Liang Xiao was about to accompany them when Liu Yunzi glanced at Jian Qinwan and the others, sighing, "Bring a few more people. It won't hurt to listen together."
Upon hearing this, Yu Qingchuan immediately spoke, "Marquis Anguo, my junior and junior sisters and I will guard this place."
Liang Xiao understood and only brought Li Jinyu and the three girls with Liu Yunzi.
Led by Liu Yunzi, they walked through a corridor and arrived at a dim secret room.
A faint candlelight flickered on, and everyone could then see the state of the secret room.
Besides a large number of ancient books and bamboo slips, there were also three clean, pale white soft armors.
In front stood a somewhat blurred clay statue.
Liang Xiao took a rough look and estimated that the soft armor might also be made of silkworm silk combined with white dragon gold chains.
But soon, Liang Xiao's heart pounded wildly.
The intention behind Liu Yunzi bringing him here was self-evident, yet he had nothing to offer Liu Yunzi in return that would satisfy him.
"These are all heirlooms of my family. According to ancestral teachings, they should not be passed on."
Liu Yunzi sighed several times and finally said, "My ancestor was named Guiguzi."
Everyone's breath caught, and even Jian Qinwan's pupils contracted!
Guiguzi!
A distant and legendary name!
It was said that this person knew everything from astronomy to geography, and all his disciples were outstanding figures of their time: Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Su Qin, Zhang Yi...
"My ancestor was indifferent to fame and fortune, but some of his descendants, my other ancestors, were not as enlightened. After inheriting a portion of their ancestor's true teachings, they each made their mark. These few heirlooms, due to the stubbornness of one ancestor, were not allowed to be passed on. However, I have no children, and my only younger brother was separated from me in my early years..."
Everyone's mood was complex. They could certainly discern Liu Yunzi's unspoken meaning.
But Liu Yunzi entrusting his affairs to them must have a reason; it wasn't simply about giving Liang Xiao things, otherwise, he could have given them to Liang Xiao the first time they met.
"Later, I delved into Taiji Dao, and my thoughts became clear. I no longer pursued fame and fortune. Ancestral instructions cannot be violated, but I am already in my twilight years, and the Guigu lineage should not be lost. This is a spiritual inheritance. Unfortunately, I searched all over the country for twenty years and never found my younger brother, nor did I find a truly suitable successor. I had intended to entrust everything to the Dingguo Marquis Mansion to find a successor on my behalf."
As Liu Yunzi spoke, his eyes looking at Liang Xiao gained a bit more brilliance. "I never expected to meet a young man like you before the end of my life. Please do not refuse; I have made up my mind. I should have been without desires, but human nature still exists. How many people in this world do not wish to see a peaceful era and universal harmony?"
Everyone's hearts were filled with mixed emotions of sorrow and joy, and they quietly looked at Liang Xiao.
Few people in the world could understand how profoundly hidden Liu Yunzi was, and how many could have imagined he would care so much about a youth not yet twenty.
"The poison of powerful families and clans has spread for centuries and cannot be eradicated overnight. Your path ahead is truly arduous, do not take it lightly."
Liu Yunzi muttered to himself and walked away.
"Junior accepts your teachings wholeheartedly!" Liang Xiao nodded solemnly.
After receiving the intelligence from Old Man Chen, he had also uncovered astonishing truths.
The registered population of the Great Gan Kingdom was just over sixty million.
However, in reality, the powerful and influential people throughout the country, even mere small landowners, would conceal the number of their household retainers and tenant farmers.
These were the "unregistered," and in the area of Chuzhou, which was teeming with martial artists, the number of unregistered people accounted for half of Chuzhou's registered population.
In other prefectures and counties far from the imperial capital, the situation was no better, and likely worse.
Estimating this way, the actual population across the country could be close to or even exceed one hundred million, surpassing Liang Xiao's estimated eighty million plus!
This was an extremely terrifying hidden danger. Once imperial power waned, the nation would quickly disintegrate!
This country revered culture and suppressed martial arts, and with a similar population size, it was very much like the Song Dynasty. However, due to the monopolies of the powerful families and clans, it had failed to develop commensurate productivity and cultural spirit!
The only unparalleled feature of the Great Gan Kingdom was that its emperors throughout the dynasties had been wise rulers, deeply loved by the people, and supported by the unwavering Shadow Guards who upheld imperial authority, which barely maintained the current situation.
Moreover, the Yan Yun Sixteen Prefectures of the Great Gan Kingdom had not been lost. As long as the borders were guarded, there was an opportunity for reform!
However, attempting to reform using known methods would inevitably offend these powerful families and clans, encountering immense resistance.
This was why Liang Xiao had strongly advocated for land repurchase, followed by the legitimate implementation of high-benefit屯田 (Túntián - land reclamation and cultivation) and 摊丁入亩 (Tāndīng rù mǔ - a tax reform policy), which would be the only way to resolve this greatest hidden danger.
Coupled with the existence of powerful families and clans, this was destined to be a difficult path.
At this moment, Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian also came to their senses, looking deeply at Liang Xiao, wanting to speak but stopping themselves.
They did not understand politics, but since even Liu Yunzi said so, they naturally understood the critical state of the nation.
Only where Liang Xiao was present was there a rare sense of ease!
Zhuo Zifang had retired, and the two great marshals, General Lü Yi of the骠骑 (Piāojí - Cavalry) and Marquis Gongsun Ye of the Dingguo, rarely returned to the capital... even these heroic figures had compromised with the powerful families and clans!
Liu Yunzi brought a dust-covered wooden box and opened it.
Everyone looked closely and saw a piece of milky white ancient jade lying quietly in the box, with numerous fine carvings on its surface.
"This jade is the 'Guigu Jade' of my family heirlooms, a token passed down by the head of the Guigu lineage. I still hold out a glimmer of hope that perhaps my younger brother's line may still exist in hiding... With this Guigu Jade, should you be able to find that line in the future, it might be of assistance to you. You may dispose of it as you see fit."
"These three pieces of soft armor are also entrusted to you. They are perfect for protecting your three cherished companions. Do not refuse anything today."
After Liu Yunzi finished speaking, the three girls blushed simultaneously and bowed to thank him.
Liang Xiao looked at the Guigu Jade handed to him by Liu Yunzi, his heart filled with emotion, and bowed gratefully again.
"Although it may seem abrupt, junior sincerely requests to become your disciple here and receive your inheritance."
Liu Yunzi's old eyes lit up, and he gently patted Liang Xiao's shoulder, "No need."
Everyone felt a slight disappointment.
Liang Xiao no longer insisted, but Liu Yunzi then said, "Let us become sworn brothers here."
Upon hearing this, everyone almost stumbled!
Become sworn brothers? This, this...
Liang Xiao was also startled, "Senior..."
Liu Yunzi laughed, "It's not as if I'm asking you to die on the same day, month, and year as me. I have lived for eighty-nine years, and this is the first time I have met a junior who understands me so well. We can be friends despite the age difference."
The three girls suppressed their smiles and stared blankly at the stunned Liang Xiao.
It was rare to see him so bewildered!
Liang Xiao came back to his senses and no longer refused. He and Liu Yunzi together bowed three times to the clay statue of Guiguzi, thus becoming sworn brothers!
Li Jinyu watched the old and young men with a look of disbelief throughout.
They actually became sworn brothers?
After paying respects to Guiguzi, Liu Yunzi opened another box in front of the clay statue, took out an ancient book, and handed it to Liang Xiao.
"This book is the true inheritance of the Guigu lineage."