In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 823 A Single-Minded Person Becomes a Double-Dealer
Lu Yunyi, having left the Ministry of Rites, stood on the Imperial Road in the capital.

Looking at the clerks coming and going at the gate, he had a deep look on his face and was lost in thought.

King Zhou almost faced charges of treason today, and it remains to be seen whether the flood control project will proceed smoothly.

The information he received from Li Yuanming led him to bind his own feet.
To be fair, Lu Yunyi felt that he supported flood control.
However, since he was an official under the Crown Prince, he could not defend the King of Zhou when others made trouble for him.
It can be said that being single-minded has resulted in being blocked on both ends.

"Ah~"

After pondering for a long time, Lu Yunyi let out a heavy sigh and decided to remain neutral.

Everything that needed to be done has been done.

Whether the flood control project will succeed and proceed smoothly depends on fate.

Lu Yunyi looked at the magnificent buildings in the imperial city.

Since we're already here, let's get everything done in one go, so we don't have to make another trip later.

He first went to the Court of State Ceremonial and met his father-in-law, Liu Sili.

At this moment, Liu Sili was receiving envoys from Goryeo.

After waiting for a while, Lu Yunyi finally saw the person.

"Yunyi, you're a rare guest. What brings you here?"

Liu Sili smiled broadly, finding his son-in-law increasingly pleasing to the eye.
He now has no relatives or friends in the capital.

If anyone is unlikely to harm me, it would be the person right in front of me!
Lu Yunyi didn't keep them in suspense and handed over the documents he had prepared beforehand.

After taking it, Liu Sili sat back down at his desk, looking at it thoughtfully.

"Yingtian Trading Company Housing Security Plan?"

"what is this?"

He muttered to himself as he flipped through the pages, his expression growing increasingly grave with each page he read.
He glanced at Lu Yunyi with some suspicion.
Without a doubt, the documents before us are of great importance.

It was a big deal that Yingtian Trading Company jointly completed with construction companies and cement companies.

The very people they served left Liu Sili visibly shocked.

They were neither foreign merchants nor ordinary people seeking a living.
Instead, they were employees and staff of the three major trading companies, and they were actually losing money.

Liu Sili thought for a long time, then said in a deep voice:

"Yunyi, the employees of Yingtian Trading Company have earned the most money in the entire capital region."

The assistants who traveled outside the village earned an annual salary of one hundred taels of silver, which was more than many small merchants earned.

If we build them houses again...
I'm afraid many merchants in the capital will complain.

Lu Yunyi's expression was solemn. Business matters were always about following the crowd.
If you stand out from the crowd, you will soon become a thorn in the side of others and be attacked by all sides.

After the dividend distribution, Yingtian Trading Company is now in this state.

Earning 690,000 taels a year
At least half of them were stolen from other merchants, so how could people not hold a grudge?

If we were to build houses for the workers, there would probably be a huge uproar.
“It’s inevitable that there will be complaints, but Father-in-law, Yingtian Merchants’ business is based on the people’s interests and is very distant from other merchants, so it already has a bad reputation.”

My son-in-law has been walking through the streets and alleys of the capital these days.

He also often chatted with people and visited Yingtian Trading Company a few times.

It was discovered that although the employees of Yingtian Trading Company earned more,

However, most of them lived in the south of the city, and some even lived in Jiangning County on the other side of the river.

Their daily workday, from start to finish, takes at least half an hour.
This was especially true for some who lived outside the city.

Just then, Yingtian Construction Firm was preparing to open for business.
Currently, we have only undertaken the renovation of a few villages outside the city, and the business is far from saturated.

Instead of being idle, it's better to find something to do.
To build dormitories and houses for the shopkeepers.
On the one hand, it wins people's hearts; on the other hand, it allows construction companies to gain some experience.

Although Lu Yunyi spoke eloquently, Liu Sili was still completely confused and asked somewhat bewilderedly:
"Yunyi, why go through all this trouble for nothing?"

"For what?"

Lu Yunyi was stunned. He smiled and shook his head, having found an excellent reason, and said:

"Father-in-law, I just came from the Ministry of Rites."

The Ministry of Rites currently has some concerns about merchants, believing that their profits are unlikely to be used for the benefit of the people or the country.

"what?"

Liu Sili's face was extremely grim.

If we were to name the most difficult of the Six Ministries to deal with, the answer would undoubtedly be the Ministry of Rites.

In his view, they were all a group of rigid and pedantic old Confucian scholars.
No matter what I say, he won't listen!
Lu Yunyi continued:

The Ministry of Rites is still observing and hesitating.

