Reborn as a bride, pretending to be virtuous, the prince held his waist and regretted

Marquis Changning stroked his beautiful beard and smiled, "How can you be sure that these defenders didn't benefit from this?"

"This..." Zhou Jin's pupils shrank slightly when he heard this, "Father, are these defenders going to rebel?"

Marquis Changning shook his head. "The Central Plains Dynasty is stable now. Your Majesty is in good health, and the Crown Prince is safe! It seems that the Crown Princess and the two Crown Princes' concubines are pregnant. The defenders of Qingshui County may not dare to rebel."

"Who would complain about having too much silver in such a bitter and cold place? Qingshui County can indeed collect taxes from the caravans, which belong to the government, but the money has nothing to do with the garrison! But the goods or ransoms that the bandits robbed from the caravans are distributed to the garrison, and that becomes their money!"

"The top brass get more money, which is considered meat. The soldiers at the bottom get less, which is considered soup. It is very likely that a profit group has been formed from top to bottom."

"Otherwise, with these garrisons still here, how could they watch the magistrate of Qingshui County being killed? Now that there is no magistrate, a civilian under the border garrison is temporarily acting as the magistrate."

Zhou Jin took a deep breath when he heard this. "Doesn't that mean that all the money from both the black and white sides went into the pockets of the border guards? Didn't His Majesty order General Zhao, the border guard, to return to the capital to report on his work?"

Marquis Changning's eyes showed sarcasm, "We have just set out for three days, but the surrounding small countries will attack the Qingshui Line! General Zhao sent someone back to the capital to explain the situation, and he went back to lead the troops to resist."

Zhou Jin was surprised. "I remember that General Zhao has family in the capital, right?"

"Yes!" Changning Hou replied, "My father is gone, but I still have my old mother, my wife, two sons and one daughter!"

"As long as General Zhao still has a weak spot, he really doesn't dare to rebel openly!" Zhou Jin frowned and said in a deep voice, "But now General Zhao has refused to return to the transfer order, but he has sufficient reasons. Your Majesty really can't do anything to him!"

Marquis Changning nodded, "Indeed! After all, General Zhao did not rebel clearly, and he has very good reasons not to return to the capital!"

Zhou Jin thought for a moment, "Your Majesty should have sent someone to investigate before, right?"

Marquis Changning smiled and said, "We checked! The information brought back by the spies we sent out is what we just discussed! Zhao Mengde is very likely the mastermind behind those bandits, and he is also very likely to make peace with several surrounding countries."

"The two county magistrates sent out were also carrying out orders from His Majesty to find evidence of Zhao Mengde's treason. Their deaths prove that the operation failed. It also proves that the content these county magistrates found touched the bottom line of those people, who could not tolerate it and were willing to kill to silence them."

Zhou Jin pondered for a moment, "Dad, whether it is countless bandits or 50,000 troops on the border, the dozens of people I brought with me can't resist them. My mission this time is difficult!"

Marquis Changning sighed, "It is indeed difficult. Besides, apart from the fact that His Majesty has appointed you as the magistrate of Qingshui County, do you know who the county magistrate is? Who are the guards?"

Zhou Jin shook his head. "Yes, I don't know yet! I only received my transfer order. After my colleagues learned of my transfer order, they looked at me with sympathy and pity, as if I didn't have long to live!"

Marquis Changning smiled and said, "If someone else received such a transfer order, it would be true, but you don't have to worry. Your Majesty is not stupid, how could he let the son of an important official die?"

"Your Majesty has appointed Yuan Zhen as the county magistrate of Qingshui County, and Xie Jin as the garrison commander of Qingshui County. In addition, the county next door, Qinglan County, is ruled by your good friend Yu Chengzhi. After these years of management, he has completely controlled Qinglan County, and the 50,000 troops there can support you."

"Also, Yuan Zhen's second brother Yuan De is the governor of Yunzhou, and Sun Yi is the commander of the troops. Don't you think they won't fully support you?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jin breathed a sigh of relief, "They are all acquaintances, that's good."

Yuan Zhen's second brother Yuan De is Yuan Zhen's brother from the same mother, so of course he would not betray his own younger brother.

As for Sun Yi, he was a student of the old marquis and almost one of his direct disciples.

In recent years, because Marquis Changning was a civil servant and did not want to make Emperor Kangping wary, there was not much contact.

Not having any contact does not mean there is no friendship.

Sun Yi also understood Marquis Changning's painstaking efforts, as he was still a member of Marquis Changning's lineage.

Emperor Kangping has made such arrangements in order to provide Zhou Jin with a solid support.

Advance to attack, retreat to defend.

Whether it is support or the rear, we can trust them.

Even with such solid support, if Zhou Jin couldn't succeed, it would be even more difficult for others.

Marquis Changning nodded, "Even if there is no one else, the power of our Marquis Changning Mansion can guarantee the safety of you and Xiling."

Zhou Jin breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good. My wife was also quite worried just now. I will go back and give her some advice so that she won't be afraid."

Marquis Changning is not worried about Gu Xiling at all. His daughter-in-law is very brave!

When Gu Xiling heard Zhou Jin's narration, she was shocked, "Yuan Zhen, Xie Jin, and Wang Shiwen?"

Zhou Jin nodded, "Yuan Zhen and Xie Jin, I understand your majesty's intention. But if Wang Shiwen goes, he will definitely be a hindrance."

Gu Xiling pondered for a moment, then smiled, "Given Wang Shiwen's temper, I don't think he will change! He will definitely be a drag when the time comes!"

Zhou Jin was stunned when he heard this. "We can see the problem, can't His Majesty and father see it?"

Gu Xiling laughed again, "How could His Majesty and father not see it? They have been through so many ups and downs and have rich experience. His Majesty arranged it this way, and father didn't say anything. I think there must be a reason!"

"What's the key reason? I'd rather cooperate with Yuan Zhen than with Wang Shiwen! I've figured out that he's a person who can't accomplish anything, but always fails!"

"Although he has some talent and some cleverness, his mind is too narrow! He wants to compete with me, but he is not even comparable to me right now. His ambition is as high as the sky, but his life is as fragile as paper. Out of jealousy, he is very likely to be the one who stabs me in the back."

"Your Majesty has made such an arrangement. I will assume that Your Majesty does not know Wang Shiwen's character. But father should know Wang Shiwen's background. When we were in the study today, father did not mention Wang Shiwen at all."

Gu Xiling smiled and said, "My guess is that this is a test from His Majesty and father! Many groups cannot be united as one! Even the court seems stable now, but is it united and unbreakable?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jin was shocked, "Is this really a test from His Majesty and father?"

Gu Xiling nodded, "I think that should be the case! Otherwise, it is hard to explain why Wang Shiwen was allowed to go to Qingshui County with us?"

Zhou Jin blinked, "But I already know that Wang Shiwen is not a good person! There is no point in them testing me like this!"

Gu Xiling smiled and said, "Your Majesty and father underestimated my husband! But we must not underestimate Wang Shiwen! You also said that he is a villain! He is not good enough to accomplish anything, but always makes trouble!"

"Since Wang Shiwen has been arranged this time, we must be on high alert! Not only must we be on guard against those outside, but also those inside! But don't be afraid, my husband. I will definitely stand by you."

Zhou Jin held Gu Xiling's hand and placed it on his lips. "It's bitterly cold in the northwest, and the wind and sand are very strong. Madam, you must buy the best rouge and powder. Don't let it make you suffer just because it's bitterly cold over there!"