In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 879 You should strive harder, a letter from Goryeo.
Stepping out of the clinic, Lu Yunyi shrugged helplessly.

It was only because Lady Liu kept nagging beside him.

Compared to having grandchildren a few years later, it is obviously more important for a son to live longer.

"Son, your father and I worry about you all day long. We wonder if you can manage, and if you'll get tired."

I never expected you to be so promising; you've really made me proud. My love for you hasn't been wasted."

“Mother, I am exhausted from working hard on government affairs all day long. You may as well not believe what the doctor says.”

Lady Liu clearly did not intend to believe him, and instead said:

“I’ve inquired about him. He’s a famous doctor on the grasslands, and he’s highly regarded in the city. Even Black Hawk says he’s very skilled.”

Speaking of Black Hawk, Liu seemed to remember something and leaned closer:
"Son, that lad from the Black Hawk family is really strong, his flesh is all segmented."

When you grow up, I'll have a big, healthy son too!

Lu Yunyi's expression was extremely strange. What kind of talk was that?!

"I, a dignified commander-in-chief, am not yet grown up!"

"Alright, alright, Mother, you should go back now. I need to go to the yamen."

"Going to the yamen again? Aren't we all on holiday? What are you doing there?" Madam Liu was very displeased!
"Mother, I'm no longer one of those petty officials."
If the commander-in-chief is not stationed at the yamen, and something happens, there will be no one to take care of things, which could easily lead to trouble!

"Yeah."

Madam Liu smiled and patted Lu Yunyi's head:

“My son is a high-ranking official now; I almost forgot about him.”

"Pfft."

Qiuhe behind her couldn't help but burst out laughing.

When Liu turned around, she quickly shut her mouth and pretended that nothing had happened.

Soon, Madam Liu and Qiuhe boarded the carriage and swayed away, heading towards the Lu residence.

Lu Yunyi stood at the street corner, looking at the revitalized Daning City.

He sighed and shook his head helplessly.

At this moment, Gong Xianzhi, who had been waiting to the side, stepped forward, his eyes darting around, and whispered:
"My lord, I just saw Asir. It seems he was moving house."

"where?"

Lu Yunyi quickly remembered who this person was and asked.

Gong Xianzhi pointed to an alley not far away:
"I just saw a horse-drawn carriage enter the alley over there. It was loaded with furniture, so they must be moving."

Lu Yunyi laughed, not at all surprised that Asir was able to move so quickly.
I even felt it was a bit late.

With Asir's salary and the rewards from several missions, he should have been able to buy a new house long ago.

Lu Yunyi was very satisfied with this level of reliability.

"They're out, sir!"

Gong Xianzhi's voice suddenly rose as he looked ahead.

Lu Yunyi looked in the direction he was looking and saw a young man walking out of a cart, which was empty.

After speaking with the driver, Asir stood at the alley entrance, hands on his hips.
Looking around, as if waiting for the next vehicle.

However, Lu Yunyi's eyes quickly met Asir's!
Asir, who was some distance away, was taken aback.
He had an excellent memory; with just a quick thought in his mind, he knew who the person in front of him was.

Lord Lu?
He suddenly tensed up, his whole body stiffened, and he hesitated whether to step forward and pay his respects.

But soon, Asir gave up his inner struggle.
Because that "highly respected" adult was waving at him with a smile.

Asir suddenly became nervous, straightened his clothes, and slowly walked up.

As he approached, his voice trembled, and he bowed deeply.
"Asir greets Lord Lu."

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"know me?"

"Your Excellency, everyone in the city knows you."

Where have you seen me before?

“It was at the construction site before the New Year when you and the officials from the government came to inspect the site. I was in the crowd at the time.”

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"Your memory is good. If I remember correctly..."
"You must be the surveying team leader of the advance team, right? It was your idea to change course at Baicao Mountain last time."

Asir was taken aback, then his eyes lit up with surprise, and he nodded quickly:
"Does the adult remember the child?"

"Hahaha, of course I remember. I also know that you started as a laborer and worked your way up to the front of the construction site, where you joined the surveying team."

Asir was stunned. He couldn't understand why such an important person would know about his past.

"Your Majesty"

"Don't panic, the Commandery is currently in dire need of talent."
It would be absurd if the Commander-in-Chief couldn't discover someone as diligent and hardworking as you.

"Work hard from now on. The capital has a lot of roads to repair, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to make money."

"Yes, sir! I will do my job well and live up to the expectations of the commander."

Lu Yunyi stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and turned to leave with a smile.

Asir stood at the street corner, watching the carriage slowly disappear down the street.

Only then did he belatedly realize that he had actually met such a grown man!
"call"

For some reason, Asir suddenly felt an urge to die for a friend who understands him!
This feeling intensified, especially when he looked back at the deep alley and saw the half-open gate.

The carriage came to a stop at the entrance of the military headquarters.

Lu Yunyi stepped down from the carriage and stood on the street. He looked left and right.
There were few people on both sides, and only three or five people were walking around, a far cry from the usual bustling scene.

