The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

In early spring, the trees in the north of Xia Kingdom have sprouted tender green branches, but it is still extremely cold for the grasslands further north.

At this time, the north wind was still howling in the royal court of the Rongdi tribe. Looking around, the grass and trees were withered and yellow, and the scene was bleak.

The main tent was filled with people kneeling. The old King Rongdi, who was leaning on the couch, had a haggard face and was on his deathbed.

He stretched out his hand tremblingly and gently stroked Prince Yingyang, who was kneeling in front of the couch, with tears in his eyes.

"Child...you must...you must protect everyone...protect our Rongdi tribe..."

The old King Rongdi said this while panting, his arms dropped and he closed his eyes reluctantly.

"Father! Father!"

Yingyang held the old King Rongdi's hand and burst into tears.

The subordinates and relatives who were kneeling in the big tent also burst into tears at once.

Ying Yang suddenly wiped the tears from his face resolutely, stood up and turned to look at everyone.

"I, King Yingyang, swear here! In the future, I will lead the Rongdi tribe to a better life than now, ensuring that everyone has enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear! Now we must turn our grief into strength! After seven days of mourning for my father, follow me southward into the Xia territory!"

The cries of the crowd gradually subsided, and they bowed their heads and shouted in unison: "We will obey the king's orders!"

A middle-aged man looked up at Yingyang with tears in his eyes. He was the younger brother of the old King Rongdi and Yingyang's uncle, Borggu.

Borggu looked at Yingyang and said, "My brother just passed away, and Your Majesty has not yet officially ascended the throne. Are you going to immediately tear up the friendly alliance signed between My brother and the Xia Kingdom? This is not a good thing for the current situation of our Rongdi tribe!"

"Uncle Wang! I've had enough of this! Every member of my Rongdi tribe is a real man, brave and skilled in battle. We are not dogs wagging their tails to beg for mercy from the Xia Kingdom, let alone beggars! Why do we have to accept charity from the Xia Kingdom every year? And there are still so many people who have no food to eat and no winter clothes to wear!"

Borg Valley sighed repeatedly.

"But it's better than everyone starving to death! The Rongdi tribe relies on nomadic life. Although winter is hard, we can endure it. Besides, the food was obtained by exchanging cattle and sheep! How can you say it is charity from the Xia Kingdom?"

Ying Yang's eyes were filled with determination as he looked at everyone.

"I've made up my mind! As long as the Xia Kingdom doesn't open a trading post in the northern border and meet all the demands of my Rongdi tribe, I will never let the Xia Kingdom have peace! We've already lost many opportunities over the years, and now that Qin Shao has been transferred away from the northern border by the Xia Emperor, what is there to fear?!"

Within a month, Ying Yang led 100,000 cavalrymen to march south, successively capturing Heimu City, Xiangshan City, and Wuyuan City in the northern border of Xia State, burning, killing, and looting along the way, and approaching Yancheng, an important city in the north of Xia State. The defenders of Yancheng were afraid of being defeated, so they hurried 800 miles to request support from the capital Liyang.

More than ten years have passed. The fifty-year-old Emperor Xia Gu Li has a few strands of white hair on his temples and his face looks much older, but his eyes are still bright. He looks at the ministers in the hall. At this time, there is silence in the Yonghe Hall.

"Since none of you ministers can come up with an idea, I have an idea. Qin Shao is currently on standby in Jinyang City. The situation at the northern border is tense, and Qin Shao is very familiar with the terrain. He has fought against the Rongdi tribe for many years, and many of his former subordinates are still in the northern army. I would like to transfer Qin Shao to the northern border to fight a decisive battle with the Rongdi tribe and reclaim the lost territory!"

Ma Baoguo hurried out and said, "Your Majesty, this is not allowed!"

Gu Li snorted coldly: "Can't you come up with something new? Give me a surprise? When have you ever agreed with an idea I've expressed?"

"Your Majesty, calm down. General Qin is the most suitable candidate. However, the Yue army is waiting outside Jinyang City. If Qin Shao is dispatched to the northern border, Jinyang City may be lost! Gaining one advantage while losing the other is a bad idea!"

