In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 890 The Marching Route: One Wave After Another

Zhai Yunxi arrived at the warehouse and brought Wen Jingchen, Li Maocai, and Lin Shichang with her.

The warehouse door slowly opened.

A dim, yellowish light shone through, illuminating everyone's faces.

Inside, large boxes were stored safely, many of them already open.

The mountain of silver gleamed coldly in the light!

In an instant, Wen Jingchen, Li Maocai, and Lin Shichang's eyes widened, their steps faltering involuntarily, their eyes filled with shock.

"They actually gave it to you?"

They initially thought it was just a pretext, and that they would eventually have to talk about things that couldn't be discussed openly, as long as it saved face for both sides.

But now, seeing this warehouse full of silver, they actually started to back down.

They knew perfectly well that if they took this money now,

That would mean ruthlessly disrupting the delicate balance between the government and powerful clans, inevitably creating enmity with the government.

Although these three families have a long history and deep roots,
However, he always adhered to the principle of maintaining good relations with the government and was unwilling to easily escalate the conflict with them.

Wen Jingchen was the first to regain his senses. He forced a smile, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhai Yunxi, and said:
"Lord Zhai, we absolutely cannot accept this silver."

"The road repairs by the Commander-in-Chief are a major undertaking concerning the future; this money should rightfully be used by the government first. Our little matter is not worth worrying about."

Li Maocai quickly nodded in agreement, echoing:

"Yes, Lord Zhai, although we are merchants, we also know what is important and what is urgent."

If the road construction is completed, it will be of great benefit to the people of Liaodong and to us as well.

We would never let a small matter ruin our grand plan.

Lin Shichang, with a sincere expression, stepped forward and said:
“Lord Zhai, we have not come here today to ask for money.”

I was just anxious to hear that something had happened in front of the government office, so I came to check on the situation and see if I could help the government.

We absolutely cannot take this silver.

Zhai Yunxi stood to the side, a sinister smile playing on her lips.

His gaze swept over the three of them, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Gentlemen, now that things have escalated to this point, you can't just refuse to accept the money as you please."
You must accept it today, or you will have no way to explain it to the people of the city.

Although the government office has its difficulties, it cannot treat everyone unfairly.

Besides, the silver is just sitting in the treasury anyway; let's address your immediate needs first.
This can be seen as the Military Command's way of expressing gratitude for everyone's continued support.

Upon hearing this, the three men felt a chill run down their spines.
They exchanged a glance and saw helplessness in each other's eyes.

Wen Jingchen was about to decline again when he saw Zhai Yunxi's face darken and her tone become increasingly firm:

"What? The three of you instigated a disturbance, resulting in the deaths of so many civilians and officials?"

Now you think this money is too hot to handle? What do you want to do?

The three of them exchanged another glance and sighed helplessly.

Now, even if mud falls into your crotch, it's still considered excrement.

Just as the three were struggling with their decision, news of what happened at the yamen gate quickly spread throughout the city.

In the streets and alleys, people gathered in small groups, whispering and discussing among themselves.

"Have you heard? There's been a huge commotion in front of the Military Command's office."

The merchants led a group to demand their money back, and they even drew their swords; many people died!

A bearded man widened his eyes and said in a low voice.

"That's right! I also heard that the yamen is arguing fiercely over the issue of money. This is going to be quite a show."

A thin man next to him curled his lip, his eyes full of schadenfreude.

"Shh, keep your voice down. This isn't as simple as it seems. I heard there's someone pulling strings behind the scenes."

An old man, leaning on a cane, said with a worried expression.

Just as the city was abuzz with discussion, the two old men, Zang and Liu, also received the news.

Grandpa Zang was over seventy years old, with white hair and beard, but his eyes revealed a kind of wisdom.

Upon hearing the news, he abruptly stopped drinking his teacup, splashing tea onto his sleeve without even noticing.

He frowned, pondered for a moment, then slowly stood up and said:

"Let's go and take a look at the government office."

Old Master Liu was the same; upon hearing the news,
He also became increasingly dissatisfied with the younger generation of the other three families.

Lending money to the imperial court was originally a way to deepen goodwill and generate huge profits.
It's truly shameful that things have turned out this way!
"Guards, go to the government office."

So the two old men, along with their families, hurriedly headed towards the government office.

Along the way, the luxurious carriage traveled on the road, and passersby couldn't help but turn their heads when they saw the family crest engraved on the carriage.

In the back hall of the government office, Pan Jing paced back and forth, his face full of resentment.

The room was dimly lit, with a few candles flickering in the breeze, casting long shadows of the two people.

Pan Jing was breathing rapidly, his steps quickened, and his face was filled with barely suppressed anger.
"Lord Lu, I think the entire Commandery is a bunch of traitors!"

Pan Jing said through gritted teeth, his face full of anger.

"Zhou E has been opposing me from the very beginning, obstructing the road construction at every turn."
Now they've stirred up this mess; they're clearly trying to force me out!"

