I transmigrated to ancient times and became a king with a title equal to mine.

There are fewer than fifteen Grandmaster-level experts in the entire Great Xia Kingdom.

Only then did Wang Fangping understand his father's predicament.

The He family was terrified, and they were all trembling.

Wang Xuecheng was secretly pleased with himself for not making a move against the Ning family boy; otherwise, a mere Grandmaster like him could have wiped out the Wang family.

"He Dalong," Wang Xuecheng said to the eldest son of the He family, "Stop dawdling and hurry up and return the bride price to the Ning family."

With a bitter face, Old Man He said, "If it were just the thousand-odd taels of silver from back then, I could still pay it back. But, but he's asking for an exorbitant amount, more than doubling it. He's trying to ruin our He family."

Long Bin asked calmly, "Old man, when you married your daughter twice, didn't you expect this outcome?"

"Ning Long, that's enough! Haven't you made enough of a scene?"

He Shiyun walked in from outside the crowd, pointed at Long Bin, and asked, "In the past three years, how many times have I slept with you, each time making vows of eternal love, yet today you're so cold and heartless?"

Long Bin gave a cold laugh and replied disdainfully, "You still know that we've slept together countless times, so why did you sleep with Wang Fangping again?"

"You?" He Shiyun paused for a moment. No matter how thick-skinned she was, she couldn't resist feudal customs and openly admitting that she had an affair with Ning Long. She was really forced into it.

If she doesn't stand up, her former lover is the infamous Heavenly Fiend Dragon, feared even by ghosts in the martial world.

If this situation continues, the He family is in serious trouble today.

The He family has declined rapidly in recent years. If it weren't for the betrothal gifts from the engagement with Ning Long, the He family would have gone bankrupt three years ago.

Now that things have come to this, if the He family hadn't been in such a precarious situation, He Shiyun wouldn't have done such a scandalous and immoral thing.

She lived up to her name today for the sake of the He family.

He Shiyun approached Ning Long and said pitifully, "Although you gave me more than a thousand taels of silver, I gave you my true love and first love. Aren't these worth a thousand taels of silver?"

"Besides, you haven't come back for over a year, without a word or a letter. Am I, a young woman, supposed to keep you company all this time?"

Seeing He Shiyun say this, and seeing her face covered in tears, Long Bin's heart clenched. He wasn't involved; he was just using the body of the deceased ghost and couldn't truly understand the feelings between the deceased ghost and her.

However, Long Bin is a sentimental man who can't bear to see a woman cry.

He Shiyun is right. You tore down her chastity arch, but you died more than a year ago. Shouldn't she find happiness again?

Just as Long Bin was about to let the He family off the hook, Lu Zhusheng took the letter from a young man and turned to hand it over.

Long Bin opened the package and glanced through it, his face immediately contorting with rage.

He put away the letter, looked up at He Shiyun, and said in a low voice, "I can spare you, but not a penny less of the three thousand taels of silver. I'm very poor."

Long Bin turned to leave, but Lu Zhusheng said sternly, "I'm giving the He family one day. You must pay by noon tomorrow, or there's no need for the He family to stay."

Ninglong's men disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Wang Xuecheng let out a heavy sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "Butler, please ask the He family to leave immediately."

"Fang Hua, tell the kitchen that the banquet will proceed as planned. This banquet is Wang's apology to all the guests."

Please take your seats!

The He family fled in disgrace, looking utterly pathetic and disheveled along the way.

Long Bin did not return to Ning Mansion, but went directly to the backyard of an inn he had opened near Zhengyang Gate.

The Dharma Protector Qian Jin is waiting here.

Long Bin sat down in the armchair, took the cup of tea, and took a small sip.

"Uncle Qian, speak."

"Master, He Biaocai's original name was He Sanchun. He was the head instructor of the Qin family's servants."

Before joining the Qin family, He Sanchun was a river bandit. During a battle among bandits for territory, He Sanchun was seriously injured and fell into the Jiupai River, where he was rescued by your uncle's guards.

