In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 837 My Blade Has Never Been Defeated
The clear, cool moonlight shone down.

The entire city of Daning was shrouded in a silvery white.

Scattered lights flickered all around, illuminating the newly paved road.

A luxurious carriage swayed and rattled along the wide road, heading towards the headquarters of the Regional Military Commission.

The Mi brothers sat inside, their faces extremely gloomy.

At the same time, their eyes were filled with deep fear.

The wine and intoxication he had just enjoyed at the dinner table vanished instantly upon receiving the message.

As they got closer to the government office, Mi Bin's body trembled more and more, and his face turned deathly pale.

Large beads of sweat kept streaming down his forehead.
It dripped down her cheeks to her chin and then into the carriage.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, endlessly
Mi Chen's appearance wasn't much better.

Although he seemed more composed than Mi Bin
But his tense hands and gripping toes reflected his inner tension, and his eyes were somewhat vacant.

"Big brother, what does Lord Lu want with you?"

When we were still a street away from the yamen (government office),
Mi Bin spoke haltingly, the clicking of his teeth occasionally breaking.
"call"

Mi Chen let out a long sigh of relief, forcibly suppressing the unease in his heart.

He took a hot towel from a drawer and covered his face with it, letting out a long sigh.
"I don't know either."

"Has the adults found out about our plan?"

Mi Bin was somewhat panicked and disoriented. He continued in a voice trembling with tears:
“I’ve said it before, you can’t go against the government. The people can’t fight the officials, brother.”

Mi Chen, growing increasingly annoyed by his repeated pronouncements, abruptly waved his hand:
"Alright, alright, you didn't say that before. Now that the yamen has a new magistrate, you're scared?"

"Brother, who in this city isn't afraid?"

Although we have some wealth, we can't fight against the government."

Mi Bin trembled even more violently.

Thinking of the boastful words he had just uttered at the dinner table, he almost wanted to bury his head in his hands.

If those words reach the ears of adults and they investigate, how should they respond?
At this moment, the carriage slowly came to a stop, and the driver's voice came from outside:
"Shopkeeper, we've arrived at the yamen."

Mi Chen ripped the hot towel off his face, tossed it aside, and looked at Mi Bin, speaking in a deep voice:
"I'm going. You stay here and wait quietly. Don't wander off."

Mi Bin nodded repeatedly, his pale face filled with fear.
Mi Chen got out of the car and, after being searched at the entrance of the government office, was led inside by the guards.

Walking through the courtyard of the government office, Mi Chen's heart sank.

He never had to be searched when he came to the yamen before.
He could only console himself with this thought.
Lord Lu has returned, and the yamen has strengthened its defenses.

Before long, he arrived at the back hall of the yamen and saw the brightly lit yamen room in the center.

Even Mi Chen had to admit that this young man had been promoted too quickly.

Moreover, he showed no sign of dissatisfaction.
Because of the achievements they have made, everyone has seen them.

Even the Mi family and other merchant houses, which have achieved such prosperity today,

I still followed him and took a big gulp of soup.
The situation has suddenly changed; to fight against such people, even though one is surrounded by others...
But Mi Chen was still very scared and unsure of herself.

"Manager Mi, please go inside. The master is waiting for you there."

At the entrance, the guards on duty, seeing Mi Chen's distraught appearance, gave him a stern reminder.

Mi Chen then realized what was happening, gave his guards an awkward smile, and pushed the door open to enter.

Upon entering the yamen, Mi Chen saw a young figure sitting behind the desk.

The psychological defenses that had been painstakingly built up suddenly showed signs of collapse.
The usual composure was gone, replaced by a restrained demeanor.

He tiptoed to the table, bowed deeply, and his voice trembled slightly.
"Greetings, Lord Lu."

Lu Yunyi did not agree immediately.

Instead, he finished reading the document in his hand before looking up.
Upon noticing that Mi Chen was still hunched over, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, he smiled and said:

"Manager Mi, it's only been a few months, why are you being so formal? Get up quickly."

Mi Chen then slowly straightened up.
He gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gave an awkward smile.
"My lord is now a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court."

"Compared to you, sir, I am like a firefly compared to the bright moon; naturally, I must show you more respect."

Lu Yunyi grinned and pointed to the chair next to him:

"Please have a seat, Manager Mi. I will read this document first."

Mi Chen nodded repeatedly and replied:

"My lord, please go ahead with your business. This humble subject will wait here."

After saying that, Mi Chen sat down.

However, he only sat on about 30% of the chair, his back ramrod straight, not daring to touch the back of the seat behind him.

Time passed slowly, and the office became eerily quiet.
The only sound was the occasional rustling of pages turning.

Mi Chen felt somewhat uneasy.

He felt as if the noose was already tied around his head.

It will tighten as soon as the order is given.
"The deal with the Shiramatsu clan is the foundation of the Mi family's existence, and it absolutely cannot be abandoned."
Once I give up, the status of a merchant leader in Daning City will be out of my reach.

Moreover, the two trade routes recently opened have involved huge investments.

