"Alright."
Feng Shouzhuo could also see that Feng Xiu had taken the long view, though he still harbored some resentment over the others keeping their actions from him.
He nodded solemnly, then hurried at a quick trot to the study.
A short while later, Feng Shouzhuo returned carrying several thick books, with a broad map scroll tucked beneath his arm.
Seeing this, Han Che hurriedly pushed several tables together.
After setting down the books, Feng Shouzhuo spread open the map scroll. The entirety of Cloud Province—its mountains and rivers, cities, counties, and villages—lay before their eyes.
The others promptly gathered around. Feng Xiu smoothed out the raised folds in the map, his finger gliding across the smooth lines faintly scented with ink.
At last, it stopped at a black vertical bar about a finger's length long.
"Young Master, this is Dao Cloud Gorge. The nine cities and eighteen counties within Guangtong Prefecture are all located nearby."
"Ten years ago, the Eastern Army Governor's Office's Left Guard was briefly stationed here. But later, for some unknown reason, they withdrew."
Han Che's brows furrowed slightly. The matter seemed to stir some memory in his mind; he had some impression of it.
Dao Cloud Gorge was the throat that controlled the river-valley basin, and most of Guangtong Prefecture's cities fell within this region as well.
Back then, the Eastern Army's Left Guard had imposed controls over Dao Cloud Gorge, making it difficult for escort caravans to pass through. Even with Martial Suppression Tokens issued by the Embroidered Uniform Directorate, they were still hard-pressed to gain passage.
"Brother Xiao Han, the Left Guard originally intended to establish a major camp here. With the Left Guard stationed in Cloud Province, the Center Guard in Jin Province, and the Right Guard in You Province, the three