Chapter 52: Deep Sea

“Your residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei certainly acts with magnificent arrogance!”

Bang!

The Pacification Commissioner slapped the desk before him with one heavy palm.

Then, Zheng Fan watched the corners of the fat man’s mouth begin twitching uncontrollably.

Because he was so heavy, ripples actually passed across his cheeks.

Important figures always seemed to enjoy slapping tables.

Why bother?

What was this?

I slap myself, and then I’m the one who hurts?

If even those second-generation wastrels had already learned the news, then naturally the true senior officials of Tiger Head City—with their much wider channels—could not possibly remain ignorant.

So, immediately after Zheng Fan finished showing off in front of those young wastrels, someone summoned him to the Pacification Commissioner’s hall.

The Pacification Commissioner might be fat, but his official authority was still formidable.

Yet at this moment, Zheng Fan did not show the slightest timidity.

He had no idea whether the deed had been done by that damned blind man, that damned cripple, that damned zombie, that damned vampire, that damned rice bucket or which of the two groups now operating outside had caused it.

But the deed had already been done.

And he had already acted arrogant over it.

At present, the only thing he could do the only thing he was capable of doing was brace himself and continue acting arrogant.

Sitting inside the yamen, arrogance falls from the heavens.

No warning.

No setup.

No process.

Being forced to show off this mysteriously actually brought very little satisfaction.

At that moment, the Pacification Commissioner’s secretary entered.

He stood below and reported, “Master, County Magistrate Su has arrived.

“He’s waiting outside.”

The Pacification Commissioner waved a hand impatiently.

“Go ask him this:

Does he truly intend to involve himself in this matter?

Does he genuinely dare step into this muddy water?”

“Yes, Master.”

The secretary withdrew.

Not long afterward, he returned.

“Master, County Magistrate Su says he has suddenly fallen ill.

“He intends to return home and rest.

“For today’s yamen affairs, he asks that Master trouble himself.”

“Heh.”

The Pacification Commissioner waved again.

The secretary withdrew.

That old county magistrate was a bureaucrat through and through.

He sought no achievement.

Only no mistakes.

All he wanted was to safely coast another two years until retirement.

Tiger Head City should originally have been his home ground.

The Pacification Commissioner nominally controlled a large jurisdiction, but possessed no local staff of his own.

Yet somehow, after arriving in Tiger Head City, he had still forcibly taken the city under his own control.

Immediately afterward, the Pacification Commissioner’s gaze landed on Zheng Fan once more.

In a heavy voice, he asked, “What crime did Mei Clan Fort commit?”

“It committed the crime it committed.”

“Impudent!

“This is Tiger Head City.

“This is this official’s yamen!

“If a military brute like you dares continue brushing this official off with such insolence, do you truly think I would not dare punish you?”

Zheng Fan fell silent for a moment.

His mind spun rapidly.

In truth, there was not much to think about.

Other than continuing to act arrogant and display the attitude that outsiders had no right to interfere in Zhenbei Army affairs, he had no other option.

Because he himself did not know what the hell had happened!

The real problem was that because of the Demon Pill’s appearance last night, Feng Siniang had failed to read aloud the first letter the Blind Man Bei left behind.

“No comment!”

“Good!

“Good!

“Good!

“Good!”

The Pacification Commissioner was enraged.

Clang!

He directly drew a long sword that had originally been hanging decoratively from a nearby pillar.

His massive body moved toward Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan was somewhat stunned.

The fat Pacification Commissioner certainly looked soft and flabby, but Zheng Fan did not dare underestimate him.

Dong Zhuo had been fat too!

Zheng Fan’s qi and blood began circulating.

Although he still could not emit light, it could at least improve his reactions somewhat.

Unfortunately, his own weapon had been surrendered to the gate guards at the yamen entrance.

At that moment, Zheng Fan suddenly felt an icy chill spread through his chest.

Hiss...

The cold was so intense his body immediately stiffened.

