In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 858 A Lingering Fear: The Proposal to Move the Capital
Just as the Founding Duke Chang Sheng and the Duke of Cao were being reprimanded at the Crown Prince's residence after leaving the capital,

The atmosphere was equally somber in Puzikou City, across the Yingtianfu River.

Although the imperial court has not yet issued an imperial edict.
But news of the Crown Prince's intention to go to Guanzhong had already spread, and troops were to be transferred from Puzikou City.

Such a good job is bound to be highly sought after.
Currently, several elite garrison troops are locked in a fierce battle over this issue.

In the official residence, the military officer in charge of the camp, Tan Wei, did not look at the military documents.
Instead, he took the document about land prices in the capital that the servant had brought him and examined it carefully.

Looking at the numbers above that keep decreasing over time,
Tan Wei felt that even breathing had become difficult.

Land prices today are even higher than before.

It has already fallen by 55% since he sold it, and there is no sign of the trend stopping.

Tan Wei felt a wave of fear wash over him; it was a close call.
He almost became one of those wailing wealthy merchants.

Who could have imagined that the ever-increasing prices of fertile land in Beijing...

It's unbelievable that there would be a day when things would plummet like this.

Tan Wei picked up a pen and paper from the side and began to write. He was preparing to write a thank-you letter to send back to Daning.

If it weren't for the guidance of adults, he would have lost half of his life savings.

Although the adults said that land prices would eventually recover.
But if we don't know this news in advance...
These ups and downs can drive a person crazy.

Before long, a letter was completed.
He looked at the guard at the door and handed him the letter:

“Send it back to Lord Lu’s residence in Da Ning.”

"Yes, my lord!"

After the guards left, Xu Zengshou, dressed in armor, strode in with a tall and proud figure, his steps quick and his whole being exuding the spiritedness of a young man.

Since making a lot of money, Xu Zengshou has felt extremely happy.

From now on, he will no longer be the Xu Zengshou who had to rely on his older brothers and sisters to make a living!

Even last night, he dreamt that his older brother had turned into a beggar, begging at home with two broken bowls.
He appeared with great power, throwing out handfuls of silver, and shouted:
"Take it and spend it!"

As Xu Zengshou was walking, he thought of this again and burst out laughing.

But when he saw the strange looks on the faces of the people around him, he realized...

He coughed lightly and quickly returned to normal.

Upon reaching the lower seat, he bowed deeply.
"I've met my lord."

Tan Wei looked at him with a somewhat strange expression:
"Is the training over?"

"That's it, today's mission went exceptionally smoothly."

Xu Zengshou glanced at the documents around him and waved his hand:

"You guys go out first."

Tan Wei waved his hand, and after the group of clerks and guards left,
The tense atmosphere between the two disappeared.

Xu Zengshou, completely disregarding his image, sat down on a chair and laughed loudly, saying:

"Lord Tan, you didn't see it."
Yesterday I bought sixty sheep at the sheep market, and the brothers ate them with their mouths brimming with oil!

Today's training went exceptionally smoothly; everyone was incredibly motivated.

"You made money?" Tan Wei smiled.

As a military commander, ensuring his men eat well is his top priority.

With the silver and provisions allocated by the imperial court, they could only barely survive.

Therefore, it is not uncommon for military commanders to treat their men to food and drinks out of their own pockets.

But sixty sheep at once is quite generous.

Xu Zengshou smiled and nodded:

"Make a small profit, it's a real pity you didn't contribute any money this time, Lord Tan."

Tan Wei smiled:
"After traveling all over the country for so many years, this is all the money I've accumulated."

We need to be careful and not squander money recklessly.

"How can this be considered extravagance?"
In just one month, it's already tripled! By the end of the month, it could even have increased fivefold!

"Hehe." Tan Wei maintained his smile:

"The victor is king, the loser is villain. Before things happened, who could have known they would be this heated?"

"You don't regret it?"

Xu Zengshou sat up straight and looked at him with some surprise.

