Chapter 637 - 639: Not Making a Promise
Chapter 637: Chapter 639: Not Making a Promise
Jin Qianqian, however, was more troubled by something else. "The journey there won’t be easy. It’s all mountain roads. We should find someone to ask about the conditions so we can prepare in advance."
Gu Wenheng replied, "I’ve already looked into all that. Once we get back to Shangjing, I’ll find a chance to visit Mr. Cao.
He was previously stationed at the frontier there, so he’s very familiar with the local terrain and customs."
Jin Qianqian shot him a look. "You already knew this was the place, didn’t you?"
Gu Wenheng said, "It wasn’t confirmed, but His Majesty gave me a few options and told me to be mentally prepared."
Jin Qianqian’s curiosity was piqued. "So this is the most difficult of the assignments?"
Gu Wenheng nodded. "On the surface, yes. But I suspect the other posts wouldn’t have been easy either."
’Knowing Hua Shunming’s personality, he would never have given me a comfortable position.’
"Then we’ll really need to bring more men this time. I hear there are not only mountain bandits but also many wild beasts. We must be fully prepared."
She had read a few travelogues over the years, so even without visiting, she had some idea of what the region was like.
Gu Wenheng said, "We’ll have an official escort, and I’m also planning to transfer more than half of the guards from our own residence to go with us."
Hearing him say that, Jin Qianqian remembered that an Inspector General had the authority to mobilize troops, so bringing along their own guards was perfectly normal.
"Should we have some men from the escort agency come with us, too? We don’t have a branch in Yi Province yet."
Gu Wenheng had no objection. More men under his command meant his hands wouldn’t be tied when he arrived. "Find some skilled men to come along. If we’re short-staffed elsewhere, we can recruit a batch of outsiders later."
But any new recruits would certainly not be part of the core team, nor would they be allowed into their direct presence.
Jin Qianqian sighed. "We’ve only been resting for a few days, and now we have to spend so long on the road again."
"I wonder when the deadline is to assume the post?"
The letter didn’t specify, so Housekeeper Fu probably doesn’t know either.
Gu Wenheng said, "There’s no rush. We’ll still need a couple of weeks to prepare once we get to Shangjing. The timeline is flexible, as long as we arrive at our destination before the appointment term begins."
"The Holy Decree was just issued, which gives us plenty of time to get ready."
Jin Qianqian replied, "I’m not worried about packing; we can just have our subordinates handle it. But we’ve been away for so long, we need to maintain our connections in Shangjing."
"At the very least, we have to pay a visit to the few families we’re close with."
It was thanks to these families that they received accurate and detailed news from Shangjing while they were posted elsewhere. Those relationships were crucial and couldn’t be allowed to fade.
"You’re right," Gu Wenheng agreed.
They hadn’t been talking for long before members of the Gu Family, having heard the news, began to arrive.
Joy was written on everyone’s faces. They all knew Seventh was due for a promotion, but no one had expected him to become a third-rank official.
Gu Yuanjin, the eldest brother, said with a hearty laugh, "Congratulations, Seventh Brother!"
The others chimed in with their congratulations. Gu Wenheng replied again and again, "Let us rejoice together! Let us rejoice together!"
Gu Sanbu, supported by his sons and grandsons, beamed so widely that the gaps in his teeth showed. "You left in such a hurry last time. Since you’re with the clan now, we must choose an auspicious day to open the ancestral hall and pay respects to our forefathers."
"This is tremendous news. We should let the ancestors share in the joy."
Gu Wenheng replied, "Third Grand-uncle, the date for me to assume my post is already set, and the journey is long. I really can’t afford any delays."
"I returned in a rush this time and haven’t even had a chance to visit certain families in the Capital yet. As for the ancestral worship, I must trouble you to handle it all, venerable elder."
"Must you really rush off so soon?" Gu Sanbu asked.
Gu Wenheng knew that by tomorrow, the news would be all over. If he didn’t leave quickly, he’d be bogged down with endless social obligations.
"It can’t be helped. I didn’t think the transfer order would arrive so soon."
"There are preliminary preparations to be made at the new post. Otherwise, I would love nothing more than to stay home with my family a while longer and properly attend to my parents."
"Official business comes first, then. I’ll have your older brothers perform the rites on your behalf." Gu Sanbu understood the priorities. "Will Gu Yi and the others be leaving with you this time?"
Gu Yi was Gu Sanbu’s eldest grandson and one of the juniors Gu Wenheng had specifically named to take under his wing.
"Let’s have them leave with me. We can look out for each other on the road. Besides, my departure date from Shangjing is still undecided, so this will prevent a last-minute scramble," Gu Wenheng decided on the spot.
Gu Sanbu added a few words of advice. "Very well. I’ll have someone inform those boys right away."
"If any of them misbehave, you just send them right back. Don’t feel you have to put up with them for the sake of the clan’s honor."
Gu Wenheng said, "I will be gone for years this time. I must trouble all the elders to look after matters at home. I am grateful for your hard work."
"We’re all one family; there’s no need for such formalities." Gu Sanbu waved his hand. "You’re out there protecting the clan from the elements. We’ll keep an eye on things at home and make sure no one holds you back."
Gu Wenheng bowed deeply to the elders. ’I’m so fortunate,’ he thought. ’The Gu family has its share of conflicts, but at least there are no truly wicked people among them.’
’And with so many reasonable elders keeping watch, it saves me a great deal of trouble.’
Li Cuicui hugged her two young grandsons, her voice thick with reluctance. "You’ve only been back a few days, and now you have to leave again."
"By the time you return, Grandma won’t be able to lift you anymore."
Liu Liu was also sad to see them go; it wasn’t often she had someone who would listen to her endless chatter. "This is all so sudden, Seventh Sister-in-law. Let us know if there’s anything you need to pack. We sisters-in-law can help you get it ready."
Jin Qianqian replied, "Thank you, sisters-in-law, but we’ve already done most of the packing."
"If I do need anything, Manager Hu will help me arrange it."
"I’ll have to trouble you sisters-in-law with matters at home."
"Don’t talk about it being a bother. It’s what we ought to do," Xie Ruyi, as the eldest sister-in-law, said with practiced grace. "Just make sure you take care of yourselves out there."
Her words opened the floodgates, and everyone began chiming in with their own advice and reminders, all of which Jin Qianqian acknowledged one by one.
With the exception of the eldest brother’s family, each of the other brothers had a child who would be going with them. After a few quick instructions, the mothers hurried back to help their sons pack.
Once they had all left, Li Cuicui took Jin Qianqian’s hand. "With so many of the nephews going along, I’ll have to trouble you to look after them."
"But if they make any mistakes, don’t you hold back. Scold them if they need scolding, and spank them if they need spanking."
Jin Qianqian smiled. "Mother, my husband has already made arrangements for that. For the sake of the boys’ futures, he will certainly be strict."
This time, a child from each of the second through fifth brothers’ households was going. It wouldn’t make sense to bring along relatives from the wider clan but neglect their own nephews.
’As their aunt, the most I can do is look after their daily needs. What they make of themselves in the future is ultimately up to them.’
But she wasn’t foolish enough to say that out loud right now, nor would she make any concrete promises.