Chapter 60: Taking a Finger

Chapter 60: Taking a Finger

Yan Jia did not understand.

But he knew that Xiao Ce must have his reasons for doing this.

He nodded, cupped his hands, and asked, “Prince, shall we have a clerk write it?”

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, “No need for a clerk! Those clerks are too scholarly and picky with words. I’m afraid those bastards wouldn’t understand!”

Yan Jia asked with some confusion, “Not a clerk? Then who will write it?”

Xiao Ce looked at Yan Jia and smiled slightly. “You write!”

Yan Jia said with disbelief, “Prince, you can’t be serious. For me to write? I am just a warrior.”

“Exactly. I’ll dictate, you write.”

Xiao Ce was decisive. He took Yan Jia back to the study and began dictating while Yan Jia wrote.

Actually, Xiao Ce could write himself.

But ever since he came here, he had learned everything and adapted! However, writing with this dreadful brush, he truly couldn’t do it!

His handwriting was truly awful to look at.

After Yan Jia sat down, he looked at Xiao Ce and said, “Prince, can you start?”

Xiao Ce nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then began to speak.

“Ashina, your son is in my hands! If you want your son to live, then obediently hand over one thousand taels of gold, ten thousand fine horses, and one million sacks of provisions!”

“This Prince will give you five days to reply! If you do not respond, I will cut off one of his fingers every day!”

“To show my sincerity, I will send one along with this letter!”

As Xiao Ce spoke, he watched Yan Jia writing beside him.

Seeing Yan Jia’s neat and tidy handwriting.

Xiao Ce said with some surprise, “Yan Jia, didn’t you say you were just a warrior? How come your handwriting is so good-looking? Did you practice before?”

Yan Jia smiled awkwardly and said, “Our Yan family was once very prosperous, so I also studied as a child. But later, the family declined, and I eventually joined the army!”

Hearing that Yan Jia had such a past.

“Great, it seems I really found a treasure!”

Yan Jia waved his hand, about to be modest, but Xiao Ce interrupted him, “Alright, no need for modesty! Let’s go now to prepare a gift to send with the letter!”

Yan Jia asked in surprise, “Prince, are you sure? Are you really going to cut off one of Mosi Ashina’s fingers?”

Xiao Ce nodded, “Exactly. Do I look like I’m joking to you?”

Yan Jia cupped his hands and said, “Prince, be careful! This Mosi Ashina is the Eldest Prince of the Ashina Tribe, and the future successor to the Khan!”

Xiao Ce said, “That’s exactly right! If he wasn’t important, I wouldn’t bother with him! My goal is to anger those Turks. I said that what I want, I will take myself.”

Seeing that Xiao Ce had made his attitude clear, Yan Jia followed him out!

At this time, the people inside the Rites Hall did not look good!

They now disregarded etiquette altogether! Some were lying down, some sitting, some leaning!

The arrogance on their faces was gone; instead, their eyes seemed somewhat hollow, and the atmosphere was icy to the extreme!

They had caused quite a ruckus last night!

And even though they had made a fuss for so long,

not a single person here paid any attention to them! It was as if they had been forgotten!

They had initially tried actively to think of a way, but after thinking for a while, they found only two options!

First, their respective families could send troops to rescue them!

However, although they had many private soldiers, there were also many internal conflicts within their Noble Clans!

Even if they learned they were trapped, it would likely take several days just for discussions. Even if they unified and sent troops, it would take at least half a month to arrive. By then, forget about rescue, it would be far too late!

The other option was to get Xiao Ce to release them!

But Xiao Ce had captured them with great difficulty; why would he easily let them go?

Some of them tried all sorts of arguments with the people outside the door, wanting to see Xiao Ce. But the guards at the door remained completely unmoved!

No matter what they said, the guards ignored them!

Clearly, this was under Xiao Ce’s orders. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare act like this even if they had several more guts!

Just then, a commotion came from outside the hall!

The Noble Clan members inside the hall heard the noise and walked to the entrance.

As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw the crowd outside gathered around.

Because it was too far, they couldn’t hear clearly.

A group of Family Heads craned their necks to see.

At this moment, Bao An said with a proud expression, “Everyone, I told you so. If we don’t go find him, he will naturally come to us! He captured this place through a surprise attack! He just wants to intimidate us! But if he wants to control the Four Prefectures and Thirty-Nine Cities of the Northern Desert, without our support! It won’t be that easy!”

