The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Chapter 235 Jealousy

The woman in the middle of the three was about eighteen or nineteen years old. She was noticeably different from the other natives, having some Persian ancestry, and her looks were at least those of a top female celebrity.

Although her skin was also honey brown, it was much lighter, with a subtle, warm glow. Her hair was simply hanging casually to one side in front of her chest, yet the more you looked at her, the more attractive she became.

Their features are much more refined than those of ordinary indigenous people, with a slender nose, full lips, and especially their eyes, which are not pure black, but a deep brown with a hint of light.

More importantly, although she was dressed in rags, her posture was completely different from the others; she stood very dignified and did not tremble like the other prisoners.

Upon seeing such a stunning beauty, the audience remained silent for only a moment before erupting into even louder discussions.

"This is great! This is wonderful! Third Master, how much is it? How much is it today? I'll take them all!"

"You think you're so rich? I'll give you a hundred taels!"

"I'll give her two hundred taels!"

Tang Sanchui did not answer immediately, but instead turned around and glanced at Tang Tiechui behind the platform.

Tang Tiechui was standing in the shadows with his arms crossed, and he simply nodded in response to Tang Sanchui's gaze.

He knew what Tang Sanchui wanted to ask: why not offer such a beautiful woman to the emperor, so that the harem would have someone to back her up?

Tang Tiechui, a former member of the Imperial Guard, knew that the emperor did not like women from Southeast Asia, but preferred women from the Central Plains, or princesses and empresses from other countries.

Tang Sanchui immediately understood, and then said loudly, "You all have good eyesight. This one is the daughter of the high priest of the mountain people in southern Luzon. In her tribe, she is called 'Bayani,' which means 'holy woman' in Chinese."

"Her father led several nearby tribes in a guerrilla war in the mountains for more than half a year, burning down three of our outposts. In the end, he was smoked to death in a cave by our Han army. This woman was his only bloodline. According to the rules, she should have been presented as a captive to the capital—"

Upon hearing the words "sent to the capital," it was clear that the item was intended for the emperor, and a sigh of disappointment immediately arose from the audience.

"—However," Tang Sanchui changed the subject, grinning, "His Majesty the Emperor, concerned for the people's welfare, said that the journey to present the captives was long, and many would suffer from acclimatization problems and die. It would be better to sell them locally, using the money to pay the army, and at the same time, to share the joy with the people. So, as for the price..."

Tang Sanchui deliberately dragged out his words, whetting the appetite of the audience, "Starting price: three hundred taels!"

How many???

Three hundred taels of silver—that's a huge sum of money.

The audience fell silent. Three hundred taels of silver was a huge sum that even a middle-class landlord family couldn't afford.

However, they couldn't handle it, but many others could, especially the twenty-odd scions of North Korean aristocratic families, among whom Kim Jin-eun even jumped up.

"I'll offer three hundred and twenty taels. I truly like this woman, so please, gentlemen, be lenient!"

Unfortunately, nobody paid him any attention, and even other members of the Korean aristocratic families started making bids.

"Brother Zhen'en, please forgive me for not being able to refuse such a worthy person; I will offer three hundred and fifty taels!"

Jin Zhenen's face darkened immediately, and he shouted.

"I'll pay one hundred taels!"

The price of this woman immediately rose at an almost frenzied pace, quickly reaching five hundred taels. The one who shouted out this price was none other than Li Zaixi from before.

"I'll offer six hundred taels!"

When the price was stuck at five hundred taels, a high price came from the front, and the one who shouted it was Yin Huasheng, who was standing at the edge of the crowd without making a sound.

Everyone was stunned and turned to look. Yin Huasheng remained calm, as if the six hundred taels of silver were nothing more than a few grains of rice in his eyes.

Xu Chuang looked at Yin Huasheng with surprise and whispered beside him, "Old Yin, are you interested?"

"But do you have enough money?"

Yin Huasheng smiled and said, "I'm still unmarried, Lao Xu, you have to support me. If I don't have enough money, I'll have to go back to Beijing and sell my mother's jewelry!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chuang's face darkened. It turned out that he was also putting on a brave face. However, it was normal for a young man to get angry for the sake of a woman. Yin Huasheng was only in his early thirties, so he could understand. He nodded, indicating that he was willing to lend the money.

Li Zaixi clearly had no intention of letting the matter rest. He cupped his hands in greeting to Yin Huasheng and said, "General Yin, I have also taken a liking to this woman. Six hundred and twenty taels."

"Six hundred and thirty taels."

"Six hundred and fifty taels."

The two went back and forth, and the price soared to 650 taels. Judging from Li Zaixi's expression, it was as if the silver was as precious as an iron ingot. The entire room fell silent.

Six hundred and fifty taels of silver is an astronomical price in Luzon. It could buy an entire sugarcane field, plus twenty or thirty ordinary slaves, and even build a plantation.

Yin Huasheng was already infatuated. He came from a wealthy family, but he hadn't married for so many years because he hadn't found anyone he was satisfied with. Now he had his eye on this mixed-race woman, so he squinted at Li Zaixi.

"Seven hundred taels. If there's a higher price, I, Yin Huasheng, will back out, and I absolutely won't hold a grudge!"

Lee Jae-hee belonged to the royal family, and although it was a branch of the royal family, he was still wealthy. Upon hearing this, he wanted to raise the price further, but Kim Jin-eun immediately stepped forward to hold his hand down and whispered:

"Are you stupid? These three women are all quite beautiful. What are you trying to do by arguing with General Yin? We're supposed to be on his ship. Are you out of your mind?"

Upon hearing this, Lee Jae-hee broke out in a cold sweat. He had just assumed that this was a scene of love and flirtation in a brothel, with other young men vying for his affections.

So he quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"General Yin, I still lack the funds!"

"Such a beauty is fit for the general!"

Yin Huasheng's gloomy face immediately relaxed, realizing that the other party was being accommodating to him, so he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Young Master Li, I am deeply grateful!"

Tang Sanchui, who was standing on the high platform, immediately struck his wooden hammer after learning that the two were alright.

"Six hundred taels—sold!"

Immediately afterwards, Tang Sanchui auctioned again. No one competed with Li Zaixi and Jin Zhenen for the next two beauties. Each of them won one for five hundred taels of silver.

As the auction ended and people left one by one, the south gate instantly fell silent.

……

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, Yin Huasheng, sporting dark circles under his eyes, led Li Zaixi and Jin Zhenen, who were both supporting their backs, out of Tang Sanchui's residence.

They then headed towards the port, followed by a carriage containing the three beauties who had been auctioned off the previous day.

Xu Chuang, as expected of the leader, probably started preparing before dawn. By the time the three of them arrived at the port, all the North Korean youths and the 10,000 North Korean soldiers had already boarded the ship.

Watching the three board the ship, Xu Chuang, being an experienced man, didn't say much. He simply bid farewell to Tang Tiechui and then pulled out the command flag from the deck and waved it.

"sail!"

……

Next, it will take a month and a half to cross the islands of Southeast Asia and reach the Strait of Malacca. After a day of rest there, the voyage will continue for another month before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

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