Helian Jue remembered clearly that when Xie Yuan first suggested he "double-cross" someone, he jokingly said:
"Actually, there's another way to get rich quick: tomb raiding!"
Just like Cao Cao, who relied on tomb raiding to raise sufficient military funds.
The official title of "Mojin Xiaowei" (Mojin Captain) was also invented by this ruthless hero.
However, tomb raiding is ultimately something that cannot be done openly or in the light of day.
Most importantly, Helian Jue was born into the royal family and was entitled to a grand funeral.
What he feared most was that his own tomb would one day be visited by grave robbers.
"No! We can't rob graves!"
Helian Jue's attitude was very firm; he felt that those tomb raiders deserved to die!
Seeing this, Xie Yuan didn't continue talking about the benefits of making money through tomb raiding.
He then spoke favorably of the tomb raiders, saying, "Actually, their crime doesn't warrant death."
"Even criminals and villains can have a magical effect if they are placed in the right place."
"For example, tomb raiders are very good at feng shui and digging pits and tunnels."
"If there is a need to build underground palaces or dig tunnels in the future, we can let tomb raiders try it out!"
In modern terms, this is called a perfect match between one's major and job!
However, Xie Yuan said it in a joking tone at the time.
Helian Jue, on the other hand, genuinely took it as a joke.
But now, upon hearing of exiled tomb raiders, Helian Jue suddenly had an idea—
You can send this country bumpkin to Yuling.
Please help me survey the mountain range and determine which location is the most suitable for excavation.
Then, he was made to work alongside the engineers.
If he does a good job, Helian Jue might take pity on him and pardon the petty thief.
...
Hou Jingting, wearing heavy shackles, followed closely behind the large group of exiled soldiers.
He endured the journey of three or four thousand miles, braving wind and rain, hunger and exhaustion, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Don't let Hou Jingting's small stature and thin build fool you; from a distance, he looks like a monkey.
But it's a family-inherited martial art—the art of bone shrinking.
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, he is exceptionally strong.
In addition, he was quick-witted, just like the nickname given to him by people in the martial arts world—"Monkey Spirit," meaning he was incredibly clever.
Along the way, he would say nice things and secretly slip silver to the guards. If they passed by any "auspicious place", he would also secretly tell the guards escorting him.
The officials secretly pulled off a heist, unearthing several treasures, which they then sold for dozens of kilograms of gold.
The officials were naturally pleased with their windfall and even took a lenient approach towards Hou Jingting, the clever tomb raider.
Traveling thousands of miles, traversing mountains and rivers.
The journey took three or four months, filled with hunger and cold.
Hou Jingting still managed to reach Lingnan alive.
As long as he's alive, he can find a way to escape.
Or, he might try to "make a name for himself".
If the prefect or county magistrate were willing to lend a hand, he would have a chance to escape his status as an exile!
Anyway, those officials probably all like the good stuff in the tombs of nobles from the previous dynasty.
He was able to change his death sentence to exile by using his treasured possessions accumulated over many years to bribe the officials of the capital!
He, known in the martial arts world as "Lord Jingting," can turn danger into safety and crisis into peace even when he is in dire straits!
However, the reality check came just as quickly!
Hou Jingting had just entered the new city of Hexian County and hadn't even had time to marvel at how tall, clean, and orderly this city in Lingnan was when he and his group were stopped by a group of soldiers.
"Who is it? What's going on?"
The officers in charge of escorting the prisoners were terrified, thinking that villains had come to break them in.
"The personal guards of the Prince of Yue's residence!"
The person leading the group took out an iron plate and waved it in front of everyone.
"By His Highness Prince Fengyue's decree, the criminal Hou Jingting shall be escorted to the Prince's residence and made a servant."
The guards of the Prince of Yue's residence made no attempt to conceal their orders and directly relayed Helian Jue's command.
Hou Jingting's expression changed drastically: I, I didn't offend His Highness the Prince of Yue.
I'm just a nobody, a dirt rat who lives underground all year round. Even if I wanted to, I could never be worthy of the King of Yue.
Not to mention having the guts or the opportunity to offend them!
The yamen runners who came to greet him from the governor's mansion, upon seeing the waist tag, did not stop him at all and directly handed Hou Jingting's exile document to the guard.
"This! This!"
The officers and soldiers in charge of escorting the suspects looked troubled. "This is against the rules!"
The King of Yue was indeed noble, but he was merely a vassal king.
It was the prefect's duty to take over the affairs of prisoners held by the imperial court.
The King of Yue's rash intervention is suspicious of overstepping his bounds!
"How is it against the rules?"
It was the yamen runner from the prefectural government who spoke, his face completely indifferent: "Our yamen has already received the prisoners."
As for those who were exiled, once they arrived at their place of exile and did not escape, the government did not interfere with how they lived.
The Prince of Yue's mansion could either put someone down as a menial servant or take them in as a slave.
As long as the parties involved are willing.
The yamen runner looked at Hou Jingting and said, "You monkey, the Prince of Yue's mansion wants you to be a menial servant! Are you willing?"
Hou Jingting: ...Of course I don't want to!
But, as shrewd as he was, he naturally knew that there was absolutely no reason for him to refuse at this time and place.
Those guards from the Prince's mansion looked like they were not to be trifled with.
Their hands were already on the scabbards, in case anything happened.
They could draw their swords immediately.
He was just a petty thief who couldn't be brought into the light. Even if he was just made a servant by the prince, or even if he was actually killed in the street, what could he do?
The law does not apply to high-ranking officials, let alone princes.
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