The next day, the group arrived in Quanzhou. Not long after entering the city, the lively cries of vendors came from outside the carriage. Gu Yuzhi lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked out. He saw vendors setting up stalls, peddlers going from street to street, and people chatting in twos and threes.
Unlike their last visit to Jeonju, the people here were mostly smiling.
Gu Yuzhi rested his chin on his hands and looked outside, feeling somewhat uneasy.
He said dejectedly, "Chief Secretary Xie, what will happen to the people of the whole prefecture if the Northern Di people start fighting?"
Following Gu Yuzhi's gaze, Xie Changshi looked outside and then said softly, "If it were the Northern Desert Army led by Bai Jiwu, the people of the whole prefecture might have been displaced."
If Bai Jiwu continues to neglect the Mobei Army, not only will the people of the entire prefecture fall, but the entire Mobei region could very well fall.
His voice was somewhat heavy, but Gu Yuzhi's eyes lit up and his voice became much more cheerful: "Does Chief Secretary Xie mean that with General Lu and Brother Tian Shu there, can the people of the whole prefecture still live and work in peace and contentment as they do now?"
He really enjoys this kind of ordinary, down-to-earth life.
While they might not live in peace and prosperity, at least they wouldn't suffer too much from the ravages of war.
They are now on guard against the King of Chu's plan. General Lu has also received the news and is making the most of his time to train his troops, waiting for winter to arrive.
Gu Yuzhi glanced at the lively scene outside the window a few more times before reluctantly turning his gaze away. Then, his eyes darted around, and he whispered to Chief Secretary Xie, "Chief Secretary Xie, when General Lu arrives, I don't want to see him yet."
Chief Clerk Xie raised an eyebrow slightly, asking with a hint of disbelief, "Why didn't you see General Lu first?"
If he remembered correctly, the young prince invited General Lu to help him put sacks on the ground the first time they met, clearly showing that he trusted and liked him a lot.
Is it because she's been a long time apart and is she a little shy, or is it because of some incident that she has a grudge against General Lu?
Chief Secretary Xie glanced at Gu Yuzhi and saw a hint of resentment on his face. He immediately understood that General Lu had somehow displeased His Highness.
He smiled slightly, concealing his inner thoughts: "Is there something General Lu has done wrong?"
Gu Yuzhi snorted and muttered a complaint to him: "Of course I don't object to Guard Qi going to the military camp, but General Lu didn't ask me first, but instead told Guard Qi."
He pouted and continued, "If Guard Qi hadn't told me, I wouldn't have understood why he left!"
The thought that if Guard Qi hadn't told him from the beginning, but instead had remained hesitant until now, when they learned that the King of Chu was going to cooperate with the Northern Di, and Guard Qi had suddenly told him, he definitely wouldn't have been able to accept it.
Xie Changshi suddenly remembered that day when the young prince suddenly asked them what they wanted to do after Xinliang was completed.
It's probably because of Guard Qi's sudden announcement that the young prince felt fear, afraid that these people, like Guard Qi, would eventually leave him.
Xie Changshi glanced at the little prince, who was puffing up with anger, and suddenly realized that although the little prince was very self-disciplined and sometimes even acted like a little adult, he was still a child who needed care and protection.
A child who was "exiled" at a very young age, and who developed a strong dependence on his followers who protected him from afar.
Even knowing that they were actually sent by the Emperor, the young prince never complained.
A strong sense of guilt welled up in Xie Changshi's heart, but looking into the young prince's bright and clear eyes, Xie Changshi knew that he didn't need to say anything, he just needed to listen to him.
He said softly, "Alright. When General Lu arrives, I will have Mr. Huo make things difficult for him and ask him how he dared to poach Your Highness's people without consulting you."
Gu Yuzhi's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he turned to look at Mr. Huo with a smug look: "Mr. Huo, although General Lu worked under you before, you will help me now, right?"
One was a former subordinate who had made a mistake, and the other was his own disciple, or rather, the young prince who had saved him from dire straits. Whom should he help? Even without Xie Changshi saying so, Mr. Huo already knew.
He raised his eyebrows and said seriously, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will always stand by your side! If General Lu fails to realize the seriousness of the matter this time, I will invite him to Jingxiang and have a good talk with him about the past!"
Upon hearing this, Shu Xiaohan couldn't help but laugh: "Mr. Huo sounds like a school bully, always calling people to fight on the playground at the slightest disagreement."
Gu Yuzhi blinked, clearly not understanding what the school bully and the small playground meant, but he understood what it meant to arrange a fight.
He twirled his index finger for a while, but still felt a little reluctant: "Mr. Huo, if General Lu doesn't realize his mistake, we shouldn't lay a hand on him. At worst, we'll just ignore him except for important matters."
Gu Yuzhi felt that he liked lively atmospheres and people chatting and laughing, and that General Lu would definitely like it too. He thought that when he spoke, no one would pay attention to him, and he would know that he was wrong.
The group soon arrived at the inn, which belonged to the Wen family business. The chef there was naturally transferred from the previous inn.
As soon as Gu Yuzhi entered, the innkeeper recognized him and followed him in with a smile: "Your Highness, you've come at the right time. The inn's chef has invented new dishes based on the specialties of Quanzhou, and the feedback from the people of Quanzhou has been excellent these past two days."
Would you like to try some?
As soon as the shopkeeper finished speaking, Gu Yuzhi nodded vigorously, repeatedly saying, "Yes, yes."
The slight displeasure he felt because of General Lu vanished instantly at the shopkeeper's words, and he covered his mouth and chuckled secretly.
It's definitely better to be a prince. Not only can you travel all over the country, but you can also eat all kinds of delicious food!
Seeing that Gu Yuzhi agreed, the shopkeeper smiled and said "Yes," and hurriedly went to have someone change the bedding for His Highness.
These things at the inn are not to the liking of the young prince; his bedding must be made of silk.
The shopkeeper's eyes gleamed as he recalled Xin Liang's extensive renovation of the mulberry grove.
Once the silkworm industry develops in northern Mongolia, it will be much cheaper for them to buy bedding and similar items.
While the shopkeeper was busy with his own little schemes, Gu Yuzhi sat comfortably in his chair, sipping his tea.
He rested his chin on his hand, blinking as he looked out the window.
The guards have already gone to inform Prefect Ke and General Lu; perhaps Guard Qi will also come upon hearing the news…
Gu Yuzhi thought this for a moment, then shook his head violently. No, no.
Now, Guard Qi is the Vanguard Qi; whether or not he can leave the military camp is not up to him, but requires General Lu's approval...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
