Chapter 94: Who Else But Me

Chapter 94: Who Else But Me

The person behind the screen still said the same thing.

“Are they worthy? If you’re unwilling, then leave.”

Nie Bing’s face was dark. “By having Xiao Hao do this, aren’t you just sending him to his death?”

“Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean your brother can’t. Moreover, this is our business and has nothing to do with you! Please leave,” the person behind the screen replied, their voice still icy.

“If I agree, does that mean he doesn’t have to do it anymore?” Nie Bing’s gaze was firm, as if she had made some kind of decision.

The person behind the screen said, “Of course.”

“Then I agree. But you must also promise me something. Don’t arrange any more dangerous tasks for him.” Nie Bing spoke through gritted teeth.

The person behind the screen did not answer directly. “What gives you the right to tell me how to do things! Just do your job properly! See the guest out.”

The Little Page Boy quickly stepped forward and made a gesture of invitation.

Nie Bing wanted to say something, but was stopped by the Little Page Boy beside her. “Miss Nie, please don’t say anymore! If you keep talking and upset the master, you’ll only be harming your brother. Please.”

Nie Bing glanced towards the screen and ultimately said nothing more.

…

After Yin Pan’er and Xiao Ce finished their meal, they went about their business.

Xiao Ce’s new policies had just been implemented, and with everything needing to be rebuilt, there was still a lot to do.

After Yin Pan’er left, Xiao Ce saw Lin Zhong pacing around outside the door.

Yesterday, Xiao Ce had already noticed that Lin Zhong seemed a bit off.

After all, Qian Lai, the former chief manager of the Qian family, had come to serve as Xiao Ce’s chief Steward and was doing an excellent job.

He was helping Xiao Ce very efficiently with the later stages of work.

Xiao Dingshan had sent Lin Zhong over to be Xiao Ce’s chief Steward.

Now that someone else had taken the position of chief Steward, Lin Zhong couldn’t help but feel unsettled.

Although Xiao Ce had other plans for Lin Zhong, Lin Zhong was not aware of them.

“Uncle Zhong, come here for a moment.”

Xiao Ce walked to the doorway and called out to Lin Zhong, who was wandering aimlessly outside.

Lin Zhong followed with a trace of confusion.

When they reached Xiao Ce’s study, Xiao Ce sat down and motioned for Lin Zhong to sit as well.

Lin Zhong waved his hand. “Prince, I won’t sit. Do you have some instructions for me?”

Xiao Ce said to Lin Zhong, “Uncle Zhong, you’ve dealt with Qian Lai, right?”

Lin Zhong nodded.

“What do you think of him?” Xiao Ce asked.

Lin Zhong glanced at Xiao Ce. “Quite capable. He transformed Bao An’s former Temporary Palace into the Northern Desert Prince’s Mansion and manages everyone in perfect order.”

He paused briefly.

Xiao Ce asked Lin Zhong, “Uncle Zhong, given our relationship, please speak openly if you have anything to say.”

Lin Zhong nodded. “It’s just… I wonder if he can be trusted! After all, what you need is someone absolutely loyal; ability is secondary.”

Xiao Ce smiled. “Uncle Zhong, don’t worry about that. I can indeed trust him. To show his sincerity, he has already moved his entire family here. Uncle Zhong, what do you think about having him serve as my chief Steward from now on?”

Lin Zhong’s expression turned slightly awkward, but he didn’t mince words. “Prince, then what about me?”

Seeing Lin Zhong say this, Xiao Ce was very pleased in his heart.

The fact that he could speak so frankly showed that he considered Xiao Ce one of his own.

Seeing Lin Zhong’s somewhat jealous expression, Xiao Ce deliberately said, “Uncle Zhong, you’re getting older. You can just rest and enjoy your retirement here. No need to worry about those matters anymore.”

