Chapter 651: Trap
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the end, Tang Guixi accepted Xiao Juan’s suggestion.
She wrote the letter herself, then tied the letter to the arrow and shot it into the open space in front of the earth wall.
Seeing this, the Chen Nation Army scout, who had been hiding nearby, immediately raised his shield and ran over. He bent down to pick up the arrow and ran away.
The arrow was handed to Marshal Chen.
He unfolded the letter and saw that it was filled with Dayan writing. He could barely recognize a few commonly used words. He could not understand the entire text even with guessing.
He could only get someone to call over an aide who understood the Dayan language.
The advisor quickly read the content in his heart and translated it into the Chen Nation language for Marshal Chen.
“Tang Guixi wrote this letter. She said she has fifty Chen Nation prisoners. She wants to make a deal with us and exchange prisoners for prisoners.”
Marshal Chen placed his hands behind his back and took two steps back and forth. He quickly made a decision.
“Get someone to tell the Tang woman that I accept this deal.”
The aide frowned. “This could be a setup…”
Marshal Chen raised his hand and interrupted him.
“Let me finish first.”
The aide obediently shut up.
Marshal Chen Jun said, “I can exchange prisoners with them, but in order to prove that they’re not cheating, they have to let Prince Min bring the prisoners over to trade with us.”
The aide immediately understood what he meant.
“Are you trying to take the opportunity to capture Prince Min?” Marshal Chen said unhurriedly.
“Prince Min is the uncle of the Dayan Emperor. His status is precious.”
“If we can capture him, we can use him to ask the Dayan Emperor for benefits in the future.”
“No matter what the relationship between Emperor Dayan and Prince Min was, as long as the Emperor Dayan still cared about his reputation, it was impossible for him to disregard Prince Min’s life.”
“In that case, when we return to the court and the emperor asks why we were delayed so much in Heng City, we will have an explanation.”
The advisor praised, “Marshal is so thoughtful.”
At the same time, the Chen Army captives were all brought to Xiao Juan.
There were a total of three of them. For the past half a year, they had done the dirtiest and most tiring job in the military camp. They were exhausted every day, and the food they had been given could barely keep them from starving to death.
At this moment, they were hunched over, their eyes numb, their faces sallow, their clothes tattered, and they smelled bad.
Xiao Juan got someone to bring over a plate of white steamed buns and placed it in front of them.
“Eat.”
The moment the three of them saw the white steamed bun, their eyes lit up in unison.
They first looked at Xiao Juan to confirm that he was not joking with them before they pounced forward, grabbed the steamed buns, and stuffed them into their mouths.
When they were almost done eating, Xiao Juan said to them in the Chen Nation language.
“I’ll send you back later.”
Seeing that they did not react, Xiao Juan specially added, “I’m sending you back to the Chen Nation’s military camp.” All three of them looked stunned.
How was that possible?
Xiao Juan continued, “But you have to think carefully. What will your marshal think if we take the initiative to send you back safely? Tell him that you’ve only done some rough work in our Eastern Expedition Army for the past half a year and haven’t suffered at all before we let you back. Will your marshal believe you?”
All three of them were speechless.
Although they were very tired in the Eastern Expedition Army’s camp, the Eastern Expedition Army had indeed not deliberately abused them.
There were no other scars on their bodies except those from accidental injuries while working.
How could they explain it if they went back like this? One of them mustered his courage and asked, “Can I not go back?”
Although it was hard to stay here, at least he could live.
If they were sent back to the Chen Nation’s military camp for no reason, what awaited them might very well be all kinds of doubts and interrogation. The final outcome would definitely not be good.
Xiao Juan looked at their uneasy expressions and continued to guide them patiently.
“You can stay if you want, but you have to do as I say. I’ll give you a mission later. As long as you can complete the mission, not only can you continue to live in Heng City in the future, but you can also remove your status as a military slave and become a proper citizen of Heng City. I heard that your Chen Nation’s lands are barren and it’s difficult for crops to survive, so you gathered the army to invade our Liaodong County. How were your lives in the Chen Nation in the past? Can you eat such white steamed buns every day?”
All three shook their heads in unison.
It was because they could not eat enough that they had no choice but to enlist.
If their families had a better life, they would not have risked their lives to become soldiers.
Xiao Juan gently knocked on the plate used to store steamed buns. “As long as you’re from Heng City, you can get land. At that time, you’ll be the same. Each of you will have two acres of land to farm well. I guarantee that you can eat white steamed buns every day next year. How about that?”
The three of them looked at each other. The lingering fragrance of steamed buns in their mouths had yet to dissipate.
They saw the longing in one another’s eyes.
The temptation of eating and drinking their fill every day was too great.
In the next moment, they knelt.
“It’s our honor to serve you, sir!”
Next, Xiao Juan began to explain the details of the entire operation to them.
On the other side, Tang Guixi received a reply from the marshal of the Chen Army. The other party expressed his willingness to accept the deal, but they had to get Prince Min to come forward and carry out this deal. Otherwise, they would not be able to believe the sincerity of the Eastern Expedition Army.
Tang Guixi instructed the deputy general beside her.
“Go to Prince Min quickly and give him this letter.”
The deputy general took the letter and hesitated. “Will Prince Min be willing to help?”
Tang Guixi was not confident about this.
Those Eastern Expedition prisoners were her subordinates. They had to save them, but Prince Min was not from the Eastern Expedition Army. This matter had nothing to do with him. There was no need for him to take the risk.
Moreover, Prince Min was not the kind of person who would sacrifice himself for others.
Tang Guixi could only do her best and leave it to fate.
The deputy general hurried away with the letter.
It didn’t take long for him to return.
And he had brought back someone.
This person was not Prince Min, but his heir, Shen Xu. Tang Guixi was clearly stunned when she saw Shen Xu.
“Why are you here? Where’s your father?”
Shen Xu raised his head and puffed out his chest. “My father is old and can’t do such a dangerous thing, so I came on his behalf.”
Tang Guixi frowned. “Nonsense!”
Shen Xu defended himself firmly.
“I’m not messing around. I know you want to save people. I can help you.”
“They wanted Prince Min. As the heir of Prince Min’s Mansion, I am the future Prince Min. I can totally represent my father to make the deal.”
Tang Guixi said in a low voice, “Do you know how dangerous this matter is?”
Shen Xu straightened his neck and said, “I know!”
Tang Guixi asked, “Then aren’t you afraid?”
Shen Xu said, “No!”
“If you’re not afraid, why are you trembling?”
“I’m not trembling!”
Tang Guixi looked at his trembling legs and was both angry and amused..
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