"Such extravagance."
From atop the slope, Zheng Fan couldn't help but sigh as he watched Emperor Jin's returning entourage.
According to the rules of Yan State, a leading general, upon reassignnt, could take his personal troops. Zheng Fan hadn't been polite; from Green Willow Fortress, aside from the bricks and tiles too inconvenient to carry, he hadn't left so much as an embroidery needle for his successor.
However, even with all their troops, baggage, and vehicles, large and small, compared to Emperor Jin's retinue, they looked no different from a band of peasants fleeing a disaster.
"Maybe Emperor Jin wants to emulate Liu Chan," the blind man speculated. "The Yan Emperor also wishes for Emperor Jin to live well, as a display for the rulers of other kingdoms."
"Who doesn't enjoy luxury?"
"My lord speaks the truth."
"I heard the old head of the Situ Family passed away recently?" Zheng Fan queried.
"Yes, my lord, he just died. Rumor in Jin land has it that because the heads of the Helian and Wenren Families both passed, and those three had been rivals their entire lives, the head of the Situ Family followed them."
"Heh, so they're rushing off to the netherworld to have a ga of 'Fight the Landlord' together?"
"There are rumors in Yan State, however, that the death of the Situ Family's old head was sowhat suspicious. According to the last ssage from the Sixth Prince, the Yan Emperor had apparently offered the head of the Situ Family terms equivalent to Emperor Jin's, even permitting him to retain a larger fiefdom."
"To beco an emperor as well?"
"Not quite an emperor, more like a regional king, similar to how Korea was to our Central Plains in the past."
"Oh, I see. And then, he died?"
"Yes."
"Let's hope there won't be any more trouble over there."
"That is my hope as well, my lord. But since the head of the Situ Family has just died, and half of Jin State has just been shattered, the Situ Family must be in a state of panic internally. Logically, a major conflict shouldn't erupt in the imdiate future."
"Hmm."
The herald had already gone to announce their request. Shortly after, he returned, conveying Emperor Jin's "permission."
The Yan Emperor hadn't diminished Emperor Jin's sovereign status, so Emperor Jin was still a monarch. It was said that when the Yan Emperor t Emperor Jin, the latter addressed himself as "ruler of a lesser state," but the Yan Emperor corrected him, saying:
"You are to continue addressing yourself with the imperial 'I'."
From then on, the contingent from Green Willow Fortress and Emperor Jin's entourage rged, proceeding together towards the Horse Hoof Mountain range.
The journey lasted ten days. The group finally crossed the Horse Hoof Mountain range and set foot on Jin land.
However, Emperor Jin's actual sphere of influence was limited to the original capital city's territory plus an additional surrounding layer—a so-called kingdom within a kingdom.
Along the way, not only Zheng Fan but also the other Demon Kings tried to arrange a chance encounter with Emperor Jin.
But none succeeded. Emperor Jin remained in his large carriage, hardly ever alighting. He ate, drank, and attended to all his needs within, appearing so frail he couldn't bear the slightest breeze.
The problem now was that if they didn't manage an "accidental" eting soon, Emperor Jin's entourage would continue east, while Zheng Fan's group headed northeast. The two parties were about to go their separate ways.
However, Emperor Jin gave Zheng Fan no opportunity whatsoever, maintaining a surprisingly reserved deanor.
Originally, Wen Sutong had advised Zheng Fan to seize the opportunity to establish a relationship with Emperor Jin, ideally forming so tacit understanding.
An emperor is an emperor, after all. As long as his personal and familial safety weren't threatened, he would inevitably want to stir things up.
With Emperor Jin's help, Zheng Fan could establish a foothold in Jin land more quickly, which would also offer significant advantages for future developnt.
Unfortunately, despite all calculations and efforts, Zheng Fan never managed to et Emperor Jin, Yu Ciming, before they parted ways. He could only watch as Emperor Jin's massive entourage headed east.
"Does this count as a warm reception eting a cold shoulder?" Zheng Fan lanted to A Ming beside him.
"My lord, perhaps the guards around Emperor Jin are very strict," A Ming analyzed.
Zheng Fan shook his head, replying,
"Emperor Jin will certainly be afforded the dignity he's due. Since he opened the South Gate to allow the Yan Army into Jin, thereby crushing the two great clans, he has made a great contribution to the Yan State. The Yan Emperor wouldn't be overly suspicious of him, at least not openly. Even if there was secret surveillance, now that we're in Jin territory, if Yu Ciming wanted to see , it wouldn't have been impossible."
Ultimately, political matters are like Xin Qing trying to court Pan Jinlian: both sides need to show so interest for anything to happen.
Clearly, Zheng Fan's enthusiasm was unrequited.
Since the other party was an emperor, Zheng Fan didn't believe he could be completely oblivious. A general, soon to be dispatched to Jin land as a city commandant, proactively joining your entourage—the intention was perfectly clear.
But Emperor Jin's continued aloofness made it clear: he didn't consider Zheng Fan important enough.
In other words, who the hell do you think you are?
Reality is just too damn harsh.
"My lord, do not fret. He will regret this in the future," the blind man offered comfortingly.
Zheng Fan shook his head and said,
"I don't mind for myself, and I don't care about this slight. It's just a pity for Ji Chengjue; his properties were confiscated for helping arrange this joint travel."
It's like soone went to great expense to arrange a banquet for you, hoping to help you network, but you ended up making no connections at all.
