In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

The Prince of Han's Palace.

The front yard was bustling with activity, as servants constantly carried tea to and fro.

"Your Highness, this humble servant greets you!" Yang Zhuo strode out to greet him, seemingly having been waiting in the main hall for quite some time.

Li Yuanchang opened his arms, having fully adapted to Situ Lan's presence.

She took off her outer garment and left, almost a model of a wealthy family's matriarch.

Get up.

"Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

"No, no!"

"It is my greatest honor to serve Your Highness, a blessing from my ancestors!" Yang Zhuo said with a broad smile.

Li Yuanchang waved his hand, inviting him to sit down and have some tea.

Yang Zhuo appeared very reserved.

"I have reviewed some of the case files from Wei County. They are neither the best nor the worst. As for you, Yang Zhuo, you have no major flaws, but you have a lot of minor ones," Li Yuanchang said first.

Yang Zhu knelt down in panic: "Your Highness, I know my shortcomings. There is still a chance to pull back from the brink. I hope Your Highness will admonish and punish me. I will definitely correct my mistakes."

"Whatever Your Highness says goes."

Li Yuanchang smiled and gave him a deep look: "Your name is backwards. You're actually very smart."

Yang Zhuo forced an awkward smile.

"I'm giving you one chance. Cut ties with all the people you shouldn't associate with, and return all the things you shouldn't have received. From today onwards, you shall obey the orders of Liangzhou Prefecture."

Yang Zhuo was shocked, his eyes seeming to say, "Your Highness, how much do you know?"

But in fact, Li Yuanchang had not investigated the past at all; he was just making a rough guess. After all, as an official, how could he not make friends with a few merchants and accept some "tea money" when he became a county magistrate?

These are all minor matters. Compared to Lu Qi and his gang of audacious individuals, they are truly kind and virtuous. After all, even the clearest water has no fish.

"yes!"

"Your Highness, please rest assured, this humble servant will certainly comply!"

"Your Highness, I will follow your lead!" he assured him repeatedly, his expression solemn.

Li Yuanchang nodded, indicating that he appreciated him and believed he could be trained.

Yang Zhuo was actually the smartest official in Liangzhou. Instead of choosing to confront him, he kept making connections and finally went all in to help Li Yuanchang at the right time.

In reality, a person often only gets one chance in their life. If they gamble correctly, their life can be turned around.

He personally poured Yang Zhuo a cup of tea, thus accepting him as a subordinate.

This was also the first subordinate Li Yuanchang took in after arriving in Liangzhou.

Yang Zhuo was so excited that his mouth stretched from ear to ear.

Then, he introduced Li Yuanchang to Zhou Yao, the county magistrate of Wei County, who had also brought troops with him.

In the Tang Dynasty, the position of county lieutenant was somewhat similar to that of the police chief in later times, and he had some officials under his command.

Li Yuanchang also rewarded them handsomely and invited them to a family banquet.

Situ Lan, as the princess, also made an appearance; this was the first time the couple had held such an official banquet.

Situ Lan's speech was impeccable, which won over many people for Li Yuanchang.

The two were excited throughout, expressing their loyalty to Li Yuanchang from the bottom of their hearts, saying they would face any danger, even fire and water.

After lunch, the two left Liangzhou City and returned to Wei County.

Meanwhile, Wang Hongzhi had finished counting and arranging the hundreds of laborers, who entered the Han Prince's Mansion one after another.

The Prince of Han's mansion wasn't newly built, but rather renovated, and now it's almost not full.

"The King of Han! That's the King of Han!"

"We pay our respects to His Highness the Prince of Han!"

"We are deeply grateful to His Highness the Prince of Han for saving our lives!"

The sounds rose and fell, one after another.

Li Yuanchang's eyes lit up slightly when he took a look. They were mostly young and middle-aged men, and because they had been doing heavy work underground for many years, they were all very muscular.

There's no need for selection; they're excellent at guarding the house and providing close protection.

"Gentlemen, rise."

"Your Highness, we won't get up!"

"Please, Your Highness, accept us!"

"We had nowhere to go. Thanks to Your Highness for saving our lives, we were able to escape that brick cave. Otherwise, we would have perished soon!"

"If Your Highness would accept us and give us food, we would serve you like cattle or horses to repay you!"

"That's right!"

"Please, Your Highness, take me in!"

The huge crowd raised their arms and shouted, and some even kowtowed repeatedly.

For them, staying in the Prince of Han's residence was undoubtedly the best option.

At this moment, Wang Hongzhi, Guo Chao, Fang Weng, and the others all looked at Li Yuanchang, seemingly saying, "Your Highness, please accept it."

Li Yuanchang couldn't help but laugh. This group of laborers that Lu had painstakingly gathered through deception and kidnapping had inadvertently become his dowry.

This is like adding wings to a tiger!

"What's your name?" He focused his gaze on the man kneeling at the front, who looked to be no more than thirty years old.

This was the person who spoke first, and he seemed to be quite prestigious among the laborers.

"Your Highness, my name is Yuan Tong. I was originally a hunter, but I was unfortunately tricked into working at the Lu Family Stone Manor. I was imprisoned there, but thanks to Your Highness's men, we were rescued."

Li Yuanchang was filled with admiration. Ancient hunters were all talented individuals, with exceptional physical strength and archery skills.

"I just heard Wang Hongzhi mention you. He said that you once led them in a rebellion against the Lu clan, but they were suppressed."

Yuan Tong was dark-skinned, tall, and strong, with piercing eyes: "Your Highness, that's right."

"Okay, very good."

"I will leave all of you behind. You will first enter the ceremonial guard of the Prince of Han's residence and be placed under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department."

"Their treatment is no different from that of the royal guards."

"Yuan Tong, you will serve as the Deputy Commandant of the Imperial Guard and Guo Chao's deputy."

Upon hearing this, nearly four hundred people were overjoyed and erupted in cheers that were like a tsunami.

"yes!"

"We thank Your Highness, the Prince of Han!"

"but!"

"But let me make this clear from the start: once you enter this gate, you become a member of the Han Prince's Mansion, and as a member of the Han Prince's Mansion, you must abide by the rules of the Mansion."

"Furthermore, those who betray their own side will be executed without mercy!" Li Yuanchang's expression was grim as he swept his gaze over everyone present.

"yes!!"

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices soaring to the heavens.

"..."

Thus, the Dahong Temple case not only recovered the embezzled funds but also brought Li Yuanchang a great deal of unexpected gains, further expanding his influence.

That evening, Li Yuanchang announced the case was closed and fulfilled his promise to provide formal compensation to the deceased.

This move won the hearts of the people of Liangzhou.

That night, Li Yuanchang personally began writing a memorial to report the matter to Chang'an.

This included the matter of the 400-member honor guard. Originally, it was just a minor matter, within the rules, but he still reported it truthfully.

Better safe than sorry, for there are always those who cause trouble.

Of course, some are happy while others are sad; for the entire Liangzhou officialdom, these past few days have been destined to be sleepless nights.

With colleagues falling from grace one after another, those with guilty consciences inevitably connect it to themselves.

"Your Highness, aren't you going to sleep yet?"

"It's late at night." Situ Lan, dressed in a fitted long dress, suddenly appeared behind Li Yuanchang.

Li Yuanchang quickly pressed down the letter in his hand.

He not only wrote a memorial to the throne, but also a letter to Chang'an, asking Cheng Chuliang and a few others to help him inquire about Wu Meiniang's recent situation.

So much time has passed, and there's still no news. He doesn't dare to search openly, but he can't let it go on in his heart, so he can only ask the four of them for help.