137: Chapter 0137 It's okay to feel uncomfortable

Lin Xiao had considered that Prince Qing would be interested in trade, but he had not expected him to send an entire delegation.

By the time he returned to the Generals Mansion, Xiao Qingxuan was already handling the reception.

The woman was neither humble nor arrogant, chatting and laughing with the envoys.

Seeing Lin Xiao return, Xiao Qingxuan immediately stepped aside to introduce him to the man.

"Husband, this is Prince Qing's advisor, Official Luo Wenfeng. He is also a doctor at the Imperial Academy and once served as a compilation official and other posts."

[Official Luo Wenfeng, 52 years old, Chief Advisor of Prince Qing's Mansion, inner sect disciple of the academy, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Entry: Resourceful (Special), Famous Scholar, Literati]

Official Luo Wenfeng wore a green robe. Although he was over fifty, one could still vaguely tell that he had been a handsome man in his youth, possessing an elegant and refined temperament.

"Lin Xiao, I am Official Luo Wenfeng. I have been ordered by His Highness Prince Qing to come and discuss the matter of trade between Liang Province and Cang Province with you."

As he spoke, Official Luo Wenfeng introduced the group accompanying him one by one. Aside from a few officials managing trade, the others were representatives of various merchant firms.

When these people saw Lin Xiao, their eyes carried a hint of fear and curiosity.

The reputation of this 'Killing God' from the Border Army had not only spread throughout the Northern Territory, but was also known in the Western Territory.

Especially the assassination attempt by the Faceless Boy, which had added fuel to Lin Xiao's fame!

So much so that those vassal kings were not as much of a topic of conversation as Lin Xiao.

"Lin Xiao, everything we saw and heard on our way through Wushan Commandery to Baishui Prefecture was truly extraordinary!"

"Not to mention anything else, just this concrete road alone could likely make horse-drawn carriages travel more than three times faster! It is truly an innovation!"

Official Luo Wenfeng offered some flattery, and the merchants nodded in agreement.

Efficiency is money. If such concrete roads could be built in the four prefectures of the Western Territory, it would save a large amount of transportation losses!

"May I ask, General, is this cement for sale? Our Western Territory has flat terrain, which is very suitable for building concrete roads!" Official Luo Wenfeng asked.

Lin Xiao smiled: "Cement production is insufficient, so it is currently not among our trade goods. I'm afraid you will be disappointed, Official Luo."

Involving military industry, Lin Xiao would not use it for business for the time being.

If he really sold it, they would definitely use it to reinforce city walls and the like first. If they were to become enemies in the future, wouldn't he easily be hit by a boomerang?

Official Luo Wenfeng looked regretful: "I see. That is truly a pity. However, I have heard that your 'Northern Trade Alliance' has many other treasures?"

"Treasures is a strong word, just some daily necessities. I'm sure you must have learned something about them before you came, Official Luo."

"Haha, to tell you the truth, the honeycomb coal and soap sold by your alliance are things that the major merchant firms in our Western Territory are indeed very interested in, which is why we sent people together."

The heads of the merchant firms also expressed their appreciation one after another, indicating their willingness to cooperate.

"Husband, Official Luo just said that His Highness Prince Qing is very sincere and is willing to give us 70% of the profits after deducting all costs, and will also waive taxes," Xiao Qingxuan said.

"Oh? Giving me 70%? And no taxes?"

"Naturally, this is all what His Highness promised me personally before I came," Official Luo Wenfeng nodded.

Lin Xiao did not believe in free lunches. "What else did His Highness Prince Qing say?"

Official Luo Wenfeng smiled: "His Highness considered that the distance is long and the costs have increased too much."

"He hopes that the General will allow the Northern Trade Alliance to set up branches in the Western Territory and build workshops. We will fully cooperate."

Good grief!

Lin Xiao screamed in his heart. This wasn't about making money together; it was about stealing his technology and his money!

Thinking about it, Prince Qing probably felt that his Zhenbei Army didn't have many days left to live, so he had no intention of cooperating with him in the long term.

Rather than letting Prince Bai benefit later, it was better to steal the technology first!

"Lin Xiao, His Highness Prince Qing is very sincere. Please consider it carefully and seek more benefits for the people of both places!"

