Let's just drift through life together in this quick transmigration story.

Chapter 740 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (26)

As long as the ministers did something that pleased Xiong Bufan, Xiong Bufan would reward them with porcelain and a small amount of gold and silver.

Porcelain was really a double-edged sword for the ministers. It couldn't be chipped or damaged, and if it was even slightly broken, it would become worthless. It also took up space. Apart from being pretty, it was really useless.

Since it was a gift from the emperor, it could neither be thrown away nor given away.

Xiong Bufan has an extraordinary talent for rewarding his subordinates.

After Xiong Bufan's robbery, the national treasury was completely emptied of both silver and treasures, leaving only some old-fashioned, dusty items in a side storeroom.

During the hunting trip, Xiong Bufan emerged as the one who reaped the greatest rewards.

Wang Shijun still stared at Xiong Bufan like a lovesick fool, not daring to approach, and just watched from afar.

Shangguan Yi was extremely worried. In the past month, how could he find the spies? There were too many people in the palace, and he couldn't get any information out of the assassins he had caught before. He could only investigate little by little.

Finally, he planned to use all the capable people in the palace, including the King's attendant, as well as the Queen and the talented men who had been assigned to many places by Xiong Bufan.

Wu Xinran and Zhou Ying also came up empty-handed.

They searched the hunting grounds for two days, but found nothing except an abandoned cave, and even prey was scarce.

The assassins completely disrupted their hunting party.

Zhou Ying: "Don't you think there are just too many assassins?"

“Indeed, there are many. That’s why we must investigate thoroughly and protect His Majesty,” Wu Xinran said, taking a sip of water with a righteous expression.

"Yes, do you have any leads?"

"No."

Zhou Ying felt that Wu Xinran was all talk and no action, and that she couldn't be trusted with anything else.

Seeing that no one around him had found anything, Xiong Bufan began to remove the spies around him. Whether they were undercover agents or traitors, as long as they were not his people, he locked them all up in jail.

Shangguan Yi was fined a year's salary and demoted one rank, but she still stayed by Xiong Bufan's side.

The prisons in the capital were full before the assassination attempts against Xiong Bufan finally stopped.

Xiong Bufan's move can be described as a case of "silent until the moment of truth," but when he does speak, it's astounding.

But it was also a blatant slap in the face to the ministers, as they were unaware that there were already so many spies from other countries in the palace and the court.

Xiong Bufan fined the ministers in charge by two months' salary, making them do unpaid work to reflect on their actions.

Compared to the tyrant's tendency to behead people at the drop of a hat, Xiong Bufan could be considered a saint.

The spies were all ransomed by the people of their respective countries, and Xiong Bufan personally escorted them onto the carriage.

The surrounding small countries did not want to ransom the people, but if they did not ransom the people, the Feng Dynasty would send troops to attack them.

The national treasury, which was short of money, became rich again because of spies.

This year, Xiong Bufan will be able to lead the people of the whole country to have a prosperous New Year, with most people having enough to eat and wear, and no one freezing or starving to death.

Zhou Ying and Wu Xinran were finally able to go back and visit during the Spring Festival, leaving Xiong Bufan all alone again.

Time flies, especially during holidays.

After the New Year, Xiong Bufan ordered his men to put away the sticks used by the ministers, fearing that they would injure each other and cause bloodshed, which would affect the appearance of the city. The Great Feng Dynasty was a land of etiquette.

The envoys then began to arrive in the capital one after another to offer tribute; this was their first year of offering tribute.

If we don't pay tribute, we'll face the predicament of being besieged by enemy troops. Nothing is more terrifying than war.

Shangguan Yi has been extremely busy lately, even bringing in Zhao Yuanxin and Wang Shijun to help with the preparations.

Zhao Yuanxin was previously a queen and had experience in organizing large banquets. Seeking help from professionals is always better than doing it yourself.

Xiong Bufan also got busy, hiding grain, afraid that others would steal his food.

Kongkong: "Bufan, shouldn't you strengthen the construction of the capital? That way, you can give those small countries a good shock."

"I've already treated them very well by letting them live in the palace."

Empty silence. Xiong Bufan is sometimes really too frugal.

Xiong Bufan said confidently, "I'm going to keep all my valuables hidden away; that's called keeping your wealth private."

They're here to pay off debts, they're all poor, don't steal from me.

"They may not be that poor."

"Defenses can not do without."

Kongkong felt that as long as Xiong Bufan was happy, nothing else mattered.

The ministers were quite enthusiastic. Ever since they learned that the sticks wouldn't be distributed, everyone had put on nice clothes, determined not to be looked down upon by the neighboring small countries.

However, the Gyeonggi region has begun to strengthen its defenses, and even started giving the people preventative medicines, and even people all over the country are taking them, for fear that the small country will bring the disease to the Daeho Dynasty.

One should always be wary of others, but Xiong Bufan was far too wary.

Amidst everyone's anticipation, the envoys from the small country finally arrived in the capital one after another.

The women were very excited, wanting to take several men from other countries as their husbands. Those who shouted about male superiority and female inferiority must find it quite interesting.

If I could see it at Nanfeng Tower, I would be very happy.

The men were somewhat worried, fearing that the envoy might seduce their wives.

Shangguan Yi ordered a thorough search of the palace, both inside and outside, fearing that someone might disrupt the banquet.

After finishing his work, Zhao Yuanxin returned to his post. He was only helping out; he didn't want to get involved in the palace's intrigues anymore.

Wang Shijun was even more concerned than Shangguan Yi, fearing that someone might harm Xiong Bufan. However, he also used his personal power to move his position to a spot not far from Xiong Bufan, exactly ten meters away.

He dared not challenge His Majesty's bottom line.

Xiong Bufan sat on the dragon throne, listening to the ministers' reports while pondering other matters.

After arriving in the capital, the ministers sent someone to report to Xiong Bufan and then strolled around the city.

The Feng Dynasty is currently surrounded by more than ten small countries, but only five or six of them can be named: Xiwu, Nanliang, Beixing, and Dongqin. Now that the king of Xiwu has been captured, only Nanliang and Beixing can still make a move.

The Southern Liang Kingdom and the Northern Xing Kingdom were close to each other and had a common enemy, so the envoys naturally became closer.

If the Phoenix Dynasty were to experience internal strife, they could become allies and annex it together, but it's too early to discuss that now.

Nanxing was an envoy sent by the Southern Liang Kingdom and also the second prince of the Southern Liang Kingdom. At this moment, he was walking down the street and occasionally stared at some women.

The women of Fengchao are not at all modest. They stare at men as they walk down the street, and they look so strong. Who would want to marry them?

"Whose little man is this? Is he married yet?" a plump woman asked as she approached.

The guards next to Nanxing quickly shielded the person in the middle to prevent their second prince from being harmed.

The chubby woman gave Nanxing a disdainful look. "Coward, I just like you."

The guards drew their swords; if the fat woman didn't leave, they would be ruthless.

The fat woman rolled her eyes and left. Then she saw a man come out and quickly went back inside.

The man, dressed in a light pink robe with his hair simply tied up, scolded, "If you keep looking around like that, don't come inside with me today. Go with some other man."

"I didn't see it,"

.......

The two left amidst their bickering. The guards sheathed their swords, dispersed from around Nanxing, and continued to follow behind him.