In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 884 Traveling Together, Liaodong Military Command

Ten days later, heavy snow blocked the mountain pass.

The vast expanse of white snow swept past, covering the official road so completely that it was impossible to see any trace of it.

The convoy transporting money and grain to Liaodong never stopped in the wind and snow, forging ahead despite the elements.

Yu Xin put on a thick cotton-padded coat and did not sit in the carriage.
Instead, he got off the carriage and pushed hard against the side of the box, thus saving the warhorse some energy.

But he was ultimately a frail scholar, and within half an hour of coming out, his hands were already frozen and numb.

In the end, he still felt that his palms were warm.

"Sir, please get into the carriage. You can't be of much help outside, so we'll have to take care of you."

Qianhu Chengjun rode his horse to the central position.

Seeing Yu Xin outside the car, he felt a wave of dizziness and cursed inwardly, thinking that this was just making things worse.

Yu Xin kept shaking his head:

"My brothers are all outside, how can I hide in the carriage?"

"Hurry up and get in, we need to speed things up!"
The wind will lessen once we get past this ravine; adults won't be able to keep up.

Cheng Jun didn't waste any words with him. He waved his hand, and two soldiers stepped forward and stuffed Yu Xin into the carriage.

Cheng Jun shouted from outside:
"The vanguard has discovered traces of the Da Ning Commandery's chariots and horses. If we hurry, we might be able to catch up."

"Lord Yu, please sit tight inside and don't let anything go wrong."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin did not insist on getting off the bus.

Instead, he placed his numb hands on the stove, feeling its warmth, his face full of apprehension.
It's so cold.

As it accelerated, the carriage swayed and rocked more and more violently.
Looking out the window, Yu Xin saw a vast expanse of white between the two mountains, with visibility less than ten feet.
Occasionally, the black mountains appear and disappear, inspiring fear.

"This kind of place is no place for a human to stay."

He was from Wu County in the early Ming Dynasty, which is Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

You only see snow a limited number of times in your lifetime.
But they arrived outside the pass
He finally understood why the people of the northern grasslands were so determined to rush south.

In this kind of weather, staying even one more day would be a sin.

Amidst a flurry of complex thoughts, the cold wind outside the window abruptly ceased.

The world seemed to fall into a state of calm in an instant.

Yu Xin suddenly raised her head, lifted the curtain, and looked out the window.

At this moment, faint sounds came from outside the carriage:
"We've made it through, we're out of the valley."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin's expression softened, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.
He cherished the joy of surviving the ordeal.

At this moment, Cheng Jun rushed over again, speaking excitedly:
"My lord, we have spotted the Da Ning army three miles ahead."
The group, numbering over two thousand, was currently resting in a sheltered spot.

Yu Xin's eyes lit up immediately, and he hurriedly asked:

"Is that Lord Lu's group?"

"That should be correct, the scouts report. Of the more than two thousand men, nearly half are elite soldiers, and the rest are clerks and craftsmen."

"Hurry, hurry, full speed ahead! We'll catch up!"
In this freezing weather, traveling in groups is better than being all alone.

Cheng Jun nodded:

"Lord Yu, please be seated in the carriage. We shall hurry on our way."

After clearing the snow from the wheels and horses, the 500-strong caravan sped forward.

Finally, after half an hour,
We came across a campsite on the back of the hillside, with clusters of campfires and tents stretching out in rows.

Along both sides of the official road, over a hundred heavily armored soldiers, wielding long swords, stood with Ma Shuo.
Patrolling incessantly on both sides, the vast snowy landscape exuded a palpable sense of desolation.

Upon seeing this, Cheng Jun, who was at the very front of the convoy, slightly contracted his pupils.

Elite!

This is the elite border army!
That fearless demeanor in the face of the bitter cold pierced his eyes.

As a member of the Beijing Army, no matter how proud he was on ordinary days,
But when faced with such border troops, one can't help but feel ashamed of oneself.

