Chapter 181
Chapter 181
The guests and hosts took their respective seats.
After exchanging pleasantries, they moved straight to the matter at hand.
The Zhou Family Head spoke first. “General Xiao, the Zhou Family wishes to cooperate with Jintang Valley. Would the General be interested?”
Xiao Che chuckled. “What form of cooperation does Family Head Zhou have in mind?”
Zhou Sheng did not beat around the bush. “I will give you thirty percent of the Zhou Family’s salt ponds in exchange for our family’s safety and prosperity. What does General Xiao think?”
Xiao Che merely smiled without answering, then looked toward Qi Teng.
“And you, Family Head Qi?”
There was no need for honest men to speak in riddles. Since everyone had come to Jintang Valley today, they naturally wanted something.
They wanted Jintang Valley to protect them, while Jintang Valley wanted the value they could provide.
The Lushan Qi Family’s principal business was fur, and it had established trade routes extending in every direction.
“The Lushan Qi Family is willing to place all of our trade routes at your disposal.”
Xiao Che nodded.
“Family Head Qi sounds like a man who actually came to negotiate. Now that is a sincere offer.”
Zhou Sheng’s expression changed at once. Xiao Che was clearly warning him that his own offer lacked sincerity.
Zhou Sheng hurriedly put on another smile. “General Xiao, the Zhou Family is willing to give half of our salt ponds to Jintang Valley.”
Xiao Che immediately raised his cup.
“Then we have a deal. Today, I will substitute tea for wine and toast to a successful partnership.”
Zhou Sheng’s heart bled.
But when he remembered what had happened to Baishui Town, he suddenly felt that the price was worthwhile.
What use would salt ponds be if everyone in his family lost their lives?
Wealth was merely an external possession. They could always earn more in the future.
With half of the Zhou Family’s salt ponds, Black Pine Valley would no longer need to barter with the Cannibal Tribe for salt.
Snowflakes drifted thickly through the air, blanketing all of Jintang Valley in white.
As winter grew colder, more and more refugees arrived after hearing of the valley’s reputation.
They gathered outside Jintang Valley, hoping to be admitted.
When Jin Bao heard about them, she begged Uncle and Daddy to let everyone inside.
Jintang Valley had built many houses over the past several months.
Some were still vacant and had never been occupied.
However, the number of empty homes was limited, while at least five thousand refugees had arrived this time.
Even if the valley managed to house them, feeding five thousand people through an entire winter would require a tremendous amount of grain.
And an endless stream of refugees would continue arriving afterward.
“Old Xie, what do we do now?”
Xiao Che stood atop the gate tower and looked at the dense crowd outside. Every person trembled in the cold, yet none was willing to leave.
They had all heard that Jintang Valley was a paradise on earth where no one starved or froze.
“What else can we do? Jin Bao said she wants to save them. With this many people, it seems we’ll need to erect several more tents.”
In weather this cold, the newcomers could only live in temporary tents.
Fortunately, Jintang Valley did not lack fuel. Even tents could be heated with coal throughout the day and night. They would remain much warmer than the outdoors, warm enough that at least no one would freeze to death.
But once people had food and warmth, idleness could easily breed trouble. If so many refugees were not properly settled, unrest was inevitable.
“However, they cannot eat and live here for nothing. We are recruiting soldiers now. Skilled craftsmen can remain to help build Jintang Valley, while anyone without a trade can join the army. If they refuse, we will give them some grain and send them away. Jintang Valley has no room for idle hands.”
Xie Chengyan had no choice but to take this approach.
If the refugees were fed and sheltered but left with nothing to do, they would inevitably begin harassing the valley’s other residents.
Jin Bao, however, refused to accept it.
“Uncle, no! If they leave, they’ll all die. Let them dig for gold and earn money for us, okay? Just like those uncles from before. Aren’t they all living really good lives now? They even got to marry aunties!”
Xie Chengyan frowned slightly. “Jin Bao, the gold mine cannot employ so many people. I sent men to survey it, and the deposit is almost exhausted.”
Jin Bao shook her head quickly. “No, it isn’t! That gold mine is really big. It can keep going for ten more years.”
Xie Chengyan and Xiao Che looked at each other.
“Jin Bao, how do you know?”
“Baby can see it. Baby’s eyes can see lots of shiny things under the mountain next to it.”
