98: Chapter 0098 The Snow Mountain's Eternal Cold

The Qiang people?

Lin Xiao, disguised as the Old Butler, couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart upon hearing this!

The Great Gan Dynasty had three major enemies to the north: the Northern Barbarians in the North, the Western Qiang in the West, and the Khitan in the Northeast.

Now that the Northern Barbarian tribes were unified, they were the most powerful.

Feeling a sense of crisis, the Western Qiang and Khitan had also successively elected their own leaders.

The northern grasslands were now a tripartite balance of power; besides encroaching on the Great Gan borders and seeking opportunities to move south, they were also eyeing each other warily.

What a Prince Bai! Not only is he colluding with the Northern Barbarians, but he's also doing business with the Western Qiang!?

Most of the Western Qiang's territory bordered Prince Qing's Western Frontier, so their main enemy was Prince Qing.

The Western Qiang's iron ore had few impurities, high quality, and high output.

But as enemies, the King of the Western Qiang certainly wouldn't want to do iron ore business with Prince Qing.

It seems Prince Bai exploited this conflict to obtain Western Qiang iron ore while suppressing Prince Qing—killing two birds with one stone!

Of course, in the long run, once the Western Qiang grew stronger, it would be no different from nursing a tiger that would eventually cause trouble.

However, these vassal kings, in their quest for the throne, didn't care at all about the deluge that might follow!

Iron ore!

Even in an industrial civilization, it is of paramount importance!

Lin Xiao was tempted!

Ever since he took over the coal-producing Wushan Commandery, iron ore had been his only lingering worry!

He possessed blast furnace iron-smelting technology; as long as he had enough iron ore, he could forge a steel army within a year!

In a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through Lin Xiao's mind...

"Don't mention these things to me!"

Lin Xiao adopted a stance of not wanting to get involved and flatly refused Qi Wenjun.

"This is your mission; I don't want to know about it!"

"You should hurry and leave Baishui Prefecture before Lin Xiao and the others realize what's happening. This is as much as I can help you."

Seeing that the "Old Butler" didn't want to listen, Qi Wenjun became even more convinced that the other man was one of his own.

If he were an enemy, he would surely try every possible way to ask for details!

"Sir, we both serve His Highness Prince Bai. My life is of no consequence, but if something goes wrong with the Western Qiang iron ore, the Prince will surely be enraged!"

"Then that is your dereliction of duty. What does it have to do with me?" Lin Xiao said nonchalantly.

Qi Wenjun steeled himself and said, "Sir, since you are lurking by Lin Xiao's side, you must be someone the Prince trusts most."

"If you are willing to help me obtain the troop deployment maps of the Zhenbei Army, half of the credit for this mission will be attributed to you. How about it?"

Troop deployment?

Could it be that the Western Qiang iron ore is being transported through somewhere in Baishui Prefecture?

Of course!

Come to think of it, the westernmost part of Baishui Prefecture indeed borders the Western Qiang territory.

However, because the area is all mountain ranges, the Western Qiang cavalry cannot cross, so there has always been peace.

No wonder this fellow wanted to return to the Mu Family Army.

Only high-ranking generals of the Zhenbei Army would know the troop deployments!

"Hmph... This old man has important duties and cannot return to the Prince. If you swallow all the credit for yourself then, what could I do?"

Lin Xiao said disdainfully, "I don't trust a traitor to the Mu Family like you!"

Qi Wenjun was annoyed, inwardly cursing the old ghost for being so difficult to fool, but he couldn't get into the Zhenbei Army himself right now and had no better option.

"Sir, I know you don't trust me, but I am loyal to the Prince! What exactly do you want before you'll help me?"

Lin Xiao feigned deep thought and said, "You really want the troop deployment maps?"

"Do you have a way, sir?" Qi Wenjun's eyes lit up.

"As the butler, it isn't difficult for me to enter Lin Xiao's study during the day..."

"Sir! You just need to find a way to steal them. I'll make a copy, and you can return them. It will be absolutely foolproof!" Qi Wenjun said excitedly.

Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment and said, "It's fine for this old man to act, but you must leave a written note stating that half the credit belongs to me!"

"A written note? This..."

"Unwilling? Then leave. This matter has nothing to do with me anyway!" Lin Xiao sneered.

Qi Wenjun cursed inwardly. The old thing is really crafty!

He quickly forced a smile: "Sir, don't be hasty. I'll write it right now!"

In any case, as long as he could complete the mission, it was better than losing his head back home.

Qi Wenjun immediately wrote a letter of guarantee and signed it with his thumbprint.

Lin Xiao blew on the ink to dry it, folded it, and tucked it away.

"Wait here. This old man will go and get the deployment maps now. Don't go anywhere."

Qi Wenjun nodded to show he understood, then turned his gaze toward Su Wansha, who was unconscious on the ground.

"Sir, this woman..."

Lin Xiao gave a cold smile. "This old man will make her disappear."

With that, Lin Xiao hoisted Su Wansha onto his shoulder and vaulted out from the backyard.

After putting the woman into a carriage, he left quickly.

Two hours passed, and Qi Wenjun grew increasingly anxious, wondering if something unexpected had happened.

Finally, a figure vaulted back in from the backyard.

The "Old Butler" walked over quickly and handed him a roll of diagrams.

Qi Wenjun unrolled them and saw that they were indeed the deployment maps of the Zhenbei Army!

"Sir! You have achieved a great feat!"

"Enough nonsense. They must be returned before the Hour of Shen!"

"Right! I'll copy them immediately!"

Being a professional, Qi Wenjun quickly transcribed the key points, taking only the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.

Lin Xiao took back the maps and said, "Hurry out of the city before dark, and whatever you do, don't come back!"

"One more thing, don't blame me for not warning you: my identity is known only to a few people close to the Prince."

"If the Prince doesn't ask, you must not mention a single word about me!"

"If you are careless and let it slip, and your head falls, don't blame this old man!"

Qi Wenjun felt a chill in his heart and frowned, "Then if the Prince asks, how should I answer?"

"We spies who lurk have our own secret codes."

Lin Xiao lowered his voice and said, "You only need to say, 'Snow mountains are cold for eternity,' and those who know will reply, 'Shining alone on Emei Peak'!"

"Emei Peak?"

Qi Wenjun memorized it silently and cupped his hands.

"Thank you for your help, sir. I will surely repay you handsomely in the future. I'll be on my way now!"

He had already packed his things. After bidding farewell to Lin Xiao, he left quickly.

Once out of the city, Qi Wenjun looked back, a trace of suspicion flashing in his eyes.

Everything was a bit too smooth; he felt... something was fishy!

For one thing, if Prince Bai had planted such a master by Lin Xiao's side, why did he need him to steal the deployment maps?

However, he didn't dare question the "Old Butler" to his face, as the man's martial arts seemed quite high.

Qi Wenjun found a hidden spot, disguised himself again, and put on a thick beard, making himself difficult to recognize.

As a secret guard, disguise was the most basic skill.

Afterward, he bought a horse and began to secretly verify the information according to the deployment maps he had received.

Two days later.

Qi Wenjun had traveled through most of Baishui Prefecture and found the information on the maps to be extremely accurate!

Strange... could I really have overthought it? These deployment maps are real?

Subsequently, he sneaked back into Baishui City.

Arriving at the Baiyu Pavilion, Qi Wenjun ordered two dishes on the first floor.

After observing for a while, he casually asked a waiter.

"Waiter, is your manager in?"