If there is no continuous influx of money to be invested,
All the initial investment would be wasted, and the Mi family's reputation would be ruined.

"But... can we merchants really stop things from happening?"

Mi Chen felt a sense of doubt, and the more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.

If only they had tempered their initial ambitions and focused on steady, pragmatic development...

Otherwise, we wouldn't be in this predicament today, caught between a rock and a hard place.

"What is Manager Mi thinking?"

The sudden sound made Mi Chen shudder, and he looked in front of him in surprise.

Lu Yunyi had already left the table, holding two cups of tea in his hand.

He slowly walked over and sat down on the chair next to him.

Mi Chen quickly stood up:

"Your Excellency, I have been reflecting on the various changes that have taken place in Da Ning these past few days."

It's no exaggeration to say that since you came, sir,

The city of Daning and the Northern Pacification Commandery are changing rapidly, looking different every day.

"Oh? Is this change good or bad?" Lu Yunyi gestured for him to sit down.

Mi Chen maintained the same posture as before.

He sat down carefully and said firmly:
"Of course it's good, given the current situation."
The common people make money, and the government has surplus funds.
Even merchants like us can get a share of the profits; it's much better than the stagnant waters of the past.

"Does Manager Mi mean he doesn't want things to go back to the way they were before?"

"Of course, in the past, our Mi Family Trading Company would only earn a few thousand taels of silver a year even if we worked ourselves to the bone."

It took many years of hard work to accumulate the wealth we have today.

Now, Dusi's commerce and trade are booming.
This year's earnings will equal what I've made in several years.
"Of course, I, a commoner, do not wish to return to those old days."

"Ang~"

Lu Yunyi looked enlightened, but then abruptly changed the subject:
"If that's the case, why did Manager Mi gather a crowd to confront the government?"

His eyes were full of confusion as he turned his head to look at Mi Chen.

His lips curled into a half-smile, a hint of sarcasm in his expression.

Mi Chen felt his whole body stiffen, and he knelt down with a thud, his expression panicked:
"My lord, my lord, you are innocent!"
Even if you had ten times the courage, you wouldn't dare defy the authorities!

"Oh, Manager Mi is being too modest."

This isn't the first time the Mi family has defied the government.

In the year or so since I came here, you have done it twice.

This third time doesn't seem so surprising now.

"but."

Lu Yunyi shook his head, a hint of regret in his eyes:

"Manager Mi should know something about what's happening in the capital, about those fallen business tycoons..."
People in Beijing often lament, "Why do they have to work so hard? How much money can they possibly make?"

The final result is nothing more than earning money but not living to spend it.

Now, most merchants in the capital have come to understand this principle and have become much more restrained in their actions.

Unfortunately, our Daning has the best business environment.

But what you managers are doing is digging up old graves.
I often wonder, is the Da Ning government too lenient? It allows you to always take advantage of me.”

"bang"

Mi Bin trembled violently, his forehead slamming hard against the ground.

It wasn't until they actually spoke face-to-face that Mi Chen truly felt the pressure.

Those generals who have emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood are best at killing.
Merchants like them

It was like a lamb to the slaughter, powerless to resist.

"Your Honor, spare my life! I, Mi, would never dare to disobey you, Your Honor, nor would I dare to disobey the government!"

Lu Yunyi looked at Mi Chen kneeling on the ground and let out a soft sigh.
He stood up, took a document from the table, and handed it over:

"Everything requires solid evidence. I cannot hastily convict you like this. Let's see."

Mi Chen straightened up and shakily took the document.

Upon opening it, his expression changed drastically, and his pupils contracted sharply!
The only reason is that the record above describes the words and actions taken during the evening gathering.
Even everyone's actions, expressions, and words,
Everything was recorded in detail.

Upon seeing this document, Mi Chen felt that...
The high spirits of the gathering are right before my eyes, I can see them clearly.

"Traitor! There's a traitor!"

Mi Chen roared inwardly.

So detailed, so fast
How can the conversation at the table be left on someone else's desk right after the table has ended!
Mi Chen's hands trembled, and the document almost slipped from his fingers.

He gripped it tightly, as if it were the last straw that could save his life.

His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.
My head was buzzing, and cold sweat kept pouring from my forehead and back, soaking my clothes.

Lu Yunyi's lips curled up slightly, with a hint of mockery:

"Manager Mi, why aren't you saying anything?"

Weren't you just so full of yourself at the dinner table?
They were discussing how to confront the authorities, so why are they suddenly mute?

Mi Chen's body trembled violently, his head slamming heavily against the ground, his voice trembling with sobs:

"My lord, I was confused for a moment."
Only someone blinded by greed would commit such a heinous act.
"Please, Your Honor, have mercy and spare my life!"

Lu Yunyi stood up, his eyes full of mockery:
"A moment of confusion? Manager Mi, the price you paid for this moment of confusion is a bit too high."

Your actions have disrupted the entire commercial order of Daning.
I have gone to great lengths to bring Da Ning to its current state.
"And you, you think you can turn everything upside down so easily?"

