In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 860 Loudly Plotting a Grand Event: Disarmament
The next morning, Lu Yunyi woke up from his sleep to find it still dark outside his window.

He ran his hand through the blankets, finding nothing there, and groggily opened his eyes.

He discovered that Mu Chuting, who was beside him, had disappeared.

Lu Yunyi sat up.

At that moment, the door was gently pushed open.

Dressed neatly, Mu Chuting carried a basin of water and tiptoed in.

Seeing her husband sitting on the bed,

She shuddered, startled.
"My husband, you got up without saying a word, you scared me to death."

"Why are you up so early? It's not even dawn yet," Lu Yunyi's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Mu Chuting placed the water aside.
She took a clean towel, wet it, and slowly walked to the bedside, handing the towel to him.

"It's almost time, so let's get ready early to avoid being in a rush."

Lu Yunyi smiled as he took the towel and vigorously wiped his face, instantly dispelling much of his drowsiness.

"You can leave these things to the servants. You should sleep a little longer; I think you've lost weight."

"I'm not some pampered young lady who never lifts a finger. What's wrong with carrying a basin of water?"

Mu Chuting rolled her eyes at him and continued:
"Having been in Da Ning for so long, spending all day in the manor with nowhere to go, it's getting rather boring."

I have already read through all of my husband's military treatises.
Recently, I've been planning to ask Manager Shi of the Taxue Trading Company to find some military books in the capital, hoping it will help me relieve my worries and boredom.

Lu Yunyi sat on the edge of the bed, somewhat surprised:

"Have you finished reading all the military books in the study?"

Mu Chuting nodded repeatedly:
"It's just a cursory glance. I'll take another look later when I have the chance, so I can remember it more clearly."

It's a pity I can't go to the battlefield, otherwise I would remember even better.

"Hahahahaha."

Lu Yunyi suddenly laughed, grabbed her slender hand, and examined it closely.
Not to mention calluses, there isn't even a single pit or scar on it.

"With your delicate skin, you shouldn't even think about such things. You could get blisters from a knife."

At this point, Mu Chuting's eyes lit up, she tilted her head back, and gave a soft hum:
"My husband, please don't look down on me. I have a soft sword."
I heard it belonged to the Princess Consort of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, so it was hung in the inner room.
I even tried it out a bit, and it felt pretty good.

"It's all a lie. The merchants in the city go to great lengths to sell their goods."
They can claim a freshly made porcelain plate is an antique; they lie without batting an eye.

Another day, take the sword to Black Hawk's mansion and let Ya Rong take a look at it for you.

She used to be friends with the Princess of Beiyuan; if it really was the Princess's sword, she would recognize it.

Lu Yunyi put on his shoes, walked to the clear water, and plunged his head into it.

"Gulu gulu."

The bubbles kept bubbling outwards, and the last trace of sleepiness quietly disappeared.

"call"

Lu Yunyi raised his head from the water, splashing water everywhere.

Noticing that Mu Chuting didn't speak, Lu Yunyi looked over in surprise.

I found her sitting on the edge of the bed, looking worried and clearly distracted.

"What's going on?"

Mu Chuting raised her head, looked him up and down, hesitated for a moment, and said softly:
"My lord, there are several doctors from the Northern Yuan in the city's traditional Chinese medicine clinic."
I've heard their secret remedy is very effective; perhaps you should go and take a look, husband?

"Me? What am I looking at? I'm perfectly healthy."

Lu Yunyi asked in surprise, but quickly realized what he meant and his face lit up with understanding:

You mean the child?

Mu Chuting hadn't expected him to be so frank, and nodded gently.
"Husband, our family is large and prosperous; this can't go on like this. We should take a look as soon as possible."

"Then we can get a few children in the manor; life won't be so boring."

"Look at Black Hawk and his crew, ever since they had the baby..."

The mansion was much busier now, with people running around doing chores.

Lu Yunyi was speechless at this, and could only awkwardly scratch his head:

"Wait a little longer, wait a little longer."

Mu Chuting looked at him in shock:
"Husband, are you perhaps confused? Can health matters wait?"

While those doctors are still in town, let's hurry and go see them.
Otherwise, in ten or twenty years, when we're both middle-aged, what use will we be if we have a fortune?

After saying this, Mu Chuting lowered her head and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Don't cry, don't cry."

