Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The departure of the Northern Rong envoy from the capital was naturally a major event.

Fang Zheng felt that Paba was a decent person! Worth associating with!

After preparing for two days and putting together some small gifts, he rushed to the Honglu Guesthouse.

At this time, the courtyard of the Honglu Guesthouse was filled with many high-ranking officials and nobles.

It wasn't that they placed much importance on the Northern Rong envoy, but rather a symbolic courtesy.

Most people simply exchanged a few pleasantries here and then left directly.

Only a small number of people stayed behind.

Chen Hong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, and Zhang Shi, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, were among them, surrounded by a group of minor officials who were chattering about something.

When Fang Zheng arrived with several reporters, Lu Fa, and the Crown Prince, everyone immediately saluted Li Yuanzhao.

Even Paba stopped his small talk.

Zhang Shi squinted at Fang Zheng, his teeth itching with hatred.

This bastard! He dared to mess with his son so openly during the exam!

There was actually a poop stamp on the exam paper!

The only exam paper with a stamp in the entire capital's Gongyuan was his son's!

Fortunately, the other examiners were perceptive and guessed what had happened.

Plus, His Majesty had given instructions, so the stamp didn't take effect.

Zhang Chang was also quite capable, barely making the list, but his strength shouldn't have been at the bottom!

As a result, his son is now completely unable to hold his head up in public!

Outsiders didn't say anything, but their expressions said it all.

A Minister of the Ministry of Revenue whose son did so poorly on the exam... unimaginable.

In the court, this guy is like a turtle, impossible to find any loopholes, it's really difficult to deal with...

As soon as Paba saw Fang Zheng, he immediately greeted him with a smile, enthusiastically saying, "Brother Fang, long time no see."

With so many people here, you're calling me Brother Fang?

Fang Zheng forced a smile: "Yes, I've been very busy lately, I didn't expect Master to leave so soon, without staying in the capital for a while longer to see more of my Great Jing's scenery!"

Paba maintained a polite smile: "I've already been to Taoyuan County, and Brother Fang, your Taoyuan County has really opened my eyes... Unfortunately, after returning, I'll never see such a good place again."

Fang Zheng became wary in his heart.

It seems that this old guy has done a lot of homework, and I must have been investigated inside and out.

Then it won't be easy to fool him...

"Hehe, Master is joking! Do you remember treating me to a meal? This time, I've brought you a gift to repay your meal."

"Brother Fang, why be so polite!?"

Fang Zheng didn't respond to his words and took out a small box from his pocket: "Inside are two catties of Da Pin Tian Xian tea! It's for the Master!"

Paba took the box and weighed it in his hand, smiling: "Then I will accept Brother Fang's kindness with pleasure."

"Master, I have a request."

"Please speak."

"You should know that there are newspapers in the capital after being here for so many days, so... I want to find someone from your delegation to interview, as a simple cultural exchange between the two countries, is that possible?"

Paba stared at him, his mind racing.

This guy, after such a long investigation, is definitely not an honest person!

I actually misjudged, now what kind of tricks is he going to pull with this move...?

"Such a small matter, of course, is possible, I don't know who Brother Fang wants to find?"

Fang Zheng pointed casually: "Just him, is that okay? Actually, anyone is fine!"

Paba followed the direction of his finger and saw that it was an inconspicuous attendant in his delegation, and nodded: "Okay."

Then he shouted to that person in Northern Rong language: "Li Han! Go with Lord Fang."

"No need! Lu Fa, you take this little brother and the reporters to have a simple interview outside, I still have things to talk about with the Master."

Seeing this situation, Paba was relieved.

Fang Zheng smiled faintly: "Master, let them be busy with their things, let's continue talking."

"This time when you go back, I should also give you some gifts, so I specially prepared..."

Paba looked serious: "Brother Fang, since you have already given me tea, there is no need for gifts!"

"The tea is to pay for your meal, the gift is what I want to give, Master, you must not refuse!"

As he said, Fang Zheng took out a large, emerald green glass bead from his pocket.

However, there were small holes at the top and bottom of the glass bead.

Fang Zheng brought the glass bead to Paba's eyes, mysteriously saying: "Master, this bead is extraordinary!"

"It looks ordinary on the outside, but the inside is full of twists and turns! Do you know how to pass a thin thread through this bead?"

Paba took the bead and studied it carefully, vaguely able to see that the inside was indeed full of twists and turns.

But why would I want to thread it? Why is Fang Zheng's thinking so jumpy?

Could there be some deeper meaning in this?

After studying it for a while, Paba shook his head with a wry smile: "I don't know, perhaps a hard thread could pass through."

Fang Zheng smiled triumphantly.

This is called turning defense into offense! I'm the one asking the questions!

"Wrong! Tie a thin thread to an ant and let the ant crawl through, wouldn't that work?"

"So that's how it is!" Paba suddenly understood: "But... what's the point of this?"

Fang Zheng curled his lips: "Master can use this to compete with people when he goes to other countries! Show off your intelligence!"

"........."

"Someone! Bring my chessboard!" Fang Zheng called out to the people behind him.