Beside him, Kan Zongye spoke with a hint of doubt, “General Bao, do you mean that Xiao Ce is coming to compromise with us?”

Bao An nodded and said, “Exactly. Later, none of you need to speak. Watch how I deal with him… Hmph! It’s necessary to let him know who the true master of the Northern Desert is!”

…

As soon as Xiao Ce entered the entrance of the Rites Hall, he was surrounded by a crowd from the outer hall.

These people, locked up for a whole night, had completely given in.

“King of Northern Desert, I support you! Whatever you do, we support you!”

“Yes, King of Northern Desert, I have no relation with the Turks at all! We came to congratulate Bao An only because we had no choice! He is a traitor, we did not betray our country.”

“That’s right, King of Northern Desert, we were also forced! Please, release us! We promise, we will definitely serve you!”

…

Xiao Ce smiled slightly at them and then said, “Good. For those of you who wish to pledge loyalty to me, I will give you some paper and brushes later. You can show your sincerity!”

Everyone wore puzzled expressions, “Prince? Paper and brushes?”

Xiao Ce smiled slightly and said, “Yes, I want you to write something. What you write will allow me to see your sincerity! Then I will release you!”

A group of people asked Xiao Ce, “Prince, what do you need us to write?”

Xiao Ce smiled without answering and said, “That’s up to you!”

“Alright, what needs to be done, I’ve already told you. Now step aside.”

Seeing that these people had no intention of moving aside,

Da Lei and the others beside him directly drew their swords to clear the way, “We’re giving you a chance to live? Won’t you listen to the Prince? Step aside!”

Seeing Da Lei draw his sword, they immediately moved aside without another word!

Xiao Ce said to them with a smile, “Everyone, I have shown you a clear path. Whether you want to live, or die together with those traitors inside, is up to you.”

Everyone looked at Xiao Ce. Although he said these words with a smile, they all felt a chill run down their spines.

…

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he walked towards the inner hall of the Rites Hall. At a glance, he saw Bao An leading a group of Noble Clan members, standing proudly at the entrance.

After Xiao Ce walked up, before he could speak,

Bao An said with a haughty expression, “Xiao Ce, have you come to negotiate with us now? I tell you, it’s too late!”

Xiao Ce glanced at Bao An with a look of disbelief. This person had reached a new level of foolishness.

Xiao Ce didn’t even want to speak to him. He had no doubt that saying one more word to someone with Bao An’s intelligence would taint his own.

The Twelve Fiends all displayed their weapons.

Bao An pointed at them and said, “You… you… what are you trying to do?”

Fu Niu, holding two giant axes, said, “We’re not here for you, but if you want to die, I will grant your wish! Those who don’t want to die, get lost!”

As soon as Fu Niu’s deep voice fell, everyone immediately cleared a path.

Fu Niu alone walked straight in, heading towards Mosi Ashina.

Seeing this, Mosi Ashina’s face turned pale. He pointed at Fu Niu while retreating and said, “Wh-what… what do you want?”

In no time, he was forced into a corner by Fu Niu.

Fu Niu said coldly, “I want something from you!”

Without waiting for him to speak further,

Fu Niu grabbed one of Mosi Ashina’s hands and pressed it against the wall, then pulled out a small axe from his waist.

Mosi Ashina was so scared his face turned white, “Wh-what are you trying to do… If you dare hurt me, my Father Khan will kill every single person of the Great Xiao Kingdom!”

Fu Niu completely ignored him and asked Xiao Ce, who was standing at the entrance, “Prince, which finger?”

“Up to you. Whichever finger you don’t like, take that one.”

“How dare you!”

“Ah…”

Fu Niu’s movements were swift. He directly cut off Mosi Ashina’s middle finger.

Ignoring Mosi Ashina, who was now curled up in pain, he picked up the middle finger from the ground and said to Xiao Ce,

“Prince, will this finger do? There’s a ring on it, his father should recognize it!”

Seeing this, Xiao Ce nodded with satisfaction, smiled, and said, “Haha, thorough! Alright, let’s go!”

After saying that, Xiao Ce waved his hand grandly. Without even glancing at the people in the hall, he led the group out in a grand procession…

At the scene, apart from Mosi Ashina’s screams, everyone’s faces were deathly pale, not daring to utter a word!

Kan Zongye and the other Family Heads looked displeased and said, “General Bao An! How is this completely different from what you said?”