The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 38 Beautiful Spy

Since the Zhen family is now wavering, Yuan Tan feels it is necessary for him to put some pressure on them.

If the Zhen family is willing to serve, they can simply move their business to Qingzhou.

As the governor of Qingzhou, how could I, a high-ranking official, collude with these merchants and officials?

Can't we let them rise to the top?

Moreover, now that he has figured out a way to produce sea salt, he is sure to be able to make a fortune every day.

If he were to transfer this distributorship to the Zhen family, wouldn't that allow them to rise to prominence along with him?

Moreover, his own salt-making method is far superior to current technology.

We are not afraid of not having a market.

If the Zhen family is willing to follow me, then we can all get rich together.

I can also take this opportunity to marry his daughter and taste the flavor of the future Empress of Wei.

If you are still hesitant and undecided,

hum!

"Young master, the Zhen family has helped us so much. If we betray them, wouldn't we disappoint the world?"

Wu Yu asked with some doubt.

Yuan Tan smiled slightly and said in a low voice:

"What are you afraid of? Who would know that we leaked this information? Besides, if you give this information to Yuan Shang, he will only trust you more, and then you will be safe, right?"

Wu Yu raised her head, a hint of emotion flickering in her beautiful eyes.

So, the young master betrayed the Zhen family for his own benefit?

Yuan Tan continued:

"From today onwards, you will continue to be a double agent. In short, whatever Yuan Shang wants to know, except for some classified matters that cannot be revealed, you can use a mix of truth and ambiguity to keep Yuan Shang in check."

Wu Yu was also a clever man, and immediately understood Yuan Tan's plan; the worry and fear in his eyes vanished instantly.

"This servant understands! We'll make sure that Third Young Master can't tell the truth from the falsehood!"

Hmph! You're so easily moved!

Anyway, I won't tell you anything confidential. I'll make you work for me for free, and you should be grateful!

I'm such a born insect!

"Defense alone is not enough."

Yuan Tan changed the subject, and said in a solemn voice,

"Yuan Shang is in Ye City and knows everything about me, while I am almost deaf and blind to what is happening in Ye City. If this continues, we will suffer a great loss. We must have our own eyes and ears."

"What does the young master mean?"

"Wine, women, wealth, and anger are the worst things for a person's will, and they are also the easiest ways to get information."

Yuan Tan's eyes gleamed.

"I intend to emulate the ancients and establish a government-run wine shop, ostensibly to increase military revenue, but in reality, as an intelligence hub. This establishment could be named... Tingtao Pavilion, a place that combines fine wines, delicious food, and music, specifically for entertaining merchants from the north and south, as well as visiting officials."

Upon hearing this, not only Wu Yu, but even Wu Lian glared at Yuan Tan with hostility.

What government-run tavern? Isn't it just a brothel?

Yuan Tan felt somewhat embarrassed by the gaze, but he remained calm and composed, saying:

"In a sense, I've also created jobs for some women, so why not...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Yu said, somewhat indignantly:

"Young master, aren't you afraid of having children and being gossiped about behind your back if you do this?"

She originally wanted to say that babies don't have an anus, but then she thought that Yuan Tan and she would have children in the future.

By hurling such insults, isn't she cursing her own descendants?

Although Wu Lian did not speak, she had roughly the same thought. However, since her status was lower than Wu Yu's, how could she overstep her bounds before her young mistress had even spoken?

However, in addition to her surprise, she was also somewhat puzzled.

Miss Wu Yu is usually very obedient, so why is there such a strong backlash about this?

Yuan Tan had the same doubts, but then he thought that perhaps the concept of chastity in the Han Dynasty was much more conservative than in later generations.

In my own time, how many young women were willing to become prostitutes in order to earn money?

After all, working diligently as a receptionist at a company might not earn you as much as entertaining guests at a karaoke bar.

Yuan Tan looked at the pity in Wu Yu's eyes and knew that she was thinking of her own experience and felt sorry for her fellow human beings.

He sighed, pulled her back into his arms, and softened his tone:

"Yu'er, I know you have a kind heart. But in chaotic times, survival comes before dignity. Haven't we seen enough of people exchanging children to eat and splitting bones to cook food on the border?"

How many women sell themselves for a meager living? We established this establishment not to force women into prostitution, but to offer those destitute and desperate women a different path to survival, a chance to take some control of their own destiny.

He lifted Wu Yu's chin, looked directly into her eyes, and feigned a compassionate expression:

"I assure you that no one will be forced to enter this building; it will all be voluntary. All those women who are homeless, intelligent, and willing to make a living here will be selected from among the refugees we are set up in.

Your responsibility is to secretly train them in the art of reading people and extracting information, not simply in singing and dancing. A substantial reward will be given for any intelligence obtained, and those who wish to leave can take their savings and return to a clean and honest life.

Hehe! Touched, aren't you!

If I want you to work for me, I must make sure you do it willingly.

This matter of espionage is definitely of paramount importance.

You must entrust it to someone you completely trust.

Tying Wu Yu up with Lou Ban himself was only the first step.

I need to offer something else to make you completely devoted to me.

Women are emotional creatures, so using emotions to further bind her will definitely be twice as effective.

He sent Wu Lian away before speaking:

"Wu Yu, you've been with me for a few months now, haven't you? You've had a tough time these past few days."

Wu Yu was also taken aback upon hearing this.

I have no idea what Yuan Tan meant by that seemingly random remark.

She lowered her eyelashes and said softly:

"Serving you, young master, is my duty; there's no need to complain about the hardship..."

"No, this is not my duty."

Yuan Tan interrupted her, his tone firm.

"I sent you here to monitor me and wear me down. Yet you chose me; this favor goes far beyond what I should have done. Come to think of it, have you ever blamed me for taking you like this? Perhaps you can now attach yourself to a much bigger tree."

A blush immediately rose on Wu Yu's face:

"Young master..."

"You're even shy now, haha. Who told you to be so beautiful? Even knowing you were sent by Shen Pei to spy on me, I couldn't resist..."

"Young master, please stop..."

Wu Yu's face turned even redder, and she snuggled into Yuan Tan's arms, curling up like a cat.

Yuan Tan gently stroked her smooth back, paused, and said:

"Once the situation in Qingzhou stabilizes, I will choose an auspicious day to formally take you as my concubine. From then on, you will no longer be a maidservant with an awkward status, but my concubine, Yuan Tan's concubine. I will also treat your younger brother, Lou Ban, as family and nurture him."

boom!

These words struck Wu Yu like a thunderbolt!

Taking a concubine!

A formal title!

This was something a woman who had once been a spy and came from a non-Han ethnic minority family could never have dreamed of!

This is not just a change of identity, but also an affirmation of her overall value as a person.

It also gave her brother a bright and honorable future!

The overwhelming shock and joy left her speechless for a moment, tears welling up and streaming down her cheeks.

She had her doubts about Yuan Tan's sincerity and worried about what would happen to her after her beauty faded and his love waned.

But at this moment, all the worries, grievances, and anxieties vanished in the face of this promise.

"Young...Young Master!"

She abruptly stood up, disregarding her disheveled appearance, and knelt before Yuan Tanying on the couch, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"This servant...this servant is unworthy of such favor from you, young master! I would be willing to die for you in this life!"