Night fell once again. The Zhao mansion was brilliantly lit and bustling with activity.

The Nanzhao army generals, led by Chi Kuang, were now honored guests at the Zhao residence.

Amidst the sounds of silk strings and bamboo flutes, the Zhao family’s dancers performed the popular and dazzling Huxuan dance. Their wide skirts bloomed like flowers at full bloom, their slender waists alluring and enchanting.

The Zhao family’s main hall passed down for over a hundred years, featured intricate patterns painted in vibrant colors across its beams and carved ceiling. The dancers moved like flowers below, while above, the ceiling was a magnificent painting. Here, there was no trace of war. Songs, dances, wine, beautiful women, and laughter… the air was thick with the luxury and prosperity of a wealthy Tang Dynasty family.

“What a fine place!” Chi Kuang exclaimed with half-drunk eyes, caressing the smooth white porcelain in his hands with admiration.

Old Master Zhao smiled with restraint. These southern barbarians had never witnessed the true splendor of the Great Tang. The Zhao family’s wealth was still far inferior to the Yang family’s prosperity. The pillars supporting the Yang family’s Bailu Hall alone were carved from single pieces of wood, rivaling even the former Shu royal palace. After the Nanzhao’s plunder, Yizhou’s brocade-making families suffered greatly, yet the Zhao family remained unscathed. After the war, the Zhao family could rise to become Yizhou’s leading household. If the opportunity arose and the Yang family declined, selling their ancestral home, he could spend his final days sitting in Bailu Hall with no regrets.

However, Old Master Zhao still had one concern. Taking advantage of Chi Kuang and his generals’ good mood, he asked with a smile, “General Chi Kuang, you’ve detained thousands of residents from Sandaoyan to keep the news from spreading, haven’t you?”

When the Nanzhao army took the Sandaoyan residents’ property, the Zhao family could claim they were coerced and had also surrendered substantial wealth. During a military campaign, avoiding massacre and pillage was already fortunate. They couldn’t possibly detain and kill everyone in Sandaoyan while leaving the Zhao family untouched. The Zhao family would never be able to explain that to the imperial court.

Chi Kuang glanced at him sideways and drawled, “There won’t be any need to contain the news tomorrow.”

Old Master Zhao stroked his beard with satisfaction, smiling, “The Zhao family has lived in Sandaoyan for over a hundred years. Your words put my mind at ease, General. During a military campaign, losing some property is insignificant. Rewarding soldiers is only proper.”

Chi Kuang roared with laughter. “I have something to discuss with Old Master Zhao. His Highness the White King had reached an agreement with the Zhao family about trading in Nanzhao.”

Trading! Old Master Zhao’s eyes lit up. Yizhou’s brocade and silk traveled north to Chang’an and then through the Western Market to the Silk Road. Southward, they went to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the two Guangs. Bordering Nanzhao, being able to trade there would make the Zhao family unique in the Great Tang.

Envisioning the Zhao family’s rise from Yizhou to fame throughout the Great Tang, Old Master Zhao’s smile reached his eyes.

“Before departing, our sovereign specifically ordered my army to treat the Zhao family well on our return journey.”

Direct connections with the sovereign would make the Zhao family’s name golden in Nanzhao! Traveling with the Nanzhao army would ensure the trading caravan’s safety. Old Master Zhao was overjoyed: “Thank you for your protection, General.”

Chi Kuang casually glanced around and said, “Since the Zhao family has been so cooperative, my army won’t let the soldiers cause any more disturbance. Old Master Zhao, I’ll give you two days to gather the Zhao family’s craftsmen and pack up your belongings, and in three days, you’ll depart for Nanzhao along with Sandaoyan’s craftsmen.”

“Two days is enough…” Old Master Zhao’s smile suddenly froze. He thought he had misheard and asked loudly, “Gather the Zhao family’s craftsmen? Not the Zhao family’s trading caravan?”

Chi Kuang sprang to his feet, and the hall’s music and dancing instantly stopped.

The brilliant lamplight reflected coldly off Chi Kuang’s armor. He looked around arrogantly at the Zhao family men and said triumphantly, “Nanzhao’s territory is vast but sparsely populated. By order of our sovereign, my army will relocate Yizhou’s craftsmen to permanently settle in Nanzhao!”

“Clink!”

The wine cup slipped from Old Master Zhao’s hand and struck the table. The white porcelain cup didn’t break but rolled several times on the carpet before coming to a stop.

The Zhao family members all looked toward Old Master Zhao. As if awakening from a dream, he stood up and asked, “General, did I hear you say you’re relocating craftsmen to permanently settle in Nanzhao? The craftsmen you mentioned are…”

“Anyone skilled in silk reeling, dyeing, and brocade weaving will all be relocated to Nanzhao!” Chi Kuang declared emphatically. He looked at Old Master Zhao maliciously, “Especially the children of century-old brocade-making families like the Zhaos, both men and women. Everyone under forty will move with the army. Old Master Zhao, you’re advanced in years, so you need not make the journey. We wouldn’t want you falling ill on the road and being unable to be buried in the Zhao family’s ancestral tomb. Haha!”

Children under forty, regardless of gender… all to move with the army…

From now on, the Zhao family’s roots would be transplanted to Nanzhao, far from their homeland.

Blood rushed to Old Master Zhao’s face. He pointed at Chi Kuang with a trembling finger: “General, this isn’t right. This wasn’t what His Highness the White King’s agreement with the Zhao family said!”

Sheng Fengze had said that as long as the Zhao family kept Sandaoyan’s dye houses and brocade makers quiet and well-behaved in their homes, he guaranteed no lives would be harmed.

“No lives harmed. No lives harmed!” Old Master Zhao muttered these words. Of course, they wouldn’t harm lives if they were taking craftsmen to Nanzhao.

Chi Kuang laughed heartily, “Our sovereign said that craftsmen’s lives are more valuable than property. With craftsmen, why worry about making valuable Shu brocade? I issued strict orders early on. My soldiers can take property, but they absolutely must not harm lives! Old Master Zhao, tell the Zhao family to pack up soon. I’m a rough man with little patience!”

“I must see His Highness the White King! This isn’t what he said, this isn’t what the agreement with the Zhao family said! The Zhao family has been in Yizhou for over a hundred years, we will not leave our homeland!” Old Master Zhao shouted, unable to catch his breath, and his eyes rolled back.

“Father!”

“Grandfather!”

Zhao Bingsong and Zhao Xiuyuan rushed forward to catch Old Master Zhao. After rubbing his chest and pressing his philtrum, they finally helped Old Master Zhao catch his breath.

“Young Master Zhao! His Highness the White King said you could make decisions for the Zhao family, didn’t he?”

Hearing these words suddenly, Old Master Zhao glared at Zhao Xiuyuan with bulging eyes: “Second Son, what did you promise Sheng Fengze? Tell me, tell me!”

From calling the White King by his name Sheng Fengze, Old Master Zhao had already developed hatred for Nanzhao.

“Grandfather! Uncles and elders, please hear Second Son out.” Zhao Xiuyuan turned around to see the Zhao family members, each pale-faced, the timid ones trembling like sieves, the angry ones red-faced but unable to speak out. The Nanzhao generals at the front of the hall all had their hands on their sword hilts, their faces dark as water. Outside the hall, Nanzhao soldiers stood in neat formation. The torchlight gleamed off their bright spears. Chi Kuang’s smile contained ice and threat. It seemed that if his answer displeased them, the sword that had killed Nanny Ji would flash its bright blade and separate his head from his body.

A strange smile spread across his lips. His eyes gleamed in the lamplight.