Chapter 493: Pulling Off a Big Haul

Da Wang knocked open the fortress gate, and walked in under the gaze of the Zhou clan's people; no matter how he counted, there were only ten people…… It was hard to believe that just ten people easily earned him a million taels of silver.

The Zhou family head heard his youngest son muttering, sighed inwardly, and wondered whether a million taels could send them away.

Da Wang continued his persona, obediently staying by Wei Ke's side to play the good, listening younger brother, letting Wei Ke take the lead as the decision-maker.

When Wei Ke pointed to Da Wang and introduced him as his brother, Da Wang pulled down the magic scarf on his face, revealing a grin of his pure white little teeth, looking both sunny and honest, right?

The Zhou family head exchanged pleasantries with Wei Ke, while the people behind him sized up Da Wang— that outdoor sunscreen magic scarf on his face is truly over the top in the Great Jin; it's hard not to look at him. As everyone knows, outdoor magic scarves are all flashy, with colors more exaggerated than the next. The one Da Wang uses to block dust is still a pink‑blue gradient, with big ink‑style sunflowers printed on it; such clashing colors are something the Great Jin people have never seen, let alone how eye‑catching it is.

In the underdeveloped textile industry of the Great Jin, when ordinary people wore only hemp‑gray, black, or gray clothes, anyone could tell he was no ordinary cavalryman. In just a moment, the Zhou family's hearts ran through eight hundred guesses like galloping horses.

The Zhou family sent out five hundred liters of rice, and the refugees outside quickly dispersed; the family head immediately set up a banquet to receive Da Wang's party.

Wei Ke sat in the seat of honor, sparing his words; he remained unmoved by the Zhou family's flattery, only reacting when the family head mentioned the method of paying the million taels.

"We only want cash silver, or equivalent valuables and grain. The Northern Border has its own silver bank; southern banknotes can no longer be exchanged."

The Zhou family head said a million taels wasn't a small sum, counting the silver would take some time, so he asked them to allow a bit of preparation; Da Wang, unafraid of their possible deceit, readily agreed.

"If the leader and the youngest boy are brothers, they must be the sons of some Youzhou general. Judging by their attire, they're still not low‑ranking generals."

"After careful observation, they look extremely alike."

"The Dongdu Marquis House?"

"Let's not talk about that yet— do you really believe they're from Youzhou? If they truly are from Youzhou, why would they just tell us? This place is still far from the Northern Border; they really are only ten people— aren't you afraid we'll inform the court or the southern Langya, leaving them no escape?"

"……Everyone's also seen their strength; they probably have a foolproof escape plan."

"Are we really going to give them a million taels and let them leave?"

The Zhou family arranged a small side courtyard for Da Wang's party to rest temporarily; after Da Wang had been inside for about an hour, news came that a Zhou family son had come to visit them.

Da Wang was very pleased, saying, "I told you so~"

Wei Shen splashed cold water on him, saying, "Don't get too pleased— capsizing could get people killed."

Da Wang looked at him with a forty‑degree upward glance, using his lower eyelids, making his smugness concrete: "Just watch! The Zhou clan's ancestors produced three dukes, making them a major northern clan— don't think their low‑key presence in Chestnut Bend means they're poor; their wealth might rival the Lu clan's. This big venture, I, the king, will surely pull it off!"

As soon as Zhou Bi entered, he spotted the splendid Sun‑shooting Bow on the table; he thought his father's words were correct— these two brothers were no ordinary cavalrymen. The Sun‑shooting Bow isn't an ordinary weapon; it even has a faint treasure glow. To the untrained eye, one glance tells it's not cheap, certainly expensive.

The one who came to find Da Wang was not the Zhou family's eldest son, the heir apparent, but the family head's youngest son, Zhou Bi. Seeing it was him, Wei Ke roughly guessed the Zhou family's intentions.

As expected, after exchanging names and pleasantries, Zhou Bi opened his mouth with considerable presumption.