Lu Yunyi quickly stepped forward to comfort him:
"The commander has been extremely busy lately, dealing with matters at the construction site and with external enemies."
I'll go see it after I'm done with this busy period.

As for whether they leave or not, if I don't let them leave, do they dare to leave?

"Then my husband must hurry. I've heard from the people in the city that this illness is better treated sooner rather than later."
If it drags on for too long, it will be much more difficult to treat.

"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm in excellent health and will definitely be fine."

Lu Yunyi spoke with a resounding voice, his confident demeanor making Mu Chuting burst into laughter through her tears.

"Alright, my husband, go and have your meal. It's almost time to go to the yamen."

"Okay, if you're bored at home, go out for a walk."
If all else fails, I'll find you a job at a merchant guild so you can earn some money.

"Let's finish the medical check-up first. I still prefer taking care of children."

"."

After breakfast, Lu Yunyi rode Beixiao to the Military Commandery.

As he walked, pedestrians made way for him, and many recognized him and bowed to him.

Before long, Lu Yunyi arrived at the entrance of the yamen.

The notice board at the entrance was still crowded with people. Qiao Hui, who was supposed to be reading the notice, stood aside and let people read it themselves.

When there are things you don't understand or don't get the gist of...
He would then speak.
He even held a wooden stick in his hand, like a teacher in a school.

Lu Yunyi nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this.

Basic education is the cornerstone of a prosperous and powerful nation.

If Daning wants to continue to develop, highly qualified personnel are indispensable!
Walking through the government office, Lu Yunyi thought of something else.

When these people and children grow up and understand things,

Many people will inevitably yearn for the days in Yingtian, the capital city, and will probably head south.

This is a worrying matter.
However, Lu Yunyi did not intend to give up altogether because of a minor setback.

He glanced behind him at Basong, who looked vigilant and was extremely dutiful even within the government office.
Some people will always return to their hometown after completing their studies, even if it's only one or two out of ten.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the yamen, Lu Yunyi immediately spotted Duan Zhengze waiting there.
He was pacing back and forth in front of the door with his hands behind his back.

Upon seeing Lu Yunyi arrive at the yamen, he immediately went to greet him:

"My lord, the newly appointed commander of Liaodong just arrived this morning and is currently resting at the post station in the city."

"Lord Pan has arrived?" Lu Yunyi's eyes lit up. He's finally here!
Duan Zhengze nodded repeatedly:
"Lord Pan said he would come to the yamen to visit you this morning."

"When?"

"Around 9 AM."

Lu Yunyi checked the time; it was 7:30, so there was still an hour and a half left.

He paused, then gave the order:

"Go and prepare all the relevant accounts, work progress, and follow-up documents for the road repairs. Make sure they are arranged in an orderly and clear manner!"

"Yes."

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), sunlight streamed through the windows of the government office, casting patches of golden light on the ground.

Lu Yunyi sat upright behind the table, holding a cup of tea in his hands, gently blowing away the foam on top, waiting for Pan Jing to arrive.

A moment later, a steady footstep sounded outside the door.

Then, Duan Zhengze's respectful voice rang out:
"My lord, Lord Pan has arrived."

"Please come in quickly." Lu Yunyi put down his teacup and stood up.

Pan Jing strode into the yamen. He was tall and straight, with a resolute face and a hint of boldness in his eyes.

She still looked tired from sleeping outdoors, and her cheeks were dry and cracked.

Upon seeing Lu Yunyi, he bowed respectfully and said loudly:
"Lord Lu, it's been a long time since we last met in the capital."

Lu Yunyi quickly stepped forward, took Pan Jing's arms with both hands, and said with a smile:

"Lord Pan, you are too kind. It is my honor to be able to meet you here today."

The two exchanged a smile and sat down as host and guest, respectively.

Pan Jing picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and after setting it down, his eyes were full of gratitude. He said:
"Lord Lu, the reason why I, Pan, was able to take up the position of Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong this time is..."

It was all thanks to Lord Lu who helped Pan at the Governor's Office meeting.

Mr. Pan will always remember this kindness.
If there is any need for my services in the future, I, Pan, will certainly go through fire and water without hesitation!

Lu Yunyi waved his hand and smiled:

"You flatter me. Lord Pan has been in Liaodong for a long time and is extremely familiar with local affairs."

The position of Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong is undoubtedly rightfully mine.

Upon hearing this, Pan Jing was deeply moved and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"I, Pan, will certainly live up to Lord Lu's expectations and govern Liaodong in an orderly manner."

