Upon receiving a positive confirmation from Yi Yange, Xun Geng inquired further about Xie Jiang's background, specifically if he was indeed a descendant of the Marquis of Jinghai.
The young man surnamed Xie was far too reckless and impetuous; he had only been in the capital for a few days and had already caused widespread chaos.
The incident at the Marquis of Nanxiong's estate had already alarmed many. It was unclear whether the young man had stumbled upon it by chance or had seized the opportune moment for a decisive strike.
It was difficult for Xun Geng not to notice such an audacious individual.
Compared to the young man surnamed Xie, the dandies of the capital were utterly insignificant.
The capital's dandies were at most involved in petty squabbles, but this young man surnamed Xie seemed intent on tearing down the heavens.
"The Marquis of Jinghai was Young Master Xie's great-grandfather," Yi Yange relayed to Xun Geng the words Xie Jiang had spoken to him that day.
Xun Geng did not seem surprised by this information, merely remarking with a touch of sentiment, "It seems some rumors are not without basis."
Over the years, various rumors had circulated regarding the death of the Marquis of Jinghai.
One particular rumor had left a deep impression on Xun Geng: that someone had encountered the Marquis of Jinghai at sea.
Xun Geng found this rumor particularly memorable because, after careful consideration, he believed it to be plausible.
"In the chaos of those years, it was indeed a measure of last resort for the Marquis of Jinghai to lead his entire clan overseas to escape disaster. Now that the world is peaceful, it is only natural for the Xie clan to wish to return to their homeland."
Who would willingly leave their homeland if not driven to desperation and facing an uncertain future?
Even if forced to leave their homeland, who would not wish to return if given the opportunity?
Xun Geng did not doubt Xie Jiang's explanation to the outside world.
Neither did Yi Yange, Xu Hengyan, nor anyone else.
"Yes," Yi Yange replied.
"Apart from that troublesome young man named Xie Jiang, has the Xie clan sent anyone else back?" Xun Geng asked.
While the troublesome young man had caused so much trouble, it wasn't as if he lacked capability, but he didn't seem like someone who would handle matters properly.
The nickname Xun Geng had casually bestowed upon Xie Jiang caused Yi Yange's brow to twitch. "As far as I know, within Da Yu, all matters concerning the Xie clan are handled by Young Master Xie."
"The Xie clan is confident of this allegiance." Or perhaps that troublesome young man was more capable than he appeared.
"Is that sweet potato truly capable of yielding five thousand catties per mu?" The thought made Xun Geng's heart pound uncontrollably.
"Whether sweet potatoes can yield five thousand catties per mu will be known in a little over four months." Xie Jiang would not lie about such a matter.
Xun Geng nodded.
That troublesome young man was certainly not brainless; he wouldn't tell such an easily disproven lie.
Xun Geng sat steadily, but his heart was unable to contain its excitement.
Grain that could yield five thousand catties per mu could save so many common people!
Such high-yielding grain was merely a small stone cast by the Xie clan to gauge the waters.
This suggested that the Xie clan might possess even more things that Da Yu could not resist.
With such leverage, it was no wonder that the troublesome young man acted so unscrupulously.
"When the sweet potatoes are harvested, remember to inform me," Xun Geng said.
Yi Yange asked, "Does Prime Minister Xun wish to observe?"
Xun Geng replied, "Such high-yielding grain is unprecedented. I naturally wish to see it with my own eyes." He couldn't believe it without seeing it firsthand.
Yi Yange nodded, "Very well, I will certainly inform Prime Minister Xun at that time."
Unknowingly, the sky had darkened.
As he was leaving, Xun Geng suddenly remembered something and asked while walking out, "The Heir Apparent has not been in the capital recently. Have you heard any news from the capital?"
Yi Yange personally escorted Xun Geng out. "It is said that many in the court have submitted memorials suggesting that Young Master Xie should be the one to suppress the bandits of Huanglan Mountain?"
