Chapter 95: Carrot and Stick

Chapter 95: Carrot and Stick

Lin Zhong agreed very readily.

Then, somewhat excitedly, he said, “Prince, when will you let me go over? Let’s not delay. Also, I can understand the pictures in your book, but I still don’t know how to proceed…”

For the next several hours, Xiao Ce and Lin Zhong talked in the room.

After some discussion, the two of them still felt that producing cement was not suitable to be done at Tiger-Leopard Stronghold.

After all, making cement wasn’t difficult, but it wasted manpower and effort.

This business was better left to those merchants to handle. This way, the maximum output could be ensured.

So, Xiao Ce called for Zhang Yunqing.

He explained this cement business to Zhang Yunqing. Although Zhang Yunqing didn’t fully understand,

he chose to trust what Xiao Ce said.

After finishing this matter, Zhang Yunqing said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, there’s something I’ve been thinking over, and I still feel I must tell you.”

Xiao Ce looked at Zhang Yunqing’s expression. “What is it? Go ahead.”

Zhang Yunqing glanced at Lin Zhong at his side.

“I trust this Uncle Zhong more than I trust myself. Speak!”

Xiao Ce’s words warmed Lin Zhong’s heart.

Zhang Yunqing then said, “Prince, do you remember the day I was locked up with the Turkic Khan’s Son, Mosi Ashina?”

Xiao Ce nodded.

“That day, Mosi Ashina actually approached me! He threatened and tempted me to cooperate with him… and ordered me to deliver messages for him, and to lurk by your side to pass him information! At the time, I thought of agreeing to him but not actually doing his work. That way, I could also get information from him to tell you, Prince. So I agreed!”

Zhang Yunqing confessed with a nervous expression.

Xiao Ce nodded with satisfaction. In fact, he had already known.

“Prince, you don’t seem surprised at all?”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Correct, I knew immediately that Mosi Ashina approached you that day. I was waiting for when you would come and tell me about this matter…”

Zhang Yunqing fell to his knees with a thud, his face turning pale. “Prince, it’s not that I intentionally hid it. It’s just that back then, I thought you, Prince, might be rather suspicious, and I was afraid I couldn’t explain clearly…”

Xiao Ce gave a fake smile. “How about now? Can you explain clearly now? Or is it that you were the one who sent the message and let Mosi Ashina escape?”

Zhang Yunqing waved his hands repeatedly. “Prince, I swear to the heavens. It wasn’t me… I… I…”

Seeing Zhang Yunqing stammering, Xiao Ce laughed and said, “Alright, don’t be nervous! Relax… This Prince knows it wasn’t you…”

Hearing Xiao Ce’s words, Zhang Yunqing knelt on the ground, sweating profusely.

But he dared not wipe it off…

“Alright, get up. You did very well. The only bad thing is that it took you so long to tell This Prince.” Xiao Ce stared straight at Zhang Yunqing as he spoke.

Facing Xiao Ce’s pressure, Zhang Yunqing felt his legs go weak and knelt down again.

“Prince, I was wrong! From now on, I will report everything to you immediately!”

Xiao Ce smiled and helped him up, saying, “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t kneel! Get up. This Prince has seen your loyalty. This Prince wanted you to tell me immediately solely to avoid misunderstanding. Regarding this matter, it’s fortunate that I knew. If some scheming person used it to stir up trouble, do you think This Prince might become suspicious?”

Zhang Yunqing nodded repeatedly.

“Of course, This Prince will still trust you! You were the first person here to support This Prince, and This Prince will not treat you poorly either! That’s why I thought of you first for a good opportunity.”

Xiao Ce was both intimidating and reassuring.

He had Zhang Yunqing completely under control.

“Prince, I entrust my life to you as well. Whatever you say… I will do!”

“You’ve done very well. If Mosi Ashina tells you anything, you must inform me immediately!” Xiao Ce said.

Zhang Yunqing nodded and said, “I obey!”

Xiao Ce then said to Zhang Yunqing, “Mosi Ashina escaped. Do the merchants and the prominent families have any news?”

Seeing Zhang Yunqing hesitate and look embarrassed,

Xiao Ce said, “Speak truthfully! This Prince will not blame you.”

“Reporting to the Prince, they all have begun to doubt your abilities… They all think you might be similar to those previous Provincial Governors… no match for the Turks at all.”

Xiao Ce looked at Zhang Yunqing. “What do you think?”

Zhang Yunqing said, “I don’t think so.”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “Good, let This Prince tell you a secret. Not many people know this secret.”

Zhang Yunqing said awkwardly, “Is it appropriate?”

Xiao Ce said, “This Prince trusts you! Mosi Ashina was let go intentionally by This Prince!”

Zhang Yunqing stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce said to him, “You must not know why This Prince did this.”

