Chapter 62: Fei Du

Chapter 62: Fei Du

As Bao Cong spoke, he gave Xiao Jiu, who was terrified, another slap.

“You useless lackey, I’m talking to you… hurry up, or I’ll beat you to death!”

Xiao Jiu was the son of Bonded People. Because he was quick-witted, good at calculations, and lucky, he was recruited by people from the Qian Clan Trading House.

However, what the people from the Qian Clan Trading House taught him was obedience, submission, and the customer always being right.

So, the personality he developed since childhood couldn’t be changed in a short while.

Bao Cong’s arrogance and overbearing nature instantly brought out all his servile instincts.

He was so scared he stood frozen on the spot, not daring to move.

Just as Bao Cong was about to vent all his pent-up malice on Xiao Jiu, Shopkeeper Zhang, who had just gotten reliable information from Xiao Jiu’s mouth, quickly stopped Bao Cong and said, “General Bao, calm your anger, calm your anger. After all, we are under someone else’s authority. No matter what, he is Xiao Ce’s man…”

After saying that, he shouted at Xiao Jiu, “Hurry up and go! General Bao is telling you to go. Go quickly… what are you standing there for?”

As he spoke, he kept giving Xiao Jiu meaningful looks.

Only then did Xiao Jiu snap out of it and flee in panic.

Seeing Xiao Jiu run off like that, Bao Cong shook off Shopkeeper Zhang’s restraint and cursed, “Who are you… what are you? You dare to stop me?”

Shopkeeper Zhang forced a smile and said, “General Bao, I am Zhang Yunqing. Within Lingxiao City, I assist and am responsible for the trade purchases of the Turks…”

Bao Cong glanced at Zhang Yunqing, thought for a moment, and seemed unable to recall who Zhang Yunqing was.

His face showed a look of disdain. “Don’t know you… but you, why did you stop me? What did you mean by what you said? Do you think I’m afraid of that waste Xiao Ce?”

“That waste Xiao Ce, even a stray dog on the roadside in the Capital could pee on his shoe, and he wouldn’t dare make a sound. Do you think I’m afraid of a waste like him?”

Zhang Yunqing bowed and scraped beside him. “Yes, yes, General Bao. Beating that person would only dirty your hands. Moreover, isn’t the Khan’s Son inside in critical condition? Every moment of delay adds to the danger, right? General Bao, you are an Honored Guest. It’s beneath you to get angry with their kind of lowly servant…”

At this moment, the other merchants nearby came forward, echoing Zhang Yunqing’s words.

And their words, directly and indirectly, were all supporting Zhang Yunqing.

Bao Cong pointed at them and said, “Enough! Let me tell you, you are all people of my Lingxiao City. If I find out you dare betray our Bao Family, you know the consequences! This is also a test for you all!”

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Having said that, Bao Cong flicked his sleeve and left. He seemed unwilling to stay there a moment longer.

Class was ingrained in his bones, so in Bao Cong’s mind, breathing the same air outside the hall with these lowly people seemed to taint him.

After Bao Cong left.

The merchants beside Zhang Yunqing all asked him questions.

“Shopkeeper Zhang, what news did you get from Xiao Jiu just now?”

“Yes, Shopkeeper Zhang, we just spoke up for you…”

“We are all in this together. If you have information, you must tell us…”

Zhang Yunqing looked at everyone with a smile and said, “Didn’t you all just promise Bao Cong? Said you wouldn’t betray the Bao Family?”

“To hell with the Bao Family… we merchants rely on ourselves… to put it bluntly, the Bao Family needs us… Now, their Bao family members talk big, belittling the King of Northern Desert as worthless. But now, this King of Northern Desert has their so-called Generals and Noble Clan Heads penned up here like pigs and dogs. This King of Northern Desert is clearly not simple!”

“Exactly, didn’t you see? The head of Cai Wu, the defending soldier of Yanmen Pass, was cut off. What does that mean… it means Yanmen Pass has fallen. The King of Northern Desert captured Lingxiao City without a sound. It’s very likely all nine cities defended by the Bao Family have fallen! Shopkeeper Zhang, we merchants have it hard… you have to tell us…”

“Yes, we merchants are meant to attach ourselves to the ruling power… Shopkeeper Zhang, we have a good relationship… if there’s a clear path, you have to point the way for us…”

Hearing everyone’s words, Zhang Yunqing didn’t hide anything and repeated what Xiao Jiu had told them.

Of course, he kept all information about Xiao Ce’s current strength to himself.

He had some selfish motives. If he let them act without worry and told Xiao Ce all his details,

it wouldn’t show his sincerity.

He told them what he should and kept part of it hidden, leaving them with doubts in their minds.

After he finished, these people were somewhat surprised, and their expressions turned a bit awkward.

“Alright… I’ve said what I needed to say… whether you write or not, I’m going to write…” Zhang Yunqing had already decided to gamble.

