I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 159 Make up your mind
In the thirtieth year of Kangzhi, Tang Zhao's eyes widened in shock. He strained to look at the face of the person beside him, but his vision was blocked by the old man's disheveled hair.

"If you want to find out who was behind the fall of Wuwei City and the extermination of the Song family, go back to Luoyang," the old man said, standing up while supporting his knees. "If you don't dare to find out the truth, then don't rely on the name of the Protectorate General's Mansion to do anything!"

Tang Zhao lay on the ground and rolled his eyes several times in the direction the old man had left.

Whoosh! A pebble flew like a bullet and struck Tang Zhao hard on the back of his shoulder.

Tang Zhao trembled all over in pain. Only after the numbness and stiffness in her limbs subsided did she manage to sit up with difficulty, supporting herself on the ground.

"System! System!" Tang Zhao called out.

[Host, how may I help you?]

"Plot warning! I need to know who this old man is!" If he has absolutely no connection to the Song family, let's see how she tries every means to retaliate and avenge today's humiliation!

After a long silence, the system replied, "Sorry, there is no relevant character storyline."

Tang Zhao:.
Where did that old geezer come from?

The system repeated, "No plot related to the character mentioned by the host was found in the book."

The plot of this book revolves around the main female protagonist, Bai Rouyin, not you, the host. Subplots unrelated to the main female protagonist are not described in the book.

Seeing Tang Zhao's expression that seemed to say, "What use are you to me?", the system felt it necessary to prove itself.

[Ding! The "Save the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Character System" has completed its fourth sub-task of "Supporting the Three Armies" and "Resettling Disaster Victims." Rewards: Surgical medical books and instruments stored in your inventory. Health +200, Current Health 420]

Tang Zhao waved his hand, "You may leave."

The system disappeared from my mind, feeling wronged.

Tang Zhao stood up, brushing the dust off her clothes as she walked. Only when she reached the main street did she suddenly realize that she hadn't heard a single sound from the alleyway along the way.

Wuwei City is truly a place where hidden talents abound. Tang Zhao sighed, straightening his somewhat smug mindset and calmly pondering the strange old man's words.

The fall of Wuwei City was due to someone colluding with the enemy and betraying the country, a fact that Wu Jiayi has already confirmed. According to the strange old man, that person is hiding in Luoyang, lurking like a venomous snake, waiting to emerge from the shadows at any moment and bite Wuwei again, just like before.

Even the most powerful and influential families, like the Protector of the Nation's General's Mansion, were wiped out. Tang Zhao didn't think he could escape it.

Therefore, returning to Luoyang to find the person is indeed the only way.

Unbeknownst to Tang Zhao, he had arrived at the East Gate. Tens of thousands of disaster victims and civilians dressed in tattered clothes were busy at work. Some were pushing sand, some were carrying bricks, some were mixing cement, and some were brewing herbal tea under the shade of a shed. Everyone was so busy that their feet barely touched the ground, and their faces were filled with tired but satisfied smiles.

"Princess!" Lu Ying, her official robes covered in dust and sweating profusely, strode over. "It's dirty and messy here, Princess, you should stay away."

“It’s alright,” Tang Zhao shook his head. “I feel at ease watching over you.”

"With over 100,000 people working on the project at the same time, the project is progressing by leaps and bounds," Lu Ying wiped his face with his sleeve. "The west city wall has been rebuilt, and most of the east city wall has been demolished. It is expected that the east city wall will be rebuilt before the autumn harvest."

"Are you eating and resting on time?"

"The government strictly followed the schedule, not letting the people work an extra quarter of an hour," Lu Ying said gratefully on behalf of the people. "The people really like the herbal tea arranged by the princess, and they drink seven or eight bowls every day."

Tang Zhao was amused. "It's not that the people like to drink it, it's that they sweat too much under the scorching sun and are dehydrated." "All these efforts are worthwhile. The cement developed by the princess is extremely strong, impervious to needles and wind. If the Turks were to attack one day, as long as there is sufficient food and water, I am confident that we can defend the city for more than a month."