"Of course I don't regret it. Being able to get out early is already a gain. Greed is never enough."
I advise you to get out as soon as possible.
Now that things have escalated so much, morale in the army is extremely low, not to mention in the city.
There might be some unexpected twists and turns then.

Xu Zengshou waved his hand dismissively:

"What kind of setbacks could there be? The ground has already fallen for several days. It can't fall much further. It's stable."

Tan Wei shook his head:

"I'm referring to the imperial court. A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."
With so much money in their hands, the officials of the six ministries of the imperial court were all green with envy.

Didn't Lord Lu tell you that he wanted to distribute some of the money among you?

Xu Zengshou blinked and shook his head blankly:

"He didn't mention splitting the profits, but he said not to make too much, as too much of a good thing can be bad."

"That's right. The reason why Yingtian Trading Company can make so much money and remain unscathed is because it spends money freely."

"You've made so much money, you should be spending it all!"

Tan Wei spoke meaningfully.

Xu Zengshou was shocked, and then fell into deep thought.
However, he quickly put the matter out of his mind.

If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up; he doesn't need to worry about it.

Xu Zengshou sat up straight, his face solemn:

"Lord Tan, I've come to discuss something with you."
If we really are selecting bodyguards from Puzikou City, we absolutely must include the Yingtian Guards.

Seeing that he was getting to the point, Tan Wei sat up straight:

"Why would you leave the capital city to go to Guanzhong?"

Xu Zengshou nodded:
"Let's go see what it's like there. I wonder how it compares to the capital, and whether it's as prosperous."

Tan Wei's expression was solemn:

"Xi'an was originally visited by General Xu during the founding of the nation."
It was a strategically important location, easy to defend and difficult to attack, controlling the vital passage to the Central Plains.
With Shaanxi guarding the area, it would be extremely difficult for the Northern Yuan to attack.

In terms of conditions, it's far inferior to Yingtian.

It's absolutely impossible for the branches to still be lush and leafy by October.

The mountains and rivers here are unlike those in Zhili.
Most of them are bare and desolate.

Moreover, the climate there is dry and the winters are cold; after fighting there for several years, I developed chronic illnesses.”

At this point, Tan Wei sighed, his face showing worry.

After a difficult journey back to Yingtian, they hadn't even stayed for half a year when news broke that the capital was to be moved.

He was still heading to Guanzhong, which left him speechless. He wanted to report to the authorities, but then he discovered that he himself was a high-ranking official.

Xu Zengshou's expression also didn't seem very natural.

In all fairness
Nowhere in the north is as comfortable as Zhili (Hebei).
This place boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, bustling commerce, and a dense network of waterways.
Whether you're going to Jiangnan or Huguang, you can easily get there by boat.

But in Guanzhong, you have to ride a horse to go anywhere, and you'll be exhausted.

Unfortunately, the palace had already made up its mind.

They adopted a stance of killing anyone who opposed them, so they couldn't say anything.

Xu Zengshou sighed, somewhat helplessly:

"Let's go and see first. If it really doesn't work, then we can try to persuade His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Really go?"

"go with!"

"Alright, then I will report Yingtianwei's information."
As for whether you can go, you'll have to go to the Governor's Office and ask.

"Don't worry, my brother and I have already discussed it."
He also wanted to see what Guanzhong was like now, but he couldn't get away, so he asked me to do it for him.

Xu Zengshou had just stepped out of the yamen office, his steps hurried.
My mind kept replaying the trip to Guanzhong and what Tan Wei had said.

Just then, a man walked towards them; it was Li Jinglong.

He looked hurried and his steps were rapid.

There were still beads of sweat on his forehead, and he looked very anxious.

Xu Zengshou's heart tightened when he saw Li Jinglong, sensing that something big was about to happen. He quickly went to greet him and asked:
"Why are you in such a hurry?"

Li Jinglong stopped, took a deep breath, and lowered his voice to say:
"This is terrible! Our plan has been exposed!"
His Highness the Crown Prince was furious and gave Chang Sheng and me a severe scolding.

