Chapter 103: Blitzing Turkic

Chapter 103: Blitzing Turkic

Xiao Ce was drawing and making notes on the map of Turkic that Zhang Yunqing had given him.

For no reason, he sneezed several times.

“Which bastard cursed me?”

While he was grumbling, the Solar Term Maidens said, “Prince, Shopkeeper Zhang has arrived.”

Xiao Ce stretched lazily. “Let him in.”

Zhang Yunqing entered, hunched over. Once inside, he performed a grand salute to Xiao Ce.

“My respects, Prince… Long live the Prince, long live, long live!”

Xiao Ce waved his hand. “Alright, no need for such grand ceremonies from now on! Get up.”

Zhang Yunqing didn’t hesitate like before and rose to his feet quite readily.

“Prince, the cement factory you assigned is already being arranged. The technical advisor you arranged has also arrived! I’ve seen that cement, it is truly marvelous…”

As soon as he stood up, Zhang Yunqing began boasting about the wonders of the cement. As a successful merchant, he had also keenly picked up on the business opportunity.

Once this thing became widespread, the profits would be terrifyingly huge.

Xiao Ce watched Zhang Yunqing excitedly talking, saliva flying, and waved his hand. “I didn’t call you here to talk about this.”

Seeing this, Zhang Yunqing stopped abruptly and looked at Xiao Ce.

“May I ask, Prince, why have you summoned me?”

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, “How well do you know the geography of Turkic? That map you gave me previously, is it accurate?”

Zhang Yunqing nodded repeatedly. “Prince, of course… I measured that map with my own feet. I know it like the back of my hand! Not a single road is wrong.”

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something, paused, and said to Xiao Ce, “But, Prince, some of those roads are small paths. They can handle a few hundred people, but an army cannot pass!”

Xiao Ce nodded. “Good, that’s fine as long as you know! Go back and prepare. Early tomorrow morning, come with me.”

Zhang Yunqing looked puzzled. “Prince? To where?”

“To Turkic,” Xiao Ce said calmly.

Zhang Yunqing was even more confused. “Tomorrow?”

Xiao Ce nodded. “Is that a problem?”

Zhang Yunqing shook his head. “Prince, may I ask presumptuously, what are you going for?”

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, “To attack Turkic!”

Zhang Yunqing wanted to ask more.

Xiao Ce interrupted him. “The less you know, the better!”

Zhang Yunqing nodded awkwardly. “Then, Prince, what should this humble one prepare?”

Xiao Ce shook his head. “No need. This Prince has already prepared everything necessary. Just bring yourself! Alright, go back early. Wait outside the city gate at the hour of Yin tomorrow!”

Zhang Yunqing nodded awkwardly.

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, “Zhang Yunqing, This Prince will not make you run this trip for nothing!”

Zhang Yunqing smiled awkwardly and said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, serving you is my honor! However, Prince, have you not heard? The Turks are gathering their troops. Our safest bet this time should be to fortify and defend.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, “This Prince wants to catch them by surprise…”

Zhang Yunqing was very curious but didn’t ask further.

“Then this commoner will return and make arrangements with his people.”

Xiao Ce nodded. “Let the merchants of the guild handle this cement business together… give them a favor. There are many places that need cement. You alone cannot handle it all! Besides, the profit margin for cement is only a few percent.”

Zhang Yunqing agreed verbally, but his face showed reluctance.

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing with a smile, “Can’t bear to part with it?”

Zhang Yunqing shook his head. “Of course not, I can part with it! It was an industry granted by the Prince in the first place!”

Xiao Ce said, smiling, “What do you think of that Nectar Jade Wine?”

Zhang Yunqing was first stunned, then praised it profusely.

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “After we return, I’ll let you be the exclusive agent for that Nectar Jade Wine. How about that?”

“Exclusive agent?”

Zhang Yunqing trembled as he said the words. Although he didn’t understand what exclusive agent meant, he faintly guessed something.

“Exclusive agent means from now on, only you get to sell this Nectar Jade Wine. You only need to follow the price I set for you. Whatever you make from selling it is entirely your business!”

After hearing Xiao Ce’s words, Zhang Yunqing plopped to his knees, then kowtowed to Xiao Ce. “Thank you, Prince! Prince, this commoner will go prepare immediately!”

Zhang Yunqing naturally knew that the profit from cement could not compare to the profit from that Nectar Jade Wine.

After returning, Zhang Yunqing urgently called a meeting with the merchants still in the Capital.

The prominent families and nobility had fled quickly before, but these merchants were not in a hurry to leave.

Because they were waiting for Xiao Ce to give them money-making opportunities.

