On the day Su Yun'er's family moved into their new home, Gu Jingheng and his group were also about to set off.
Early this morning, Gu Jingheng and his three companions organized all the documents and letters they had handled during their time in Yongning City.
"General, this is all the information. It has been categorized and organized. I can't see anything wrong with Qingshui County; Sun Chengye has governed it quite well," Lian Yingtong said in a low voice.
Gu Jingheng also stopped reading the memorial and affixed his seal. He casually picked up his teacup, took a sip, placed the memorial on top of the stack of documents, and replied softly, "Sun Chengye's achievements over the years have been flawless. From the officials of the court to the common people, it seems that no one has any complaints about him."
"Isn't Sun Chengye perfect from this perspective? General, do you see anything wrong with it?"
Gu Jingheng shook his head slightly and chuckled, "I always feel that sometimes perfection is the greatest imperfection. But there are no problems now, so I hope it's just my imagination. Having such a flawless person is truly a blessing for the people."
After pausing for a moment, Gu Jingheng said again, "Seal these up and have Xu Meng send them out. Arrange for trusted men to send them back to the garrison camp first."
"Yes!" Lian Yingtong and Xu Meng clasped their hands in greeting.
The inspection of Yongning City was completed smoothly and peacefully, without disturbing the local officials.
This was exactly the result Gu Jingheng wanted. If the local officials knew about their arrival, even if they didn't make a big fuss, they would probably arrange for a cover-up behind the scenes, so that the local officials wouldn't be able to see the true state of the people.
"General, the matter in Yongning City is settled. Should we return to Fengzhou next?"
"Hmm, any news from Fengzhou?" Gu Jingheng asked.
Before coming to Yongning City, they stayed in Fengzhou for more than a month and found that officials there were encroaching on land, abusing and killing civilians, colluding with merchants, and driving up prices, making life miserable for the people.
Gu Jingheng conducted a secret investigation for a month and finally collected a large amount of evidence. The evidence was irrefutable. Gu Jingheng secretly ordered his personal guards to disarm the Fengzhou garrison before revealing his identity. The corrupt officials in Fengzhou tried to resist, but Gu Jingheng sent them to prison one by one.
The guards of the prison were replaced by Gu Jingheng's personal guards.
Thanks to the Imperial Guards, no news of the upheaval in Fengzhou City was leaked.
In order not to delay his journey, Gu Jingheng left some people in Fengzhou after sending a message to the capital, while he himself came to Qingshui County with three subordinates.
Judging by the timeline, Fengzhou should have already received a reply from the capital.
Before Lian Yingtong could speak, Ge Xianshun strode back.
After bowing, Ge Xianshun handed over a piece of brocade: "General, a letter from Fengzhou."
Gu Jingheng frowned when he saw the piece of brocade: "Why is the message sent this time made of such luxurious brocade?"
"Uh, I don't know."
Gu Jingheng knew, of course, that this was not Ge Xianshun's fault. After taking it, he removed the wax seal. It was a small square bag about the size of a palm, made of brocade. The brocade still carried a faint scent of amber. Inside the bag was a folded letter.
After reading it, Gu Jingheng said, "We will return to Yicheng in Fengzhou today. The palace servants sent by the capital to deliver the imperial decree have already arrived in Fengzhou."
The three subordinates all clasped their hands in a gesture of respect and agreed.
Gu Jingheng casually tossed the brocade pouch with the scent of amber onto the table.
Xu Meng looked at it, scratched his head with some longing, and asked, "General, do you still want this?"
Gu Jingheng's gaze shifted between Fang Bao and Xu Meng, then he smiled and said, "I don't want it anymore, you can take it if you want."
"Thank you, General!" Xu Meng beamed with joy, immediately picked up the bag, examined it carefully from top to bottom, and then tucked it into his pocket.
Seeing how much Xu Meng treasured it, Lian Yingtong and Ge Xianshun exchanged a glance, a sly glint in their eyes.
Finally, it was Ge Xianshun who spoke up.
"Xu Meng, I suggest you wash it first," Ge Xianshun said, unable to hold back any longer.
Xu Meng was a little confused: "Huh? Why? Won't it smell worse after washing?"
"The scent on this is that of amber and tangerine, which smells nice, but it's something that eunuchs in the palace love to use. If you do this, people will misunderstand."
After hearing Ge Xianshun's words, Xu Meng felt as if he had been slapped in the face. His hands trembled as he took out the bag: "I...I thought this was a perfume that girls like to use..."
Lian Yingtong couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Even Gu Jingheng, who rarely smiled, laughed. Looking at Xu Meng's dejected appearance, Gu Jingheng said with a smile, "Don't listen to my flattery first. This is just a fragrance that people in the palace like to use. Some concubines use it, some palace maids use it, and some eunuchs also use it. There's nothing special about it."
"Really?" Xu Meng wasn't so easily convinced by Gu Jingheng's words. He asked again to confirm, "Won't people mistake me for a eunuch if I use this incense?"
Hearing Xu Meng ask so seriously, Lian Yingtong and Ge Xianshun were already laughing until they cried. Gu Jingheng couldn't help but laugh too, and could only wave his hand and tell Xu Meng, "Don't worry, it won't happen."
Amid the laughter of the three, Xu Meng curled his lip and, in a show of defiance, shook the brocade bundle in front of Lian Yingtong and Ge Xianshun for a long time before stuffing it back into his own arms.
After laughing enough, Gu Jingheng wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and asked, "Xu Meng, how old are you this year?"
Xu Meng flashed a big smile: "General, I'm twenty years old this year."
Gu Jingheng nodded and said with a smile, "It's time for you to get married."
During the months away from Yongzhou, Gu Jingheng noticed that Xu Meng would sometimes unconsciously glance at the women in the market. Although he would always look away immediately, the frequency of this behavior eventually suggested something.
These men spend most of their time in the military, month after month, year after year. Since the military is full of men, once they leave the barracks, these bachelors inevitably pay more attention to the opposite sex.
Gu Jingheng was very strict in disciplining his troops. He wasn't afraid of his soldiers doing anything shameful, but he wouldn't completely forbid them from having contact with women.
Upon hearing Gu Jingheng mention marriage, Xu Meng blushed instantly, chuckled awkwardly, and scratched his head, saying, "I don't have anyone in mind yet. My family is so poor, where would anyone be willing to marry their daughter to me?"
"Now you are a general, protecting your country and receiving a government salary. You are no longer the poor boy you once were. It's time to think about marriage."
Xu Meng scratched his head: "But I don't know... how to meet... how to meet a girl."
As he said this, he looked at the other three people in turn.
"…………"
This question stumped everyone present...
Gu Jingheng was the first to break the awkward silence: "Alright, pack your things, it's time to leave."
Lian Yingtong and Ge Xianshun immediately jumped up and ran away as if they had received a pardon, and Xu Meng hurriedly chased after them.
The four of them checked out of their room and headed towards the pier.
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