Lin Zhong immediately objected, his expression turning gloomy. “Prince, I didn’t come here for a rest cure. Even the Prince of Zhenguo never said I was too old; do you think I’m old? If you think I’m no longer useful, then I can go back… The Prince of Zhenguo still needs my help…”

Seeing that this old man Lin Zhong was really getting anxious, Xiao Ce stopped joking.

“Uncle Zhong, I was just teasing you… Why are you getting so upset? To be honest, you were personally appointed by my Imperial Uncle, the eighth prince. You are someone I trust the most. I’m keeping you here for a very important purpose! Truly, having you serve as just a Steward would be a waste of your talents. I’ve kept you for a different use!”

Lin Zhong looked at Xiao Ce suspiciously. “Prince, you’re not fooling me?”

Xiao Ce smiled. “Of course not!”

“Then what do you plan for me to do?”

“Uncle Zhong, what do you think of the industries for producing Fine Salt and White Sugar?”

A flash of excitement appeared on Lin Zhong’s face. “Of course they’re good! If not for these two industries of yours, Prince, we’d probably still be worrying about money. How could we have recruited soldiers and horses and raised such a large force?”

Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, “Da Lei, go and bring the book I wrote, the ‘Heavenly Creations,’ over here.”

Da Lei cupped his hands in acknowledgment.

Then, from a locked chest to the side, he took out a book written by Xiao Ce himself.

This book contained not only methods for making salt and sugar, but also for producing soy sauce, Distilled Wine, extremely fresh seasoning, and a series of other things that did not exist here.

Any one of those things, if produced and sold, would surely fetch a good price.

Moreover, the book also contained methods for making Gunpowder, as well as some Firearms.

Basically, Xiao Ce wrote down in this book many things from later eras that could potentially be reproduced in this age.

This was the result of Xiao Ce’s constant thinking and summarizing along the way.

This was also why Xiao Ce was confident he could beat the Turks until they ran off with their tails between their legs.

Da Lei handed the book to Lin Zhong.

Lin Zhong took it with a hint of confusion and looked inquiringly at Xiao Ce.

After receiving Xiao Ce’s permission, Lin Zhong opened it.

The text in this book was written by Xiao Ce using annotations only he could understand.

Although Lin Zhong couldn’t read the words, from the few pictures inside, he could tell.

“Is this the method for making White Sugar and Fine Salt?”

Xiao Ce nodded. “White Sugar and Fine Salt are just the simplest things among them. Next, I have several more things I want to do.”

“First is Distilled Wine. Winter is coming soon. The Northern Desert is cold, so in the future, this high-alcohol distilled wine can help ward off the cold. It will surely sell well throughout the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, and could even be sold as far as Turkic lands…”

Lin Zhong listened with some confusion. “Distilled Wine… how is it different from ordinary ale?”

Xiao Ce took a leather water flask from the side and opened it.

Immediately, a rich aroma of wine spread through the air.

“What a fragrance!”

Xiao Ce poured a cup into a teapot on the side.

Lin Zhong didn’t stand on ceremony. He took it and drank it all in one go.

He drank this Distilled Wine the same way he drank ale, and it burned his throat terribly.

As soon as it entered his throat, he felt a scalding heat, then it went down his esophagus into his stomach. Before long, his whole body felt warm and clear.

Lin Zhong’s eyes immediately brightened.

“Good wine! Though spicy and pungent, when savored carefully, it has a soft, mellow fragrance! Most importantly, after this wine goes down the throat, the whole body feels lit up! Prince, is this the Distilled Wine you mentioned?”

Xiao Ce nodded. “That’s right. Once this can be mass-produced, do you think it will sell well?”

Lin Zhong nodded one after another. “Of course it can! Absolutely! In fact, not only in the Four Northern Desert Prefectures, but even in the Central Plains Region, this wine is sure to sell well… If we follow your method like with the White Sugar, and create a story for it, we can definitely sell it at a high price!”