This action was deemed improper, as it competed with the people for profit and damaged the court's prestige.

Xu Zengshou's face turned deathly pale instantly, his eyes filled with panic:

"How could it have leaked? Who leaked the information?!"

"It's that old bastard Han Yike! He sees us making money without including him, so he's making baseless accusations!" "What should we do about it?"

Li Jinglong sighed, his voice somewhat dejected:

"His Highness told us to hurry to the palace and tell His Majesty about this before things get serious."

Furthermore, a large sum of money must be paid to quell the repercussions of this matter.

Xu Zengshou's smugness vanished instantly, replaced by absurdity:
"You've only just earned this little bit of silver, why are you giving it all away again?"
"This...this...this means we've worked for nothing!"

Li Jinglong also looked helpless and shook his head, saying:
"Don't worry, even if you have to pay, you'll only have to pay a portion."

Let's go into the palace first and see His Majesty's attitude; perhaps he won't be too harsh.

Xu Zengshou was extremely anxious, rubbing his hands together incessantly and muttering to himself:

"My money, my money! I was thinking of buying land in Guanzhong!"

"What place?" Li Jinglong asked, somewhat bewildered.

"If the capital really is moved, won't the land in Guanzhong fly away?"

I'm going to go buy some things first. What will I do if I run out of money?

"what?"

Li Jinglong looked at him in shock, then punched him hard in the armor:
"You little rascal, haven't you had enough money yet?"
Buying land in central Beijing wasn't enough; they also wanted to buy land in Guanzhong.

The relocation of the capital is still far from being finalized, aren't you afraid of losing it all?

"Isn't this a two-pronged approach? We have land in both the capital and Guanzhong regions, so we can make money either way."

"Alright, alright, time is of the essence. Let's go into the palace first. Chang Sheng is still waiting at the city gate."

Xu Zengshou nodded helplessly, forced himself to cheer up, and hurriedly followed Li Jinglong to find Chang Sheng.

After the three met, they didn't have time to say much before getting into the carriage and heading towards the imperial city.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Chang Sheng sat to one side, his brows furrowed, remaining silent.

Li Jinglong looked worried and sighed from time to time.

Xu Zengshou sat slumped to one side, utterly despondent.
"That Han Yike is such a busybody. It's not his family's money he's making, why is he in such a hurry!"

Xu Zengshou broke the silence, gritting his teeth.

Chang Sheng looked up at him and said helplessly:
What's the point of saying all this now?

The truth was bound to come out sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

We hope His Majesty will show leniency and leave us some money.

Li Jinglong gritted his teeth and said:

"In any case, when you see His Majesty later, admit your mistake first."

His Majesty is easy to talk to and won't make things too difficult for us.

Chang Sheng's expression was somewhat strange. He glanced at Li Jinglong.
How could he not see that His Majesty was not easy to talk to?

The carriage stopped at the gate of the imperial city. The three of them got out of the carriage and, with uneasy hearts, followed the eunuch leading the way toward the Wuying Hall.

As they walked closer, the two became increasingly uneasy.

Finally, they arrived at the Wuying Hall.

The palace is magnificent and imposing.
The golden glazed tiles shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight, as if displaying their majesty!

The eunuch who led the way entered the palace, announced their arrival, and then came out to say to them:

"His Majesty summons the three officials. Please follow me inside."

The three of them took a deep breath, straightened their clothes, and slowly walked into the palace.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright at the head of the table, dressed in ordinary clothes, his face dignified.
His eyes were sharp as swords as he stared intently at a memorial in his hand.

The three entered the main hall, but Zhu Yuanzhang made no move.
This made their hearts skip a beat. They exchanged a glance and bowed respectfully.
"I will see you, Your Majesty!"

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang raise his head, glance at them indifferently, and say with a forced smile:

"It's rare that the three of you would come to the palace to see me."

The three men felt a chill run down their spines. Li Jinglong, who knew the Emperor best, knew that the matter had inevitably been exposed.

