Chapter 471: You've Finally Made a Name for Yourself

Xiao Ningyuan replied: "Right, and we must act quickly; while Xue Jiangtao hasn't yet delivered Zhou Jing'an's news back, I'll disguise as him, and we go straight into the city!"

"After entering the city, head straight to Chen Village and see what exactly is there!"

"Alright! Sir!"

A few days later, early in the morning, Xiao Ningyuan put on the Thousand Faces: "Fortunately, when leaving Yuzhou, I asked Boss Su's talented subordinate to draw two portraits of Zhou Jing'an; otherwise it wouldn't have been enough."

He sighed lightly: "What a pity, we've already used up two; from now on we must be more frugal."

Tuan Tuan was unfazed: "Big brother, once Father and Imperial Uncle return, we won't need it either!"

Xiao Ningyuan laughed: "That's right, Tuan Tuan is the smartest!"

Tuan Tuan laughed happily.

The carriage reached the city gate, and the defending soldiers, as usual, stopped it for inspection.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted the carriage curtain: "Don't feel like staying alive? You even dare to barge into the Marquis of Jinghai's carriage?"

The soldier hurriedly forced a smile: "Wouldn't dare! Who are you?"

Xiao Ningyuan glared: "Are you new? Can't even recognize me, the young master?"

"Look at me closely! I am Zhou Jing'an! The sole son of the Marquis of Jinghai!"

The soldiers, seeing his lofty, arrogant demeanor, dared not ask further and without hesitation let them pass.

The carriage raced onward and stopped more than ten li from Chen Village.

Xiao Ningyuan instructed Tuan Tuan: "Be good, wait here for your brother."

He looked at Xiao Er and the guards: "The Princess (Commandery) is entrusted to you; stay sharp, make no mistakes."

"Yes!"

Tuan Tuan, uneasy, tugged his big hand: "Big brother, hurry back, there are villains inside."

Xiao Ningyuan patted her little head: "Don't worry."

He and Lu Qi flipped onto their horses, and the two rode to the outskirts of Chen Village.

From afar, Chen Village looked like an ordinary farmstead, but upon approaching, the defenses were extremely strict.

The surrounding earthen walls were raised nearly double, the tops studded with sharpened wooden spikes, and wide deep ditches were dug beneath.

At the village gate a spiked barrier stood, and more than ten armored, knife‑wielding soldiers patrolled, each hand on the hilt, eyes keen.

As Xiao Ningyuan and Lu Qi rode close, a whistle sounded from the wall.

"Swish—"

Over twenty bows and crossbows aimed at the two.

A burly man dressed in a Colonel's uniform stepped forward a few paces, his voice like a bell: "Who comes? This is a military secret site, leave at once!"

Xiao Ningyuan felt a chill; there were elite guards here, clearly not a trivial matter.

He adopted a flamboyant stance, not retreating but riding forward, pulling from his bosom the token he had found on Zhou Jing'an, and tossed it casually:

"Stare with your dog eyes and see clearly! Who am I, the young master!"

The Colonel caught the token, flipped it over, and his complexion changed instantly.

He hurried to Xiao Ningyuan's horse, cupped the token, and his tone instantly became very respectful: "So it's Young Master Zhou! I, Colonel Zhao Mang, have just offended you!"

Xiao Ningyuan took back the token, deliberately rubbing his shoulders: "I'm exhausted, just returned from outside, haven't caught my breath, and now His Highness sends me here to inspect."

Zhao Mang beamed: "His Highness and the Marquis value you, Young Master! Others would never get this assignment!"

"Value?" Xiao Ningyuan laughed, and casually pulled a gold ingot from his Sachet, tossing it: "Indeed, it's a talker. Take it! A reward for you, guide the way."

Zhao Mang took the gold ingot, feeling its weight, his smile deepening: "Please, Young Master, this way!"

The village gate opened slowly, Xiao Ningyuan and Lu Qi dismounted and followed him inside.

Upon entering, the scene was even more astonishing.

The former fields had been compacted into a Training Ground, hundreds of soldiers practicing thrusts, their shouts deafening.

The grain stores converted into warehouses lined up in a row, each door guarded by at least four men.

Zhao Mang said as he walked: "This village now garrisons 1,200 men, all elite selected personally by Prince Qing."

Xiao Ningyuan was secretly alarmed, but merely gave a lazy nod.

Arriving at the largest warehouse, Zhao Mang signaled the guard to open it.

The heavy Wooden door swung open, and Xiao Ningyuan led Lu Qi inside.

Inside, dozens more were on guard.

The light was dim, yet couldn't hide the chilling aura; rows upon rows of wooden racks, each stocked with Nine‑Star Repeating Crossbows.

He gave a rough scan—at least several thousand!

Deeper, there were rows of crossbow bolts, iron armor, swords and spears…

This was clearly an armory enough to equip an entire elite unit!

Xiao Ningyuan's hand tightened slightly inside his sleeve.

If all these repeating crossbows were used to attack father's army… how many soldiers would be lost!

"Colonel Zhao!"

An eager voice came from deep within the warehouse.

Xiao Ningyuan turned and saw a man in a gray cloth robe, sleeves stained with grime, hurried out, clutching a half‑broken mechanical latch.

"These camphor woods are no good! The wood is too brittle; the crossbow arms can't endure more than three full draws! Must replace them! Otherwise everything we make is junk!"

Xiao Ningyuan felt a shock: Feng Zhou? How did he end up here?

Zhao Mang's face darkened: "Feng Zhou, shut up! Can't you see the honored guest here? Yet you keep being picky at this moment? Truly clueless!"

He turned to Xiao Ningyuan with a smiling face: "Young Master Zhou, don't heed his nonsense; we wouldn't dare jeopardize His Highness's mission—everything we give them is top‑grade material."

"But those folks from the private workshop, relying on their little skill, spend all day picking and choosing to cause us trouble!"

Feng Zhou only then noticed Xiao Ningyuan, he froze, lowered his head and stepped back half a step.

Xiao Ningyuan suddenly laughed.

He sauntered over to Feng Zhou, gave him a once‑over, drew out his voice, tone contemptuous: "Oh—, you're the chief of the Private Workshop, Feng Zhou, I've long heard of your name."

Feng Zhou cupped his fists and said, "Not at all."

"What a coincidence, I just got a mastiff at my manor," Xiao Ningyuan said offhandedly, lazily, "It looks like a big‑headed wolf."

"I've heard that everyone in your Private Workshop is highly skilled."

"How about making a little cart for my dog? Inlaid with gold and jade—I'd look splendid leading it through the streets."

The storeroom fell silent for a moment.

Then the room burst into loud laughter!

"A cart for a dog? Hahaha!"

"Chief Feng, this job suits you perfectly!"

"Why don't you hurry up and thank Young Master Zhou? From now on, in Jingcheng, you'll have made a name for yourself!"