Lu Yunyi waved his hands repeatedly:
"Lord Pan, there's no need for such formality. Now that we've met, we're friends."

We will need to work together in the future to contribute to the stability of the Ming Dynasty's borders.

Pan Jing nodded heavily and said:

"Rest assured, Lord Lu, I, Pan, am willing to stand with you through thick and thin." The two sat down again, and Lu Yunyi changed the subject, saying:

"Lord Pan, you've seen the construction site outside the city during your visit to Daning, haven't you?"

Pan Jing's eyes lit up, and he quickly said:

"Yesterday, on his way here, Mr. Pan saw the newly built road, which was indeed magnificent and amazing."

Mr. Pan had lived in Beijing for many years and had never seen such a spectacular sight.
I was genuinely curious.
I wonder how Lord Lu came up with the idea of ​​building such a road?

If I'm not mistaken, this journey must have cost quite a bit.

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly and said:

"Lord Pan, although roads are made by footsteps and carts, they actually have many wonderful features."

Nowadays, trade between Beiping Metropolitan Commandery and Beiping is becoming increasingly frequent.
However, transportation became the biggest obstacle.

In the past, the roads were narrow and rugged, making it difficult for horse-drawn carriages to travel and slowing down the transport of goods.

Not only does it consume a lot of manpower and resources, but it also often delays business opportunities.

Some merchants could have made money, but the journey was too arduous.

It is absolutely unacceptable to refuse to do business with Da Ning.

The newly built road was wide and flat, allowing horse-drawn carriages to travel much faster.

The efficiency of cargo transportation has also been greatly improved.

In this way, trade will proceed more smoothly, and people's lives will become more prosperous.

Pan Jing's eyes were full of admiration as he said:
"Lord Lu is absolutely right, this road is well built."

I just wonder how much it would cost to build such a road?

Lu Yunyi looked at Pan Jing and said:
"Lord Pan, to be honest, the Commandery has already spent nearly 100,000 taels of silver."

Building a road from Daning to Liaodong would likely be even more expensive, costing approximately 300,000 taels of silver.

"Three hundred thousand taels!"

Pan Jing's eyes widened, and he gasped.

"This amount is too large."

Lord Lu, you are aware of the situation in Liaodong.
In recent years, wars have been constant, people have suffered hardship, and the military funds allocated by the imperial court to Liaodong have often been insufficient.

Liaodong simply cannot afford to pay 300,000 taels of silver.

"Lord Lu, if Liaodong also wants to build a road, could you perhaps find a way to reduce the cost?"

Lu Yunyi walked to the desk, picked up a document that had been prepared beforehand, handed it to Pan Jing, and said:
"Lord Pan, please don't be anxious. Take a look at this document."

The road repair costs may seem enormous, but they are actually well worth the money.

Pan Jing took the document, but did not open it immediately.

Instead, she looked intently at Lu Yunyi, waiting for his explanation.

Lu Yunyi cleared his throat and said:
"Firstly, after this road is completed..."

Trade between Beijing, Daning, Liaodong, and Goryeo will become even closer.

Goryeo and Liaodong are rich in resources, including valuable specialties such as furs, ginseng, and deer antlers.

In the past, due to inconvenient transportation, it was difficult to transport and sell in large quantities.

They could only watch helplessly as their precious possession rotted in their hands.

Once the roads were completed, these local specialties could be quickly transported to Daning and then to Beiping.

Once they arrived in Beiping, it became much easier to transport them to various parts of the Ming Dynasty.

Conversely, if some goods from within the Great Wall were sent to Liaodong, their prices would not be so high.

In this back-and-forth exchange, merchants in Liaodong profited, the people's income increased, and the imperial court's tax revenue also increased accordingly.

In the long run, this investment of 300,000 taels of silver...

This will undoubtedly bring returns several times, or even dozens of times, greater.

Pan Jing frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment:
"What Lord Lu said makes sense, but the reward is ultimately a matter for the future."

There is currently a shortfall of 300,000 taels of silver.
Even if Liaodong squeezed together, they could only come up with 100,000.

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly and continued:

"Secondly, this road also plays a vital role in military defense."

Although the remnants of the Northern Yuan have been severely weakened, they still frequently harass the border.

Liaodong is located on the frontier and is an important defense line against the Northern Yuan and the Jurchen.

