The Prefect Painted a Pie in the Sky with Singular Elegance

The leader looked at him coldly and said, "You think we can escape this way? Have you forgotten what captured us on the mountain?"

A man shuddered and said, "What are those things? I just can't figure it out."

The leading man sighed and said:

"You don't need to worry about what that is, just focus on working hard."

After all, she gave us a way out; our lives are now in her hands.

"Huh? Boss, what do you mean by that? You mean we're going to stay in this mountain stronghold for the rest of our lives?"

The leader looked at him and said, "What do you mean, 'stay in this mountain stronghold for life'? You want to stay here forever? I don't."

He looked at them and said, "Tell me, what's the best way to make her believe us and let us go?"

One of the guys scratched his head and said, "I don't know. That little girl is cunning. She won't let us off the hook, will she?"

"Then we need to find a way to get her to let us go. Once we share common interests, nothing else matters." The leader went directly to Zhou Wanwan.

Zhou Wanwan was playing chess when she looked at him and said, "Why are you here again?"

The leader knelt down with a thud and said:

"The villain's name is Wang Quan. He once joined the army as a soldier. He is now thirty-eight years old and serves as the chief escort of the Tiandi Escort Bureau.

I am willing to serve you; please accept me.

Zhou Wanwan frowned and asked, "Are you willing to serve me?"

"Yes, I'm willing to sell myself."

In ancient times, people would only sell themselves into servitude as a last resort.

Selling yourself into servitude means losing your freedom; that's what slavery is!

Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "Did you do this willingly?"

"I am absolutely willing. I swear a solemn oath that if anyone dares to betray you, may I be childless and die without a burial place."

In ancient times, these oaths were held in great reverence, unlike some people today who swear oaths as if they were nothing.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him without saying anything. He continued, "Actually, we escorts know a lot of things. I know there's a mine in a certain place, under the name of the prefect."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"It's freezing cold, you can't just kneel like that! Stand up and talk!"

What kind of mine is this?

Wang Quan said, "The iron ore... This prefect sold the iron ore to other countries. Sometimes I was the one escorting the shipments, so I'm very familiar with this situation."

Zhou Wanwan asked:

Is the Great Xia Kingdom in such chaos now?

"Shouldn't even the prefect sell this iron ore to other countries?"

Wang Quan nodded and said:

"These people only care about their own interests and don't care about the lives of ordinary people. That's why I want to follow you."

Because I see that everyone here lives in peace and prosperity, I feel that you can lead us to go even further.

It's better than those corrupt officials, right? Besides, I'm skilled in martial arts and can help you lead troops.

"You young people from your mountain stronghold are too weak, they're simply no good."

Zhou Wanwan nodded. Wang Quan was quite perceptive; that was exactly what she meant, not that she really wanted them to farm.

If he's willing to submit, that would be wonderful.

The formalities were completed quickly, Wang Quan spoke, and the others signed their names very fast.

Someone chuckled and said, "So we're part of this mountain stronghold now?"

Wang Quan said coldly:

"You've already been sold to the chieftain, so you're no longer considered free."

What I want to warn you is, never do anything that harms the interests of our counterfeit businesses.

"If anyone dares to disobey this order, I will be the first to kill you."

Everyone nodded quickly, Zhou Wanwan let them go down the mountain.

Wang Quan returned to the prefect's residence and reported, "Sir, we have taken care of the matter."

The prefect smiled and said:

"That's good. Someone, bring 1,000 taels of silver."

"Wang Quan, I trust you with your work, but there's one more thing I need you to do."

Wang Quan looked at him and said, "My lord, I am utterly loyal to you. What do you want me to do? Just tell me."

The prefect looked at him and said:

"As you know, I own an iron mine, and this time a buyer needs to purchase our ironware."

"I'm entrusting this matter to you. Would you be willing to make a trip to Khotan in the Western Regions?"

The Western Regions of Khotan is most famous for its jade and silk, but it is most lacking in iron ore.

Today, Khotan in the Western Regions is also working hard to govern itself. Although its national strength is not yet comparable to that of the Great Xia, it has been biding its time and is ready to launch a counterattack against the Great Xia at any time.

"That's why Khotan urgently needs ironware," Wang Quan said softly.

"My lord, isn't this inappropriate?"

This is treason and betrayal of the country; if we get caught, we'll be beheaded.

The prefect's face fell:

"Wang Quan, don't forget whose territory this is? With me here, what are you afraid of? Who dares to kill you?"

This time, you can transport ironware over there and exchange it for all sorts of jade and silk.

Why not make a fortune?

Now that Great Xia Kingdom is beset by internal and external troubles, we can only take this opportunity to make as much money as possible.

Otherwise, if the country really falls into chaos, there won't be anything left to gain."

Wang Quan quickly nodded and said, "It's entirely up to you, sir."

"That's more like it! When you went to Khotan this time, I was afraid that your wife and children would be bullied at home, so I brought them all here."

You don't need to worry about your brothers' wives, children, and parents. As long as you handle this matter well, Fugui will be just around the corner.

"I'll promote you all and give you titles and honors when the time comes." The prefect painted a beautifully convincing picture of his promise.

Wang Quan nodded. "Then I'll leave them in your care, sir. Don't worry! I'll definitely do a good job."

Sihai's chief escort looked at him and said, "Brother, what are we going to do? He is under house arrest in disguise."

Wang Quan looked at him and said:

"Brothers, you've followed me through thick and thin, and I've never treated you badly over the years."

This time, you all have to listen to me, understand?

The general bodyguard of the Four Seas laughed and said, "Brother, this is a mistake. We are just grasshoppers on the same boat, sharing life and death. So what should we do now?"

"Naturally, we should return to the mountain stronghold and ask our young master what the next step should be."

Soon, they reached the top of the mountain. Zhou Wanwan pondered for a moment and said, "Are you planning to send you to Khotan in the Western Regions?"

"Yes, young master, what do you think we should do now?"

Zhou Wanwan asked with a face full of curiosity, "Is Khotan far from here?"

Wang Quan explained softly, "It's not exactly close, but it's not exactly far either, but it will still take five or six days. Young Master, what do you mean...?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and smiled faintly, "I'll find a way to bring all your families into the mountain stronghold. We can go to Khotan together, and I'll see their customs and culture."

Wang Quan was stunned:

"Young Master, this... this is probably inappropriate!"

The people of Khotan are tall and burly; we're probably no match for them. In fact, this escort mission is extremely risky.

We could easily get ourselves into trouble.