Chapter 72: Because You Need Me!

Chapter 72: Because You Need Me!

“Who?”

Nie Bing played coy, asking Xiao Ce to guess.

Xiao Ce shrugged and waved a hand. “I don’t know much about them, how could I guess! However, I can eliminate a couple first. It’s definitely not Cai Tianming or Kan Zongye. I killed Cai Wu, so Cai Tianming hates me like a sworn enemy. As for Kan Zongye, he’s the one with the strongest overall power among the Four Great Clans. It couldn’t be him either.”

“Prince, you guessed wrong. It was Kan Zongye!”

As she spoke, Nie Bing handed one of the letters to Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce took the letter in surprise.

Kan Zongye’s writing was quite sincere. He wrote about some things he had done, how many Provincial Governors he had gotten killed, as well as his dealings and business with the Turks.

If this evidence of his crimes were placed before the Emperor, his whole clan would be exterminated dozens of times over.

Yin Pan’er came over to look.

“Prince, is he trying to show us goodwill?”

Xiao Ce’s expression turned slightly cold. “He’s playing mind games with me.”

Yin Pan’er was puzzled. “Prince, what are you planning to do then?”

Xiao Ce pretended to be mysterious. “That has to remain a secret. It won’t work if I say it out loud!”

Nie Bing didn’t pursue it further and changed the subject. “How about your side?”

“The merchants and those officials under Bao An, they wrote very sincerely, it’s probably genuine. As for those from the Prominent Families and officials from the other four prefectures’ territories, I think what they wrote was half-true and half-false… but that’s not important, since they aren’t in my territory anyway! Nie Bing, I need you to pick some trusted officials to help This Prince manage these nine cities.”

Nie Bing immediately produced a list.

“Prince, I’ve already prepared it. There are thirteen officials on this list. They all worked under my father before. My father praised them highly, and they were all in the Rites Hall yesterday.”

Xiao Ce looked at the list and nodded, then stretched. “That’s enough for today, it’s getting late. Do the two of you wish to stay here, or…”

Both of them spoke at once, saying they wanted to leave.

Xiao Ce did not try to keep them. He also asked Da Lei to bring the reform plan for the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, along with the methods for development and governance that he had written.

“Since they will be under your management in the future, govern according to this book from now on. Go back and read it. If you have any questions, you can come ask me while I’m still here.”

Yin Pan’er looked at the two thick books Xiao Ce handed over. “This… did you write these yourself?”

Xiao Ce did not deny it. “What did you think I was doing all those nights when I shut myself in my room? Go back and read it first. The people in these nine cities were all brought over from the Central Plains, and the Bonded People here have been trained to have no thoughts or personality left. This is a good opportunity to let them adapt to a completely new system.”

Yin Pan’er looked at the two thick books and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go back and read them first.”

Watching the two leave, Xiao Ce saw Xiao Jiu waiting outside the door.

As soon as Xiao Ce stepped out, Xiao Jiu came forward. “Prince, do you need the Solar Term Maidens to attend to you tonight? This humble one will go and…”

Xiao Ce smiled. What did this kid take him for?

Women were just a form of relaxation.

“Earlier, I told you to bring Zhang Yunqing out of the Rites Hall. Where did you settle him?”

Seeing he had misunderstood, Xiao Jiu looked a bit awkward. “Prince, for now I’ve settled him with that Khan’s Son.”

Xiao Ce nodded and had Xiao Jiu lead the way.

Walking out of his bedchamber, he saw patrols of soldiers everywhere, in small teams of five. They had the entire Temporary Palace under tight control, leaving no dead spots.

These soldiers stood at attention and saluted Xiao Ce smartly when they saw him.

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded, very satisfied with the soldiers’ spirit.

He really hadn’t misjudged Yan Jia. The man indeed had a knack for leading troops.

On the way, Xiao Ce asked Xiao Jiu about Zhang Yunqing.

Listening to Xiao Jiu’s account, Ce thought this Zhang Yunqing was quite a legendary figure.

Zhang Yunqing was a native of the Northern Desert. He grew up in Shoushan City in Ping’an Prefecture. His parents were Bonded People under a wealthy Zhang family in Ping’an Prefecture. With his clever mind, he won the favor of the Zhang family’s Young Master, who kept him by his side as a study companion. He learned to read and studied many books.

Eventually, when the Zhang family’s Young Master inherited the family position, Zhang Yunqing was promoted to the Zhang family’s chief steward. Being the Family Head’s Confidant, he was spared the branding given to Bonded People and also accumulated his first fortune with the Zhang family.

Because Shoushan City bordered the Turkic Kingdom, it was often raided by Turks.

There was an unspoken understanding between them and the Turks.

When the Turks came to raid, the wealthy families would stay behind closed doors, leaving some grain and treasure at their gates. The Turks would then not break in. However, one group of Turks went crazy. Taking the grain at the gate wasn’t enough.

They broke down the doors, slaughtered the wealthy families, and looted everything clean.

Zhang Yunqing had been cautious in advance. He had set up a cellar in the mansion and hid all the Zhang family members inside.

