Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Xiang Shaolong’s words were not baseless; in fact, they had already encountered an attack by bandits before. It was for this reason that upon seeing Fang Zheng, Xiang Shaolong immediately thought of asking this ”Bane of Bandits” for help. Fang Zheng’s attitude was the same as before: as long as there’s money to be made, everything is negotiable. After all, how many bandits are there to kill anyway?

Xiang Shaolong also had his own plan. Currently, the enemy is hidden while we are exposed. Although the envoy corps numbers are not small, once it’s confirmed that those bandits are actually King Wei’s soldiers, it means they are practically in a den of thieves within Wei Kingdom. King Wei can mobilize all forces to annihilate them.

In this situation, Xiang Shaolong’s plan was... to hold out.

”We should find a location nearby where a mountain backs onto the plains, and establish trenches and ditches, store wild game and spring water, and hold out for ten to fifteen days, while dispatching light cavalry to Fengqiu to seek reinforcements from the garrison. Regardless of how much King Wei wants us dead, on the surface, we are still an envoy corps sending a princess to marry King Wei. The other side will have to comply, and once the Wei army is accompanying us, it would be very difficult for King Wei to do anything.”

”Officer Xiang’s idea is not bad, but I’m a bit worried. What if those troops intercept the light cavalry scouts or secretly kill them, then claim externally not to have received any information about us? What then?”

At this moment, another officer spoke up, and Xiang Shaolong just smiled, then looked at Fang Zheng beside him.

”In fact, sending light cavalry scouts to deliver a message is just a decoy. As you said, the other side has ways to act as if they didn’t receive the news. However, delivering the message is just one part; the second is to force the opponent to attack early. Then, we can catch them all in one fell swoop.”

”Officer Xiang seems very confident about this?”

Seeing Xiang Shaolong’s calm expression, the others were surprised, but Xiang Shaolong just shook his head.

”In any case, we have no other option at the moment but to try our best.”

The others thought for a moment and agreed, so they took their orders and each went off to do their work. At this moment, Ji Yanran also got off the carriage nearby and walked to Fang Zheng’s side.

”Young Master Fang, Yanran was just chatting with the Third Princess and heard about the situation here. It seems the situation is not good.”

”Yes, but it’s not our concern.”

Fang Zheng clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the blue sky, white clouds, grasslands, and lakes ahead.

”What does Master Ji intend to do? I just discussed it with Officer Xiang. I plan to stay and help them deal with these bandits. If Master Ji feels it’s dangerous, why not return to Daliang first?”

”Is Young Master Fang planning to stay?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Ji Yanran frowned slightly.

”Young Master Fang should know that these bandits are not real bandits, right.”

”But since they claim to be bandits, they are bandits, and what’s wrong with making money?”

Fang Zheng chuckled, glancing at Ji Yanran again.

”To ensure the peace of one side, eliminate villains, and still make a lot of money—this isn’t a deal to pass up lightly.”

”Young Master Fang is truly... unexpected.”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s response, Ji Yanran found herself speechless, not knowing what to say. Generally, young talents would behave with self-righteousness, regarding money as dirt in her presence. Fang Zheng’s straightforward admission of his love for money was truly unexpected and left Ji Yanran at a loss for words.

”By the way.”

Fang Zheng did not intend to continue discussing those bandits and changed the topic.

”Has Master Ji met Officer Xiang? What do you think of him?”

”Officer Xiang... um...”

Ji Yanran tilted her head, thinking for a moment.

”The Third Princess seems quite infatuated with him, but unfortunately, their status gap is too large. Not to mention, the Third Princess is heading to Wei Kingdom to marry King Anri... Alas, daughters in this world all have tragic fates.”

Saying this, Ji Yanran sighed deeply. She was smart and wise, and well-informed about court affairs, so she understood the situation well. Though the Third Princess of Zhao Kingdom was going to wed King Wei, in reality, King Wei had no such intention. The real promoter of this was Lord Xinling. As a result, King Wei was very displeased with him, which was natural—if a subject could even decide the king’s marriage, it would be better for Lord Xinling to become the king.

As for Zhao Qian herself, she was even more unfortunate. No matter if she arrived safely in Daliang or not, there would be no good outcome for her. Even if she married King Wei, the fact that King Wei had people sent to kill her showed his dissatisfaction with the marriage. Even if they eventually married, Zhao Qian would likely end up lonely in the cold palace, or worse, die of a ”sudden illness” without any explanation.

As a woman herself, Ji Yanran deeply understood Zhao Qian’s predicament. However, because of her own elevated position, it was not appropriate for her to intervene in these matters. Apart from feeling sorry for Zhao Qian, there was nothing else she could do.

”Master Ji need not worry too much. If Officer Xiang truly is Zhao Qian’s hero, he is bound to save her.”

”That’s easier said than done...”

Ji Yanran couldn’t help but laugh, but seeing Fang Zheng’s mysterious smile, she was taken aback.

