Chapter 71: There Really Was Someone with a Soaked Brain

Chapter 71: There Really Was Someone with a Soaked Brain

“Prince, are you alright? You seem distracted.”

Yin Pan’er’s words pulled Xiao Ce back from his thoughts. He smiled, “I’m fine. Nie Bing’s words actually reminded me of something.”

Nie Bing was somewhat surprised, “Have you finally realized you shouldn’t aim too high…”

Xiao Ce waved his hand, “Of course not! You reminded me that we need to hurry! We must fight the Turks, and we also need to open up the Western Regions! These two things need to be done together!”

Seeing Xiao Ce interpret it this way, Nie Bing was speechless, thinking to herself that wasn’t what she meant at all.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ce turned his head to look at Qian Lai.

“Uncle Lai, did people from the Qian Clan Trading House ever trade with the Western Regions before?”

Qian Lai was puzzled, “Western Regions? Prince, are you talking about those outsiders beyond the Yumen Pass! And what is this ‘trade’?”

Xiao Ce thought to himself, they didn’t have that word yet.

“I mean, did you ever go to the Western Regions to do business?”

Qian Lai shook his head, “No, Prince, don’t you know? Actually, back during the Late Emperor’s time, some people used witchcraft from these outsiders to harm the Late Emperor! Since then, the Late Emperor issued a ban. No commerce is allowed with the outsiders beyond Yumen Pass. Except during tribute-paying periods, they are usually not allowed to set foot in the Xiao Kingdom.”

“Of course, there are still some roving heroes who sneak over. Some outsiders come over too! But it’s all done secretly. To engage in proper trade would require large numbers of people passing through Yumen Pass, which is nearly impossible.”

Isn’t this like closing the country off?

Xiao Ce listened and nodded, “What are roving heroes for?”

Nie Bing couldn’t help but retort, “Prince, I just started thinking you were knowledgeable. Turns out you don’t even know about the ban on dealings with outsiders, and you don’t know what roving heroes are?”

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow, looking unconcerned, “It’s not written in the books!”

Nie Bing then explained. So-called roving heroes are people who wander the land. They travel to various places, eliminating evil and promoting good.

Listening to her explanation, Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. In later times, in rural areas, weren’t these kind of people called “wanderers”? In nicer terms, they were travel bloggers.

However, Xiao Ce needed exactly these kind of “wanderers” right now.

“Good, good. Uncle Lai, go find a way to get me some of these roving heroes. This Prince will pay them to travel the Western Regions and help this Prince find and bring back some things!”

Qian Lai nodded, “Alright, Prince, how many do you need?”

Before Xiao Ce could answer, Yin Pan’er interrupted curiously, “Prince, are you perhaps looking for outsider witchcraft? My father said that outsider witchcraft will inevitably backfire on the user… You should think twice.”

Seeing her misunderstanding, Xiao Ce smiled, “This Prince is an atheist and does not believe in that witchcraft! I want them to find some plants. You’ll find out when the time comes!”

As he spoke, they saw Xiao Jiu carrying a thick stack of things, followed by two soldiers each carrying a bulging bundle.

After entering, Xiao Jiu saluted Xiao Ce and reported the recent situation.

Mosi Ashina had already been settled. He originally wanted to make some demands, but after Xiao Jiu intimidated him, he completely backed down.

Now he was staying quietly in the quarters arranged for him.

Xiao Ce nodded with satisfaction. Xiao Jiu’s progress was very fast. After cutting off Bao Cong’s two arms, he seemed to have unleashed his true nature.

Xiao Ce listened with repeated nods and pointed at the things the two soldiers were holding.

“What are they holding? Why does it smell so bad?”

“Prince, those are things the people from the Rites Hall used to bribe me. Prince, didn’t you say? Whatever they give, accept it all without refusal. They are anxious from being locked up, so they gave treasures hidden on their persons! There was too much stuff, I couldn’t carry it all for the moment, so I had them strip the clothes off Bao An’s corpse to use as a bag for these treasures.”

After finishing, Xiao Jiu looked at Xiao Ce cautiously, “Prince, I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”

Xiao Ce smiled and waved his hand, “You did nothing wrong. That traitor, what does he need clothes for?! It’s just that we’re eating, and this stuff really stinks.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jiu carefully poured the items onto the ground and threw out that piece of clothing.

