Chapter 649: Detailed Arrangements

Very soon the Soldier returned, and after asking the people from the Ministry of Revenue, he said that there happened to be one small extra Tent, so they could make a slight adjustment and let the two of them live in it.

Upon hearing this, the Platoon Leader thought this was easy to handle and there were no more troublesome matters, so he smiled and said to Yinyang: "Good, then you two don't need to be separated anymore; just live together."

Yinyang was completely bewildered; he did not know why the result was this way. He had already prepared for the worst, thinking that he had been on the verge of death throughout this journey anyway, and since his good brother had died just like that, it would not have mattered if they both died. But for them to be allowed to stay together just like this—could it be that there was some other plan?

However, the Soldiers did not care about what the two of them were thinking and turned around to leave, leaving the two confused men behind.

Cangyun looked at Yinyang, and Yinyang also shook his head.

With this small interlude resolved, everything that followed went very smoothly. The Slaves were registered one by one, and those who claimed to have skills were also the first to be tallied. The official in charge of the tally was very satisfied; the number of people selected had already exceeded his expectations. He thought that if he sent so many people over, those few in the Ministry of Works would have to treat him to a meal of roasted lamb chops, followed by some Wine.

Afterwards, he also left first, taking a few Soldiers to send these people to where they were supposed to go.

Xi was the first to be taken away. He knew nothing at all about Huaxia, but under the guidance of the Soldier, he successfully entered Huaxia City. Seeing a city even more prosperous and bustling than Bilema City, he felt a glimmer of anticipation for his future.

Regarding the arrangements for Xi, neither this Soldier nor the people from the Ministry of Revenue could make a direct decision; after all, this counted as a scarce talent. Thus, the Soldier decided to take him to the Ministry of Revenue first and let the people there decide.

Yulong was currently handling a huge pile of matters for the Ministry of Revenue every day and was still busy to the point of being overwhelmed. Previously, he had worked in front of Baifeng, but for convenience, he had moved directly into the Ministry of Revenue's office. Over the past few days, this had made the already dull atmosphere of the Ministry of Revenue even duller.

When the Soldier brought in a person who was ragged and exceptionally filthy, he instantly attracted the gazes of many people in the Ministry of Revenue courtyard. People walking in and out with documents could not help but stop and ask upon seeing Xi: "Who is he, what does he do, and why bring him here?"

The Soldier explained with a smile: "Oh, he is a musical talent among the newly arrived Slaves. We don't have the authority to handle him, so we came to ask how he should be settled. By the way, is the Crown Prince here?"

The official looked at Xi with confusion, then nodded to the Soldier and said: "Oh, he is inside."

After the Soldier thanked him, he walked straight over, and only after being announced by the guard was he able to enter the Ministry of Revenue office.

Yulong was in the middle of year-end accounting and his work was nearing its end when he suddenly heard that a Soldier had brought a Slave to see him. He put down his pen with some confusion and had them sent in.

After the Soldier entered, he bowed to the Crown Prince, and Xi also hurriedly learned to bend his waist low to show his humility.

The Soldier pointed at Xi and said to Yulong: "Crown Prince, this is a Slave with special talents we discovered among these Slaves. He can play a musical instrument, and it sounds very good. However, we do not know how to settle him, so we came to report to you."

Upon hearing this, Yulong immediately became interested. He sat up straight and carefully sized up Xi, but he did not find anything particularly special, and after Xi entered, the air in the office gradually began to worsen.

Yulong held back and said to Xi with a smile: "You play an instrument? Then give us a demonstration."

Xi hurriedly bowed his head, because through the Soldier's posture and language, he knew that this was definitely a very important person in Huaxia. Judging by his age, he did not look like a Tribal Chief. He did not understand what "Crown Prince" meant; perhaps this person's name was Crown Prince, but he was certain that this person's status was very high and could completely determine his fate.

Thus, Xi took out his precious Flute again and performed the piece he was most proficient in once more inside the office.

When the song ended, he waited anxiously for the verdict. Yulong clapped his hands with a happy smile and said to Xi: "Good, good, good! The piece you played is very good. We in Huaxia need people like you."

With the affirmative language and expression, Xi roughly understood the meaning of the clapping; it was likely a sign of affirmation. So, he humbly bent his waist and waited for the verdict.

After a moment of thought, Yulong said: "How about this: you take him to find a bathhouse first, let him wash clean, then tidy up, change his clothes, and go to the Ministry of Rites. Let the Ministry of Rites arrange a place for him to live. Doesn't that Zhishou have an empty room next to his courtyard? Let him stay there for now. His current task is to teach our people music and then replicate this instrument of his."

Then, Yulong changed the subject and asked Xi: "What is the name of this instrument of yours, and can you make it yourself?"

Xi hurriedly replied: "This instrument of mine is called a Flute, and I can make it myself."

Yulong nodded with satisfaction: "Good, then let's arrange it like that for now. As for his status, it is tentatively set; watch his performance and give him a thirty-day observation period. If he performs well during the observation period, give him an official status and let him work in the Ministry of Rites. If he performs poorly, then he can be a tenant farmer or a Slave."

The Soldier nodded to reply in the affirmative, while Xi was somewhat panicked. How could he still be a Slave? Wasn't it said that he could shed his status as a Slave?

The Soldier saw his confusion and explained: "You can't expect to have everything just because you can play an instrument, right? Everything in Huaxia is not so easy to obtain. During the thirty-day observation period, as long as you work hard, you can obtain status and won't have to be a Slave. You can have food to eat and a place to live just by playing your Flute every day."

"If you perform poorly, you might become a Slave again. During these thirty days, you need to teach our people your instrument, and you also have to make more of these instruments of yours. Do you understand? You are willing, right?"

Xi was actually very afraid that once his skills were learned, he would be abandoned because he was no longer useful, but he had no choice now, so he could only say one last thing: "But this... this thirty days, it is simply impossible to learn it."

The Soldier explained patiently: "You don't need to teach them directly; just teach them earnestly, and we will naturally observe."

Yulong interrupted them: "Don't talk about these things here. Let the people from the Ministry of Rites teach him. Isn't Princess Miaoyin there too? She will also keep an eye on it. You take him away now. I will write you a warrant; as for his clothes, let the Ministry of Rites be responsible for that first."