Lu Yunyi sat to the side, listening quietly to Pan Jing's complaints, his expression not changing much.

Such things were commonplace in the Northern Pacification Commandery.
At the height of the fish-scale yellow register project, there were as many as thirteen rebellions in a single day, and even instances of troops being mobilized to assassinate the commander-in-chief.

The current conflicts in Liaodong are only just beginning to emerge.

He took a small sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said:

"Lord Pan, please calm down. The matter has already happened. The most important thing now is to think about how to resolve it, so as not to be taken advantage of."

Pan Jing sighed deeply, leaned back in his chair, and looked tired.

"Lord Lu, the waters in Liaodong are too deep. Various forces are deeply intertwined, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences."

I had hoped that coming here would allow me to make a significant contribution to Liaodong.

Unexpectedly, they encountered obstacles at every turn and found progress extremely difficult.

He paused and then said:

"The 100,000 taels of silver allocated by the imperial court were originally intended for road repairs, a great thing that would benefit the country and its people."

But those powerful and wealthy families only care about their own money.
They were willing to cause trouble in front of the government office for such a small amount of money.

Normally, they are the ones who take advantage of the government, but the government never takes advantage of them.

And then there's Zhai Yunxi, I don't know what he's up to, but he actually joined in the commotion, insisting that those aristocratic families take the silver away.

Isn't this blatantly an attempt to sabotage road construction?

"I know I shouldn't be used, but we're surrounded by enemies, and we don't even know who did it."

At this point, Pan Jing's expression turned bitter.

I originally thought the capital city was complicated enough,

He didn't expect the place to be even more chaotic, so chaotic that he has absolutely no clue what to do.

Seeing his expression, Lu Yunyi nodded slightly:

"Lord Pan, those powerful and influential families also have their concerns."

Their worry about not getting their money back and affecting their business is understandable.

Pan Jing sneered and said:

"Is it human nature? They are incredibly wealthy, can't they prioritize the bigger picture? If the road construction is successful, the benefits to them will be far more than just a little bit."

When the roads are clear and merchants can travel more easily, their businesses will only grow bigger and bigger.

But they are short-sighted, only seeing the immediate gains; it's infuriating!

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Yunyi said:
"Lord Pan, whether they did this intentionally or took advantage of the situation is now impossible to verify."

The best course of action now is to appease the people and soldiers in the city. As long as these two groups remain stable, some merchants won't be able to cause any major trouble.

Pan Jing listened and shook his head helplessly:

"Lord Lu, given the current situation, I am at a loss as to what to do."
Those people have been incited and won't listen to any advice.

Moreover, Zhou E and Zhai Yunxi were behind it all.
Countless people in the city are now cursing me; I am utterly exhausted.

At this point, Pan Jing's expression became somewhat strange. He turned slightly to the side and lowered his voice, saying:
“Lord Lu, if it weren’t for the backup plan, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”

Lu Yunyi smiled gently:
"That's right. If we hadn't made two preparations this time, we probably would have been caught off guard."

"What about Korea?" Pan Jing asked, looking puzzled.

"I've already agreed, but the specifics will depend on Wang Junping coming over. He didn't travel with me."

"Here?" Pan Jing's expression was strange.
"Lord Lu, the situation in Liaodong is complicated, and it's too dangerous here."

Lu Yunyi smiled calmly:
"Of course not here. Wang Junping went beyond the Great Wall and will meet me there."

Pan Jing nodded in understanding, but soon his eyes widened:
"Is Lord Lu also leaving the country?"

"Five hundred thousand taels of silver is worth the risk, and we can also take the opportunity to see the capabilities of the Goryeo army."
If Yi Seong-gye was truly a renowned general of his time, skilled in training soldiers...
"Then Liaodong will face much greater pressure, and the road will need to be repaired even more."

Pan Jing quickly figured out the key point.
When domestic conflicts become irreconcilable, waging war against other countries is the best solution.

Especially for usurpers like Yi Seong-gye, it is essential to firmly grasp military power.

As for how to capture them, we'll wage war against them!
There's no need for war; all you need to do is bring people together and win their hearts.

Pan Jing was somewhat suspicious: "Does Yi Seong-gye really dare to usurp power?"

"They must be making preparations, otherwise the Goryeo royal family wouldn't be in such a panic."

"So we have to hurry. The passage to Goryeo needs to be cleared as soon as possible, otherwise we won't be able to get out, and the second route will also be blocked."

Pan Jing nodded solemnly:
"The Right Guard of Dingliao and Zhenjiang Fort are already making preparations. When Lord Lu leaves Liaoyang City, he will lead his troops out of the country from there."

When do you plan to leave? That way I can do some more cover-up.

"Let's wait a few more days. I'll only stay for two or three days to visit my relatives. If they investigate later, it will be too suspicious."

"That makes sense." Pan Jing scratched his head, somewhat uneasy.

