Gu Shaoyu did not tell Xie Zhaozhao about what was happening in the court, but Bei Chen had already learned about the rebellion of Prince Rong and Prince Ning and reported it to Xie Zhaozhao.

Xie Rong was a step behind Bei Chen. He hurriedly delivered the message to Yuan Yuan at Shen Shi (3-5 PM) and told her, "The Rong Prince's fiefdom is right next to Zizhou."

Grand Secretary Gu is heading to Zizhou, where he is very likely to encounter the army of Prince Rong.

It is also very possible that Prince Rong assassinated Gu Shaoyu nearby, since Gu Shaoyu was Emperor Hui's favorite minister, and killing him could boost morale.

Therefore, Xie Zhaozhao ordered Hongying to prepare a cartload of gunpowder and weapons.

She didn't know that Chu Zhongtian had also spent a lot of money to make iron gunpowder bombs. Although the quantity was not large, Chu Zhongtian gave Hongying ten at once, which made Hongying very happy.

Xie Yu and Ling Xun came over that evening to discuss their departure for Zizhou with Gu Shaoyu, who then took them directly to his study.

The group talked in private for half an hour. Before leaving, Ling Xun paid a special visit to Xie Zhaozhao, his savior, bowed respectfully, and then turned to leave.

The sky was overcast and the night was dark and windy, but in his heart there was a bright moon that illuminated the whole world.

Xie Yu and his sister hadn't seen each other for a while, so the two siblings chatted for a bit.

“We will be going to Zizhou for several months. Take care of yourself at home. Qingpu Garden is too big. I will give you some more people to guard the garden.”

Xie Yu is the young clan leader, already married, and Princess Changping is pregnant. Xie Anfeng has decided to hand over the Xie clan's Black-Clad Guards to him.

Xie Zhaozhao then realized that the Xie family's Black-Clad Guards were not just a few dozen or a few hundred, but 150,000!

Not to mention taking on a hundred, taking on five or ten is no problem at all.

These 150,000 Xuanyi Guards are hidden in plain sight, and even the all-pervasive Imperial City Guard cannot accurately ascertain their whereabouts.

No one can ever truly know the depths of a family with a thousand-year history. Even Xie Zhaozhao, the eldest daughter, was only now learning that her family actually had 150,000 Xuanyi Guards.

The Xie family had so many Xuanyi Guards and such formidable fighting power, so why were they wiped out in the previous life?

Won't they rebel?

Or is it Xie's blind loyalty?

My father and brother died so tragically, yet those Black-Clad Guards remained completely indifferent.

Why……

"Sister?" Xie Yu looked at Xie Zhaozhao, who had her eyes lowered, and spoke to her, but she didn't respond, so she called out to her a few times.

She looked up, her eyes filled with tears.

Xie Yu was terrified: "Little sister, what's wrong?"

"Brother, has the Xie family's Black-Clad Guards always been 150,000? Where did the replaced personnel go as they've aged?"

Xie Yu didn't know what she meant by asking this, so he said, "At the beginning of the founding of the nation, the Xie family's Black-Clad Guards maintained 200,000 men. Later, my grandfather reduced it by 50,000. Some of those who were replaced stayed on the estates, some were sent to their hometowns to retire, and some..."

"What's wrong?"

"I gave it to my most trusted family member."

Xie Zhaozhao suddenly felt a pang in her heart and asked, "Did you give it to Auntie?"

“Yes!” Xie Yu said, “Auntie has made too many sacrifices for the Xie family. If she wants someone, Father will make the decision to give her to her.”

For example, Xie Yu felt sorry for his younger sister. Before her wedding, he could only mobilize a few hundred people, but he gave his sister fifty without hesitation.

Xie Zhaozhao twisted her hands together, a series of thoughts running wild.

Hopefully, her guess is not the truth.

After a while, Xie Zhaozhao said seriously, "Brother, the Black-Clad Guards are the Xie family's lifeline. Father and you alike bear the responsibility of the clan and must always prioritize the safety of the Xie family. If anything happens to the Xie family, we girls will not be safe either!"

When one is in a high position, having feelings is the same as being heartless; being heartless is the true expression of feelings.

Xie Yu was very clever and immediately understood, replying, "Yes, brother understands."

The topic changed, and the brother and sister chatted about everyday things before Xie Yu returned home.

He went back and immediately found his father, and the two had a private talk in the study.

The next morning, Xie Yu and Ling Xun came to Qingpu Garden and set off with Gu Shaoyu.

Nanxing was used to following Gu Shaoyu, so he accompanied him on this trip to Zizhou.

Because Wei Shuyun was in charge of the Wei family's grain supplies, he, Shen Su, and Jin Feng also went to Baiyang County.

The two groups traveled through wind and rain without encountering any obstacles, and arrived at Baiyang County, the most severely affected area in Zizhou, almost simultaneously.

Gu Shaoyu, Xie Yu, and Ling Xun went to the county government office.

Wei Shuyun, Shen Su and their group went to meet the five major grain merchants.

When Magistrate Qin received the official document and learned that Gu Shaoyu had come in person, he had already led his yamen runners out to greet him.

Seeing that Gu Shaoyu only brought a carriage, a coachman, and two officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, Magistrate Qin was very disappointed.

He had assumed that Grand Secretary Gu would arrive with a convoy of grain carts.

Gu Shaoyu glanced at him indifferently, and he broke out in a cold sweat: "Greetings, Elder Gu."

How much grain is left in the granary?

"It's barely enough to distribute to the people for five days," said Magistrate Qin. "Each person will receive one hour's worth of the food each day, with a limit of two taels of silver per person."

What are the current grain prices?

"Two hundred coins for a bushel."

This is getting more and more outrageous!

Gu Shaoyu walked around the main street, and Magistrate Qin reported to him along the way.

Back at the county government office, Gu Shaoyu said, "Go and summon the five major grain merchants. I have something to discuss with them."

Magistrate Qin shook his head and said, "Your Excellency, it's no use talking to them. I've tried everything, from threats and bribes to even asking the court to report our achievements, erect a monument, and build a temple, but they still refuse."

"It's alright, just bring the person here."

Magistrate Qin had no idea why Gu Shaoyu had sought out those five major grain merchants. Was he trying to negotiate a price reduction? Or was he asking them to donate grain?

Wei Shuyun and Shen Su, one representing the former Duke Cheng'en's Mansion and the other representing the Princess's Mansion, went to meet the five major grain merchants upon arriving in Baiyang County.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!