Wei Lang said, "That's more like it."

Xu Di laughed and said, "I have a feeling you're up to no good."

Wei Lang said, "Look, look, I'm trying my best to help bring about a good marriage, but it sounds so bad coming from your mouth!"

Xu Di said, "Yes, you want to facilitate a good marriage, but you also want to stabilize the morale of your troops. I now feel that you wish all the men in your army could marry and have children in Hexi."

Wei Lang said, "Don't say that, I really have this idea. You know, the border is bitterly cold, and girls from good families don't want their daughters to come here to suffer. But I am a military officer, a lieutenant, and many of my fellow officers are still single. I want to act as a matchmaker for them. There aren't that many suitable girls in Hexi County alone, are there?"

Xu Di said, "Why don't you broaden the scope a bit?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Lang knew that Xu Di had a solution, and asked with great interest, "Tell me, what new idea does your brother have this time?"

Xu Di said, "Every year, the palace releases some palace maids who have reached a certain age, as well as maids from the families of disgraced officials. Aren't these all excellent candidates?"

After listening and pondering it carefully, Wei Lang said, "If I were to submit a memorial to the Emperor in this manner, do you think he would approve it?"

Xu Di said, "This is a great thing to stabilize the morale of the army. Why doesn't His Majesty approve it? Yanmen Pass is such a strategic location. Stabilizing the morale of the army is more important than anything else. His Majesty is a wise man. How could he not understand these principles?"

Wei Lang slammed his hand on the table and said, "I will submit a memorial to His Majesty after I finish eating."

Xu Di said, "You still need to explain in the memorial that the soldiers should settle down in Hexi. After settling down, they will have children. What is more important than increasing the population here? The increase in population may not be immediately apparent, but what will Yanmen Pass look like in ten or twenty years?"

Upon hearing Xu Di's words, Wei Lang felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Indeed, population growth is such an important thing. If the population on the border of Daliang increases, and there is a war, soldiers can be conscripted on the spot. What is there to fear about foreign enemies?

Xu Di continued, "Furthermore, our area is sparsely populated. If the population increases, we can develop a militia. During the busy farming season, they can farm, and during the off-season, they can train soldiers. This will increase local grain production and further develop our local defense capabilities. Brother Wei, think about it. If there is an invasion from other places, it is much better for trained militia to go to the battlefield than for ordinary people to fight with hoes."

Wei Lang nodded repeatedly, and Xu Di continued, "Although the Northern Di have been weakened by us, they will not give up their desire to invade. Our Great Liang is a piece of fat meat in the eyes of the Northern Di and some nomadic tribes beyond the Great Wall. Let's start planning our militia now. In ten or twenty years, when the Northern Di are stronger, our defenses will also be stronger, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Lang's eyes lit up, and he pulled Xu Di aside, saying, "Brother Di, come here, let's write the memorial properly first."

Xu Di said, "Brother Wei, this is something you and your staff will have to do. How can I, a commoner, do this?"

Wei Lang laughed and said, "You're being modest. I know your abilities, brother. Alright, let's drink this first, and I'll gather the people over to discuss this matter."

After finishing his meal, Xu Di left the Yanmen Pass camp and rode his entourage toward Ganzhou City. However, when he passed through Hexi County, he was stopped at the city gate.

Several elderly men stopped Xu Di. When Xu Di stopped his horse, one of the old men, with white hair and beard, smiled and said, "I knew it was you riding by, young master. We have been waiting here for a long time. Please dismount and have a cup of tea."

Xu Di dismounted with a smile and said, "May I ask what brings you gentlemen here?"

Another person smiled and said, "Young master, you may not know us, but we do know you. Young master, we are all ordinary people who have lived here for generations. The magnificent scenery of Hexi City today is all thanks to Lord Xu and you. We have no way to repay you, so please do us the honor of having a cup of tea."

Upon hearing this, Xu Di quickly replied, "Father-in-law, one who receives the emperor's salary is obligated to serve the emperor. Since my father has received the emperor's salary, it is only right and proper for him to safeguard the territory of Hexi County. There is no need to worry about it."

A young man brought out a tray from a house by the roadside. The old man leading the group took it and said, "Young master, we have nothing to repay you with. We made this 'Ten Thousand People's Umbrella' with the signatures of the people, and we should have delivered it to Ganzhou in person. However, we are too old. Please take it back and give it to Lord Xu."

Upon hearing this, Xu Di quickly bowed and accepted the gift, then bowed to the elderly men and said, "My father and I have done what we should do. We are deeply ashamed that you gentlemen have taken such a concern to us. On behalf of my father, I thank you all."

The elderly men repeatedly said they didn't dare, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xu Di mounted his horse and continued on his way.

Because he was in a hurry to go back and discuss writing a letter home with Xu Rao, Xu Di didn't even go to Xu Zhi's house. He took the "Ten Thousand People Umbrella" and rode his horse at full speed back to Ganzhou City.

When they arrived home, it was almost dinnertime. Xu Di took his things and went to Xu Rao's study.

Xu Rao saw the umbrella with many signatures and sighed. He said to Xu Di, "We did what we should do, but the people have been worried about us. I feel a little ashamed."

Xu Di picked up his teacup, drank two bowls of tea in a row, and said, "You have truly gotten what you asked for. There are probably only a few people in the Great Liang Dynasty who are remembered by the common people like this. It's just that the current propaganda department is not doing a good job. Otherwise, they should really set you up as a role model for officials and publicize your deeds properly."

Upon hearing this, Xu Rao smiled and put away the "umbrella of ten thousand people," saying, "If that's the case, I'll become a thorn in the side of many people. This society is not the same as our old society. Gaining a good reputation might make me hated by many."

Xu Rao looked at Xu Di and asked him, "Why did you suddenly go to Yanmen Pass? Is there something you need?"

Xu Di said, "Sixth Sister told me before she left that Lu Mingzhang wanted to marry her. I'm just going to find out more about Lu Mingzhang."

Upon hearing this, Xu Rao frowned and asked, "Who is this Lu Mingzhang? Why did he tell your sixth sister that he wanted to marry her?"

Xu Di said, "On the day Zheng Boyuan came to get married, Lu Mingzhang came along. When he saw our Xiao Liu, who knew he would say these things to Xiao Liu?"

Xu Rao asked, "What does 'Sixth Girl' mean?"

Xu Di said, "I think Sixth Sister is a little tempted. Father, the girls in our family are all of marriageable age, but they haven't settled down yet for various reasons. Now that Xiao Jiu's incident happened, I guess the younger sisters are also anxious about finding husbands."

Xu Rao said, "But no matter how anxious we are, we can't just agree to someone's marriage proposal so easily. We have to see what kind of person they are and whether their family is easy to get along with, right?"

Xu Di said, "I just went and found out. I think this Lu Mingzhang is a pretty good match."