Chapter 70: Western Regions

Chapter 70: Western Regions

Hu Yidao swung his blade swiftly; the blade seemed like an extension of his own body!

“Prince, if you want it even thinner, I can slice it thinner,” he said.

Seeing Hu Yidao’s excitement, Xiao Ce waved his hands and said, “I know your hands have been itching for a while, but this time, it doesn’t need to be too thin! It won’t be long before you have plenty of chances to use your blade!”

Hearing this, Hu Yidao grew even more excited!

Looking at Da Lei standing idly nearby, Xiao Ce said, “Da Lei, go set up two more tables over there. Have the Twelve Fiends come over as well. We haven’t had a proper meal together since we arrived, so it’s a good chance for a group dinner.”

Da Lei nodded.

At first, he wasn’t used to this.

After all, the ingrained sense of superiority and inferiority had taught them that they couldn’t eat at the same table as their master.

However, along the journey, Xiao Ce had ordered them to eat together many times.

On the road, Xiao Ce often prepared some grilled food for them—rabbit, beggar’s chicken, and other delicious treats.

They had never heard of such things before, and they tasted like heavenly delights.

Now, he was curious about this strange copper pot with charcoal in the middle. What kind of delicious food it would make?

Not long after, Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing arrived. Hearing there was good food, they came immediately.

After all, they had also enjoyed many of Xiao Ce’s delicacies on the road.

They knew Xiao Ce really had a knack for making unique and tasty food. A large part of Yin Pan’er’s change in attitude towards Xiao Ce was because of this.

Hearing there was good food, even the normally reserved Nie Bing came without a second thought!

Isn’t there a modern saying that to capture a man’s heart, you must capture his stomach?

That saying works for women too.

After the two entered, Yin Pan’er stepped forward and bowed to Xiao Ce.

“Greetings, Prince.”

Seeing this, Xiao Ce rose from the Official’s Armchair, gently patted the smooth hands of the Solar Term Maidens attending to him, and signaled for them to stop.

“Pan’er, you’ve come at the perfect time. Today, I’ll treat you to a hot pot meal?”

“Hot pot? Isn’t that just boiled meat?” Yin Pan’er asked, looking at the strange copper pot on the table.

“Yes and no. Generally, it should be served with some sesame paste and leek flower sauce. That combination is the best! But unfortunately, I’ve had people search everywhere, and that plant simply isn’t here. However, just enjoying the original flavor of this meat is also very good. The main appeal is its freshness!”

Xiao Ce explained with a smile.

Yin Pan’er was confused. “Sesame paste? Leek flower sauce? What are those?”

“Those are plants from the Western Regions. Once I stabilize our position here, I will definitely send people to the Western Regions. I need to get potatoes, Sichuan peppercorns, sesame seeds… There’s nothing here to plant them!”

“Where are the Western Regions?” Yin Pan’er asked.

Xiao Ce came back to his senses. That area wasn’t called the Western Regions now. There were dozens of small states there, all in chaos.

“The small kingdoms west of the Yumen Pass! I gave them a collective name: the Western Regions!” Xiao Ce said casually.

When he first crossed over, his initial plan was to go guard the Yumen Pass.

Because not far west of the Yumen Pass were the Western Regions.

You should know, it’s not just that the grapes and Hami melons from the Western Regions are sweet!

The beauties there are also smooth-skinned and have great figures.

If he could find a few “Reba” types to perform for him every day during meals, now that would be a lively life!

The Xiao Kingdom was powerful. The small countries in the Western Regions were constantly fighting among themselves and didn’t dare provoke the Xiao Kingdom, paying tribute every year!

So, he thought his cheap father who wanted him dead would never let him go there.

That’s why he chose the dangerous Four Northern Desert Prefectures.

The Western Regions became a regret for Xiao Ce.

Yin Pan’er listened with some confusion. “Prince, you’ve never left the Capital City since childhood. How do you know about these things?”

Xiao Ce said, “You wouldn’t know this. Although I don’t go out, Prince of Zhenguo always brings me ancient texts from various places! I learned from those books! In the future, once I conquer the Turkic Kingdom and then take over the Western Regions, we can expand the territory of our Xiao Kingdom by one-third!”

Nie Bing couldn’t help but laugh.

Xiao Ce asked, “Nie Bing? Don’t you believe me?”

Nie Bing looked at Xiao Ce and said, “Prince, I know you have some abilities. But right now, you can’t even ensure your own safety. You don’t really think that just because you’ve occupied these nine cities, you truly control the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, do you? Bao An is the weakest among the forces in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. If it weren’t for the Noble Clans and local Prominent Families protecting him, he would have died a hundred times over.”

“After my father was framed and killed, those Noble Clans and Prominent Families have been amassing wealth like crazy. The power of their Family Heads is no weaker than the strength of a small country. There are four such ‘small countries’ within the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! And on the outside, there is a fiercely ambitious Turkic Kingdom. If you try to deal with the Noble Clans of the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, they will definitely turn and ally with the Turks.”

“In their eyes, there is no such thing as patriotism or national sentiment! What they care about has always been their own interests! So, just being able to establish yourself and survive here is already difficult.”

