Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

"Strange... Are you sure we've arrived at Pantai City?" Li Yuanzhao muttered, holding a telescope and lying on the ground.

Zhao Lie held the map and repeatedly flipped through it several times: "That's right, it's here. Does Your Highness have any questions?"

"The city gate is closed, and we've searched the vicinity several times. Why haven't we seen any herders? When we came, we clearly saw many signs of people living here, but where are they all?" Li Yuanzhao was puzzled.

Having just arrived at Pantai City, they hadn't even had time to formulate a plan when they discovered the unusual situation around the city.

After observing for a long time, the current situation felt somewhat like... a scorched-earth policy.

But was it necessary for Pantai City to do this?

Or had someone already gotten ahead of them and brought the news from the front line here, resulting in the current situation?

However, the number of guards on the city wall was sparse, and the state of the city's defenses showed no sense of urgency. Strange!

It's just a pity that we dare not get too close, and can only observe at the extreme distance with telescopes.

"Your Highness, what should we do next?" Zhao Lie asked.

Li Yuanzhao frowned: "Don't rush. This is a matter of great importance and cannot be handled carelessly. First, send a few people to scout around discreetly."

Zhao Lie nodded, bowed, and walked behind him to whisper instructions.

Several soldiers lying prone on the ground immediately got up and left in different directions.

......

By evening, the scouts had returned.

"Your Highness, there are indeed many signs of people living around, but no one lives there anymore. Except for some household tools, there is no food left, and even the livestock are gone."

Zhao Lie also felt a little strange and said, "Could it be that they have all been conscripted into the army, and the livestock have also been used as military supplies?"

"Wutu doesn't need to do this, and even if they are conscripting soldiers, the women should still be at home. Scorched earth... it can only be that. It seems that people have been withdrawn into the city."

Now that it was dark, they could not observe the state of Pantai City. Li Yuanzhao pondered for a moment and said, "Are the explosive packs all there?"

"Yes, what are Your Highness's plans?"

Li Yuanzhao nodded.

When they came out, in addition to grenades and other hot weapons for attack, they also brought several explosive packs.

It's just that they were heavy and not easy to carry, so they only brought enough to break through the city gate.

"I won't wait any longer. I have decided to attack the city."

"Your Highness, but our grenades have been used up. Can we take it down with just these people? Moreover, we don't know where the members of the mission are in the city. If we get trapped, we're all done for."

Li Yuanzhao said: "No, the place where they live must be on the periphery of the palace, together with other government offices. Since it is the royal family, the accommodation of foreign envoys will be carried out according to a fixed procedure."

"As long as our people rush through the central main road and search around the palace, we will definitely find something, as long as we act fast enough."

"Moreover, the guards in the city must not be elite soldiers. We are wearing heavy armor and carrying firearms, so we can be said to be rampant and unimpeded, and we may even be able to hold some high-ranking officials and nobles hostage."

"After rescuing the people, immediately lead the people out of the city."

Zhao Lie nodded heavily: "Understood! Then I will go and organize the men now, taking advantage of the night..."

Li Yuanzhao reached out to stop him: "Wait a minute, who told you to take advantage of the night? We will launch a surprise attack at noon tomorrow. The temperature is high at noon, and there are many pedestrians on the street. We must take advantage of the chaos to get things done."

"First, send people to collect more branches and dead wood, and take the explosive packs to the base of the city wall at night and lie against the wall. The city wall guards are sparse and probably won't look down. Don't you have a pocket watch? Give it to them, and coordinate the time well tomorrow."

"As soon as the city gate is broken, we will immediately enter the city!"

......

"There are so many people."

Early in the morning, the main road of Pantai City was already crowded with people, and Fang Zheng couldn't help but sigh.

Ali Bai's reputation has been rising more and more under the fierce publicity. As long as the people are simply notified, almost the entire city will flock to look up to the idol.

Now the main road is surrounded by an impenetrable crowd, giving the feeling that you can't see the end at a glance.

Countless people craned their necks, almost reaching the city gate.

Fang Zheng hadn't accompanied Ali Bai in giving speeches for a long time, although he would occasionally help him revise the drafts.

Today's scene really surprised him a bit.

This scene is even more awesome than Jay Chou's concert, and so many people gathered in the morning.

Ali Bai was still giving a passionate speech on the initially built stage.

The people in front screamed, and Fang Zheng and Paba whispered to each other on the side.

Paba listened to the sound of the crowd in his ears and sighed: "It's hard to imagine that this kind of gameplay can turn people into lunatics. What do you think, Brother Fang?"

Although it wasn't the first time he had seen Ali Bai give a speech, it always gave him new feelings.

He could even fully understand Ali Bai's expansion into his current state.

The sea of people has a huge infectious power, and he felt a little excited in his heart.

"Hehe, a small trick. I have many things in my toolbox." Fang Zheng smiled.

"Hey... Emperor Jing can let someone like you teach the Crown Prince. He is really relieved... I say, can you take off the dragon robe? Do you have to wear it every day? It's an eyesore to me!"

Looking at Fang Zheng, who was wearing yellow and dazzling clothes, Paba felt a burst of awkwardness in his heart.

Fang Zheng dusted off the dragon robe and smiled: "It's rare to be an emperor once. I'll take it off when the people from Da Jing come."

"National Teacher, don't forget me when the Jin Kingdom revises the history books, okay? We can't work for nothing."

Paba turned his head and was too lazy to speak.

You dog thing, you're getting cocky!

"Okay, I'm not kidding. Tell me, how have you been getting along with Ali Bai these days? Does he trust you?"

Paba said: "It's not that easy, it's only been three days. He is very wary, but there is no problem in talking, but I don't know if he can listen to it."

"He is a donkey that likes to be stroked, so you just have to praise him, it's not difficult."

"Here it comes, here it comes, look at how smug he is!" Fang Zheng suddenly pointed to the stage.

Paba looked aside.

I saw that Ali Bai's speech on the stage had entered a climax stage, and the whole person was extremely excited, with saliva flying everywhere.

At the same time, his whole body trembled.

The people below also stretched out their hands and waved, trying to reach out to Ali Bai, and shouted the Second Prince in their mouths.

Ali Bai was still playing the old routine, empty-handed shooting, using non-existent corrupt officials to stir up hatred, and then establish his own glorious greatness.

"Those corrupt officials, who lose their minds and restraint due to greed, ignore morality and the livelihood of the people, and become slaves to money!"

"They are still hiding in the dark, harming one side. But I, Ali Bai, represent the royal family, and I guarantee to everyone today..."

"Any evil will be brought to justice!"

"Good!!! Long live the Second Prince!!" The cheers were thunderous.

Paba folded his arms and sneered at Fang Zheng: "Crazy, all crazy... Look at the evil you've created! I don't even know how to clean up this mess."

"This is not difficult, don't look at how happy the people are now, they will wake up after a few days of starvation." Fang Zheng shrugged.

The deafening praise continued, and Ali Bai closed his eyes and enjoyed the pleasure of being complimented.

At the same time, at the corner of the gate outside the city, a fuse flashing sparks was crackling...