In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 840 Zhang Bin's Workshop of the City Defense Army Ceases Operations
Time passed second by second, and the screams from the dungeon never ceased.

The men had been tortured to the point of near death.
His body was covered in wounds, and blood stained the ground.

However, they still refused to reveal a single word.

Feng Yunfang sat not far away, watching their disheveled appearance, his eyes deep-set.
Just as their screams gradually subsided and became weak,
A guard rushed over and said solemnly:
"My lord, we have news!"

One of the guards at the west gate recognized one of them, saying he was from the city defense force.

Upon hearing the report from his personal guard, Feng Yunfang's shock vanished in an instant.

He knew in his heart that the ability to remain so resolute and clench one's teeth without uttering a single word must be due to professional training.
The person behind this is someone with considerable influence, so while the outcome was unexpected, it was also quite reasonable.

He stood up and walked steadily toward the men's cell.

The stench of blood permeating the dungeon grew stronger, and the torches flickered.
It stretched his figure into a distorted and elongated shape.

The mottled marks on the walls, bearing the cruel imprints of time, blend seamlessly with the eerie atmosphere.

Feng Yunfang arrived in front of the prison cell.

His cold gaze swept over the several men in front of him who were being tortured to the point of near death.

Their bodies were strapped to racks, blood still gushing from their wounds, staining the ground beneath their feet.

One of the men slightly raised his head, a hint of stubbornness in his eyes.

Despite being as pale as a sheet and having bitten his lips until they bled, he kept his mouth tightly shut.

Feng Yun took the investigation document about one of the people from his personal guards.

The document contains detailed information about this person's basic information within the city's garrison.
However, most of it is superficial and there are not many substantial clues.

He looked at the man in front of him and said coldly:

"Do you think that by not speaking out, you can protect the people behind you, and your family?"

Upon hearing the word "family," the man visibly trembled, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.
But he quickly regained his composure, turning his head to the side and refusing to meet Feng Yunfang's gaze.

Feng Yunfang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of mockery:
"The adults have said more than once that everything in this world has a price."
You people eat the commander's food, yet you smash the commander's pots (i.e., you're taking advantage of him).

They even call it "for the sake of all living beings," how absurd!

Feng Yunfang looked down at the document and said calmly:
"Wang Chen, a junior officer of the First Battalion, Third Division of the City Defense Army, came to Daning in the eighteenth year of the Hongwu reign and resided in the north of the city."

The family has one son, two daughters, and one wife.
Where are my parents? Why can't I find them?

The man named Wang Chen suddenly raised his head, his gaze sharp yet fierce.

At this point, Feng Yunfang paused deliberately, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
"You should have witnessed the changes in Daming from the eighteenth to the twenty-third year of the Hongwu reign."

Daning is now several times better than it used to be.
But why would they choose this particular moment to defy the authorities? Are they just asking for trouble?
Tell me, why are you being monitored?

Wang Chen remained silent, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner unease.

Seeing this, Feng Yunfang knew his words had worked, and continued:

"You should know that I have plenty of ways to get you to talk."

If you confess now, you can suffer less physical pain and leave your family a way out.
At least they won't be implicated because of you.
Thus, even if they leave the workshop where they work, they can still make a living.

"I'll give you ten breaths. If you still don't tell, your family will be expelled from the workshop."

After saying that, Feng Yunfang waved his hand and returned to his original seat.
He picked up the teacup beside him, took a small sip, and remained calm.
But the jailer not far away was counting down.
"Nine"

"Seven"

"Four"

The atmosphere inside the cell was oppressive and terrifying, filled with the stench of blood.

Finally, just as the countdown was about to end, a hoarse voice came from behind.

"Say what I mean."

Wang Chen raised his head, blood dripping down his hair.

The ferocity in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by confusion and despair.

Feng Yunfang smiled slightly, put down his teacup, and stared into the man's eyes:

"Why didn't you do this sooner? Tell me, who sent you? Who are you monitoring?"

Wang Chen took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and said:

"We are under orders from our superiors to monitor those who leave the military headquarters."

Feng Yunfang frowned and pressed for an answer:
"Explain yourself! Who are you monitoring? Whose orders are you following?"

Wang Chen hesitated for a moment, then continued:

"It's an order from Deputy Commander Gao Haoxuan,"
He and I are from the same hometown, and he took good care of me.

He instructed me to take a few trusted men and monitor all officers above the rank of commander-in-chief and their entourage.

Feng Yunfang narrowed his eyes slightly and clenched his fists, which were placed to the side.

Officials of the rank of Vice Commander-in-Chief or higher were all important officials in the military command.

What is the purpose of monitoring them?
He suppressed his shock and continued to ask:

"Do you know whose orders Gao Haoxuan is under?"

Feng Yunfang asked casually, not intending to get any answers.
But Wang Chen's answer made him tense all over.
"Lord Gao is a distant relative of Lord Zhang Bin."

Upon hearing this name, Feng Yunfang's heart skipped a beat, and his breathing became momentarily unsteady.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stood up and said to his guards:

"Continue the interrogation, retain all statements, and have them signed and sealed. No one else is allowed to approach."

