Song Wan: "Don't worry, Boss, I've tied their legs with rope too. They can't run away even if they wanted to."
Xue Huan glanced at him sideways but didn't say anything.
Upon seeing this group, the city gate guards immediately became wary, gripping their sword hilts and forming a line to block the road.
Xue Huan raised his hand, signaling the people behind him to stop. He then walked to the front, took off an old bronze plaque from his waist, and handed it over.
" Xue Huan, the retired brigade commander of Zhechong Command, has come down the mountain today with his former troops to pay his respects to His Prince Yi. Please allow him to pass."
The garrison examined the bronze plaque from all angles, looking somewhat uncertain. They huddled together and whispered a few words before sending one of their men quickly into the city.
Xue Huan glanced back and saw that the ranks were standing in perfect order, with all 108 people standing in line, even the prisoners were keeping their heads down obediently.
Before long, the man returned.
Beside him was a man in his fifties, wearing a black robe, leaning on a cane, walking slowly, with a smile on his face, looking like a manager or steward.
He walked up to Xue Huan, looked him up and down, then glanced back at the group and the prisoners, his expression slightly taken aback.
" Xue Huan, the Brigade Commander?"
Xue Huan cupped his hands in greeting. "Indeed."
Fang Bi slammed his cane on the ground, surveyed the group from beginning to end, his gaze lingering on the two chests of silver and the twenty-two prisoners. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "These are..."
Xue Huan took down the crooked note and handed it to Fang Bi.
Fang Bi looked down, then looked up at Xue Huan, then turned back and glanced at the long line of prisoners. The smile on his lips gradually became hard to control.
He was just taking a walk after his meal when he happened to pass by and encountered this whole thing.
He cleared his throat, leaned on his cane, and took a half-step to the side, saying in an extremely calm tone, "Commander Xue, please wait a moment while I go and inform them."
After saying that, he carefully folded the note, put it in his sleeve, and, leaning on his cane, walked towards the city.
After walking a dozen steps, he turned back and took one last look at the 108 people behind Xue Huan. He suppressed a smile, lowered his head, and quickened his pace.
Inside the study of the old prince's mansion.
Gu Moran was flipping through the granary site selection map that Su Yao had compiled yesterday. There was a bowl of hot medicine next to him, and the smell of the medicine made him move half an inch to the side.
Shen Ling'er sat opposite him, holding a medicine spoon in her hand, her gaze fixed straight on him.
"Your Highness, it tastes three times as bitter when it's cold."
Gu Moran didn't look up, but turned to the second page of the site selection map.
"Knew."
He picked up the bowl of medicine, poured it in, drank it all in one gulp, put the bowl back, and continued looking at the pictures.
Shen Ling'er took the bowl, checked the bottom of it, and seeing that it was indeed clean, put down the medicine spoon and took out a candied fruit from her sleeve and handed it over.
Gu Moran took it, popped it into his mouth, and was about to say that there was an old irrigation canal at the foot of the mountain where the granary was to be located, which could be converted into an irrigation inlet, when the curtain moved and Fang Bi came in leaning on his cane.
The old man entered the room with a calm expression and steady steps. He first bowed to Gu Moran, then took out the note from his sleeve and handed it to her with both hands.
Gu Moran took it and glanced at it.
While he was reading the note, Shen Ling'er took the medicine bowl away, replaced it with a cup of warm tea, and placed it back beside him.
Gu Moran put down the note and remained silent for a moment.
Fang Bi stood to the side, speaking with extreme restraint, enunciating each word clearly:
"Commander Xue has brought 108 men, two chests of silver, and 22 captured bandits from the surrounding mountains. They are waiting at the city gate, awaiting Your Highness's instructions."
Gu Moran picked up the cup of warm tea, took a sip, twirled the note in his hand, and turned to Shen Ling'er.
"Go and fetch Madam Su, and while you're at it..." He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, "And bring Yun Shuyue along too."
Shen Ling'er stood up, carrying the medicine bowl, and walked out. Reaching the curtain, she turned her head and said, "Husband, those twenty-two prisoners..."
Gu Moran lowered his head, unfolded the site selection map again, and pointed to the location of the old water channel in the west of the city.
"Steward Fang, have Commandant Zhen take a look. See if these twenty or so men can be incorporated into the road construction team, so they can atone for their sins while working, instead of being kept as servants for nothing."
Fang Bi cupped his hands in greeting, bowed, and withdrew.
Xue Huan was still standing at the city gate, hands behind his back, waiting.
The wind blew in, carrying the scent of pine needles from the mountain into the city. The prisoners lowered their heads and hunched their shoulders, shivering from the cold.
Song Wan stamped her foot and whispered in Xue Huan's ear, "Boss, how about we sing 'I Love Tigers' to warm ourselves up first?"
Xue Huan's eyelid twitched.
"Sing one line, and I'll tie you up with those prisoners."
Song Wan immediately shut up.
After waiting for about half a cup of tea's time, footsteps could be heard coming from inside the city.
Fang Bi, leaning on a cane, and his group came out.
Leading the way was a young man with an upright posture, wearing an inconspicuous dark blue robe, his hair casually tied up, carrying a half-cup of tea in his hand. He walked slowly and stopped in front of Xue Huan.
Xue Huan had never met Gu Moran, but he had met many people and had a good eye for people.
He sized up the young man in front of him, then glanced at the group of people behind him.
He silently went through the storybook in his mind, matching the characters one by one, and got a general idea of what was going on.
He put away the bronze medal, raised his hand, and gave Gu Moran a solid military salute.
" Xue Huan, a retired brigade commander from Zhechong Command, led 108 men down the mountain to serve His Prince Yi."
He pointed behind him.
"A small gift, plus twenty-two captured bandits who have plagued the surrounding area for many years, to be disposed of by Your Highness."
He paused, his voice steady and resonant, honed by years of military service.
"We have no shortage of ability, nor do we lack discipline."
What's missing is someone who can put these skills to good use.
Gu Moran held the half-cup of tea and looked him up and down.
The gaze is neither hurried nor wandering.
From the old marks on Xue Huan's shoulders to his waist and his posture, from the two boxes of silver to the way the twenty-two prisoners were bound.
The knot is a knotting method used in the military.
He remained calm and Eye of Detection the results in his mind.
Xue Huan: Retired brigade commander of Zhechong Command, third-class military merit, core of his former subordinates, with no record of serving under two different masters.
Regarding Prince Yi's Residence: He was initially hesitant but eventually decided to return.
Core concern: Is this person worth gambling with the future of these 108 people?
Current loyalty: 72.
Gu Moran twirled the teacup in his hand, looked at Xue Huan, and spoke calmly.
"I'll accept your pledge of loyalty."