Chapter 535: Chapter 292: The Missing "Inner Treasury"!!

"Of course, Prince Consort!" The maid replied with a slight curtsy.

After his meal, Lu Yuan headed alone to the barracks of the Left and Right Guards of the Mansion Army for an inspection.

On his first day as the Commander of the Left and Right Guards, Lu Yuan felt he had to make an appearance and at least let the men get familiar with his face.

This would prevent some of the rigid Civil Servants at Court from running to His Majesty the Emperor to gossip with their flowery, classical prose whenever they had nothing better to do.

Lu Yuan arrived at the barracks gate. The soldiers on duty saw him in a General’s Uniform but completely alone, which made them suspicious.

A soldier angled his long spear to block the way. "General! This is the restricted area of the Mansion Army Left Guard’s barracks. Do you have a pass to enter?"

"A pass? I don’t have one." Lu Yuan patted himself down and shook his head.

"General, who have you come to see? I can announce you!" Although the soldier didn’t recognize Lu Yuan, he recognized his uniform.

Before Lu Yuan could speak, a general from inside the barracks, one who had been drinking with Lu Yuan at the residence the previous day, recognized him.

The general trotted to the gate and barked, "Insolence! This is our superior, the Commander-in-Chief of the Left and Right Guards! Do not be rude!"

The soldiers at the gate planted their long spears on the ground with their right hands, dropped to one knee, and shouted in unison, "We greet the Commander-in-Chief!"

Inside the barracks, the other soldiers and officers heard the shouting at the gate. Those who had been slouching about haphazardly quickly got up, ran to the front of the barracks, and formed ranks to welcome their new Commander-in-Chief.

Lu Yuan scanned the ranks of the Mansion Army Left Guard. The assembled soldiers stood with their heads hanging, listless and with low morale.

’Are they unhappy to see their new Commander-in-Chief? Or do they refuse to accept me?’ Lu Yuan wondered.

Lu Yuan singled out a general and asked, "Why were there no drills this morning?"

The general glanced back at the soldiers behind him, a troubled look on his face, and asked:

"Commander-in-Chief, the men heard news last night that Marquis Yongchang has been taken to the Ministry of Justice. Is it true?"

These soldiers had originally served under Marquis Yongchang, Lan Yu. With their old leader arrested, his subordinates were naturally on edge.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang was famous for his love of the "collective punishment" system. In the past, whenever someone committed a crime, their family and close relations were often implicated as well.

Lu Yuan was unaware of this, but he puffed out his chest and declared, "Soldiers, do not worry. I am your Commander-in-Chief, the highest authority in the Mansion Army Left Guard.

"As long as you have done nothing to wrong the Empire, I, Lu Yuan, will stake my own head to guarantee your safety!"

As the saying goes, a general’s word is his bond. What Lu Yuan said as the Commander-in-Chief in front of all his men was no laughing matter.

If he were to go back on his word, how could he ever command his troops in the future?

Lu Yuan’s youth and scholarly face created a stark contrast with his current role as a Military General.

Hearing this, the soldiers felt a surge of morale. They raised their weapons high and roared, "The General is mighty! The General is mighty!"

"All troops, hear my command! Daily drills are to resume as normal, without fail!"

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Yuan inspected the Mansion Army Left Guard’s barracks, then went to the Mansion Army Right Guard’s barracks.

As noon approached, Lu Yuan sat on the ground with the officers and soldiers, sharing the simple, communal meal from the barracks’ large pot.

His position had been granted by the Emperor. He didn’t expect these men to follow him with blind devotion; he just hoped they wouldn’t cause any trouble for him.

Several Jinyi Guard on horseback rode up to the gate of the Mansion Army Right Guard’s barracks and were stopped by the sentries.

"An oral decree from His Majesty the Emperor! Lord Lu, Commander-in-Chief of the Left and Right Guards of the Mansion Army, is to proceed to the Imperial Capital for an audience at once!"

Lu Yuan put down his rice bowl, led a warhorse out from the barracks, and vaulted into the saddle, striking the horse’s rump with his whip.

"Yah!"

Lu Yuan rode with the few Jinyi Guard waiting in front of the barracks, heading for the Imperial Capital.

A soldier tried to stop him from behind, shouting, "Commander-in-Chief, warhorses cannot be taken from the barracks without authorization!"

Without looking back, Lu Yuan yelled, "Put it on my account!"