Especially when they saw the soldiers in their own convoy,
Seeing their hunched backs and trembling bodies, he felt this even more strongly.

"Who is coming!"

Before he could react, over a hundred men had already rushed to the front lines.

Layer upon layer, in perfect order.

At the forefront were cavalrymen wielding long spears, followed by men carrying longbows.

Finally, there are the soldiers holding muskets, aiming their weapons.

Cheng Jun quickly dismounted, pulled a stack of documents from the sack, and shouted:
"We have come from the capital to transport silver to Liaodong. May I ask if Lord Lu is located ahead?"

Fifteen minutes later, Cheng Jun and Yu Xin were led by soldiers to the front of the camp.

Surrounded by layers of people, I saw a young figure sitting by the campfire.

A young figure, clad in armor, sat astride a wooden stump.

Holding a water bag, his gaze was fixed on the iron pot hanging in front of him, where several beef bones were bubbling and steaming.

Upon seeing him, the two involuntarily slowed their pace.
It was as if a natural force was blocking them from getting closer.

no the same,
The people in front of them felt completely different from the other soldiers; they were like dragons playing in the water, carefree and at ease.

Yu Xin had seen Lu Yunyi from afar in the capital.
That was when Yingtian Trading Company distributed profits.
He waited outside the trading company and glanced at it from afar.

If he was like a rich young master, then Lu Yunyi at this moment was a general who was fighting on the battlefield!
"My lord, they are coming."

The soldier cupped his hands in greeting and stood aside.

Lu Yunyi raised his head and looked the two of them over.

Then he shifted his gaze back to the iron pot where the food was being cooked, and a soft voice sounded:

"what is it call?"

"Your humble servant, Yu Xin, a junior official in the Beiping branch of the Ministry of Revenue, pays his respects to Lord Lu."

"This humble general, Cheng Jun, commander of the Leopard Wave Guard, greets Your Excellency!"

Lu Yunyi raised his head, looked at Yu Xin, and seemed to be deep in thought:
"You were the head of the Ministry of Revenue's expenditure department last year, weren't you?"
I saw your name on the document calculating the cost of the river embankment.

Yu Xin was somewhat surprised, not expecting that such an important figure had heard of his name, and quickly bowed.
"Your Excellency, last year I worked with Lord Fu to draft the financial documents for flood control in Henan. It was for this reason that I was honored by His Majesty and promoted."

Lu Yunyi nodded, then looked at Cheng Jun and smiled:
"I've seen your name before; it appeared in the ceremonial documents following the victory in the Northern Expedition."

Back then, you were a deputy commander of a thousand men, participating in the long spear formation, your position was the first in the second rank of the third column.

Cheng Jun stood there stunned, his whole body trembling with excitement, his voice trembling:

"My lord, you...you are right, this humble general is indeed in the spear formation."

"Heh," Lu Yunyi chuckled, tapping the wooden stake opposite him:
"Since we're all acquaintances, let's sit down. It's freezing cold, let's warm up here."

"Xianzhi, go and get two bowls and two kettles of hot water."

"Yes!"

The two were overjoyed and sat down cautiously.

As I received the bowl, chopsticks, and hot water bottle from the guard, a feeling of warmth welled up inside me.

I never expected Lord Lu to be so easy to talk to!
Cheng Jun hesitated for a moment, then spoke first:
"My lord, we have come here to escort the road repair funds, totaling 100,000 taels, to the Liaodong Military Command."

Yu Xin's eyes widened slightly. How could such a secret be revealed so carelessly!
However, he quickly came to terms with it.

The news that 100,000 taels of silver were on their way was probably a secret to other prefectures and the general public.

But for these kinds of people
Perhaps he already knew without their knowledge.

As expected, Lu Yunyi's expression remained calm, without even the slightest ripple.

He simply nodded slightly, said "thank you for your hard work," and then fell silent.

After the bones boiled, a guard handed over several large flatbreads.