"Yes!"

After saying that, he hurriedly left the dungeon and strode towards Lu Yunyi's office.

Throughout the journey, his mood was particularly heavy, and his steps became hurried.

The sunlight shone on him, but it could not dispel the gloom in his heart.

Arriving in front of the government office, Feng Yunfang forced himself to calm down.
He took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and then knocked on the door:
"grown ups."

Lu Yunyi was sitting at his desk, intently looking at a calculation document.

Hearing the noise, he looked up:

"Come in."

Feng Yunfang pushed open the door and entered. Lu Yunyi frowned upon seeing his travel-worn and nervous appearance.
"Is there any result?"

Feng Yunfang said:
"Sir, the men keeping watch at the houses in the south of the city are Hu Chongyi's men."

They arrived there with the Mi family's men, and before they could be tortured, they confessed.

As for the other group that was following his subordinates, they were extremely stubborn and did not confess even under torture.

Finally, it was only through the soldiers' identification that one of them was recognized as a member of the city defense force.

After some interrogation, he confessed that he was acting on orders from Deputy Commander Gao Haoxuan.

To monitor the departure of commanders of the rank of Assistant Commander and above, as well as their accompanying personnel, from the Commandery.

Gao Haoxuan was a confidant of Lord Zhang Bin.

Lu Yunyi's hand holding the document tightened suddenly, causing a crease to appear in the hard document. A hint of shock flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Why did Zhang Bin do this?

Lu Yunyi frowned, his eyes filled with doubt.

Zhang Bin is currently in charge of the defense of Daning City and holds great power. He is likely to be promoted to the rank of Assistant Commander-in-Chief in the future.

What is his purpose for doing this?
This is clearly a situation where the risks and rewards are completely disproportionate.

"This matter must be investigated and clarified as soon as possible."

Yunfang, you immediately investigate Zhang Bin's recent movements.

See who he has been in contact with and what he has done.

Inform Black Hawk of this matter and instruct him to secretly strengthen the defenses both inside and outside the command post to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble.

Feng Yunfang accepted the order and said:

"Yes, sir. I'll make the arrangements right away."

After saying that, Feng Yunfang turned around and was about to leave the yamen.

Lu Yunyi suddenly called out to him again: "Keep this matter discreet, and don't alert the enemy."

"Yes!"

As noon approached, the sun grew increasingly intense.
The city of Daning was shrouded in sweltering heat.

On the streets of the north of the city, pedestrians hurried along, their clothes soaked with sweat.

The shop signs on both sides of the street swayed gently in the breeze, making a creaking sound.

The numerous workshops located in the north of the city were still bustling with activity in the morning.

But in the afternoon, when the people came to work on time, they encountered an unexpected situation.

The workshop doors were tightly shut, and several stern-looking managers stood at the entrance, constantly shouting:

"No work today. We'll discuss the start date later. You all go home and wait for our message!"

A slightly overweight man with a fierce-looking face stood with his arms crossed and shouted at the top of his lungs. The people who had come to work immediately erupted in an uproar, a commotion spreading through the crowd.

"What happened? Why did they suddenly stop working?"

A thin, dark-skinned middle-aged man stared wide-eyed, his face full of doubt.

"Yes, what exactly happened?"
This morning they said there was still work to be done and we needed to be quick, so why aren't we working this afternoon?

Another person chimed in agreement.

Many people looked around, noting that most of the workshops in the north of the city were gathered here.

At this moment, every workshop in sight is like this.

The common people were blocked at the gate and not allowed to enter, while the person in charge was shouting at the front.

One of the leaders frowned and said impatiently:
"The order has changed; it's a decision made by higher-ups, and there's nothing we can do about it."

You all go back first. We'll let you know when we have any news.

A tall, angry-looking craftsman frowned.
He had some relatives in the military headquarters and knew some inside information.

He stepped forward angrily and shouted:

"What a coincidence! You must have made up this excuse to defy the authorities!"

"Yes, it must be you who are going against the government and making an example of us!"

Many people in the crowd knew that the commander was going to launch a military campaign against the grasslands, and they joined in the commotion, their voices growing louder and louder.

The person in charge's expression changed, a hint of panic flashing in their eyes.
He quickly regained his composure and said firmly:

"Stop making trouble here."
"If we say we won't start work, we won't start work. Go home and wait. What can you do about it?"

"We're not leaving today; we demand an explanation!"

The people were outraged and surrounded the officials.
They were all tall and burly, with unshaven beards and dark faces that looked fierce as they stared intently at the person in charge!

The person in charge looked at them and his heart skipped a beat.

Having lived as a compliant citizen for a year, I almost forgot that these grassland people used to cause trouble frequently.

He softened his tone and explained:

"This is the decision of all the managers. You can all go home and wait for news."

The people, however, were not convinced and continued to surge forward.

In an instant, they blocked the gates of countless workshops.

Not far away, Ya Rong, from Kang Le Trading Company on Anhe Street, noticed the commotion.

