Chapter 171
Chapter 171
Xiao Lan turned to Chen Shuhan again.
“Young Master Chen, what else do you have to say?”
Chen Shuhan abandoned all restraint.
“That’s right. I did it. So what? Our feelings were mutual. We only burned a little aphrodisiac incense to make things more exciting. Are you telling me none of you has ever used it?”
Xiao Lan did not become angry at Chen Shuhan’s shameless refusal to listen.
With a man like this, all he had to do was break through his defenses and make him understand whose territory he was standing on. Then the man would cower.
“Young Master Chen, do you truly not know which family the woman you violated belongs to? If I hand you over to them, do you think you will leave the Northern Frontier alive?”
Chen Shuhan’s expression shifted. His hand tightened briefly into a fist, but then he smiled. “Family Head Xiao, I have no idea what you mean. I met that woman here in Baishui Town. Go ahead and hand me over. When you do, I’ll say you ordered me to act and that you were the mastermind. You wanted to use me to seize the Zhou Family’s salt ponds. Do you think they will believe me?”
Xiao Lan was about to respond when Jin Bao suddenly extended a little hand.
“Bad guy! You’re about to die, but you still dare frame Uncle Xiao. Watch Baby teach you a lesson!”
A thin current flowed from Jin Bao’s palm and struck Chen Shuhan.
Every muscle in his body went numb and weak, and he collapsed onto his backside.
After knocking him down, Jin Bao stared at him and demanded in her fierce little voice, “Big bad guy, why won’t you admit you did something bad? If you still won’t admit it, Baby won’t be nice anymore!”
Sitting in Xiao Che’s arms, Jin Bao planted both hands on her hips. Her little cheeks puffed with anger, her rosy lips stuck out, and her eyes widened like brass bells.
It took Chen Shuhan a long while to recover.
Only then did he study Jin Bao carefully. The moment he recognized her, wild delight surged through him.
Was this not the Star Maiden he had been searching for all along?
He had worn out his shoes looking for her, only for her to fall into his lap.
Chen Shuhan climbed to his feet and brushed the dust from his clothes.
Everyone expected him to speak. Instead, he turned and ran outside.
As soon as he reached the Xiao Family courtyard, he pulled a Cloud-Piercing Signal Arrow from his sleeve.
Prince Cheng had personally given it to him. Nor was Chen Shuhan the only recipient. Everyone secretly searching for the Star Maiden carried one. The moment any of them discovered her location, they were to alert the others nearby.
But Chen Shuhan had underestimated Jin Bao.
The instant he ran into the courtyard, Jin Bao slipped from Xiao Che’s arms and raced out the door. Standing at the entrance, she launched an attack at the Cloud-Piercing Signal Arrow streaking toward the sky.
This time, she did not hold back. She blasted the Cloud-Piercing Signal Arrow into charcoal, and it dropped straight from the air.
At the same time, the rest of the Xiao Family rushed out of the hall.
Xiao Lan understood everything. The man surnamed Chen was a spy.
He had come to stir up chaos in the Northern Frontier and capture the Star Maiden along the way.
Xiao Lan waved a hand, and the courtyard guards surrounded Chen Shuhan.
“What are you trying to do? I am the second legitimate son of the Chen Family in the Capital! If you dare touch me, the Chen Family will never let you go!”
Even now, Chen Shuhan imagined his status could intimidate Xiao Lan.
But from beginning to end, he had forgotten one thing. This was the Northern Frontier, and the realm was at war. Every faction ruled its own territory. Why would the Xiao Family fear a minor count’s household like the Chen Family?
Besides, the Chen Family’s title had been bestowed by the Late Emperor.
If that title were revoked, the Chen Family would be nothing.
“Chen, this is the Northern Frontier. This is the Baishui Xiao Family. Dragons coil here and tigers lie low. Your count’s household barely merits a name, and the Capital is full of families like yours. You are only a second legitimate son. What gives you the right to bargain with me? Men, take him away and interrogate him harshly. If he refuses to name his accomplices, kill him and feed him to the wolves.”
Xiao Lan no longer showed the slightest courtesy.
Terror covered Chen Shuhan’s face as the guards dragged him away. These people were insane. Were they trying to rebel?
With Chen Shuhan dealt with, the Xiao Family finished gathering its grain and prepared to transport it to Jintang Valley in batches.
Some of the grain would be exchanged for potato seeds, while the rest would be purchased with silver.
Xiao Lan had sincerely pledged himself to the Star Maiden, so he set a fair price instead of raising it wildly.
Xiao Che’s journey had been tremendously successful. Jin Bao had also dealt with the Black-Robed Man, leaving no major threat in the Northern Frontier.
Soon afterward, Xiao Lan personally led the grain convoy and accompanied Xiao Che to Jintang Valley.
The trip would let him learn the way there and make future visits easier.
The moment Xiao Lan entered Jintang Valley, its environment stunned him.
The world inside the valley was utterly different from the land beyond it.
Weeds grew wild outside, and only a single road led in.
Inside Jintang Valley, rivers crossed through a dense settlement. Neat plots of newly reclaimed farmland spread as far as the eye could see, with oxen working back and forth through the fields.
What he saw farther inside surprised him even more.
The road leading toward the inner city was not made of ordinary yellow earth.
It used a material Xiao Lan had never seen. The surface was hard, and carriages traveled over it without any jolting.
Nor would it turn to mud on rainy days.
Xiao Lan immediately asked Xiao Che, “Older Brother Xiao, what is this made of? Why is it so strong?”
Xiao Che chuckled. “It’s called concrete. My daughter came up with it.
“She thought the valley became far too muddy whenever it rained, so she devised this material.
