After Lu Mama got dressed, she helped Xu Zhi get dressed and found her a thick cloak. Then she went with Qingmiao to Xu Di's room. The entrance to the tunnel in the second courtyard was inside Xu Di's room, in the wardrobe in the bedroom. Xu Di had specially asked someone to make a wardrobe for this tunnel entrance and put it in the bedroom.

Zhang Zhaoci had already dressed and came out. Standing in the courtyard, he listened to the sounds outside and said to Granny Lu, "Granny, I'm leaving these people in the house to you. Take them and hide in the cellar for a while. Listen carefully to the sounds outside. If there's a signal to evacuate, hurry to the street. I need to go to the county government office to check."

Granny Lu grabbed Zhang Zhaoci's hand and said, "Third Madam, what are you doing? It's too dangerous to go out at this time." Zhang Zhaoci said, "Granny, I am a doctor. It is only at this time that I should go outside. Don't worry, I will definitely be careful."

Seeing Zhang Zhaoci's resolute attitude, Granny Lu said, "Then change your clothes and dress up properly to look like an elderly man. Have the guards from the house follow you. Third Madam, you are Lord Xu's wife, so you must be careful. Please, please."

Zhang Zhaoci nodded repeatedly and said, "Grandma, I'm leaving the household to you."

Zhang Zhaoci went inside to find clothes and put on makeup. Meanwhile, Granny Lu summoned the two guards from the household and had them change their clothes as well. Seeing that Zhang Zhaoci was so well-done that she couldn't even recognize herself, she then had the guards accompany Zhang Zhaoci to the front office.

Qingmiao and Qingsui had already led Xu Zhi into the tunnel. The tunnel not only contained vegetables, but also some grain and water. They didn't have to come out; they could stay inside for ten days or half a month without any problem.

Xu Di also drew inspiration from the tunnel system on the Hebei Plain. Each courtyard in the tunnel had a door installed in the passageway. The tunnels were actually low and narrow. To prevent people from using smoke to ventilate them, ventilation openings were also made in some hidden places. After finishing his own tunnels, Xu Di began to consider whether to promote such tunnels throughout the city and turn Hexi County into a place where tunnel warfare could be carried out. Ideally, there would be several passages that could lead directly to the outside of the city, making it convenient to enter and exit.

Xu Zhi felt her heart pounding wildly, and she didn't know what to do. She had heard that the Northern Di people, after entering the pass, engaged in burning, killing, and looting. Many people from Daliang were taken to the Northern Di to be enslaved. Xu Zhi had even seen people in the city who had secretly run back from the Northern Di, and they looked so pitiful.

Thinking of the potential or impending dangers, Xu Zhi didn't know what to do. She could only keep telling herself to stay calm, to stay calm, not to panic, and certainly not to cry. Her brother had shown her the entire tunnel before, and Xu Zhi thought it was a very safe place. But now, her father was in the county government office, and her brother was outside the city. Xu Zhi knew that she was too young and didn't have any ability to help them. She just needed to take care of herself and not cause trouble for others.

Qingmiao wanted to hug Xu Zhi, but Xu Zhi refused, saying, "Sister Qingmiao, no need, I can walk by myself."

The three of them went down into the tunnel and waited for a while before Granny Lu came in from outside. After she came in, she quickly installed the shelves in the wardrobe. Xu Zhi looked around by the light of the oil lamp that was already lit on the wall and did not see her mother. She asked, "Granny, where is my mother? Why didn't she come in?"

Granny Lu said, "Third Madam has something to attend to, she'll be here soon. Ninth Miss, let's go wait over there."

The place that Granny Lu mentioned was the largest part of the entire tunnel. The cellar could store things and hide people, but Xu Di decided to wait for the evacuation point in the courtyard next door. He instructed that if there was any situation, they should quickly go from the tunnel to the small courtyard next door. If someone came to attack, this brightly lit courtyard would be a target for many people. If that happened, they would have to go to the smaller courtyard. Moreover, the exit of the courtyard next door was very well hidden and very close to the evacuation point designated by the county government.

The old couple, Granny Zhao and her husband, who guarded the gate, were already waiting in the tunnel. When they saw Granny Lu coming, they quickly lit a lantern and led her there. Granny Zhao's husband escorted her to her destination and said to Granny Zhao, "Old woman, you stay here and serve me. I'm going upstairs to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhao grabbed her husband and whispered a scolding, "You old fool, you're practically half-buried, what are you doing acting so smart? You should just stay here."

Zhao Pozi's husband said, "Our county town is so secure, what's there to be afraid of? I used to kill the Northern Di people on the battlefield. I know what to do. Just take good care of our young lady and don't worry about anything else."

Old Mrs. Zhao knew that her husband was usually a man of few words, but once he spoke, he always meant what he said, so she stopped trying to stop him. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Old man, you must take good care of yourself. If things go wrong, run away quickly. We're getting old, not like those young people."

Granny Zhao's husband nodded to her and left without looking back.

Granny Zhao wiped away her tears, turned around and smiled at Granny Lu, saying, "Sister Lu, just tell me what you need."

Granny Lu sighed softly, took Granny Zhao's hand, and said, "Sister Zhao, don't worry, everything will be alright."

Xu Zhi clung tightly to Granny Lu, who gently patted her shoulder and said, "Ninth Miss, don't be afraid. We're all here. Everything will be alright."

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