In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 832 When you reach the end of the watercourse, sit down and watch the clouds rise.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking,

The moon had not yet set, and the sun had not yet risen.
With a light mist still hanging in the sky, the city of Daning, located in the northern border region of the Ming Dynasty, had already begun to recover.

In the south and north of the city, lights are lit one by one, and smoke rises from chimneys.
It began to gather in the sky, intensifying the thin fog above.

As the sun gradually rose, the thin mist in the sky began to dissipate, and visibility became clear.

One by one, people preparing to go to work pushed open their doors and went out with their meals for the day.

They either went to workshops throughout the city or to fields outside the city.

The most enviable thing is leaving the city through the west gate.

The road construction site outside the city is the most popular destination.

They were dressed in neat work clothes; some carried lunchboxes, others held water bottles.

Many people were eating pastries while looking around.
Although the construction site provides meals, once life gets better, you get tired of eating the same food all the time.

Therefore, some people who are not stingy with food and drink will bring their own food.

When we arrived at the city gate, it was already wide open.

A dozen or so passageways are arranged in sequence.

Two officials stood behind each passage, searching the laborers leaving the city.

These actions were taken to ensure that cheap sugar and cement from Daning would not flow into Beiping!
If discovered, the person carrying it will be immediately imprisoned.
If any of their family members work on the construction site or in the workshop, they will be immediately driven away, and their good days will be over in an instant.

Therefore, people going to work would carefully check their clothes and pockets before leaving home.
To prevent someone from framing you!

After leaving the city gate, the group did not immediately head to the construction site.

Instead, they gathered in front of the notices outside the city gate, looking at the messages posted that day.

Since the notice was popularized by the Three Departments of Daning,
People developed the habit of checking the notices, and of course, they also learned to read along the way.

After a year of training, many people, even without listening to recitations,

The general content of the notice can also be clearly seen.
It's possible that there are just some complicated characters that are difficult to recognize.

As usual, a clerk read the notice aloud in front of it.

Everyone listened intently.

Following his recitation, we examined each character in the notice, which unconsciously deepened our memory.

"Before we read the proclamation today, I have some good news to tell you."

Perhaps some of you have already heard it.

But there are still people who don't know,
So all of you should listen carefully and spread the word to each other when you get to the construction site.

We must change those bad habits we used to have.
If we get singled out as an example, don't blame me for not warning you.

The person reading the notice was a clerk in his twenties, tall and arrogant, with a fierce air about him.

But many of the laborers present were old acquaintances of his.

They knew he looked fierce but was a kind person, so they weren't afraid of him and spoke up for him.

"Hurry up and speak, what are you dawdling about? I was thinking of getting to work early and doing some cleaning!"

“Yes, yes, that’s right. We made sure to get up early today because we finished work so late.” Someone chimed in.

The young man smiled, pressed his hand down, and said in a deep voice:

"Since that's the case, then I won't keep you in suspense any longer."
Last night at midnight, Lord Lu returned from Yingtian, and he was promoted!
Become the Commander-in-Chief of our Northern Pacification Command!

From this day forward, in this territory, Lord Lu's word is law!

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief, and some even picked at their ears.

"Really?"

The silence gradually eased and then became noisier when someone asked the first question.
Many people pushed their way forward, hoping to hear more news!
"Really! Please pay close attention to the notices lately."

Lord Lu's decrees and instructions may appear at any time; don't miss them.

Only then did everyone truly believe it.

They immediately became happy, and laughter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

Amidst the laughter, many grassland people respectfully bowed in the direction of the government office.

In their eyes, Lord Lu, who provided them with enough to eat and allowed them to settle down in Daning City, was a god.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, and the atmosphere became incredibly lively.

He barely listened to the notice read aloud by the young man at the front.

Instead, they thought that now that Lord Lu had returned, there would be many more opportunities to live.

Then all our relatives and friends will be able to earn a government salary!
Time quickly passed to Chenshi (7-9 AM).

At the entrance of the Da Ning Commandery, a large number of people had also gathered to read the notice.

Lu Yunyi glanced at them with some surprise upon arriving here.
He discovered that no one came to recite the texts, and Qiao Hui, who used to be there every day, had also disappeared.

Lu Yunyi suppressed his doubts and walked past them without making a sound.

Upon entering the government office, the overwhelming atmosphere of activity immediately made Lu Yunyi look dejected.
I feel like I didn't rest yesterday; I'm still very tired.
But he's perfectly energetic at home.

"I wish I didn't have to go to work."

Lu Yunyi silently recited two sentences in his mind.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked towards the back hall of the yamen.

Throughout the journey, Lu Yunyi nodded repeatedly, originally not intending to respond to these gestures of greeting.

But considering that he had just returned, even though he was exhausted, he smiled and nodded repeatedly.

As usual, Lu Yunyi went to the left-hand office.

As soon as he pushed the door open, he sensed something was wrong.
As the door opened, the decor was noticeably different from before.

There used to be a huge pine tree in a pot at the entrance.
Instead, it has been replaced by a bookshelf, with documents neatly arranged on it.

"Huh? Why did it change its appearance?"