Therefore, I think we should take action first, rather than waiting for the Ministry of Rites to cause trouble for the merchants.

Now that the nation is more stable, travel permits are no longer as restrictive as they were in earlier years.
Many people want to come to the capital.

However, they could only do manual labor, and their living conditions were extremely poor.

As the leading merchant house in the Ming Dynasty, Yingtian Trading Company should set an example.
At least provide a place for those people who come to Beijing to work.

"Of course, it's also to shut the Ministry of Rites up; it won't cost much money anyway."

"Ang~"

Liu Sili nodded thoughtfully, already somewhat convinced.
In terms of the cost of building a house by a construction company,
It would be a matter of life and death for ordinary people, but for Yingtian Trading Company it would be nothing more than a mosquito's leg.

"Since it's about reputation, let's wait until this afternoon, when all the managers of the business will discuss it together."
The trading company happened to have bought a large plot of land near Fudong Street.
It was originally intended to be used as a warehouse; if that didn't work, it could be used to build houses.

Lu Yunyi smiled. At this point, the matter was practically settled.
Although he did not work for the trading company

But he personally selected all the shopkeepers, so he kept his word.

Liu Sili seemed to remember something and asked:

"By the way, there have been people subtly hinting at this for the past two days."

The opinions of trading companies regarding Market Advisors are also frequently asked by some shareholders.

Judging from their words, they were implying that the trading company should not give money to the Market and Exchange Bureau next year.

I'm still undecided. What do you think, Yunyi?

Lu Yunyi had a headache:
Although regulations stipulate that shareholders of commercial banks cannot interfere with the operation of the commercial bank,
But these shareholders were originally high-ranking officials in the imperial court, and their words carried considerable weight.
Since they have said so, the business cannot go too far against their wishes.

The Market Exchange Bureau was an office that His Majesty strongly advocated for its establishment.

The purpose is to bring these government-affiliated and privately-run businesses under our control; we can't afford to ignore them.

"That's exactly right. The trading company is caught in the middle, facing a dilemma from both sides."

Liu Sili shared the same sentiment, pinching his brow and revealing a worried expression.

Lu Yunyi asked:
What are the managers of the trading company thinking?

"Of course I can't give away my own money."

However, if the imperial court really pushes them too hard, it wouldn't be difficult to help the Market and Exchange Bureau make some money.

We can't just watch the Market and Exchange Bureau decline like this.

Lu Yunyi pinched the bridge of his nose:

“Father-in-law, let the business decide this matter itself, but I tend to side with the Market Exchange Division.”

With so many shareholders, some agree and some disagree, it's impossible to please everyone.

However, the Market Transaction Bureau is just one government office, and above it are His Majesty and the Crown Prince; it cannot be neglected.

Liu Sili nodded solemnly:
"That makes sense. Let's discuss it again this afternoon. Are you attending the afternoon meeting?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and shook his head:

"My son-in-law is currently a shareholder of the business and cannot participate in its operation, so I will not be going."

"That's fine. When do you plan to go back to Daning?"

"I will go to pay my respects to the Crown Prince later and inquire about it."
"If we set off now, we can ride as fast as we can and get back to Daning. The sweet potatoes will be ready for harvest soon, and we can't miss that!"

When sweet potatoes were mentioned, Liu Sili's eyes glazed over, his heart filled with longing.

"If sweet potatoes can survive and yield a good harvest in the north..."
Then Liaodong and Daming will no longer have to worry about people starving to death.

Great peace and order on the frontier are just around the corner!

At this point, Liu Sili's eyes shone brightly.

Leaning forward, he lowered his voice and spoke with a hint of excitement:
"There are several iron ore deposits hidden in the house that have never been mined."
If sweet potatoes could provide Liaodong with enough food,

"Bring in more Jurchens to mine; it's an incredibly profitable business!"

Lu Yunyi blinked blankly. His father-in-law truly lived up to his reputation as a member of a prominent family in Liaodong.
Seriously, they must be rich!

“Father-in-law, opening an iron mine privately is against the law. Don’t let a small matter cause a big loss.”

Liu Sili curled his lip:

"Don't worry, these mines are under the jurisdiction of local government offices."
The mined ore can be sold to the government on the spot, saving time and effort.

Lu Yunyi had only been to Liaodong twice and was not very familiar with this kind of collusion between officials and businessmen, so he could only offer a reminder:

“Father-in-law, this is a top-secret message from the Governor’s Office: Goryeo is about to descend into chaos. The court is preparing to make money from this, and things may become much more severe in Liaodong. You should be careful.”

