The ninth son of the emperor was demoted at the beginning. I have a famous Chinese general.

"Haha, of course."

"You're not bad either. You learn quickly."

Ning Quan said appreciatively.

Ning Quan didn't expect that Wanyue was so talented and her accuracy was so good right from the start.

"Thank you for the compliment, my husband. It's all thanks to my husband's good teaching."

Hearing the compliment, Li Wanyue's pretty face turned slightly red and she said shyly.

"Hahaha."

Ning Quan laughed out loud and felt happy.

"Okay, as long as you know how to use it, we only have fifty bullets. Once we use them up, we're out of them."

"Let's go back."

"Ah."

After that, the two of them left the backyard together.

"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the capital."

As the two of them arrived at the front hall, Zhuge Liang hurried in from outside.

"A letter from the capital? A letter from Butler Hu?"

Ning Quan asked.

After Ning Quan left the capital, everything in the palace was handed over to Butler Hu.

Managing the palace was one of his tasks, and another was to report major events in the capital to Ning Quan regularly.

"Yes, Your Highness, it was the letter sent by Butler Hu."

As he spoke, Zhuge Liang handed a letter to Ning Quan.

Ning Quan opened the letter and read it carefully.

"Haha, I didn't expect that."

"I've only been away from the capital for a few months, and yet so many big things have happened!"

After reading the letter, Ning Quan sighed.

"Your Highness, what's the matter?"

Zhuge Liang asked hurriedly.

"The prince fought against Nanqing and defeated the enemy army."

"That's one reason. The second reason is that Fang Yi, the governor of Pinglu, died of illness. The Prince of Zhenbei took the opportunity to launch a sudden attack, catching the Pinglu army off guard. Pinglu has now been captured by the Prince of Zhenbei."

"The third is Bohai County. The second son of the Bohai Jiedushi suddenly rebelled, leading the Zhendong King's army into Bohai County, resulting in a great defeat for the Bohai army. Jiedushi Wang Jing died in the chaos."

Ning Quan explained.

When Zhuge Liang heard Ning Quan's words, his expression changed.

"Your Highness, these series of actions by the court must have been premeditated."

After a moment, Zhuge Liang said in a deep voice

"Yes, but I didn't expect it to be so fast."

"Prime Minister, do you think this is good or bad for us?"

Ning Quan asked.

"Your Highness, this matter has no impact on us."

"If Your Highness is worried that the imperial court will become even stronger after taking back Pinglu and Bohai counties, then there is no need to worry."

"It's good that Your Majesty doesn't take action. The governors of various places can at least keep their face."

"But after this action, the Jiedushis of various regions will certainly be extremely vigilant, and there's even the possibility of an alliance. The situation in the Daqian Dynasty will become even more complicated."

Zhuge Liang explained.

"Well, you have a point."

"No matter who your majesty wants to devour next, it won't be that easy. If you push them too hard, it might even lead to a rebellion."

Ning Quan nodded.

The biggest drawback of the Daqian Dynasty was that the military governors in various places had their own troops and were independent.

Once they are pushed into a corner, these military governors will unite and Ning Yuanwu may not be able to stop them.

After all, they occupied half of Daqian, both in terms of population and military strength.

"Well, never mind."

"We just mind our own business."

"Who is this messenger? He must have come such a long way."

"The Prime Minister will make good arrangements later. Let him rest for a few more days, and then return with the letter."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhuge Liang bowed.

"By the way, have you finished screening all the prisoners?"

Ning Quan asked again.

"Your Majesty, not yet. There are too many prisoners, and it will take a long time to screen them one by one."

Zhuge Liang reported back.

"Well, let's sort it out slowly."

"Just let someone else do the screening work, don't let General Huo be in charge."

"Notify General Huo and have him return to Qilian Mountain immediately to continue investigating the details of the bandits."

"As long as the bandit problem is not dealt with, it will continue to be a disaster."

"By the way, tell Master Man that the construction of the city wall needs to be accelerated."

"If the wall had been one meter higher in today's battle, we wouldn't have had so many casualties."

Ning Quan added.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Zhuge Liang bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left.

"Wanyue, I'm going to visit the village down below tomorrow. Do you want to go?"

After Zhuge Liang left, Ning Quan asked with a smile.

"Yes, my husband didn't take me with him last time he went to the fort."

Li Wanyue said coquettishly.

"Haha, the fort is too far from the county town, I don't want you to work hard."

"It won't matter this time. These villages are all nearby. We can just take a carriage."

Ning Quan said lovingly.

"Well, let's go together tomorrow."

Hearing this, Li Wanyue said sweetly.

"it is good."

.........

The next morning,

After some preparation, Ning Quan and Li Wanyue went out hand in hand.

Also accompanying him were Zhuge Liang, Zhang Tinggao and others.

There are seven villages under the jurisdiction of Hulan, all distributed around Hulan City. The nearest village is only five miles away from the county seat, and the farthest is no more than twenty miles away.

Each village is not big. The largest village has only a hundred or so households and less than a thousand people.

The people lived in poverty because the land was too little and too barren, and the grain produced was not enough to feed themselves.

Then there were the rampant bandits. Every year there would be bandits coming to rob the people and take away all their only food and property.

Fortunately, bandits usually only rob money and food and do not kill people, otherwise the people would not be able to survive.

Shilipu Village, located five miles southwest of Hulun City, is the largest village under the jurisdiction of Hulun.

Ning Quan came here first after setting off.

From a distance, the village was full of dilapidated adobe houses, and it looked dilapidated at first glance.

On the west side of the village is a wheat field, which is estimated to be about a thousand acres.

It is now the season when wheat fields are ripe, and people are busy harvesting wheat in the fields.

But obviously, the little food the people harvested was not enough to feed their entire family.

It would be good enough to have food for half a year, and that's without any grain tax.

Several children were playing at the village gate. When they saw Ning Quan and others arriving, they all looked over here with curious eyes.

The adults who were busy working in the fields also stopped and gathered around to watch Ning Quan and others.

"Isn't this Magistrate Zhang?"

"Why are you here?"

Upon hearing the news, the village chief Liu Daniu hurried over and when he saw Zhang Tinggao he immediately came forward and said.

Liu Daniu is in his forties, with a rough appearance and a burly build.

He is the son of Hara Muramasa, and he took over Muramasa's position after his father died.

"Liu Daniu, this is the Ninth Prince. Come and meet him."

When he saw Liu Daniu, Zhang Tinggao hurriedly introduced him.

"I greet His Majesty the Ninth Prince."

Upon hearing this, Liu Daniu immediately knelt down and saluted.

"No need to be so polite, Liu Daniu. I came here today just to check on the situation in the village."

"You will accompany me for a walk and introduce me to you."

Ning Quan smiled.

"Yes, the common people obey the order."

Liu Daniu quickly agreed and led Ning Quan and others into the village.

Walking along the path in the village, you can see dilapidated houses on both sides.

The people I met were all pale and thin, with dull eyes.

The agricultural level in this world is extremely low, and people can't even get enough food to eat. It's no wonder that people are like this.

But even so, Ning Quan couldn't help but frown.