This allowed the Zhang Family Head and over ten others to escape death, but the family’s property was completely plundered by the Turks, and their house was burned down by them!

The Zhang Family Head died of depression, and the Zhang family quickly declined.

Using some money he had accumulated with the Zhangs, Zhang Yunqing gave a portion to the surviving family members for their livelihood.

It was said that later, after Zhang Yunqing became prosperous, he rebuilt the Zhang family mansion and supported them, showing he had a sense of loyalty and righteousness!

Because he knew these Noble Clans and Prominent Families of the Northern Desert very well,

he clearly understood that with no one to rely on, doing business in the Northern Desert would ultimately end with him being devoured by the Noble Clans and the Nobility.

He originally wanted to go to the Central Plains, but by a chance opportunity, he saved a merchant who came from the Turks.

During their conversation, he discovered a business opportunity! The Turkic Kingdom was located on the Grasslands! Although the various tribes kept raiding the Northern Desert, the things they looted were always used by the Nobility; ordinary Turks couldn’t get them.

What the Turks needed still had to be purchased!

On that merchant’s advice,

Zhang Yunqing chose not to do business with the Northern Desert people, but instead to trade with the Turkic Kingdom.

Because he did this business, everyone thought he was snatching food from the tiger’s mouth.

But, using his personal skills, he somehow managed to navigate very well among the Turks.

Not only did he build up his own business, but he also maintained good relations with the Turks.

Because of his connections with the Turks,

both the Noble Clans and the Prominent Families here would give him some face.

Especially after Bao An arrived, he gained Bao An’s heavy trust, which took his business to another level.

Listening to Xiao Jiu’s account, he felt more and more that this Zhang Yunqing was indeed the key to helping him break the deadlock.

Seeing Xiao Ce nodding continuously,

Xiao Jiu cautiously asked, “Prince, don’t you hate traitors the most? Zhang Yunqing counts as one, right! And, is such a person trustworthy?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Where did you get all this information?”

Xiao Jiu scratched his head. “Mostly from rumors among the common people.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Putting aside everything else, just based on how he never abandoned the Zhang family, his character can’t be too bad. As for doing business with the Turks, how is that being a traitor? He’s making money from the Turks! Compared to the actions of those Noble Clans and the Nobility, what he did is nothing.”

“Moreover, from the information he wrote in his letter to This Prince. This Prince has great use for him! As for whether he’s trustworthy, This Prince never likes to listen to what others say. I believe in my own judgment.”

As he spoke, he saw a courtyard ahead, heavily guarded outside. Clearly, they had arrived.

Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Jiu and asked, “Is this the place?”

Xiao Jiu nodded.

After Xiao Ce entered the courtyard, he saw Mosi Ashina poking his head out from one of the rooms.

Seeing it was Xiao Ce, he was so scared he quickly pulled his head back in.

Led by Xiao Jiu, they went to another room.

The door was open. A man was writing busily at a table, with many of his own ‘materials’ written beside him.

“What’s this? Are you planning to write an autobiography for This Prince to read this time? But, you may have time to write it, but This Prince doesn’t have time to read it!”

Zhang Yunqing jumped at the voice from the doorway. Seeing it was Xiao Ce,

his expression became very complicated. Excited, he scurried over and then flopped down, kneeling directly before Xiao Ce.

“This commoner Zhang Yunqing greets the Prince! Long Live the Prince! Long Live! Long Live! This commoner did not know of the Prince’s personal visit and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive this crime, Prince!”

Xiao Ce did not stop Zhang Yunqing. He walked straight in, sat down in the chair Zhang Yunqing had just been using, casually picked up a piece of paper, and looked at it.

“Reporting to the Prince, this isn’t finished yet, nor polished. If the Prince wishes to read it, I can stay up all night to finish it!”

Xiao Ce put the paper back on the table, looked at Zhang Yunqing prostrate on the ground, and smiled. “This Prince just said, you may have time to write, but I don’t necessarily have time to read it!”

Zhang Yunqing smiled awkwardly and nodded. “Prince, then this commoner…”

“Give This Prince one reason not to kill you for all the things you’ve done!” Xiao Ce did not plan to beat around the bush and spoke directly.

Zhang Yunqing looked at Xiao Ce’s dark expression, frightened and trembling as he prostrated on the ground. He raised his head slightly, glanced at Xiao Ce,

and then looked at Xiao Jiu.

However, he couldn’t read anything from either of their faces. He awkwardly asked Xiao Ce,

“Prince, are the things this commoner wrote not enough?”

Xiao Ce said with a half-smile, “What you wrote is certainly enough to get you killed!”

Zhang Yunqing’s face changed color repeatedly. After thinking for a moment, he said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, because you need me! Keeping me alive will definitely be better for you than killing me! Prince, you are surely planning to take action against the Turks. Looking across the entire Great Xiao Kingdom, no one understands the Turks better than I do! Prince, as long as you keep me, I will definitely not let you regret it! I swear absolute loyalty to you!”