In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 885 Old Friends Reunited with the Liu Family of Liaodong
"Lord Lu, it's been almost half a year since we last met in Da Ning."

Pan Jing was the first to speak, and his cheerful demeanor surprised all the adults present.

So it turns out that Lord Pan also has such a hearty smile.

Lu Yunyi also laughed:
"Logically, he should have arrived long ago, but the commander has been busy with his duties and hasn't had the chance to come."

"I took advantage of the Chinese New Year holiday to come and discuss things, and also visit relatives."

"Very well! Lord Lu is practically one of us from Liaodong."

The commander will certainly treat you well this time.

"If Lord Lu is dissatisfied in any way, please speak up, and I will deal with them!"

"Hahaha, thank you very much, Lord Pan."

Lu Yunyi turned to Zhou E beside him and smiled:
"Lord Zhou, it's been almost two years since we last met. How are you?"

Zhou E straightened his back and patted his chest hard, making a loud thumping sound.

Then, he coughed lightly and said with a wry smile:
"I'm old, I can't keep up with you young people."
The last time I saw Lord Lu, he was in his prime; now he is even more so.

"You flatter me. I am honored by His Majesty's high regard. I am no match for a veteran like Lord Zhou who has served on the frontier for so long."

"Ah~ Lord Lu's deeds in Daning are renowned throughout the world, and we in Liaodong are extremely envious."

Now that Lord Lu has come, we must have a good discussion about how to repair this road.

To be honest, you've seen the official road in Liaodong, too.

When spring comes, the roads become even more muddy, and merchants are unwilling to travel there.

"If there were a main road, it would be much easier for Lord Lu to go home."

Everyone laughed, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Not far away, Yu Xin and Cheng Jun stood like lackeys, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Logically, they were imperial envoys transporting silver.

You'll receive courtesy wherever you go.

But today, she seems like a concubine who has been thrown into the cold palace.
None of the officials in the Liaodong Military Commandery ever bothered with it.

On the other side, Liu Hongzhong, the commander of the Dingliao Left Guard, was breathing heavily, his fists clenched.
A sense of inferiority quietly crept into my heart.

Although he said that Lu Yunyi was all thanks to his Liu family,

But when they actually met, they realized that, let alone him comparing...
Even compared to the two commanders, they were somewhat at a disadvantage.
Putting everything else aside, his youthful physique alone is enough to make countless people envious!
The group chatted and laughed, and Pan Jing pointed to the city behind them:

"Lord Lu, everything is arranged in the city. Brothers, hurry up and go into the city; it's cold outside."

"Yes, yes, it's getting late, and the wind is strong outside."
A welcoming banquet has been prepared at the government office; let's hurry over."

Zhou E also spoke with a smile.

Lu Yunyi looked up at the sky; heavy snow was falling.
The distant city of Liaoyang stood like a colossal figure at the edge of the horizon, shrouded in darkness.

"My lords, I will not be attending the welcoming banquet."
We've been rushing all this way and are exhausted, so let Yu Xin and Cheng Jun go.

They came all the way from Yingtian to bring silver; the Commander-in-Chief should at least offer them some hospitality.

"Alright, we can talk about it tomorrow!"

Pan Jing did not press the matter, but instead asked:
"Lord Lu, shall we stay at the post station tonight?"

Lu Yunyi laughed, scanning the crowd.

They quickly found Liu Hongzhong and pointed him out:

"I've been busy with official duties these past few years, and it's not easy for me to come all this way, so naturally I have to go home."

Zhou E turned around and saw Liu Hongzhong standing there, looking completely bewildered.

He waved his hand quickly:
"Come quickly, what are you standing there for? Take Lord Lu back to the manor to see Old Master Liu."

"Yes, yes." Liu Hongzhong stepped forward.

Lu Yunyi looked him up and down and smiled:

"Is he Liu Zixian's brother?"

Liu Hongzhong's face stiffened, and he nodded reluctantly:
"Yes"

"Is he still alive?"

Lu Yunyi asked with a smile, the meaning of which was thought-provoking, and the adults all looked on with strange expressions.

