The pork butcher is smoother than a pig butcher!

Chapter 401 The Treasure Map Emerges
Just as the Gan family was processing the secret recipe and handing over the West Foothills Ranch to the General's Office, the 10,000 pairs of snow boots brought back from Ganluchuan were selling like hotcakes in the border town.

The two oldest elders of the Zuo clan's direct lineage were having a secret conversation with Zuo Wenxuan in a secluded courtyard.

Since the Zuo family split into two branches, the branch in the border town that did not have members enlisted in the military has had a really tough few years.

Of the women who were the first to enter the bridal chamber, less than one in ten remain.

It was so torturous.

The body and mind cannot withstand it.

Half of them died from the disease, and some committed suicide.

The family used money to bribe officials, and the daughter, after reaching marriageable age, was married to a military household.

If the family members are incompetent, the woman can only become someone's concubine if she is not allowed to enter the bridal chamber.

The men fared even worse.

Regardless of age, there is always physical labor to be done.

Their status in Kansai is even worse than that of a dog; anyone can step on them.

This has dealt a blow, both physically and psychologically, to the Gan family men, who used to be respected and treated with deference by everyone in Lezhi County.

I thought this was how my life would be.

Who knew that one dynasty after another would change?

They seemed to see the possibility of restoring their family's glory.

Of the three.

The oldest clan elder said:

"The new emperor's ascension to the throne is a good opportunity for our Zuo clan to change its status."

Another person chimed in:
"Clan leader, the greatest wish of us two old men in this life is to be buried in the ancestral grave after we die."

"That's quite a dream," Zuo Wenxuan frowned after hearing their conversation. "So what?"

"Therefore, as long as we present the Zuo family's treasure map to the new emperor, our Zuo family of Daming Prefecture can continue its lineage for at least another hundred years!"

Zuo Wenxuan was so shocked by these words that he spat out the goji berry-infused water he had just drunk.

Eyes wide open, feigning terror:
"What treasure map is the elder talking about? I've never heard of such a thing!"

The elders watched him perform earnestly, and only after Zuo Wenxuan finished his act did they leisurely say:
"Chieftain, Chieftain, you don't actually think we're just spouting nonsense without knowing anything, do you? To be honest, we really admire you. Those desperate criminals almost killed your whole family on the way to exile, but you withstood it all without showing the slightest sign of it."

The second-ranking elder clicked his tongue for a long time, "I understand, I understand! No man is without poison, the clan leader is capable of great things."

Zuo Wenxuan couldn't help but feel flustered when facing these two old foxes.

My hands were trembling slightly.

Heartbeat.

My mind was racing.

Weren't his grandfather and he the only ones who knew the secret of the treasure map?
Why did these two old fogies reveal this earth-shattering secret?

It seemed that he had noticed his hesitation.

The eldest clan elder snorted coldly:
"Don't forget! I am your grandfather's direct cousin. Your great-grandfather told your grandfather a secret before he died, and I overheard it by accident."

The old man explained that the Zuo family ancestors moved from the Western Xia to Daming Prefecture more than two hundred years ago.

According to him, the Zuo family and the Western Xia royal family were related by marriage.

He also said that when the Zuo family was in trouble, a treasure map could be used to extend the family's life.

"Clan leader, do you intend for the Zuo family of Daming Prefecture to disappear from the world in a few decades? Or perhaps, you want to monopolize the treasure?"

Zuo Wenxuan remained silent, pondering to himself.

Only the dead can keep secrets!

His ever-changing expressions were no match for the two old foxes.

The other party didn't want to beat around the bush and cut off his escape route with just a few words:
“A secret known to three people can’t be a secret! Before we arrived, preparations were made. As long as we die suddenly for no reason, the new emperor in Shangdu will definitely know the exact information about the Zuo family’s burial treasure map.” Zuo Wenxuan’s heart pounded.

Those two old geezers actually had a trick up their sleeve!
To be too old to die is to be a thief!

How to do?
He has no choice but to admit it, whether he wants to or not.

What he fears most right now is that once the secret of the treasure map is revealed, will Lady Lü want to tear him apart and skin him alive?
That wicked woman gave birth to another son a year ago.

I heard that right after she was born, she was taken away by the first wife of the military commander Yuan.

With such a son, her life was much better than that of the other concubines in the military commander's mansion.

If she knew that he had watched her being humiliated and the twins had their fingers cut off without ever admitting that the Zuo family had a treasure map, he would be wrong.

That vicious woman will definitely not let him go, nor will she let go of his beautiful wife whom he remarried in his second year in the border town and his infant son who is only five months old!

Thinking of these potential problems, Zuo Wenxuan's face turned extremely pale.

They really had their weak point exploited.

The treasure map can no longer be hidden!
He hesitated for a while before finally asking, "What do you want?"

The eldest clan elder believed that the fastest and easiest way was:

"Get on the Gan family's good side and go to Shangdu to meet the new emperor! The new emperor is not that baby emperor and eunuch. He is young and strong, with soldiers, horses, guns and food. His eldest son is already grown up. The Yongtai Dynasty is like the rising sun."

Therefore, the Zuo family can rely on this powerful backer!
Another elder analyzed the current situation for Zuo Wenxuan:

"The people inside the pass have been suffering for the past few years. The new emperor wants to clean up this mess, and what he lacks most is gold and silver. As long as you present the treasure map of the Zuo family, you, the clan leader, will not only be able to restore the Zuo family's reputation, but the merit of presenting the treasure will be enough to be granted a title."

The greatest benefits will fall on your head first.

All we want is to return to our roots!
"Please allow me to think about it."

"Clan leader, you should pay more attention. I heard that the Gan family is setting off in three days to enter Shangdu before the New Year."

"If you, clan leader, find going to Shangdu too troublesome, we two old fogies can make the trip for you! On the condition that you hand over the treasure map to us!"

Zuo Wenxuan: "."

Those two old geezers, he'll really thank them!

How could he possibly have carried the treasure map with him to the border town?
He himself had never seen the treasure map. His grandfather told him that it was hidden in a stone cave on a mountain near the Zuo family ancestral tomb.

If he hadn't been threatened by the two clan elders, he might have told his son this secret before he died.

But right now...

He had no choice.

Gan Mingfu had no good impression of the branch of the Zuo clan that remained in the border town.

But after all, she and her brother-in-law are true relatives.

Two elderly men, both over seventy years old, came to his door, begging him to help the head of the main branch of the clan and his family of three escape their lowly status and to take them to Shangdu.

Gan Mingfu can understand the first request.

Regarding the latter, he stated:
"When Her Majesty the Empress returns to the palace, all her entourage members are named and hold official positions. I cannot make that decision."

Now that you've renounced your citizenship, who can stop you from going anywhere?

Chen Qianfu, who was in charge of matters related to the exile of prisoners, naturally had to give face to the prospective prince consort.

As General Gan became more and more capable.

This person buried deep in their heart what they had done to that gigolo.

They even quit drinking, afraid of accidentally slurring their words while intoxicated.

Now I'm even more scared.

The princesses all married into the Gan family.

The Gan family could crush him as easily as crushing an ant.

(End of this chapter)