Chapter 85: Mourning Hall

Southwatch City was far larger than Tuman City.

Rather than calling it a major frontier stronghold, it felt more like Shenzhen.

Merchants and travelers came and went without end.

The population was dense.

Industry and commerce were extraordinarily developed.

That also made it easy to understand why the fortress system, including Green Willow Fortress, had fallen into such disrepair.

Where was there even the slightest trace of a frontier commandery here in Yinlang Commandery?

It was practically a prosperous little Jiangnan belonging to The Great Yan Dynasty.

Zheng Fan closed the window and stopped looking at the bustle on the streets below.

A new official taking office usually had fires lit beneath him.

Apart from that old soldier Iron Sanzhu, however, there was nobody at Green Willow Fortress capable of lighting so much as a spark for Zheng Fan.

Still, he had to meet his superior.

Zheng Fan had no intention of becoming some solitary, aloof minister of Yan.

At least, he had no interest in that right now.

So on this trip, he had brought two chests of silver ingots with him.

Xiao Dahai, Garrison Commander of Southwatch City, was the person Zheng Fan intended to cultivate a relationship with.

Since he was here carrying silver, he naturally could not make too much of a spectacle.

So Zheng Fan brought only Fan Li and A’Ming.

Three men in total.

They first found an inn inside Southwatch City and settled down.

Then they prepared to assess the situation before submitting a calling card.

Creak...

The inn door opened.

Fan Li entered carrying a large pile of food.

Beaming stupidly, he said, “Master.

“Zhenbei Marquis flatbread.

“Zhenbei Marquis fried dough sticks.

“Li Clan buns...”

Although the line of the Marquis of Zhenbei had guarded the north for a hundred years, its popularity in Yinlang Commandery remained extraordinarily high.

After all, the Li Clan’s ancestral home was Yinlang Commandery.

As a result, many local snacks throughout Yinlang Commandery had somehow acquired connections to either the Marquis of Zhenbei or the Li Clan.

It was rather like restaurants in later generations displaying signs claiming that when Qianlong toured Jiangnan, he ate some particular dish there and praised it endlessly.

Zheng Fan took two Li Clan buns from Fan Li.

While eating, he said, “This afternoon, we’ll go submit our calling card.”

There was still an enormous pile of matters waiting to be handled back at Green Willow Fortress.

They could not possibly keep everyone living in tents forever.

Had they come south to get promoted and make fortunes, or had they come as refugees?

A’Ming did not eat.

He continued patiently trimming his fingernails.

Hearing Zheng Fan’s words, he nodded.

“You’re not eating?”

Zheng Fan remembered that A’Ming used to eat even blood curd stew.

Why did he now seem increasingly detached from ordinary mortal food?

A’Ming smiled.

“Mm.

“Thank you for Master’s concern.

“One full meal can sustain me for many days.”

As he spoke, A’Ming unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t binge.

“Try to eat on a regular schedule.”

“Yes.”

A’Ming nodded.

Then continued trimming his nails.

“Should I change clothes?”

Zheng Fan pointed at the sweatshirt he was wearing.

In Beifeng Commandery, where barbarians and all kinds of mixed peoples gathered, nobody cared how strangely you dressed.

But Yinlang Commandery’s customs were somewhat more “proper.”

“I’ll look.”

A’Ming stood.

He rummaged through the three men’s luggage and found a long white robe.

He handed it to Zheng Fan.

Yan favored black.

But because Yinlang Commandery bordered the State of Qian, it had inevitably absorbed some of Qian’s “scholarly airs.”

Scholars and sons of noble clans in this part of Yan also liked wearing spotless white gowns or robes when going out.

Siniang had prepared the clothing for Zheng Fan before he left.

According to the plan, they would remain in Southwatch City for at most two days.

Once relations had been smoothed over, they would return.

So they had not brought much clothing.

After changing, Zheng Fan spread both arms and admired himself.

Fan Li had just shoved the final piece of Zhenbei Marquis flatbread into his mouth.

He looked at Zheng Fan and grinned stupidly.

“Ah Li.

“What do you think?

“Do I look like a scholar?”

Fan Li nodded vigorously.

Then said, “Like you’re attending a funeral.”

“...” Zheng Fan.

...

“They really are holding a funeral?”

Outside the residence of the Garrison Commander of Southwatch City, white lanterns hung everywhere.

The servants standing at the entrance were dressed in plain white mourning clothes.

Guests arriving to offer condolences entered and exited without pause.

Zheng Fan stood in front.

A’Ming stood beside him.

Fan Li remained at the rear, carrying the two chests of silver ingots on a shoulder pole.

“A’Ming.”

“Mm.”

“Go ask the nearby shops who died in the Garrison Commander’s household.”

“Yes, Master.”

A short while later, A’Ming returned.

Calmly, he said, “Master.

“Xiao Dahai died.

“They say he died of illness last night.”

After confirming the news, Zheng Fan genuinely did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He hesitated.

But since they had already come, he felt he ought to go in and pay his respects and at least leave some condolence silver.

