In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 838 The people will not fight against the officials; they will wag their tails and beg for surrender.
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire city of Daning.

The lights, like stars scattered everywhere, added a touch of life to the deep night.

Inside the Mi residence, lights illuminated every corner, showcasing its luxuriousness.

The carriage carrying Mi Chen and Mi Bin slowly drove into the mansion.

The wheels rolled over the ground with a dull thud.

The mansion gates were wide open, and two rows of servants, each holding a lantern, stood neatly on either side.

The lights cast long shadows of them.

As soon as the carriage stopped, a servant came forward.
He respectfully opened the car door to welcome the two gentlemen alighting.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin stepped off the carriage with solemn expressions and hurried into the mansion.

Inside the mansion, pavilions and towers are arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner.
The outline is clearly visible under the light.
The exquisite carvings and magnificent decorations all exude wealth and luxury.

In the garden, exotic flowers and rare plants vied for attention in their own unique beauty.

Even at night, you can smell the fragrance.

After passing through the garden, you arrive at the main hall.
The main hall was spacious and bright, with smooth marble floors and exquisite tables and chairs.

All are made of high-quality rosewood, emitting a faint woody fragrance.

The tea set was exquisite, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin sat down in the main seats.
The waiters quickly served the tea and then respectfully stepped aside.

Mi Chen picked up his teacup, took a small sip, his brow furrowed, and remained silent.
He had initially been quite pleased with the newly renovated decorations in the mansion.
I admire it for a long time every day when I come back.

But today he couldn't muster any interest, and was even a little irritable.

Mi Bin seemed somewhat restless, glancing at Mi Chen from time to time, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Brother, what should we do now? Should we really do as he says?" Mi Bin finally couldn't help but ask.

Mi Chen put down his teacup, sighed deeply, and looked on with helplessness.
"Do we have any other options?"
Lu Yunyi wielded great power and was ruthless.

If we put up even the slightest resistance, I'm afraid we won't even be able to save this mansion.

"But... I'm really not willing to just hand over the money we've worked so hard to earn!"

Mi Bin slammed his hand on the table, his face full of resentment.

Mi Chen gave a wry smile and slowly said:

"What can I do if I'm not willing to accept it?"

In this world, a higher-ranking official can crush you.

Moreover, Lord Lu is a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court.

He has men, soldiers, and money; we are nothing but ants in his presence.

If we don't comply, death is the only thing waiting for us.

"Why don't we unite with other merchants and fight against the government?"

A glimmer of hope flashed in Mi Bin's eyes as he spoke urgently.

Mi Chen shook his head, his expression somber:
"I've thought about it carefully, and we were too optimistic before."

Those people are all opportunists, always changing their minds depending on the wind.

Don't be fooled by their eloquent words at the dinner table today; if a knife were to fall, they would quickly pull their necks back.

Let's look at what we just said at the table today.
They immediately tipped them off to the authorities; how can we trust them?

Besides, even if they were willing, they might not be a match for Lu Yunyi.

Have you forgotten how he dealt with those disobedient merchants before?

Mi Bin recalled those rumors and felt a chill run down his spine:
"So, does that mean we're really just at their mercy?"

Mi Chen remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the night outside, a resolute glint in his eyes:
"Let's save our lives first. As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild."

These days, I'm making money too fast.
We were so blinded by our emotions that we lost all caution.

The common people will not fight against the officials; this is a principle that has stood for thousands of years.

We actually forgot, how ridiculous!

Although Mi Bin was still unwilling after hearing Mi Chen's words, he knew that this was the only way at the moment.

He stood up, walked to Mi Chen's side, and said softly:
"Brother, you're right. Let's do as he says for now, and talk about it again when we have another chance."

Mi Bin responded and was about to turn around to make arrangements when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

"Master, Manager Hu Chongyi has sent a messenger with a letter saying that he wants to visit."

A waiter spoke respectfully from outside the door.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin exchanged a glance, a hint of suspicion flashing in their eyes.

"Hu Chongyi? What's the matter?"

Mi Chen frowned and said:

"Brother, could it be that he found out about our trip to the yamen and wanted to test the waters?" Mi Bin guessed.

Mi Chen pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"It's possible. Since they've come, we can't just ignore them."

Go tell the messenger that I eagerly await Manager Hu's arrival.

"Yes, sir."

The waiter responded and hurried away.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin returned to their seats.

Both remained silent, and the atmosphere in the room became extremely tense.

A short while later, Hu Chongyi arrived at the Mi residence with several attendants.
Hu Chongyi was tall and had a face full of fat. He walked with a swaying gait, exuding an imposing aura.

He also exudes a more affluent air compared to six months ago.
The huge thumb ring he was wearing was obviously very expensive.

"Manager Mi, I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

As soon as Hu Chongyi entered, he laughed loudly, his voice echoing in the main hall.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin stood up and went to greet them.