Xie Chengyan was delighted.
If that was true, then heaven was truly helping them.
The mention of gold reminded Xie Chengyan of the Treasure Map, and he took it out.
The Emperor had personally entrusted it to him and instructed him to give it to Jin Bao.
“Jin Bao, look at this Treasure Map. Can you open the place where this treasure is hidden?”
Jin Bao glanced at it once and immediately nodded.
“Yes! Baby can find it. The treasure is in Bei’an City.”
A highly detailed map of the entire Northern Frontier hung in the center of Xiao Che’s great hall. Jin Bao had memorized almost all of it.
The moment she saw the Treasure Map, she recognized Bei’an City.
Xie Chengyan put the map away and turned to Xiao Che. “When the new year begins, we must find a way to capture Bei’an City and bring the turmoil in the Northern Frontier to an end.”
Xiao Che had been thinking the same thing.
They would use the winter to rest and rebuild their strength.
After the two men finished discussing the matter, all the refugees outside were allowed into the valley.
However, each person had to be registered individually, which was an enormous undertaking in itself.
It took two full days to settle all the refugees.
Just as Xie Chengyan had proposed, some were assigned to the mine, others enlisted in the army, and skilled craftsmen remained in the valley to work.
Over the course of the winter, they formed a force of ten thousand soldiers recruited from among the refugees.
The winter also brought one joyful event after another to Jintang Valley.
To increase the population, Xie Chengyan came up with another plan.
Any couple who married would receive a discount when purchasing a home, along with a newlywed gift package containing two taels of silver and two sets of bedding. Any couple who had a child would also receive a childcare allowance.
The moment these benefits were posted, a wave of weddings swept through Jintang Valley.
With introductions from official matchmakers, unmarried men and women of suitable age voluntarily formed families.
More than a thousand couples married in a single winter.
Winter passed and spring arrived.
Once the snow and ice melted and the earth warmed, Xiao Che began a new offensive.
This time, Xiao Jingxing served as the vanguard with Jin Bao supporting him.
They led an army of sixty thousand straight to the walls of Bei’an City.
Bei’an City was the largest city in the Northern Frontier. It had originally possessed an army of one hundred thousand, but Jin Bao had already won half of them over.
The two armies faced each other across the field, their banners snapping in the wind.
The enemy’s current commander was a young man.
Xiao Che did not recognize him.
The enemy refused to fight. They remained behind their closed gates.
After waiting several days, Jin Bao grew impatient.
At last, the enemy showed themselves.
Jin Bao had already run out of patience.
The moment they appeared, she took out the enormous bow Xiao Che had specially made for her.
The bow was three times Jin Bao’s height. Several grown men would have to pull together to draw it fully.
Yet Jin Bao drew it with ease.
When she saw the enemy commander swaggering atop the wall and hurling insult after insult at Daddy, fury surged through her.
Several men helped Jin Bao hold the massive bow steady. She nocked an arrow, drew the string, and released.
A specially made long arrow shot straight at the enemy.
The man managed only a few more taunts before Jin Bao’s arrow hurled him from the wall.
Everything happened so quickly that the opposing soldiers seemed unable to react.
Jin Bao dropped the bow, raced to the base of the wall, and began climbing straight up.
She moved so quickly that the enemy soldiers saw only a blur.
When they blinked, Jin Bao was already standing in front of them.
“I am the Star Maiden. If you’re willing to submit to me, I can spare your lives. Otherwise, Baby won’t be nice!”
Jin Bao sounded quite solemn at first, but as she continued, her voice turned soft and childish, fierce in the adorable way only a toddler could manage.
The guards on the wall stared blankly at one another. Their commander had just been shot from the battlements, and the enemy had appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
Killing them would be effortless for her.
The defenders threw down their weapons one after another.
Just then, the deputy commander rushed onto the wall. When he saw what was happening, he immediately drew his saber.
“What are you doing? Pick up your weapons, all of you!”
He had barely finished speaking when Jin Bao hooked a foot around the nearest spear and flipped it into her hand. She spun and hurled it, striking him squarely in the chest.
“Baby already said Baby wouldn’t be nice. Why didn’t you listen?”
The deputy commander was killed in an instant as well.
Who else would dare refuse to surrender?
Jin Bao skipped off and opened the city gates.
Not a single person dared stop her.
Just like that, Xiao Che captured Bei’an City with ease, without losing a single soldier.