Liu Hongzhong's face turned extremely ugly.
"Alive."

"As long as you're alive, let's go."

After saying that, Lu Yunyi started chatting with the two adults beside him, ignoring Liu Hongzhong.

As they approached the city gate, Lu Yunyi took a small box from Gong Xianzhi and handed it to Pan Jing:
"Lord Pan, this is a good thing."

"This is?"

Pan Jing held the box, feeling its light weight, and asked in confusion.

"We will seize the ginseng king from the Jurchens and replenish Lord Pan's qi and blood after his injuries have fully healed."

Lu Yunyi remembered something else and reminded him:

"Just use half a root at a time. Last time I drank half a root and had nosebleeds for half a month."

Pan Jing's eyes widened suddenly as he stared at the wooden box in his hand, his eyes burning with desire.

"So smart?"

Lu Yunyi leaned closer and whispered:
"How could a ginseng that's been growing for hundreds of years not be effective? Even the palace doesn't have that."

"call"

Pan Jing's breathing suddenly quickened, and he gripped the wooden box tightly!
"This is too valuable."

"Hey, if it's useful, it's not expensive. Take it, get well soon so we can repair the road sooner. There's still a lot to do in the future."

Lu Yunyi pressed the box back down, looked at the thick city walls of Liaoyang, and sighed:
"Border cities are really something else, they look magnificent..."

Pan Jing smiled and pointed to the city gate ahead:
"Lord Lu, the accompanying soldiers will be stationed in the main camp north of the city."

All the craftsmen and accountants will be housed at the post station. What do you think?

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. The soldiers can live a simpler life."
But these craftsmen and accountants must be treated well; the success of the road construction depends entirely on them!

"Hahahaha, Lord Lu, rest assured, the Commandery has already made arrangements for this matter."

Half an hour later, Lu Yunyi, having settled the soldiers and craftsmen, arrived with several wives and gifts.

We arrived at Dongwang Street in the east of the city.

At this very moment, Dongwang Street is brightly lit!

Lanterns hung all over the long courtyard walls, and a red carpet stretched from east to west across the ground.
Several gates were filled with waiters.
She was dressed in red and holding a huge flower basket.

When the convoy arrived, Lu Yunyi looked out the car window and raised an eyebrow.
Such a scene would naturally be especially festive during the day.
But it was dark at the moment, and it looked rather eerie.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the main gate.

Lu Yunyi alighted from the carriage and greeted the ladies one by one.

At this moment, the main gate of the mansion, which had been tightly closed, slowly opened.

An elderly man in a red robe strode out of the mansion and shouted loudly:

"Welcome, distinguished guest!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the once quiet street suddenly became lively.

The sounds of gongs and drums were deafening, and there were even the crackling of firecrackers!

In an instant, Dongwang Street seemed to have come into daylight!
Lu Yunyi was quite taken aback by this scene. He turned to look at Liu Wanyi beside him:
"What's going on here?"

Liu Wanyi was also a little embarrassed.

"Grandpa is very concerned about his reputation. He wants the whole town to know that you've come back."

"This is causing a huge disturbance to the residents."

Lu Yunyi shook his head and looked ahead.

From the gate, an elderly man, his steps faltering, slowly emerged.
His beard was white, his face deeply lined, and he was always smiling.

"Let me see, who's back?"

"grandfather!"

Liu Wanyi's eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly ran over.

At this moment, a dozen more people appeared at the door.
They were dressed formally, each appearing elegant and dignified.
The men were very handsome, while the women exuded nobility.

Behind them, servants led a group of small children to stand.
Although it was constantly panting, it was very well-behaved.

Lu Yunyi took the lead and walked up first.
Liu Wanyi tugged at Liu Yanchen's sleeve and introduced him to him:
"Grandpa, this is my husband!"

Lu Yunyi stepped forward, smiled, and cupped his hands in greeting: "This junior pays his respects to his grandfather."

"No, no, no! Get up quickly, let me see, let me see!"

