"Prime Minister, King Wucheng, wait for me! Wait for me!"
After leaving Qingxian Hall, You Hun jogged after Huang Feihu and Shang Rong, who were walking together, shamelessly trying to cozy up to them.
"My lords, what do you think of the task the Great King assigned us?"
"By standing and watching!"
"Indeed!"
Huang Feihu spoke, and Shang Rong smiled knowingly. The two of them would be standing and watching, so naturally, someone else would be kneeling and watching.
The corner of You Hun's mouth twitched. A flash of anger crossed his face before vanishing. A true man could bend and stretch; he would not stoop to argue with this brute!
"King Wucheng, we all serve the Great King. The task is arduous, so it would be best to put aside our old grievances and work together for him. Why don't the two of you visit my residence? We can discuss how to handle this matter properly."
"This..."
As the saying went, one did not strike a smiling face. You Hun was greeting him with a smile, so Huang Feihu could no longer openly mock the scoundrel. However, the thought of working together with him still left Huang Feihu hesitant.
If word of this got out, his lifelong reputation would be ruined! But a king's command was as weighty as Heaven's decree. If he caused the Great King's plans to fail merely because he could not get along with this scoundrel, then...
While hesitating, Huang Feihu turned his gaze to Shang Rong. The latter had no such reservations and nodded directly.
"I have long heard that Lord You Hun's residence is lavish. I am honored to have the chance to see it today!"
Shang Rong was not as straightforward as Huang Feihu. By now, he had more or less guessed Di Xin's meaning: This is the expendable pawn I prepared for you. Use him however you like and torment him however you please.
Since that was the case, he would not hold back!
"Prime Minister, please! King Wucheng, please!"
You Hun was overjoyed. Without Shang Rong's agreement, he would never have dared act according to his own plans.
The moment he acted, he would surely provoke the fury and resentment of the nobles and ministers throughout Chaoge. This was already a desperate gamble for survival! If Shang Rong and Huang Feihu stabbed him in the back and killed him to appease everyone's anger, then once the matter was settled, all the benefits would go to them, while he would be left with nothing but a grave. If he put himself in their place, he would certainly do something so harmful to another yet beneficial to himself!
Under the current circumstances, King Wucheng Huang Feihu was an upright man and might not do such a thing. But Prime Minister Shang Rong, facing a treacherous minister like himself, would absolutely show no mercy!
Yes, You Hun had an exceptionally clear understanding of his own position!
He, You Hun, would never gamble his life on someone else's kindness and conscience!
The royal palace gradually receded into the distance. In less than three quarters of an hour, the three of them arrived in a carriage pulled by exotic beasts at an utterly ordinary residence.
"This residence?"
Looking at the crumbling main gate, Huang Feihu's brows drew together. He was only barely restraining himself from pointing at You Hun's nose and asking, This is that lavish residence of yours?
"Ahem, King Wucheng, appearances can be deceiving!"
You Hun's brows danced as he spoke with hidden meaning. Shang Rong, however, said nothing. He stepped down from the carriage, carefully crossed the gate, and walked inside.
"King Wucheng, you first."
You Hun moved aside. Huang Feihu lifted his foot, hesitating slightly. Could I really have wronged him? Could You Hun actually be an incorruptible man?
Before Huang Feihu could feel guilty for even half an incense stick's time, the two of them had already reached the main hall under You Hun's guidance.
The moment he stepped inside, Huang Feihu swept his gaze across the hall. He could not bring himself to take another step.
Good heavens! Tables and chairs made of jade, silk screens, and bronze pillars so massive that even Prince Shou—who had supposedly propped up the roof and replaced the pillars—probably could not lift or carry them!
And there were luminous pearls set into the ceiling, savage-beast hides covering the floor, several minor demons whose cultivation had been sealed, and the stench of fox and cat. It was overwhelming!
"Indeed, appearances can be deceiving!"
Huang Feihu sighed. Only then did he truly understand what You Hun had meant: The gate may look shabby, but once you enter, you will understand.
"Haha, this subordinate has occasionally received gifts from the Great King, and relatives and friends have also sent me various curios from time to time. Over the years, these vulgar objects accumulated. Prime Minister, King Wucheng, please, take the seats. Please."
You Hun kept his posture extremely humble, but all the while he watched Shang Rong's reaction. His meaning was obvious.
I am favored by the Great King and have ties with the nobles in every direction. Before you stab me, you should weigh the consequences. Why not sit down and discuss this properly? Divided, we both suffer; united, we both benefit.
"It is far better than my own dilapidated home."
Shang Rong slowly nodded and knelt behind a jade table on the right side of the hall. Huang Feihu sat to his right, while You Hun sat opposite them.
"The Great King's demand is difficult in some ways, yet easy in others."
Shang Rong spoke first, and You Hun immediately followed, displaying his abilities.
"That is right. As long as the slaves selected are strong enough, are given three full meals a day, and receive somewhat longer periods of rest; as long as they are not forced to work through rain, snow, or hail, and have alchemists treat them when they fall ill, these slaves can certainly survive!"
"Indeed. The Great King did not specify a completion date."
Huang Feihu nodded, realizing this only belatedly.
"Then how should we select these hundred thousand slaves?"
Shang Rong stroked his beard and got to the heart of the matter. It was true that Di Xin had hundreds of thousands of slaves, but most were women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. There were only tens of thousands of adult male slaves, and after selecting the strong and fit, having ten thousand would already be impressive! Yet now they needed one hundred thousand. This was precisely what Di Xin had meant by "not my slaves": whether through threats and inducements or force and seizure, the price had been placed before them, and they had to accomplish the task!
Seeing the amusement in Shang Rong's eyes, the corner of You Hun's mouth twitched constantly. This old fox knows perfectly well that I am the Great King's "white glove," yet he is still pretending to be ignorant. He is killing me while breaking my heart! Truly killing me while breaking my heart!
However, anger was one thing. With his life at stake, how could You Hun dare lose his temper?
"If the Prime Minister and King Wucheng trust this subordinate, I am willing to give it a try. However, I will still need the two lords to assist me."
"How are we to assist you?"
Huang Feihu was, after all, a true military commander. He could charge into battle, but he understood nothing of the twists and turns hidden in those words.
Shang Rong, that old hand, was clearly different. Before You Hun could explain, he nodded and rose.
"Very well! Just go ahead and do as you see fit!"
I have fewer than a thousand slaves under my authority. Go ahead and pick through them as you please!
Huang Feihu was dragged away by Shang Rong in confusion. You Hun watched them leave. Once they had disappeared, he kicked away the priceless jade table before him.
"Infuriating! Fei Zhong! Shang Rong! I, You Hun, will remember this! If I ever get the chance, I will definitely make you suffer for underestimating me!"
"Someone come! Bring out my carriage. I am going to pay a visit to every prince and minister!"
"Yes!"
Just as You Hun began taking action, Fei Zhong also returned home and began pondering his own task—summoning Kong Xuan to Chaoge!
The single word "invite" used by Di Xin had carried far too much meaning.
"It seems that Kong Xuan must possess something extraordinary. Since the Great King values him so highly, he will certainly rise to prominence in the future! If I lower myself now and befriend him, then should I ever fall into hardship, he may be able to help me a little.
"Great King, you have gained the recognition of the Three Ancient Sovereigns. Are you still willing to listen to my honeyed words?
"That brat You Hun has always wanted to step on me to rise higher. Then I will help him achieve that first. Once this wave of attention passes and I see the situation clearly, whatever belongs to me, no one will be able to take away!"
Before you continue