Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The Prince of Wu was still rambling on, seemingly lost in his negative emotions and unable to pull himself out.

Fang Zheng had some understanding.

No matter how strong one's abilities, they were still human, and everyone had times when the pressure was too great.

Especially someone like the Prince of Wu, who was dealing with earth-shattering events, the pressure was even greater. Once there was an outlet, it would pour out like a flood bursting through a dam.

However, Fang Zheng remained unconcerned, even a little impatient, listening to his incessant mumbling.

The Prince of Wu's words sounded beautiful.

Indeed! He had broadened his horizons and possessed great ambitions, but so what?

He hoarded the sweet potatoes in his hands, condoned Liu Xun's expansion of the grain disaster to create opportunities for himself, and colluded with the Lü family.

Throughout the entire process, he regarded the common people as pigs, dogs, and pawns.

Fang Zheng looked down on such people.

He never empathized with grand narratives and was even extremely wary of them.

In his previous life, he was an ordinary office worker; in this life, he was a poor county magistrate in a remote mountain village.

Even now that he had made a name for himself, he could never wash away his fundamental nature.

Behind every magnificent period of history, every emperor and general who achieved great feats, lay countless ordinary people's mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Perhaps in his previous life, when he looked at history, he had empathized with the kings and generals in history.

But being in history, he could see the tragic reality all too clearly.

Having heard enough of the Prince of Wu's nonsense, Fang Zheng interrupted, "Your Highness, I still have one thing I don't understand. What exactly do you want to do with me after capturing me?"

The Prince of Wu stopped talking, his expression slightly displeased.

It wasn't easy to have a chance to talk about his feelings, but the person in front of him didn't appreciate it. He suppressed his displeasure and said, "What else can I do?"

"I've said so much, don't you understand? Of course, I want to take you out to sea together."

"Your Highness, to be frank, I'm just mediocre. Perhaps there are some things about me that you admire, but it doesn't seem necessary to go to such great lengths, does it?" Fang Zheng asked with puzzlement.

"Yes, it is very necessary! Since we've already opened up today, I'll tell you the truth."

"I want the Immeasurable Merit from your Peach Blossom County! Although I don't know what this thing is, I sent people to Jianjiang to investigate the location where it was used. Its power to split mountains and rocks greatly surprised me. This thing must be a weapon of war! When we get overseas, we will definitely be short of manpower. With this thing, we can expand our territory!" The Prince of Wu looked directly at Fang Zheng, observing his expression.

Fang Zheng wanted to say that it was gone, but after thinking carefully, he was afraid of losing his life here if he said that.

So he changed his words and said, "Now that you've captured me, why haven't you set off yet? Are you waiting for someone?"

"That's right. I have another group of people who have already gone to Peach Blossom County to retrieve the Immeasurable Merit for me. My people should be back in a few days."

Damn it! Dare to touch my people!

A surge of anger burst out in Fang Zheng's heart.

Peach Blossom County was his foundation, his home. Anyone who dared to touch it was making an enemy of him!

Even if he was confident that the Prince of Wu's men couldn't enter Peach Blossom County, he wouldn't allow them to even think about it, let alone act on it!

"Has Your Highness ever considered that Peach Blossom County has such a magical weapon, your men have no chance of entering the county at all. Going there is just sending them to their deaths."

"Yes, that's why I had to capture you."

"......"

The Prince of Wu adjusted his sleeves and sat back down opposite Fang Zheng: "You have no other choice."

"A dignified county magistrate actually led the people of the county to beg for food. It's ridiculous for others to hear about it! A talent like you has never been discovered, which shows that the Emperor has no discerning eye!"

"It's different with me. I appreciate your talent and treat you as a national scholar. What more could you want?"

Fang Zheng's face suddenly gradually turned rosy.

Damn it, even this black history has been dug up? He probably didn't know the Prince of Wu back then. This voyeur!

But on second thought, Huang Shengrong had worked for the Prince of Wu before, so it was normal for him to know about this.

However, Fang Zheng still felt quite embarrassed, after all, he generally didn't like to mention the black history of being a beggar.

Fang Zheng retorted stubbornly: "Your Highness, don't talk nonsense!"

The Prince of Wu was about to reply when Steward Chen opened the door and walked in, bowing: "Your Majesty, the banquet is ready."

"Please, you must be hungry after such a long time. Let's eat and chat." The Prince of Wu said.

