Chapter 65: Top Craftsmen

Chapter 65: Top Craftsmen

…

At that moment, the atmosphere inside the hall was suppressed to its limit.

Bao Cong lay on the ground, wailing, “Father… it hurts… Father… I’m in so much pain… Help me kill that waste…”

Bao An wore an expression full of heartache as he held Bao Cong. “Cong’er, I will definitely avenge you! Don’t worry, that waste is like a grasshopper in late autumn now, he can’t keep jumping for long! Once they fall into my hands, I will definitely cut them into a thousand pieces.”

As he spoke, he looked towards the other heads of the Noble Clans and Prominent Families in the hall.

He discovered they were all standing at the entrance of the hall, looking towards the doorway. It seemed no one was paying them any attention.

What’s more, some had already started talking to people outside the hall.

“What are you all doing?”

Bao An almost roared the question.

Then, the head of the Cai Family, Cai Tianming, walked over and said, “Grand General Bao An, people outside are spreading word that there is a way to get out. Xiao Ce seems determined not to come talk to us. We certainly can’t stay trapped here! We must think of a way, we can’t just sit here waiting to die.”

Bao An listened and nodded. “A way out? What way?”

Before Cai Tianming could speak, Kan Zongye beside him cut in first. “I heard that as long as we make our stance clear to Xiao Ce, support and acknowledge him as the King of Northern Desert, we can leave!”

After saying this, Kan Zongye looked at Cai Tianming, using his eyes to stop him.

Before Cai Tianming could respond, the heads of two other Noble Clans beside them nodded in agreement. “That’s right!”

Bao An heard this and quickly said, “Then you should go and declare your stance too. As long as we can leave the area under his control, we can deal with him. As long as we make contact with the outside, we can handle him. Everyone, hurry up and go… As long as one person gets out, we will be saved.”

The crowd listened, nodded at Bao An, and said they would go out and ask for more details.

Bao An frowned deeply and nodded. “I’m counting on you all. The Second Prince and that waste Xiao Ce are at odds, so he definitely won’t let me go. I must ask you to endure some hardship for now. As long as you all help me through this crisis, I will repay you handsomely. Even the people of the Turkic Kingdom will be very grateful to you!”

Mosi Ashina beside him nodded and said, “That’s right, hurry up and go… go and pretend to support him… As long as we can leave here, we have a way to survive. Whoever saves me, we Turks will never forget you!”

After hearing this, the heads of several Noble Clans nodded, then walked out almost in unison.

Just after stepping outside the hall, Cai Tianming looked grim and questioned Kan Zongye, “Kan Zongye, you really have been bought off by that waste. Why did you hide the truth from Bao An?”

Kan Zongye snorted coldly. “Then go tell him everything. Go tell Bao An that Xiao Ce needs us to reveal each other’s secrets to exchange for a chance to leave and survive! Even if you really get out and end up saving Bao An, see if Bao An and that Turkic Khan’s Son will feel grateful to you! Won’t they suspect you wrote something for Xiao Ce? By then, will Consort Hui and the others in the Capital let us off?”

Cai Tianming asked, “Then do you really plan to write it?”

Kan Zongye said, “Of course I’ll write it! What Xiao Ce wants is for us dogs to bite each other, so he can sit back and reap the benefits, getting hold of our secrets! Afterwards, he can control and manipulate us! Only in this way will he dare to let us leave with peace of mind, using minimal force to control the entire Four Northern Desert Prefectures. That’s how he can be secure as this King of Northern Desert!”

Lin Shou, head of the Lin Family, said, “Family Head Kan! If we gain our freedom this way, we will inevitably be constrained and controlled by Xiao Ce in the future! Judging from this Xiao Ce’s various methods, he is not the waste rumored to be. He is a very capable person! If they get hold of our secrets, the rest of our lives will likely be far from peaceful.”

Liu Xuan, head of the Liu Family, who hadn’t spoken until now, opened his mouth. “Yes! When Bao An was the master of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, those were the happiest days for our families. So, no one is better than letting this Bao An continue to be the public master of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures.”

Cai Tianming’s face twisted ferociously. “Kan Zongye, I think you’ve been bought off by Xiao Ce! I won’t write anything. He killed my eldest son. My son’s head is still displayed inside the hall, and his eyes won’t close. Xiao Ce and I are in a fight to the death!”

Kan Zongye glanced at Cai Tianming. “Cai Tianming, if you had any brains, you wouldn’t say that. Just listen to me finish. What I mean is, we all agree among ourselves and fabricate some totally nonexistent secrets. Then we go tell Xiao Ce. That Xiao Ce knows nothing. As long as what we write matches up, he will trust us.”

“As long as he trusts us and lets us out, we will have a way to deal with him!”

As soon as Kan Zongye finished speaking, Lin Shou and Liu Xuan slapped their thighs and said, “Family Head Kan, that’s a brilliant idea! Yes, let’s do that!”

Cai Tianming’s expression turned awkward. “You should have said that was the plan earlier. So how do we write it?”

Kan Zongye then called everyone over and began speaking in a low voice.

…

Xiao Ce was in a palace on the easternmost side of the Temporary Palace at that time.

This Temporary Palace was originally where Bao An stored his gold, silver, and treasures, so there were watchtowers all around, making the setting very secure.

After seeing this palace, Xiao Ce took a liking to the place at first sight.

He was sitting inside.

Qian Lai brought in over fifty men in their forties. The character for ‘Desert’ was tattooed on their foreheads, and their eyes were filled with fear and unease.

They were clearly the rumored Bonded People.

After these over fifty men in their forties entered,

Qian Lai addressed them. “This is the master of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures personally bestowed by His Majesty, the King of Northern Desert. Quickly pay your respects to the King of Northern Desert.”

