Lords of the Heavens

Chapter 47 Penny's Plan

Faced with Missy's questioning and Li Wei's equally puzzled expression, Penny had no choice but to stop, think for a moment, and then said:
"My plan is actually very simple. The crossbows we make are prohibited from being bought and sold. If we go to the market there and get reported, we'll be dead even if we have a hundred lives. Selling weapons won't be easy either. We have to register with the guild first, and we have to pay taxes to the lord. After all that, even if everything goes smoothly, how much can we make?"

"So I plan to find these mountain bandits and robbers. They must have ways to sell stolen goods. If we only sell ordinary swords, it will be like throwing fat sheep into the tiger's den, courting death. But if we can continuously manufacture crossbows, these desperados will agree. They will not refuse such wealth that can last for a long time, and we will have a stable sales channel. Of course, even so, this trade will still have many risks."

"Therefore, we must also prepare for battle. Fortune favors the bold, and it is worth the risk."

After Penny finished explaining, Li Wei was completely dumbfounded.

No, how can it be so abstract? You really have an adventurous spirit, sister!

He usually seems very shrewd, so how did he come up with such a method?

"Why don't we just take over this bandit den? Even collecting the bounty on their heads would be better than this," Li Wei suggested. Honestly, he really couldn't understand what Penny was thinking.
"Shut up, George! What we want isn't the bounty, but a trade route. Once that trade route is established, it will be the foundation of all development. Don't you understand that?"

Penny glared at Li Weiyi with displeasure. She had worked so hard to develop handicrafts and explore for minerals, risking her life to build up this advantage. Could it be solved by simply taking down a bandit's den?
Others might just want to buy some salt, but she wanted more: to establish a trade channel, which would revitalize everything, allow the family to earn its first pot of gold, and enable the family to transform into a clan.

To achieve this goal, what's a little risk? She wouldn't even mind becoming a bandit's wife!

That's right, she had even considered the worst-case scenario when she came to find this group of robbers.

For a better completion rating, what can't be sacrificed?

However, seeing Li Wei frown and Missy looking unconvinced, Penny had no choice but to soften her tone and continue explaining, "When we were on the run, we had dealings with this gang of bandits. They robbed us at a previous crossroads. Father was still alive then, and he recognized the bandit leader. He seemed to have been a knight's squire in Kachburg, but was later wanted. His name was Anderson, and Father traded two sacks of wheat with him."

"Overall, Anderson is easy to talk to, and his past identity is also helpful in opening up the underground black market, so I think we have a high chance of success this time. But the premise is that we need to find their hiding place. At that time, even if we give them 90% of the profits, it will still be profitable for us. Do you understand what I mean?"

This time, Li Wei understood, and Missy also seemed to be deep in thought. Yes, for this reason, Penny's approach was indeed somewhat feasible.

However, his personality and consistent work habits did not allow him to take such a risk, and he did not have a strong need to establish a foreign trade channel.

He immediately said, "Sister, I agree with your reasoning, but I don't want to take any risks. Can I keep watch for you two from a distance? Since you're so confident, it won't make a difference if I'm not there. If there's any real risk and things get heated, I can come to your aid."

Upon hearing this, a flash of barely suppressed anger crossed Penny's face, but she didn't say anything, only coldly glancing at Missy, "Do you want the same?"

Missy pondered and hesitated before laughing happily, "This plan is indeed crazy and abstract, but as the saying goes, 'No madness, no success.' This is indeed the only way to break the deadlock. Otherwise, those lords and guild merchants will devour us whole. Let's do it this way. At worst, we'll fight our way out!"

Missy is surprisingly confident; how can a seasoned professional be this awesome?

Ok.

Li Wei felt inferior and lacked confidence. He didn't say anything more, shouldered his pack, and went to the depths of the nearby bushes to lie low. At least if he couldn't win, he could escape.

No, he still sincerely hoped that Penny's plan would succeed. He could also fully understand Penny's thoughts. As a family of no status, it was actually even more unreliable for them to try to sell things like swords and bows in the lord's castle market.

If we can persuade these bandits and mountain brigands, even a 10/90 split would be worthwhile.

For a moment, Li Wei felt a pang of regret, because he had thoroughly offended Penny this time. Meanwhile, outside, Penny and Missy whispered and plotted for a while, then cut each other's hair short, making them look like two tomboys. They then began to evenly smear mud mixed with sweat on their necks, faces, and arms, making them even more similar.

Of course, details like chest binding are not overlooked.

With everything prepared, the two of them looked about 70-80% like men. After eating some more food, they each carried their supplies and headed towards the ravine ahead.

Li Wei kept a distance of about a hundred paces, following him through the bushes while keeping a close watch on his surroundings, including his footing.

At this time of year, there's not much to worry about with venomous snakes and insects, but since this is near the lair of bandits, we must be careful of the traps they've set.

Even traps designed to catch wild animals can be deadly.

However, they had to observe carefully, which inevitably slowed them down. In just a short while, Penny and Missy had already climbed into the ravine, while Li Wei was nearly 150 meters behind.

They really have no sense of cooperation.

Li Wei cursed inwardly, but dared not speed up. Now he not only had to guard against possible traps, but also worried about whether the bandits and robbers on the other side had deployed hidden sentries in the dark.

It didn't matter when we were far apart, but now that we're getting closer, the chances of being spotted by sentries are increasing.

It's not like hiding in the woods means he can act with impunity. Right now, there's no wind, and the swaying of the wild grass or the startled flight of birds and beasts could expose him.

At this point, all you can do is pray that the other side is full of idiots.

And so, Li Wei cautiously made his way to the ravine, which took him several minutes to reach. There was a low ridge there, and once he crossed it, he could see the ravine. There was a cliff made up of more than a dozen whole boulders, which was connected to the mountain behind it, forming a mound. The top was quite flat, and there was a cave, but he didn’t see anyone. Even the smoke he had seen earlier was gone.

As for Penny and Missy, they had already crossed the valley in the mountain pass and arrived at the foot of the rocky cliff.

Grass!
Li Wei secretly groaned, "Are you guys really that skilled and daring?"

The western side of this valley is covered with trees and shrubs, providing excellent concealment.

But once you cross the valley and reach the bare rocky cliffs, you'll truly have a panoramic view.

If anything changes, he won't even have time to provide support.

Just as he was thinking this, without warning, Li Wei saw Penny and Missy's figures sway, dust swirling around them, and they fell into the dust.

It's a trap!
It turned out to be a trap!
"Clang clang clang!" A loud, broken bell rang out, and then seven or eight savage-like creatures jumped out from all around. Their hiding skills were truly impressive, and the traps and mechanisms were also very well made.

But they were too far away. Li Wei could only vaguely hear some chaotic shouts, and he couldn't hear any more details. He only saw several savages rush over, pick up stones the size of human heads, and smash them down without mercy...

(End of this chapter)