"Manager Hu, what brings you here? Please have a seat."

Mi Chen said with a smile, his face full of joy.

Hu Chongyi sat down in the guest seat, and Mi Chen and Mi Bin also sat down.

The waiters quickly served the tea and then respectfully stepped aside.

"Manager Mi, I sent someone here today to ask you something."

Hu Chongyi picked up his teacup, took a small sip, then put it down and looked at Mi Chen.

"Please speak freely, Manager Hu."

Mi Chen said with a smile, but inwardly he became wary.

"I heard that Manager Mi went to the yamen today. I wonder what it was for?"

Hu Chongyi looked intently at Mi Chen and asked.

Mi Chen's heart tightened, but he maintained his smile.

"Manager Hu is really well-informed."

"To be honest, Manager Hu, my trip to the yamen today was merely to discuss some trade matters with Lord Lu."

"To discuss trade matters?"

Hu Chongyi frowned, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"How are the discussions going?"

Mi Chen inwardly groaned, but at this moment he could only bite the bullet and say:

"It went fairly smoothly. Lord Lu is very concerned about the development of commerce and trade. Let's keep up the good work."

Hu Chongyi sneered and said:

"Manager Mi, stop trying to fool me."

We are all sensible people; Lord Lu's return this time...
Now that they've decided to deal with the grassland people, they won't let us off easily.

He knew perfectly well the relationship between the grasslands and us.
"Tell me honestly, when you went to the government office today, did you already compromise?"

Mi Chen was startled, not expecting Hu Chongyi to be so shrewd, seeing through his thoughts at a glance.

But of course he couldn't admit it at that moment.

He merely snorted softly, his expression carrying a hint of mockery:
"Manager Hu, my Mi Family Trading Company has always cooperated with the government, so how can there be any talk of compromise?"
Now that things have been settled, let's follow the rules. We can't just hand over the money we've already earned.

"But Manager Hu, do you still harbor resentment towards Lord Lu for what he did before? Or are you trying to sow discord?" Hu Chongyi looked at Mi Chen, his gaze full of scrutiny.
"Manager Mi, stop pretending."

We all know Lord Lu's methods.
If you compromise, don't blame me, Hu Chongyi, for looking down on you.

Mi Chen pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"Manager Hu, now that our two families have made a decision, we will not forget our agreement with you all."

Lord Lu has now been promoted, far surpassing the other officials; we cannot force him to comply.

Today when I went to the government office, he asked me some questions about sugar.
I also took the opportunity to sound him out.
As long as those grassland people are obedient, Lord Lu will not do those thankless and arduous tasks.

Therefore, the business must cease operations.
The people from the grasslands outside also need to obey; neither can be dispensed with.

Hu Chongyi's expression softened slightly after hearing Mi Chen's words:
"Manager Mi, it's good that you think that way."

We must unite to fight against the government.

Although Lord Lu is powerful, we are not to be trifled with. We must at least keep the money we have in our hands.

If he insists on taking action, shut down all the workshops and show him what we're capable of.

Mi Chen smiled bitterly to himself. Hu Chongyi was still dreaming, unaware that he had already fallen into a desperate situation.

But he couldn't show it at this moment, and could only go along with Hu Chongyi's words:
"Manager Hu is right. If we want to protect ourselves, we must unite as one."

My Mi's Trading Company is willing to stand with you all, sharing both triumphs and tribulations.

Hu Chongyi nodded in satisfaction after hearing Mi Chen's words:
"Manager Mi, I'm relieved to hear that."

"Then let's proceed according to plan. We'll halt some work tomorrow and see how the authorities react, okay?"

Mi Chen, however, maintained a smile on his face:

"Alright, I'll follow Manager Hu's arrangements."

Hu Chongyi chatted with Mi Chen for a while longer before getting up to take his leave.

Mi Chen and Mi Bin personally escorted Hu Chongyi to the gate of the mansion.
Only after watching Hu Chongyi's carriage gradually disappear into the distance did he turn around and return to his residence.

"Brother, Hu Chongyi is still dreaming." Mi Binjiao's expression was strange.

Mi Chen sighed and said:
"At this point, we'll just have to take it one step at a time. Whether he lives or dies is none of our business."

Go and make preparations; tomorrow we will go with him to meet the other merchants.

"yes, Sir."

Mi Bin responded and left in a hurry.

Mi Chen watched Mi Bin's departing figure, his heart filled with helplessness.

His high spirits during the day were completely shattered in just a few hours, leaving him feeling somewhat discouraged.

After a while, Mi Bin hurriedly returned and said:

"Brother, everything is ready. The visiting card and official documents will be sent tomorrow morning."

Mi Chen stood up and said:
"Let's go to the basement."

The moonlight spilled into the courtyard, casting a mysterious glow on the artificial hill.
Mi Chen walked to the artificial hill and skillfully pressed buttons in several specific locations.

Accompanied by a slight clicking sound,

The artificial hill slowly moved, revealing a dark cave entrance.