”Could there be some hidden agenda?”

”Hehehe, in any case, we just have to watch the show. No matter what, this is their problem.”

Fang Zheng shook his head, not intending to give any spoilers.

For the next three days, the envoy corps set up camp on the spot, dug trenches, and built earth walls, effectively constructing a simplified version of a fortress earth tower. Fang Zheng found it quite novel and interesting as he watched. It was his first time seeing how ancient people constructed positions on the spot by digging pits since in the Main World, this kind of work was generally done by Mages. Now it seemed that even without relying on spells, it was possible to achieve this.

Xiang Shaolong sent out light cavalry scouts to seek help and was busy reorganizing the positions all day. Finally, three days later, the scouts reported that a group of nearly ten thousand bandits were coming from the plains.

Hearing this news, Xiang Shaolong’s face immediately fell.

The others were not much better off.

Another day passed, and by dusk, a large contingent of bandits appeared grandly on the grassland.

”King Wei seems to be truly ruthless.”

Standing on high ground, looking at the bandit army in the distance, Fang Zheng chuckled while Ji Yanran looked grave. Though she knew the situation was critical before, she hadn’t thought it would be this desperate. Over ten thousand bandits—this showed King Anri’s determination to kill Zhao Qian. It was known that this envoy corps had only about a thousand people, including some family members and servants, and those truly capable of fighting were only a few hundred. While they were the elite cavalry of the Zhao Kingdom, against ten thousand bandits, no matter how elite you were, it was futile, right?

A few hundred cavalry against ten thousand bandits?

Unless you’re all driving a Type 59 Tank, there’s little hope.

Just as Fang Zheng was enjoying the breeze, Xiang Shaolong came out of the Third Princess’s tent with a serious face, walked to Fang Zheng’s side, and cupped his hands towards him.

”Young Master Fang, this time I must trouble you.”

”No problem, but Officer Xiang, do not forget the promise you made to me.”

Fang Zheng squinted at Xiang Shaolong; he didn’t need to enter the tent to know what had happened. Zhao Qian, seeing the enemy’s mighty forces, believed she was doomed, so she asked Xiang Shaolong for a dagger to end her own life when the city fell, to avoid the humiliation of those bandit soldiers.

Xiang Shaolong, also spurred on, vowed to ensure the Third Princess’s safety, but he knew whether this could be achieved was uncertain, so he had to seek out Fang Zheng again for confirmation—after all, the opponent numbered in the tens of thousands!

The most exaggerated thing would be fighting a thousand single-handedly; not even in dreams would someone think of that.

However, Xiang Shaolong had witnessed Fang Zheng’s display of divine might and had some confidence in his unfathomable methods. Seeing Fang Zheng’s calm demeanor at this moment, he also sighed with relief.

”That’s good then. Rest assured, if Young Master Fang can help me through this difficult time, I will be eternally grateful.”

”Hehehe.”

Fang Zheng glanced at Xiang Shaolong and then turned away. Whether or not you are grateful doesn’t matter, but don’t skimp on the money. If you shortchange me, don’t blame me for being unkind.

I haven’t even fought you for the protagonist position; shouldn’t a little money for compensation be reasonable?

If you don’t even give me money, be careful I sell you to Lord Longyang.

”Boom boom boom boom!!!”

Just then, the sound of war drums echoed from the bottom of the mountain, and everyone immediately rushed to the front of the position to look down the mountain. They saw that the bandits had already cut down trees, blocking all escape routes around them, practically encircling them. Upon seeing this scene, most of the other members of the envoy corps were ashen-faced, for from any angle, they were doomed.

”They’re planning to attack the city by night.”

Watching the bandits hoist wind lanterns and raise wooden shields, Ji Yanran’s face was also grave. Even she gripped the longsword in her hand tightly.

”Don’t worry, Master Ji, just sit back and enjoy the show.”

Seeing Ji Yanran’s tense demeanor, Fang Zheng chuckled, then raised his head to look at the sky.

”The darkness is just right, so everyone won’t have to see some unpleasant sights.”

”Young Master Fang? What do you mean by this?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s cryptic words, not only was Ji Yanran puzzled, but the other soldiers also looked over with confusion. Fang Zheng did not answer; he simply blew a soft whistle. Soon, his giant White Deer came from the rear and obediently stopped beside him.

”It’s simple, Fang detests bandits more than anything. Since these bandits appeared in front of Fang, they shouldn’t expect to return alive...”

Saying this, Fang Zheng casually patted the wooden case hanging behind the White Deer. In the next moment, the case opened in response, and an ancient guqin quietly flew out from within, landing steadily in front of Fang Zheng.

It’s a shame this isn’t the Three Kingdoms; otherwise, I’d pull off an Empty City Stratagem.

Fang Zheng reached out, stroking the strings of the guqin, his lips curving slightly.

Well then, let’s begin.