In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 861 Military orders in the field may be disregarded
Lu Yunyi and Pan Jing studied in the yamen office for a long time.
Finally, we decided to go to the construction site to take a look.

So the two adults led their entourage out of the city and headed west.

The endless construction sites are a sight to behold.
Moreover, some of them were covered in mud.
But the laborers and common people had smiles on their faces.

After wandering around for a while, the group soon arrived at the construction site, which was more than 30 miles away from Daning City, and it was almost sunset.

Pan Jing rode his warhorse and watched as the laborers began to clean up the mess, preparing to end their day's work.

Even from a distance, one can feel an atmosphere of national peace and prosperity.

Such a situation was only observed in Zhili (present-day Hebei Province) along the way.

Pan Jing and the others entered the construction site and randomly found a large tent to rest in.

Food was delivered from the construction site canteen.

The group decided to grab a quick bite before heading back.

Pan Jing looked at the pork stew with cabbage in the rice bowl with some surprise:

"Is this food from the construction site?"

Lu Yunyi took the two jugs of ice water from Gong Xianzhi and handed one over:
"It's food from the construction site. I specifically asked them to serve it as usual."

If Lord Pan doesn't believe me, he can go and see for himself in the tents nearby; they're all eating this.

Pan Jing nodded in realization, picked up a piece of fatty meat with his chopsticks, and
Looking around, he said with some emotion:

"No wonder there were very few rebellions in the Beiping Military Command last year."

The laborers who built the road all received meat.

Anyone who rebels again would be utterly ungrateful.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Lu Yunyi smiled and explained:

"There are still some traitors, but they are all instigated by others."

Daning is currently creating a fish scale pattern book.

Some people dislike this and create obstacles, often inciting people to take up knives and kill each other.

However, since most of the elite troops of the military command were stationed at construction sites and workshops, and the operation was not large enough to cause chaos, no report was submitted to the imperial court.

Pan Jing took a bite of cabbage and shook his head:

"Lord Lu, there are also instances of concealment in various places."

Let alone a rebellion of dozens of people, even a rebellion of over a hundred people can be dealt with as long as it is dealt with in a timely manner.

The regional military commands and provincial administration commissioners will all exert pressure on it; Daming is undoubtedly the most peaceful place in the Ming Dynasty.

Lu Yunyi simply smiled, without being overly modest.

With such a large project underway,

If one person working can support a family, then something strange would happen.

"Well, has Lord Pan made up his mind?"
It's okay to have some concerns; we can continue watching tomorrow.
Anyway, this construction site stretches for hundreds of miles, and there are people everywhere.

Pan Jing shook his head:

"Lord Lu, things have already come to this point, is there any need to continue watching?"

Road construction is a matter that benefits both the government and the people.
Especially for officials like us, it's an extremely profitable venture; how could I possibly refuse?

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi frowned, put down his chopsticks, and waved to the guard standing beside him:
"You guys go out first."

"Yes!"

The guards left the camp.

Seeing this, Pan Jing's expression also became somewhat solemn. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and waited quietly.

Once the curtains of the camp had fallen, Lu Yunyi spoke softly:
"Lord Pan, as you surely know, matters on the frontier are extremely complex."

Not only must the balance between the imperial court and local authorities be maintained,

They also had to appease some outsiders, making it extremely difficult to get anything done.

Pan Jing nodded solemnly:
"Most of the adults in the border towns initially had the ambition to make a name for themselves and achieve great things."
However, once they arrive in the border regions, they are often bogged down by trivial matters, needlessly wasting their energy.
Gradually, I became complacent and just let things slide.
If you seek neither merit nor fault, nothing will be accomplished.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunyi felt that...
The Lord Pan before me is a clever man, not as taciturn as the rumors in the capital suggest.

"Lord Pan, among the important border towns, besides the Duogan Commandery and the Wusizang Commandery..."

Liaodong is arguably the most complex region.

The Northern Yuan, Jurchen, Goryeo, and Japan were all present, and various forces were mixed together.

Aside from being tough, it's extremely difficult to do anything.

If roads were to be built, Liaodong would have to come up with at least 100,000 taels of silver.

I wonder how much time Lord Pan intends to take to balance things out both internally and externally.
How much time do you plan to spend raising this amount of money?

Pan Jing fell silent.

He was a former subordinate of Marquis Wuding, and had many acquaintances in the Liaodong Military Command.
But it's unclear when we'll truly be in control.

After all, the most unpredictable thing in this world is the human heart.

No one knows what has become of the brothers from the past.

After a long pause, Pan Jing gritted his teeth:

"The money will be in place within one year!"

Lu Yunyi smiled and shook his head:

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war. Da Ning is preparing to begin trial operation of the newly built 150-li official road next month."

By the end of the year, with cars coming and going, you should be able to tell what the road conditions are like.
It's possible that preparations for the Liaodong road project will begin at the start of next year.
A year is too long.

Pan Jing's face stiffened: "So fast?"

Lu Yunyi gave a wry smile:
"Time waits for no one. News from the capital indicates that His Highness the Crown Prince is preparing to go to Guanzhong."
Once the capital relocation actually begins, all the court's money will go to Shanxi; how could we possibly have any left?

