Chapter 72: How Can You Insult Me with Money and Silver!
Since it was an order from his direct superior, Guo Ping naturally did not dare disobey. He cupped his hands, withdrew, and went to handle the matter.
It was only about two or three hours later that he finally returned.
Behind him followed two merchants dressed in silk, merchants who looked exceptionally polished and refined.
Were these two not Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping?
At this moment, both of them wore puzzled expressions, seemingly curious as to why this newly appointed county magistrate had summoned them.
“Please sit, you two.”
Xiao Wen’s gaze fell on Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping. Then he moved his fingers and gave Ma Chao a look.
Ma Chao understood. He immediately gestured toward the two White Dragon Cavalry standing guard at the entrance.
The two White Dragon Cavalry instantly entered the hall and closed the main doors.
One general and two soldiers stood at the doorway, directly cutting off Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping’s path of retreat.
The two men’s expressions changed in an instant. They looked toward Xiao Wen in panic, their lips trembling as they asked, “M-My lord, what is the meaning of this?”
“Nothing much. Too many eyes and ears. I am merely guarding against walls that have ears. Naturally, I have heard of the great names of you two merchants.”
“As for what you two promised or did at the residence of those three heroes earlier, I do not wish to ask, nor do I wish to interfere.”
“However, Zhuo County is now facing a great calamity. We must rely on assistance from people of all walks.”
“You two should understand the principle that if the skin does not exist, how can the hair attach to it?”
Xiao Wen spoke with a calm face.
When these words fell into their ears, the two men frowned slightly, but most of the fear between their brows faded.
He only wanted wealth, not their lives?
Acceptable… acceptable…
“This is only natural. Though I am unworthy, I still possess one thousand taels of silver. I am willing to sponsor my lord,” Su Shuang said after pondering for a few seconds, putting on a professional, flattering smile.
“This lowly one has little money and silver on hand, but I am willing to sponsor my lord with five hundred taels of silver and ten fine horses,” Zhang Shiping said in agreement.
Since he had come for wealth, they only needed to feed this corrupt official until he was satisfied, and everything would naturally be easy to discuss.
Xiao Wen shook his head. With slight anger on his face, he scolded, “What do you take me for? Do you see me as a corrupt official? Would I embezzle a little money and material from you?”
“What I need is for people from all walks to contribute their strength and defend Zhuo County! If you two sincerely wish to help me, then please find people yourselves and repair the defensive facilities in the city. Would that not be better?”
“However, if you two insist on insulting me with wealth, then you may leave on your own!”
This angry rebuke directly stunned Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping.
During that brief moment of dazed silence, they also realized that the county magistrate before them seemed somewhat different from the county magistrates of the past.
He truly seemed to be acting for Zhuo County’s good!
He was a good official!
The two of us misunderstood him!
Ding! Congratulations, player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World, you have gained Su Shuang’s respect. Favorability increased. Current favorability: 5/100.
Ding! Congratulations, player Half-Journey Through the Mortal World, you have gained Zhang Shiping’s respect. Favorability increased. Current favorability: 8/100.
The crisp notification sounds rang beside Xiao Wen’s ears. His face remained calm, but inwardly he was extremely delighted.
Their favorability increased?
It seemed the identity of county magistrate also provided a bonus.
He just did not know whether he could dig out the special materials in these two fellows’ hands.
The thought flashed through Xiao Wen’s mind, and his gaze toward the two men carried a trace of expectation.
Under the double influence of admiration and shame, the two men naturally agreed to everything Xiao Wen had said earlier regarding the repair of the buildings.
Not only did they agree to those matters, they also stated that they were willing to give Xiao Wen the remaining fifty catties of bin iron in their possession.
Why was it “remaining”?
Because they had previously promised to give Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei one thousand catties of bin iron. Now, they only had fifty catties left in their hands.
Since Xiao Wen seemed pleasing to their eyes, they planned to give it to him as well.
They hoped this county magistrate could work together with those three righteous heroes to stop the rebellious Yellow Turbans causing chaos.
Xiao Wen naturally accepted gladly. With a smile on his face, he saw the two of them out and specially arranged for two White Dragon Cavalry to personally escort them.
This was both to protect their safety and to ensure that the fifty catties of bin iron would end up in his hands.
Bin iron could also be considered a relatively rare high-grade material in the game.
In the later stages, players needed this material when forging weapons.
Moreover, if he remembered correctly, the weapons of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had been forged using that one thousand catties of bin iron.
Even the five hundred elite troops under them had used the remaining bin iron mixed with pig iron to forge spearheads and manufacture spears, allowing them to unleash killing power far beyond ordinary elite soldiers.
This could also be considered the starting point of Big-Eared Liu’s rise.
Unfortunately, this group had encountered this lord.
If it were not for the game mechanics providing innate protection to these kinds of NPCs, Xiao Wen would naturally want to kill him while he was still weak!
Not long after sending Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping away, he heard a White Dragon Cavalry come to report that Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei had come to visit.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wen could not help but sneer.
He thought to himself that these three had timed things perfectly.
This lord had only just sent the guests away with his front foot, and this group came knocking with their back foot?
After having Guo Ping bring the three into the hall, Xiao Wen’s calm gaze fell upon them.
The man at the front had a square face, slightly furrowed brows, and there was always a hint of sorrow, compassion, and resentment on his face, as though he were constantly lamenting the suffering of all living beings. With a single glance, one would feel that this man was kindhearted and honest.
Behind him was a strong man with a slightly red face and a long beard. He held his head high and his chest out, his entire body filled with noble righteousness, naturally untouched by ghosts or gods.
Last was a dark-skinned man with a round face and a face full of fierce flesh. On the lower half of his face, a beard stood inverted like steel needles, making him look especially ferocious at a glance.
These three were none other than the three brothers Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.
One of the great bosses of the mid-to-late main storyline of the game!
Xiao Wen’s gaze landed on the three of them. His face was calm, without the slightest ripple.
“Please sit, three heroes.” Xiao Wen rose and received the three with a smile, signaling for them to sit.
While receiving the three of them, Xiao Wen silently threw out three detection skills and checked their attributes.
Military General: Liu Bei
Gender: Male
Grade: Legendary Famous General (Fifth Rank)
Level: Level 33
Innate Three Dimensions: 446/50
Exclusive Weapon: None (Inactive)
Son of Heaven Imperial Fortune: Inactive
Other Information: ??? (Unknown)
Military General: Guan Yu
Gender: Male
Grade: Legendary Famous General (Fifth Rank)
Level: Level 34
Innate Three Dimensions: 478/50
Exclusive Weapon: None (Inactive)
Other Information: ??? (Unknown)
Military General: Zhang Fei
Gender: Male
Grade: Legendary Famous General (Fifth Rank)
Level: Level 33
Innate Three Dimensions: 442/50
Exclusive Weapon: None (Inactive)
Other Information: ??? (Unknown)
The information of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei fully appeared before his eyes. Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes slightly, and the smile on his face grew even richer.
His gaze could not help but fall upon the Spirit-Plundering Blade inside his backpack.
[Spirit-Plundering Blade]
Type: One-time-use Weapon
Grade: Heaven-rank
Effect: Insert it into an NPC’s body to plunder the NPC’s latent attribute panel, purify the negative effects within the NPC’s body, and seek life from death!
How about this lord stab Big-Eared Liu right here?
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