After Zhang Yunqing handed over the cement industry to them, they were initially unenthusiastic. But after learning about the properties of cement,

they all rushed to get involved.

After all, cement could be used not only for civilian construction but also in warfare. Building bridges and paving roads all required it.

With such high demand, profits were certain.

These merchants, though they could make money before, were exploited by various prominent families and nobility. After all that, what remained in their hands was meager profit!

But now Zhang Yunqing told them, as long as they were with the guild! As long as they were loyal to Xiao Ce, they wouldn’t be exploited!

Most importantly, Xiao Ce wouldn’t exploit them either.

They were naturally very pleased with this.

…

After seeing Zhang Yunqing off, Xiao Ce went to sleep.

The next day, before dawn, Xiao Jiu excitedly called out softly to Xiao Ce.

“Prince, it’s time!”

After waking up, Xiao Ce saw that Xiao Jiu was already wearing the camouflage uniform he had prepared.

This clothing was made by Xiao Ce ordering Qian Lai to have it custom-made. Though it wasn’t exactly like the camouflage uniforms from later times, it was more than sufficient here.

After changing into his own uniform, Xiao Ce stepped out and found Qian Lai waiting at the door.

“Prince, everything is prepared.”

Xiao Ce nodded and said to Qian Lai, “Uncle Lai, I leave things here to you. Pan’er’s will is my will. Take good care of her!”

Qian Lai nodded respectfully. “Prince, please rest assured. Prince, you take care on your journey as well! This old servant will surely burn incense day and night, praying for you.”

Xiao Ce smiled at Qian Lai and said, “Don’t worry. The person who can kill This Prince hasn’t been born yet.”

Then, Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, “Oh, and keep a close eye on Nie Bing. If there’s any problem as I told you, eliminate her immediately!”

Qian Lai’s expression changed slightly, then he nodded.

While giving instructions, Xiao Ce hurried out.

…

Not far from Xiao Ce, Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing were hiding to the side.

“Pan’er, since you’ve come, why don’t you see him off in person?” Nie Bing asked.

Yin Pan’er shook her head. “I won’t go! Sister, do you think taking only a thousand troops, he isn’t just going to his death?”

Nie Bing gave a bitter smile. “If it was when I first met him, I would definitely think he’s going to his death. But along the way, seemingly crazy things have all been accomplished by him one by one! He is not the kind of person who seeks death.”

Yin Pan’er nodded, looking at his back. “Every time I think I can see through him, he always gives me a new surprise!”

“Sometimes it’s a fright!”

…

Outside Lingxiao City, Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, “Uncle Lai, no need to see me off further! If all goes well, This Prince will be back in a month.”

Qian Lai bowed. “Take care, Prince!”

Xiao Ce, riding Iron Egg along with Xiao Jiu, hadn’t gone more than a few miles when

they saw a forest where figures were moving about.

Riding closer, Yan Jia led a cavalry unit also dressed in camouflage uniforms over!

Seeing Xiao Ce by the moonlight, the group dismounted.

“Salute the Prince!”

These men had a composite crossbow on their backs, a repeating crossbow at their waist, and a broadsword at their side.

Xiao Ce nodded. “Do you know what we’re going to do?”

“Attack the Turks!”

Xiao Ce addressed the crowd. “Just you one thousand men, six thousand horses, no supply of provisions or baggage, no reinforcements! Are you afraid?”

Everyone shook their heads in unison, their voices lowered but still carrying undeniable authority.

“Prince! We are not afraid!”

Xiao Ce could even detect a hint of excitement in their voices.

Satisfied, he said, “Good! This Prince will be with you, sharing life and death!”

“And, This Prince is leading you to kill the enemy, not to your deaths!”

“This operation is not about attacking Turkic. ‘Blitzing Turkic’ describes it more fittingly!”

“As the name implies, blitz means fast! Therefore, we have no provisions! However, we have equipped you with strong liquor and dried beef jerky, which should sustain us until Turkic.”

“Once in Turkic, our provisions will be in the homes of the Turks! We kill them and we can resupply! I name our cavalry the Ghost Iron Cavalry. As the name suggests, we will appear like ghosts at any time, in places they least expect, and kill them!”

After finishing, Xiao Ce said, “This is a money-making opportunity for you. For every Turk you kill, This Prince will reward one gold piece! Remember to cut off their ears after you kill them. At the end, you can come to This Prince to settle accounts.”

“If this goes smoothly, this trip will earn each of you a hundred gold! Should anyone die during this operation, rest assured! I will send your families a thousand gold as solace.”

Excitedly, everyone said to Xiao Ce, “Long live the Prince!”

Xiao Ce finished. “Set off!”

As he spoke, in the darkness, a large cavalry unit swiftly moved through the night…