Tang Zhao suddenly remembered the old man's words: Even if Wuwei City is built into an impregnable fortress, as long as the traitors within are not eliminated, the tragedy of the 30th year of Kangzhi will be repeated.

"Heavens!" Tang Zhao sighed, looking up at the sky. "She's only studied military strategy and history books for a few months, and she still doesn't know how to fight in court!"
Lu Ying tentatively asked, "Is there something troubling you, Princess? I am willing to do my best to help."

"Then I'll trouble Lord Lu to manage Wuwei according to the plan. I will be returning to the capital soon to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I won't be back until the end of the year at the earliest. During this time, I'll leave Wuwei in your care."

Tang Zhao took out the princess's gold seal from the money bag. "Seeing this seal is like seeing me in person. You can use this seal to command and mobilize all the manpower and resources under my name." Tang Zhao paused and continued, "Including the 400,000 taels of silver currently held by the Liuli Workshop and the Protector General's Mansion."

"Absolutely not," Lu Ying declined, "Your humble servant..."

Tang Zhao interrupted, "I believe you, sir."

Lu Ying stood there, stunned.

"Please don't refuse, sir," Tang Zhao bowed and presented the golden seal to Lu Ying with both hands. "I entrust the city of Wuwei and its people to you, sir."

Lu Ying accepted the golden seal with both hands, bowing even lower, "Your humble servant will certainly not fail the Princess's trust!"

Tang Zhao straightened up and saw that Lu Ying was still bowing respectfully. He quickly helped Lu Ying up, added a few more points about the plan, then bid farewell to Lu Ying and returned to the Xuanwang Mansion's villa.

As soon as they entered the inner courtyard, they heard Consort Han's aggressive voice, "It is true that I should wish the Empress Dowager a happy birthday, but as a daughter-in-law, shouldn't Your Highness, Princess Consort, show filial piety to the Empress Dowager?"

"Now that the Princess Consort has returned to Luoyang, who will manage the Prince's residence?"

"Naturally, it's the steward of the Prince's residence. When the Princess was in Luoyang, the steward managed the Prince's residence very well, and I couldn't help him at all!"

"Just go when I tell you to. What are you doing trying to bite the princess?" Prince Xuan said impatiently.

Consort Han's words were laced with sarcasm: "I just want to know, does the Princess Consort only enjoy the honors of the principal wife, but not need to bear the responsibilities of one?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Xuan, who had been keeping her head down and silent, raised her eyes and glanced at Consort Han, whose eyes were full of provocation, and said indifferently, "If I only enjoy the honor of being the principal wife without bearing the responsibilities of one, then I would have been the one who accompanied the prince to the Northwest back then."

Consort Han gritted her teeth, about to speak again, but then heard Consort Qin say softly, "If Your Highness finds me and Sister Han an eyesore, just say we're being expelled from the manor. Why go through all this trouble?"

"Why does Consort Qin say such a thing?"

"What good place is Luoyang? The Empress Dowager is even more demanding."

"Consort Qin, be careful what you say!" Princess Xuan's tone was calm yet full of authority. "The Empress Dowager is kind and benevolent, and is a role model for all elders in the world."

Seeing the displeasure on Prince Xuan's face, Consort Qin said awkwardly, "I acted rashly. The Eighth Miss is not yet married. If the Empress Dowager keeps the Eighth Miss in Luoyang..."

“That is Fu’er’s good fortune,” Princess Xuan replied. “If Xuan’er could stay under the Empress Dowager’s care, I would be overjoyed.”

From the moment she learned that His Majesty had summoned Prince Xuan's family back to the capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, Princess Xuan had already made preparations for Gu Xuan to stay in Luoyang for an extended period.

Just like back then, when she and her two children stayed in Luoyang.