Zhang Hao stood behind Liu Jingming and quietly looked at the pavilion in front of him.
Unfortunately, the beaded curtain was hazy, and I could only vaguely see a beautiful lady in plain clothes sitting quietly playing the piano.
The tinkling sound of the piano brought a different kind of tranquility, which gradually calmed Zhang Hao's slightly restless heart.
"Ding dong..." Like water drops falling on autumn waves, a continuous trill ended the music.
Zhang Hao sighed slightly, the sound was so beautiful, but it ended after all.
Liu Jingming then spoke: "Princess, Zhang Hao brings you here."
A faint voice floated out from the pavilion. It was very soft but very clear: "Master Zhang, it has been three days since I came to Ninghe County. In these three days, the name I have heard the most is you."
Zhang Hao didn't say anything because he wasn't sure what the princess' temper was. But he was secretly wary of what the princess said she had been here for three days.
As for the reason why the princess personally called the name, she was also a little confused. It seemed to be different from what she had guessed before.
The surrounding butterflies dispersed as the music of the piano stopped and returned to the sea of flowers.
The breeze blows, and the bead curtains make a crisp clanking sound.
After a while, the princess spoke calmly again: "The Zhang family has changed a lot recently. Are you fully involved in the process?"
Zhang Hao's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly understood the reason why the princess named him alone.
It's not because I have been very popular recently, nor because I have become a registered disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect, but because - I know too much!
Yes, I know too much. I have been very active recently and am obviously involved in many things in the family.
But on the other hand, I am very young and look easy to deceive.
The princess wanted to inquire about the situation of the Zhang family, so she chose Zhang Hao as the breakthrough point. And all the beautiful arrangements in the pavilion obviously wanted Zhang Hao to let down his guard.
‘I knew that the princess would not be easy to get along with!’ Zhang Hao muttered in his heart, but also tensed up.
In Zhang Hao's eyes, the beautiful picture in front of him has turned into a trap.
With his mind spinning, Zhang Hao carefully answered: "Participate in the part."
The princess did not continue to ask, but changed her words and a big shift came. "Zhang Hao, do you know that the country is about to march eastward?"
"heard about it."
The princess sighed quietly, with a bit of pitiful exhaustion in her voice. "Zhang Hao, because of your public water forging skills, you provided more cheap and high-quality black iron for the country's Eastern Expedition.
I come here this time to express my gratitude to you."
After the words fell, a female guard by the pavilion came to Zhang Hao with a jade plate on which was placed a delicate jade pendant. The jade pendant was engraved with four ancient seal characters: Princess Wenxin.
Zhang Hao was stunned for a moment, what is he doing?
Then the princess continued: "A jade pendant is a token of gratitude. With the jade pendant, you can enter and exit the palace, and of course, you can also enter and exit the city lord's palace."
nice one!
Zhang Hao immediately picked it up with both hands, carefully placed it in the storage ring, and thanked him with a look of excitement on his face.
But Zhang Hao's heart has already mentioned - the bait has been put down, let's go fishing next!
That's me. If I were an ordinary young man, I wouldn't be able to say anything at this time!
Sure enough, I heard the princess continue: "Both, I would like to know how much black iron the Zhang family can provide at most, and what is the lowest price?"
Zhang Hao looked excited on the surface, "Back to Princess, the Zhang family can temporarily provide two thousand tons of dark iron per month. The lowest price is 20% off the market price."
The princess' tone was a bit high: "Two thousand tons? More than that! There's also a 20% discount on the price. It's the Zhang family's external quotation, right?"
Zhang Hao was 'anxious': "But this is the truth. We don't need to lie to everyone."
"Really? Zhang Hao, if you lie again, I will expel you now."
"Don't dare to deceive Your Highness." Zhang Hao shouted, "Two thousand tons is a safe number. In other words, no matter what happens, we can guarantee a stable supply.
If you tell me more but are unable to provide anything, you will miss the princess's important event."
"It's a national matter."
"Yes, yes, it is a national matter."
"What about the price?"
Zhang Hao immediately said with a bitter look on his face: "Your Highness, the prices of black iron are transparent. We can reduce the price to 20% off, which is already the limit."
The princess stopped talking, but Yingying's eyes locked on Zhang Hao through the bead curtain.
Zhang Hao held his head high and kept his eyes straight—actually he wanted to see the princess’s face clearly; unfortunately, the princess was still wearing a veil~~~
The princess obviously noticed Master Zhang Hao's scorching gaze and frowned slightly. "Zhang Hao, if the country directly exchanges low-quality broken spiritual stones, elixirs, medicinal materials, etc., can the price be lower?
If so, maybe we can be friends."
"I wonder how much the broken spiritual stones, elixirs, etc. provided by His Highness cost?"
"market price."
Zhang Hao immediately said: "Then let's settle the matter with spirit stones."
The princess was dumbfounded and the negotiation failed!
In the past, taking action on your own was always successful. Why did something go wrong today?
The princess was unwilling to give in, "Zhang Hao, the right way is responsible for the rise and fall of a country, and every man is responsible. Now that the country is about to march eastward, don't you want to contribute to the country?"
"I think so!" Zhang Hao answered without hesitation.
This is a question of principle, and there is only one answer. Even if he knew it was a trap, Zhang Hao still jumped into it without hesitation.
In fact, moral kidnapping and the like are the most abhorrent.
The princess smiled again, "But the country is already somewhat unable to make ends meet."
Zhang Hao suddenly laughed: I've been waiting for you to say this. If you want to get me in, you're still a little behind.
"Your Highness, I think the Eastern Expedition is a bottomless pit. Even if we can achieve a temporary victory, it will be nothing more than that. The geographical location of Qixia Kingdom determines that our path to the east is impassable."
"If you don't develop to the east, where will you develop?" There was doubt and a touch of ridicule in the princess's voice.
"Go west!" Zhang Hao said decisively.
"Xiangxi?" the princess asked suspiciously, making sure she heard correctly.
Next to him, City Lord Liu Jingming finally spoke up, "Zhang Hao, are you kidding? The West is the Green Sea of Death!"
"Yes!" Zhang Hao's voice was loud, "Your Highness Princess, City Lord, how many years have we been on the Eastern Expedition? Have we ever changed our living environment?"
no answer.
Zhang Hao himself said: "No! Ever since there was a country, and even several generations before the Qixia Kingdom, we have been constantly marching eastward; however, our living environment has become increasingly bad.
The countries in the East, by controlling trade routes, drained our blood bit by bit.
The masters in the East are ten times better than us.
The bloody facts clearly tell us that the Eastern Expedition is unfeasible.
If it doesn’t work on land, why not explore the ocean!”
Zhang Hao's heroic words undoubtedly moved the city lord and the princess, at least emotionally.
But soon, the city lord rebuked Zhang Hao: "To the west is the green sea of death. There is nothing there except danger."
"No, I saw hope there! I saw rich resources!"
"Absurd!" The city lord's face was already a little impatient.
Zhang Hao opened his mouth and wanted to explain. However, after thinking about it, he suddenly stopped talking. You can't tell a "native" that the earth is round. They can't understand it, and he can't explain it for the time being.
The princess spoke again, her voice turning cold: "Zhang Hao, please go back first. I will consider what you said."