As his name suggests, Gao Wenjie is tall and refined.

He looks like a young man even though he's forty.

This contrasts sharply with the burly Cao Gu standing next to him.

Gao Wenjie showed no displeasure, and smiled as he bowed to Cao Gu, saying, "General Cao, you've worked hard."

"The drought along the Yellow River has also affected Luoyang, but the people are not panicked by the issuance of the water control order."

"It just so happens that the noble families are raising funds for this severe drought these days. Lord Cao, please come along."

Cao Gu's eyes darkened unconsciously.

Whenever a natural disaster struck, prominent families would organize fundraising events to demonstrate their concern for the country and its people.

It mainly involves the matriarchs of the household electing one family to be the head of the household.

The host sent invitations to prominent families within the city.

Everyone would gather together to eat and drink, and then a banquet would be set up outside the mansion gate, where ordinary people could also come and eat.

Then, at the end of the banquet, each family donated silver.

The money was handed over to the master, who then made the decisions regarding its expenditure and destination.

It is considered part of disaster relief.

Others might say, "A distinguished family, virtuous people."

But Cao Gu was a man who knew exactly what was going on.

First of all, only the master family knows exactly how much money was used for disaster relief.

Secondly, it's a drought, so hosting a banquet is extremely expensive.

The imperial court has stated that powerful and wealthy families are not allowed to be extravagant and wasteful. He is the garrison inspector. What should he do in this situation?

To stop it? Then you just don't want everyone to participate in disaster relief.

Aren't you going to stop us? If the garrison inspectors are allowing everyone to have a banquet, then let's have one!

This was Gao Wenjie's way of showing Cao Gu a warning.

Cao Gu chuckled and stopped calling him "Brother Gao." "Lord Gao, this is Luocheng territory. Of course, you should make the decision on such an important matter."

"I'm really tired after patrolling around, so I'll just take a short break in Los Angeles."

Cao Gu is truly cunning. He claims to be staying only briefly, but who knows how many days his brief stay actually lasts?

When masters clash, it can happen in an instant.

Cao Gu checked into the official post station, using the excuse that he was too tired, and refused to eat with Gao Wenjie.

Gao Wenjie returned to the government office and sat in the study for a long time without coming out.

The light of the setting sun shone through the window, its rays shattering against the windowpane.

Gao Wenjie stared at the empty desk, feeling a mix of tension and relief.

He didn't want Cao Gu to get involved in this mess, and he had already given Cao Gu a hard time, but Cao Gu insisted on staying, and there was nothing he could do.

What's meant to come will come.

Well, it's finally coming to an end.

Knock knock.

There was a knock on the study door. "My lord, Du Ziming, the head of the Du family, has come to visit."

The Du family...

Gao Wenjie composed himself, took out a book and placed it in front of him, "Please invite Patriarch Du in."

"yes."

Du Ziming was in his fifties, and he came in with a young man in his thirties.

"Master Gao."

"Brother Du, Brother Pan, please have a seat."

The attendant served tea and then left, closing the study door behind him.

Gao Wenjie looked Du Ziming up and down. "Brother Du, you've lost weight."

Du Ziming waved his hand, "At my age, being too fat is troublesome. Two years ago in the capital, I asked a friend to find an imperial physician to examine me."

"The imperial physician told me to control my food intake."

"Being a little thin is just right."

Pan Cong is the kind of gentle and refined gentleman who looks perfectly natural even in women's clothing.

Gao Wenjie lowered his eyes. "How are the preparations for Brother Du's fundraising banquet going?"

"It's all the usual procedure, no need to worry. I heard Cao Gu is here?"

"Well, he's just inspecting the water control order; he'll leave in a day or two," Gao Wenjie thought to himself, wondering if there was a way to get Cao Gu away within a day or two.

Pan Cong, who was standing to the side, suddenly opened his fan.

"Lord Gao, perhaps this is fate."

"This Caogu might be the opening for us to break through the garrison."

"Let him attend the fundraising banquet the day after tomorrow. He is, after all, the garrison commander. It would be inappropriate for him not to attend our banquet."

Seeing that Gao Wenjie was still hesitating, Pan Cong gave a half-smile.

"Lord Gao, how is Young Master Gao's condition?"

"The new medicine is on its way and will arrive in a few days."

Gao Wenjie's hand, which was under the table, clenched tightly without his notice. He forced a smile and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Pan."

After seeing the person off, the servants brought in dinner.

"Sir, please have something to eat."

The servants vaguely sensed that the master was unhappy every time the head of the Du family left.

Gao Wenjie found the porridge tasteless, but he struggled to finish it. He had to eat; he had to survive.

He must survive in the position of Prefect of Luozhou.

After finishing his meal, he got up and went to the inner courtyard, where he entered a dimly lit room.

Inside lay a gaunt young boy.

The boy had thinning hair, a withered face, and bite marks on his lips.

Upon seeing Gao Wenjie, he smiled and said, "Father... I'm great. I haven't touched that thing for two days."

Gao Wenjie felt very depressed.

His son, his young lad, was originally dashing and full of promise, with a bright future ahead of him.

But just a few days after he became the prefect of Luozhou, his son contracted a strange illness and suffered from pain all night long.

Despite seeking treatment from numerous renowned doctors, no effective treatment was found.

He handled political affairs while taking care of his son. His wife had died early, and only the two of them and a few servants lived at home.

When his son was in excruciating pain, he grabbed his father's hand and said, "Father, let me die."

Later, by chance, Du Ziming, the head of the Du family, presented him with a kind of medicine.

After my son took it, his pain subsided.

The price to pay is addiction; the amount consumed becomes larger and more frequent.

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