Chapter 28: Splitting Up

Chapter 28: Splitting Up

Yin Pan’er smiled as she said to Nie Bing, “Sister Nie Bing, you seem to be getting interested in him, huh?”

Nie Bing’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. “I was just thinking of following him, to see if there’s a chance to get close and get my revenge!”

Yin Pan’er smiled without saying anything, not calling her out.

Because she had completely gone through this same kind of inner turmoil herself.

Especially the more she tried to understand him, the more she discovered Xiao Ce gave her new surprises every day.

Whether it was him giving up being the Deposed Crown Prince, causing chaos in the Capital, winning over the hearts of the Death Row Prisoners, forcing the Emperor to give him supplies, or even this very bold recruitment drive, and tonight’s sugar making and refining of Fine Salt.

Each thing, one after another, made Yin Pan’er renew her understanding of Xiao Ce.

Of course, that also included Xiao Ce’s behavior towards Nie Bing.

She really couldn’t figure Xiao Ce out.

…

Xiao Ce woke up early the next day and, as usual, practiced several sets of the Eight-Section Brocade exercises.

Then he went to check on the busy servants.

They hadn’t slept all night, but each was full of energy, showing no signs of tiredness.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work. You’ve been busy all night, rest early.”

Lin Zhong walked over. “Prince, we will finish this batch in at most the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Last night, we produced three hundred jin of Snowflake Frost Sugar and six hundred jin of Fine Salt! Moreover, we found we can add more tools. Using the waiting time, we can make two batches at once! If we do it again tonight, we will definitely produce more.”

Xiao Ce was very satisfied and said, “Excellent, Uncle Zhong! You go arrange carriages for them. Let them rest properly during the day.”

Lin Zhong nodded and said, “As ordered.”

Xiao Ce said, “Uncle Zhong, for the next few days, I will leave first. I’ll leave this place in your care.”

“Prince? Where are you going?”

Xiao Ce said, “I will go ahead to the most prosperous city in the Central Plains Hinterland, Anhua City! At the speed of this group, getting there would take at least ten days at the fastest. But if I travel light, I can get there in two days! I can open up sales channels there.”

“You all use this time to make more Snowflake Frost Sugar and Refined Salt.”

Lin Zhong nodded and said, “However, Prince, if you go alone, your safety might not be guaranteed!”

Xiao Ce waved his hand. “Leaving here is actually safer for me. If I dress up as a merchant, I’ll be much safer than staying here. Later, I’ll have Han Da and Yan Jia find someone who looks similar to me to pretend to be This Prince.”

“With the Twelve Fiends following me, I’m probably safer than the Emperor.”

Twelve Fiends was the name Xiao Ce came up with on a whim last night.

He thought it was pretty good, though slightly inferior to the name ‘Iron Egg’.

From their interactions these past few days, Lin Zhong already knew Xiao Ce was a man with very firm ideas.

He bowed and said, “Prince, don’t worry. I will arrange everything well here!”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “If you encounter robbers, your life is the priority. If they want to rob these grains, just let them have it! Understand?”

“Prince, rest assured. I won’t let anyone rob these provisions! Besides, this area is not far from the Capital, so it’s still quite safe.” Lin Zhong said earnestly.

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Alright, Uncle Zhong, I’ll leave this to you. We’ll split up. Later, I’ll give instructions to Han Da and Yan Jia.”

Lin Zhong bowed. “Prince, do you plan to take Miss Yin and Miss Nie Bing with you?”

“Of course, didn’t we agree on that last night? Is there a problem?” Xiao Ce asked.

Lin Zhong frowned tightly. “Miss Yin is not a problem, but I sensed killing intent towards you from Miss Nie.”

Xiao Ce said with a laugh, “I know! Uncle Zhong, fierce horses are aggressive. But once tamed, they become a fine steed!”

“Prince, since you already know, I won’t say any more!” Lin Zhong bowed again.

Xiao Ce also called over Han Da and Yan Jia and gave them their instructions.

He then packed the Refined Salt and Snowflake Frost Sugar separately, having each of the Da Lei group carry about ten jin.

At this time, Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing were already waiting.

“Miss Yin, we will be traveling on horseback. Are you okay with that?”