The massive military headquarters stood on the street, yet it also appeared somewhat desolate.

"grown ups!"

Lu Yunyi nodded and stepped inside.

The doors to the offices on either side of the main hall were tightly closed.
The door to the main hall was slightly ajar, and a faint candlelight could be seen inside.

Lu Yunyi walked through the corridor, passed through the main hall, and arrived at the rear office.

This place is more lively than the previous one.
Candles were lit in the offices of all the military commanders, and guards stood at the entrances.

Seeing this, Lu Yunyi sighed softly.
The higher one's official rank, the less freedom one has.

Back in the office, before he could even sit down,

Liu Heiying rushed in, his face already showing an eagerness to hear gossip.

"Brother Yun'er, how was it? Wasn't that doctor amazing?"

Lu Yunyi sat down and nodded almost imperceptibly:
"Indeed quite impressive, even though they are from the grasslands."
But when he talks about the *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), he can rattle off a whole bunch of things, some of which I haven't even read.

"Right? I went to check last time, and it was very accurate."

He also prescribed two nourishing formulas for me, saying they would regulate my liver and kidneys and help me lose weight!

Liu Heiying stood up excitedly, smoothing his clothes with his palms, trying his best to look slim.

"How are you? Have you lost weight?"

"I've lost weight."

Lu Yunyi didn't even look up as he responded.

He then picked up the few documents on the table and began to read them with some relish.
"Brother Yun'er, you didn't even see it!"

"What's so interesting about it? Don't be too thin. Being too thin will put you at a disadvantage on the battlefield."

Liu Heiying pursed his lips, sat down across the table, and sighed somewhat resentfully:
"Right now, it's difficult for us to even wage war."
We can only hope that those grassland people in the north are blind and overestimating their own abilities!

"It's unlikely they'll amount to much. They're a long way from becoming a force to be reckoned with, but we can't let our guard down."

In my opinion, Bayar is not a simple person.
These past few days, he's been traveling all over the city, chatting with everyone he meets; he has a wide social circle.

Liu Heiying's expression was somewhat solemn. He admitted that he had underestimated Bayar before.

Lu Yunyi didn't even look up, and chuckled softly:
"Having an enemy in the north is not a bad thing."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Xianzhi, who was adding charcoal to the fire not far away, paused, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he quickly understood what he meant.

Liu Heiying frowned, making no attempt to hide it:
"Brother Yun'er, are you trying to protect yourself by keeping a bandit as a pet?"

"Heh." Lu Yunyi chuckled.
"Which border general who wants to gain support from the court doesn't harbor bandits to enhance his own power?"

Of course, I'm also afraid that if we wipe out the enemy too completely, some people will start spreading rumors.

Saying things like "the Northern Yuan is nothing to fear" or "we can fight anyone" is foolish. Let's keep some people around." At this point, Lu Yunyi paused in his scanning of the documents, then smiled.

"The Jurchens from the three regions were utterly defeated by the allied forces; their homelands were all captured."

Immediately, someone in the court said such foolish things as, "The Jurchens are nothing to fear; anyone could win."

They don't even consider that winning a war isn't difficult.

The difficulty lies in how to fight the most brilliant battle with the least amount of money.

"The most difficult thing is that in this battle, Liaodong and Daming were not affected; everyone could continue with their normal work."

"That makes sense; you have to stretch every penny you have."

Liu Heiying nodded in deep agreement.

"So, let the grassland people north of Quanningwei fight amongst themselves."

Only when a truly unified major tribe emerges will we be able to take it seriously.

For a dynasty of our size, external threats have never been the most important issue; internal threats are the top priority.

Lu Yunyi said thoughtfully, the meaning of which was intriguing.

Gong Xianzhi handed over two cups of tea and then respectfully withdrew.

Liu Heiying picked up the teacup, warmed it in his hands, and asked:

"Brother Yun'er, has the situation changed?"

I don't know if things will change, but lately I've been feeling a bit uneasy.
The crown prince is surveying the terrain in Shanxi, far from the emperor's reach. If something unexpected happens to him, it could be disastrous.

The warm, moist air in the room seemed to vanish all at once!
Liu Heiying's expression changed drastically:
"Brother Yun'er, you can't say that! Be careful, the walls may have ears!"

"Don't worry, Dusi is confident. Just don't say anything at home."

Lu Yunyi leaned back, gently rubbed his temples, and said softly:

"Has the court responded to our memorial requesting the establishment of the Three Departments?"

"Not yet, but judging by the time it should be soon." Liu Heiying shook his head.

"However, it seems that news from Goryeo is on its way."

"what?"

Lu Yunyi was taken aback, and looked up somewhat blankly:

"Why so fast?"

Liu Heiying leaned closer and lowered his voice:
"It's not news from the Goryeo royal family, but from Yi Seong-gye."

News came from Liaodong that Suzhou, Chushan, and Yizhou in Ping'an Circuit...
There were signs of troop movements, which was likely Yi Seong-gye's reaction after the Goryeo royal family sent a letter last time.

My guess is that since Yi Seong-gye has already begun mobilizing troops, the news must be coming soon. We can't just start fighting without any prior discussion.