She wore a light blue long dress and a delicate hairpin in her hair. Her face was gentle, and she exuded an alluring charm of a mature woman.

She stood at the entrance of the shop, her brows slightly furrowed.

Looking at the chaos not far away, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"Go tell Ortai to take charge of the situation."
First, calm them down and prevent any further trouble.

Ya Rong spoke to a waiter beside her, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority.

The man nodded quickly and hurriedly ran towards the houses not far away.

A short while later, Ortai arrived in haste with several of his personal guards.

He was tall and strong, with a resolute face. He wore a black military uniform and had a long sword at his waist. His steps were steady and powerful.

He went to the front of the crowd and shouted:
"Everyone, be quiet, be quiet!"

The crowd gradually quieted down and all looked at Ortai.

Upon seeing him, many people's fierce expressions relaxed, and they began to chatter amongst themselves.

Ortai felt that the surroundings were extremely noisy, and quickly pressed his hand down:
"I am Ortai, the centurion of the Daning Vanguard. Tell me what's wrong."

"Sir, we just want an explanation. Why did the workshop suddenly stop operating? It was fine this morning."

One of the citizens stepped forward, his face full of grievance.

Ortai frowned slightly as he looked at the tightly closed doors of the various workshops.
A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, then he said:

"Don't worry, everyone. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation."
Everyone, please go home now and do not gather here to avoid disrupting order.

"We can go back, but what if the workshop doesn't start operating?"

Someone raised their hand to speak and pushed forward.

Ortai's eyes suddenly glared fiercely at him:
"You've only been off work for half a day, what's the rush?"
"Everyone, please go back first. I'll look into the situation and communicate with the authorities before explaining things to you."

Although the group still harbored some dissatisfaction after hearing Ortai's words,
But knowing that continuing the commotion wouldn't solve anything, they had no choice but to disperse.
But many people still did not go back.
He sat down in the shade under the eaves and waited quietly.

Judging from their appearance, they were not people to be trifled with.

Just then, Qianhu Asu also rushed over.

Asu was tall and had a cold face. He wore a black armor and exuded an aura of majesty.

"Ortai, what's going on?" Asu frowned.

Ortai stepped forward and recounted the whole story in detail.

Upon hearing this, Asu's face turned extremely ugly.

"These merchants are incredibly audacious; they actually dare to defy the government."

"Ortai, go and investigate immediately to find out which workshops are leading the disturbance."

"Yes, my lord!"

Ortai responded and turned to walk towards the workshops with several of his personal guards.

Asu stood there, his brows furrowed, a deep worry creeping into his heart.

He looked at the crowd gathering there, quickly waved his hand, and gave the order:

"Disperse the crowd and prevent them from gathering!"

"Yes!"

Ortai arrived at the first workshop with his personal guards.

This is a small blacksmith shop.
He usually makes ironware such as pots and pans, and occasionally repairs some utensils for the commander.

At this moment, the workshop doors were tightly shut, and the person in charge stood at the entrance.

Upon seeing Ortai and the others arrive, a hint of panic appeared on his face.

"Open the door!" Ortai shouted.

One of the leaders, steeling himself, stepped forward and said:

"Lord Centurion, the workshop is closed today. Please return home."

Ortai frowned, a hint of authority flashing in his eyes:
"Open."

The person in charge tried to stop him, but Ortai waved his hand.

Several guards immediately stepped forward, pulled the person in charge aside, and then forcefully pushed open the workshop door.

Inside the workshop, the furnace was still burning fiercely, and a wave of sweltering heat swept over you.

Much of the refined iron that needed to be forged had already been heated to a bright red, but no one was dealing with it.

Ortai entered the workshop and looked around.
"What about the orders and ledgers?"

The person in charge lowered his head, not daring to look Ortai in the eye, and stammered:
"The orders have changed, so we've put the ledgers away."

Ortai sneered and said:

"The order has changed? What has changed? It changed in just one afternoon?"

Tell me, who ordered you to do this?

The person in charge trembled and quickly said:

“Lord Centurion, we are acting according to the manager’s decision; no one instructed us.”

Ortai looked at the flustered look on the person in charge and snorted coldly:
"When this workshop was built, the government provided a considerable amount of silver."
It's absurd that you can just stop work like that!
"Confess honestly, and you might get a lighter sentence!"

The person in charge hesitated for a moment, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes.
But he quickly gritted his teeth and said:
"Lord Centurion, I really don't know, please don't press me."

Ortai shook his head helplessly, his voice suddenly rising in intensity:
"Take him back and interrogate him strictly."

The guards responded and stepped forward to arrest the person in charge.

Ortai then led his personal guards to several other workshops.

The situation is similar to that of the first workshop.

Some remaining materials have not been disposed of; it seems they have simply closed the door.

Moreover, the orders and ledgers have also disappeared.
Those in charge also stammered and dared not tell the truth.

Ortai had already made up his mind.

There must be someone defying the authorities.

But this speed is far too fast.
The decision was made just yesterday, and work has stopped today. There must be someone pulling strings behind the scenes.

(End of this chapter)