Lu Yunyi tore it apart and threw it into the pot.
Soon the oily broth became thick and viscous, making it look extremely unappetizing.

Yu Xin looked at the iron pot, his lips slightly pursed, his face showing difficulty. Even Cheng Jun, who was standing next to him, twitched at the corner of his mouth.

A question arose in both of their minds at the same time.

Is this edible?

However, soon the two saw Lu Yunyi fill a large bowl, sprinkle some salt, and start eating it quickly.

They looked down at the porridge in their bowls and took a lot of courage to finally eat it.

After the first bite, Yu Xin was immediately struck by the distinctive muttony smell of beef and lamb.

There was even a faint smell of blood, which almost made him vomit. Although Cheng Jun also couldn't get used to it, he was still a soldier, so he ate it quickly.
The hope is to reduce the pain by increasing speed.

Lu Yunyi ate the fastest, in less than a quarter of an hour.
A large bowl of soup was devoured, and even the beef bones were gnawed clean.

He bent down, scooped out a large bowl of snow, shook it in it, and then poured it out.

After a few times
The oil stains on the bowl disappeared and it became clean again.

He looked at the two of them, who looked like they were about to die, and laughed:

"Since leaving Daning, we have been caught in a snowstorm."

We've been traveling at breakneck speed for over ten days, and it's been incredibly tiring. We haven't had much to eat, so please bear with us, gentlemen.

Yu Xin smiled and nodded, his expression awkward.
"We followed the adults closely as we left Daning City, and we also encountered this wind and snow."
Having just passed through the mountain pass, I thought I was going to lose my life there.

Lu Yunyi smiled and said nothing more.

Yu Xin and Cheng Jun looked around at the soldiers.

Seeing that they all looked travel-worn and distressed, I was deeply moved.

However, Yu Xin discovered that,
The soldiers around seemed even more exhausted; many were about to fall asleep while holding their rice bowls.

Could it be that the snowstorm was even stronger the past two days?
Cheng Jun could understand perfectly well. Maintaining a team of two thousand people in the wind and snow was much more difficult than maintaining a team of five hundred. It would be abnormal if they weren't tired.

After resting for a while, Lu Yunyi asked them about some things that had happened in the capital before standing up.

"Alright, let's hurry on our way while the snowstorm has stopped."
We're very close to Liaoyang City; we should arrive before midnight tonight.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding guards immediately dispersed, and the messenger quickly waved his flag.
The once quiet campsite suddenly became lively.

The group packed their luggage neatly and orderly, ready to set off again.

Lu Yunyi looked at Yu Xin and the other person and smiled:

"You should follow too. It's safer to have more people in this snowy weather. There are also many bandits in Liaodong during the winter."

"Yes!"

Yu and Xin bowed respectfully, then bid farewell and returned to their group.

Watching their retreating figures, a playful smile appeared on Lu Yunyi's lips, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Gong Xianzhi then approached, his expression somewhat strange:
"Sir, they're following behind. Won't they notice anything amiss?"

"Heh," Lu Yunyi chuckled, shaking his head with a smile.

"These are witnesses; they arrived at just the right time."

"Tell the brothers not to speak carelessly, continue onward, and be extremely vigilant once we reach Liaodong! Do not let your guard down!"

"Yes!"

The group set off again in a grand procession.
The long queue stretched out like a giant dragon in the snowy weather, heading deep into the heart of Liaodong.

Before we knew it, it was getting dark.

The moonlight struggled to break through the clouds.
The meager moonlight shines down, illuminating the path ahead.

The snow spread out on the official road, like layers of fine salt, reflected a bright light.

When you step on it, it makes a creaking sound.

The long line was extremely quiet.
Everyone silently absorbed the deathly silence.

An occasional gust of cold wind made people shrink their necks.

Approaching midnight, after making a sharp turn and rounding a high mountain,
I saw scattered lights in the sheltered area ahead.