The Pacification Commissioner had already reached him.

Then, in the next instant, he abruptly threw the sword in his hand onto the floor.

He opened both arms and forcefully patted Zheng Fan’s shoulders.

With deep emotion, he asked, “How... is the household?”

Uh...

What did that mean?

Suddenly, perhaps because the Pacification Commissioner’s attitude had changed, the icy sensation on Zheng Fan’s chest disappeared as well.

The fat Pacification Commissioner had no idea he had just stopped at the gates of hell long enough to take a piss.

Zheng Fan’s mind began racing.

Thanks to the endless flood of anti-Japanese-war dramas and Liberation-era television series in later generations, Zheng Fan finally found a familiar trope matching the scene before him.

Wasn’t this exactly like an arrested underground operative running into Comrade Deep Sea inside prison?

Zheng Fan’s Adam’s apple moved.

Then he said, “The Princess... is well.”

Those words caused the Pacification Commissioner’s entire body to tremble.

His eyes, usually narrowed into slits by his fat cheeks, actually glistened with tears.

“Aiya... the Princess has suffered.

She truly has suffered.

The Marquis went to the capital.

Now the entire residence must be held together by the Princess alone.

Aiya...”

The Pacification Commissioner began becoming emotional.

Ordinarily, when a superior vented emotion, a subordinate needed to cooperate.

That was why scenes often occurred where a leader’s mother died, yet his subordinates cried harder at the grave than the leader himself.

For Zheng Fan now, he had to squeeze every last drop of value from the very limited information in his possession.

He remained standing.

Then said, “With Seventh Uncle beside the Princess, she will be safe.”

A pity.

Aside from one insane stone, the other six Demon Kings were not here.

Otherwise, they would have completely refreshed their understanding of their Master at this moment.

The quick instincts of a creator.

The agility of thought.

And the temperament of a man who had once committed suicide—someone capable of holding the scene together when the critical moment arrived.

All these qualities and traits combined made Zheng Fan’s performance at this moment worthy of full marks.

The Pacification Commissioner smiled and shook his head.

“Different.

“Different.

“With Seventh Uncle present, the Princess’s personal safety can be guaranteed.

“But the entire residence— everything above and below still depends on the Princess alone to maintain control.

“It is not easy for her.”

Zheng Fan said nothing.

The Pacification Commissioner wiped tears from the corners of his eyes, concealing his earlier loss of composure.

Then he looked curiously at Zheng Fan.

“I remember... you’re from Tiger Head City.”

The mind that had just begun cooling instantly started running at full speed again.

Because Zheng Fan still did not know that his own biological son had already emerged last night and threatened the woman attempting to become his stepmother.

So in Zheng Fan’s heart, he believed he was currently walking alone into the dragon’s pool!

Every answer.

Every detail.

Nothing could go wrong.

The image of himself barefoot in leopard skin that night surfaced in his mind again.

Only this time, the figure he desperately hypnotized himself into imitating was no longer Uncle Daoming.

It was Yu Zecheng.

“My life... was saved by the Princess.”

“Oh.

“Right.

“You people arrived in Tiger Head City half a year ago.

“So it was also the Princess who arranged that?”

Zheng Fan hesitated.

Then still nodded.

He added, “My father and grandfather both served the Li Clan as household retainers.

“My grandfather was Zheng Zhilong.

“My father was Zheng Chenggong.

“My Lord... do you know of them?”

Sometimes, one needed to take the initiative to make a fabricated identity seem more convincing.

The Li Clan had so many retainers.

Zheng Fan genuinely did not believe the fat man before him could know them all.

An awkward trace crossed the Pacification Commissioner’s face.

Clearly, he had never heard of either name.

Still, he said, “I’ve heard of them.

“Heard of them.

“I believe I may even have shared wine with your honored father before.

“It’s only that I never lived at the residence for long.

“So I’m not particularly familiar with everyone under the Marquis’s household.”

Zheng Fan stood there without speaking.