“A’Ming.

“Do you have silver on you?”

“I never carry money when I go out.”

Zheng Fan looked toward Fan Li.

“Ah Li.

“Give me whatever silver you have left.”

Fan Li set down the two chests and made to open one.

“No, no, no.

“Don’t touch that silver.”

Fan Li scratched his head in confusion.

Hadn’t this silver been brought specifically as a gift for the Garrison Commander?

“When he was alive, two chests were fine.

“But now that he’s dead, it’s...”

A’Ming supplied from the side, “Depreciated.”

“Exactly.

“Depreciated.”

Fan Li nodded.

“Right.

“Dead chickens are cheaper than live chickens at the market.”

Zheng Fan stepped forward and pulled some broken silver from Fan Li’s clothes.

It was what remained from the food Fan Li had bought earlier.

He weighed it in his palm.

“About right.

“This will do.

“Ah Li, carry the silver back to the inn.

“A’Ming, come inside with me to offer condolences.

“Right.

“Ah Li, when you get back, wash your mouth.

“I keep feeling like your mouth has been blessed by some evil power today.”

Fan Li nodded.

Obediently, he shouldered the pole again and returned toward the inn.

Zheng Fan and A’Ming entered the Garrison Commander’s residence together.

A servant at the gate guided them inside.

Past the inner entrance stood a long table.

Five or six clerks sat behind it.

Zheng Fan stepped forward and handed over the silver.

The clerk responsible for registering his gift stared at the pile of broken silver and froze.

The Garrison Commander had died.

Every person of status in Southwatch City would naturally come offer condolences.

But someone giving condolence money like this?

Today, this was the first.

To use an inappropriate comparison, it was like attending someone’s wedding in later generations and handing over an entire fistful of five- and ten-yuan notes.

But the Garrison Commander’s household was genuinely well trained.

The clerk still followed procedure.

He first brought out a small scale and weighed the broken silver.

Then he turned the gift register toward Zheng Fan and handed him a brush, indicating that Zheng Fan should leave his name.

Zheng Fan signed.

Then turned the register back.

The clerk glanced down.

He smacked his lips lightly.

He had never heard of any prominent family in Southwatch City surnamed Zheng.

Of course, a prominent family would not have given broken silver as condolence money either.

Still, the clerk reminded him, “May I trouble sir to leave your ancestral place of origin.

“If you hold office, please record your office as well.”

This was the nature of social obligations.

Gifts came and went.

Zheng Fan shook his head.

“No need.

“My family has fallen on hard times.

“In the past, I received kindness from the Garrison Commander.

“But my official career has not gone smoothly, and my family fortunes have failed to rise.

“After hearing the terrible news, I borrowed some silver and came merely to offer a little sincerity.

“As for the rest— there is no need to leave any record.”

Standing behind him, A’Ming lowered his head slightly to make his smile less obvious.

Inside, he felt somewhat emotional.

When Zheng Fan had first awakened, he had barely dared leave the inn.

Now, it seemed he had completely integrated into this world.

The clerk stood after hearing those words.

Deeply moved, he cupped his hands toward Zheng Fan and sincerely said, “Sir is a man of great righteousness.”

“You flatter me.

“You flatter me.”

Zheng Fan pointed inside.

“Allow me to go offer the Commander a stick of incense.”

“Please.”

Zheng Fan did not hesitate further.

He turned and entered the inner residence.

White funeral banners hung everywhere.

Ash from burned paper money drifted through the air.

The heavy smell of incense and candles filled the residence.

More than thirty Daoist priests were chanting scriptures.

Because this was only the first day and so many guests had come to offer condolences, the priests merely sat cross-legged and chanted quietly.

They had not yet truly begun performing the funeral rites.

At one of the covered corridors, Zheng Fan saw a man in a long cyan robe sitting there.

The man looked around thirty.

He was very tall.

His features were sharply defined.

Although merely sitting there, he naturally radiated a martial air.

The reason Zheng Fan paid particular attention to him was not because he had been overwhelmed by that “heroic aura.”

It was simply because the man looked vaguely familiar.

Combined with his ancient-style clothing, Zheng Fan could not help thinking of Lü Bu from the old television adaptation of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.

Mm.

Also known in later memes as the commander of the 358th Regiment.

The other man appeared to notice Zheng Fan’s gaze.

Not only did he meet Zheng Fan’s eyes directly, he immediately stood and took the initiative to walk over.

The instant he rose, Zheng Fan noticed that the man seemed to breathe a faint sigh of relief.

That tiny detail made Zheng Fan think of his former self.

Back then, Zheng Fan had been obsessed with creating comics in his studio.

He could basically be considered a standard shut-in.

Whenever he occasionally attended public events, he often behaved exactly like this.

Awkward.

You sat somewhere with absolutely no idea what you were supposed to do.

So you pretended to be calm and played with your phone, as though the phone were the most fascinating thing in the world.

At times like that, if someone came over to chat, you could immediately talk enthusiastically for ages.

Even if one of you sold comics and the other sold floor tiles, you could still find common ground.