Lu Yunyi looked enlightened:
When did the news arrive?

"Half an hour ago, the urgent military intelligence from Liaodong was being verified."

The messenger also told me
Lord Pan's injuries have improved slightly, but he remains bedridden and it will likely take some more days for him to fully recover.

Lu Yunyi nodded, his expression somewhat solemn, and said in a deep voice:

"Li Chenggui acted swiftly, mobilizing troops simultaneously in three locations, which speaks volumes."
He could at least completely control the political power within Goryeo.

The chances of the royal family turning the tide in this crisis are extremely slim.

Liu Heiying, his expression equally grave, nodded in agreement:
"Should we cooperate with Yi Seong-gye? We'll make money anyway."

"Cooperating with the royal family is the best option, as Goryeo is a vassal state."

As generals of the Ming Dynasty, we must uphold legitimacy to prevent others from finding fault with us in the future.

"Still finding fault? With all this arrangement, who could possibly notice anything wrong?"

Liu Heiying's expression was somewhat strange.

"There's no need to find out. For the officials of the court, suspicion is the truth. There's no need to look for evidence."

"Then all our preparations will have been for nothing?"

"What needs to be done will always be done; as long as it looks presentable, that's enough."

Lu Yunyi spoke slowly,

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and the voice of the bodyguard Hu Xiaowu came from outside:

"My lord, a letter has arrived from Goryeo!"

Upon hearing this, the two men's eyes widened, and they abruptly stood up.

After exchanging a glance, they both saw the shock in each other's eyes!

So fast!
Before long, Lu Yunyi had a letter in his hand.
He spread it out on the table, and Liu Heiying squeezed to the side, frowning as he looked at it.

"The royal family has already arrived in Dingzhou! They've acted very quickly!"

Lu Yunyi nodded solemnly:

"Yes, they are all quite formidable. The Goryeo royal family still possesses considerable resources."

Judging by the timeline, the money probably set off as soon as the first letter was sent.

Seeing that we wouldn't agree, they sent this second letter.

"Hmm, otherwise there's no way to explain the silver reaching the border of Goryeo."

Is it possible that the royal family is deceiving us, and that no silver was actually sent to Dingzhou, but rather they are lying about having it?

"It's possible, but unlikely."
"Once they offend us, the Goryeo royal family is doomed, and Yi Seong-gye will surely usurp the throne!"

Lu Yunyi spoke with unwavering resolve.

The Goryeo royal family's letters were simple: the silver was in Jeongju.
However, because Suzhou, which is adjacent to it, is a border town,

Unable to cross the border defenses, they had to go and retrieve it themselves, and incidentally, to intimidate Yi Seong-gye!
This will allow their royal family to survive for a while longer.

Lu Yunyi narrowed his eyes slightly; this action had another purpose.
This was an attempt to sever any possibility of cooperation between Myongji and Yi Seong-gye.

After all, they've already brought troops into the country.
The possibility of going along with the corrupt practices is greatly reduced, which can be seen as a measure taken by the royal family to protect themselves.

Moreover, judging from the speed at which this document was delivered and the speed at which the silver was allocated,

The Goryeo royal family is facing a life-or-death crisis.
Even a slight delay could prevent them from ever turning back.

That's why they so hastily grabbed onto a straw as a lifeline.

After thinking for a long time, Lu Yunyi handed the letter back:

"Reseal it and send it to Wang Junping to see his reaction."

"it is good!"

Liu Heiying nodded, took the letter, and quickly left.

Not long after, about 15 minutes later, Wang Junping rushed into the military headquarters with a flustered expression.

"My lord, my lord!!"

At the entrance of the yamen, without even announcing his arrival, he shouted loudly, and the guards let him in.
Upon entering the yamen, Wang Junping knelt down without saying a word:
"My lord, please save my king! Yi Seong-gye is about to make his move!!"

As he spoke, he held the letter high and handed it back.
Lu Yunyi pretended not to have read it before, glanced through it, and asked:

"The money came so quickly? Could there be a trap?"

"My lord, things have reached such a critical juncture that further monetary aid from His Majesty is of no use now."

If it could get the Ming army to intervene, then it would be worthwhile.

Please trust His Majesty! Trust the Royal Family!

Wang Junping sobbed uncontrollably, then spoke with a resounding voice:
"My lord, I swear on my life, the money is currently in Dingzhou City."
If you go there, you're sure to find it!

If not, I'll risk my life to get you the silver!

"My lord, please have mercy and save the emperor."

Wang Junping kowtowed repeatedly, and after spending the Spring Festival in Daning City...

Only then did he truly understand what it means to return to one's roots.

Living abroad, without family or friends by my side, I can't shake off the loneliness despite indulging in food and drink every day.

Lu Yunyi sat behind his desk, holding the letter in his hand, silently looking at him, and said calmly:
"I will be visiting relatives in Liaodong in a few days, and I will deal with your matter then."

Wang Junping suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with wild joy:
"Thank you, thank you, sir!"

(End of this chapter)