Chapter 441: Do I Look Like a Man Who's Short on Women?

Zhu Youxiao was ready to watch the show, but in Zhangjiakou, someone was already getting restless.

Irgen Gioro was the highest-ranking person the Jianzhou barbarians had stationed in Zhangjiakou. He was in his forties, with a somewhat thin and small frame.

At this moment, he sat in the room with a gloomy face, raised his head, and looked at the man before him as he asked, "Is what you said true?"

That man's expression was also very serious. In a deep voice, he said, "It's true."

"Mr. Wang, we've been working together for quite some time now. You should understand that this matter is a big one. I definitely can't make the decision on my own, and I also need to verify the truthfulness of the information. If the news is indeed true, your share will absolutely not be shortchanged. You should be able to trust our reputation." Irgen Gioro's expression relaxed somewhat as he spoke.

The man called Mr. Wang was a man in his forties. After hearing these words, a smile immediately appeared on Mr. Wang's face as he said, "Of course. This isn't our first time working together. Your reputation is naturally beyond question."

"Then if there's nothing else, Mr. Wang, please take your leave." Irgen Gioro said.

Mr. Wang didn't say anything else. He cupped his hands in salute, then turned and left.

As Mr. Wang departed, a person stepped out from behind the screen behind Irgen Gioro.

Glancing at Irgen Gioro, this person said with an ugly expression, "I know what he said is true. I'm afraid this matter is going to be troublesome."

"I also know what he said is true." Irgen Gioro gave a cold snort and said in a displeased tone, "The problem now is, what are we going to do?"

"The intelligence that profligate young master of the Great Ming holds is very important to us. All along, the Great Khan has hoped that we could find out what the Ming army's new equipment really is. But to this day, we still don't know. Since that profligate young master of the Great Ming knows, we absolutely must get the information out of his hands."

"Just tie him up." The man standing behind Irgen Gioro said in a cold voice, "What does a profligate young master like that know? As long as we grab the man, he'll definitely talk. He's a useless piece of trash—scare him a little and he'll spill everything."

Glaring at the man behind him, Irgen Gioro said, "Agutai, I shouldn't have brought you along. What kind of place is this?"

"This is Zhangjiakou—the key point for entering and leaving the grasslands. Our grain, the iron we need, even the weapons we need—all of it comes from here. If we mess this place up, what happens to the things we need?"

"If we kidnap that profligate young master of the Great Ming, everyone will know we're here. Then the Ming Emperor will have the army seal this place off. What happens to our goods then? Smashing our rice bowl over a piece of information—are you crazy, or am I?"

"But we can't use Wukeshan's sister as a trade either!" Agutai said somewhat helplessly, "You know the news that just came. The Great Khan wants to marry her. She came this time specifically to prepare her dowry. How could we possibly give her to that profligate young master of the Great Ming? If she really goes missing, how do we explain ourselves? What will the Great Khan say then? This matter absolutely cannot be done."

"We need to get the information, we can't give up the person, and we can't make too big a commotion. This matter is not easy to handle." Irgen Gioro said helplessly.

"How about we go contact that fellow surnamed Fan? Although he's a bit black-hearted, as long as we give him money, he can always get things done. If that doesn't work, we'll just add more money and give him more benefits to get this done. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?" Agutai said.

"Is it really that easy?" Irgen Gioro shook his head and said, "If it were really that easy, Wukeshan would have done it long ago. He's not the type to begrudge giving things up. Let's see how things develop first."

"If it really doesn't work, we'll think of another way. In any case, this time we'll try to establish contact with that profligate young master. In the future, we can get even more good things from him—even the casting blueprints for the Great Ming's cannons would do. Although we've started casting cannons ourselves now, compared to the Great Ming's cannons, it's truly too difficult."

After hearing this, Agutai nodded and said, "Then there's nothing else for it."

Although this news had spread, it only circulated among a certain few. Those outside still knew nothing.

News in this world is always like this—those who should know, know; those who shouldn't know, never will.

However, many people began to have their minds stirred. More people felt that this profligate young master had too much audacity—daring to promise anything, and even daring to do such a thing! If this news got out, the Duke of Ying would probably find himself in deep trouble.

As for such matters, Zhu Youxiao naturally didn't care. Even if someone submitted a memorial impeaching the Duke of Ying, it would be completely useless, because this matter itself was fake—Zhu Youxiao himself was an impostor.

Although this identity would soon be exposed, for Zhu Youxiao, it was enough.

Wei Chao came to Zhu Youxiao's side and said, "Young Master, that fellow surnamed Fan is here again."

"Let him in." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, putting on an appearance of being unable to wait.

