Chapter 43: A Good Place

Chapter 43: A Good Place

Seeing the situation, Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, how about I just call them down instead?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “I was just thinking of coming to see your stronghold. If the location is good, this Prince has great use for it.”

This Shen Hu looked rough, but in fact, he was very careful.

Nie Bing’s reminder earlier had made Shen Hu realize it too.

Xiao Ce patted his shoulder and said, “This Prince’s principle in dealing with people is: trust those you use, and don’t use those you doubt! Let’s go up the mountain!”

The mountain path they mentioned was actually a cave.

Because they were taking this cave, the Death Warriors also had to walk close alongside them now.

This cave seemed to be man-made.

“Shen Hu, you must have spent a lot of effort making this cave, right?” Xiao Ce asked as he walked.

Because, given their current level of craftsmanship, making such a path was truly not easy.

Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Reporting to the Prince, this path wasn’t actually made by us. In fact, the Tiger-Leopard Stronghold has existed for several hundred years. It was just abandoned after being wiped out before. My brother and I also stumbled upon it by accident. Even the things inside are ready-made. You’ll understand once you go in!”

As Xiao Ce spoke, he followed Shen Hu through many twists and turns for quite a while.

It was one cave leading into another. Even though he was following Shen Hu,

if he had to walk it alone, he would definitely get lost.

After walking for over half an hour, they came out from one of the caves.

The view suddenly opened up.

They saw a flat area in a valley among the mountains.

To call it flat, it was actually halfway up the mountain.

This flat area was at least as big as five football fields, with rows of stone houses inside.

The style of these houses didn’t look like it was from this era; the stone houses were covered in green plants…

It was like a small town hidden away from the world.

Xiao Ce saw quite a few people, separated and training in groups.

Shen Hu said, “Prince, we actually heard some elders say that hundreds of years ago, many people who fled the persecution of the Turks hid here, living away from other people.”

“When we arrived, this place was full of bones. According to the writing left behind at the scene, it seemed they died out from a plague in the end!”

Xiao Ce nodded. “This is a good place….”

He had actually been planning all along the way, but he had always lacked a secure secret base to make some modern things.

For example, that White Sugar, Fine Salt, and things like that. Xiao Ce also planned to make wine and such. He didn’t plan to produce a huge amount.

Because the purpose of making those things was to profit from the wealthy people here.

If he didn’t mass-produce, he had to ensure production was kept secret.

He had been thinking of finding a piece of land, and now he really got it without any effort.

Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, if you like it, this place is yours!”

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded. “Good, then this Prince won’t stand on ceremony with you. However, this Prince won’t take it for free! This Prince will pay you!”

Shen Hu quickly waved his hands. “Prince, you are a living Bodhisattva. I’ve heard about what you’ve done. I’m willing to work for someone like you who cares about the common people! I don’t want anything!”

Xiao Ce smiled. “Alright, this Prince doesn’t like taking advantage of you. However, I have no money to give you right now! We’ll talk about it later. Go and gather everyone.”

Shen Hu nodded, directly put his hand to his mouth, and blew a very loud whistle.

Hearing the whistle, all the training soldiers stopped.

Then they gathered towards this side.

Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, everyone here has already been registered. Counting the people from our Tiger-Leopard Stronghold, there are forty-eight thousand in total! Among them, over thirty thousand are veterans! And over eighteen thousand are strong young men!”

After hearing this, Xiao Ce looked very surprised. “What? So many veterans?”

Shen Hu nodded. “These veterans have all fought against the Turks to some degree. Before, their General was framed by the current Bao An, their army was disbanded. Bao An wanted to recruit them, but many of them refused and went home to farm.”

After hearing this, Xiao Ce said, “Hahaha, good! Very good!”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce turned to look at Nie Bing.

“These aren’t raw recruits anymore, are they.”

Nie Bing’s eyes were also full of excitement.

After all, although she had often poured cold water on Xiao Ce’s plans, she had always been thinking for his good.

Now, with so many veterans,

Xiao Ce going to the Four Northern Desert Prefectures would be a smooth walk.

With over forty-eight thousand people here, veterans leading the new recruits would only strengthen the fighting force.

Plus the over fifty thousand new recruits gathered along the way.

Xiao Ce really could raise an army of a hundred thousand men!

As the over forty thousand people gathered, they formed a dark mass.

And these people seemed to carry a killing aura about them.

Shen Hu said loudly, “Everyone, this is the King of Northern Desert who summoned you all!”

After hearing Shen Hu’s words, everyone knelt down in unison.

“We greet the King of Northern Desert!”

The earth-shaking shouts echoed through the mountain gorge, making people’s hearts stir with excitement…

Xiao Ce listened and smiled. “Good! Since you have all come, you should know why you’re here!”

Everyone was silent for a moment.

Shen Hu was the first to speak. “Pacify the Turkic!”

Once Shen Hu led the way, everyone followed.

“Pacify the Turkic! Pacify the Turkic!”

“Correct, resist the Turks! Revitalize the Northern Desert! Not only that, this Prince will also ensure you have meat to eat and money left in your purses!” Xiao Ce shouted directly.

“Long Live! Long Live! Long Live!”

The soldiers started roaring excitedly.

Looking at everyone, Xiao Ce said, “Good! This Prince doesn’t like empty talk! As long as you follow this Prince, this Prince will definitely not treat you badly! Same as before, follow this Prince, rewards will be given for merit, and mistakes will be punished!”

“The people who brought you here have already told you, right? Common soldiers get five taels of silver as Military Pay, and your pay increases with each promotion! Following this Prince, I can’t promise you much else. But, as long as you are willing to give your all, work for one year and you can go home to build a house, work for three years and you can buy land.”

“Long Live the Prince! Long Live! Long Live forever!”

Xiao Ce’s simple words completely stirred up everyone’s emotions.

Actually, there was no need to talk about lofty ideals with these people, because ordinary folks cared more about practical benefits.

“Shen Hu, do you have wine and meat here?”

Shen Hu nodded. “Prince, yes! We have stored quite a lot of wine and meat!”

Xiao Ce said, “Good, go and take stock. This Prince will buy all the wine and meat you have here! Today, all soldiers will eat meat in big bites and drink wine from big bowls! Tomorrow, this Prince will lead you out of the mountains! We will take control of the Northern Desert!”

“Good! Good! Good!”

“Long Live! Long Live! Long Live!”

Hearing that they could eat meat, the soldiers broke into another wave of roaring cheers like a stormy sea.