Royal Gold Magistrate - Chapter 224

Watching Zhou Tie’s retreating figure, Fang Zheng suddenly felt a bit unsure.

After all, Zhou Tie was half of Zhang Biao’s teacher.

No one is born strong, and Zhang Biao was no exception. Although he had incredible strength, he wasn’t necessarily invincible.

Even this strength came from top-tier talent, Fang Zheng’s unlimited nutritional supplements, and daily intense training.

But punching sandbags and wooden posts, focusing only on strength training without real combat experience, wouldn’t cut it. This was ancient times, after all, without TV stations to help you talk big.

Without some real skills, you couldn’t survive!

Although Fang Zheng had found many martial arts masters to teach Zhang Biao, that incredible strength didn’t really require any martial arts techniques, it simply overpowered finesse.

Moreover, after spending a long time with Fang Zheng, Zhang Biao had become quite underhanded. He didn’t follow any rules in a fight, immediately throwing sand in his opponent’s face.

This made all his teachers quit in frustration! Fang Zheng was quite helpless about this.

Zhang Biao’s martial arts only truly improved after meeting Zhou Tie.

Back then, when Zhou Tie ran from the mountains to Taoyuan County and tried to steal some food on the street, Fang Zheng and Zhang Biao caught him.

The two immediately got into a fight.

Although Zhou Tie was beaten to a pulp and passed out, Zhang Biao wasn’t much better off, also covered in injuries.

When Zhou Tie woke up, Fang Zheng learned that this guy hadn’t eaten for several days!

If he could fight like that on an empty stomach, imagine what he could do when well-fed!

Fang Zheng immediately decided to keep him with a hefty sum, as a sparring partner for Zhang Biao.

Since then, Zhang Biao’s martial arts improved rapidly. A month later, Zhou Tie no longer stood a chance against Zhang Biao.

But ever since being overpowered by Zhang Biao, this guy had started indulging in food, drink, and women non-stop. Who knew how much his skills had deteriorated…

Fang Zheng was still worried. He turned to ask Zhang Biao, “How do you rate that guy on the other side? Can Zhou Tie win?”

Zhang Biao smiled, his expression full of disdain: “If Chen Dasheng is only impervious to blades and spears, he’s definitely going to lose!”

“Last time I sparred with Zhou Tie, his skills hadn’t declined. My combat power is 100, Zhou Tie’s is at least 70!”

“Huh?” Fang Zheng looked at Zhang Biao, puzzled.

“How did you calculate that?”

“I just looked, and it went ‘ding’ in my brain, and I figured it out.”

“………”

Damn! Fang Zheng’s eyes turned red with envy!

Shouldn’t it be my brain going ‘ding’? How the hell did it ‘ding’ in yours?!

“Quick! Tell me how it ‘dinged’!”

Zhang Biao was speechless. He turned to look at Fang Zheng: “Young Master, it’s just a figure of speech, meaning I calculated it very quickly!”

Fang Zheng’s breath caught for a moment, then he asked curiously, “What’s my combat power?”

Zhang Biao glanced at him: “Only 5.”

“………”

Fang Zheng didn’t want to speak. He turned his head to look at the battlefield.

Zhang Biao folded his arms, his face impatient: “This is so tedious! If it were me, my poison darts would already be in his eyes!”

On the field, Zhou Tie and Chen Dasheng were still facing off, the atmosphere tense.

Although Chen Dasheng was staring at Zhou Tie, he was contemptuous. The broken sword in his opponent’s hand was worse than the practice swords he usually used, and his spirit didn’t seem very good either.

He looked like a loser at first glance. Why wasn’t this guy coming over?

Zhou Tie was also nervous. He had swallowed a lot of seawater when he fell in last time, and he still hadn’t fully recovered. Then Zhang Biao had broken several of his ribs, which were still broken.

Every step hurt! If it weren’t for his pride, he wouldn’t have wanted to go up at all…

Fang Zheng was also getting impatient. He urged loudly, “Are you going to fight or not? We’re all waiting here! We’ll miss dinner at this rate!”

Hearing this, Zhou Tie gritted his teeth and slowly walked towards Chen Dasheng with his sword.

Seeing this, Chen Dasheng tore off his outer clothing, revealing his muscular upper body, and walked towards Zhou Tie with a fierce grin.

The two approached each other with increasing speed.

Suddenly! The sound of earth-shaking hooves erupted!

Everyone immediately fell into panic, looking around.

Fang Zheng also looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a large group of official troops, about two thousand in number, riding horses and surging towards them!

This imposing force immediately suppressed the more than ten thousand people present!

It seemed the General had received news and led his troops over. With such a large gathering of people, his side couldn’t have been unaware. Fortunately, Fang Zheng was prepared.

The cavalry arrived in an instant. The leader, dressed in silver armor and looking majestic, shouted at the “refugees”: “Everyone, stop right there!”

“Anyone who dares to resist will be executed on the spot!”

Fang Zheng rode his horse towards the man. As he got closer, he could see his face clearly.

Middle-aged, with graying temples, sharp eyebrows, and a stern face. With this appearance and attire, if Fang Zheng wasn’t mistaken, this should be Nie Zheng, the General of Jianjiang.

Seeing Fang Zheng approach, the front row of archers immediately drew their bows, aiming at him.

“Halt! Who goes there?!”

Fang Zheng was startled. He immediately cupped his hands and said loudly, “This humble official is Fang Zheng. May I ask if you are General Nie Zheng?”

“Oh? You’re Fang Zheng? Do you have proof?! Why aren’t you wearing official robes and mingling with these cultists?” Nie Zheng’s eyes flashed with surprise.

“This official was inconvenienced today, so I’m not wearing official robes. These people are not cultists, just ordinary civilians,” Fang Zheng said as he took out his official seal and held it high.

“This official has something else to show you, sir.”

Fang Zheng’s tone was neither servile nor overbearing as he continued to ride towards Nie Zheng.

The surrounding troops wanted to shoot, but Nie Zheng raised his hand, and everyone lowered their weapons.

Fang Zheng rode up beside him, and Nie Zheng said coolly, “Where’s Liu Xun? With such a big commotion, where has he gone?”

“I’ve already arrested him!” Fang Zheng said, taking out a piece of paper from his chest.

It was Liu Xun’s confession, with his fingerprint that Fang Zheng had helped him press while unconscious.

Nie Zheng was shocked. He took the confession and read it, then looked alarmed and said urgently, “Is this true or false?”

“Fang Zheng! This matter is of great importance. If there’s even a hint of falsehood, be careful that your head doesn’t roll!”

“Of course it’s true. This official carries the imperial mandate, with the imperial sword and edict in hand. If you don’t believe me, sir, you can send someone to inspect the granary now. I’ve already sent people to guard it.”

As Fang Zheng finished speaking, he patted the imperial sword at his waist.

Nie Zheng’s gaze sharpened. He made a quick decision and sent his left and right-hand men to investigate the granary.

Then he looked at Fang Zheng, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Indeed, you’re young and capable. No wonder His Majesty specially sent someone to inform me of your arrival!”

Fang Zheng was delighted: “What did His Majesty say about me?”

“He said this person steals chickens and dogs, cheats and swindles, and is capable of all kinds of evil! If he causes big trouble, remind me not to accidentally kill him, but to escort him back to the capital.”

“…………”

Fang Zheng looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle. At this moment, the sky was gray.

So this was his image in His Majesty’s heart……..