It's better to say it now than to hide it, so he braced himself and said:

"Your Majesty, I have displeased you and deserve to die. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, stood up, walked to the group of people, and pointed at them with his finger with some annoyance.

“You, you dukes, receiving salaries from the court and being revered by the people, are you so poor that you can’t even afford to eat?”
It would be one thing if they didn't dedicate themselves to public service and share the burdens of the court.

"You lot have actually done something so despicable, competing with the people for profit! What am I supposed to say to you?!"

Li Jinglong immediately became anxious and hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty, I have not been competing with the people for profit."

"The money I earn all comes from those merchants and wealthy landowners; they are all powerful and influential!"

"Alright, alright," Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand impatiently.
"Do you get to decide who is the common people and who is the powerful?"
Do you know that people in the city have already started investigating? Sooner or later, they'll find you!

Chang Sheng quickly said:

"Your Majesty, we were confused for a moment and made such a mistake."

We, your humble servants, are willing to make amends for our mistakes and humbly beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his hands on his hips, staring at Chang Sheng, and shook his head helplessly:

"You lot, so young yet you've caused such a commotion! I truly underestimated you!"

"Tell me, whose idea was this?"

Xu Zengshou quickly spoke up, "Your Majesty, it was my idea!"

"Shut up! You're barely grown up, and you're already spouting nonsense."

"Zigong, how did you end up getting involved with them too!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him.

Xu Zengshou shrank his neck and muttered under his breath:
"It would be foolish not to get involved in a profitable business."

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched, and he chuckled.

"Was it that kid Lu Yunyi who gave you this idea?"

The three looked at each other in shock. How could things have been revealed so quickly?
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered:
"It's absurd that the three of you think you can hide this from me."

I'm not criticizing you, but they've clearly stated that sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone.

"You guys are something else, clinging to a good pot and refusing to let go."

The three were shocked again. How did they even know about this?
"Your Majesty, how did you know?" Li Jinglong asked, his face showing shock.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not answer, but instead changed the subject:

"Yingtian Trading Company is currently preparing to rebuild the roads south of Yingtian City."
Those alleys were in disrepair for years, and were full of potholes.
"Now it all needs to be torn up and replaced with cement road; you'll have to pay for that."

Upon hearing this, the three of them immediately understood!

Chang Sheng quickly replied:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to contribute funds to repair the road in order to atone for my sins."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at them, then walked over and sat down at a round table.
This matter must be handled as soon as possible and cannot be delayed.
The cement and concrete used for road construction must be of the highest quality and must not be skimped on. The money will be paid to the workshop when the time comes.

If there is any further mishap, I will not let it go lightly!

The three of them bowed quickly:

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. We will do our best to repair the road and live up to Your Majesty's trust."

"Alright, alright, sit down."

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the round table and several stools, then to the herbal tea and fruit on the table:
"I'm getting old and my teeth aren't good enough anymore, so you guys eat these."

The three of them sat down obediently.
Each person held a large pear and nibbled on it little by little.
There was also a question-and-answer session interspersed throughout.
The three of them went from initial difficulties to ease and naturalness, just like before.

Zhu Yuanzhang said with great emotion:
"This trend must not be allowed to continue, otherwise all the powerful and influential people in the city will start playing these tricks."
There's no need to fool everyone.

It would be enough to simply find a village and deceive those ignorant villagers.

At that time, the people will sell their land at rock-bottom prices and lose their livelihoods.
Then the imperial court will have to clean up the mess, which is a losing proposition. Do you understand?

"Understood, understood." The three nodded vigorously.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and continued:
"Yingtian is good in every way, except that it's too obsessed with money."

Look at you, such good kids, now you've become so greedy for money.

The three looked at each other, and for some reason, their words became much harsher.

"The North is still better. For hundreds of years, the North and South were divided. The North is much more peaceful and authentic."

"When the imperial court goes north, you can also get rid of this money-grubbing stench."

The pupils of the three people suddenly contracted.

This was the first time they had heard such accurate predictions about moving the capital.

(End of this chapter)