“Let alone attacking the Turkic Kingdom or even the distant Western Regions. Isn’t that just daydreaming? You should focus on dealing with the mess right in front of you before talking about anything else.”

Listening to Nie Bing’s words, it seemed Fei Du had shared a lot of information with her.

Xiao Ce smiled slightly and said to Nie Bing, “So what? What do you think warfare relies on? Numbers? Throwing lives at it—that’s not called warfare!”

Nie Bing didn’t answer.

Xiao Ce pointed to his head. “Warfare first relies on the commander’s mind. An incompetent general wears out his army.”

“Second, it relies on military morale.”

“Finally, it relies on popular support and logistics!”

“I believe no one smarter than me has been born yet!”

“Second, although we are new recruits, under our command, we’ve trained each soldier to be fierce. Many of them carry a deep-seated hatred for the Turks in their bones. The fighting power of such soldiers is beyond doubt.”

“Lastly, popular support. The Disaster Victims I brought from the Central Plains Region. I rescued them from a living hell and gave them land and houses! With such policies, how could they not support me?”

“As for logistics, I have Pan’er helping me manage things! Pan’er started managing the Prime Minister’s Mansion at nine years old and kept it in perfect order! I believe she can manage the Four Northern Desert Prefectures without a problem!”

“Soon, I’ll tell her about my future ventures. We will have a steady flow of money coming in! I believe she can help this prince secure our rear.”

Speaking, Xiao Ce looked firmly at Yin Pan’er. “Pan’er, I dare to entrust you with the authority to manage the Northern Desert. Are you willing to help me?”

Xiao Ce had originally wanted to find an opportunity, but the conversation had led here.

He spoke to Yin Pan’er with a determined expression.

Listening to Xiao Ce’s words, Yin Pan’er felt her blood surge. Most importantly, Xiao Ce’s recognition and trust in her ignited a complex mix of emotions in her heart.

“I am a woman, I fear…”

Xiao Ce cut her off firmly. “Who says women are inferior to men? As long as you are willing, I will help you overcome all difficulties!”

Yin Pan’er was not an indecisive person. “If you dare to let me take charge, I am naturally willing! And I will certainly live up to your expectations!”

Xiao Ce laughed and said, “Haha, excellent! I believe in you too. Moreover, you have a good sister who holds considerable influence in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures! The two of you working together will definitely be fine. As long as you stabilize the rear, this prince will be invincible on the front lines!”

Yin Pan’er said to Xiao Ce, “So you also have your eye on Sister Bing. But I’ve agreed; Sister Bing hasn’t agreed yet.”

Xiao Ce looked at Nie Bing.

Nie Bing said, “Don’t look at me! Giving the people of the Northern Desert a good life was my father’s dying wish. As long as it benefits the people of the Northern Desert, I have no reason to refuse!”

Xiao Ce had expected Nie Bing to make some sarcastic remarks, but he didn’t expect such a reply.

He never thought she would agree so readily!

Watching Hu Yidao bring plate after plate of perfectly cut meat, Xiao Ce looked around. “Great! Then it’s happily decided! Let’s eat!”

As he spoke, he motioned for the Solar Term Maidens and the Twelve Fiends to sit at the nearby two tables!

He also called Qian Lai and Yan Jia to the table.

Yan Jia had grown accustomed to it after traveling with Xiao Ce, but Qian Lai felt awkward and uneasy. Only under Xiao Ce’s insistence did he reluctantly sit down!

Seeing his discomfort, Xiao Ce said with a laugh, “Uncle Lai, at the dinner table, we are family. No need for so many formalities!”

“We haven’t known each other long, and I haven’t had a chance to tell you. I don’t think that your kowtowing to me shows more respect… True respect is held in the heart and shown in daily actions! No need for empty gestures; show it through real actions.”

Xiao Ce’s address “Uncle Lai” left Qian Lai flustered and apprehensive!

Xiao Ce had said what needed to be said. He didn’t expect him to change or understand immediately.

Over time, with habit, he would get used to it!

These ancient people found this novel way of eating delightful and delicious.

However, as a modern person, Xiao Ce felt that eating hot pot without sesame paste and leek flower sauce was missing its soul.

As he ate, he pondered. Nie Bing’s words earlier made some sense.

Stabilizing the Four Northern Desert Prefectures and conquering the Turkic Kingdom were not tasks that could be accomplished overnight.

He still needed to make other plans!

He should first send some people to the Western Regions to explore and bring back crops not available here.

Especially potatoes. This crop has high yields and is extremely suitable for the land and climate of the Northern Desert. If he could really introduce this crop, then in the future, the people of the entire Northern Desert would never have to go hungry!

Since this timeline was completely fictional, he didn’t know if missionaries from overseas had already brought potatoes to the Western Regions. If not, going overseas would be troublesome.

Because the Xiao Kingdom had no Navy. In their eyes, the world was only this big!

They believed the most threatening foreigners were the people of the Turkic Kingdom.

They didn’t know, but Xiao Ce was very clear. Although the civilization and history here were fictional and didn’t exist.

The planet he was on was exactly the same as the one he came from!

He knew very well how vast the world outside was!

So he really had a lot to do. But Nie Bing was right; you have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.