Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The fleet slowly approached Dabu Huo Harbor.

The scale of the leading giant ship clearly astonished the foreigners near the port.

The unfamiliar fleet, flying an unfamiliar flag, seemed to be approaching aggressively.

The waves stirred up by the giant ship caused the small boats docked in the harbor to bob up and down continuously.

The port was in chaos for a time, with the foreigners running around and shouting.

It wasn't until the ship carrying Zheng Hui and the others slowly docked that the foreigners who had been watching from afar calmed down.

Immediately afterward, a group of people with very different appearances walked off the ship...

A foreigner on the shore murmured, "Foreigners?"

A large number of soldiers began to disembark one after another, gradually pouring into the port.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Xiao Shuai skillfully slipped away unnoticed.

Since Lord Zheng had instructed them to act along both overt and covert lines, it was best if he wasn't discovered, so he took the first step.

It was also a good opportunity to go home and take a look, to make arrangements early.

The Great Jing's navy men, all holding the hilts of their sabers at their waists, stood ready, emanating a murderous aura.

They had already experienced countless unfamiliar countries, each with different customs.

Although most were friendly and peace-loving.

Some natives, however, would attack strangers without question.

In other countries,械斗 broke out during the communication process.

Therefore, it was best to prepare in advance and remain still.

Zheng Hui quietly surveyed the surroundings, and as soon as he stepped onto land, he stepped into a patch of black mud.

Looking around, everything was muddy and dirty.

Just as Xiao Shuai had described.

This kind of environment clearly made him somewhat dissatisfied.

However, seeing the terrified foreigners hiding behind cover, he couldn't help but relax his expression.

This trip was both to open up the sea route and to establish diplomatic relations and promote the status of Great Jing.

It was not appropriate to be too ostentatious and aggressive here.

Moreover, Great Jing was a civilized country, a land of etiquette, and it would be demeaning to always act arrogantly.

The strong always treat people equally to show respect, while the weak bare their fangs and claws.

Lai Gou'er and Ka Le Mi accompanied him to the side.

Before long, several hundred foreign cavalrymen arrived at the port.

Behind them was a group of infantry.

The leading foreigner drew his sword and held it in front of his chest.

Seeing Ka Le Mi with them, his eyes lit up, and he asked a question in a foreign language.

Ka Le Mi answered loudly, and the eyes of the people around him gradually brightened.

Zheng Hui leaned towards Lai Gou'er and whispered, "What are they saying?"

After drifting at sea for so long, Lai Gou'er had already learned the foreigners' language.

He whispered back, "Ka Le Mi is introducing the situation and requesting to take us to see His Majesty the King."

Zheng Hui nodded, observing the situation quietly.

The foreign cavalry leader exchanged a few words, then suddenly called over a subordinate, who rode off quickly.

Lai Gou'er was about to translate when Zheng Hui raised his hand and smiled, "He must be going to the yamen to report!"

"Brother Zheng, how do you know?"

"They're all people, isn't this the standard procedure everywhere? Who would dare to take responsibility without asking their superiors? Let's wait," Zheng Hui said with a smile.

Before long, another foreigner ran back and began to negotiate with Ka Le Mi.

Unexpectedly, Ka Le Mi turned back with a troubled expression and glanced at Zheng Hui.

"Lord Zheng, His Majesty does not want you to go over yet. Please return to the ship to rest, and the audience will be held later."

"Only I can see him now."

Zheng Hui raised his hand and said, "It's fine, we'll do as the host pleases. Let him go first, and we'll wait here."

....

Before long, a trembling Ka Le Mi was led into the palace.

He came from a humble background and had always done the lowest-level jobs.

He had initially gone to sea for trade, surrounded by bandits and ruffians.

Although he had been to the elegant halls of Jing, it had been a long time.

Coupled with his respect for his own monarch, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

When the guard led him to a chamber, Ka Le Mi was stunned.

There were many people in the room, including nobles he recognized.

Notably, Duke Yarevis of Fika, whose trading ship he had sailed on, was present.

Standing next to him was the Archbishop of the Taifu Church, who was currently holding a scripture and performing a prayer-like ritual.

In the very center of the room was a person dressed in the most extravagant clothing, whom Ka Le Mi recognized at a glance as the King.

He was reclining lazily on a long chair, his face full of languor, one arm drooping listlessly by the bed.

A shallow cut had already been made on his drooping wrist, and blood was dripping from his palm into a basin below the chair.

The barber and physician next to him, holding a razor, was eager to make another cut.

"Your Majesty, the evil spirit has entered your body! Please continue chanting the scriptures, Archbishop. It is estimated that the evil spirit will be expelled soon. Everything depends on Your Majesty's will!"

Ka Le Mi opened his mouth, unable to resist the urge to speak out and stop them.

If this had been in the past, he would have thought this method of treatment was justified, but after studying at the Dongjiao University in Great Jing...

He only felt it was incredibly stupid! Isn't this just slaughtering a pig?

The King, the Duke, and several others in the room looked at Ka Le Mi at the same time.

Ka Le Mi snapped back to attention and quickly paid his respects.

The King said weakly, "I heard that you came all the way with the foreigners? Since you are a Fika person, why are you mingling with the foreigners? Where do they come from?"

Ka Le Mi hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the fleet in the harbor comes from the East. This fleet represents the mysterious Eastern civilization, the number one power in the Far East, the Great Jing Dynasty!"

"As for me, I was originally a crew member on the Gregory, which was lost in a storm at sea, and that's how I ended up in Great Jing. Great Jing treated me as an honored guest and intends to establish friendly relations with Fika and other countries, so they sent a fleet here."

Duke Yarevis was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"The Gregory, that ship has been missing for a long time. It seems you're just a ruffian from that ship. And the Great Jing Dynasty actually treated you as an honored guest? Heh, what number one power in the Far East, it's laughable."

As soon as he said this, the people in the room couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Everyone knew that sailors were mostly disreputable, and this suddenly emerging so-called powerful country was treating a lowlife from their own country with great courtesy.

Aren't they just ignorant bumpkins?

Ka Le Mi felt a lump in his throat, his face flushed red.

Suddenly, he caught sight of the King lying on the chair, his breath seemingly growing weaker and weaker, and he stopped laughing.

He hurriedly dissuaded them, "Stop the bleeding for His Majesty! If you let it continue, his life will be in danger."

"Bold!" Several people glared at him at the same time, but the barber was the first to issue a warning angrily.

"His Majesty is fighting against the evil spirit, how can you talk nonsense here?"

Ka Le Mi said anxiously, "I learned their medical skills in the Far East. Bleeding like this will surely lead to death!"

He couldn't let the King die here. Lord Zheng's fleet was still waiting outside the palace to establish diplomatic relations.

If he died, how long would it be delayed before he could return to Great Jing to take up his post as a Jinyiwei?

He didn't want to stay in this small, broken place called Fika for even a day!

However, this statement of his angered everyone again, and even the dying King couldn't help but raise his eyes slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in them.

The barber had already walked angrily to Ka Le Mi's side: "Shut your mouth!"

......