Liu Yanchen moved closer, squinting as he sized up Lu Yunyi, a smile playing on his lips.

"Good, good. Such a handsome man! It's Wanyi's good fortune to marry you."

Liu Yanchen chuckled shakily, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
He was too young, so young that he thought he had met the unworthy descendants of his family.

But the two are completely different.

His grandson-in-law's actions had convinced him that his grandson-in-law truly possessed extraordinary abilities.

"Quickly, come and greet Lord Lu."

Liu Yanchen turned around and waved to the group of people standing at the door.

The group looked puzzled, but they still obeyed the orders.
They stepped forward and bowed deeply in unison.
"Greetings, Lord Lu."

"Uncles and elders, please get up quickly, I cannot accept such an honor."

Liu Yanchen, however, made no attempt to be polite and took his hand:
"Family rules are no greater than national laws. We are all common people, and we must bow to officials when we see them."

Come, let's go inside. We've arranged a large house for you all; it'll be convenient for the whole family to live in.

"This time, I'll be staying quite a while; I have so much to tell you all."

“Perfect timing, I also have many things I would like to ask my grandfather,” Lu Yunyi replied with a smile.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, the group slowly entered the mansion.

Upon entering the mansion, Lu Yunyi underestimated the extravagance of these aristocratic families.

From the front gate to the backyard, the pavilions and towers along the way are a continuous stream of sights.

Especially the lush greenery and clean courtyard, it felt like springtime, completely unlike the cold winter.

The group was settled in the main courtyard of the back hall.
Four large rooms form a large courtyard.
The courtyard was spacious and the decorations were lavish. Lu Yunyi looked through each room and sighed repeatedly.

"Wanyi, your family is really rich."

Liu Wanyi rolled her eyes at him:
"Husband, there's no money to be spent on the house. If we don't decorate it properly, are we just going to leave it to get moldy?"

Beside her, Mu Chuting was also looking around.
Even she had to admit that this courtyard was more impressive than the Xiping Marquis's residence.

The decorations in each room are particularly understated and refined, without appearing extravagant!
She decided to write down the layout and decorations of the place.

When the time comes, send a message home so that your family can also prepare a proper meal.

"Alright, you've all seen the rooms. You should all get some rest."

I'm going to see my grandfather; he's still waiting in the main hall.

After speaking, Lu Yunyi looked at Gong Xianzhi and gave him a wink.

Gong Xianzhi immediately understood and whispered to the person beside him:

"Check thoroughly, don't miss any corner!"

Liu Wanyi instructed:

"Husband, please come back soon. It's so late and you must be tired from traveling. Come back and rest early."

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded, then looked at the steward waiting at the entrance of the courtyard and waved:

"Let's go."

"Please follow me, sir." The steward bowed and led the way humbly.

The main hall of the Liu family mansion!

Lu Yunyi arrived late.
As soon as he arrived, some of the people who had been sitting there stood up.

Among them were many older people in their forties.

Lu Yunyi was already used to this, and his expression was very calm.

"Yunyi, come quickly and sit next to me. It's warm here."

Liu Yanchen smiled and patted the carved mahogany chair next to him.

His eyes were so narrowed they were almost invisible, and his joy was practically overflowing.

Lu Yunyi didn't stand on ceremony. After nodding and greeting some people along the way, he sat down next to him.

When he sat down, everyone's expression changed.

Simply because he exuded a very composed and authoritative aura, his sitting there was not at all out of place.

It even makes one feel that he should have been sitting there all along.

Liu Yanchen glanced around and said with a smile:
"Yunyi, you've come from afar. I originally intended to meet you at the city gate."

But Lord Pan and Lord Zhou refused to budge, which infuriated me. I hope you won't take offense.

"Grandfather, you flatter me. If it weren't for the many soldiers accompanying us..."
I will certainly come to pay my respects as soon as possible.

"Now that things have dragged on for so long, I've kept Grandfather waiting."

"Oh, I'm getting old, so I don't sleep much anyway, it's fine."

