"By the way, how many people do you have under your command? How many are there in the Imperial Guards?"

Luo Shanhai said immediately.

"If it was someone else asking, I wouldn't say a word. After all, this involves the secrets of the capital. But it's different when you ask, Your Majesty!"

"If you don't count the garrison soldiers, there are a total of 1,800 people. Normally, there are 200 people guarding each gate."

"The Imperial Guards are the garrison soldiers and also the imperial palace guards. If you add them together, there are 20,000 of them."

Qian Ruoyu was surprised after hearing this. She never thought that Luo Shanhai actually had more than 20,000 people under his command.

After all, Qian Ruoyu usually got along well with Luo Shanhai, so she didn't realize that he was any powerful at all. But after hearing what he said, Qian Ruoyu realized that the number of troops under his command actually exceeded that of the prince outside the city.

But it is true, after all, he is in charge of nine gates and the palace guards, so it is reasonable for him to be in charge of more than 20,000 people.

In this way, the total number of officers and soldiers stationed in the capital reached 21,800, which is indeed enough to resist foreign enemies.

Especially since there are other garrison camps around, the total number of people involved is probably no less than 100,000.

But Qian Ruoyu had more doubts in his heart. If that was the case, wouldn't it be easier and simpler to just withdraw 10,000 imperial guards to attack those bandits? Moreover, these imperial guards were well-equipped and well-trained, and they could obviously deal with them in the fastest time.

Therefore, Qian Ruoyu immediately expressed his doubts. Luo Shanhai in front of him thought about it for a while and then said to Qian Ruoyu.

"Well... I'm afraid he has his own ideas. He may also be worried about the lack of defense, so he chose not to let me take action. Otherwise, I would have been itching to fight those bandits!"

"Don't even mention 5,000 troops. Even if I mobilize 1,000, I can easily deal with those bandits!"

Hearing these words, Qian Ruoyu felt much more relieved. It seemed that although Luo Shanhai was the commander-in-chief of the Nine Gates, he did not lack training in his daily life. Otherwise, how could he be able to speak so confidently?

Luo Shanhai's confidence made Qian Ruoyu certain that the capital would not be easily breached, after all, with Luo Shanhai's presence.

At the same time, Qian Ruoyu was also certain that even if the plague was resolved, the problems on the border might not be resolved, and there were still some strange people roaming around.

Qian Ruoyu said calmly to Luo Shanhai.

"Lord Luo, it really makes everyone feel more at ease knowing that you are here to protect the capital!"

"But I think there will be some problems in suppressing the bandits this time, and I have asked someone to recommend myself to Your Majesty. If they fail to suppress the bandits, perhaps I can go. I wonder if I can get your support then, Lord Luo?"

After all, for Qian Ruoyu, it is completely impossible to suppress the bandits without any manpower. If Luo Shanhai can help, that would be a good thing!

After hearing what Qian Ruoyu said, Luo Shanhai was even more confused. He never thought that Qian Ruoyu, a woman, could say such words.

But Qian Ruoyu looked calm and obviously didn't take the matter to heart.

"This... If your Majesty needs help, please come to me at any time. Even if I have to allocate 2,000 people to you, I can do it..."

Hearing this, Qian Ruoyu felt relieved, but Qian Ruoyu said.

"That's not necessary. A few manpower will be enough. However, I still need sophisticated weapons. It seems that there is indeed a problem with the capital's arsenal. I will investigate it carefully when the time comes."

Luo Shanhai nodded quickly, and Qian Ruoyu then left the Governor's Mansion.

Just after that, Qian Ruoyu returned to the palace, and Jin Lianhua, who had been out for a day, also returned to the palace.

This year, a miserable and shameful look, as if he was in a hurry to come back and inform Qian Ruoyu, Qian Ruoyu said immediately.

"Have some tea first, there's no need to be so anxious."

After drinking the tea, Jin Lianhua spoke directly to Qian Ruoyu.

"My Lady, I have already investigated clearly. There is not just one stronghold on Jiulong Mountain, but three strongholds!"

"These three mountain strongholds form a horn-shaped formation. The largest mountain stronghold is on the top of the mountain, and on the left and right sides are two small mountain strongholds less than a mile away. The three mountain strongholds can support each other. I'm afraid it won't take more than an incense stick of time to go back and forth!"

"And I also sneaked into those mountain strongholds to investigate. The number of people in the two small mountain strongholds should be more than 200, and the number of people in the big mountain stronghold is nearly 1,000!"

After hearing these words suddenly, Qian Ruoyu was extremely shocked, because this meant that there were a total of 1,200 bandits on Jiulong Mountain, which was no longer a small scale.

After hearing these words suddenly, Qian Ruoyu was extremely shocked, because this meant that there were a total of 1,200 bandits on Jiulong Mountain, which was no longer a small scale.

"By the way, these numbers do not include the weak and disabled. The old, weak and disabled raise chickens and ducks in the mountains, and also farm on the mountains. It seems that they are self-sufficient. I also vaguely saw that they have their own craftsmen."

Hearing this news suddenly made Qian Ruoyu feel even more shocked.

Because this means that these three mountain strongholds are not small players, and it is even possible that they can easily eliminate those who go up the mountain.

No wonder they came to hijack the medicinal materials that were transported under the emperor's order. It turned out that they were indeed well prepared.

"In that case, it seems that this is not a trivial matter. In this case, I will write a letter to the prince now to see if I can get some information from him. After all, these things are very important, and I can't let the prince know what I want to do!"

After all, if Chu Mobai really knew that Qian Ruoyu wanted to suppress the bandits, he would probably stop him at the first opportunity. This was not what Qian Ruoyu wanted to do, so Qian Ruoyu wrote a letter cryptically, wanting to ask for some so-called military information.

After the letter was written, it was handed to Jinlianhua, who immediately set out for the city.

After all, there are more than a thousand bandits, Qian Ruoyu thought to himself, and the terrain is steep. If they attack the mountain stronghold like this, I am afraid that the number of people needed will be more than just one or two thousand!

After thinking about this, Qian Ruoyu leaned back in his chair, looking outside, thinking about something in his mind.