In the past, communication between various places in Liaodong relied mainly on narrow and rugged mountain roads, which made information transmission slow and troop movements inconvenient.

Once the Northern Yuan cavalry attacks, it is often difficult to quickly organize an effective defense.

This newly built road is wide and flat.

The army can march quickly, and supplies can be delivered in a timely manner.

This will greatly enhance Liaodong's defensive capabilities.
It won't be so easy for the Northern Yuan cavalry to invade again.

This is a scene that even the imperial court would very much like to see.

Since that's the case, it wouldn't be difficult to ask the imperial court for some funds to repair the road.
The imperial court should provide at least 100,000 taels of silver. Adding the two together, that leaves a shortfall of 100,000 taels.

Lord Pan, don't forget, this matter also benefits Da Ning.

The final 100,000 taels came from the Da Ning Military Commandery.

Upon hearing this, a hint of excitement flashed in Pan Jing's eyes.

"May I ask, Lord Lu, if we really need to repair the road, how long will it take?"

"Well, if there is enough money and supplies, the construction period may be around three years."

So, as long as you have a few hundred thousand taels, you can probably start construction.

Seeing his excitement, Lu Yunyi led him to the map.

Pointing to the four locations on the map—Beijing, Daning, Liaodong, and Goryeo—he said:

"Lord Pan, please take a look. The four places are geographically connected."
If this road can be built, forming a vast trade network,

Even if it can't compare to the prosperous Jiangnan region,

But compared to places like Henan and Shandong, it's still good enough.

By then, will it matter whether we're still outside the Great Wall?

Pan Jing looked at the map, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"May I ask, Lord Lu, what is the meaning of this?"

Lu Yunyi laughed, looking at the map with a sigh:

"Lord Pan will find out when he arrives in Liaodong."

Whether they were ordinary citizens or officials, they were very resentful about the fact that the city was located outside the pass, and their hearts were not with the city.

Because if the grasslands are strong, and then some troubles occur within the country...
All areas outside the Great Wall must be abandoned.
How can anyone feel at ease staying here when life is so uncertain?

As one of the first generals to go to Liaodong, Pan Jing was well aware of this matter and nodded slightly.

"Back then, I was still young when I followed Marquis Wuding to Liaodong to be stationed."

Aside from eating and drinking, the thing I think about most during the day is going home.
I always felt that Liaodong was bad and unsafe.

It's probably because it's located outside the Great Wall and could be abandoned at any time.

Lu Yunyi's expression was solemn. He was from outside the Great Wall and didn't have this feeling before.

But he was fully aware of the thoughts of those people from inside the Great Wall.

After a moment's hesitation, he said in a deep voice:
"Lord Pan, as long as trade between Da Ning and Liaodong flourishes, its importance to the nation will be comparable to that of Henan and Shandong."
Could the imperial court possibly abandon the lands beyond the Great Wall?

If Da Ning were still the same as before, with only a few cities, a few dilapidated official roads, and some garrisons...

The imperial court showed absolutely no remorse in abandoning it.

Pan Jing's expression turned serious. Although these words were directed at Da Ning, Liaodong also had this concern.

If Liaodong did not have enough iron ore,

It seems the imperial court doesn't even want to spend money on military expenses to defend against the Jurchens.

"But developing commerce and making a place prosperous is easier said than done."

Pan Jing suddenly felt somewhat dejected, and his excitement about taking office as a new official had dissipated considerably.

At this point, all we face are difficulties.

"You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. There is no such thing as instant success."

If we don't take advantage of the fact that Beiyuan is still around,

As the dynasty becomes more stable and the Northern Yuan dynasty declines...
Will the officials in the court still pay such huge sums of military expenses every year?

Why would they be willing to send money from Jiangnan, Jiangxi, and Zhili to the area beyond the Great Wall?

Pan Jing broke out in a cold sweat. He had been in the capital for a long time and knew some secrets.

Let alone the troops outside the pass, even the troops inside Puzikou City...
Both the common people and the court officials were very dissatisfied.

They believed that now that the world was at peace, there was no need to maintain so many elite troops.

Having figured this out, Pan Jing understood something.
Why is this Lord Lu working so hard to repair the road?

They even went so far as to do business with the people of the grasslands.

They may seem to be doing anything to make money, but in reality, they're just trying to save their own lives.

"Road construction is a must."

"Lord Lu is right, it was I who did not understand."

(End of this chapter)