Gu Li looked at Ma Baoguo and said, "How about this? I will appoint you, my dear Ma, as the military supervisor and mobilize the Xiangzhou garrison to support Yancheng to relieve the urgent need. What do you think, my dear Ma?"

Yang Liuming hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Ma is only a civil servant and has no experience leading troops in battle. I obey your command and swear to defend Yancheng to the death!"

Gu Li thought for a moment and said, "That's the only way. Thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister."

After Yang Liuming left the morning court, he returned to the prime minister's residence and informed his wife Jian Qiu that he would be going to war with the army immediately. Jian Qiu hurriedly helped her husband pack his luggage. While they were busy, they heard the conversation between their son Yang Zilan and Gu Zhanghua outside the door.

"Xiao Wu, look at my muscular body! I'm sure I'll get first place in this year's martial arts exam!"

"But you were last in last place last year!"

"Why are you bringing up last year? You need to look ahead! A hero doesn't brag about his past achievements, and a hero doesn't ask about his origins!"

Gu Zhanghua laughed and said, "How many people signed up for the martial arts exam this year? You can't be the only one, right? Then you will definitely be first!"

"Who said I'm the only one? Many people have signed up! Xiaowu, what do you want from my dad?"

"You don't understand it."

Yang Liuming smiled helplessly and shook his head, then turned and walked towards the door, looking at his son who was walking towards him.

"No rules! What's with all the nonsense about yelling 'Xiaowu Xiaowu'? Is that something you can yell 'Xiaowu'?"

Yang Liuming scolded Yang Zilan and bowed to Gu Zhanghua.

"Your Highness the Fifth Prince."

Jian Qiu also came out and bowed to Gu Zhanghua.

"His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince is well."

Gu Zhanghua hurriedly stepped aside to avoid the two people's greetings.

"Teacher, Master's Wife, please stop being so polite. This is at home, not the court."

Yang Zilan put her arm around Gu Zhanghua's shoulders with a proud look on her face.

"That's right! Dad! You are Xiaowu's teacher. Once a teacher, always a father. Xiaowu is also your son!"

Yang Liuming reached out and slapped Yang Zilan on the head.

"Nonsense again! Do you think you're right?!"

Jian Qiu hurriedly pulled away the tall and burly Yang Zilan and said to Gu Zhanghua with a smile, "Your Highness, are you here to talk to the Prime Minister about something? We won't disturb you."

Jian Qiu dragged Yang Zilan away. Yang Zilan turned around and shouted to Gu Zhanghua, "Xiaowu! Remember to come to the backyard and watch me practice martial arts after you finish talking to my dad!"

Seeing Yang Zilan leave, Yang Liuming said to Gu Zhanghua, "You really haven't learned your lesson despite repeated admonitions. You are disrespectful. Your Highness, please forgive me!"

Gu Zhanghua smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"I like Zi Lan calling me that... I remember everyone used to call me that. Now, except for my mother and Zi Lan, everyone calls me Your Highness. Even Ma Zhen Zhen only calls me Fifth Brother after she married my Second Brother... It sounds a bit boring."

Yang Liuming said sternly, "My former friends have grown up and are no longer children. We still need to follow the proper rules. Your Highness, let's talk in the living room."

Tea, pastries and snacks had already been prepared in the living room, and Gu Zhanghua and Yang Liuming took their seats respectively.

Gu Zhanghua got straight to the point: "Teacher, I came to you regarding the matter of 'Jiaoyang Valley'. Besides sending troops to wipe them out, are there any other solutions? For example, recruiting them?"

Yang Liuming took a sip from the teacup, put down the tea bowl, and looked at Gu Zhanghua.

"Your Highness, your information is a bit delayed. Jiaoyang Valley no longer exists; it should now be called Yanwangzhai! I have read the memorial submitted by the prefect of Fucheng. Not only are merchants near Fucheng suffering from harassment, but even wealthy families in the border towns within the borders of Yue are being robbed. The leader is said to be brutal and vicious! He's nicknamed the Living King of Hell! Your Highness, do you think it's necessary to recruit such a group of villains?"