Star Trace Gate

The next day, after noon, Brother Huang brought Fatty Wu and others to the Xile Palace of Prince Huai's Mansion.

After everyone got off the sedan, Fatty Wu asked with his hands behind his back, "Brother Huang, why did my brother call me here so urgently? What's the matter?"

"I don't know." Brother Huang shook his head: "He only said that he had something important to discuss with you, but he didn't say a word about what it was."

Fatty Wu looked at him suspiciously and said with a smile, "You really don't know?"

"I don't know."

"Okay, you'll know soon." Fatty Wu replied with a relaxed look and didn't ask any more questions.

In fact, he arrived at Qingliang Mansion last night, but did not see Ren Ye himself. It was Brother Huang who received him personally.

This attitude made Fatty Wu very curious. Because when King Huai asked him to come in the letter, he used very urgent words, but when he arrived, the other party did not show up, which was equivalent to leaving him alone for a night and a morning.

The "sworn brothers" acted in this way, which gave the quick-witted Fatty Wu a hunch that something big might happen in Qingliang Mansion.

However, the closer it gets to this point, the more you cannot ask too many questions, otherwise you will appear to be worthless.

When the group arrived at the gate of the Xile Palace, Fatty Wu said to the four adopted sons he brought with him, "King Huai and I have something important to discuss. You can go to the side hall and have fun on your own."

"Yes, foster father!"

The four of them responded respectfully.

"Serve well." Brother Huang instructed an old eunuch, then smiled and held out his hand: "Come on, please come in, Brother Wu."

In this way, the two of them entered the main hall of the Palace of Joy one after the other.

A cool feeling came over him, and the aroma of wine and meat filled his nose. When Fatty Wu looked up, he saw dozens of slender, good-looking women standing on both sides of the hall, some holding musical instruments, some wearing long sleeves, and shyly calling out softly, "Hello, Master Wu!"

Huang was stunned for a moment, inexplicably feeling that this scene was somewhat familiar, and shouted wildly in his heart: "King Huai is doing something again! The rituals and music are broken, the rituals and music are broken!"

Fatty Wu was flattered and even nodded shyly at the group of women, his eyes shining.

This group of women were all singers and maids in Liyuan of Prince Huai's mansion. They had been screened countless times for both appearance and talent. They also had completely different temperaments from the prostitutes in the brothels of southern Xinjiang.

Although Fatty Wu was the "boss" of Jingshan, he lived in a war-torn area and had never been to the court, so he had never seen such a scene.

With just a quick glance, Fatty Wu forgot about his sisters-in-law who had raised him.

"Ha ha!"

A hearty laugh was heard, and Ren Ye, dressed in gorgeous clothes and walking in a square step, came out of the hall with a warm face: "It's been a long time since we last met. I really missed you, big brother."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hands and was about to grab his eldest brother's wrist to show his closeness.

Unexpectedly, Fatty Wu was stunned for a moment, then immediately took a step forward, raised his arms, and gently blocked Ren Ye's hands.

"Oh!"

His movements were a little rough. He hugged his brother violently in his arms. The moment their bodies collided, tears flashed in his eyes. He said in a trembling voice: "Brother Huang told me that you went to travel in an extremely dangerous secret realm. This made me very worried! During the time when my brother was away, every morning and evening, I would burn three incense sticks to worship heaven and earth, praying for my brother's safe return. We meet again today... I am so happy. Very good, very good!"

As he spoke, his voice trembled, filled with rich and sincere emotions, and two tears really rolled down his face.

Ren was also stunned, thinking, my acting skills as a modern person are still a little immature in front of you.

Brother Huang was also shocked, thinking to himself that this Southern Xinjiang Oscar winner was indeed worthy of his reputation, and the previous deaths of the top and second in command of Jingshan were definitely not unjust.

"Thank you for your concern, big brother." Ren also grabbed the other's wrist excitedly, turned around and said, "Keep playing the music, keep dancing, I won't leave until I'm drunk with big brother!"

As soon as the voice fell, the singers in the hall took small steps and took their positions. The dancers in their long sleeves dresses also lined up.