Led by Qin Yuanfang, the scout team quickly relayed the news that someone was waiting to meet them at the front.
The formation subtly changed as the team moved forward.

From its original sharpness, it became weighty and substantial.
One by one, heavily armored soldiers stepped forward, followed by chariots carrying shields.

If an enemy attacks from the front,

They will dismount and defend as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, the scout teams scattered in all directions.

They quietly disappeared into the forests on both sides of the road, leaving only a few footprints behind them.

Lu Yunyi moved to the front of the group, holding a telescope, and gazed into the distance.

There were approximately two hundred people waiting.
Their clothing was all very similar: black armor, red helmets, and some bright flags.

"Sir, these are the welcoming personnel from the Liaodong Military Command!"

At this moment, a scout, having ascertained the news, rushed back in haste.

"Okay, order the whole team to speed up! Scouts should make contact ahead of time."

"Yes!"

In the welcoming party, Pan Jing stood at the very front, wrapped in a thick fur coat.

His face was still somewhat pale, and his eyes were exhausted.
Even a slight breeze could make him feel a chill.

Dozens of guards blocked both sides of the road to protect them from the cold wind.

Beside Pan Jing stood Zhou E, a military commander in his fifties.
His body was no longer hunched over, but stood straight, like a pine tree, unmoved in the face of the cold wind.

He looked at the long line of lights that was getting closer and closer at the end of his vision, his eyes deep-set.

The group of adults behind him exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions varied.

The atmosphere felt extremely strange.

"Lord Pan, Lord Lu has arrived with his men. I heard that the silver sent by the imperial court has also come along. The Liaodong road is about to truly begin."

Zhou E spoke slowly and meaningfully.

Pan Jing smiled and said, "Whether or not construction can begin depends on how well the government allocates resources."
This official only hopes that the imperial court will provide such strong support this time.

The Military Commandery can handle things well; if it can't, then it's truly shameful.

The two exchanged words, and the adults present all sensed a chill.

In recent days, the conflict between the two adults has reached a fever pitch.
They were unyielding in every place and in every government office, locked in a fierce confrontation, with neither able to gain the upper hand.

Even the most ordinary clerks in the government office knew that
They were at odds with each other.

Under these circumstances, it is already extremely rare that we can come here together to welcome them.

"coming."

After a while, Pan Jing smiled, looked ahead, pointed with his hand, and then looked at the guard beside him:

"Hel me over."

"Yes!"

Zhou E waved his sleeve and strode ahead, his voice booming:
"Lord Pan is injured, please walk slowly. I will go to greet you first!"

Then, the numerous officials behind them clearly separated and began to disperse within the crowd.

A group followed behind Zhou E, striding forward.

The other group followed behind Pan Jing, walking slowly with solemn expressions.

Lu Yunyi, holding a telescope, clearly saw this strange sight, and his expression turned odd.
Such a clear-cut struggle is truly rare.

He put down the telescope and gave the instructions:

"The central army retreats."

"Yes!"

During the march, the central army, which was originally at the front of the column, slowly retreated.

Meanwhile, the surrounding soldiers quickened their pace, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
The central army was like a stone in flowing water; though it did not move, the water quickly submerged it behind it.

The two groups met in the middle of the road. Zhou E looked at the tall, imposing horse standing ahead.

And his elite troops, their expressions were slightly solemn.

He had to admit that these soldiers were indeed far more elite than those in Liaodong.
The sheer number of new armor and weapons they carried was enough to set Liaodong apart.
No other reason than that I have no money.

Just people?

Zhou E looked around in the crowd but did not see that familiar figure.

Even after Pan Jing caught up, he still hadn't seen Lu Yunyi.

The two waited a while before the soldiers in front of them parted in an orderly fashion.

The torches were lit, illuminating the path, and Lu Yunyi walked out from the parted path.

Upon seeing the two, a smile instantly appeared on his face:

"Lord Pan, Lord Zhou, it's been a long time!"

(End of this chapter)