Mi Chen kept kowtowing, his forehead bleeding and blood splattering on the ground.
"My lord, I know I was wrong. I deserve to die. I beg you to give me a chance to atone for my sins."

Lu Yunyi sneered:
"Tell me, how do you plan to atone for your sins?"

"Don't just talk the talk; I want to see concrete actions."

Mi Chen slightly raised her head, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness:
"My lord, this humble citizen is willing to donate a portion of my family's wealth."

"This money is for the construction of Daning; I only beg Your Excellency to spare my life."

Lu Yunyi curled his lip in disdain:
"Family property? Manager Mi, you've certainly got a shrewd plan."

Can your meager household income make up for the losses caused by this commotion?

Don't try to fool me with these petty favors.

Mi Chen's body stiffened, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes, but he quickly rallied his spirits:
"My lord, this humble subject is willing to fully cooperate with the government."

I will never dare to have any other thoughts again.

"If Your Excellency commands me to go east, I will never go west."

Lu Yunyi frowned, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes:

"Stop with these empty words."

I ask you, what other means have you prepared to resist the government?

"Don't hide anything, tell the truth, and I might show leniency."

Mi Chen hesitated for a moment, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.
But he felt Lu Yunyi's gaze, sharp as a sword.
Ultimately, he succumbed and said in a trembling voice:

"My lord, the common people have decided..."
If the government insists on taking action against grassland trade,

We'll shut down all the workshops. Since we can't sell to the grasslands, we won't sell to Daning either.

Lu Yunyi was slightly taken aback, and his expression became increasingly strange:
"That's it?"

Mi Chen lowered her head, not daring to look Lu Yunyi in the eye, and her voice grew softer and softer:
"My lord, we commoners dare not defy the government, much less defy you, my lord."

We did this simply to show our determination.

Lu Yunyi suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation with Mi Chen.
He exclaimed in surprise and shook his head:

"Manager Mi, you've really got a clever plan."

However, you seem to have forgotten one thing.

Does the city of Daning stop functioning without your merchants?

If you could act like the Yingtian Trading Company, whose interests concern the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people, that would be acceptable.
But you, the entire population of Daning City, number only about 100,000.

Playing these kinds of tricks is a bit...brainless.

Moreover, the practice of using merchants and the people to coerce the imperial court and government offices is an example of such things.
Didn't you all ask around to find out who does it best in the world?

Mi Chen's body trembled, and he suddenly raised his head, looking at Lu Yunyi with some shock!
He had long suspected that Yingtian Trading Company's many actions were aimed at binding its business with the common people.
This deterred the imperial court from intervening, but no evidence was ever found.

He only realized it after hearing the person directly say it so bluntly today!
At the same time, he secretly smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, "Isn't this just showing off my limited skills before an expert?"
"My lord, Daning City is teeming with talented people and numerous merchants."

When a group of merchants unite, even a commoner cannot refuse.

They kept saying that if production stopped, the government would back down.
Because because"

"Because the money earned by the merchants in the city is shared by the officials of each prefecture, what I said is correct."

Lu Yunyi's lips twitched, revealing a hint of sarcasm.

Mi Chen was struck dumb, burying his head in his hands, too afraid to answer.

Lu Yunyi stood up, put his hands on his hips, and paced back and forth in the dentistry room:

"I find it strange that each province within the pass has three offices, with various forces checking and balancing each other."

Some officials are so careful that they dare not act recklessly even if they are greedy for money.

In our Great Ning, there is only one Commander-in-Chief, who holds absolute power.

Why have these adults become so bold?
And you too, if someone wanted to kill you within the pass, they'd really have to consider their reputation.
It's inevitable that government departments will pass the buck to each other.
But how dare you be so bold in this military town outside the pass?
Could it be that the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's lousy pen is more frightening than the Commander's sword?

Mi Chen grew increasingly flustered and kowtowed several more times.

"My lord, I know I was wrong."

"This humble subject should not have dared to defy the government. I beg Your Honor to spare my life, and I promise never to mention this matter again."

Lu Yunyi squatted down, stared into Mi Chen's eyes, and said, word by word:

"Manager Mi, don't you think it's a bit too late to say all this now?"

But Lu Yunyi suddenly changed the subject and laughed:

"Manager Mi has cooperated with the Military Commandery on numerous occasions."
We've always had a very harmonious relationship, and I'm willing to give you this opportunity.

Alright, send 50,000 taels of silver to the yamen within three days.
"I will not pursue this matter further, what do you say?"

Mi Chen suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with shock, regret, and a trace of heartache.

All I've earned in the past six months, working myself to the bone, is fifty thousand taels of silver.
Now, if we make one wrong move, we'll lose everything.

this.
But Mi Chen didn't hesitate and quickly said:
"Thank you for sparing my life, sir. I will bring the money tomorrow."

"Okay, be careful not to let too many people see it."

By the way, your plan must continue; don't stop it.

Mi Chen was somewhat taken aback, but when he saw the cold glint in Lu Yunyi's eyes,
He immediately realized that it was another case of using a scheme against someone else to kill them.
"Yes, I will certainly do this well."

(End of this chapter)