Manager Liu dared not conceal anything and could only confess truthfully.
"Since, since the year before last, it’s been, it’s been more than two years now.
The total number of babies sold to him is small and unrecorded. Our business is inherently disgraceful, and while so transactions are legitimate, so wealthy and powerful families have peculiarities, and they don’t wish to disclose why they buy people.
Normal families wouldn’t buy newborns, so that’s not docunted, and I don’t know why Steward Yan is buying so many babies either. We only handle the money."
"So your aning is that such transactions have been ongoing."
"Yes, yes..."
Manager Liu’s forehead was sweating; what was happening to him these past few days? Each person he encountered was more terrifying than the last.
This matter is becoming increasingly complex, and it’s likely to be even harder to find the Little Crown Prince smoothly.
"When do they request another batch?"
"Well, it’s not certain, whenever there’s stock, we send it over."
Seeing he couldn’t extract any useful information from Manager Liu, Gu Ming had to give up.
He then turned to Han Yi, "This gentleman looks very familiar."
His eyes narrowed slightly, carefully scrutinizing the other party. Earlier, he focused a bit on their fight and noticed this person’s moves were fierce and his actions ruthless and decisive.
Very much like...
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration ca and went, so quickly that he couldn’t grasp it.
"Coincidentally, I find you very familiar as well, sir."
Gu Ming’s gaze beca more piercing. Could he recognize himself even with the cover? Calling him ’sir’ right off the bat, has he guessed sothing?
"From your accent, you don’t seem to be from the North. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Your accent doesn’t seem northern either, sir; we’re all the sa really. I’m just short a few servants and ca to buy soone from Manager Liu."
"Buying people at night is quite unusual."
"That’s still better than you searching for people under cover of darkness." Han Yi’s tone was sowhat cold. If the other party made a move, he wouldn’t mind exposing everything.
With the presence of the Dark Pavilion here, his patrol was also justified. If Chief Minister Gu were revealed, the three aristocratic families here perhaps wouldn’t let him leave easily.
After a brief confrontation, both sides intentionally concealed their identities, knowing but not revealing.
Since there was no conflict, there was no need to make another enemy.
Mutually understanding, neither side probed further.
Gu Ming signaled Ah Li with a glance, redirecting the direction of the held Manager Liu, and kicked him into the crowd, disappearing with the other two in monts.
"Ouch!"
Manager Liu hadn’t recovered, when a cold voice ca over, "Aren’t you going to lead the way?"
The fallen man trembled as the guard helped him up.
"Alright, alright!"
After briefly composing himself, he led the group into the underground holding room.
No significant incidents occurred during the selection.
After Han Yi picked 1500 people, Qi Fei eased the conditions and chose another 500.
Many of the people here were holess refugees, with entire families.
Buying adult n resulted in the young and old crying their eyes out, truly heart-wrenching.
Qi Fei was unwilling to separate a family’s flesh and bones, so he purchased them all. The elderly wouldn’t make it this far; those similar in age to Uncle Cheng could still work.
These considerations influenced the decision to take these people.
In this group, there were approximately 400 older children and young ladies, and over 500 middle-aged won.
As for fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls, there were none; this demographic was highly sought after, imdiately taken by wealthy rchants or chosen by brothel madams, leaving none remaining.
Among them, over 200 were official slaves. Initially exiled over three hundred strong, but only about 200 were left here.
Originally ant to be assigned to local mines, unauthorized trading was forbidden, but Manager Liu, intimidated by Han Yi, couldn’t manage that much.
Han Yi didn’t favor these official slaves much, as they were criminals against the law and could cause complications later if implicated.
However, Qi Fei thought differently, knowing the leader valued education imnsely; those from officials’ families might not be well-read scholars but were surely proficient in classical texts, art, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
The current team urgently needed intellectuals, and he could partly guess the leader’s thoughts; as for possible implications later, they didn’t exist.
Frankly, he felt that with the leader’s current construction plans, it was all geared towards turning Daxing Mountain into an independent capital.
Domination in the future, establishing a small nation seed possible with the leader’s capability. Moreover, after the cold wave, who knows how many will survive.
Of course, saying these now was too early, but in ten or twenty years, who could tell?
Anyway, he had this intuition.
It’s just... these speculations couldn’t be explained to Commander Han.
He could only vaguely state it was the captain’s intention.
Spending such a sum on buying people still pained Qi Fei.
If Manager Liu weren’t scared of Han Yi, this price likely wouldn’t have been achievable.
The remaining silver coins were used in the fur company, purchasing many animal skins and ready-made fur cloaks.
Making the previously struggling fur rchant smile broadly.
Having had a dull business for days, finally, a fat sheep ca; how could he not be happy?
Upon arriving in Luoyang City, Qi Fei noticed not only was it warr by several degrees compared to Yuan Yang City, but everyone wore layers of fur clothing, tightly wrapped, far better equipped than their side.
Moreover, people here often ate yak and lamb. Unlike the southern farming buffalo and oxen, these draft animals were allowed to be slaughtered and consud by people here.
A stew pot of beef/lamb broth in winter, paired with large sesa cakes, and so warm liquor significantly enhanced cold resistance.
No wonder people here could venture out.
However, it’s not entirely safe outside, several tis encountering fights, without burly bodyguards, anyone might be targeted.
If all these were the urgently needed supplies, encountering Alle people selling cals here beca an unexpected delight.
Qi Fei saw cals for the first ti, tall and sturdy, reportedly able to traverse snowy terrains freely; to transport more goods, he used the remaining money to buy four cals.
Currently, outside the city, the snow cover was deep, and ordinary donkeys, mules, and oxen couldn’t pull carts.
Although high-blooded steed could barely be ridden, carrying more things would be a struggle; cals, however, were different, naturally advantageous under harsh conditions.
Qi Fei promptly bought many urgent items overnight.
At dawn the next day, he departed with the two thousand slaves.
Exiting the city gate required quite cumberso procedures, not only needing identification, but also a Governnt Office pass, which required the Prefectural Governor’s stamp to leave the city.
Hence, Han Yi quietly took Manager Liu for a visit to the Governor Mansion.
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