A reporter stepped forward and handed over a chessboard, Fang Zheng took the chessboard and held it in front of Paba: "This is the second gift for the Master."

Paba frowned, already feeling a little impatient, but still politely replied: "Brother Fang, if I'm not mistaken, this is just an ordinary chessboard."

"That's right! It's just a chessboard, but if I put one grain of wheat in the first square of the chessboard, two grains in the second square, four grains in the third square, and so on, how many grains of wheat would I need to put in total?"

The corners of Paba's eyes twitched fiercely.

What exactly is he trying to say? I can't see through it at all!

"I think... it would have to be tens of thousands of grains."

"Wrong! All the grain in the world is not enough!"

Paba couldn't hold back and said with a wry smile: "Brother Fang, what are you trying to illustrate with this? I don't understand at all!"

Fang Zheng smiled and handed the chessboard to him, turning his head to the reporter behind him and said: "Did you write it all down?"

The reporter wrote with his head down, replying without looking up: "I wrote it down."

Then Fang Zheng looked at Paba: "Master, don't misunderstand, there's no special meaning, it's rare for our two countries to gather, we must leave some beautiful stories!"

"I give you gifts, let the reporters record it, and spread it throughout the world, it's that simple."

I just want to be the protagonist of future Yi Lin, Intimate Lover, Storytelling Meeting, XXX magazines! It's that simple!

Paba shook his head helplessly: "Brother Fang's kindness is appreciated."

"I heard that you recently built a textile factory in the capital and recruited a large number of female workers, is this true?"

Fang Zheng glanced at him: "Master's information is really well-informed! Speaking of this textile factory, it may be closely related to you and me in the future?"

"In the future, we may build new factories to make clothes with wool, and when the trade routes between our two countries are opened, we will buy as much wool as you have at a high price!"

Paba's eyes lit up: "Is this true?"

"It's true! It must be true!"

Paba smiled: "Good! Then I look forward to Brother Fang coming to buy wool from our country."

"It's not early now, I should go, goodbye!"

Fang Zheng cupped his hands.

Paba turned and left, bidding farewell to the officials in the courtyard one by one.

After recalling everyone, he boarded the return convoy...

........

On the road, Chi Lie rode on his horse, giving people an incomparably majestic feeling like an iron tower.

But at this moment, he lacked some vigor.

Looking at Paba, who was feigning sleep in the carriage, he said with a hint of anger: "National Teacher, why didn't you let me go find Zhang Biao!"

"There's no need, losing is losing, it's not embarrassing." Paba slowly opened his eyes: "He's just a lowlife, why should you care about him."

"Trade is the major issue, the Khan needs ironware urgently, if we can build a few more Silver Wolf Cavalry in the next ten years, then the Jing Kingdom will be like a lamb to be slaughtered, why are you so eager for a moment?"

"Zhang Biao is nothing, Fang Zheng is the great enemy!"

"Jianjiang water disaster, grain disaster, killing corrupt officials, Taoyuan County, Banshanfang... this person can be considered a pillar of the country."

After he said this, Chi Lie's attention was immediately diverted: "I remember you said that this person is an anomaly in the officialdom, since he is so capable, why is he still being ostracized?"

Paba laughed: "This is the officialdom of the Great Jing! Internal strife!"

"You don't understand! No matter how many achievements he makes, it's useless, as long as he is in this court, the other colleagues will think that his achievements are due to the support of the court."

"In other words, in the eyes of his colleagues, without the court, he is nothing. Even if Fang Zheng accomplishes something, they will think in their hearts that it is just luck, it's that simple."

Chi Lie frowned: "How is that possible, are the ministers of the Jing Kingdom all blind?"

"Those involved are confused! Of course, not all of them are blind."

Chi Lie thought for a moment: "Then... will the things you left in the guesthouse still be useful? Isn't it too simple?"

"The Jing people are very cunning, they will definitely look at it, especially Zhang Shi is present, it is no longer a secret that he and Fang Zheng are at odds."

“In half a day, remember to find someone to retrieve the things we left behind. As for how far we can push things... let's leave it to fate.” Paba said calmly, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he shouted towards the front of the caravan: “Likhan! Come here!”

Likhan, who was traveling with the caravan ahead, immediately jogged to Paba's side.

“Great Teacher, what are your instructions?”

“Just now, Fang Zheng Yi had you go out with the reporters. What did you say to them? Repeat it to me exactly as it happened!”

“I didn’t say much. They just had me say a few words of blessing to the people of the capital in my native language, and then had me say it again in Da Jing language.” Likhan tilted his head, recalling the previous interview and the words those people taught him…

Then he stretched his neck, widened his eyes, raised his thumb, and loudly proclaimed: “We↑ Da↓ Jing→ are↑ really↑ too→ amazing↑! The Northern Rong barbecue is not delicious! Add Da Jing spices, and it’s delicious! I want to be a Da Jing person in my next life too!”

“Smack!!” A swift and unmatched slap flew towards Likhan’s face.

Likhan only felt stars in his eyes. For a moment, his world was filled with buzzing…

As his vision slowly returned, he saw Paba looking at him with a livid face, squeezing out a single word from between his teeth.

“Get out!!!”