Liu Yanchen smiled and waved his hand, then pointed to the people in the room and introduced them to him one by one:

"Yunyi, you're far away in Daning."

I won't have many chances to come back, but I hope I can get to know some of my family members.

"This is your eldest uncle, Liu Sizhen, who runs the family business. Liu Hongzhong is his son, and he currently works in Dingliao Left Guard."

Lu Yunyi followed the gaze and saw an elderly man, nearly fifty years old, sitting there.
He was broad-shouldered and stout, with a long beard, and he was looking at him with a smile.

"Greetings, Uncle." Lu Yunyi cupped his hands in greeting.

Liu Sizhen smiled and nodded:

"Make yourself at home, don't be shy. Take a good rest at home these days."
"If there's anything you'd like to eat or do, just tell the household; don't stand on ceremony."

"Thank you, uncle."

"This is your third uncle, Liu Sirui. He was mining in the north just a few days ago."
Hearing that you were coming, I rushed back without stopping.

Liu Yanchen nodded to the middle-aged man sitting to his right.

He looked to be in his forties, very thin, and had a ruthless appearance.

However, at this moment he revealed a bright smile and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Lord Lu, although we are far away in Liaodong..."
But your name is legendary! I never expected to meet you in person today, hahaha.

"Third Uncle, there's no need to be so polite at home. I'm the younger generation."

"Hahahaha, so refreshing!"

Liu Sirui burst into laughter, turned around to look at the two boys standing behind him, and cursed:
"Call someone quickly!"

The two of them trembled and quickly bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Lord Lu."

"These are my two sons, they're both good-for-nothings, please bear with them."

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"Excellent talent."

Liu Yanchen then introduced them one by one, and Lu Yunyi nodded in understanding.
It must be said that the Liu family is large and prosperous, with many branches and leaves.

After everyone had finished introducing themselves, Liu Yanchen smiled and looked at Lu Yunyi:
"How is Sili doing in the capital? I heard he's become the manager of Yingtian Trading Company and has a fortune in his hands?"
She wrote to me the other day, bragging all about it.

When Yingtian Trading Company was mentioned, everyone present perked up their ears!
Although they were located far away in Liaodong, their business was renowned.
It can be said that everyone knows it!

If it weren't for the local government offices' refusal to relinquish power and their strict orders to establish such trading companies...

Their Liu family's Liaodong trading company may have sprung up in Liaodong!
Lu Yunyi glanced around and said with a smile:

"Grandfather and father-in-law are in charge of the Yingtian Trading Company, and although they have a lot of money..."
But all the high-ranking officials in the court were watching with wide eyes and listening intently.

There are quite a few who covet it; to call it showing off is more like complaining.

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yanchen's eyes, and he nodded in deep agreement:
"Wealth stirs the heart; the capital is a gathering place for powerful figures, teeming with all sorts of extraordinary individuals."
Sili suffered in the capital.

Fortunately, he has a good son-in-law.
With one of you inside and the other outside, your foundation is solid.
Anyone who wants to harm him should think twice.

"Grandfather, you flatter me. Yingtian Trading Company is a vital enterprise for people's livelihood."
With the strong support of His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince,
With the Governor-General's Office and the Ministry of Works providing protection, ordinary people wouldn't dare to risk offending them.

"Now that you say that, I'm relieved."
A few days ago, a rebellious group emerged in Liaodong, causing a great uproar throughout the city.
There are countless rebels in the capital; I heard quite a few have been arrested?

Lu Yunyi's expression was serious:
"Tens of thousands of people were implicated, and at that time, military camps were vacated to be used as prisons."

The people present exchanged glances, each revealing a hint of apprehension.
"Is this really true?" Liu Yanchen was also very shocked.

“There are at least 100,000 people arrested in various places. Some of them were released after a trial for minor offenses, while only about half were probably beheaded or exiled.”

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat heavy.

Even if it's only half, that's still 50,000 people.
This is terrifying!
At this moment, Liu Sizhen, the eldest son of the Liu family, spoke thoughtfully:
"Is Zixian involved in this kind of thing?"

(End of this chapter)