Zhang Yunqing nodded.

Xiao Ce patted Zhang Yunqing’s shoulder and smiled. “Good that you don’t. Keep this confidential! Hurry and arrange people to start that cement factory.”

Zhang Yunqing nodded repeatedly, then cupped his hands. “Then Prince… I… may I leave?”

Xiao Ce said, “Of course, starting today, you are completely free.”

He then called for Xiao Jiu and told him to inform the imperial guards here that Zhang Yunqing was allowed to come and go freely.

Only then did Zhang Yunqing leave gratefully.

Watching Zhang Yunqing’s retreating figure, Lin Zhong reminded Xiao Ce, “Prince, these merchants are profit-driven people who forget righteousness… You must not trust them too much.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “This Prince naturally knows that! Actually, it’s not just these merchants. Nearly everyone is like that. Only when you are strong enough will they fear you! Once you become weak, those around you will surely leave you.”

“That’s why I told Zhang Yunqing that everything is under This Prince’s control. Only then could he follow me wholeheartedly! Zhang Yunqing is very important to me now. The batch of provisions he controls is crucial to me!”

Lin Zhong nodded and said, “Regarding provisions, Prince, you don’t need to worry too much. Before entering the Northern Desert, I spoke with people from Anhua Chamber and asked them to transport grain here. We will pay them the full amount. The first batch of grain should arrive in about seven days.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “A two-pronged approach. One can never have too much grain.”

Lin Zhong then said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, can you make arrangements? I can set off tonight!”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Yes, no problem!”

After arranging for someone to send Lin Zhong off, Xiao Jiu came to report that the family members of the nobility and prominent families had arrived one after another and had all been settled.

They also brought the silver from the War Bonds they had raised, and now the money had been arranged to be stored in the treasury.

…

At that time, in several side halls, quite a few family members of the noble clans and prominent families had arrived.

The place was bustling with people.

After exchanging greetings with their respective families,

the people from the three noble clans gathered together. After instructing their men to keep watch around them,

they sat together, their expressions all very animated.

Just moments before, their respective family members had told the Family Heads of each house about the Emperor’s order.

After the few of them glanced at each other, they couldn’t help but share a knowing smile.

Kan Zongye spoke first. “It seems everyone has received letters from the Capital!”

Seeing Kan Zongye speak, Liu Xuan nodded and said, “Yes! I said it. An arm can’t twist a thigh! That idiot dared to kill Bao An, he’s simply insane… Family Head Kan, what now? When do we act?”

Lin Shou chimed in. “Yes, this time we have a secret decree from the current Emperor himself. Once we complete His Majesty’s secret decree and capture that idiot Xiao Ce, we will all advance a step further.”

Kan Zongye said to the other two families, “Correct… However, everyone, remain calm… Actually, His Majesty has already given us a method! His Majesty has already dispatched troops outside Yanmen Pass. Not a single person or a single grain of food is allowed to enter this area! And we only need to guard our respective territories. It won’t take long before Xiao Ce’s Nine Cities Territory, with its three hundred thousand disaster victims and one hundred thousand troops, will fall into chaos.”

“My suggestion is that we attend his banquet, then leave. After they become desperate with hunger, we only need to offer a little food to make their soldiers surrender willingly!”

“When we capture Xiao Ce afterward, we can make him write a letter accusing Xiao Dingshan. Then our great task will be accomplished!”

Lin Shou nodded and said, “Good! Confronting them head-on now, we have no chance of winning… But aren’t you afraid that when they become desperate with hunger, they might send troops to raid us?”

Kan Zongye smiled and said, “Our Manor Guards might not beat them in open battle, but they can’t do anything against a defended city either. Moreover, by then, the disaster victims will be the first to riot. Those one hundred thousand troops will be too busy suppressing the disaster victims… If we hold out for a month, they’ll all starve to death!”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“I can’t wait for that day. Seeing that idiot Xiao Ce acting all arrogant really gets on my nerves…” Liu Xuan said hatefully.

“Don’t worry, he’s just like a grasshopper in late autumn, he won’t be jumping around for many more days! The only thing I regret is the silver he extorted from us.” Lin Shou said.

Kan Zongye added, “Hmph, what are you thinking? He’s just holding onto it for us temporarily. What use is that silver? The Emperor has blocked his retreat. When the time comes, he can’t use that silver as food or drink! When the time comes, it will all have to be returned to us in full!”

Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“That fool is probably secretly happy right now, still basking in the joy of ‘establishing his fief’! He has no idea his death is near!”

Seeing this, Kan Zongye said, “Tomorrow, none of you should give yourselves away. You all must flatter that idiot! As long as we can return, he’s done for!”

The group smiled and nodded repeatedly, their expressions filled with immense satisfaction.