When he returned, Xiao Ce and Qian Lai were already squatting beside the two piles of treasures.

“Qian Lai, are these things valuable?”

Qian Lai’s expression became very animated, and he nodded repeatedly, “Prince, these things are extremely valuable… This jade plaque is made of green jade with floating ‘ice’ texture. Just this one piece is worth a thousand taels of Gold!”

After hearing this, Xiao Ce was still somewhat shocked.

It truly was a case of the wealthy enjoying luxury while the poor freeze to death on the road. How many people starved in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, yet these people could casually take out a jade pendant worth enough food to feed thousands for a year.

“Xiao Jiu, do you remember who gave these things?”

Xiao Jiu nodded and stated one by one who gave which item.

Xiao Ce was a bit surprised hearing this, “You remember all this clearly? Your brain works well!”

Xiao Jiu scratched his head, “Prince, it’s precisely because I have a good memory, almost a photographic one, that the Qian Clan Trading House kept me on as a clerk there!”

“You have a photographic memory?”

At this point, Qian Lai also vouched for Xiao Jiu, “Prince, Xiao Jiu really has this ability. His memory is the best I’ve seen among all the people I’ve met!”

Xiao Ce immediately felt like he had found a treasure.

“Uncle Lai, Xiao Jiu, you two register these here. Then, go quickly and turn these things into silver, and go buy some grain and fodder.”

Qian Lai nodded and said, “Prince, if you sell these in a hurry, the price might not be very high. Also, grain and fodder in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are extremely expensive. In the Central Plains Region, one dan of grain costs about one tael of Silver. Here, it’s more than five taels, maybe even more.”

Xiao Ce nodded, “This Prince knows. You go contact the merchant guilds in Anhua City! Have them offer a suitable price. Then, This Prince doesn’t want money. Exchange them for grain and fodder and have them transported here. The grain price is high here. Is it because those merchants are hoarding to drive up the price?”

Qian Lai shook his head, “No. A while ago, the Turks were gathering outside the Four Northern Desert Prefectures. Bao An quickly surrendered on his knees and sent a large amount of money and grain to the Turks. All of that was taken from the mouths of the common people. With less grain on the market, the price rose!”

Xiao Ce nodded, “Alright, I understand. The urgent need for grain should be solvable. You handle this matter first!”

After saying this, Xiao Ce glanced at Yin Pan’er and Nie Bing, “Are you two finished eating?”

The two nodded.

Xiao Ce then beckoned to them, “Well, since you’re finished, follow This Prince back to the room.”

Yin Pan’er blushed but did not refuse.

Nie Bing also blushed, her voice turning a few degrees colder, “Prince, please behave yourself! I am not your… I agreed to help you, but… I will not with you…”

Seeing they both misunderstood, Xiao Ce said, torn between amusement and exasperation, “What are you two thinking? To look at the letters those big fish from the Rites Hall wrote pledging their loyalty to This Prince!”

Hearing this, both their faces turned even redder, with some embarrassment, and they followed him.

After returning to the room, he first had Nie Bing help sort the letters.

First, merchants’ letters in one pile. Then, each of the Noble Clans and their affiliated Prominent Families in separate piles.

There was also a separate pile for standalone Prominent Families.

After organizing, Xiao Ce had Nie Bing first look at the matters concerning the Four Great Clans.

After all, Fei Du had told Nie Bing many of the secrets he was hiding.

Nie Bing agreed.

The rest were to be read by Xiao Ce and Yin Pan’er.

Half an hour later, Nie Bing put down the last letter in front of her.

“Did the people from the Four Great Clans conspire to fabricate completely baseless things to trick me?”

Nie Bing was surprised after hearing Xiao Ce’s words, “Prince, you read them?”

Xiao Ce waved his hand, “No need to read them. Those people from the Four Great Clans wish for my death. The reason they are willing to write this stuff is the same as the Turks—their goal is to stabilize me! Once they return to their domains, they’ll start scheming to kill me. Naturally, they wouldn’t really give me any substantial leverage to hold over them.”

“Unless their brains were soaked, they wouldn’t honestly give me all their leverage!”

Nie Bing nodded and looked at Xiao Ce, “Prince, among their clans, there really is someone with a soaked brain!”