Yin Pan’er said, “Prince, don’t look down on me… Although I’m skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, I also learned horse riding and archery from a young age. Riding a horse is naturally no problem.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Then that’s fine!”

Saying this, he signaled Da Lei to attach the leather stirrups to their horses.

Then he patted Iron Egg and mounted it in one smooth motion. “Our destination is Anhua City. We’ll get there as fast as possible. We’ll try not to rest on the way if we don’t have to!”

Then, Xiao Ce looked at Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing very challengingly and said, “Don’t fall behind.”

With that, Xiao Ce patted ‘Iron Egg’. “Let’s go!”

Iron Egg seemed to understand human nature. It made a sound and dashed out.

Iron Egg truly deserved to be a fine steed. As soon as it started, it left some distance between them and the others.

“Prince, slow down!”

Da Lei quickly shouted.

Upon hearing Da Lei’s words, Xiao Ce slowed his pace and said to Da Lei and the others, “Oh, right, remember not to call me ‘Prince’ in public. Call me ‘Young Master’!”

Da Lei nodded.

Xiao Ce slapped his horse and rode off into the distance.

…

In the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, Yanbei City was located near the border with Turkic.

It was also the strategic throat connecting the Northern Desert and Turkic, the gateway opening the passage between them.

It was especially important for the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

At the moment, a middle-aged man full of arrogance stood on the city wall. This person was the Grand General guarding the north, Bao An, also the cousin of the Second Prince.

About a dozen miles outside the city, a dense army had gathered.

This was the cavalry force assembled by the Turks from all their tribes.

“General Bao, what are the Turks waiting for?” A Military Advisor beside Bao An asked.

Bao An’s face looked troubled. “You ask me, who should I ask!? They are surely waiting for us to send someone to talk? Has our envoy returned yet?”

The Military Advisor beside him shook his head. “Reporting to the Grand General, not yet!”

“What about that useless Xiao Ce? Where is he now?” Bao An asked.

The Military Advisor saluted and said, “Reporting to General Bao, according to news from the Pigeon Post, because the Eldest Prince is bringing provisions, their marching speed is only a few dozen li per day.”

Bao An widened his eyes upon hearing this. “What? A few dozen li? When will he ever get here by that rate!”

“Father, didn’t the Second Prince send a letter? The Emperor only gave him three thousand Death Row Prisoners. You can’t really be expecting his three thousand Death Row Prisoners to be of help, can you?” Bao An’s son, Bao Cong, spoke from the side.

After hearing this, Bao An said, “Cong, my son! When will you ever grow a brain? What a waste of the name I gave you… Do I want those three thousand Death Row Prisoners? I want someone to take the blame!”

“Look at this posture of the Turks. If they really attack, how can we hold them off? If we lose the Four Northern Desert Prefectures before Xiao Ce arrives, we have to take the blame. But if that good-for-nothing arrives first, and then we lose the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, the blame will be on him.”

The Military Advisor said, “General Bao, there’s actually no need to worry too much! After all, your relationship with some of the Turk generals is quite good… We can talk to them like before. Those Turks, they just want some money, some grain… Even though they’ve gathered many people this time, it’s probably just to ask for more things…”

“And even if, as a last resort, the Turks refuse to talk and really attack, it wouldn’t be entirely your fault, General Bao. Why did Your Majesty send the Eldest Prince? To reward the troops, to provide support… But if he deliberately delays, he will also be held responsible then.”

Hearing the Military Advisor’s words, Bao An nodded and said, “What you say is right! However, the best situation is still to have a good talk with the Turks!”

As they spoke, a man who looked like a Military Advisor hurried over.

“General Bao, good news! Good news! The Turks are willing to negotiate! They are willing to negotiate!”

Hearing this, Bao An’s tense expression relaxed somewhat. “Good! Then quickly prepare fine wine and good food, and bring over the pretty girls we captured. Get ready to serve the envoy from the Turks well.”

The man who looked like a Military Advisor looked a bit embarrassed upon hearing Bao An’s words. “General, this time it’s not them coming here.”

Bao An frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

The Military Advisor said, “They are asking you to go over and talk!”