“Daddy, let’s go find the treasure!”
Jin Bao had not forgotten the Treasure Map Uncle showed her.
She had been thinking about it all winter.
Xiao Che did not spoil her fun. He sent Xiao Jingxing to handle the administrative matters, then took Jin Bao to search for the treasure.
Bei’an City contained an altar. Every year during festivals, the entire city’s population gathered in the public square before it to pray for blessings.
But no one knew that a hidden door beneath the altar led to an underground city.
Using her senses, Jin Bao located the secret entrance.
She gently pressed the eye of an auspicious beast carved into the altar. With a click, the hidden door opened.
Xiao Che carried her down the stairs.
They had not gone far when they encountered another door.
There was nothing on its surface.
It seemed to blend seamlessly into the wall.
Xiao Che stepped forward and knocked several times. The wall was made from a highly unusual material.
He had never seen anything like it.
He pushed with all his strength, but it did not budge.
Suddenly, a mechanical voice sounded above their heads. “What is the name of Peppa’s little brother?”
Xiao Che frowned. What was Peppa?
Jin Bao blinked her big eyes. “Peppa Pig? George.”
“Congratulations. Correct answer.”
The door slowly rose upward.
It revealed a pitch-black chamber beyond.
Xiao Che carried Jin Bao farther inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, the room became as bright as day.
Rows of display shelves stretched before them, every one filled with antiques.
Farther in, they encountered another door.
This one seemed to sense their presence and slid open to both sides.
The chamber beyond was filled with crates of gold bars, at least a hundred by a rough count.
Xiao Che’s eyes went wide.
The next chamber contained paintings, calligraphy, and unique surviving editions of ancient books. Works by celebrated masters of the previous dynasty and rare volumes from every era had all been preserved inside transparent cases.
Beyond that was yet another chamber. It held objects that even Xiao Che had never seen, things that resembled weapons.
Jin Bao recognized them immediately. These were the very things that had opened fire on her in her previous life. How had they ended up here?
Jin Bao casually picked up a submachine gun.
“Daddy, this is really powerful. Hurry and take it.”
Xiao Che accepted it in a daze, but he had no idea how to use it.
Jin Bao led him out of the underground city and demonstrated it herself.
She aimed at birds flying overhead and fired a rapid burst.
Xiao Che had witnessed every kind of battle imaginable.
Even so, the sight left him stunned.
How could this object possess such terrifying power?
What kind of weapon was it?
Could it be a divine weapon sent down from heaven?
With weapons like these, would his advance on the Capital not proceed twice as quickly?
Turbulent waves surged through Xiao Che’s heart.
Jin Bao took him through every kind of weapon and demonstrated them all.
Xiao Che’s initial astonishment gradually transformed into wild delight.
He immediately ordered Long Xia to bring the Dragon Tiger Guard, empty the entire treasure vault, and form a special unit.
The soldiers were trained to use the newly discovered weapons.
With these weapons strengthening their forces, they reached the walls of the Capital in less than half a year.
By then, attacks from the various regional princes had left Prince Cheng increasingly desperate.
All of those princes now supported Jin Bao’s ascension to the throne.
Prince Cheng attempted one final, desperate struggle, but he was no match for them.
Some of his men had already submitted, while the rest were slain.
Xiao Che personally led the Dragon Tiger Guard into the imperial palace and captured Prince Cheng alive.
Just as he had promised long ago, he hung Prince Cheng from the city gate for three months.
At last, Xiao Che had avenged himself.
That same day, supported by all the regional princes, Jin Bao ascended the throne as Empress Regnant.
In that same year, the surrounding kingdoms heard the news and sent tribute one after another.
Jin Bao became Great Xia’s first Empress Regnant and its youngest sovereign.
Every member of the Xiao Family became a trusted pillar at her side.
The Xie Family assisted her in civil affairs, while the Xiao Family pacified the realm through military might.
All Jin Bao had to do each day was stamp documents with the imperial seal. The rest of her time was spent eating and sleeping.
She became a carefree little wanderer in the truest sense.
Her figure could be spotted everywhere in the Capital, and she ate her way through every restaurant, large and small.
Jin Bao thought this life was absolutely wonderful.
She had delicious food, fun things to do, pretty clothes to wear every day, and family who loved her.
She was happy for the rest of her life.