"My lord, when do things ever go exactly as planned in this world? Ji Chengjue has always been very understanding; he'll get it."
Zheng Fan nodded. "That's what I think too."
After parting ways with Emperor Jin's troops, Zheng Fan's contingent began to move northeast. Jin land was newly annexed, and many Yan State officials and military commanders were being assigned there. Even several generals from the Earl of North Border's army were retained. This wasn't so much an attempt to break up the Earl of North Border's army but rather to fulfill earlier promises. After all, the desert was a harsh and bitter place; few would choose to stay there eating sand if they had a choice.
Of course, one full garrison from the Earl of North Border's army had returned to Beifeng Prefecture under his personal command. The Eldest Prince, however, was not recalled; the Yan Emperor seed to have simply left him at the Earl of North Border's residence.
To outsiders, the Yan Emperor's intention for the Eldest Prince to eventually take over the Earl of North Border's domain was obvious. Such a move might seem crude and grasping to the vassal lords of other states. However, the relationship between the Yan Emperor and the Earl of North Border was exceptionally close. Furthermore, the Ji and Li families had a long-standing tradition of raising each other's children.
Even so, completely pacifying nearly half of Jin State in a short ti was almost impossible. Litian City, where Lord Jingnan was stationed, and Quhe City, governed by Li Bao's forces—these being the forr strongholds of the Wenren and Helian families—served as centers from which the Yan people were establishing their administrative system. Beyond a few garrisoned cities, most of Jin land remained loosely administered.
Consequently, official relay stations were non-existent. Besides, with nearly two thousand people and even more horses in Zheng Fan's contingent, a relay station couldn't have accommodated them anyway.
However, the problem was easily solved. Zheng Fan simply dispatched n to knock on the gate of a local fort and announce his identity.
The master of the fort was very accommodating, providing everything from fodder and firewood to a lavish banquet with wine. Despite being over sixty, he repeatedly bowed before Zheng Fan, addressing him respectfully as "Your Excellency."
The Yan people were, after all, the new masters of this territory; naturally, they had to be served carefully.
Zheng Fan accepted all of this.
However, that evening, he refused the fort master's offer to send his granddaughter to his tent to warm his bed.
Sitting on the bed, watching Siniang make it, Zheng Fan couldn't help but chuckle.
"This local custom of offering daughters and granddaughters... I'm really not used to it."
"My lord, you could certainly accept them if you wished."
"There's no need."
More sweet words, he didn't want to say them. Sotis it felt quite pointless because you knew the person by your pillow was an old hand, even more experienced in worldly affairs than you. What romantic notions hadn't she seen? How could she be easily fooled?
"In the future, my lord will inevitably have won. You needn't consider my feelings; I'm quite happy with that. However, this fort master's granddaughter... she truly isn't presentable enough for you.
"Just think about it. Once I'm seated in the grand armchair, with a line of princesses and county mistresses below all calling 'Sister' in unison... Aiya, that would be quite lovely."
"I don't like being a stud."
When he drew comics in the past, Zheng Fan seldom created harem series.
"Which man isn't fickle?" Siniang clearly saw things as they were. "Besides, my lord, you've been sowing seeds all this ti, but you haven't actually planted any."
"Shall we try?"
"Can't we take it slow, my lord? Peel it layer by layer, explore slowly, proceed step by step, and conquer one position at a ti. Isn't that more romantic?"
"Yes, you're right."
You're right about everything. It's not like I dare to object anyway.
Zheng Fan lay on the bed, looking at his hands. From his constant saber practice, the calluses on his fingertips were clearly visible.
Siniang sat down beside Zheng Fan, took out a pair of tweezers, and began to trim the calluses for him.
"It's useless to trim them; they'll just grow back from practice."
"But they pain ."
"Alright."
Just then, footsteps approached outside the tent. The deliberateness of the steps indicated the visitor wasn't the blind man.
Suddenly, Zheng Fan recalled sothing. Whenever he and Siniang were alone, the blind man always tid his arrivals perfectly, never interrupting anything crucial.
This didn't an the blind man was lucky. Instead, that old fox had definitely scanned them.
Zheng Fan mused that once Mo Wan recovered a bit more, given its soul-body constitution, it would be essential to find a way to counteract the blind man's scanning. That fellow shouldn't be allowed to just sweep his senses around whenever he pleased.
"My lord," Liang Cheng's voice ca from outside.
"What is it?" Zheng Fan asked.
"A ssenger from the east just delivered a ssage. Seeing we were the Yan Army, he voluntarily shared so news."
"What news?"
"Situ Lei, the new head of the Situ Family, has ascended the throne. He has established his dynasty under the na 'Cheng' and adopted 'Wuping' as his era na. Simultaneously, the Situ Family has already mobilized its forces."
"What the hell?"
Zheng Fan shot up from the bed.
The Situ Family has already made their move? So extre?
"Then... are we still going to Shengle City?" Zheng Fan asked.
Shengle City was located on the border between Jin land and the Situ Family's territory.
Liang Cheng fell silent on the other side.
"Speak up!" Zheng Fan urged.
"My lord, the ssenger said that after the Situ Family mobilized, many factions in Jin land surrendered to them. This was because our Yan Army had few troops stationed along the border, and many cities lacked garrisons entirely."
"Don't tell ..."
Zheng Fan suddenly had a very ominous premonition.
"My lord, Shengle... has already fallen."
"..." Zheng Fan.
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