

Xiao Rou walked over and opened the door. The doorman stood there and said softly:

“A man who called himself Feng Yunfang came to visit outside the door, saying he was from the Lu family.”

Xiao Rou was taken aback and turned to look at her shopkeeper.

Upon hearing this, Mu Jinghe pouted even more, convinced that it must be because she hadn't gone today.
"Tell him to come in."

A short while later, Feng Yunfang appeared at the door, carrying a wooden box.
He looked at Mu Jinghe in the room and said respectfully:

"Manager Mu, this is ten thousand taels of silver notes that Lord Lu asked me to deliver."

They said they originally planned to give it to him today.
But since you didn't go, you asked me to bring it.

Mu Jinghe was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Immediately, large tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt extremely wronged.

"Did Lord Lu say anything else?"

Mu Jinghe asked softly, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Feng Yunfang shook his head.

"Lord Lu only asked me to ask Manager Mu why he didn't come to the manor today, and whether something happened."

Mu Jinghe's eyes instantly reddened, tears welled up, and she said in a trembling voice:

"Please go back and tell Lord Lu that I...I'm fine, I'm just feeling a little unwell today."

Feng Yunfang nodded, casually glancing at the furnishings in the room.
He then handed the wooden box to Xiaorou, bid farewell, and left.
Xiao Rou carried the wooden box and gently placed it on the dressing table.

The large, vibrant characters of "Yingtian Trading Company" on the wooden crate were clearly visible.

"Shopkeeper, this must be the dividend from Yingtian Trading Company the other day. I didn't expect Lord Lu to send it to you."

Xiao Rou said softly from the side.

Mu Jinghe nodded, wiping away her tears.

“I told him the other day that the bank’s funds were not plentiful. I didn’t expect him to remember it.”

Xiao Rou sighed and murmured to herself.

"Shopkeeper, Lord Lu is a rare and fine man. How many people in this great Ming Dynasty can compare to him?"

Even if you give up your business, you can't leave Lord Lu.

Besides, Lord Lu is truly devoted to you, giving you both the shop and money.
"Wouldn't it be against our conscience if we went to spy on him again?"

Mu Jinghe paused slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

"But how am I supposed to explain this to the Embroidered Uniform Guard? They won't let us off the hook."

Xiaorou gritted her teeth and said:
"Shopkeeper, since we can't tell Lord Lu, let's lie to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Lord Mao ordered you to monitor Lord Lu's every move, but you've been lying to him!

When Mu Jinghe heard Xiao Rou's words, a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes, but it quickly dimmed again.

She gently shook her head, her voice trembling slightly:

"Xiaorou, will this... will this work?"

You know Mao Xiang's methods. If he finds out, we'll all be in trouble.

Xiao Rou stepped forward, grasped Mu Jinghe's hand tightly, and looked at her with determination:

"Shopkeeper, now that things have come to this, we have no other choice."

Think about it, if you keep getting bullied by both sides like this, you'll eventually be driven crazy.

Moreover, Lord Lu is so intelligent that we can never compare.

If you keep an eye on him, he will eventually notice something amiss, so you must never do anything for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Then there's only one way.

Please gather more intelligence on the Embroidered Uniform Guard and leak it to Lord Lu, both openly and secretly.

Firstly, it proves your sincerity, and secondly, even if it's exposed later, you'll have something to say about it.

Mu Jinghe lowered her head slightly, lost in thought.

Xiao Rou's words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples on the surface.

"But what if Mao Xiang finds out?" Mu Jinghe raised her head, her eyes full of worry.

"Then you should fight him to the death and inform Lord Lu about this."
"You had intimate relations with Lord Lu; even if he were heartless, he couldn't just stand by and watch you die."

Mu Jinghe pursed her lips slightly, her eyes filled with even more worry.
But she knew that Xiaorou was right.

Instead of cooperating with her own man, why would she cooperate with the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Xiaorou continued speaking:
"Shopkeeper, you and Lord Lu are inseparable all day long."

"If I were to become pregnant, surely Lord Lu wouldn't bear to see you in such a predicament? Perhaps we could even take this opportunity to escape our misery and live a life of wealth and comfort!"

"By the way, shopkeeper, you and Lord Lu didn't use any fish maw or sheep intestines, did you?"

Mu Jinghe blushed slightly, gently stroking her flat stomach. Her mind was filled with fantasies. Upon hearing this, she glared at her.

"How can using something like that be considered skin-to-skin contact?!"

Xiao Rou breathed a sigh of relief:

"That's good, that's good. All the rumors outside are lies. Maybe you'll have them tomorrow."

Mu Jinghe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She glanced at the time and said softly:

"Arrange a carriage."

Xiao Rou was somewhat taken aback: "Shopkeeper, why are you going so late?"

Mu Jinghe's expression was resolute, her words ringing with conviction:

"Go! Lord Lu is about to leave the capital. We can't let a single day go by!"

(End of this chapter)