To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 297 The Young Master has ruined me!

"What kidnappers? What escape?"

Zhang Fan patted Fusu on the shoulder earnestly and said, "Fusu, you're still too young and too impatient. Look at the note I left; didn't I tell you to wait and see?"

Fusu looked completely bewildered: "But...but the letter clearly says you've been kidnapped!"

"That was a scheme I set up!"

Zhang Fan lied without batting an eye: "I had long suspected there were undercurrents in Shangdang County, so tonight I deliberately set up a 'luring the snake out of its hole' ruse. This letter was intentionally shot in by someone to test the reaction of the Changzi County government and you! In reality, I was just secretly investigating!"

"what?"

Fusu was stunned, his mind buzzing.

So it turns out the teacher was playing a long game?

I almost ruined the teacher's important matter because of my impulsiveness!

"Teacher...you are so wise and insightful, I am ashamed!" Fusu was immediately filled with shame, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Zhang Fan secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking to himself that this silly roe deer was really easy to fool.

He composed himself and said in a deep voice, "Enough with the nonsense! Fusu, immediately take my imperial seal and prepare a customs clearance document and a military equipment allocation order, dated ten days ago!"

"Furthermore, immediately notify the prefect of Shangdang County and the special envoy from Xianyang, and have them gather their troops to accompany me to Ji Honglou!"

Fusu was taken aback: "Ji Honglou? Teacher, what are you doing at a brothel?"

Zhang Fan sneered, his gaze deep: "Of course, we're going to pick up the goods!"

……

The next morning.

In a secluded inn on the second floor, west of Changzi County.

Xiang Ta, a young talent from the Xiang clan of Jiangdong, was sitting at his desk with bloodshot eyes.

He didn't sleep all night, waiting for good news from Ji Honglou.

According to Uncle Xiang Liang's perfect plan, after that batch of armor was sent to Ji Honglou, it should be reported to the government!

But unexpectedly, a special envoy from the Court of Justice suddenly appeared, saying he wanted to search Ji Honglou, which saved me a lot of trouble!

If the evidence is conclusive, Ji Honglou will be firmly nailed to the ironclad case of treason!

The Xiang family can not only clear themselves of suspicion, but also get rid of the disobedient troublemakers in the old forces of Chu.

"Young master! Young master! Something terrible has happened!"

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and the middle-aged manager scrambled in, his face ashen.

Xiang Ta suddenly stood up and asked anxiously, "What happened? Has the Court of Justice already confiscated Ji Honglou's property? Has Zhang Fan been imprisoned?"

"No...no!"

The middle-aged steward was so anxious he kept slapping his thigh, his voice trembling: "Last night, the Court of Justice's men did surround Ji Honglou! But... but a Zhang Fan came out of Ji Honglou and gave the Court of Justice's special envoy a severe dressing-down!"

"The strangest thing is that the Imperial Envoy not only didn't dare to search, but was so frightened that he repeatedly apologized and immediately withdrew with his troops!"

"What?"

Xiang Ta was struck dumb, staggering back two steps, his eyes wide with disbelief: "They withdrew? They didn't even go through the door? What about all those armored soldiers we sent in?!"

"Wait a minute! Isn't Zhang Fan still in Jiangdong? How many Zhang Fans are there?"

The middle-aged steward was almost in tears: "Not only that, young master! News just came from the city that Immortal Master Zhang Fan has ordered that he immediately lead all the officials and troops of Changzi County to Ji Honglou again! He said... he said they are going to inventory some 'national treasures'!"

"A national strategic asset..."

A loud bang went through Xiang's mind, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He may be young, but he's definitely not stupid!

The armor wasn't confiscated, but now someone is using Zhang Fan's name to lead a large army to the brothel to inventory the goods...

Isn't this a clear indication that Ji Honglou has already stolen all the equipment used in the rebellion?

"puff!"

Xiang was so enraged that he felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Young master!" The steward exclaimed in shock.

"Quick...run!!"

Ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, Xiang Ta's face contorted with rage, he growled through gritted teeth, "The situation is completely out of our control! Ji Honglou is unfathomable; he's turned the tables on us! Gather everyone immediately, leave the city without anything, and escape back to Jiangdong!"

……

Meanwhile, on the main street of Changzi County.

Zhang Fan is enjoying immense success today.

He sat in a large, open-air carriage, with his eldest son, Fusu, beside him.

Behind them were the prefect of Changzi County, a group of local officials, and the special envoy of the Court of Justice who had been thoroughly berated the previous night.

Thousands of elite Qin infantrymen guarded the entire street.

Before long, the large group of people stopped in front of Ji Honglou's house.

The gates of Ji Honglou were wide open, and Mi Yueyao, along with a group of stewards, waited respectfully at the bottom of the steps.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!" The local officials dismounted and bowed.

Zhang Fan jumped off the carriage, glanced at the trembling Imperial Envoy, and deliberately raised his voice:

"Your Excellency, didn't you suspect last night that Ji Honglou had kidnapped me?"

"And do you really think I went to Ji Honglou for pleasure?"

The Imperial Envoy trembled with fear, quickly dismounted, and knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face: "This humble official deserves to die! This humble official believed the rumors of treacherous people and would never have dared to doubt the Immortal Master! The Immortal Master is upright and detached from worldly affairs! How could he possibly be going to a brothel for pleasure?"

"Hey! You really did get it wrong!"

Zhang Fan suddenly grinned and said something surprising.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhang Fan strode up the steps and proclaimed loudly, "Men! Bring out all the new Qin military equipment that I entrusted to Ji Honglou to build over several months!"

The words fell.

Ji Honglou's guards struggled to carry several heavy wooden crates to the center of the street.

"Bang!"

The lid of the box was opened, and the morning sunlight streamed in.

Hundreds of armored long spears and short swords were neatly stacked in boxes.

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

All the officials and generals gasped in shock.

"This...this is..." Fusu stepped forward, touching the hard iron armor, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"Fusu, esteemed officials!"

Zhang Fan, with his hands behind his back, loudly proclaimed, "This is how I painstakingly hid the research and development materials of the Great Qin's First Steel Factory in the underground warehouse of Ji Honglou, using the brothel as a cover!"

"To prevent traitors from stealing it!"

Zhang Fan looked at the special envoy of the Court of Justice, a half-smile on his face: "Your Excellency, do you still wish to confiscate this batch of armor?"

The special envoy of the Court of Justice was dumbfounded when he saw the official document stamped with the imperial seal.

At this moment, he finally understood that he had almost stumbled upon a top-secret military project!

Lord Shaofu has really ruined me!

"Immortal Master, you are truly a genius! I was blind to your talent! Immortal Master has performed such an unparalleled feat for the Great Qin Dynasty. I will immediately report to His Majesty and request commendation for you!" The special envoy knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.