Chapter 84: The Secret Base

Chapter 84: The Secret Base

The people beside him suddenly understood.

“Then are you so sure they will definitely have their family members come over? Those old foxes can probably guess that you want to keep people as hostages. Will they still bring people here?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “They have no choice now. As the saying goes, one wrong step leads to many more! From the very first step, I had control over them. This Prince’s plans were linked one after another; I had them figured out long ago!”

Yin Pan’er beside him said quietly, “Did you also use this trick to deal with us?”

Xiao Ce waved his hand with a smile. “Of course not. This Prince’s actions towards you were all sincere!”

After hearing Xiao Ce’s words, the two made gagging expressions and then said they needed to get busy.

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Jiu beside him, “Xiao Jiu, how are things going with those few bittern salt mines?”

Xiao Jiu bowed and said, “Sir Qian Lai has already sent people over. In at most ten days, the first batch of bittern salt can be produced.”

“Good! Go and summon the two brothers, Shen Hu and Shen Bao.”

Xiao Ce lay down on a rocking chair and slowly said.

Xiao Jiu bowed in agreement.

…

After Xiao Jiu left, those Solar Term Maidens very sensibly came to attend to him.

Xiao Ce then said to the Solar Term Maidens, “This Prince asked you to make some clothes. Have you all made them?”

The Solar Term Maidens nodded. “Prince, they are ready…”

“Then why haven’t you changed into them? Don’t you like them?”

Hearing Xiao Ce say this, the Solar Term Maidens’ faces flushed bright red instantly…

“Prince, those clothes… are… somewhat… not very appropriate…”

After hearing them speak, Xiao Ce felt a bit strange. Because he had Qian Lai find the best tailor to make them.

Xiao Ce then told them to put them on so he could take a look.

The Solar Term Maidens naturally did not dare to disobey Xiao Ce’s wishes. These women changed into the qipaos that Xiao Ce personally designed for them and came out with flushed faces.

Because these Solar Term Maidens were all personally chosen by Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce preferred a full chest.

So, after these Solar Term Maidens put on those qipaos, their fronts were all full and bulging.

Since the qipao was very form-fitting, it perfectly outlined their figures.

“Not a good fit? How is this not a good fit? I think it’s just right! Very fitting!” Xiao Ce said to the Solar Term Maidens.

“Come on, walk a bit for me to see!”

Saying this, these Solar Term Maidens began to walk in a shy and awkward manner.

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, “Don’t walk like that! You shouldn’t be shy… Look at the way I walk…”

Saying this, Xiao Ce vividly demonstrated for them once.

Xiao Ce’s purpose for these clothes wasn’t just to satisfy his own mischievous interest.

He had his own plan. He wanted to personally train these young women.

Then he would have these young women go on to train a professional team of female spies.

He knew that infiltration was often much easier with beautiful women.

Based on each girl’s personality, he would assign different training methods to train women of various temperaments.

This way, there would always be a type that could match the target.

In his previous life during business wars, Xiao Ce had used this move quite often.

Because a false honey trap uses beauty to seduce. A true honey trap is when the unattainable white moonlight from one’s memory suddenly reappears.

Think about how powerful the damage from a white moonlight can be.

And he had experience training for this too; he had used this move often during his business ventures.

These young women had learned the art of serving others quite well.

But it was far from enough.

The Solar Term Maidens saw Xiao Ce personally stepping up.

They then stopped being shy and awkward and began to learn how to walk properly.

After all, they were still at a flower-like age, the time when their ability to learn was strongest.

After just a few tries, they were walking in a decent manner.

Xiao Ce nodded with satisfaction. “Very good, ladies. This Prince has something to discuss with you.”

After hearing Xiao Ce’s words, the Solar Term Maidens wore expressions of great trepidation.

“Prince, whatever you need, please just give the order directly!”

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded. “This Prince selected you all from the very beginning, not to have you become maids. Previously, This Prince was swamped with countless troublesome matters. Now, things have finally settled down a bit! This Prince intends to train you all to become spies.”

The Solar Term Maidens listened with curious expressions and said, “Female spies? Prince, what is a female spy?”

Xiao Ce explained. “A spy is someone who engages in secret investigative work, trying to steal confidential information from the enemy or to carry out sabotage activities!”

Xiao Ce’s simple explanation made the expressions of the Solar Term Maidens grow somewhat awkward.

“Prince, can we do such work?”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “I will train you first. This Prince does not expect you to go on missions right away. Instead, This Prince will first pass on the skills to you. Then, you will go and find, and then seek out some suitable people to train, and establish a spy department.”

Saying this, Xiao Ce paused. “Of course, if you don’t want to learn, you can continue to be maids peacefully… This Prince respects your choice. Because once you become spies, you will need to give up many things.”

“Prince, if we become spies, can we help you deal with the people of the Turkic Kingdom?” one of the Solar Term Maidens said with a fierce expression.