“Shopkeeper Zhang, have you considered? What if the King of Northern Desert fails? At that time, the things you write could cost you your life…” some merchants said to Zhang Yunqing.

Zhang Yunqing said, “Wealth comes from risk. If the King of Northern Desert secures his footing, I will be his most trusted person… the benefits will naturally be many. However, as you said, if the King of Northern Desert can’t hold on for long, we only have a dead end. So, how to choose is your own decision!”

After saying this, Zhang Yunqing walked to the table and began to write.

…

On one side, Xiao Ce was at the Temporary Palace’s Message Crow station.

The Message Crow station was a semi-open pavilion, filled with hundreds of densely packed black Message Crows.

On one side, there were cages, each with a name on it.

For example, Ashina Khan, Kan Family, Lin Family…

The names on those cages indicated that the Message Crows inside each cage were for dedicated delivery.

Xiao Ce looked at the wall of cages, which seemed to cover nearly all the forces within the Four Northern Desert Prefectures!

And also the Turks.

Each cage held anywhere from five to twenty Message Crows.

After looking for a while, Xiao Ce had some questions. He asked the Message Crow Emissary following him, “All these Message Crows look the same. How can you be sure the Message Crows inside won’t be swapped? For example, a letter meant for the Kan Family ends up at the Lin Family.”

The Message Crow Emissary beside him replied respectfully, “Prince, we Message Crow Emissaries are responsible for every letter. These Message Crows may all look the same to you, but in our eyes, they are completely different creatures!”

“If a letter is delivered to the wrong place, not only will my head be cut off, but all my family members will be executed. Such a situation will not happen here!”

Seeing the Message Crow Emissary’s confident expression.

Xiao Ce nodded.

The Message Crow Emissary asked, “Prince, would you like to test it? You can mix all these Message Crows together. I can distinguish them for you!”

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, “No need! Since I chose you, This Prince will definitely trust you!”

Actually, Xiao Ce wanted to test it, but he realized that even if this Message Crow Emissary could distinguish them clearly, he himself couldn’t tell if their sorting was correct.

Rather than that, it was better to verbally give them some trust.

Xiao Ce glanced at Yan Jia. Yan Jia then handed a fresh finger of Mosi Ashina and a letter to the Message Crow Emissary.

“Send this to Ashina! Will this finger work?”

The Message Crow Emissary weighed it in his hand and then said, “No problem.”

Immediately after, he selected a crow from a cage labeled ‘Ashina’ that was several times larger than an ordinary Message Crow. He tied the letter and the finger to its two legs and released it.

After doing all this, the Message Crow Emissary cupped his hands towards Xiao Ce and said, “Prince, at the latest by lunchtime tomorrow, the Turks will receive the message. If they reply promptly, we can receive a message the day after tomorrow.”

“So fast? No accidents?”

The Message Crow Emissary nodded and said, “Accidents certainly exist… but they happen rarely. Our Message Crows are bred and trained through multiple selections. They can adapt to various extreme weather and complex situations. Especially for important letters, we choose the very best among the Message Crows to deliver them.”

Xiao Ce listened and nodded. “Good! What’s your name?”

The Message Crow Emissary said to Xiao Ce, “Reporting to the Prince, this lowly one is called Fei Du.”

“Fei Du? Good! Why did you agree to serve This Prince so readily?” Xiao Ce asked.

The Message Crow Emissary said to Xiao Ce, “Reporting to the King of Northern Desert, it’s because I heard General Yan Jia say you are Miss Nie Bing’s husband? I don’t trust you, but I trust Miss Nie Bing.”

Yan Jia added from the side, “Prince, this Fei Du and his Message Crows were originally established entirely by Provincial Governor Nie Yao. After Provincial Governor Nie Yao was killed, they endured humiliation and remained hidden beside Bao An, lurking, just so that one day when Nie Bing needed help, they could act in time.”

Xiao Ce listened and nodded. It seemed he had underestimated Nie Bing’s influence in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

“Good! Work hard. This Prince will definitely avenge Provincial Governor Nie Yao!”

Fei Du said respectfully to Xiao Ce, “Prince, as long as you resist the Turks, I am willing to be crushed to dust for you.”

Xiao Ce smiled and waved his hand at Fei Du. “Alright, a Message Crow Emissary crushed to dust, what kind of state would that be?”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at Fei Du with piercing eyes and said, “Since you’ve been lurking near Bao An for a long time, you must know about Bao An’s dealings with the Noble Clans, and also with the Turks.”

Fei Du’s expression froze for a moment, as if thinking, and then he nodded.

“Can you tell me?” Xiao Ce asked bluntly.

Fei Du nodded, then shook his head.

Xiao Ce asked with a hint of confusion, “Why?”

“Prince, forgive my offense. I need to get Miss Nie Bing’s permission before I can tell you,” Fei Du said to Xiao Ce with a firm gaze.