“So the integration of Tiger Head City’s underground gangs was also an instruction from the Princess?

“Is the Princess preparing to take control of Tiger Head City?”

Zheng Fan’s heart jumped.

He had not expected the Pacification Commissioner to already know about the Blind Man Bei and A’Ming consolidating the gangs.

Then again, that was not especially strange.

As Tiger Head City’s highest-ranking official—standing even above the county magistrate if he had genuinely remained ignorant when so many people died in the city during that rainy night, that would have been absurd.

He had probably simply accepted the gang wars and annexations as part of the gray zone.

This world could never be divided cleanly into black and white.

There would always be a strip of gray where both sides closed one eye.

After the first shock came enormous relief.

Thank you, My Lord, for possessing such a rich imagination.

Now Zheng Fan no longer even needed to explain.

The man had already completed the entire story in his own head.

Zheng Fan’s breathing grew faster.

There was simply too little useful information.

Far too little.

But he could only gamble.

If the gamble succeeded, then from now on Zheng Fan this wild-pheasant Lieutenant Commander would directly receive the care and protection of Comrade Deep Sea!

As for losing the gamble...

No.

He would not lose.

Zheng Fan believed Comrade Deep Sea would never voluntarily establish direct contact with the residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

Judging from the man’s earlier attitude and the reputation the Blind Man Bei had gathered, the Pacification Commissioner was practically the foremost anti-Zhenbei faction figure, a supporter of weakening the feudal lords.

Someone like that would naturally act with extraordinary caution.

At that moment, Zheng Fan genuinely wanted to thank all the television shows he had once complained about—

“Why the fuck is it another spy drama?”— along with the countless scriptwriters behind them.

Without those people wracking their brains to write out every possible trope and template, he would never possess this much “experience” now.

“The Princess’s intention is— first, have us take control of Tiger Head City’s internal situation.

“Second, take control of Mei Clan Fort.

“If the worst situation occurs, our army can first seize Tuman City, then simultaneously take the smaller cities surrounding it, forming a defensive system to face the Emperor of Yan—”

“Silence!!!”

The Pacification Commissioner “roared” in a lowered voice.

The sound was so shrill it almost seemed as though he were about to burst into song.

Zheng Fan immediately shut his mouth.

The Pacification Commissioner began breathing deeply.

He raised one hand.

Then said, “You... are foolish!”

Zheng Fan remained silent.

“How could you casually tell an outsider like me such matters?

“Do you understand?

“What if I were deceiving you?

“What if I had deliberately acted before you?

“What if I wanted to present the emperor with a certificate of loyalty?

“Based solely on the words you just spoke, if they were spread outside if they reached the imperial court of Yan do you understand what kind of irreversible catastrophe would befall the Marquis, who still remains in the capital, and the entire Zhenbei Army?”

The Pacification Commissioner was extremely agitated.

Yet he could not raise his voice.

Forced to speak while holding all that breath inside, his fat face looked like a braised pig’s head.

Steam practically seemed to rise from it.

“You!

“Next time, you absolutely cannot be this rash!

“You must never trust people so easily!”

The Pacification Commissioner pointed at Zheng Fan as he warned him.

In truth, as Comrade Deep Sea, although he appeared to be scolding Zheng Fan, the sensation of being trusted by one’s own people of being informed of secret plans made the Pacification Commissioner feel extraordinarily pleased.

Even... warm.

As a result, the more he looked at Zheng Fan, the more pleasing the young man became.

Yes.

A little stupid, perhaps.

But genuinely more and more likable.

There was no helping it.

He had never imagined

Zheng Fan was acting too.

The Pacification Commissioner, emotionally exhausted, finally began calming.

The braised pig’s head gradually turned into a steamed pig’s head.

After several rises and falls of his chest, he said, “I will suppress the matter of Mei Clan Fort.

“We’ll say Mei Clan Fort colluded with the barbarian tribes, and that I ordered you to notify the Zhenbei Army to eliminate those traitors.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

“If something happens in the future, you may come directly to me.”

