Chapter 15: The Vision of the King of Northern Desert

Chapter 15: The Vision of the King of Northern Desert

Prince of Zhenguo nodded and said, “If it were a few years earlier, during peaceful times, this Crown Prince’s Mansion of yours could easily sell for a million taels of Silver. But now, with uprisings everywhere and the borders unstable! It’s only because this is the Crown Prince’s Mansion; an ordinary residence could be bought for just tens of thousands of taels of Silver!”

Xiao Dingshan was right.

When his Dog Emperor Imperial Father first took the throne, the rivers were clear and the seas were calm, the world was at peace.

It could be called a golden age!

However, Xiao Dingshan was only wise for a few years before making one foolish move after another.

Additionally, according to Xiao Ce’s observations.

The Great Xiao Kingdom was currently experiencing a minor ice age, though it was still in its early stages.

The next few years were likely to be even tougher.

This made Xiao Ce even more determined to go to the Northern Desert!

Because, after the little ice age began, life would be hard for the people of the Central Plains. Combined with the fact that the Dog Emperor’s mind really wasn’t working well.

The Central Plains would become more and more chaotic in the future.

He needed to stay in a remote corner; having a secure foothold was very necessary.

Xiao Ce sighed, “Yes! So-called prosperous times for buying land, troubled times for hiding gold, it has always been this way since ancient times.”

“Two hundred thousand taels, the Qian Clan Trading House will take it!”

At this moment, a steward from a trading house raised the price to two hundred thousand taels of Silver.

The stewards from other people then stopped speaking.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said, “Good, then two hundred thousand taels it is. Uncle Zhong, you go draft the documents! Then we’ll exchange money for the house on the spot!”

The steward of the Qian Clan Trading House bowed and said, “Thank you, King of Northern Desert. Also, the furniture and decorations in your house, I wonder how the King of Northern Desert intends to handle them?”

Xiao Ce said, “I originally wanted to sell them too. If you need them, one hundred thousand taels of Silver, final price.”

This price was estimated by Lin Zhong.

Seeing the Qian Clan Trading House steward hesitate, Lin Zhong said, “Old Liu, I personally estimated these furnishings. They are worth no less than one hundred twenty thousand taels. Right now, our Prince is eager to go to the border, so he’s selling them cheap!”

After Lin Zhong said this, the steward of the Qian Clan Trading House, Steward Liu, said, “Uncle Zhong, since you’ve spoken. Then our Qian Clan Trading House is not one to take advantage of others’ misfortune. We’ll offer one hundred twenty thousand. The extra twenty thousand taels of Silver can be considered our support for the border troops in the Northern Desert. Only if they hold back the Turks can we merchants do business securely.”

This Steward Liu knew how to handle things well. The following trivial matters were all handled by Lin Zhong.

Just at that moment, a sound came from outside.

“The Imperial Edict has arrived.”

Hearing the commotion, Xiao Ce said, “Ninth Uncle, Lord Nan must have brought good news.”

Prince of Zhenguo listened and said, “Then I won’t go, to avoid suspicion!”

Xiao Ce nodded.

As soon as he went out, he saw Nan Changfeng leading a long line of supply carriers behind him.

Seeing no one else around, Nan Changfeng didn’t waste words.

He directly handed the Emperor’s handwritten letter to Xiao Ce: “It’s exactly as you requested. Two hundred thousand taels of Silver, ten thousand dan of grain and fodder. Also, six thousand sets of military uniforms, one thousand sets of armor, various weapons, and one hundred fine horses!”

Hearing this, Xiao Ce couldn’t hide how wide his smile became.

“Lord Nan, thank you, thank you! You are our benefactor!”

Nan Changfeng looked puzzled and said, “Prince, all these are for the Emperor to reward the army; they have nothing to do with you. Why are you so happy? You also have to bear the risk of transporting them. The Central Plains are not peaceful now. Taking this money and grain from the Capital to the Northern Desert Region is no different from being a walking fat sheep, just waiting to be robbed, isn’t it?”

Xiao Ce said, “Lord Nan, thank you for your concern. I have my own plans for this!”

Nan Changfeng then said, “Alright then, you check everything. Also, keep the Emperor’s handwritten letter safe!”

Xiao Ce said, “Lord Nan, thank you for your trouble. One day, after This Prince stabilizes the Northern Desert, I will invite you to visit!”

Nan Changfeng said with a laugh, “Good, then I will wait here for your good news, Prince.”

…

After Nan Changfeng left, Xiao Dingshan came out and asked Xiao Ce the same question.

“Why did you ask the Emperor for this hot potato?”

Xiao Ce said, “Ninth Uncle, even a mosquito’s leg is still meat!”

Xiao Dingshan glanced at Xiao Ce: “Even if it’s small, it’s still meat, but it’s not for you to eat.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Xiao Ce’s face: “Once it reaches my mouth, it’s for me to eat!”

Hearing this, Xiao Dingshan looked worried: “Ce’er, that’s money and grain for rewarding the army. You must not pocket it for yourself; that’s a capital crime…”

“Ninth Uncle, don’t worry. I have my own plans. Since you’re feeling stifled here, you can come find me in the Northern Desert in the future.”

Xiao Dingshan gave a bitter laugh and said, “Silly boy, the Emperor doesn’t trust me. That’s why he keeps me in the Capital City as an idle Old Prince. Only under his watchful eye will he feel at ease!”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Ninth Uncle, then stay here for a while longer! It won’t take a year; I will definitely be able to pacify the Northern Desert…”

Before Xiao Ce could finish, Xiao Dingshan smiled helplessly and said, “Alright. Stop boasting. Take care of yourself. It’s not that easy.”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “Then let’s wait and see.”