"what?"

Pan Jing stared at him in utter shock, his pupils contracting to their maximum size.

"The letter from the Duke of Cao is absolutely true."
If the trade routes are not opened up before the capital is moved,
"The imperial court will then focus all its attention on the Northwest, leaving the Northeast as an unwanted stepchild."

Pan Jing suddenly became nervous.

If he goes to Liaodong just to get by, then there's no need to worry.

But he was still young, and he went to Liaodong to make a name for himself.
How can we just stand by and watch our achievements slip through our fingers?

However, the situation inside Liaodong must be extremely complex.
The year I just mentioned is already his limit.

Normally, it takes at least two years for a local official to take office, from initial arrival to gaining control of the situation.

Pan Jing's expression turned extremely grave.

At this moment, Lu Yunyi slightly raised his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"Lord Pan, I have a way to get the money in quickly."
Moreover, it won't involve the many powerful figures within Liaodong.

Pan Jing suddenly raised his head, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints, and asked impatiently:
"what?"

Lu Yunyi leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said seriously:

"Lord Pan, the solution lies in Goryeo."

Pan Jing was slightly taken aback, his brows furrowed instantly, and his eyes were full of doubt:
"Goryeo? What do you mean?"

"Goryeo is now in dire straits, with Yi Seong-gye usurping power and the domestic situation in turmoil."

Pan Jing narrowed his eyes slightly and fell into deep thought.

After a while, a hint of inquiry appeared in his eyes:
"Lord Lu, Goryeo is now in dire straits itself. Could it be that you have some brilliant plan?"

Lu Yunyi smiled slightly and spoke calmly:
"Lord Pan, do you still remember the Goryeo envoy Wang Junping that I mentioned to you this morning?"

Pan Jing nodded slightly and said:
"Of course I remember that the Koreans came to the Ming Dynasty seeking help."
They hope we will send troops to help them quell Yi Seong-gye's rebellion.

Lu Yunyi nodded slightly and said:

"That's right, Wang Junping came here today to seek help."

This completely exposed the predicament of the Goryeo royal family.

Now that Yi Seong-gye holds power in Goryeo, he is ruthlessly eliminating members of the royal family.
Wang Junping and his companions fled to the Ming Dynasty, but they had nowhere else to turn.

In order to protect their status and lives, the Goryeo royal family would inevitably try every means to seek external assistance.

We can then use this to negotiate a deal with them.

A hint of curiosity flashed in Pan Jing's eyes, and he sat up slightly:

"A deal?" Lu Yunyi stood up and paced inside the tent, speaking as he pondered:
"Lord Pan, although Goryeo's national strength is limited, its resources are still quite abundant."

Specialty products such as fur, ginseng, and deer antlers are extremely popular in the interior of China.

Moreover, the Goryeo royal family had been in power for hundreds of years, so they must have accumulated some wealth.

If we can seize this opportunity, using the condition of sending troops to intimidate Yi Seong-gye,

"What do you think, Lord Pan, about having the Goryeo royal family contribute some money to fund our road repairs?"

Pan Jing was shocked on the spot, his heart pounding.

"Lord Lu, sending troops is no small matter."
The imperial court has just ended its conflict with the Northern Yuan and needs to recuperate.

If we were to send troops again now because of the Goryeo affair,

This might incur dissatisfaction from the court, and then we'd be in a very bad position.

Lu Yunyi chuckled and gave him a look:
"Lord Pan, you and I are both military commanders."
"If a general in the field may disobey orders, must the imperial court be informed?"

Pan Jing's hair stood on end, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He discovered that, regarding this adult's courage,
He underestimated them; they even dared to think of deploying troops without authorization!

"Lord Lu, be careful what you say. This matter cannot be done or spoken of."

Moreover, Yi Seong-gye was no ordinary person.
Whether we can successfully deter him if we rashly send troops is still unknown.

If the military campaign fails, not only will it damage the prestige of our Great Ming Dynasty, but we will also be in a very difficult position.

Lu Yunyi stopped and turned around to look at Pan Jing:

"What Lord Pan said is absolutely right; there are indeed risks involved in sending troops."

But we do not intend to actually wage war against Yi Seong-gye.
Simply make a show of sending troops to deter him.

When Yi Seong-gye usurped the throne, there were bound to be many opposing forces within the country.

Although he held great power, his foundation was not solid.

If at this time they learned that the Ming Dynasty had sent troops.
He would inevitably worry that domestic opposition forces would join forces with the Ming Dynasty and pose a threat to him.

Under these circumstances, he would inevitably restrain his actions and dare not easily take action against the Goryeo royal family.

"And the Goryeo royal family, in order to prolong their existence and live a couple more years, could they really survive without paying money?"

Pan Jing frowned, stunned on the spot.
A moment later, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

It must be said that this statement makes a lot of sense.
Yi Seong-gye was a man who was all bark and no bite, and he was terrified of the Ming soldiers.

However, Pan Jing still felt that this matter was inappropriate.

"Lord Lu, this cannot be done."

"If this unauthorized deployment of troops were to become known to others, the court would be in uproar."