Zheng Fan nodded hard again.

“You have now openly revealed your connection to the Zhenbei Army.

“Before, everyone merely suspected.

“Now, if I openly allocate grain, equipment, or soldiers to you, it would attract too much attention.

“However...”

The Pacification Commissioner paused.

“Never mind.

“If that day truly arrives— if the situation truly deteriorates that far and the Princess sends word to you that she wants Tiger Head City, then come tell me directly.”

The Pacification Commissioner’s expression became solemn.

“I—

Xu Wenzu will personally open the city gates and present Tiger Head City to the Princess!”

Zheng Fan nodded vigorously once again.

Inside his heart, he thought:

The Emperor of Yan is really not wrong at all to be screwing over the residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei right now.

They absolutely deserve it.

“All right.

“You cannot remain here too long.

“We understand one another.

“Unless something truly happens, do not contact me excessively in ordinary times.

“Also, for the next while, remain quietly at home and rest.

“Let everyone outside cool their attention toward you.

“Before doing anything serious, don’t leave yourself standing directly at the center of the storm.”

“This general understands.”

“Fine.

“You may leave.”

“This general takes his leave.”

...

Outside the Pacification Commissioner’s hall, Zheng Fan strode out in full armor, chest out, head high, with the swaggering posture of a military brute drunk on success.

He even walked with a domineering gait that disowned every relative beneath heaven!

Behind him, the corpulent Pacification Commissioner came chasing out.

One hand covered his chest.

The other raised a long sword.

He roared hoarsely at Zheng Fan’s back, “Impudent!

“Impudent!

“Outrageous!

“Absolutely outrageous!

“Preposterous!

“Truly preposterous!

“The Zhenbei Army dares behave with such arrogance and tyranny!

“This official will memorialize the imperial court!

“I will impeach you!

“I will impeach the residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei!

“Zhenbei Army!

“Residence of the Marquis of Zhenbei!

“This official and you are irreconcilable enemies!!!”

Zheng Fan walked all the way out of the yamen.

He retrieved his horse from the gate guards.

After mounting, he turned sideways.

Raised his head forty-five degrees.

Looked at the yamen plaque.

“Pah!”

He spat onto the ground.

Then the riding crop descended.

The horse beneath him broke into a gallop.

Not a single person dared scold him for riding at speed inside the city.

Arrogant the whole way.

Domineering the whole way.

Only after reaching his own residence did Zheng Fan dismount and throw the reins to the gatekeeper.

He quickly entered the rear residence.

Once inside his room, Zheng Fan began stripping off his armor and clothing.

His whole body had already been soaked through with cold sweat.

It felt genuinely miserable.

By the time Feng Siniang hurried over after hearing the news, Zheng Fan had already stepped into the bathing pool.

The water was still yesterday’s.

It had gone cold.

Right now, cold water was exactly what he needed.

The stone had also been tossed into the pool.

It soaked alongside him in the cold bath.

“Where exactly is Mei Clan Fort?”

The instant Feng Siniang entered, Zheng Fan asked.

“Reporting to Master, it lies between Tuman City and our Tiger Head City.”

“The Blind Man.

“It has to be that damned blind bastard!”

...

“Achoo!”

“Achoo!”

“Achoo!”

Three sneezes in succession nearly made tears run from the Blind Man Bei’s eyes.

Xue San teased from beside him, “Oho.

“Which young wife is thinking about you?”

Xiao Yibo, riding alongside them, immediately chimed in, “Naturally, this humble one’s wife is thinking of Mr. Bei.”

Holy shit...

Xue San actually felt the tiniest bit of admiration toward Filial Yibo.

The Blind Man Bei could not be bothered responding to either of them.

He took a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped beneath his nose.

Then he raised his head.

Pretending he could see, he stared toward the tall city walls ahead.

A stern plaque hung above those walls.

Tuman City.

(End of Chapter)