Xiao Ce nodded. “Of course. But to become a qualified spy, years of various trainings are necessary. By the time you are fully trained, This Prince might have already conquered Turkic! However, you can serve This Prince in the future!”

“Prince, if you really conquer Turkic, you will be our benefactor… We are willing to serve you!”

“That’s right, Prince, we are willing to try! If there’s no chance to deal with the Turks, as long as we can help the Prince in the future, we are willing!”

The Solar Term Maidens were originally from Bonded People backgrounds; their families had all died at the hands of the Turks. Later, Bao An brought them to his Temporary Palace.

In the Temporary Palace, they suffered constant mistreatment.

Only after Xiao Ce arrived did their lives begin to change.

Although Xiao Ce would have them serve him, the rest of the time they didn’t have to do anything. Such a life was like a dream come true for them.

They were also very grateful to Xiao Ce.

Seeing the determined looks in everyone’s eyes, Xiao Ce smiled and nodded. “Good. But learning this won’t be easy…”

“We are not afraid!” these Solar Term Maidens said firmly.

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Good. When I am here, I will teach you some things. I will hire professional teachers for you in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Most importantly, you will need strong mental fortitude. I will have Xiezhi from the Twelve Fiends teach you!”

The group of young women all nodded. Xiao Ce then began talking to them, first telling them to train their posture and bearing.

Just at that moment, Xiao Jiu, along with the two brothers Shen Hu and Shen Bao, walked over.

Seeing the spring-like scene in the courtyard startled them.

After all, these young women in form-fitting qipaos with high slits seemed quite exposing in their eyes.

Scared, they immediately turned their heads and started walking back out.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce found their reaction quite amusing.

“What are you running for? Come in!”

Called out by Xiao Ce, their bodies froze.

Shen Hu said, “Prince… One should not look at improper things… Perhaps you could ask the young ladies to step aside?”

Xiao Ce laughed out loud. “They are all dressed… You have such feudal minds. The young ladies aren’t afraid, what are you afraid of?”

Hearing Xiao Ce say this, Xiao Jiu led Shen Hu and Shen Bao inside.

However, although the two men came in, they kept their heads lowered, not daring to look at the Solar Term Maidens at all.

Especially Xiao Jiu, whose face was as red as a monkey’s bottom.

Xiao Ce found it quite funny, especially since Shen Bao used to be a bandit—why was he afraid of seeing such things?

Actually, what Xiao Ce didn’t realize was,

They weren’t afraid to look at these women. They just thought these women were the prince’s women.

Seeing the situation, Xiao Ce asked the Solar Term Maidens to leave for now.

“Shen Hu, Shen Bao, regarding the money and provisions I took from you before, did Qian Lai give all the money to you?” Xiao Ce asked the two brothers.

The two brothers nodded repeatedly. “Prince, you already gave it all to us! Actually, we don’t even need it… Consider it our support for the Prince’s fight against the Turks!”

Xiao Ce smiled and waved his hand. “Ha! Is This Prince short of your money? Don’t be polite with me! Let’s get to the main point. Do you know why I called you here?”

The two men shook their heads.

“This Prince wants you to start operating the Tiger-Leopard Stronghold again. I want one of you two brothers to take charge…” Xiao Ce said.

Shen Hu and Shen Bao awkwardly looked at each other, neither of them speaking up.

Looking at their expressions, Xiao Ce said, “What, neither of you is willing?”

Shen Bao bowed to Xiao Ce and said, “Prince, you already have a proper army, why would you still want to be bandits?”

Hearing Shen Bao’s words, Xiao Ce burst out laughing.

“What nonsense about being bandits! Having you restart the Tiger-Leopard Stronghold is to serve as This Prince’s secret base!”

Saying this, Xiao Ce had Xiao Jiu bring out the Repeating Crossbow and the Compound Bow.

Xiao Ce had them test each one.

After using them, their eyes gleamed with excitement. “Prince, where did you get such divine weapons?”

Xiao Ce said to the two, “These were all made by people This Prince sent! Originally, This Prince wanted to set up a Divine Engine Hall here to make these weapons. But after all, there are too many eyes and ears here! The Tiger-Leopard Stronghold is a secluded paradise. This Prince wants to make it the location for the Divine Engine Hall.”

“This Prince sent people to mine the bittern salt for purification and detoxification. Also, This Prince has methods for making Refined Salt and frost sugar. These methods all need to be kept secret. This Prince wants to put all the production in Tiger-Leopard Stronghold! Only placing it there is safe! That place is very important. This Prince needs an absolutely trustworthy person to manage it!”

“In the future, This Prince will have many more things produced there! And, This Prince will gradually move fifty to a hundred thousand people there! So, do you understand how important this Tiger-Leopard Stronghold is to This Prince?”

The two men listened with deep respect, nodding repeatedly.

The two men almost spoke in unison.

“Prince, if that is the case, your humble servant is willing to go!”

“Prince, I recommend my Elder Brother to go!”