"Hahaha, as expected of the unicorn of the Niu family."

Niu Baoguo smiled happily: "With you here, my Niu family can prosper for at least three more generations."

Niu Bi watched them play a game of charades, feeling like an outsider.

"Father, please stop laughing. How did our Niu family become a castle in the air? What exactly are we trying to do?"

Niu Baoguo ignored him and instead looked at Niu Wude and said, "Wude, our Niu family may seem to be doing well now, but we don't actually have much to offer."

"This time, with the mobilization of the imperial guards, I will arrange for all the household servants and soldiers to go to Jiangnan with you to support the Regent."

"Grandpa has exchanged all the family's money for armor, weapons, and provisions. This is all the Niu family's wealth. You will take it with you to Jiangnan to support the Prince. Once you get there, perform well and don't come back to the Niu family."

"Have the prince arrange a place for you, anywhere is fine, preferably the border. The prince is the kind of person who will definitely not let the Liao people and the Manchus go. Anyway, no matter where you go, just don't go back to the capital."

"Once you're there, stay put and do your job well, understand?"

Upon hearing this, Niu Wude's eyes instantly reddened: "Grandpa, I..."

“Niu Wude, stand up.” Niu Baoguo looked at him, his voice somewhat stern.

“A real man sheds blood but not tears. What kind of behavior is this, crying and sobbing?”

After he finished speaking, he patted Niu Wude on the shoulder and said, "Foolish child, don't cry. It's not like we're parting forever. What's there to cry about?"

"Your grandfather fought his way out of a bloodbath. Back then, many members of the Niu family followed Emperor Taizu on his expeditions, but only your grandfather survived to this day."

"How many members of the Niu family died on the battlefield, died in front of your grandfather, just to earn the position of a Duke."

“You’ve been smart since you were little, and you’re hardworking. You’ve never missed a day of martial arts training, and you understand military strategy very quickly. Grandpa believes in you and that you can carry on the Niu family’s legacy.”

"As long as you succeed, our Niu family will not fall."

Niu Wude nodded, knelt down, and kowtowed several times.

"Master, the servants and guards of the manor have all arrived."

Niu Baoguo helped his grandson up: "Let's go, let's get to know the true heritage of our Niu family."

"Everyone thinks that the foundation of our Niu family lies in the shops outside, the Treasure Pavilion, and the gold and silver treasures in the storeroom. But in fact, these things are nothing in Grandpa's eyes."

"Those people have no idea what the true strength of our Niu family is."

Niu Wude followed him out of the study and saw the Niu family's wealth and influence: several white-haired old scholars, a group of martial artists exuding a sharp aura, and several stern-faced family soldiers.

He recognized some of these people; his kung fu and knowledge were taught by them. But he had never even met some of them before.

"Greetings, Patriarch; greetings, Eldest Young Master; greetings, Young Master Wude."

Everyone bowed and greeted him. Most of them had already guessed what was going on, and their eyes were all sizing up Niu Wude.

"These brave men are the retainers of my Niu family. They are all masters known as grandmasters in the martial arts world."

“Those old scholars are truly capable intellectuals. They can understand the state of the world without leaving their homes. If there is anything you don’t understand, you should listen to their opinions.”

"These last family soldiers were personally trained by your grandfather. You can completely trust them. Even if they die, they will never betray my Niu family."

"There are also some people who are loyal bodyguards of the Niu family. Grandpa will tell you about them later."

"From now on, these people are in your hands. They represent the Niu family's wealth."

Niu Baoguo pointed at Niu Wude and addressed the servants and guards in the courtyard: "From now on, he will be your new head of the family. What he says is what I say."

"I humbly request my old friends and all those who make offerings to lend my Niu family a helping hand."

"Yes, Master!"

The handover between the old and new heads of the family was thus completed at the Niu residence.

Ten days later, groups of people set off from the capital, led by Yang Guofu and Zhang Liang.

The capital and Tai'an City were handed over to Zhang Jiadi again.

Wearing armor, Niu Wude led the Niu family's soldiers and set off with the army. He looked back at his grandfather, whose hair was completely white, on the city wall and felt a pang of heartache.

The Niu family has dismissed all the maids and servants in the mansion, leaving only some homeless servants to stay and serve in the Duke's mansion.

He exchanged all the money in the mansion for weapons and provisions, and took them with him.

His father and several uncles didn't understand his grandfather's actions, but he could.

When Emperor Taizu founded the country, he killed countless corrupt officials, and his methods were incredibly cruel.

The regent hated corrupt officials even more than the founding emperor, and his methods were even more ruthless. The reason he hadn't purged those people in the capital was twofold: first, he didn't have the time, and second, he couldn't find suitable officials to govern the Ming Dynasty.

Once they've eliminated the powerful families in other places and found enough talented people, then every single person in the capital will be caught in that trap.

As a descendant of a noble family, Niu Wude naturally knew about the sordid affairs among the nobles in the capital. If investigated, confiscating their property would be the least of his worries; the execution of the entire family would be the norm.

Everything Grandpa is doing now is not only to protect himself, but also to secure a future for himself.

Although Li Chang'an was not in the capital, Niu Wude believed that he must know about what was happening in the capital.

Jiangnan, Jingshan.

Tables of delicious dishes were served, and jars of fine wine were piled up like a small mountain.

Xiong Er hugged Murong Hongxue, laughing heartily: "Old Mu, it's been so long, I've missed you so much."

"How is my Cuihua doing? Has my son learned to walk yet? Can he call me 'Dad'?"

"It's all good, it's all good. Your son can do more than just call me 'Dad,' he can call me 'Dad' now."

"You son of a bitch..."

Xiong Er punched Murong Hongxue, and the two of them burst into laughter.

Chen Da then greeted the Confucian masters and arranged for them to take their seats.

Fengchu sat in his seat, looking at Qiao Feng opposite him. His expression changed drastically. He was about to tell Chen Da that he wanted to change seats when Qiao Feng recognized him.

"Isn't this the young Confucian scholar? I didn't see you on the way here."

Feng Chu smiled, his face pale, and greeted, "Hello, Brother Feng."

"Hey, we're all brothers, why are you so shy?"

"Last time we drank, I was so busy drinking with those two dukes that I didn't get to drink to my heart's content with you. This time, let's drink until we're both happy."

As Qiao Feng spoke, he took two jars of rice wine and placed them on the table: "Come on, let's drink one jar first to moisten our throats, and then drink the rest slowly."

"I'll drink first as a sign of respect."

He picked up a jar of wine and started drinking it down in large gulps.

Fengchu looked at him, his face deathly pale. After drinking it last time, he slept for two days and two nights, and when he woke up, he only felt pain in his buttocks.

Even now, thinking about it makes his buttocks ache. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Brother Feng, no."