“Uncle Zhong, I didn’t expect you to learn so quickly. You even understand packaging and marketing now. Good. Regarding this Distilled Wine, here’s what I think. First, we produce high-quality strong wine, with a degree around fifty-two. We’ll first target the wealthy. When our production capacity catches up later, we can also make some lower-degree daily wine, so ordinary people can afford it!”

Xiao Ce explained to Lin Zhong.

“Degree? What is degree?”

Xiao Ce didn’t know how to explain for a moment. “It’s a standard for judging the level of winemaking skill.”

Lin Zhong nodded. “So, Prince, you want me to manage these things?”

Xiao Ce continued. “Yes. Before you came, we also made some Compound Bows and Repeating Crossbows…”

As he spoke, Xiao Ce had Da Lei show Lin Zhong and let him try the Compound Bow and Repeating Crossbow.

“All these things need to be produced. And as you can see, Uncle Zhong, these need to be made in a strictly confidential place. I need an overall person in charge to manage it. Although I’ve already sent Shen Hu over.”

“However, he is a warrior after all. I need someone to oversee everything there… Besides you, I really can’t think of a second person…”

Hearing Xiao Ce say this, Lin Zhong spoke. “Prince, you chose me not just for that reason, right? Is it also because you want to protect me?”

Xiao Ce indeed had that thought.

After all, the current safety here was entirely because those Noble Clans and Prominent Families were in his hands.

Once they were sent back, undercurrents would surely surge.

For Lin Zhong to go to the Tiger-Leopard Stronghold was indeed the safest!

Xiao Ce did not deny it. “I do have that thought, but mainly, I need you to manage things.”

“Actually, those money-making things aren’t the main focus. I’m sending you there for two other most important things that need to be produced as quickly as possible.”

Lin Zhong was somewhat puzzled. “What things?”

“One is Gunpowder, and the other is Cement!”

The two things Xiao Ce mentioned, Lin Zhong could understand just by hearing the names.

But when the words were put together, Lin Zhong felt confused.

“What medicine is Gunpowder? I’ve never heard of it. And the Cement you mentioned, is it mud from the river?”

“Gunpowder isn’t medicine for people. It’s exactly as the name says: an agent that can cause violent burning when sparked or ignited by flame. Enough of it can cause sufficient damage.”

Xiao Ce wanted to make Gunpowder not to develop Firearms extensively. His idea was to use Gunpowder to make Explosives. On one hand, it could be used to mine coal.

Most of the fuel used in this era was Charcoal, with very little coal. Even if there was some coal, it was all found on the surface of the land, and the supply was very limited. With the help of Explosives, underground coal mines could be opened.

On the other hand, with Explosives, the other thing he needed, Cement, would be easier to produce.

Cement was actually made through continuous high-temperature firing.

And the uses of Cement were many. For civilian use, it could strengthen city walls, make Cement roads, and repair houses.

Most of the houses here were made of wood and didn’t last long. If they were replaced with Cement, they could last for generations without breaking down.

It could truly achieve the effect where the people pass on, but the house remains.

If the roads here were all replaced with Cement roads, transportation efficiency would increase greatly. Moreover, Cement would be very useful in war.

Cement was easy to carry. During war, it could be used to quickly build fortifications.

Especially if some ‘Cement Caltrops’ were cast with Cement, they would be a powerful weapon against the Turks.

…

Xiao Ce finished explaining all the things that needed to be done currently.

“These matters are all currently of utmost importance, and none can be missed! And I am missing one person I trust! Uncle Zhong, are you willing to help me?”

Although Lin Zhong was confused by what he heard, whether it was supervising weapon making, overseeing the production of White Sugar, Fine Salt, and wine, or researching Gunpowder and Explosives, or the mass production of Cement, all were very important to Xiao Ce.

Seeing Xiao Ce entrust such important matters to him, the jealousy he initially felt in his heart was immediately swept away.

“Prince, such important matters. Who else is there but me? But, for such important matters, do you feel at ease handing them to me? These things are practically your lifelines!”

Xiao Ce smiled slightly. “It’s precisely because they are my lifelines that I must hand them to you!”