Lu Yunyi stepped inside, and when he saw Liu Heiying behind the long table, he was immediately stunned:

"Why are you here?"

Liu Heiying raised his head, somewhat bewildered.
He opened his eyes, which were shrouded in dark circles, wide, his gaze filled with confusion, and his voice was utterly weary:
"Brother Yun'er, where else could I be if not here?"

They blinked and looked at each other.

Liu Heiying suddenly realized what was happening and slapped his thigh hard:
"Brother Yun'er, your office is in the middle!"

Lu Yunyi froze on the spot, then suddenly slapped his forehead and laughed.
Originally, as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, he worked in the left-side office.

The central office was reserved for Commander Zhou Xing.

Now that Lord Zhou has gone to Beiping to become the General, and he has become the Commander-in-Chief, the yamen (official residence) should naturally be moved accordingly, otherwise it would be against etiquette.

Now that he was here, Lu Yunyi had no intention of leaving immediately.
Instead, he shook his head and sat down opposite Liu Heiying, asking:
"Didn't you go home last night?"

Liu Heiying tossed the brush aside, leaned back in his chair, and shook his head somewhat dejectedly.
"Brother Yun'er, you have no idea."
If you really want to do the work in this government office, you'll never finish.

I went home last night, but I couldn't sleep no matter how much I thought about it, so I came to the yamen again.

Lu Yunyi deeply understood his feelings and asked with a smile:

"Is there a problem?"

Liu Heiying handed over a document he was reading, his expression somewhat grave, and said:

"Brother Yun'er, since we started doing business with Bai Song's tribe last year..."

The government office had analyzed the various material needs of the Baisong tribe.
Judging from the goods supplied to them, the Bai Song tribe probably numbers around 20,000 people.
If you include cattle and sheep, it might reach 50,000!

It was a truly formidable force, unmatched in Buyur Lake at the time, with no one able to rival it.
That is, they suffered a few minor defeats when facing the elite Jurchen forces.

"And now? Are there more people?"

Lu Yunyi's expression was somewhat solemn. He knew what Liu Heiying meant as soon as he heard him say that.

Liu Heiying then pulled out another document and handed it over:

"This is a comparison between the end of September and the end of October last year."
The government's revenue office calculated that, based on the current scale, the goods brought in by the Baisong tribe should be enough to supply the needs of 70,000 people.

Especially for white sugar, despite the workshops continuously increasing production capacity, it is still not enough.
Current sugar production is enough to supply 30,000 regular troops for a major battle.

Lu Yunyi looked at the document in his hand, his brows furrowing slightly, and nodded gently:

"Logically, the Bai Song tribe would also engage in some resale business to achieve regional dominance and amass wealth."
Has the government calculated the demand for these 70,000 people? How much of it was resold?

"At most 40,000 people are needed! Mi Chen, who has been in contact with the Bai Song tribe, has said this more than once."
About half of these goods could be mixed with some defective products.

They can even pass off inferior goods as superior ones.

Therefore, I deduce that the number of people in the Baisong tribe has increased from 20,000 last year to 30,000 this year, at least 30,000!

As for cattle and sheep, the increase will be even greater, possibly more than doubling.

"Huh? Why?"

Lu Yunyi frowned; he wasn't surprised by the population increase.
Because on the grasslands, the strong are respected.
The emergence of a new major tribe inevitably means the demise of countless smaller tribes.
But the increase in livestock is far too rapid.

Liu Heiying's expression turned strange, and he glanced towards the northwest.

"The Northern Yuan royal court has gone too far."

During Nairbuhua's battle with the northern expeditionary army

Not only did they refuse to help, they also cut off all contact and supplies with Nairbuhua.
This put Nai'er Buhua in a pincer attack from two sides.
His actions caused many former Yuan officials and those tribes who had sought refuge to either flee or scatter.

Many people returned to Buyur Lake with a large number of livestock and were absorbed by the Baisong tribe.

Moreover, according to the government's calculations, many of these animals were warhorses.

"Reason!" Lu Yunyi's expression turned serious.

"In their most recent trade dealings, the Bai Song tribe did not choose to settle accounts with ores, gold, or silver."
Instead, they opted for a method that combined some warhorses with animal hides.

In the end, the government made a fortune.
However, this also revealed the fact that the Bai Song tribe possessed a large number of warhorses.

"Ang~"

"what do you mean?"

Liu Heiying pondered for a moment, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:
"Originally, the plan was to clear out Bai Song's troops in May of this year."

The battle plan has already been drawn up.
However, the situation in Liaodong caused delays, leading to the current predicament where the problem has become too large to handle. Now, the desire to eliminate it is strong.

The atmosphere in the yamen suddenly became somewhat heavy, and Lu Yunyi frowned:
"Is there resistance?"

Liu Heiying didn't answer immediately, but let the atmosphere grow cold.

His expression also became chaotic and complicated, eventually turning ugly.

"The methods to make money are too quick, and many people are clinging to them and refusing to let go."
If the Bai Song tribe is wiped out like this, a large sum of money will suddenly be lost in various parts of Da Ning.
so."