"A thousand soldiers shouldn't cause any problems, right? Or... let some more men from the Dingliao Right Guard go out with them?"
"Don't worry, the commander of Dingliao Right Guard is my former colleague; we're like brothers!"

Lu Yunyi smiled calmly:
"Going to get the silver is enough, not to kill the enemy."

“Alright, in a few days I plan to have Xu Cheng go to Dingliao Right Guard to inspect the land reclamation and military equipment matters, and he will assist you there.”

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

Just then, a minor official rushed in, panting, and said from outside the door:

"Sir, the two old masters, Madam Zang and Madam Liu, have arrived and are waiting in the front hall."

Pan Jing and Lu Yunyi exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

Pan Jing stood up, straightened his clothes, and said:

"Let's go see what these two old gentlemen have to do."
"I'm not trying to be mean, but if those three people had been as reasonable as the two grandfathers, things wouldn't have escalated to this point."

The three of them went to the front hall together.
The two old men, Zang and Liu, were sitting in chairs with serious expressions.

Upon seeing Pan Jing and Lu Yunyi enter, the two old men slowly stood up and bowed.

Pan Jing quickly returned the greeting and said:
"I was unaware of the arrival of the two esteemed gentlemen. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

Old Master Zang's expression was solemn, and he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture once more.

"Lord Pan, you are too kind. We have come today because we heard that something has happened at the yamen, and we have come to find out what is going on and see if we can help the yamen."

Pan Jing was secretly delighted and somewhat relieved.

He knew that these two old men were highly respected in Liaodong, and that not causing any trouble was already the greatest help they could offer.

Then, he quickly recounted the entire incident in detail, and finally said helplessly:

"My lords, the current situation is giving me a real headache. I hope you can help me get through this difficult time."

After hearing this, the two old men exchanged a glance and then nodded slightly.

Liu Yanchen said:
"Lord Pan, we have a general understanding of this matter. Those troublemakers have indeed gone too far."

However, their concern about not getting the money back is understandable.

"Please, Your Excellency, show them mercy and let them go."

Grandpa Zang continued:

"Lord Pan, what you say makes sense. We must not escalate the conflict any further!"
In fact, the Lin, Li, and Wen families had only changed their leaders less than two years ago.
They still don't have enough control over their own territory.
It's perfectly normal for some people to take this opportunity to sow discord among the three of them.

I believe even they themselves wouldn't want things to escalate to this point.
Even if the authorities intend to punish them, I implore Your Honor to only punish those who instigated the trouble, as a warning to others.

Pan Jing nodded inwardly, agreeing with what the two old men had said.

"What the two gentlemen say is absolutely right. The Military Command will consider your opinions."
I have a request, though I'm unsure whether I should make it.

"Please speak, sir," Liu Yanchen said decisively.

"The government would like to ask the two old gentlemen to mediate between us."
Now that someone has died, we can give them the money, but we need to settle this matter first.

And we'll root out the bad apples!

Liu Yanchen was taken aback, then said:

"Lord Pan, are we not going to repair this road?"

That 100,000 taels of silver was allocated by the imperial court for road repairs; now that it's being taken out…

Liu Yanchen looked at his grandson-in-law.
He knew that Lu Yunyi was the one who had pushed this forward, if...

It would be extremely inappropriate for his grandfather to leave this matter unresolved.

"Lord Pan, let me be frank: since the road is a national policy of the court, it cannot be disobeyed."

Today, the imperial court's money has been spent for no reason.

If the imperial court were to hold him accountable, Lord Pan would have no way to explain himself.

Moreover, news came from the capital...
Part of this money came from the Duke of Cao and the Yingtian Merchant Guild.
They spent the imperial court's money and still managed to shirk responsibility.
But since their money has been spent, Lord Pan should think carefully about the consequences. I feel this is somewhat inappropriate.

Pan Jing was well aware that the money from these powerful and influential people was the hardest to obtain.

But when faced with danger, all he could think about was calming things down first.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Liu Yanchen:
"Thank you for your guidance, Old Master Liu. Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to do it."

If we don't pay up, the government office will be in chaos right now.
"We've paid the money. We can delay the blame from the court and the officials for a few more months; we'll figure something out then."

Liu Yanchen quickly stood up:

"No, no, no. Since Lord Pan has made up his mind, there's nothing we can say."
If the Commander is facing any difficulties, he may speak frankly with us.

Although it's only the beginning of the year, there's not much money left in the family.
But road construction isn't something that can be done overnight; if we wait and piece things together, we can at least maintain a semblance of decency.

Zang Shengjie also nodded solemnly:
"Yes, Lord Pan, the most urgent task is to maintain the status quo. You and Lord Zhou cannot continue to fight each other."

"Half of the 100,000 taels of silver has been spent, but fortunately, there's still some left, enough to last for a while."

Before the words were finished, a minor official rushed in, his face drastically changed.

"My lord, something terrible has happened! The garrison troops outside the city are causing trouble again, demanding last year's military pay!!"

The expressions on the faces of everyone present suddenly changed!

(End of this chapter)