The next morning, the group set off for Jingxiang.

Gu Yuzhi couldn't help but recall what Mr. Huo had said about the origins of these fortresses. When he saw them again, a strange feeling arose in Gu Yuzhi's heart.

He pointed to his heart and said silently, "Teacher Shu, why do I feel a little sad..."

He gestured with his index finger and thumb: "It's still a little bit shocking."

Besides being shocked, there was another, very unfamiliar feeling.

But he couldn't explain it, and he didn't know how to describe it.

This feeling is especially strong as you go further in, once the fortress's exterior is no longer white.

He slowly shared his feelings with Shu Xiaohan, his eyes fixed on the fortresses until the carriage stopped.

Shu Xiaohan couldn't help but look out from Gu Yuzhi's perspective.

Returning to the same place, I was bewildered the first time and shocked the second.

The ancients were indeed wise.

As a researcher, she couldn't discern the defensive principles behind these white fortresses, but she knew that they had made significant contributions in the battles to protect the northern desert and resist the northern barbarians.

These white fortresses, and the stories behind them, should have been recorded in history. However, due to the King of Chu's selfishness, the people here were destroyed and their families were ruined, and these fortresses were abandoned for so many years.

Shu Xiaohan sighed silently, feeling only a sense of tragic grandeur amidst the charred fortresses and the overgrown weeds.

Seeing these familiar fortresses again after many years, Mr. Huo was filled with unease. When he jumped off the carriage, he staggered a little and slowly walked to a white fortress. He gently patted the fortress and then gave a self-deprecating smile.

Now that things have come to this, he naturally won't dwell on the past anymore; the present and the future are what matter most!

Mr. Huo led Gu Yuzhi and the others slowly inside, explaining as they walked: "Your Highness, although these fortresses seem to be randomly distributed, each one was actually carefully designed when it was built."

This naturally involves how to make more rational and flexible use of these fortresses.

No matter how powerful a fortress is, it is still an inanimate object and has fatal flaws.

Once the enemy completely captures this place, they can simply set it on fire, and the people inside will have no chance of survival; they will either be burned alive or suffocated by the thick smoke.

The Jingxiang massacre was precisely because the other side took advantage of this.

Therefore, when building a fortress, one should try to avoid this drawback as much as possible.

Mr. Huo continued, "The outer walls of these fortresses are not easily ignited, so the distance between each fortress is not very far, so that if one fortress catches fire, the surrounding fortresses can react quickly."

"And most importantly, if someone unfamiliar with the area enters the inner circle of this fortress..."

As Mr. Huo spoke, he squatted down and quickly began to draw on the ground. In no time, the distribution of fortresses throughout the entire Jingxiang Township was drawn.

He casually plucked a branch from a tree: "Has Your Highness noticed anything?"

What do you see?

Gu Yuzhi scratched his head, leaned closer to examine it carefully, and after a while asked uncertainly, "Is this a maze?"

Mr. Huo nodded in agreement: "Your Highness is right. This is a maze, but not entirely. It requires the integration of trees, flowers, and irrigation ditches, among other basic infrastructure, to transform it into different and more complex mazes."

Throughout history, the northern desert regions have always been invaded by the Northern Di people, and the Sang Dynasty was no exception.

The Huo family has been stationed here since the founding of the country, spanning several generations. They are most familiar with the fighting methods of the Northern Di people, but the Northern Di people are ever-changing.

They also began to learn about Central Plains culture, military strategy, and how to use force against the weak.

The Huo family naturally understood that if their military strategy remained unchanged, it was only a matter of time before they were defeated by the Northern Di.

Therefore, the Huo family took this into account when building this white fortress.

Once the Northern Barbarians enter the fortress, they can be trapped inside.

Gu Yuzhi was dumbfounded, thinking how clever the Huo family was; these once solemn fortresses had become mysterious.

The thought of those Northern Di people who had stormed in with great momentum, only to find themselves unable to find the exit and wandering around aimlessly before being shot dead filled him with a sense of smug satisfaction.

Although Xie Changshi and the others knew the purpose of the fortress, this was the first time they had learned that there was such a science behind the distribution of the fortress.

Everyone listened intently, and Mr. Huo took the opportunity to explain a few simple maze layouts to them.

When these things were mentioned, Mr. Huo even smiled: "After one or two times, the news of the fortress maze spread among the Northern Di people, so they were very wary of it. But once they entered Jingxiang, they had no choice but to comply."

Because the entrance to the maze was hidden, the Northern Di people entered the maze without realizing it, and by the time they realized it, they could no longer get out.

Gu Yuzhi kept nodding his head, until he felt a little dizzy. He held his head and looked at Chief Secretary Xie: "Chief Secretary Xie, why do you have two heads...?"

Chief Secretary Xie...

Startled, Xie Changshi rushed forward and hugged Gu Yuzhi. He noticed that Gu Yuzhi's face was flushed. Gu Yuzhi looked up at the sky and asked worriedly, "The sun is scorching. Has Your Highness suffered from heatstroke?"

Mr. Huo was also startled by Gu Yuzhi's words and dropped the stick to go and check.

Gu Yuzhi shook his head violently, which made him even more dizzy. He was so frightened that he obediently huddled in Xie Changshi's arms and didn't move.

Chief Secretary Xie hurriedly carried him back to the carriage, slightly opened his robe for him, and gently fanned him with a fan.

This isn't the Wen residence, so there's no ice to cool His Highness down. The long journey, coupled with the fact that they hadn't noticed the time while talking, meant His Highness had been exposed to the sun for quite some time, leading to this hallucination.

Mr. Huo returned with his guards after searching for some medicine to cool them down. Gu Yuzhi had already fallen into a deep sleep, and his cheeks were much redder than before.

The little white snake, which had been obediently staying in his wrist, now coiled itself up in circles and lay firmly on Gu Yuzhi's forehead, serving as a perfect ice towel.

Gu Yuzhi was unconscious for a long time and didn't wake up until evening. He looked at the dimly lit carriage, then glanced at Mr. Huo who was sitting cross-legged next to him. He leaned forward and said in a very soft and mysterious voice, "Mr. Huo, I want to tell you a little secret."

Mr. Huo was slightly taken aback, and mimicking him, whispered, "What little secret?"

As Gu Yuzhi spoke, he nodded solemnly, indicating that what he said was true: "Before I fainted, I really saw that Chief Secretary Xie had two heads!"