"Sigh, it's because I didn't have the resolve back then. If I had made a clearing plan earlier, things wouldn't be so difficult now."

Liu Heiying slapped his thigh in frustration, looking like he regretted his actions.

Lu Yunyi laughed. After what happened in the capital,
He was used to such things and didn't even feel a ripple of emotion towards them.

In the past, he might have been furious, or he might have stubbornly insisted on going his own way.
Or perhaps they forcefully push forward, determined not to give up until they achieve their goal.

But in the capital, he deeply understood the true meaning of "dividing one faction into two and attacking another."

The emperor, residing in the palace, used this method to eliminate the Duke of Han and the Duke of Shen.

The equally cunning Duke Feng Sheng of Song probably sensed this.
Knowing that he would be the next target in the palace, he acted decisively.

Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi chuckled softly and said calmly:
"Since there is significant internal resistance to the purge of Bai Song's troops..."

Let's put that aside for now and attend to other things first.

Liu Heiying looked up in surprise, his eyes, which had been narrowed to slits, suddenly widening.
Then it quickly grew on Lu Yunyi's body.
Looking around, somewhat confused, he asked a genuine question:

"who are you?"

Lu Yunyi's face darkened.
"I am your uncle!"

"Phew!" Liu Heiying, who had just sat up straight, leaned back down and let out a long sigh.

Lu Yunyi picked up the tea from the table, took a small sip, and explained:
"When I was in the capital, the general told me something before he left."

He told me that His Majesty and the Crown Prince in the palace had very sharp eyes.
You can see it in some places where dirt and filth accumulate.
But these dissidents are often indulged, indulged, and indulged again.

They only took decisive action when the situation and conflicts became irreconcilable.

We must capture everyone we can, leaving no one behind.

Therefore, since some people don't want to eliminate the Bai Song tribe, let them remain.

When the Bai Song tribe becomes too powerful and complacent, then strike them down, sweeping them away from both inside and outside.

Otherwise, it's always better to prevent problems before they occur.
None of the adults understood the seriousness of the matter. Rather than the two of us brothers spending our days as bad guys...

"Then let things take their worst-case scenario, and we'll play the good guys for once."

Listening to Lu Yunyi's incessant chatter, Liu Heiying understood many things and said with some doubt:
"Brother Yun'er, there are bad apples everywhere, can you sweep them all away?"

Moreover, all the officials in the yamen
On the contrary, some people believe that doing so is for the greater good.
After all, so much money has come in.

At this point, Liu Heiying's expression turned strange. He pointed at Lu Yunyi and himself with his finger.

"Brother Yun'er, in the eyes of other provinces of the Ming Dynasty..."

You and I are the black sheep who condone smuggling.
In the past six months, all the out-of-town merchants who have come to Daning City have been shocked by our reputation.

Because in their eyes, we are all heinous, corrupt, and lawless criminals.
They are people who, for their own selfish interests, are willing to collude with foreign enemies.

There are too many people like this; I'm starting to feel uneasy.
"What if we get dragged out and beheaded one day?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi's expression also became somewhat strange, and he could no longer maintain his composure:

"Different positions and viewpoints lead to different results."

His Majesty governs the country with the people at the core; if we follow his example, we can certainly do the right thing.
As long as the people don't criticize us, it's not a big problem.

Besides, building bridges and paving roads has always been a charitable act; we didn't spend the money ourselves!

Lu Yunyi looked at Liu Heiying and asked:
"You're greedy for money?"

Liu Heiying jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his eyes wide:
"Brother Yun'er, you can't just say things like that. Let whoever wants to earn this hard-earned money do it."

If you want to make money, there are plenty of ways.

"Hey, sit down, sit down. If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear. Why are you so agitated?"

"This is a false accusation!"

"Okay, okay, I wronged you."
Let's get down to business. Didn't we bring back a Goryeo envoy yesterday?

I plan to swindle some money from them to build the official road leading to Liaodong.

After these words were spoken, the room fell silent again.

Liu Heiying stood there, somewhat bewildered and stunned.
I think I misheard.

Making money? By taking it from Goryeo? And they even want to repair the official road in Liaodong?

Liu Heiying couldn't imagine how these words could be connected, and he asked blankly:
"What official road?"

Lu Yunyi smiled sheepishly and gave a general account of what had happened in the capital.
He also mentioned his idea of ​​connecting Goryeo, Liaodong, Daning, and Beiping.

Upon hearing this, Liu Heiying stared blankly, his eyes lifeless. After a long while, he let out a mournful wail:
"Brother Yun'er, why are you doing road construction again?"

Repairing this one road has already taken half my life; if we continue, we'll really die!

"We're too busy."

Lu Yunyi pressed his hand down:
"Don't get excited, don't get excited. Things haven't been settled yet, and there's no indication that it will be fixed now."

Liu Heiying's eyes immediately turned red.
He clearly remembered how much preparation was done before the construction of this official road from Daning to Shanhaiguan.

Whether it is exploration, mapping, or design,
Balancing the various forces was exhausting for him!

Does it still need repair?
Liu Heiying wanted to find a block of tofu and smash his head against it to his death.

(End of this chapter)