Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"That's between him and me, you don't need to ask too much about it."

Fang Zheng Yi's expression held a hint of bitterness.

Yi Bai's identity was, after all, a liability. If he revealed it, he could save his own life.

But protecting his family's lives would be difficult; he only had the path of compromise.

Paba wiped the blood from his face and said readily, "Alright, then I won't ask."

"But what makes you so sure that the Jing Kingdom will send people from so far away to save you?"

Fang Zheng Yi said, "Heh heh, State Preceptor, how could you ask such a stupid question? The envoy party has over a hundred people from my Great Jing; surely someone will come to save us. I just need to hold the city, and besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Don't underestimate the bond between me and the Crown Prince!" Fang Zheng Yi said with pride.

"Tui! Disgusting!" Paba spat in disgust, "Our army is still fighting on the front lines; victory is not impossible! When that time comes, it will be your and Ali Bai's death!"

"Stop being foolish. I estimate that Cheng Gao Pass has already fallen. Have you forgotten that we also have hot air balloons? Firearm weapons combined with hot air balloons will turn the pass into a caged beast, and the Jin soldiers will be lambs to the slaughter. Wu Tu has probably already been blown to bits."

What!?

A bolt of lightning suddenly struck Paba's mind.

That terrifying weapon could actually descend from the sky?

If what he had seen was any indication, Cheng Gao Pass would likely be reduced to rubble before long, and then His Majesty...

Thinking of this, Paba's face quickly turned ashen.

Fang Zheng Yi consoled him, "Now that things have come to this, don't think too much about it. Let's talk about our business."

"Heh? Who's 'we'? What else do you want to say?" Paba asked listlessly.

Fang Zheng Yi said, "If the Jin Kingdom is defeated, my Great Jing will inevitably have to help you elect a new emperor who can get along with my Great Jing."

"Most of the core political figures of the Jin Kingdom, as well as the other princes, are basically dead. The rest are on the battlefield. Now, the only candidate is Ali Bai."

"He can be considered to have performed meritorious service for my Great Jing by protecting the envoy party. I also have some secrets with him privately, so I certainly won't oppose him. And you defeated remnants have even less say."

Paba was shocked, "Wait, the princes are all dead, what do you mean??"

"Exactly what I said. Ali Bai killed all his brothers to eliminate future troubles."

Hearing this, Paba's legs went weak, and he staggered on the spot, muttering, "How dare he... This bastard, how dare he?!"

Fang Zheng Yi sighed, "Yes, I didn't expect it either... How dare he do it. When I first met him, he seemed so honest and unassuming; I never thought he could do such a detestable thing."

"Isn't it because of you? It must be you, you're the one who caused it!" Paba suddenly lost control and shouted.

Fang Zheng Yi said angrily, "What do you mean I caused it! I helped him become talented, I let him grasp power, I've always been helping him. Who knew that after only a few days in power, he'd become so arrogant? It must be a problem with your upbringing."

"I ask you, did Wu Tu beat and scold him for no reason, and use his brothers to put him down, turning him into a pervert?"

"......"

Paba remained silent.

That was indeed true; Fang Zheng Yi was right... His Majesty really did do that.

Ali Bai had been disliked since he was a child, and his brothers were all more outstanding than him.

And he basically couldn't hold his head up in a crowd... Over time, he became an invisible, honest person.

But now, this change was too great.

Seeing his expression, Fang Zheng Yi had a good idea of what was going on, and couldn't help but mock, "See! He's like this because of you!"

"You... you're shifting the blame!" Paba was so angry that his teeth itched, and he couldn't wait to pounce on him and tear this bastard apart.

Even in this situation, the blame could still be pinned on his own head?

"Alright, stop interrupting me." Fang Zheng Yi waved his hand and continued, "Ali Bai has completely lost control."

"He's now just an idiot blinded by the desire for power. He has no real ability; he can only use his prestige to manipulate those below him. Many of the small families and officials in Pan Tai City have already submitted to him, and they are constantly flattering him."

"I'm afraid that if such a person truly ascends to the throne, he can only bring disaster to the Jin Kingdom."

Paba snorted coldly, "Isn't such a scene exactly what you want to see?"

Fang Zheng Yi shook his head in denial.

If Ali Bai continued to develop in this way, it was conceivable that the Jin Kingdom's court would be filled with useless people.

Useless people

And his own foundation was poor, and his level of organization and management was far from sufficient. Being flattered by this group of people until his hemorrhoids disappeared, coupled with the fanatical support of the people, who knew how crazy he would become in the future.

A chaotic Jin Kingdom was definitely not what Great Jing wanted to see.

"Does the chaos in the Jin Kingdom benefit my Great Jing in any way? What we need is a stable trading partner. Cooperation and win-win, mutual benefit, how can we benefit each other if you guys mess things up and become a pile of loose sand in the future?"

"Moreover, I, Fang Zheng Yi, am concerned about the well-being of all mankind. I will be the first to disagree with him harming the Jin Kingdom's people!"

"Tch!" Paba glanced sideways, "Wasn't it you who led him to harm them first?"

"I did that to increase the Jin Kingdom people's cohesion; he himself narrowed his path." Fang Zheng Yi said calmly.

Paba took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to curse, "So, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Besides Wu Tu's descendants, who else in the imperial clan can suppress the situation?"

Paba shook his head helplessly, "I don't know. I know nothing about the situation in the city now; I need to know the specific situation of who is alive and who is dead. And even if there is a suitable candidate, so what? I also saw the situation when I entered the city; Ali Bai has such unprecedented popular support. What can you do to bring him down?"

Fang Zheng Yi scratched his chin and suddenly chuckled, "State Preceptor, I think you look like a begging monk now. I think you're quite suitable to be the emperor..."

As soon as he said this, Paba's expression changed drastically, "What nonsense are you talking about! I, Paba, am loyal to Great Jin and will never do such unrighteous things!"

"Just kidding, don't be angry." Seeing that he was anxious, Fang Zheng Yi quickly comforted him, "Let's talk about the candidate later. I have an idea now, I don't know if you're willing to cooperate with me?"

"Speak."

"Before the people from my Great Jing arrive, you go and assist Ali Bai, and you must win his trust as soon as possible. Of course, it's sincere assistance, not perfunctory. It's best to let him treat you as his right-hand man."

"What do you mean? I don't understand. Do you want him to be good or not?" Paba asked in confusion.

"Of course I want him to step down, otherwise why would I bother talking so much to you? As for the subsequent arrangements, you will understand later. What do you think now?"

Paba frowned and fell into hesitation.

Everything changed too quickly after entering the city, and the truth was too shocking, and he couldn't fully digest it yet.

But one thing, Fang Zheng Yi was right, Ali Bai must not be allowed to make waves in the Jin Kingdom.

He looked at Fang Zheng Yi again and saw him wearing a dragon robe.

This dragon robe would probably bring him a lot of trouble... It seemed that the two of them were currently standing on the same united front.

After a long time, Paba finally nodded cautiously, "Okay, I'll try it for now. If you dare to play tricks, don't blame me for being rude."

......