Official Luo Wenfeng said solemnly.

Lin Xiao smiled, "For this matter, allow me to consider it for a few days. After all, it is not a small matter."

"That is natural. We await your good news!" Official Luo Wenfeng was already very satisfied to see that Lin Xiao did not refuse immediately.

"Someone, see the guests out!"

Lin Xiao had the Old Butler send the group out.

Official Luo Wenfeng had originally thought they would be provided with accommodation, but as it turned out, no one cared about them?

Standing on the cold street, the delegation looked at each other in dismay.

"Official Luo, what is going on? They asked us to wait, but didn't arrange a place to stay?"

"Lin Xiao is, after all, a newly risen noble. Maybe he doesn't understand the rules?"

A few wealthy merchants complained, but were unwilling to leave.

After all, the products of the Northern Trade Alliance were too easy to sell. It was a guaranteed profit, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie.

Official Luo Wenfeng stroked his beard and smiled: "Don't worry. Facing a great enemy like Prince Bai, Lin Xiao will definitely need the support of our His Highness Prince Qing."

"He has requests of us, so he will naturally make concessions. Let's just find an inn and wait for two days."

"It is also a good opportunity to visit Baishui Prefecture, which has been the hottest place in the entire Northern Territory recently, and see what is so special about it."

The members thought about it and agreed. Once spring started, Prince Bai would definitely deal with the Zhenbei Army.

If Lin Xiao wanted to survive, he had to find a helper!

Besides Prince Qing, who else could it be?

Thinking of this, everyone happily went to the inn.

That night.

Lin Xiao transferred money to Xiao Qingxuan twice. After several hundred million went through, he let out a comfortable sigh.

"Wife, you have become more and more amazing recently. The progress of this 'Cold Jade Art' is fast enough."

Lin Xiao finally realized the terror of 'Heaven Grade' aptitude.

In just two short months, Xiao Qingxuan had actually increased her cultivation from 60 years to 62 years!

Adding one year of cultivation in a month, only someone like him, relying on the system, could compete with her!

After her cultivation improved, Xiao Qingxuan's physique became increasingly soft and charming, exuding a mysterious charm, like a demoness from a Demonic Sect, making Lin Xiao particularly hooked.

If he didn't have hundreds of years of Buddhist internal energy, ordinary cultivation methods probably wouldn't be able to withstand it, and he would have turned into a dried corpse in a day!

"Husband is the one whose internal energy is unfathomable. I am afraid that even if I train to one hundred years of cultivation, I will not be your match..."

Xiao Qingxuan's dark, cloud-like hair rested on the man's chest, her face full of satisfaction, and a hint of secret joy.

With the Cold Jade Art, the man was becoming more and more obsessed with her.

Even though there were newcomers in the house, Lin Xiao did not reduce his visits to her.

"Husband, are you planning to reject Prince Qing?" Xiao Qingxuan asked.

"That depends on their attitude. Let them calm down for a few days. When their heads are clear, then we can talk..."

Lin Xiao sneered. These guys still thought he was begging Prince Qing for help?

Xiao Qingxuan smiled sweetly: "This move of yours, husband, is probably going to make Official Luo and the others feel terrible..."

"Haha... feeling terrible is just right... Only then will they learn their lesson!"

Two days passed.

Official Luo Wenfeng and his group waited until dark, but no one was sent from the Generals Mansion.

Three days, four days...

When the fifth day arrived, the people in the delegation could no longer sit still.

"Official Luo, why hasn't Lin Xiao come to talk to you yet?"

"Yes, it has been almost five days. Has he not considered it well yet?"

"I see him entering and leaving the Generals Mansion every day, and he hasn't gone out of town. Could he have forgotten about us?"

"Impossible! An alliance with His Highness Prince Qing, what a major event! Could he forget it?"

Official Luo Wenfeng flatly denied it: "I suspect he definitely wants to trade. There must be some difficult problem trapping him."

"Then... why don't you go and ask? We all have things to do and are in a hurry to go back. We can't keep dragging this out!"

A few members urged him eagerly.

"Very well... I will go make a trip!"

Official Luo Wenfeng had no choice but to lower his face and come to the Generals Mansion again to knock on the door.