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Dong Zhuo's face was a mass of thick, menacing flesh, his bloodshot eyes fixed intently on Fei Qian, as if trying to detect any hint of deception in his expression.
The guards around Dong Zhuo seemed to deliberately or inadvertently step forward, subtly encircling Fei Qian, creating an atmosphere where the slightest disagreement could lead to his immediate arrest.
Though Fei Qian's expression remained unchanged, his palms were sweating.
Was it really necessary to go to such lengths?!
Why haven't I seen Lü Bu? Oh, he must be drunk again. Ugh, always failing when it matters most.
Just great. If something goes wrong now, there won't be anyone to save me…
What should I do?
Agree or disagree?
This wasn't a simple choice. One wrong move, and it could spell eternal doom.
In that moment, Fei Qian's mind was on the verge of collapse, his brain almost shutting down…
First, he had to carefully analyze the words and tone Emperor Liu Xie had used during their meeting earlier, searching for any hidden implications. He needed to determine the likelihood that the food container held some secret message.
Then, based on that probability, he had to align his response with Dong Zhuo's personality. Fortunately, there were only two options…
But then again, Liu Xie's intention was probably…
Fei Qian smiled and bowed. "This was bestowed upon me by His Majesty, and it should not be privately transferred. However, since the Prime Minister favors it, that is another matter. It's just that…"
Dong Zhuo instinctively asked, "Just what?"
"Your discernment is clear, Prime Minister. This humble official is about to depart for Bingzhou, yet I have only five hundred soldiers and armor—a drop in the bucket. Could you grant me another five hundred? I would be eternally grateful!" Fei Qian rambled on, then performed a deep bow toward Dong Zhuo.
Dong Zhuo was taken aback, then couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Fei Qian, are you trying to exchange this food container for five hundred sets of armor?"
Fei Qian clasped his hands and said, "Not at all. This is my 'tribute' to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister 'bestows' armor upon me. How could it be described as an 'exchange'?"
Dong Zhuo let out a "Ha!", closed the food container, and placed it back into Fei Qian's hands. "This object is far too precious. I dare not accept it. You should take it back!"
"Prime Minister, if five hundred is too many, three hundred will do!"
Dong Zhuo continued laughing heartily as he waved his hand, ignoring Fei Qian, and strode away with his entourage.
Fei Qian's earlier demeanor reminded Dong Zhuo of the old ruffians under his command back in Xiliang. Whenever they heard about supplies, pay, or equipment arriving, they would eagerly show up, bringing all sorts of random things. Sometimes, when they had nothing else, they'd even catch a rabbit from the woods and present it, claiming it was a tribute—but in reality, they were all just there to ask for things…
'Ha! A bunch of scoundrels and brats, every last one of them!'
Sigh!
Things were simpler back in Xiliang. Though my rank wasn't as high as it is now, damn it, life wasn't as frustrating!
After walking a short distance, Dong Zhuo suddenly stopped and said to an attendant, "Assign another two hundred soldiers to Central Commandant Fei. And inform him that if he wants to exchange next time, he must bring the heads of Hu barbarians!"
××××××××××××××
Fei Qian returned to Cui Manor and carefully examined the food container inside and out. Sure enough, there was nothing unusual—the pastries were ordinary palace pastries, with no hidden notes or cloth strips in the fillings…
The container itself was a standard wooden box with a red lacquer coating, utterly ordinary. No matter how he looked at it or tapped it, there was no sign of any hidden compartment.
So, the much-anticipated spy thriller plot was nowhere to be found.
Fei Qian, slightly disappointed, placed the food container on the table, picked up a pastry, and nibbled on it while letting his thoughts wander. What if there really had been a note, and it was so small that the recipient, being a bit naive, accidentally swallowed it…
What then?
Spit it out?
Or…
Suddenly feeling a bit disgusted, Fei Qian tossed the half-eaten pastry back into the box and closed the lid.
Just then, Cui Hou walked into the hall and greeted him. Although Cui Hou noticed the food container on the table, he was preoccupied and the container looked too ordinary to draw attention. Assuming it was just a common item, he sat to the side, opening his mouth several times as if to speak but hesitating each time.
Fei Qian understood his hesitation. After all, the decision to go to Bingzhou had been made later, and it did deviate from the original plan. It was only natural for Cui Hou to have reservations.
Cui Hou finally spoke up, "Central Commandant Fei, regarding this journey to Bingzhou—is it auspicious or ominous? Could you enlighten me?"
"Brother Yongyuan, do you know how many men I have under my command right now?" Fei Qian spoke casually, without any airs or concealment, as if chatting with a friend. "Fewer than eight hundred! Do you think I'm going to take these eight hundred men to fight and kill? Even if we did, how many Hu barbarians could we possibly take down?"
"Then you plan to…"
Fei Qian chuckled. "Of course, we're going to do business! That shouldn't worry you, Brother Yongyuan. It's what you excel at, after all…"
"B-business?" Cui Hou sounded skeptical. "But isn't the rumor that you're going to educate the Hu people?"
"I suppose there are also rumors that I'm overambitious and fanciful?" Fei Qian replied nonchalantly.
Cui Hou hesitated, glanced at Fei Qian's expression to ensure he wasn't angry, and nodded slightly.
Fei Qian explained, "Education is part of it, but first, we need influence… In other words, we must make the Hu people believe we keep our word before they'll listen to us. And how do we make them trust our words? Naturally, we start with business!"
"Besides, the Hu territories lack everything," Fei Qian said with a cunning, merchant-like smile. "Do they have battle knives that break after a hundred strikes? Or iron pots that leak after a month? As long as what we offer is slightly better than what they currently use…"
Cui Hou seemed to grasp the idea vaguely but not entirely. However, this approach starkly contrasted with his original business philosophy of integrity, making it hard for him to accept immediately.
Fei Qian adopted a serious tone. "Top-quality goods are only for sale within the Han borders. Substandard products are for outside! What? Did you think of selling the best to the Hu people?!"
Cui Hou shuddered and quickly said, "Of course not! But this matter… does the court know about it?"
Fei Qian added one final pressure point, pointing at the food container on the table. "Brother Yongyuan, do you know what this is? This was bestowed by His Majesty!"
Then, as Cui Hou looked slightly surprised, Fei Qian continued, "...Why did His Majesty give pastries instead of something else?"
Cui Hou first looked puzzled, then seemed to realize something but didn't dare confirm it…
"His Majesty has enjoyed the pastries from your manor here!"
Cui Hou was deeply moved. He gently took the food container, caressing it as if it were a rare treasure. But when he lifted the lid, the first thing he saw was the half-eaten pastry…
"This… this… Did His Majesty eat this too?" Cui Hou held up the dog-bitten half of a pastry, unable to believe it.
"Ahem," Fei Qian took it back. "That… that's the half I just ate…"