Soon, drums and music sounded, beautiful women began to dance, and the Joy Palace was like a paradise on earth.

Under Ren Ye's constant insistence, Fatty Wu reluctantly sat next to him, drinking and talking about their trip.

On both sides, there were Lao Liu, Tang Feng, and Brother Huang, who were mainly responsible for livening up the atmosphere.

With a beauty by their side and melodious drums and music playing, after they drank for a while, their faces turned red and they looked a little drunk.

During this period, Fatty Wu was very patient. He only talked with Ren Ye about traveling and never mentioned any business.

Similarly, Ren Ye was laughing on the surface, but he was very anxious in his heart. He was thinking about how to start the conversation and what kind of words would be more appropriate.

After all, what I want to say is too difficult to say.

The direction of expanding the territory must be in southern Xinjiang. But they can't win the war, and the relationship can't be broken...then they can only achieve their goals through some interest exchanges.

Next to him, Old Liu was sitting cross-legged on the couch. After drinking and chatting with a few people, he was obviously drunk.

"Oh, I am so worried, so worried!"

Old Liu stretched out his hands and rubbed his cheeks, sighing twice with a slightly melancholy expression.

At first, Fatty Wu didn't notice him, but Old Liu couldn't help but sigh and act like he was about to die.

Fatty Wu turned his head with a red face and finally asked, "Brother, there is wine, meat and women here, why are you sighing so often?"

"I sigh at my own incompetence! I have a lot of courage but I can't solve King Huai's worries." After shaking his head repeatedly, Old Liu raised his glass and drank it all by himself.

When Huang Ge and Tang Feng saw his expression, they thought that his words came at the perfect time and did not seem abrupt.

After all, Lao Liu's personality in the eyes of outsiders is that of a brainless and reckless man, and no matter what he says, it never sounds awkward.

"My dear brother, you have gained a lot from this trip. What do you have to worry about?" Sure enough, when Fatty Wu saw Lao Liu starting to perform, he walked down the stairs.

"Ugh."

Ren also looked at Lao Liu approvingly, and then took over the conversation at the right time: "After this trip, I feel that my own strength is insufficient. I want to expand the territory of Qingliang Prefecture and find a way to improve my overall strength. You are my sworn brother, just like a real brother... I dare not hide it from you. This expansion of territory is related to the improvement of my supernatural power, and it is a must. Alas, but unfortunately, the land bordering Qingliang Prefecture is very powerful, and the difficulty of expanding the territory is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

Fatty Wu fell silent after hearing this, his eyes rolled around and no one knew what he was thinking.

Huang Ge saw his expression and immediately said, "Brother Wu, you are not an outsider, so King Huai told you about this..."

"My dear brother, Brother Huang, do you want to expand your territory to the south?" Fatty Wu interrupted with a serious look on his face.

Ren also observed the changes in his expression, and was afraid that the other party would refuse outright, which would completely ruin the matter, so he immediately pulled back the topic: "Yes, our only choice is to expand to the south, but I know this is difficult. Yesterday, I thought about it all night and didn't know how to ask Big Brother. But in this southern border area, I am not very familiar with other people..."

"My dear brother, I want to ask you a question. Do you want to expand your territory by raising an army or by using money?" Fatty Wu interrupted and asked.

Ren was also stunned for a moment, and immediately replied: "I am just a small prefecture, with only more than 30,000 soldiers and armor. How can I have the strength to raise an army... If there is a slight possibility, I am willing to pay a price. If I can operate it with money alone, that would be the best."

"Wait a minute, bro." Fatty Wu suddenly waved his hand, his expression becoming a little excited: "Let me calculate it."

"what?!"

Ren was also confused.

Lao Liu, Tang Feng, and Brother Huang looked at each other, not understanding which of Ren Ye's words had touched the other's sensitive point.

After he finished speaking, Fatty Wu rubbed his chin with his left palm. The drunkenness on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by an almost perverted concentration, like a mosquito that smelled blood.