Xun Geng said, "The Heir Apparent has been with the Xie young man for the past few days. Does the Xie young man truly intend to suppress the bandits?"
Yi Yange carefully recalled and replied, "I haven't noticed any such intention from her."
As soon as Xun Geng saw who was causing trouble, he could basically guess what was happening.
The Zhu family from the Xing Shun Marquisate had thoroughly offended the old Zhu family, and naturally, they could not swallow such humiliation. They likely intended to push the Xie young man to suppress the bandits, using the Huanglan Mountain bandits to ensure the Xie young man never returned.
"If His Majesty truly orders the Xie young man to suppress the bandits, how do you think the Xie young man will respond?"
Yi Yange pondered for a moment and finally shook his head, "Young Master Xie's actions are often unexpected; I cannot predict them."
In fact, Yi Yange not only guessed Xie Jiang's reaction but also, his first thought was that this move was precisely what she intended.
The Zhu family from the Xing Shun Marquisate, in their frantic efforts, believed they could bring her to ruin, unaware that they were merely tools manipulated by her.
Upon hearing this, Xun Geng couldn't help but laugh heartily, "I guess that young man will definitely accept the challenge to suppress the bandits."
Yi Yange was somewhat surprised, "Does Prime Minister Xun wish to witness Young Master Xie's capabilities?" Or the depth of the Xie clan?
Xun Geng said, "That young man acts with a fearless spirit. No matter how notorious the Huanglan Mountain bandits are, I doubt that young man will take them seriously. However, the mountains and forests in the Baiyou region are vast, and the Huanglan Mountain bandits have been entrenched for many years, making their whereabouts difficult to track. Completely eradicating them is not an easy task. I am rather curious about how capable that young man truly is."
Yi Yange found this even more surprising, "Does Prime Minister Xun believe that Young Master Xie can eradicate the Huanglan Mountain bandits?"
As Prime Minister Xun said, the Baiyou region is mountainous and densely forested, providing an excellent hiding place for bandits. Completely eradicating them is by no means an easy feat.
There had been multiple attempts to suppress bandits before, but whenever the soldiers moved, the bandits would retreat into the deep mountains.
The final outcome was often heavy casualties for the soldiers, while the bandits, familiar with the mountain terrain and having the advantage of fighting from a prepared position, had never truly suffered significant losses.
Even though Yi Yange believed that the commotion in the capital was instigated by Xie Jiang, and that she herself wanted to suppress the Huanglan Mountain bandits, he still couldn't figure out how she would handle such a situation.
Prime Minister Xun, however, seemed quite confident that she could eradicate the Huanglan Mountain bandits?
Xun Geng relied entirely on intuition, "The great-grandson of the Marquis of Jinghai cannot be a mere incompetent."
Could an incompetent person trample on the dignity of the entire Xing Shun Marquisate and several other families so casually?
Yi Yange personally escorted him to the mansion gate and only turned back after Xun Geng's carriage had driven away.
As he walked back, Wen Feng couldn't help but ask, "Master, Prime Minister Xun seems to think highly of Young Master Xie's abilities?"
Young Master Xie is indeed a formidable person; anyone with eyes can see that.
Consider the fate of the Marquis of Nanxiong's estate and the Lu clan behind it.
Then consider the Zhu family of the Xing Shun Marquisate and the others, who had been repeatedly trampled by Young Master Xie and still dared not show their faces in public.
Even the Huanglan Mountain bandits, any who fell into Young Master Xie's hands, what was their fate?
The more Wen Feng thought about it, the more he felt that sending Young Master Xie to suppress the bandits would surely succeed. No matter how stubborn and difficult to uproot the bandits were, would they be able to survive falling into Young Master Xie's hands?
Yi Yange replied, "Perhaps."
If she could successfully suppress the Huanglan Mountain bandits, it would undoubtedly be a great boon for the people of the Baiyou region.
If she were to suffer a major setback at the hands of the Huanglan Mountain bandits, it would also be a welcome sight for many.