Chapter 44: The Traitor’s Wedding

Chapter 44: The Traitor’s Wedding

Xiao Ce didn’t waste any more words.

“Alright, dismissed! Everyone, eat meat heartily and drink wine from big bowls!”

The crowd immediately dispersed. Everyone had a very good first impression of Xiao Ce.

As the Eldest Prince, Xiao Ce did not act high and mighty, nor did he try to intimidate them.

Moreover, what he said was all very practical and relevant to them.

Actually, what they thought was very simple: whoever could give them enough money, they were willing to risk their lives for.

…

After seeing the crowd happily scatter, Shen Hu looked at Xiao Ce with a hint of awkwardness on his face.

“Prince.”

Seeing Shen Hu’s expression, Xiao Ce asked curiously, “What is it?”

Shen Hu said to Xiao Ce, “Are you sure you want to bring out all the meat and wine?”

Xiao Ce misunderstood, thinking Shen Hu disagreed.

“Shen Hu, don’t worry! You make a full inventory of everything. When the follow-up troops arrive, I will reimburse you at the highest market price! Or maybe…”

Before Xiao Ce could finish, Shen Hu shook his head repeatedly.

“Prince, that’s not what I meant. Now, with many troops here, provisions will be a problem once we leave the mountains. I originally planned to use that cured meat and fine wine to trade for some money and food, which could support us for a while…”

Hearing Shen Hu’s words, Xiao Ce was somewhat moved. “Haha, Shen Hu, I appreciate your kindness. Don’t worry. Feel free to bring out all this wine and meat. Let everyone eat and drink as much as they can! When This Prince makes you a promise, it’s not just empty talk. When This Prince tells you we will recruit many soldiers, it’s not just bragging on my part! Go ahead!”

Seeing Xiao Ce’s confident and determined look, a flash of excitement also crossed Shen Hu’s face, and he nodded.

While talking, Shen Hu called someone over from the side. This man looked seventy to eighty percent similar to Shen Hu but was thinner.

After this man stepped forward, he knelt down with a thud in front of Xiao Ce.

“Commoner Shen Bao greets the Prince! Greets the two Princess Consorts!”

Before Nie Bing and Yin Pan’er could deny it.

Xiao Ce spoke up first to Shen Bao. “Haha, good! Shen Bao, I’ve heard about you… Are you willing to leave everything here behind and follow This Prince?”

Shen Bao nodded very firmly. “Prince, you saved my Elder Brother’s life. You are the benefactor of both us brothers. Prince, I don’t know you. But I know my Elder Brother, and the person my Elder Brother believes in cannot be wrong. He said you are a good master, that we have a future following you, so I will follow you!”

Xiao Ce was very satisfied with Shen Bao’s answer, after all, Xiao Ce and Shen Bao had never met before.

If Shen Bao had started by swearing loyalty to Xiao Ce right away.

Xiao Ce wouldn’t have believed him.

Now, with him speaking like this, he was much more trustworthy.

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Don’t you feel bad about it?”

A trace of fierceness appeared on Shen Bao’s face. “As long as you, Prince, are really going to fight those damned Turks. No, I don’t feel bad…”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “Good! Follow This Prince and work hard. You’ll have a good life in the future…”

Xiao Ce said, “Alright, take me around your place.”

Shen Hu nodded.

Xiao Ce saw that Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing had no intention of following.

“You two can just walk around here. No need to follow.”

…

Nie Bing watched Xiao Ce leave.

She said to Yin Pan’er with annoyance, “Pan’er, why did you stop me just now?”

Yin Pan’er said, “Sister, haven’t you also changed your opinion of him a lot along the way? And, look at his abilities! Anyway, you have already consummated your marriage with him. Being his woman is not necessarily a bad thing for us.”

Nie Bing looked at Yin Pan’er with disbelief.

Yin Pan’er smiled at Nie Bing and said, “Sister, don’t look at me like that. I’m serious. Along the whole journey here, he hasn’t made any improper moves. And we’ve seen his actions with our own eyes. This man truly has ability. He is methodical, shrewd, and most importantly, he has ambition. He definitely surpasses ninety-nine percent of men…”

“We women have to get married eventually. I think Xiao Ce is a very good choice…”

Nie Bing gave Yin Pan’er a helpless look. “Pan’er, I can see it now. You’ve been fooled by him… He is indeed good… But, it’s impossible for me and him! Moreover, the moment my father died, I decided not to rely on anyone anymore. I will be my own support…”

Seeing the firm look in Nie Bing’s eyes, Yin Pan’er didn’t say anything more.

“Alright, sister, I won’t say anymore! However, I wouldn’t mind sharing a man with you. I wouldn’t even mind being the junior wife…”

Nie Bing saw Yin Pan’er’s mischievous smirk and immediately started tickling Yin Pan’er’s sides.

“You little brat… daring to tease me now…”

The two of them started playfully chasing and wrestling with each other as they talked.

…

What Xiao Ce didn’t know was that at this moment, it wasn’t just their side that was lively.

In the center of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, within Lingxiao City, it was also exceptionally bustling.

Because three days later was the auspicious day for Bao An to marry his twentieth wife.

Ever since he was fleeced severely by the Turks last time, Bao An couldn’t get over his anger.

Therefore, he used the excuse of marrying a wife again to summon all the powerful figures here.