He thought for half an hour before muttering very quickly, "If you want to use money to operate, you have to calculate the expenses. In my southern border, there are only two forces that have the right to cede territory. One is the court; the other is the self-proclaimed king. My Qianli Green Camp is the largest self-proclaimed king in the area near Qingliang Prefecture. The Dragon Chief has the final say, and even in the court, he has a certain weight. Although I am only the head of Jingshan, I can talk to many of the heads of Qianli Green Camp. This matter of ceding territory does not involve the basic interests of Qianli Green Camp... I think if I take the money and go around, this matter is not without a chance."

When he said this, his expression was extremely focused and his speech was very fast, so it didn't seem like he was analyzing the situation for Ren Ye, but rather like he was discussing the feasibility with himself.

Everyone listened in a daze, but did not dare to disturb them.

"The most difficult part of this matter lies in the court. The southern border next to Qingliang Prefecture is in a war-torn area and has no livelihood, but this is a matter of territory that concerns the foundation of the country. I guess the loyal ministers and generals in the court will not agree." At this point, Fatty Wu frowned and suddenly paused: "The general in charge of the border is the Golden Wolf General - Bau. This person is in charge of the land of a prefecture, in charge of government orders, and in command of the three armies. He has great power. However, he is greedy, loves money, and likes to collect treasures... His subordinates are all corrupt officials. If I can promise him huge benefits, I think this matter may still have a chance."

"We also need someone to speak for us in the court, but we must have a suitable excuse, and be able to highlight what kind of benefits the ceding of territory can bring to Southern Xinjiang. Then, the direction of this matter can be determined as follows: once Qingliang Prefecture is strengthened, it can contain the border of the Daqian Dynasty, and form a two-way clamp with our Southern Xinjiang, invading the other side's border. Now that we have the excuse, we have to talk about money." Fatty Wu paused from time to time, and sometimes he kept talking: "If we want to make Bau interested, then... at least 1.5 million star sources, or treasures and magic weapons of equivalent value. To get to know the court, at least... Two million star sources, and some other treasures. Apart from these two major expenses, the evil spirits of the Qianli Green Camp must also be properly arranged. And most of the benefits I can get are from this power. If you give me two million, I will take out 800,000 to operate, and the rest is to win over people with face... Then there will be a surplus of 1.2 million. And you will not let me run this for nothing, you must give me some benefits in secret... such as women, treasures, and even the unsold treasures and building materials of Qingliang Mansion... In this way, the benefits I can get are about 1.5 million, no more and no less. "

Ren Ye and others nearby were stunned when they heard what happened next.

Fatty Wu analyzed it carefully, then immediately turned around and said, "Brother, I think we can give it a try."

Old Liu was stunned and said, "Brother Wu, do you want to listen to what you are saying? Are you picking holes in the open?!"

"Ah?" Fatty Wu was stunned for a moment: "What is a crack picker?"

"Fuck. Now I know what a real businessman is." Old Liu was full of admiration: "I can only say that Xiaodao has opened his eyes."

Fatty Wu smiled and said to Ren Ye softly, "Brother, if you want to make this happen, you can give me one million star sources first, and I will try to help you move around."

Ren Ye was silent for a long time: "Brother, I will give you 1.5 million."

"No, no, we're just trying to get it working. We don't need so much money."

"Operating under the table is extremely difficult, so it's better to take more money to be prepared." Ren Ye insisted.

"Okay then. I'll go back to Southern Xinjiang in a bit and think in detail about the officials I need to win over."

"Brother, I have a problem now."

"What's the difficulty?"

"The difficulty is that I don't have 1.5 million right now." Ren Ye replied.

"?"

Fatty Wu was stunned.

"But it's OK. I'll give you 1.5 million, but count it as 1 million. The remaining 500,000 will be a little consolation for Big Brother's hard work." Ren Ye said softly, "However, the only difficulty is that you have to pay this amount of star source first. When the autumn harvest in Qingliang Prefecture is over and the tax money is collected, I will return it in full."

When Fatty Wu heard this, he immediately looked as if his CPU had burned out.