The news of the young prince's growth spread rapidly throughout the Wenwang Mansion, and every servant who saw Gu Yuzhi congratulated him on his height.

Gu Yuzhi was all smiles all day, and even his dreams at night were sweet.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Gu Yuzhi led Xie Changshi and others to Xinliang.

Two years ago, the official roads were still somewhat bare, but now they are all golden as far as the eye can see.

He sat on the pony, gazing at the scenery, and unconsciously slowed his pace.

"Prefect Xie, look at the official road, it's really beautiful!"

What was once a tiny sapling, like a branch, has grown considerably without him even noticing. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, giving him an indescribable sense of peace.

Chief Secretary Xie stroked his beard, looking at the smooth official road and the saplings growing along it, and couldn't help but smile: "Yes, it's really beautiful!"

Who would have thought that just two years ago, this official road was overgrown with weeds, and one had to walk carefully, for fear that one or two bandits would jump out from the tangled weeds.

"The poplar trees grow quickly. In two or three years, when you walk on the official road in the summer, you shouldn't be exposed to the sun."

Imagining this scene, Gu Yuzhi shook his head and pointed to the wasteland behind the poplar trees, saying, "When more cotton seeds are harvested this year, we will have Prefect Qi encourage the people of Changzhou to come here to reclaim wasteland and plant more cotton."

He puffed out his cheeks and said, "I wonder where that person Gu Yufan sent is now. I just hope he hasn't found the Khan of the Northern Di."

He no longer expects the Northern Di people to be afraid and not dare to invade for two or three years.

In just one year, next September, the cotton harvest will be plentiful. Even if the soldiers can't wear thick coats, at least each of them will have a cotton vest.

When this matter was mentioned, the expressions of these people were obviously much uglier, especially Mr. Huo.

As a general who had fought against the Northern Di people since childhood, his hatred for them was etched into his very bones.

He spurred his horse and took up the seat to Gu Yuzhi's right: "Your Highness, after we arrive in Xinliang, I would like to go to the military camp and train with them for a while."

Although the things he learned in the military were ingrained in him, he had been away from the military for so many years and still wanted to familiarize himself with them again.

Gu Yuzhi looked up at him and asked, "Is that alright?"

There are still quite a few people in the Northern Desert Army who know Mr. Huo. Although General Lu is in charge now, it's hard to guarantee that no one will cause trouble.

But Gu Yufan is already dead, so Mr. Huo should be alright, right?

Before Mr. Huo could speak, Gu Yuzhi raised his right index finger: "I have a good idea!"

Chief Secretary Xie and the others all turned their gazes toward them: "What good idea do you have?"

Gu Yuzhi smiled and said, "Then I'll go to the military camp!"

Mr. Huo has been teaching him for over a year, and he should go into the military camp to experience the military life that Mr. Huo described and cooperate with the soldiers of the Northern Desert Army.

"Mr. Huo will go in as my personal bodyguard. As for his face..."

Gu Yuzhi scratched his head, looking rather troubled.

Upon hearing this, Guard Zhang chuckled and stepped forward: "Your Highness, I have discovered something wonderful in Jiangnan this time."

Gu Yuzhi tilted his head and blinked, then suddenly snorted, "Well, Guard Zhang, you found something good but didn't tell me right away!"

He crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks like a little bun: "Hmph, I'm angry."

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Guard Zhang pushed past Chief Secretary Xie, smiled, and bowed apologetically: "I'm so sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to. I wanted to tell Your Highness after I found out, but Your Highness was going to buy me weapons at the time, and I was so happy that I forgot about it."

He smiled and pulled something as thin as a cicada's wing from his pocket: "Your Highness, take a look at this."

Gu Yuzhi took the object, feeling a strange sensation in his hand: "What is this thing?"

Mr. Huo, who was standing nearby, noticed it and gasped: "A human skin mask?"

Guard Zhang nodded and said, "Yes, a human skin mask!"

"A human skin mask?" Gu Yuzhi unfolded it and looked at it, and indeed saw that it looked like a mask.

He shook it slightly again and repeated, "A human skin mask?"

He seemed taken aback and abruptly threw the mask to Guard Zhang: "Is this made of human skin?"

At that moment, Shu Xiaohan and Shopkeeper Wen exclaimed in unison, "A human skin mask?"

Shopkeeper Wen frowned and looked at Shu Xiaohan: "Teacher Shu, does your so-called modern society also have human skin masks?"

Teacher Shu shook her head vigorously: "No, no, people in our area don't need human skin masks at all if they want to disguise themselves."

All you need to do is get a full-face plastic surgery, and I guarantee even your mother won't recognize you.

She sighed softly, "We have people who write novels where I'm from..."

"It's a storybook. I always thought that human skin masks only existed in storybooks."

However, the human skin mask on TV looked quite thick, unlike the thin one that Guard Zhang was holding.

Shopkeeper Wen couldn't help but sigh, "Back in the previous dynasty, I also heard of human skin masks. I even offered a large reward for buying one, but I never actually saw one."

He never expected that the regret of his past life would be fulfilled in this one.

Guard Zhang handed the human skin mask back over: "Your Highness, rest assured, this thing is not made of human skin. It is called a human skin mask because when a person wears it, he will become a different person, and a thousand people will have a thousand faces."

Every person's bones and facial features are different, so the fit of a human skin mask will also vary, resulting in a unique appearance for each person.

He scratched his head and said, "I've heard that this stuff is made from the resin of some kind of tree. This tree only grows in Lingnan, and in very small quantities."

This item was discovered at the residence of the Yangzhou prefect, and considering that the Yangzhou prefect had previously spent some time in Lingnan, Guard Zhang felt that this rumor was more credible.

Upon hearing that it wasn't made of human skin, Gu Yuzhi took the mask back, turned around and handed it to Mr. Huo, saying excitedly, "Mr. Huo, please put it on and let me see if it really turns you into a different person."

Mr. Huo naturally did not refuse. He aimed the mask at his face, put it on, and adjusted it slightly to make it fit him better.

Gu Yuzhi stared without blinking, and then saw Mr. Huo's face suddenly transform into that of a completely different person. He was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. He simply poked it with his hand, and it was no different from poking a person's face.

His big eyes darted around: "Mr. Huo, how do you feel?"

Mr. Huo shook his head: "I can only feel something on my face, but I don't feel any other discomfort."

Gu Yuzhi then exclaimed with a look of amazement, "So there really are such amazing things in this world!"