Mi Chen was the first to enter the cave, followed closely by Mi Bin.

Inside the cave was a downward staircase, with several luminous pearls embedded in the walls, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the path beneath one's feet.

After walking up the steps for a short while, we arrived at a heavy stone door.

Mi Chen then groped around the stone gate for a while longer.
Find the mechanism and gently twist it; the stone door slowly opens.

Inside the basement, there were tall shelves filled with gold and silver jewelry.

The piles of gold ingots were round and smooth, radiating an alluring luster.

The silver ingots were neatly stacked together and placed in small boxes, gleaming with a cool light.

There were also some exquisite pieces of jewelry nearby, and some account books and deeds were placed in the corner.
Although the paper was slightly yellowed, the writing on it was still clearly legible.

Mi Bin stood in the basement, looking at the dazzling array of money.
He sighed, then walked to the place where the cash was stored and began to count it.

His fingers moved rapidly across the silver ingots, while he kept muttering the numbers to himself.

As the silver ingots dwindled, Mi Bin's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Brother, if we take out 50,000 taels, we'll only have a few thousand taels left."

Mi Bin raised his head, his face full of pain, and his voice trembled slightly.

Mi Chen walked to Mi Bin's side, looking at the few remaining silver ingots, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes as well.
He was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and said:
"Money can be earned back, but once you lose your life, you lose everything."

This time, the adults are willing to give us a chance; we must seize it.

Mi Bin stood aside and thought for a moment, then said softly:

"Brother, there are still some precious notes in the shop."
"How about we take some silver and some paper money?"

Mi Chen waved his hand: "Don't try to be clever. Since you've decided to give it, just give it readily and in cash."

After hearing this, Mi Bin gave up, dragged over a few boxes from the side, and put the silver into the boxes.
Every silver ingot that entered felt like a knife cutting into their flesh, causing them to wince in pain.

After loading the silver, Mi Chen carefully inspected the basement again.
After making sure nothing important was left behind, he left the underground parking garage with Mi Bin.

Back in the main hall, Mi Chen looked at the several boxes filled with silver, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

This 50,000 taels of silver is the result of six months of hard work.
I didn't expect it to be handed over so soon.

"Brother, when are we going to send the silver to the yamen?" Mi Bin asked.

Mi Chen pondered for a moment and said:

"Why send it to any government office? Tomorrow, deliver the silver to that house in the south of the city."

Tell the adults the location and let them go get it themselves.

Go and make arrangements again, find a few reliable men to go with us tomorrow. Be sure to be careful and discreet, and don't attract attention.

"yes, Sir."

Mi Bin responded and turned to arrange the relevant matters.

The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Lu Yunyi got up, washed up, put on a neat official robe, and went to the yamen.

When he arrived, the gates of the yamen were wide open.

Sunlight streamed onto the threshold, draping this majestic place in a golden veil.

As soon as Lu Yunyi stepped into the government office, he saw a clerk hurriedly come to greet him.
With an anxious expression, he cupped his hands and said:
"My lord, the Goryeo envoy Wang Junping requests an audience and is currently waiting in the room."

Lu Yunyi showed a hint of surprise and nodded slightly.

Wang Junping came to see me so early.
It must be for the sake of the protection afforded by the 500,000 taels of silver.

But he did not go immediately; instead, he calmly said:
"I understand. I will see him later."

Having said that, he walked straight to his office.

Inside the yamen, everything remained as it was, neat and orderly.

Lu Yunyi sat behind his desk and began to peruse the recently accumulated documents.

Most of them are related to the military affairs of various garrisons.
Most other major matters are handled by Black Hawk and other officers.

Time slipped away quietly as I handled official business.
The sunlight gradually brightened, shining through the window and onto him, forming patches of light.

About an hour later, Lu Yunyi finally put down the document in his hand.
I stretched and loosened up my muscles.

He got up, straightened his official robes, and walked towards the room where Wang Junping was.

Along the way, the clerks in the yamen bowed to him one after another.

He responded with a smile to each one, his pace neither hurried nor slow, displaying complete composure.

Arriving at the house, Lu Yunyi gently pushed open the door.
Wang Junping was sitting at the table.

He held a cup of tea in his hand, but did not drink it, his eyes revealing a hint of contemplation.

Hearing the door open,

Wang Junping quickly stood up, respectfully bowed to Lu Yunyi with his hands clasped, and said with a broad smile:
"Lord Lu, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Lu Yunyi smiled and waved his hand, saying:
"Lord Wang, I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was just dealing with some official business, which caused the delay."

Having said that, he sat down in the main seat.

Wang Junping quickly sat down in the guest seat next to him.
Her eyes were fixed on Lu Yunyi, waiting for him to continue.

Lu Yunyi looked at Wang Junping and said:
"Lord Wang, is it about the affairs within Goryeo? Have you made up your mind?"

(End of this chapter)