"I am aware of this matter. Goryeo has been purchasing ironware from Liaodong for the past two years."
Although they were just pots and pans, they knew exactly what they were.

Once they get back, they will melt it down and reforge it into a long sword.

By the way, Mei Yi and his group also provided support to a group of craftsmen in Goryeo, presumably helping the Goryeo people forge iron and cast swords.

Liu Sili looked at Lu Yunyi and asked with a smile:

"These past few years you've been busy fighting battles all over the place and haven't had a chance to come home for a visit."
"During this trip back to Daning, I'll take the opportunity to go home, meet up with relatives and friends, and experience the local customs and culture of Liaodong. Wanyi must be homesick."

Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and nodded:
"Father-in-law, I understand."
"After I've dealt with all the matters in Da Ning, I'll consider it."

"Hmm," Liu Sili glanced at the time.
"It's getting late, let's go see His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible. The sooner things are settled, the sooner we can make preparations."

Lu Yunyi nodded, stood up, and bowed deeply.
"Father-in-law, I'll take my leave now."

After bidding farewell to Liu Sili, Lu Yunyi first went to the Governor's Mansion to learn about the news he had received from various places that day, and then left.

After leaving the Governor's Mansion, they headed straight for the Crown Prince's Residence.

It was midday, and sunlight filtered through the leaves.

Patches of light formed in the courtyard of the Crown Prince's residence.

In the courtyard, Zhu Yunwen was riding a skateboard.

She darted about like a nimble swallow, her laughter ringing out like silver bells, drawing cheers from the surrounding servants.

Several eunuchs followed him carefully, afraid that he might fall.

And in a shady spot not far away,

Zhu Yunwen sat on the stone bench, his eyes fixed on the skateboard, a look of envy on his face.
He was still clutching an unfinished book tightly in his hand.

Crown Princess Lü sat to one side, a hint of gloom flashing in her eyes as she glanced at Zhu Yunwen.
Seeing that Zhu Yunwen was also distracted, his brows furrowed further, and he urged him on:

"Wen'er, don't be so playful, come and study."

Zhu Yunwen jolted, reluctantly averting his gaze, and whispered:

"Yes, mother."

Lu Yunyi was led into the mansion by a eunuch.

Zhu Yunyi's eyes lit up when he saw Lu Yunyi approaching, and he slid off on his skateboard.
He then approached Lu Yunyi and greeted him with a smile:
"Lord Lu, you've arrived!"

Lu Yunyi looked at Zhu Yunyi with some surprise.
"Oh, it's the Third Prince! We've become so familiar after just a few days. Did you have a good time?"

Zhu Yunwen patted his chest and said proudly:
"Of course! This skateboard is so much fun!"

"Your Highness, please be careful. Your health is still weak. If you fall on your bottom, it will hurt for a long time."

Zhu Yunwen seemed to have thought of something, covered her bottom with both hands, and stubbornly said:
"Don't worry, Lord Lu, I've never fallen before!"

Upon hearing this, the steward lowered his head slightly, pretending not to have heard.

At this moment, Crown Princess Lü also saw Lu Yunyi, walked over, and said calmly:
"It would be best if Lord Lu sent away such dangerous items in the future, lest they get bumped or knocked over."

Lu Yunyi smiled and bowed deeply:
"I am merely offering amusement to His Highness the Third Prince by paying my respects to the Crown Princess."

Lady Lü said nothing more and turned back.

A glint of anticipation flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, and he hesitated for a moment.
Still mustering her courage, she walked up to Lu Yunyi and whispered:
"Lord Lu, I also want to play skateboarding."

Lu Yunyi smiled and said:
"Your Highness, skateboards are sold at Yingtian Trading Company. You can have someone buy them."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of sadness crossed Zhu Yunwen's eyes.
Looking at the skateboard standing next to my younger brother, it was obvious that the skateboard was specially made, with some gold thread lace and dragon patterns on it.

What Yingtian Trading Company sells is certainly not like that.

But he suppressed his displeasure and nodded vigorously.
Then he turned around and ran back to Lady Lü's side, picked up the document and began to read it carefully.

Lu Yunyi bowed deeply.

He was then led by his attendants to the study to pay his respects to the Crown Prince.

Inside the study, Crown Prince Zhu Biao sat at his desk, intently reading the memorial in his hands.

Seeing that it was Lu Yunyi who came in, he looked up and a smile appeared on his face:
"What's going on?"

After bowing, Lu Yunyi said:
"Your Highness, I have come here to inform you..."

Yingtian Trading Company is preparing to build affordable housing.