He said it was for them to attend the wedding feast, but in reality, he wanted them to send gifts to recoup some losses.

Bao An’s General’s residence within Lingxiao City covered a very large area and was built extremely luxuriously.

It had the feel of a small Imperial Palace.

Bao An was in one of the rooms. His eldest son, Bao Cong, stood by his side.

“Cong’er, did you send out all those invitations I told you to?”

Bao Cong bowed respectfully to Bao An. “Reporting to Father, they are all sent. Because you personally went to the enemy camp this time and made the Turks retreat, these Noble Clans and powerful families admire you immensely. They all expressed that they would definitely attend.”

“Any troublemakers?” Bao An asked.

Bao Cong shook his head. “No! The powerful families and Noble Clans here are all very smart. Your emergence, Father, is a win-win for them! Whoever suffers, as long as it’s not them, they will certainly show you proper respect! But…”

“But what?”

Bao Cong said, “Father, have you forgotten that good-for-nothing who is still on the road?”

Bao An said disdainfully, “How could I forget? Didn’t he send quite a few Disaster Victims our way? I should thank him properly.”

Bao Cong was somewhat puzzled. “Thank him? Father, are you joking? Those Disaster Victims are like locusts. The lowly folk here can’t even eat their fill! When those people come, if we have no food to give them, won’t they cause trouble?”

Bao An shook his head. “You’re such a fool too. They aren’t coming all at once; they’re arriving in batches. Those Noble Clans have long been saying we send too many lowly folk to the Turks as slaves, right? They have no tenant farmers left under them.”

“After those Disaster Victims arrive, we’ll give some to each Noble Clan. Those Noble Clans and powerful families may be no good against the Turks! But aren’t they perfectly capable of handling those lowly folk?”

“Also, didn’t the Turks say before that many of the slaves we sent over earlier died, and they’re asking for more… They call those lowly folk ‘Two-Legged Sheep’; sending some more… we can also gain some favor. As the saying goes, if we can’t deal with the Turks, can’t we still deal with those lowly folk?”

Bao Cong smiled and nodded. “What if they resist?”

A fierce look appeared on Bao An’s face. “Kill several hundred, and those people will be scared out of their wits. Do I need to teach you this?”

After hearing Bao An’s words, Bao Cong’s eyes brightened a bit. “Father, you’re always so thorough! Right, but have you heard? That good-for-nothing is still recruiting many young men from among those Disaster Victims to join his army…”

Hearing Bao Cong’s words, Bao An’s expression became even more disdainful.

“That good-for-nothing? Is raising an army that easy? Would I be struggling so much then? Moreover, you don’t actually think gathering a bunch of good-for-nothings who can’t even eat their fill makes an army, do you? One good-for-nothing leading a bunch of good-for-nothings – I could lead a force of a thousand men and mow them down!”

“If that good-for-nothing really had ability, he wouldn’t have been so scared that he resigned from the Crown Prince position to save his life and come to this place!”

Bao Cong nodded. “What Imperial Father says is true. So, we don’t need to worry about them?”

Bao An nodded. “Correct, no need to worry. Moreover, I’ve made a deal with the Turks. When that good-for-nothing arrives later, we’ll hand them over to the Turks. Let the Turks capture him as a prisoner, then lure the Prince of Zhenguo to come to the rescue. We can take the opportunity to wipe out the Prince of Zhenguo once and for all!”

Bao Cong said somewhat excitedly, “Father, this plan… does His Majesty know?”

Bao An nodded. “I’ve already told your aunt. Your aunt has been whispering in His Majesty’s ear. His Majesty has long been very wary of the Prince of Zhenguo and wants to get rid of him. However, he just never had a good opportunity! Now isn’t there a chance? Where is that good-for-nothing?”

“According to the scouts’ reports, he has reached Lintong City. At their snail’s pace, it will take at least a month or more!” Bao Cong replied.

After hearing this, Bao An’s expression became even more disdainful. “With that good-for-nothing’s physical condition, he might even die on the road. Alright, by the way, I told you to strengthen the defenses at Yanmen Pass. Is that arranged?”

Bao Cong nodded. “Father, rest assured. I’ve already dispatched an additional elite force of three thousand men there! They are more than enough to handle those Disaster Victims.”

Bao An nodded. “Good! My wedding day is coming soon. We still need to be careful and cautious. Don’t let any mishaps occur!”

“Father, your worry is completely unnecessary. Here, you are the Emperor. Who would dare cause trouble for you!”

Hearing Bao Cong’s flattery, Bao An happily nodded. “Hahaha, that’s certainly true!”

…

Hundreds of miles away at Tiger-Leopard Stronghold.

At this moment, the place was full of laughter and joy. Numerous bonfires lit up the mountain valley, making it very bright.

After walking around with Shen Hu for this tour, Xiao Ce was very satisfied with this Tiger-Leopard Stronghold.

With just a little more arrangement, this would absolutely be an excellent secret Base.

He planned to locate his places for brewing wine, making salt, and refining White Sugar here.

“Prince, do you have some plans for this place?”

Xiao Ce did not hide it. “Yes, indeed there are some plans. But no rush. This Prince needs to first take control of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures before making any decisions.”

Shen Bao said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, you plan to set off early tomorrow morning. Are you going to go and deal with that traitor Bao An just in time for the traitor’s wedding?”

Xiao Ce became interested hearing Shen Bao’s words. “Traitor? Wedding?”