Lu Yunyi ignored what he said, and instead walked to the map, pointing to the border between Goryeo and Liaodong:
"The area bordering Goryeo and Liaodong is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack."

As long as some additional troops are deployed to the border areas,
They adopted a posture of being ready to send troops at any time.

At the same time, we dispatched envoys to Goryeo to convey our stance to Yi Seong-gye.

Let him know that if he continues to exterminate the Goryeo royal family, the Ming Dynasty will not stand idly by.

In this way, Yi Seong-gye will surely be wary and dare not act rashly.

Neither you nor I sent troops.

It's merely a defense measure taken to prevent chaos.

Pan Jing looked thoughtful, and after a long while...
He stood up abruptly, his hands unconsciously gripping the hem of his shirt, his eyes filled with determination:

"Lord Lu, this is absolutely unacceptable!!"

Once we start fighting, it will put both of us in a situation of utter destruction!

Even if it solves the immediate problem, if the truth comes out later, it will be a capital offense.

It will also implicate family members and relatives.

This price is too high; I really dare not accept it!

Lu Yunyi remained composed, then a faint smile appeared on his lips as he gently shook his head.

"Lord Pan, please don't get so agitated. I was just suggesting an idea."

Since Lord Pan deems this plan unfeasible, then so be it.

Pan Jing finally breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down in his chair, and still looked a little scared.
"Lord Lu, it's not that I want to offend you."
However, this matter is far too dangerous; if one goes astray, there will be no redemption.

While road construction is urgent, such risky actions are unacceptable.

Lu Yunyi walked to the table, picked up the bowl, took a sip of soup, and said calmly:

"What Lord Pan said makes sense; I had not considered it carefully."

But time waits for no one; the newly built official road in Daning is about to be put into trial operation.

If successful, the imperial court will inevitably place even greater emphasis on the development of trade routes.
At that time, all the provinces within the Great Wall will be watching with eager eyes.

If Liaodong remains stagnant, it will be left far behind.

We can afford to wait, but the people of Liaodong cannot. We urge Lord Pan to raise the funds as soon as possible upon his return.”

Pan Jing felt a sudden surge of nervousness for no apparent reason and quickly nodded:

"Rest assured, Lord Lu, I will do my utmost."

The two returned to the table and silently finished their meal.

After the meal, Pan Jing got up to take his leave and went to the construction site again with a few attendants.

Lu Yunyi sat in the chair, his eyes slightly closed, lost in thought.

After a while, the tent curtain was gently lifted, and Gong Xianzhi walked in.

"Sir, has it been accomplished?"

Lu Yunyi shook his head slightly, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:
"Lord Pan refused, and his attitude was quite vehement."
He felt the plan was too dangerous and dared not take the risk.

Gong Xianzhi frowned, a hint of disappointment on his face:
"My lord, isn't this Lord Pan far too cowardly?"

Such a great opportunity shouldn't be missed; it would be a shame to let it slip away.

Lu Yunyi smiled meaningfully:
"Lord Pan has his concerns. Sending troops without authorization is indeed a violation of the imperial law."

It's understandable that he wouldn't want to cause unnecessary trouble since he'd just arrived in Liaodong.

Gong Xianzhi followed behind Lu Yunyi and said:

"Sir, shall we just leave it at that? The funds for road construction in Liaodong are still nowhere to be found."

"Don't be impatient. There's nothing I can't do if I want to. Lord Pan will agree sooner or later."

Gong Xianzhi laughed:
"Your calculations are flawless."

"The situation in Liaodong is complex, and the imperial court is unwilling to provide Liaodong with enough money and grain. Even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice."
Lord Pan harbored a desire for revenge and wanted to achieve something great.

But in this remote region, you can't move an inch without money.

If he has no other way to make money, he will have no choice but to cooperate with this official.

Lu Yunyi stared intently at the map and spoke confidently.

"My lord, is it possible that Lord Pan is just going through the motions?" Gong Xianzhi's expression was strange.

"No, this time the position of Commander-in-Chief was snatched from someone else."
If you don't achieve results, you'll have to go back in a few years, and your position won't be secure.

At this point, Lu Yunyi curled his lip:
"Furthermore, if Lord Pan truly has no intention of taking any action..."

Then we'll eat this piece of meat ourselves.
From Daning to Liaodong, there's enough food to feed tens of thousands of able-bodied men for several more years.

Gong Xianzhi's eyes widened:
"Sir, we're using our money to repair roads for others."

"Hey, what are you saying? This is a road we built for ourselves."

Now that you've made money, you shouldn't keep it; you should spend it quickly.

Lu Yunyi looked at Basong standing at the door and smiled:
"Did you understand, Basong?"

Basong nodded repeatedly: "I understand, sir!"

Although he didn't know why he was doing it.
But given the state of his hometown, it's better to listen to the adults than to listen to others.
He had personally witnessed the changes in Da Ning.
From lifelessness to vigor, it only took a short year.

Lu Yunyi turned around and patted Gong Xianzhi on the shoulder:

"The more you learn and observe, the more composed you'll be when you can stand on your own in the future."
Let's go check out the construction site; we'll head back after dark.

(End of this chapter)