"Put it on. I'm not in the mood."
Tufa Su gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and put her clothes back on.
"You can stay with from now on. Just taking care of food and drink will be enough."
Zheng Fan didn't feel like saying much more. The Tufa patriarch had sent her over with a very obvious intent. Even if he was unwilling, there was no need to put this woman in a difficult position.
That's how things were in this world. Even the scholar-bureaucrat class, like Wen Sutong, would casually offer their granddaughters and daughters. You couldn't expect a minor clan chief of a local tyrant to have much integrity.
"Help clean my armor and sword. Thank you for your trouble."
"Yes, Master."
Tufa Su bowed to Zheng Fan before slowly getting up to take his armor and sword out to clean them.
Zheng Fan let out a long sigh, trying his best to get so more sleep.
To be honest, he wasn't very enthusiastic about this war. If he had to choose, he would prefer to bury himself in Shengle City farming for a few years. Wouldn't it be quite an accomplishnt to treat it like a ga of Monopoly?
Or, besides farming, he could travel with Siniang in disguise, accompanying rchant caravans to Jiangnan in Qian State. They could visit temples and Taoist abbeys, and see how those refined scholars maintained their elegance even in the bitter cold, still fanning themselves.
He could even find a sect and learn sothing, or go to Yanjing to find a mage or a Battle Qi practitioner, and see if he could also achieve dual cultivation in magic and martial arts.
There were so many, many places in this world he hadn't explored or experienced. Yet, here he was, stuck lying idle and daydreaming in a damp, cold tent.
Zheng Fan took a deep breath, lanting to himself:
I've degenerated. I've really degenerated.
With a city and so capital in hand, I've started thinking about living a comfortable, bourgeois life.
This won't do. This won't do at all...
He slept soundly until broad daylight. After such a long sleep, his energy and spirits were finally restored.
Breakfast was dough drop soup. It wasn't as rich as the versions from later generations, just a simple soup with flour dough drops.
Moreover, when it ca to cooking skills, Zheng Fan believed he was far superior to Tufa Su. This woman clearly didn't cook much. At least, she didn't seem to have ever truly put her heart into cooking.
Sigh, Siniang is so much better. She's beautiful, gentle, and can cook too.
After eating, Zheng Fan put his armor back on, then sat on a stone outside the tent and began to stare blankly.
He was technically one of the main generals, yet he had been ironically summoned by Lord Jingnan to the central army rely to serve as a mascot.
Since his subordinates were led by Liang Cheng at the front, he had nothing to do. At least, not before Lord Jingnan summoned him to the command tent; there was nothing else to keep him busy.
Inspecting the military fortifications or checking the soldiers' morale—those tasks had nothing to do with him.
These past few days, Zheng Fan felt like he was one of those "Eunuch Military Supervisors" he had read about in history books.
It wasn't until almost noon that Zheng Fan received Lord Jingnan's command to go to the command tent for a discussion.
Inside the command tent, there were four general-commanders and a number of staff officers. All of them were quietly having their midday al with Lord Jingnan.
The al was simple: cornbread buns soaked in water. Everyone, from Lord Jingnan down, was eating this.
After Zheng Fan entered, an orderly also brought him a serving of this "rember past hardships, appreciate present sweetness" al.
Helpless, he could only grit his teeth and start gnawing on it.
Actually, the army wasn't short of food. Although it pained them that supporting this expedition had consud so much wealth and provisions, Siniang and the blind man had been very generous. They figured that since they were going to be fleeced anyway, they might as well do it handsoly. At least their contributions would earn them so goodwill.
So, there had been no skimping on provisions; in fact, they had supplied the good stuff.
Lord Jingnan finished eating. Everyone else finished too. Zheng Fan, who had arrived last, silently stuffed the final piece of cornbread into his mouth.
Damn it! This definitely isn't our own grain. There are even little pebbles in this cornbread!
"GACK..."
Zheng Fan choked. Yes, right there in the command tent, Zheng Fan was clutching his chest in agony.
At that mont, a General-Commander nad Wang Ge kindly ca over. He patted Zheng Fan on the back a few tis and then handed him a bowl of water to drink.
"PHEW..."
That's better.
The others all silently watched this unfold.
He had co so close; the first high-ranking general to die on this expedition had nearly been him.
Tian Wujing glanced at Zheng Fan and asked, "Are you alright?"
Zheng Fan shook his head, then cupped his fists towards those around him in a gesture of apology.
Wang Ge joked, "I recall hearing that our Brother Zheng cos from a rchant family. It seems he really can't handle tough living, eh?"
This was good-natured teasing, without any malice. It was clear from Wang Ge's tone. After all, everyone knew how much Tian Wujing valued Zheng Fan, and no one would be foolish enough to openly try and undermine him in front of the Marquis.
Hearing this, the surrounding generals all chuckled.
Tian Wujing gestured with his hand, and the crowd imdiately fell silent.
"This expedition, all the food and drink we've had in the mountains these past few days, has been thanks to Chief Zheng's provisions. You all owe Chief Zheng a debt of gratitude."
Upon hearing this, Wang Ge and the other generals all cupped their fists and bowed to Zheng Fan. Zheng Fan could only return the gesture once more.
"Today's al was one I specifically ordered. It's to scrape so of the grease from your bellies, lest you get tired of all the rich, tender beef and mutton once we enter the snowfield the day after tomorrow."
"HAHAHA..."
The generals roared with laughter.
"In one more day's march, our army will be able to pass through Skybreak Mountain and enter the snowfield. Wang Ge, Zhang Cheng."
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