He Sanchun entered the Qin family to repay a debt of gratitude.

According to newly learned inside information, He Sanchun was bribed by the Dongjiang Kingdom in his second year in the Qin family and became an undercover agent for the Dongjiang soldiers.

The Qin family massacre occurred because all members of the Qin family ingested cartilage powder, a secret medicine passed down only within the He family.

Upon hearing this, Long Bin gritted his teeth and said, "No wonder my master wondered what kind of power could destroy the fighting strength of the Qin family's martial artists. It turns out they poisoned them."

In order not to interrupt Qian Jin's narration, he suppressed his inner pain and anger and said softly, "Uncle Qian, please continue."

"After administering the drug, He Sanchun left the Qin family and infiltrated Ruxu under the alias He Laocai."

Long Bin was startled and asked, "Is he on a mission in Ruxu?"

“Yes,” Qian Jin said, “to spy on our army’s defenses and bribe our officers.”

In the Battle of Lishui more than a year ago, if it weren't for the Southern King's cannons striking fear into the enemy, a battalion of soldiers in the Ruxu garrison would have been preparing to launch a coordinated attack from within and without.

Qian Jin handed the note to the Prince of Nan and said, "Eleven men from the two major military camps in Ruxu have defected to the enemy."

After Long Bin finished reading the list, he slammed his hand on the table, shattering it, and shouted, "Have Zhao Chong lead his men to assassinate them tonight, leaving no one alive. Make sure the scene is properly arranged afterward."

"Understood, these capable men are all spies from the Dongjiang Kingdom."

Ma Yangshui, who had just arrived, chimed in: "My lord, this is an excellent excuse."

Long Bin was stunned for a moment, staring at Ma Xiangshui until the old man broke out in a cold sweat.

Long Bin asked, "How much stock have you prepared for Taizi Mountain?"

"Enough for 100,000 soldiers for half a year."

Long Bin suddenly laughed and said, "You have exceeded my expectations."

Ma Xiangshui knelt down and said, "This is all thanks to His Highness the Prince of Nan's wise and great policies. Now, what my Lishui County lacks least is food and silver."

Long Bin was pleased with Ma Xiangshui's performance and smiled, "Go back to Lishui now and hand over the affairs of Lishui clearly. At the same time, hand over the defense of Taizishan to Gong Bing. Return to Ruxu the day after tomorrow morning. I have a task for you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ma Xiangshui was so moved that tears streamed down his face as he got up and walked outside.

After twenty years of dedicated service, he finally received a promotion in his old age, which made Old Man Ma extremely excited.

Long Bin said to Wu Yizhi, who had come with him, "Draft a document to promote Ruxu to a county, and appoint Ma Xiangshui as the garrison commander of Ruxu and concurrently the magistrate of Ruxu County, a fifth-rank official."

Wu Yizhi has decided to stay in Lishui to assist the Southern King and has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Lishui County.

These were all new terms, Long Bin explained to his civil and military officials the three new official titles he had chosen.

Prime Minister: He is responsible for all administration, personnel, taxation, supervision, and justice in Lishui County;

Governor-General: Responsible for the military, provisions, and defense of Lishui County;

President: Responsible for commerce, agriculture, and handicrafts in Lishui County.

Wu Yizhi: Prime Minister

Yu Hongtao: Governor-General, Grand Marshal

Lu Yuan: Deputy Governor-General, Second Marshal, Commander of the Imperial Guard

Cao Mengsheng: Deputy Governor-General, Second Marshal, and concurrently Prefect of Danyang Commandery

Ma Gui: President

Lü Yong: Vice President and Chief Agriculture Officer

Wu Yizhi quickly organized the documents.

Long Bin said to Lu Yuan, "Go across the river and tell Cao Mengsheng to prepare. I don't need a great victory; I just want him to occupy the entire south bank." [Please support, please tip, please follow! Thank you!!]