After seeing Xiao Dingshan off, Xiao Ce told Da Lei to prepare the Carriage.

However, before Xiao Ce could go.

He saw a Carriage approaching, with a Guard Team following beside it.

While Xiao Ce was looking, Yin Pan’er got down from the Carriage.

He quickly stepped forward.

“Princess Consort, This Prince was just about to come get you. Why did you come yourself?”

Seeing this, Yin Pan’er frowned slightly: “King of Northern Desert, please watch your words. Your Majesty may have betrothed me to you. However, you have not performed the formal betrothal rites with the three documents and six etiquettes, nor have you come with a grand procession of eight bearers to officially welcome me into your household. Therefore, I am not yet your wife.”

Xiao Ce looked at Yin Pan’er’s stunningly beautiful face; even when angry, she was so beautiful.

“Miss Yin, you are right! This Prince spoke improperly! Then, what brings you here…”

Xiao Ce walked forward with a smile.

A woman dressed in practical attire, with her hair tied up high, looking very capable and like a female knight, very protectively stepped in front of Yin Pan’er, watching Xiao Ce warily.

“What do you want?”

Looking at this girl’s sharp gaze, she was definitely not someone to be trifled with.

However, it must be said, birds of a feather flock together.

Yin Pan’er was so beautiful, and even the female bodyguard beside her was no less impressive.

“Sister Nie Bing, it’s alright!” After Yin Pan’er said this, the female bodyguard named Nie Bing took one step back and stood to the side.

“His Highness the King of Northern Desert! Although His Majesty betrothed me to you! However, I have never said I would marry you! If I do not wish to marry you, even if it’s the Emperor’s order, I will not marry you!” Yin Pan’er said with a frosty expression.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce asked with interest, “Then, if you don’t even fancy This Prince, how did you ever fancy that foolish and worthless Xiao Yang?”

Yin Pan’er’s face darkened a bit: “I never agreed to marry him. My previous attempt to frame you was not because of Xiao Yang. I never fancied Xiao Yang; it was just that my father promised me that if I helped him with this, he would agree not to marry me to Xiao Yang.”

“Moreover, back then, I saw you as so useless. If you were to become emperor, then the Great Xiao Kingdom would truly be finished!”

Xiao Ce looked at Yin Pan’er’s strong-willed attitude.

He just happened to like this strong-willed feeling about her.

“Then you must have changed your opinion of me now,” Xiao Ce said.

Yin Pan’er looked at Xiao Ce and said, “I can see you have some depth. But, in such a short time, I can’t tell much. So, I am thinking of going with you to the Northern Desert wilderness.”

“However, before that, I have a few questions I need to ask you. Only if your answers satisfy me will I follow you.”

Xiao Ce said with a half-smile, “It’s not that I necessarily want you to come along.”

Yin Pan’er was momentarily at a loss for words: “If I follow you, it means you will have my father’s help. I believe you absolutely need that! Of course, if you don’t need it, I’ll turn and leave right now.”

“I need it! I need it! Miss Yin, go ahead and ask!” Hearing this, Xiao Ce quickly said.

Indeed, he really did need Yin Weiyong’s help.

Yin Weiyong, as the Prime Minister, had disciples and former colleagues spread throughout the Great Xiao Kingdom.

Moreover, he also had considerable influence within the Great Xiao Kingdom.

“If you want to escape from here, why choose the harshest Northern Desert! Actually, whether it’s Lingnan or other border areas, they are all much better.”

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan’er, “Miss Yin, do you know how many prefectures are in the Northern Desert?”

Yin Pan’er said to Xiao Ce, “Four Prefectures, each prefecture has four counties under it! That makes sixteen counties in total. A population of over a hundred thousand! Moreover, although the Northern Desert region only has Four Prefectures, due to its geographical situation, it is sparsely populated; one prefecture there equals four prefectures in the Central Plains.”

Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised because, based on the Original Host’s memories.

In this era, most women still believed that a woman without talent is virtuous.

Most learned sewing, household management, and arithmetic.

Xiao Ce continued to ask, “Then do you know why the Northern Desert wilderness is so vast, yet has so few people?”

Yin Pan’er said, “Naturally, the Northern Desert wilderness is located beyond the passes and borders the Turkic lands. The Turkic army almost comes to raid the Four Northern Desert Prefectures every year. If the commoners resist, they are tortured and killed. Some are even taken captive as slaves.”

“Some people flee their homeland and escape the Northern Desert! However, because too many Northern Desert people were fleeing, His Majesty issued an order forbidding Northern Desert people from moving away! So the people in the Northern Desert wilderness live in fear every day.”

Before Yin Pan’er could finish, Xiao Ce said with a firm look in his eyes, “This is the reason This Prince wants to go to the Northern Desert Region!”

“Historically, the Northern Desert Region was a fertile land. It has the Great Xiao’s unique black soil and dense forests rich in natural resources! If governed properly, it is a fertile land.”

“According to historical records, the current Northern Desert wilderness once had a very prosperous Capital. It was because of the Turkic threat that such good land has now become the infamous Northern Desert wilderness!”

“Once I take charge of the Northern Desert Region, as the King of Northern Desert, I will first secure the borders, then pacify the interior! I will form an army belonging to This Prince to resist foreign insults! Make the Turks dare not invade again!”

“Then vigorously develop agriculture and the economy! Not only will I let my people have stable homes, clothes to cover their bodies, and food to fill their stomachs. I will also let them have surplus money every year and eat meat at every meal!”