Chapter 47

" Wen Fang! You..." When Zhao Zheng heard Wen Fang volunteer to carry out this mission, he instinctively wanted to stop him. After all, this mission was very risky, and Zhao Zheng did not want Wen Fang to take such a risk. However, seeing Wen Fang's determined gaze, the words he was about to say immediately died in his throat. Wen Fang was well aware of the danger of this mission, but he had his own considerations. First and foremost, he wanted to atone for his past mistakes.

Although Zhao Zheng did not blame him for what happened with Zhao Bing, and He Ping had brushed the matter aside with a punishment that was almost effortless, Wen Fang himself had not yet come to terms with it. He almost caused a major disaster due to his mistake, and if it were to be ignored, it might become a psychological burden for him. Moreover, from any perspective, Wen Fang believed he was the most suitable person for the job.

In terms of ability, Wen Fang felt he had been exceptionally talented since childhood, and his progress had been rapid after following Zhao Zheng. Whether it was leading troops or using weapons, he was among the best of the generals in Qingyang. Moreover, he had helped Zhao Zheng plan this mission from start to finish, and in terms of familiarity with the plan and Zhao Zheng's trust, Wen Fang was the only choice for this mission.

"Ah, well, let it be. Go ahead then." Zhao Zheng clearly understood Wen Fang's feelings and his capabilities. He also realized that none of the other generals could give him peace of mind. So he said, "This mission is very dangerous. Once you reach the Lances Province, be extremely cautious. Your safety is the top priority. If the situation becomes hopeless, bring your troops back immediately. Regardless of the outcome, as long as you bring back enough people, you will have accomplished your mission!"

"Thank you, General!"

"Hehe, congratulations, General Wen Fang, on getting what you wished for. Since the matter is settled," He Ping changed the subject with a smile, "shouldn't we discuss the price of these equipment now?"

What is the most important thing in business? To put it elegantly, it's negotiation. To put it plainly, it's haggling. The seller asks for a sky-high price, and the buyer counters with a rock-bottom offer. If the seller sticks to one price, business won't be good, and if the buyer doesn't haggle, they're a fool. If it weren't for the fact that a low price wouldn't earn him resource points, He Ping wouldn't care about the price at all. But now, for his plan to return home, he had to play the role of a shrewd businessman and squeeze Zhao Zheng for a higher price.

"Haha, that's reasonable!" Zhao Zheng found He Ping's request understandable. After all, the items weren't free, and a certain price had to be paid. Before the war, Zhao Zheng had not discovered his military talent and had mostly helped manage the family business. Business was not unfamiliar to him; in fact, he was very familiar with it. "I wonder what price you have in mind for these items and how you would like to be paid?"

"I prefer bartering. No need for currency." Although the system allowed for monetary transactions, He Ping had no use for the local currency. Hard currency was better. "Precious metals like gold and silver are fine, as are pearls and gems. Besides these common hard currencies, if there are any unusual items, that's even better. I especially like collecting things that are hard to identify."

After stating his requirements, He Ping quoted a high price. Zhao Zheng, very skilled in haggling, negotiated with him. After a heated exchange, and with Wen Fang and He Chuan watching in amazement, the two finally reached an agreement. Zhao Zheng, who hadn't negotiated in a long time, was in high spirits, while He Ping, with his haggling skills honed in his previous world, was a worthy opponent. They enjoyed the negotiation, much to the surprise of Wen Fang and He Chuan, who had never seen this side of them.

"Oh! Right, I'll give you another gift." After the price was settled, all the equipment prices were much higher than the system's minimum. In a good mood, He Ping took out an item, a high-magnification wide-angle military binoculars: "This is called a telescope. As the name suggests, it's used to observe distant things. Let's go outside and try it out."

Zhao Zheng and his two companions followed He Ping outside, under the protection of a few guards, to a nearby hill. He Ping demonstrated the telescope and warned them not to look directly at the sun, then handed it to Zhao Zheng. Zhao Zheng placed the telescope to his eyes and was immediately stunned: "This... this is truly a divine tool! With such a treasure, military operations will be so much easier!"

Hearing Zhao Zheng's praise, Wen Fang and He Chuan were eager to try it out. After Zhao Zheng was done, they finally got their turn. They were quickly amazed by the telescope's effectiveness. As military experts, Wen Fang and He Chuan understood why Zhao Zheng was so excited. This could indeed be called a divine tool. With the telescope, they could observe enemy movements without being detected and see enemy formations and ambushes in advance, allowing them to plan strategies accordingly.

He Ping, of course, had more telescopes, and this was something that could be mass-produced at this stage. However, for a civilization at the level of the military world, the effect of the telescope was too significant. So He Ping decided to play the long game, using this one to whet Zhao Zheng's appetite, so he could sell them at a higher price later.

"You've been very generous, and I can't let this go without reciprocating," Zhao Zheng said after a moment of thought. "To be honest, the value of such a treasure is immeasurable, and I don't have anything suitable to exchange. How about this: a few years ago, during an outing, I found a strange object in a cave that could reflect faces like a mirror. Although it looked broken, it was incredibly hard. I brought it home out of curiosity. Since our transaction will be completed in Qingyang City, why don't we include that object in the payment list?"

A mirror! He Ping was startled. Could this be the same mirror found in the treasure vaults of the Wolf and Lances families? This was truly a stroke of luck. He Ping remained calm on the surface, nodding in agreement, but inside, he was elated. He hadn't even started his treasure hunt, and the third piece of the puzzle was already in his hands!

With the deal settled, He Ping prepared to head to Qingyang City to finalize the payment and equipment transfer. Wen Fang, who had taken on the mission of infiltrating behind enemy lines, also needed to return to Qingyang City to wait for He Ping's equipment and gather the recruited soldiers. So Wen Fang accompanied He Ping back to Qingyang City, serving as his guide. However, the group heading to Qingyang City was not just the two of them and the guards; Zhao Xiaoyue was also part of the group...

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