“Then she had every road in the valley paved with it. And I have to say, this stuff is excellent. Even a torrential downpour doesn’t damage it. The rain only washes it cleaner. Since we finished these roads, transporting supplies has become far easier.”
Xiao Lan was deeply tempted. How wonderful it would be to use this material in Baishui Town. But it was obviously a secret formula, and he was too embarrassed to ask for it.
Xiao Che had no intention of giving it away either. The material was not yet suitable for use throughout the Northern Frontier. They would spread it widely once they had conquered the region and become its true rulers.
Farther inside, Xiao Lan discovered a military training ground.
He had never imagined Jintang Valley contained so many soldiers. Row upon row of tents stretched beyond sight. There had to be tens of thousands of troops here.
Xiao Lan was profoundly grateful that he had not pledged himself to Prince Cheng.
Judging from the current situation, it was only a matter of time before the Star Maiden controlled the Northern Frontier.
He could already foresee the region becoming incomparably prosperous and powerful over the next few years.
The potatoes that yielded several thousand jin per mu would steadily increase the Northern Frontier’s population all by themselves. All he had to do was cling firmly to the Star Maiden. Then the Xiao Family should have no trouble prospering for another century.
Beyond the military camp lay the city.
The planned construction area still looked somewhat desolate, but the beginnings of a city had already taken shape. Every section had been laid out. All that remained was to build houses and raise walls according to the plans.
Past the outer city was the inner city.
Its main buildings were already complete.
Their material stunned Xiao Lan yet again.
It seemed to be the same substance used for the road.
If houses could be made from this, would they not withstand almost anything?
Fire could not burn them, and floodwater could not wash them away. They were miraculous homes as secure as iron fortresses.
Jintang Valley was certain to become a new military center in the future.
Should he invest here? Those who arrived early would eat meat, while latecomers would have to settle for a little broth.
The thought made Xiao Lan’s blood run hot.
He had already begun planning how to persuade Xiao Che to give him a share.
Xie Chengyan had heard that Xiao Che was returning with a large supply of grain and came out to welcome him.
“Old Xiao, you accomplished quite a lot on this trip.”
Xie Chengyan’s face glowed. He was clearly in an excellent mood.
Xiao Che immediately introduced Xiao Lan.
“Old Xie, this is Xiao Lan, head of the family in Baishui Town. He is a kinsman from my clan, as you know. He personally escorted the grain to Jintang Valley and came to learn the way. We will have many dealings with each other in the future.”
Then he turned to Xiao Lan. “Younger Brother Xiao, this is Xie Chengyan, Chancellor of Great Xia. Chancellor Xie.”
Xiao Lan hurriedly cupped his hands. “Greetings, Chancellor Xie.”
Xie Chengyan returned the salute with a smile. “That is ancient history. Now I am merely Xiao Che’s beast of burden, driven from one task to the next all day.”
Xiao Che burst out laughing. “Old Xie, you have no conscience saying that. And whose beast of burden am I? Aren’t we both doing this for my daughter?”
Only then did Xiao Lan learn that Xie Chengyan was Jin Bao’s maternal uncle.
That gave Xie Chengyan far greater weight than Xiao Che. After all, the Star Maiden shared blood with her maternal uncle, while she was only the Xiao Family’s adopted daughter.
The men entered a command tent and sat down.
Xie Chengyan sent Xie Yanhong and Xiao Jingxing to inspect and receive the grain.
Xiao Jingxing could walk again and spent each day helping Xie Chengyan with military affairs.
While Xiao Che was away from the valley, Xie Chengyan’s knowledge of military administration had been limited. Xiao Jingxing, however, had grown up following his father through army camps and found such work relatively easy.
Xie Chengyan was overwhelmed every day.
Every expense in the valley had to be entered into the accounts, yet there were hardly any capable people for him to choose from. Jintang Valley no longer lacked soldiers. It lacked talent.
Once Xiao Lan left, Xie Chengyan fully intended to discuss the problem with Xiao Che. They had to bring in a large number of capable people. Otherwise, as their undertaking continued to expand, his old bones might give out before their time.
By now, Xiao Lan had settled on the terms he wanted to propose.
“Older Brother Xiao, Chancellor Xie, I would like to claim a piece of land outside Jintang Valley and become your neighbor. Would that be possible?”
Xiao Che and Xie Chengyan exchanged a glance and instantly understood his plan.
But this was a good thing.
“Of course. Which parcel do you want? Show us later. Once we’re neighbors, we can help one another.”
The Xiao Family had operated in Baishui Town for a century and naturally would not abandon it.
Xiao Lan merely intended to claim a parcel and hold it. In a year or two, the land’s value would multiply several times over, earning him a tremendous profit.
Since they had agreed so readily, he did not hide his calculations.
“How about this? For the grain you purchased from the Xiao Family, I will charge only half the original price. The remaining half can pay for the land. What do you think?”
Xiao Che liked the proposal immensely.
The agreement was settled on the spot.
Low hills surrounded Jintang Valley, and vast stretches of wasteland lay beyond them. Once reclaimed, all of it could become fertile farmland.
Of course, making Xiao Lan’s property valuable would require people to settle nearby.
He immediately spread word among the Eight Great Families of the Northern Frontier that he had purchased land beside Jintang Valley.
He refused to believe those old foxes could resist taking a share.
This would indirectly help Xiao Che as well. The more great families that came, the more Xiao Che could raise the price and add silver to his coffers. No matter how Xiao Lan calculated it, the transaction could not lose money.
After all, the property was undeveloped wasteland that technically belonged to Great Xia. But who in the present imperial court still had the power to interfere in this corner of the Northern Frontier?
Any great family that purchased land would also be signaling goodwill toward Xiao Che and seeking his protection.
Now they only had to see who came next.