Chapter 579 - Relying on mysticism to search for Ren Xiaosu (1/2)

However, Zhang Xiaoman refused to let him leave. He even insisted on arranging for them to stay at the military base and prepared food and hot water for them, saying that it would not be too late to leave in another few days.

The reason Zhang Xiaoman gave to convince Wang Fugui was very simple: “The Central Plains are so big, and our people from Fortress 178 are also looking for Ren Xiaosu there, so wouldn’t it be much better for us to look for him than you trying your luck to find him? You don’t even know where Ren Xiaosu might pop up anyway.”

Zhang Xiaoman said, “Don’t worry, we still have a great chance of finding him.”

“Why do you say that?” Wang Fugui was stunned. “Why are y’all so sure that you can find him?”

“Since you and Ren Xiaosu are old friends, do you know Xu Xianchu as well?” Zhang Xiaoman asked.

“I don’t really know him, but I know that he’s a good friend of Xiaosu’s.” Wang Fugui wondered, “Can Xu Xianchu find Ren Xiaosu?”

However, Wang Fugui did not believe that. After all, they were the ones who were closest to Ren Xiaosu. If even they did not know where to find him, how would Xu Xianchu know?

Zhang Xiaoman lowered his voice and said, “Old Xu told us that wherever Ren Xiaosu goes, a stronghold will collapse. Just look, isn’t Stronghold 74 in the south of the Central Plains currently under siege? It might just collapse someday. Xu Xianchu suspects that Ren Xiaosu could be there, so Wang Fengyuan has already sent someone to Stronghold 74 to investigate. For all we know, he might be found in another few days!”

Wang Fugui was dumbfounded. ‘So you all are relying on mysticism to search for Ren Xiaosu?!’ What the fuck did he mean by strongholds would collapse whenever Ren Xiaosu went?

Wang Fugui thought back. Eh, it did seem like that was really the case!

After thinking for a long time, Wang Fugui did not even know how to refute Zhang Xiaoman’s words!

But upon further thinking, it was indeed more reliable to have Fortress 178 look for someone than them. As such, Wang Fugui decided to wait here for news.

At this moment, news of Stronghold 74 collapsing had not yet spread to the Northwest. Even the majority of those in the Alliance of Strongholds still did not know what had happened to Stronghold 74. They only knew that contact had been lost with the people there.

Zhang Xiaoman dragged Wang Fugui with him to get lunch. Immediately after that, he enthusiastically arranged some goods for Wang Fugui to bring back to the Central Plains. “We initially thought that trade with the Central Plains wouldn’t start until half a year later, but we’ve underestimated the enthusiasm of the merchants out there. You can’t be returning with your trucks empty, or you would have wasted a trip! I’ve already arranged everything for you over here. Of course, we can’t let you take too much on our first deal, so we just prepared several dozen tons of potassium chloride for you to haul back.”

Wang Fugui was dumbfounded. He knew what potassium chloride was and the many uses it had. If he brought it back, it would definitely sell for a lot.

In fact, most of the minerals from the Northwest could be sold directly to the Wang Consortium when they were brought back to the Central Plains. The Wang Consortium’s purpose in opening the trade route was precisely for the Northwest’s mineral resources, after all.

Zhang Xiaoman offered him several dozen tons of the mineral as soon as he opened his mouth, but Wang Fugui could not even comprehend the amount that this unit of measurement represented.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, “We only brought four used trucks…”

Zhang Xiaoman said nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you some more trucks.”

He then got his orderly to summon the more well-to-do families in the stronghold and owners of various businesses over.

These people used to be under the Zong Consortium’s protection. After Fortress 178 had taken over at the stronghold, Zhang Jinglin ordered not to make things too difficult for them.

Zhang Xiaoman and the others tacitly understood what this meant. What the fortress commander meant was that they could make things difficult for them but not to the extent of forcing them to their deaths.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoman, who had been looking for a chance to deal with these well-to-do families, was now presented with a good opportunity to make them contribute to Wang Fugui’s business.

When these families arrived, Zhang Xiaoman asked to borrow a convoy of vehicles from them. If there were any extra vehicles left after loading up the potassium chloride, they would add some nickel ore for Wang Fugui to bring back.