Chapter 277: So It Turns Out This Subordinate Had Poor Eyesight!

Yang Ling’s eyes narrowed. Before the other party had even fully approached, he opened their status panel:

**Character:** Kong Xinghu

**Class:** Martial Artist

**Strength:** 193

**Agility:** 199

**Spirit:** 50

**Martial Arts:** Vast Spirit Heart Sutra (Skilled)

Profound Iron Technique (Second-Rate, Skilled)

Heart-Shattering Bone-Crushing Palm (Second-Rate, Transcendent)

Still Heart Body Method (Second-Rate, Transcendent)

**Faction:** Ministry of Personnel

Yang Ling inwardly gasped sharply. This bastard’s stats were even higher than Xu Wuji’s.

His Strength was 20 points higher than Xu Wuji’s!

His Agility was also 8 points higher!

“And the key thing is, Eunuch Xu only has one Internal Technique Method, but this guy has two. If he circulates both at once...”

A hint of seriousness crept into Yang Ling’s eyes.

Furthermore, the soldiers following Kong Xinghu were all experts, every single one with Ninth-Rank cultivation.

Among them, one was on par with Shi Xin, an Eighth-Rank expert.

Yang Ling’s mind stirred, and a certain understanding dawned on him.

It seemed Zhao State was indeed severely lacking in high-rank experts.

Even a Fifth-Rank expert like Kong Xinghu couldn’t easily have Seventh-Rank or higher experts following him around.

Having an Eighth-Rank expert as an attendant was already quite decent.

After all, an Eighth-Rank expert could serve as a Division Director in the local prefecture.

At this moment, Zhao Qing stepped forward first, leading Qian Dalong and Juewang to greet the newcomer:

“Zhao Qing, Director of the Second Division, Public Security Department, Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department, pays respects to Lord Kong!”

Kong Xinghu did not dismount. Even facing Zhao Qing, who was a royal member, he only gave a slight nod and a faint smile, which served as his greeting.

He didn’t pay much attention to Qian Dalong or Juewang either.

His gaze swept around, landed on Xu Wuji, and he said with a faint smile:

“Eunuch Xu, shouldn’t you be in the Capital accompanying the Fourth Prince? What brings you all the way out here to this distant place?”

“There’s no credit for you to claim here.”

These words carried a very obvious tone of mockery.

“Gu Weizhou was taken down by Eunuch Xu. Since Kong Xinghu is Gu Weizhou’s junior disciple and a Fifth-Rank official, coming here today, he’s probably going to target him.”

Yang Ling’s mind raced.

Zhang Wei, standing not far away, witnessed this scene. His eyes darkened slightly as he stared at Kong Xinghu’s face, meticulously memorizing his features.

“Lord Kong, what are you saying? Does your servant go wherever there’s credit to be claimed?”

“This Blazing Gold Mine is a matter that concerns His Majesty himself. The Fourth Prince was afraid his subordinates might not handle things properly, so he sent your servant to keep an eye on things.”

Xu Wuji said with a smile.

“I’ve heard the Fourth Prince has acquired an effective lapdog. Something called Yang Ling?”

Kong Xinghu’s gaze swept around and suddenly landed on Qin Mo:

“Is it you?”

Qin Mo was momentarily stunned, a peculiar expression on his face.

How could Chen Xu and the other players not see that this man was being deliberate?

“This NPC is asking for death.”

“I wonder how much experience we’d get for killing him.”

Wu Xiaochen and the others harbored the same thought.

“Lord, your eyesight seems poor. Allow this humble one to introduce you. This is Lord Yang Ling, Director of the First Division and concurrently Director of the Third Division of the Public Security Department, Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department.”

Zhang Wei put on a respectful demeanor, lowering his head and speaking meekly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Wuji couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Even Qin Mo and the others were secretly alarmed. This Zhang Wei had some nerve.

He knew full well that this Native was not someone to be trifled with, someone who didn’t even fear Xu Wuji, yet he still dared to make a snide remark?

Kong Xinghu frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Zhang Wei:

“Who are you?”

“I’m my godfather’s godson.”

Zhang Wei said with a smile.

Xu Wuji chuckled. “Lord Kong, you must forgive me. This is a godson I’ve recently acquired on the road. Not bad, is he?”

“Hmph, you little eunuch dog, quite sharp-tongued.”

Kong Xinghu snorted coldly, then turned his gaze to Yang Ling:

“Are you Yang Ling?”

