Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Paba said meaningfully, "The reason I called you here is, of course, because you are of great use."

"Could it be that you want to use the guise of strengthening trade to send more soldiers disguised as merchants into the pass, and then coordinate from within?" Fang Zheng Yi said without hesitation.

"Brother Fang is indeed clever! However, this is only one of the reasons. More importantly, I am interested in Brother Fang's abilities."

"To be honest, I once sent people to pay attention to the movements in the capital. I heard that Brother Fang created a magical object that can fly into the sky. The reason I invited you here is to build it. If there are really flying soldiers, then surprise attacks on grain and fodder will be almost impossible to defend against. My Great Jin is betting the whole country on this, so naturally, I don't want any mistakes to occur."

"If you honestly cooperate with me, gold, silver, and beautiful women will be within reach, and it is not impossible to be granted a title and become a high-ranking official! Brother Fang, I have always admired your talent. A talent like you will definitely not be buried in His Majesty's hands."

Damn it! I'm still a hot commodity. Prince Wu wants to snatch me, and you, damn it, also want to snatch me?

"Impossible! I, Fang Zheng Yi, will live as a subject of Great Jing and die as a ghost of Great Jing! Ask around, who doesn't know that I am an iron-willed loyalist?" Fang Zheng Yi said angrily, "If I follow you, I will be a slave of three surnames. How will future generations view me?"

"A slave of three surnames?" Paba was confused, touching his bald head: "It should be two surnames, right?"

"....... Even two surnames won't do!"

"What kind of iron-willed loyalist are you? Have you smeared me in the newspapers any less? You even made yourself out to be some kind of wise man. Do you think I don't know? ! And you use public resources for private gain. I know that the newspaper office actually has a share belonging to your Crown Prince, right? But it's full of advertisements for your Taoyuan County industries, and those vulgar headlines. How do you explain that?" As Paba spoke, he became a little annoyed. He usually liked to read the newspapers, and he felt disgusted when he thought of the clickbait headlines.

Fang Zheng Yi was silent for a while and said, "What you said... is not consistent with the facts."

He couldn't explain, after all, what Paba said was true. Most of the advertisements in the newspaper now were indeed for Taoyuan County's industries.

The newspaper's news had indeed been completely changed to sensationalist headlines for sales. There was no way around it; the common people just liked to read that...

Paba waved his hand and smiled slightly: "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I have revealed everything today and have shown enough sincerity. Brother Fang can consider it carefully. I will give you three days. From today onwards, I will send more people to guard this place strictly. No one from the delegation is allowed to step out of the post station again. Those who violate this will be beheaded."

"If you don't agree after three days, I will start killing people from the delegation, killing three people for each day of delay. Each person will be executed in front of you with extreme punishment, until all are killed."

Damn it! This old monk's heart is so ruthless!?

Fang Zheng Yi was furious and immediately pointed at Paba's forehead and cursed: "It is against the rules to execute envoys in war between two countries. Paba, you are a disgrace to Buddhism!"

I'm not a monk. Buddhism, my ass!?

Paba's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot: "I have said all I need to say. Tell the guards downstairs when you have figured it out. Farewell!"

After speaking, he turned and left.

Looking at his back, Fang Zheng Yi felt miserable.

Frustrating, this trip was really frustrating. He had entered a desperate situation...

Seeing Paba's figure disappear, Fang Zheng Yi became more and more angry. He picked up the teapot and slammed it towards the door, shouting, "Damn it, you're lucky you ran fast!"

With a 'pa' sound, the teapot shattered into pieces!

The next second, there was a loud crash outside the door. Two burly men burst through the door, each brandishing a steel saber, running frantically side by side towards the stairwell. Then Paba's terrified scream came from the doorway.

"What are you doing! ! What are you going to do? ? Let's talk nicely!"

Before Fang Zheng Yi could react, Zhang Biao and Zhou Tie had already dragged Paba back from the stairwell, holding their sabers crossed at his neck.

Zhang Biao kicked Paba hard in the back of his knees, and with a 'plop' sound, Paba knelt down in front of Fang Zheng Yi.

Zhou Tie sneered: "With your old bones, you want to run after offending the master?"

Paba knelt tremblingly on the ground, looking expectantly at Fang Zheng Yi and swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

"Brother Fang... killing the fish and breaking the net will not end well for anyone. I advise you to be rational."

Fang Zheng Yi looked at Paba, who was kneeling in front of him with a bewildered expression, his scalp tingling, and also swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Master... misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding. What the hell are you two doing? Release him!" Fang Zheng Yi put on a solemn face and quickly stepped forward to help Paba up, constantly patting the dust off his pants.

His life was in the other party's hands. He had just broken ties and the man was forced to kneel. How could they talk later? How could he survive!

Paba was in a state of utter disarray, his eyes and nose crooked with anger. If he had hair, he would probably explode on the spot.

"Three days, I will only give you three days. Brother Fang, you had better take the initiative. Don't say I didn't warn you." Paba pointed at Fang Zheng Yi's nose and warned, trying to regain some face.

Fang Zheng Yi chuckled twice: "Understood... Take care, a prime minister's belly can hold a boat."

"Hmph!" Paba flung his sleeves angrily and turned to leave again.

Fang Zheng Yi quickly stepped forward and peeked out the door, watching Paba leave completely before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

He turned back and scolded Zhou Tie and Zhang Biao: "You two idiots! You almost killed everyone. Can't you see he's the National Preceptor?"

Fortunately, Paba was not petty, otherwise, who knows what trouble would have occurred.

"Who knew he was the National Preceptor? He ran so fast, and all I saw was a bald head. You were the one who said he was lucky to run fast..." Zhou Tie mumbled softly.

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing. Master, why did you argue with him?"

Zhou Tie's question made Fang Zheng Yi feel melancholy again. He raised his hand weakly and said, "Close the door and talk."

After closing the door, Fang Zheng Yi sat at the table and sighed for a while before saying, "It's over. We've been tricked. There's no trade at all. This is a trap. The Jin Kingdom and Great Jing are preparing to go to war. They tricked me here to help them build hot air balloons. What are we going to do...?"

Zhou Tie was stunned, his words a little stuttered: "This... really?"

Fang Zheng Yi helplessly repeated what Paba had said and then said, "Tell me, what are your thoughts? We have three days to consider."

"I have an idea." Zhang Biao lifted his coat, revealing a small armory: "I have needles and dye here. How about re-tattooing the words on my back?"

"Shut up. Why the hell did you bring dye?"

"For pretending to vomit blood or be poisoned."

Zhou Tie had been frowning, but suddenly he opened his mouth and said, "Master, you should have brought a map before you came out, right? I want to take a look."

"Good." Fang Zheng Yi hurriedly went to get the map.

After the map was spread on the table, Zhou Tie placed his hands on it and began to observe it carefully.

After thinking for a long time, his brow relaxed, and he pointed to a place on the map: "Master, look, this is the Six Harmonies Pass..."