"I have already reached an agreement with Lord Liu of the trading company, and this afternoon the various managers will discuss the details further."

After saying that, Lu Yunyi took out a document from his sleeve and handed it to the eunuch in charge.

Zhu Biao took the document, opened it, and examined it carefully. After a long while, he finally praised it, saying:
"As the largest merchant in Yingtian, the merchant firm certainly has the responsibility to do so, and it has done a good job."

Having said that, Zhu Biao shook the document in his hand and smiled:
"This is such a small matter that you need to come here personally to report it. What else is it? Just say it."

Lu Yunyi gave an awkward smile, then changed the subject and asked:

"Your Highness, I would like to ask when we can set off back to Daming?"
With the sweet potato harvest imminent, I truly do not wish to miss out.

Zhu Biao stood up, walked to the window, looked at the scenery outside, and said:
"Sweet potatoes are indeed a big deal, but Yingtian's sweet potatoes are also going to have a bumper harvest soon. Shouldn't we wait and see?"

Lu Yunyi said softly:

"Your Highness, there are officials from the Agricultural Administration Bureau in the capital."

Even an inanimate object like a sweet potato can be cultivated into something beautiful. In my opinion, the sweet potato harvest in the capital will surely be bountiful.

On the contrary, Da Ning is a different place, with a different temperature and climate, and I always keep it in mind.”

Crown Prince Zhu Biao turned to look at Lu Yunyi, thought for a moment, and said:

"Now that the rewards have been given, if you wish to return, then go back."

A hint of joy flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes, and he quickly bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Highness! I am deeply grateful!"

"You really dislike the capital city that much?" Zhu Biao sat back down in his chair and asked in surprise.

"Your Highness, I certainly love the capital."

But the matter in Da Ning was not yet resolved, and he still had something on his mind.

Moreover, my family is also in Daning. It's been several months since we last met, and to be honest, I miss them terribly.

"It's rare to see someone so young and so family-oriented."

The Imperial Medical Academy recently summoned some renowned doctors from the Jiangnan region.
They came to treat the many concubines and princes in the palace, and among them were all highly skilled physicians.
After you leave, go to the Imperial Hospital and have them examine you to see what's wrong with you.

Lu Yunyi's lips stiffened, and the joy on his face froze on the spot:

"Your Highness, this is an old ailment of mine, it's not that serious."

Zhu Biao said calmly, "Go take a look. It's not good to not have a child. When is the business you're cooperating with Miaoyinfang planning to open?"

Lu Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied:

"Your Highness, this depends on the progress of the renovation. If it goes smoothly, it may be open as early as late autumn."

Zhu Biao nodded:

"I have often heard of the reputation of Miaoyin Pavilion. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. You have already helped me a lot by securing the shop. I can handle the rest."

Lu Yunyi hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Your Highness, there is something else I must say."

"explain."

"I am well aware of the importance of moving the capital."
But after much thought, I still feel that the time is too short.
Your Highness, I humbly request that Your Highness, upon the return of the Grand General after quelling the rebellion, be escorted by the Grand General.

Zhu Biao's eyes suddenly deepened as he thoughtfully examined Lu Yunyi:
"Are you that worried?"

Lu Yunyi sighed and said:

"Your Highness, you are unaware of the true nature of this matter; it is only in the region of Da Ning..."
They used every means to resist the imperial edicts and decrees, and often brandished swords and spears.

Moreover, the most challenging task was relocating the capital.

In my opinion, this matter should be handled gradually. Your Highness's hasty approach is somewhat worrying.

"Just worried? Not heartbroken for Yingtian Trading Company?"

"A trading company?"

Lu Yunyi raised his head somewhat blankly, then smiled helplessly:
"Your Highness, please don't make fun of me."

"The ten thousand taels of dividends distributed by the merchant guild last time were all given to Miaoyinfang to tide them over. I truly have no interest in money."

Zhu Biao scoffed.
"It's rare to find someone who loves beauty more than money. Do you want to take Mu Jinghe home?"

"If you wish to take it away, I can make it easy for you; the Miaoyin Pavilion will also have someone specifically assigned to manage it."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi was taken aback, but then he understood.
The Crown Prince is trying to help Mu Jinghe escape the quagmire of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Lu Yunyi was at a loss for words.
"Your Highness, Manager Mu is based in the capital, and I cannot force him to stay."

"Then it is so. You cannot force me to do this. The relocation of the capital is of utmost urgency."

Lu Yunyi was speechless for a moment.
"Your Highness, I humbly request to accompany you to Guanzhong."

"Go back to your Daning."

(End of this chapter)