This time, there was clearly none of the posturing from last time—after all, the man had gone to procure a woman, so his attitude still needed to be somewhat proactive.

Fan Yongdou walked in from outside. Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, he respectfully saluted and said, "Greetings, Young Duke."

Zhu Youxiao excitedly stood up, craned his neck to look behind Fan Yongdou, and asked with an eager gaze, "Where is she? Did you bring her?"

"We can talk about other things later. Hurry up and bring her in—I can't wait any longer." As he spoke, Zhu Youxiao rubbed his hands together, looking like a lecherous man in a frenzy.

Zhu Youxiao wasn't worried about others seeing this kind of performance. Because there was only Wei Chao here, along with a few guards off to the side.

These people were all blind and mute—they wouldn't see and they wouldn't speak.

As for Fan Yongdou seeing it, so what?

He would soon be a dead man, and dead men never leak secrets.

Zhu Youxiao was somewhat reckless—whatever would make Fan Yongdou believe him, that's what he did.

Upon hearing this, Fan Yongdou's head immediately swelled—you could say his head was twice its size.

It seemed this matter was going to be troublesome. This Young Duke really was that impatient!

Fan Yongdou could only steel himself and step forward, saying, "Young Duke, that little girl has already been betrothed to someone. I'm afraid it won't work. However, her family said that if the Young Duke wants, they'll send a few more over for you—ones with good looks and suitable ages."

Fan Yongdou said in a fawning tone, "As for gold, silver, and money, just name it. As long as it satisfies you, they'll give however much it takes."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's face instantly turned cold, and his whole person exuded an air of "keep away from strangers."

His eyes stared coldly at Fan Yongdou as he said, "Are you messing with me? Do you think I look like a man who's short on women? Go out and ask around—if it's not someone this young master has taken a liking to, I wouldn't take her even if she were given to me for free."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao stared at Fan Yongdou and said, "I originally heard that you had some ability in the northern lands, praised by all—said to be generous with wealth and righteousness, unmatched in grace and loyalty. But looking at you now, it's all nonsense! You can't even handle such a small matter!"

"What engagement does that little girl have? What does her engagement have to do with me? Even if she's already married, if this young master has taken a liking to her, she'll be stripped naked and thrown onto my bed. You're old enough—don't you understand such things?"

"Is this young master trying to get engaged to someone? Why would I care whether she's engaged or not? If you want to do business, bring that little girl here. Don't talk about conditions anymore—there are no conditions to discuss. If the matter succeeds, you come again; if it doesn't, you needn't come back."

"Also, let me tell you one more thing—someone has their eye on Zhangjiakou. With all the business coming in and going out, you've made quite a fortune over these years. It's time to move elsewhere. Letting you skim off such a huge amount of silver every year is a waste."

"This young master came this time just to scout ahead. If you can't handle things properly, vacate the place as soon as possible."

After hearing these words, Fan Yongdou's expression turned even uglier.

Having been cursed out by this Young Duke, his mood naturally wasn't good. Fan Yongdou was also a man of some standing—when had he ever been berated like this by anyone?

But there was nothing he could do. The other party's status was too high—he couldn't afford to provoke him. If at this moment he shouted out or showed a displeased expression, angering this Young Duke before him, he might very well be dragged out and beheaded on the spot.

These people were used to being utterly lawless, with no regard for righteousness or morality. If this Young Duke killed him, what would the consequences be?

There would be no consequences at all. His family was the Duke of Ying—hereditary title passed down through generations, with an iron certificate and golden charter, sharing the nation's fate to the end!

Such a family was one Fan Yongdou couldn't afford to offend. And what came after chilled Fan Yongdou's heart even more.

Someone had set their sights on Zhangjiakou and coveted the trade here. This Young Duke had only come to scout ahead.

Who had their eye on the trade here?

There was no need to think about it—it was definitely those nobles and imperial relatives in the capital. Not a single one of them was easy to provoke. The best approach wasn't to turn against these people, but to cooperate with them.

With their cooperation, one could obtain even more good things and more wealth. The business would grow bigger, and one's status would rise higher—this was a mutually beneficial matter.

Although some money would be given up, the one thing Zhangjiakou never lacked was money.

But judging by the attitude of the young lord before him, without that little girl, nothing could be discussed at all.

Had he lost his mind?

One insisted on having it, the other absolutely refused to give it.

Fan Yongdou was nearly driven mad with rage.

Wei Chao, standing nearby, naturally played along. Seeing that Zhu Youxiao could not be bothered with Fan Yongdou, he walked straight over and said, "Mr. Fan, this way please."