Inside a top-tier guest room at the inn.
Zheng Fan gazed at the Longyuan sword before him, silent. A Ming did likewise. Li Yiyong, observing the sword and then the two quiet n, finally asked,
"General, why are you both so quiet?"
A Ming replied,
"Because you are here."
Li Yiyong was left speechless.
Zheng Fan clapped Li Yiyong's shoulder and laughed.
"Haha, he loves to joke. Don't take him seriously."
"This humble soldier wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare."
"Adjutant Li, return to camp and have the n get things in order. In two days, we set off for Shengle. Arriving there will be like returning ho. Besides, the foreign soldiers under my command far outnumber the Yan soldiers."
"It is this humble soldier's fortune to serve under you, General."
Zheng Fan touched his cuff and looked at A Ming.
Did you bring any money?
A Ming shook his head.
Zheng Fan had no choice but to turn to Li Yiyong and ask,
"Adjutant Li, do you have any money on you?"
Li Yiyong was taken aback, surprised by how direct his new commander was.
"Forgive , General. I also received the military order quite suddenly and didn't have ti to prepare. However, rest assured, I will personally deliver it first thing tomorrow morning. Please accept it, General!"
"No, no, no, you've misunderstood. I accompanied the Lord back in a hurry and didn't bring any silver. Now that these n are about to follow , I should give them so sort of welco gift, shouldn't I? Adjutant Li, if it's convenient, could you advance so silver for us to buy the n so good food and wine for a couple of hearty als? I'll reimburse you once we reach Shengle."
"This... no, no, absolutely not, General. How could I..."
"Alright, it's settled then. Don't worry, our place might be lacking in so things right now, but silver isn't one of them. Also, tell the n that once they reach Shengle, their monthly pay will be the sa as the Jingnan Army's."
Naturally, the soldiers from the Jin State encampnt couldn't expect their pay to be on par with the Jingnan Army. To put it harshly, they were, in essence, traitors who had surrendered.
However, under Zheng Fan, their pay was equal.
As for the resulting extra expenses, that was a headache for the blind man and Siniang. General Zheng only concerned himself with spending money to win people's loyalty.
"On behalf of all the n in the encampnt, this humble soldier thanks the General for his imnse kindness!"
"Alright, go on and get busy."
"This humble soldier takes his leave."
After Li Yiyong left,
A Ming spoke,
"My Lord, aren't you going to visit the military camp personally?"
"I can't be bothered."
"In that case, Adjutant Li might take all the credit, telling the n the improved treatnt was sothing he fought for from the Yan people, and that the food and wine were bought with his own money."
It's a common trick, a basic skill for any military leader.
"It doesn't matter. Once we get to Shengle, A Cheng and the blind man can sort them out."
A Ming heard this and nodded, saying,
"Indeed."
Zheng Fan cleared his throat, pointed at the sword before him, and said,
"This is the sword of the Jin State's Sword Saint. Tell , why would Tian Wujing give it to ?"
"My Lord, please wait for a mont. You can ask again later."
"Wait for what?"
"Wait for this subordinate to gouge his own eyes out."
Zheng Fan found himself speechless.
Zheng Fan's hand caressed the hilt of the sword as he remarked with emotion,
"This truly is a fine sword."
"My Lord, you could consider switching to swordsmanship."
"Forget it. I'll stick to practicing my saber. If I were to take up the sword rely for show, I might end up diocre in both, which would be a detrint to on the battlefield.
For now, let's just keep this sword sealed away.
The Sword Saint was only repelled by Lord Jingnan back then, not killed. This sword is said to have been specially forged for the Sword Saint by master smiths from the Chu State. Who knows, one day that Sword Saint might co looking for it."
"We have a good number of n under us now."
"Not every expert is like Shatuo Queshi, fond of charging into a crowd. You saw how those Baili Sword siblings gave you the slip outside the imperial capital, didn't you?
I'm not afraid of that Sword Saint openly declaring war. I'm afraid he'll play the old fox, lurking around and hitting with a surprise attack when I least expect it. Life would beco unbearable then."
"Indeed."
"After being defeated by Lord Jingnan, where do you think that Sword Saint went? Is he still in the lands of the Three Jin? Or perhaps he went to the Cheng State?"
...
"I've been in Li Tian City all this ti," the Sword Saint replied, driving the carriage.
"Li Tian City? Isn't that right next to Lord Jingnan?"
"That ti, it was my carelessness, and Tian Wujing was indeed formidable. He actually applied thods of deploying troops and fighting on the battlefield to a duel in the street. I was resentful about the loss, but I couldn't say it was unfair."
"Actually, Tian Wujing was just being opportunistic. In terms of true strength, he is by no ans your match, Your Excellency."
"There's no need for such flattery. A loss is a loss. I can bear it."
"Yes, yes, Your Excellency is magnanimous."
"But regardless, I lost that ti. Swordsn across the land have probably been shad because of . I must find a chance to fight Tian Wujing again."
"So, Your Excellency went to Li Tian City?"
"I went very early on. As soon as my injuries were sowhat tended to, I headed there. I stayed at an inn not far from Lord Jingnan's estate."
"This..."
"What's wrong?"
"It's too dangerous."
"It was fine. I think he must have known I was there, as I didn't deliberately conceal my presence."
"Then..."
"A large contingent of soldiers to hunt down? I saw no sign of it."
"So, Your Excellency stayed in Li Tian City all that ti, recuperating?"
"Actually, my injuries had healed long ago. I had originally planned to go straight to Tian Wujing's door and challenge him again. But who would have thought? He received an Imperial Edict from your Yan Emperor, ordering him to lead an expedition to the snowfields to fight the Wild People."
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