"……To be frank, I saw your strength from the watchtower earlier; Bi, I deeply admire you! At that moment I wished our family had such strength, so we'd never have to fear the refugees again." He looked at Wei Ke with a face full of admiration; Wei Ke curled the corner of his mouth— looks like he's about to go the blunt‑speaking route?

"It's a shame our family isn't skilled in military affairs; once you leave, those refugees will come back, and then…… I don't know how the Zhou clan's nearly thousand members will cope."

Da Wang sat beside Wei Ke with an innocent expression and replied, "Oh my, so many people— what a shame~"

Zhou Bi: ……

Wei Ke remained silent, so Zhou Bi had to continue: "Those refugees are stationed in neighboring Ju Shan County, already numbering nearly two thousand; they're a major threat to our Chestnut Bend, and Father hasn't had a full night's sleep in a long time."

Wei Ke felt he had pretty much laid the groundwork, "So then?"

Zhou Bi: "A million taels isn't a small sum; Wei Gongzi, can you settle Ju Shan? Otherwise, after you go ahead, they'll come back behind you and keep besieging the Zhou clan."

Tsk, indeed presumptuous.

"A million taels is to lift one siege."

"This seems a bit too expensive, doesn't it? Once you leave, those refugees will surely launch a frenzied counter‑attack……"

Wei Ke cut him off: "Is the Zhou family trying to renege on the debt?"

Da Wang laughed beside him, saying, "The Zhou family is really brave— treating our Youzhou people as easy to provoke?"

Wei Ke set down his tea cup: "See them out!"

Wei Shen immediately jumped out to play the role of a guard, "Young Master Zhou, this way please?" He didn't bother with the formalities of a guard— he grabbed Zhou Bi's arm and threw him into the courtyard.

Da Wang waited a moment longer, and sure enough, the Zhou family's eldest son came rushing in. He was far more courteous than Zhou Bi, opening with an apology, saying his younger brother didn't understand and had spoken rashly in his haste; half of the million‑tael remuneration had already been counted out, and the Zhou clan would certainly not go back on its word.

He then courteously invited them to stay overnight, saying it was already late, so they might as well rest here for two days before leaving.

Da Wang looked at the script and saw it was pretty much as he'd expected; he had the younger son come out to test them— if they got angry, they could still come back to make amends, after all Zhou Bi is still young and not the Zhou family's decision‑maker.

He really couldn't be bothered to keep probing and tugging at them; this guy started acting willfully.

"What's the Zhou family's demand? If not, I'm just saying I want to rest~" While speaking, he tugged at Wei Ke's sleeve, signaling his older brother to send them away.

Wei Ke put down his cup, lacking the patience to look at the Zhou family's eldest son.

"Then I'll speak plainly. Safely transporting a million taels back to the Northern Border isn't easy, but I see you're all full of confidence… so I wonder if we could bring our Zhou family along? The fortress isn't safe; the Zhou clan wants to relocate to the Northern Border. These past few years there have been many rumors about the Northern Border— I heard the Northern Border king helped move the entire Lu clan of Fanyang into the Northern Border. Chestnut Bend isn't far from Fanyang, so I'd like to ask you to bring the Zhou clan along as well— I don't know if that's feasible."

Upon hearing this, Da Wang began to act 'innocent and guileless', speaking without filter: "This is a huge project— that's a separate price!" He also didn't have any convenient excuse.

Wei Ke said slowly, "The Lu clan brought the Fanyang Academy to the Northern Border, and the Northern Border king's three thousand cavalry helped them open the roads."

The Zhou family's eldest son gritted his teeth: "As long as we can safely reach the Northern Border, the Zhou clan is willing to offer an additional 1.5 million taels of silver as thanks! At this life‑or‑death juncture, this is all the Zhou clan can spare after setting aside living expenses."

"Deal!"

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【(˃⌑˂ഃ)Thanks, bosses! From sixty‑something to forty‑something! Saw it late, will add more tomorrow!】