Now Lord Shen’s pockets are already bulging; if you want to go through his connections, it’s hard. Really hard!

What kind of place is the Black Banner Battalion? These days, people say it’s the Xuanqing Guard among Xuanqing Guards—ruthless and black-hearted, daring to meddle in anything and everything. From the military down to common folk, even the great Cultivation Race clans with countless cultivators have all had someone lose their head to the Black Banner Battalion. Who among ordinary people isn’t afraid? Yet anyone with a bit of ability wants to have another connection in the Black Banner Battalion.

But it’s simply impossible!

Shen Hao, Hundred Households of the Black Banner Battalion in Fengri City, nicknamed the Evil Star, shows no kindness to anyone. Just one cold, icy look from him could quiet a crying child. Now tell me, are you scared or not?

But Liu Hengyi has run out of options now, forced by circumstance and with no other way out. He has to bite the bullet, come knocking on the door, and try to shoulder the mess he’s made himself. Besides, as long as Shen Hao nods, there will definitely be no problem.

As for the price? Liu Hengyi doesn’t even want to think about it; he’s willing to lay all he has on the table as bargaining chips, ready to accept whatever happens to him.

Kneeling on the ground and kowtowing, he kept repeating that as long as Shen Hao would help him this once, he’d be willing to be a slave or a horse in return...

Shen Hao was silent for a long while before finally putting down his teacup and speaking: "Liu, please rise! It’s just a trivial matter, no need to make it look so ugly."

"My lord, please save me!"

"Of course, I can help. However..."

Liu Hengyi jerked his head up, his expression a bit crazed, his voice off-kilter as he blurted out: "As long as you can get me through this crisis, Lord Shen, I, Liu Hengyi, am willing to give you thirty percent—no, thirty-five percent—of Hengshun’s shares!"

This is the same as giving away a third of his wealth for nothing, and it’s a lasting share. Liu Hengyi is already all in; and that’s just his opening offer—what if Shen Hao wants to bargain? Forty percent, fifty percent?

"Heh, Liu, get up first. We need to make things clear. You kneeling makes it hard for me to talk, don’t you think?"

Shen Hao didn’t help him up, speaking casually. To him, Liu Hengyi was a fat sheep that had delivered itself to the door, and he already knew how he was going to handle him.

Liu Hengyi clambered up from the ground, sat in the chair, and stared at Shen Hao without blinking, waiting for his reply.

"Money? I don’t lack that, and frankly, I’m not interested. Anyone who comes to me with cash to get something done or to build connections all end up badly. They have no right to negotiate with me; their petty troubles don’t interest me in the slightest."

Liu Hengyi broke out in a cold sweat, his lips trembling as he tried to speak, only to find his throat so dry he couldn’t get a word out. That’s what it means to be at a loss for words. Besides money, did he have anything else that could impress this man?

The Lord Shen who once seemed so loyal and righteous now seemed cold and terrifying in Liu Hengyi’s eyes—a bad feeling coiling in his heart.

Shen Hao continued: "I have high regard for the carriage and horse business. They can make money, yes, but they’re also like lifeblood for the Dynasty’s distribution of goods. Whether it’s military or the common folk, your industry creates so much they can’t do without.

Besides, in my eyes, carriage firms have enormous intelligence value—only it hasn’t been mined yet. Just like that one time you helped me, Liu.

By the way, maybe you still don’t know: because you helped me that time, my scout found key evidence, and that’s what led to the rollout of the Jingxi Action. If we were to measure out merit, you’d be a huge contributor too, Liu."

Liu Hengyi was stunned. He did help Shen Hao once, half-willing, half-coerced. He thought that’d mean continued blackmail, but the winter of the carriage business came, and Shen Hao never brought it up again. Who would have expected that he, Liu Hengyi, had helped kick off that very winter. Isn’t this digging your own grave?

"No need to take it so hard, Liu. Fate’s unpredictable—look at things with a lighter heart, and you’ll find the light at the end of the tunnel. The carriage business, though devastated now, isn’t this also an opportunity in disguise?

The strong stay strong; the weak get chewed up and swallowed. Why not seize this chance to become the one who devours and grows? Who knows, maybe one day your family legacy will grow a hundredfold, and when you’re gone in a hundred years you’ll actually have the face to meet your ancestors, won’t you?"

"Just say what you have to say." As though awaiting a sentence, Liu Hengyi clenched his teeth, but this time didn’t dodge Shen Hao’s gaze. He’d already steeled himself—this was going to be a flaying.

"You can join us—the Black Banner Battalion. Become one of us. That way, your Hengshun Carriage and Horse Company not only survives, but with the power of the Black Banner Battalion, can devour smaller competitors and grow rapidly. In the future, it might even become a top carriage firm across the Dynasty.

How about it?"

This...was he going to swallow the entire Hengshun Company?!

Liu Hengyi opened his mouth, but once more couldn’t say a word.

Shen Hao continued at his side: "Business only ends two ways—profit or loss. You’re already standing at the edge of losing, about to lose it all. So, why not go all in?

Besides, the Hengshun Carriage Company is still yours, Liu Hengyi. Not a single penny will be touched. In fact, we’ll even help you. Isn’t that great? What do you say?"

Finally, Shen Hao said directly: "As long as you agree, tomorrow I’ll personally put Hengshun Carriage and Horse Company on the list, and give you an Identity Document as a Black Banner Battalion Small Banner Officer!"

This speech didn’t leave Liu Hengyi feeling good. Pleasant words? He didn’t buy it—having built Hengshun this big, how could he be naive? But now, he had no choice at all. Either he agrees, or gets out.

And if he does go home, what then? Watch his family’s heritage be ruined? There were already more people holding his IOUs than fish in the river—if Hengshun collapsed, his life would probably not be safe either.

"What... what am I supposed to do?"

Hearing that, Shen Hao laughed aloud, knowing Liu Hengyi was finally ready to give in.

"You don’t need to do a thing. Just go home and wait. Someone will come to you when the time comes. All you need to do is sign. Not only will you save your carriage business, you’ll get a position as a Junior Seventh-Grade Small Banner Officer of the Xuanqing Guard. Liu, your luck has finally turned!"

Shen Hao beamed while Liu Hengyi pulled his lips into a strained smile. In the end, his face twisted unsure whether he was crying or laughing as he hunched over and left.

Shen Hao was in a good mood; he’d planned to make inroads into the carriage business for some time, and Liu Hengyi was always his chosen opening. But things changed so fast—Jingxi Action, the Sword Emperor’s Tomb, one thing after another—kept Shen Hao running around with barely enough people on hand, so he’d shelved the carriage business for a while.

Now, though, Liu Hengyi delivered himself right to the door. How could he be polite with such a fat sheep? Even so, these things can’t be rushed. With manpower tight, now’s not the time. Best to steady Liu Hengyi for now, and when the ’pilot program’ from above is implemented, push the plan forward.