Yang Ling stared at the horse’s head beneath the other man.

“Lord, this subordinate is indeed Yang Ling.”

“Why aren’t you looking at me when you speak?”

Kong Xinghu’s tone was arrogant, looking down from on high.

A gleam of schadenfreude appeared on Zhao Qing’s face.

Yang Ling continued staring at the horse’s head:

“Lord, isn’t this subordinate looking at you?”

Kong Xinghu followed Yang Ling’s line of sight, his gaze landing on his own horse’s head, and his expression immediately darkened.

“Rank One Yang is truly a boss. He can make a cold, sarcastic jab without even flinching in front of an expert like this.”

“This guy looks pretty tough. I wonder what rank he is.”

“I’m afraid he’s not here with good intentions. If he targets Rank One Yang, our player faction is going to suffer.”

“Let’s just watch the situation for now.”

The players present secretly sent private chats.

Each private chat only cost one or two taels of silver, which was cheap for them.

“Lord Yang, you’re looking at the horse’s head. That lord is over there.”

Zhang Wei pointed to Kong Xinghu for Yang Ling.

Yang Ling suddenly realized and immediately looked up:

“So a lord from the Capital really does have a horse face! I apologize, it turns out this subordinate had poor eyesight!”

Xu Wuji couldn’t help but re-evaluate Yang Ling. He thought to himself, “What a good seedling this is. If only he could enter the palace...”

“Good for you, Yang Ling! A subordinate attacking a superior, insulting your commanding officer! What punishment do you deserve!?”

The Eighth-Rank expert behind Kong Xinghu roared angrily.

“What rank are you?”

Yang Ling looked at the man.

The man said arrogantly, “Eighth-Rank.”

“An Eighth-Rank like you dares to question my guilt?”

Yang Ling shouted coldly, “I am a Seventh-Rank Ironclad. How dare you spout nonsense at me! Shut your dog mouth! If you keep yapping, I’ll beat your dog mouth to a pulp!”

The man immediately became anxious. When he was serving in the Ministry of Personnel, even Seventh-Rank officials in the local regions would bow and scrape before him.

When had he ever suffered such treatment?

Just as he was about to lose his temper, Kong Xinghu suddenly raised a hand to stop him.

Kong Xinghu stared at Yang Ling with an ambiguous smile:

“It seems Lord Yang is not only skilled with his hands but also has a silver tongue. No wonder you managed to coax the Fourth Prince into letting you mine.”

“By the way, this is the Blazing Gold Mine. May I ask what business the Ministry of Personnel has here?”

Yang Ling said with a smile.

Kong Xinghu’s gaze was indifferent:

“I have come here on His Majesty’s orders to oversee your mining progress at the Blazing Gold Mine.”

“His Majesty has decreed that if the mine cannot be brought into operation within half a year, everyone involved in the mining will be punished.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Qing, Qian Dalong, and Juewang all wore expressions of shock.

Shi Xin and the others stood there dumbfounded.

Zhou Zheng, observing from a distance, felt a thought of escape flash through his mind. Half a year to start production? How was that possible?

But just as this thought arose, he suddenly remembered the amount of Blazing Gold Yang Ling had already mined during this period.

“No... the mining standard is one hundred catties per month. Lord Yang has managed fifty or sixty catties in less than ten days...”

Zhou Zheng suddenly gasped sharply.

Could it be... that without anyone even realizing it, the Blazing Gold Mine had already successfully started production?

Even though the mining of this Blazing Gold mine didn’t seem very standard.

But the standard was one hundred catties per month. Some other shortcomings wouldn’t affect things. The yield was what mattered...

“Lord Kong, the difficulty of mining the Blazing Gold Mine is extremely high. Based on previous examples, most take ten or even eight years. How can it be mined in half a year?”

Zhao Qing said with a peculiar expression.

Kong Xinghu’s expression was indifferent:

“I don’t care about that. This is His Majesty’s command.”

He paused. “A month ago, a major accident occurred at one of the Blazing Gold mines. It will not produce Blazing Gold for a short while.”

“All parties in Zhao State require a great deal of Blazing Gold. If the supply is cut off, something terrible will happen at the front lines.”

“If the mine successfully produces within half a year, great merit! Those with official status will be promoted by one rank. Those without official status will be rewarded with one Divine Soul Great Restoration Pill and one Grand Derivation Vital Qi Pill.”

“If the mining fails, removal from office!”

“The rewards are already in my possession. It depends on your abilities.”