Seeing this, the over fifty men all knelt down.

“We pay our respects to the King of Northern Desert. Long live the King of Northern Desert! Long live, long live!”

Qian Lai cupped his hands and said, “Prince, these fifty-two men are the best craftsmen within Lingxiao City. According to your instructions, some are carpenters and some are blacksmiths! They are all the most top-tier.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said to them, “Very good, you may all rise.”

The group knelt on the ground, not daring to get up immediately.

“This Prince orders you to rise,” Xiao Ce said to these men.

Only then did they get up, though each one looked uneasy.

“Don’t be nervous. Do you know why this Prince has called you here?” Xiao Ce asked them.

The craftsmen all shook their heads. Some of the smarter ones knelt again and said, “Prince, we have not done anything to betray the Four Northern Desert Prefectures… It’s true we forged weapons for the Turks before. But we were forced to do it. As Bonded People, if we didn’t do it, we would die! We beg the Prince for mercy, spare our lives!”

Seeing someone say this, everyone present began kowtowing, begging for their lives to be spared.

They all lived in Lingxiao City, and Xiao Ce had sent Qian Lai to spread some information about him.

For example, Xiao Ce came to capture Lingxiao City to purge those traitors.

Another example: Xiao Ce had already killed many Turks and many traitors. The reason Xiao Ce sealed the city was to clean out those traitors.

There was also news, like granting freedom to the Bonded People of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, giving them houses and land, exempting them from taxes for a year, and reforming land taxes. The overall idea was to make sure every common person in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures had enough to eat and some money left over!

The people in the city were frightened, hopeful, and worried all at once.

They were frightened because, more or less forced by Bao An, they had all done work for the Turks. They didn’t know if that counted as treachery.

They were hopeful because, if it was truly as the rumors said, that the new King of Northern Desert would bring them a better life, their days of hardship might finally be over.

And they were worried because they didn’t know how long Xiao Ce could last. After all, throughout history, there had been many officials full of ambition wanting to change the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, but their ends were invariably tragic.

When these top craftsmen were brought over, Qian Lai had come with soldiers and hadn’t said why.

Because of their excellent skills and under Bao An’s orders, these craftsmen had indeed forged many weapons for the Royal Family of the Turks.

Now, they all thought Xiao Ce was going to deal with them as traitors.

Seeing them kowtow one after another,

Xiao Ce didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he asked Qian Lai, “Qian Lai, didn’t you tell them why they were here?”

Qian Lai said awkwardly to Xiao Ce, “Prince, didn’t you say it was to be kept secret?”

Xiao Ce thought about it; he had indeed given that order. He said to the craftsmen who kept kowtowing, “Everyone, you have misunderstood. This Prince does not want your lives. This Prince is purging traitors, but this Prince understands even more clearly that you were all coerced. You people of the Northern Desert hate the Turks the most! You wish you could skin them alive. If you had a choice, you certainly would not serve them.”

Hearing Xiao Ce’s words, these craftsmen in their forties had tears in their eyes. “The Prince is wise… This commoner’s daughter was violated by the Turks…”

“My wife and daughter were… right in front of me, by the Turks… I kept this life just hoping one day I could go and kill Turks…”

…

These craftsmen spoke through gritted teeth, filled with anger, about their hatred and grievances with the Turks.

Xiao Ce listened, somewhat shocked by what he heard. These men’s families had all suffered persecution by the Turks.

The luckier ones still had family and children; the less fortunate were left completely alone.

Xiao Ce looked at everyone and said, “Everyone, the reason this Prince has called you here this time is to ask for your help! To make some divine tools to fight against the Turks!”

Everyone listened to Xiao Ce’s words and kowtowed again. “Prince, we are willing! However, we only know how to make conventional weapons. As for the divine tools to fight the Turks that you speak of, we do not know how.”

“This Prince has already drawn up the plans. You just need to follow them and make them! However, this Prince has one condition: once you agree to help this Prince, you must stay here for at least three years! During these three years, you cannot go outside, and you cannot contact people from outside. Because this Prince does not want the divine tools this Prince designed to fall into the hands of outsiders.”

“For these three years, this Prince will give each of you a salary of one hundred taels of Silver per year! Of course, this is all voluntary. If you are unwilling, this Prince will not force you!”

“Those willing to stay can receive an advance of one year’s salary. After receiving the Silver, you can go say goodbye to your families! Report back tomorrow. Those unwilling may leave directly. For those willing to stay, this Prince will definitely send people to treat your families well, take care of them, ensure they have enough to eat and wear, and are safe from harm!”

Xiao Ce spoke very sincerely. One craftsman raised his hand. “Prince, I’ll do it! We Bonded People were not allowed to leave Lingxiao City before anyway. Is it really one hundred taels of Silver?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Of course! One hundred taels of Silver is just the base salary. From now on, for every divine tool you make, this Prince will give you a commission! If you work normally, saving up a thousand taels of Silver over three years will be no problem at all!”

As soon as Xiao Ce said this, the eyes of the craftsmen present all lit up.

You must know, before under Bao An, they worked themselves to the bone for less than twenty taels a year. The income at Xiao Ce’s side now was like a fortune.

Some curious ones said, “Prince, may I be so bold as to ask what divine tools you want to make? Can we make them?”

After one person spoke, the others chimed in. “Yes, Prince! Our skills are indeed good, but you speak of divine tools… we have only made ordinary weapons. What if we agree, and then we can’t make what you’re talking about?”

Xiao Ce smiled at them and said, “Don’t worry. Since you are top craftsmen, making these won’t be a problem!”

As he spoke, he looked at Da Lei beside him and said, “Go get the sketches for the Compound Bow and the Repeating Crossbow!”