After Fang Zheng sat down, he looked around and said, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that I will kidnap you and escape from here?"

The Prince of Wu looked at Steward Chen beside him and pointed: "Do you know who he is?"

"I know, isn't he Steward Chen of the Prince's Mansion? We've met before."

"Heh, he's the steward of the Prince's Mansion now, but he wasn't before."

"His name is Chen Jian, and he was originally the Emperor's personal eunuch of the Qian Kingdom. You can try to kidnap me and see if your hand is faster or his sword is faster."

"Did he kill the Emperor of the Qian Kingdom?"

"That's right, but the Emperor of the Qian Kingdom died from taking golden elixirs that year. It seems that old people's brains are not very good." The Prince of Wu smiled disdainfully.

I also have such a eunuch, but why doesn't he know martial arts?

Isn't this where Yi Bai's enemy is found! Getting rid of him would save a lot of trouble!

But now he was in danger himself, and random thoughts just flashed through Fang Zheng's mind. Then he looked at Chen Jian and sneered: "Traitor, despicable! Your Highness, this person has rebellious bones, he can't be kept."

Chen Jian's smiling face suddenly sank, and he stared at Fang Zheng with a gloomy gaze.

You little bastard! He started sowing discord as soon as he met?

The Prince of Wu ignored Fang Zheng and said to himself: "No, you and I have already been frank with each other. I am no longer the Prince of Wu of the Great Jing. You should call me Your Majesty."

"Impossible! Even a dog in the capital knows that I, Fang Zheng, am a loyal minister. If I call you Your Majesty, how will I face people in the future?" Fang Zheng replied without hesitation.

He absolutely couldn't admit it now!

He was still waiting for someone to rescue him. He would be out of his mind to go overseas with you!

He still had a big family waiting for him to support!

Besides, with the dilapidated ships of this era, there was a high probability of dying halfway in a big storm!

Moreover, there was no negotiation where you kneel as soon as you meet. Wouldn't that be demeaning yourself?

Seeing that Fang Zheng didn't give him any face at all, the Prince of Wu's face darkened and said: "Loyal minister? Flattering, privately building city walls, overstepping the boundaries of renovation, hijacking merchants, manufacturing military equipment yourself. Which of these things you have done is something a loyal minister should do? For several years, I thought you were preparing to rebel!"

"I love my country and I am not guilty!" Fang Zheng shouted.

As soon as these words came out, the Prince of Wu was obviously amused and ridiculed: "Not guilty? Even the most despicable person can love their country. If a dog could talk, it would probably love its country if you gave it a bone, right?"

"I have given you enough face. You have no right to choose. Don't be ungrateful. If my men get the Immeasurable Merit from Peach Blossom County, whether you can save your life is still up for debate! You have ruined my plans several times. Do you think I really don't want to kill you?"

........

Inside the Haiyuan City Prison.

"Have you recorded it?"

"Recorded."

Zhao Lie nodded, looking at the Lü family members who had finished giving their confessions: "Well, the silver foil is used up, no need to record anymore, lock him up."

The brother who was recording breathed a sigh of relief and shook his wrist: "Alas... it's finally over, this broken thing is troublesome enough! The master also has many requirements, and if he stutters, he has to re-record."

After speaking, he got up and slapped the Lü family member in the face: "Let you stutter!"

Although the phonograph was novel, everyone was obviously tired of playing with it after a few times, let alone playing with it all day long.

Zhao Lie silently packed up the phonograph, glanced at the Lü family members who were silently shedding tears, and said: "You know how to cry now? What were you thinking when you were bullying people?"

At this moment, a person suddenly came in outside the prison door, ran to Zhao Lie, and said breathlessly: "Captain! Something happened... I went to send things to the master but couldn't find him anywhere, Zhou Jiaotou is also not there. I saw a mark left by our people on the ground and went out of the city gate all the way. The city gate guards said that they saw someone riding a horse carrying someone running out of the city in the morning!"

"I just sent a signal in the city, and our people have all arrived, but the master and Zhou Jiaotou are missing!"

Zhao Lie's heart trembled, and the hairs on his body stood on end: "Why didn't the city gate guards stop them! Are you sure?"

"That's right! The two good-for-nothings at the city gate know that we have taken over Haiyuan City and don't do anything anymore, they just chat all day long!"

"Immediately! ! Have the brothers bring all the equipment and chase out of the city immediately! !"