Lu Yuan had just reached the Imperial Capital’s gate when an old eunuch, leading a few Little Eunuchs, blocked his path. "Lord Lu, this way, please!"

Lu Yuan was led through a winding route to a secluded spot.

He saw a familiar back ahead of him. When the person turned around, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "His Majesty the Emperor!"

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang asked with a chuckle, "You inspected the barracks today. How did it feel?"

Lu Yuan had no intention of hiding anything and recounted everything he had said and done.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang nodded, pleased. "You just go ahead and do as you see fit. I support you completely!"

Lu Yuan thought to himself, ’He couldn’t have summoned me all this way just to talk about this, could he?’

The Emperor saw the doubt in Lu Yuan’s mind and said, "I have decided that in ten days, Lan Yu will be taken to the public execution grounds to be beheaded!"

The sudden news stunned Lu Yuan for a moment.

This was highly similar to the history of the Great Ming Dynasty, yet also fundamentally different.

Lu Yuan remained silent.

"What are your thoughts?" the Emperor asked.

Only then did Lu Yuan speak. "Your Majesty, this servant cannot overstep my authority to comment recklessly on this matter. The iron laws of the Empire will serve as the basis for judgment."

The Emperor didn’t press the issue. "The matter of the assassination attempt on Gu Gaoxu, the second son of King Yan, has also been thoroughly investigated.

"It was done by Lan Yu’s subordinate to silence a witness. As for that Doctor Li, I have had the Ministry of Justice spare him from the death penalty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Yuan said, clasping his hands.

Lu Yuan wasn’t familiar with Doctor Li from Taiping City, but he believed the doctor had been coerced. That was why he had vouched for him, promising to protect his life as long as he identified the mastermind.

Lu Yuan took this opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, I have a request."

These days, Lu Yuan had been staying in the Imperial City.

Firstly, it was convenient for Gu Ziye to enter the Imperial Capital to visit her birth mother, Empress Ma.

Secondly, at the Emperor’s request, he had set up a branch factory in the Imperial City to produce common goods for the populace and mechanical equipment needed by the Empire.

Lu Yuan was very cooperative in setting up the factory. He only needed to provide the technology and innovative ideas; all funding was allocated from the National Treasury.

During this period, the factory’s production of goods caused a sharp increase in the demand for Spirit Stones.

Taking this as an opportunity, all Spirit Stone Mines in the nation were brought under the complete ownership of the Empire, becoming a resource controlled by the state. No one was allowed to mine them without approval from a Government Office.

Of course, Lu Yuan wouldn’t receive a single cent in dividends from the factory; all profits went to the National Treasury.

Lu Yuan simply treated this as a public works project for the benefit of the people.

He hoped that one day, common folk would have cars to travel, telephones to communicate, glass for their windows, lighters to cook, and machinery for planting and harvesting...

His fundamental goals were to liberate and develop the productive forces; to promote industrial upgrading and raise the innovative consciousness of the entire populace, achieving sustainable economic growth for the Empire; and to narrow the gap between the common people and officials, guaranteeing the people’s equal rights and opportunities.

Lu Yuan had used his Divination Calculation Skill to try and foresee the fate of the Divine Ling Empire, but the matter was too great. With his current abilities, he was still unable to find an answer.

Lu Yuan couldn’t know the future path of the Divine Ling Empire. He could only hope that with the advanced machinery and productivity he possessed, it wouldn’t follow the same downward spiral as the late Great Ming Dynasty.

Because Lu Yuan had accomplished many practical things for Emperor Gu Yuanzhang during his time in the Imperial City, the Emperor was very pleased with him.

The Emperor said with a benevolent expression, "What is it you need to ask of me? Speak freely!"

Lu Yuan clasped his hands. "Your Majesty, this servant has been away from home for several months and misses my family dearly. This servant recommends Lan Ying, the Vice Commander of the Right Guard, to assist me in commanding the troops of the two guards."

"Oh? Do you know that he is Lan Yu’s adopted son? I just said that Lan Yu deceived his sovereign and will be beheaded in the public square," the Emperor said.

Lu Yuan lowered his head and replied, "This servant knows!"

The Emperor pressed, "Then aren’t you afraid he will rebel for his adoptive father?"

Lu Yuan clasped his hands and bowed. "This servant is willing to guarantee that the Left and Right Guards of the Mansion Army will never do anything to betray the Empire!"

The Emperor laughed heartily and clapped Lu Yuan on the shoulder. "Go on, then!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

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