After all, both of you made a living inside little squares.

“Brother, are you a man of the army?”

The man took the initiative to cup his hands and greet Zheng Fan.

After serving so long as a Lieutenant Commander, and after traveling from north to south while becoming accustomed to issuing orders, Zheng Fan naturally carried a certain military bearing.

Truthfully, he thought there was an even more important reason.

After wearing armor for a long time, its effect on one’s posture was far better than any posture-correction brace.

Even after taking the armor off, the way you stood and walked would differ noticeably from an ordinary person.

Zheng Fan immediately returned the salute.

“Yes.

“I am Zheng Fan, the newly appointed Commander of Green Willow Fortress.”

“Oh?

“What a coincidence.

“I am Zuo Jiqian, the newly appointed Commander of Jitui Fortress.”

Jitui Fortress?

Chicken-leg Fortress?

Not bad.

They were practically relatives.

He had Green Willow Fortress.

This fellow had Chicken-leg Fortress.

At this point, Zheng Fan had completely lost interest in complaining about Yan naming conventions.

No wonder people from Qian mocked Yan for lacking culture.

They were practically turning the place into a Kentucky Fried Chicken menu.

In truth, Jitui Fortress had been named in memory of a general surnamed Ji.

A century earlier, during Qian’s northern invasion, the general had known no reinforcements were coming from behind, yet refused to retreat.

He defended the position until he died in battle.

“Brother Zheng also came to offer condolences to the Garrison Commander?”

“Exactly.”

Zheng Fan felt there might genuinely be something wrong with the fellow’s head.

Or perhaps he simply had no idea what else to say.

A funeral was being held here.

If Zheng Fan had not come to offer condolences, had he come on a sightseeing trip?

“Oh.

“Prefect Lin and more than ten patriarchs of the great clans around Southwatch City are offering condolences ahead.

“We should probably wait a little longer.”

Oh.

There was a line.

Zheng Fan nodded.

He walked to the place where Zuo Jiqian had been sitting and sat down as well.

A’Ming naturally stood behind him.

After Zuo Jiqian sat, he immediately turned toward Zheng Fan.

He smiled.

His lips pressed together.

He was clearly anxiously searching for another topic so the conversation would not die.

Seeing this, Zheng Fan took the initiative.

“Where is Brother Zuo from?”

“The Zuo Clan of Huwei.”

Zheng Fan raised his chin slightly.

Hiss.

Second-generation rich kid.

Yan possessed seven commanderies.

Powerful clans stood everywhere.

There were many families sharing the same surname.

Some might genuinely have descended from the same clan centuries earlier before splitting into branches.

Most families with the same surname, however, had absolutely nothing to do with one another.

So when introducing themselves, people often added a prefix to distinguish their clan.

For example: the Zhang Clan of Liangguang and the Zhang family of Yangjia Hollow.

Could those possibly be the same?

At that moment, something suddenly occurred to Zheng Fan.

He asked, “Brother Zuo.

“Your Jitui Fortress— does it still have walls?”

At the question, a bitter smile immediately appeared on Zuo Jiqian’s face.

He shook his head.

“To tell Brother Zheng the truth, I only took office recently as well.

“I searched for ages before finding my assigned post.

“Apart from some rammed earth, they didn’t leave me a single brick.”

“Then I’m doing better.

“I’ve still got plenty of bricks.”

Knowing someone else was even worse off made Zheng Fan feel much better.

“Brother Zheng.

“Where is your ancestral home?”

“I’m from the north.

“No clan background.”

No clan background meant exactly that.

Zheng Fan did not pretend he came from some “poor scholar-official family.”

In ancient usage, a “humble family” did not mean an ordinary household.

Measured by later standards, if both your parents were county-level cadres, your family might barely qualify as “humble.”

Anyone lower than that?

You did not even possess a proper “gate” to be humble behind.

“The north?”

Zuo Jiqian did not reveal any disdain.

The upbringing of this aristocratic-clan son was genuinely excellent.

One look and you could tell he was an honest fellow.

Zheng Fan added, “In the north, there is really only one gate.”

Zuo Jiqian’s mouth opened.

His body trembled slightly.

“Brother Zheng is from the Marquis’s residence?”

Zheng Fan gave a reserved, polite little nod.

“My apologies for the disrespect!”

With that, Zuo Jiqian actually stood again and formally saluted Zheng Fan.

He said, “The Marquis’s residence has suppressed the barbarian tribes for a hundred years.

“Every soldier of Yan looks up to it!”

“Brother Zuo is too polite.

“Too polite.”

Zuo Jiqian sat again and immediately said, “Brother Zheng.

“As far as I know, several other fortresses have recently received newly appointed Commanders as well.

“I feel the imperial court intends to reorganize the defensive line of Yinlang Commandery.

“Perhaps they are preparing to move south—”

Zheng Fan reached out and patted Zuo Jiqian’s shoulder meaningfully.

“Brother Zuo.

“You and I are soldiers.

“We are not those scholars.”

“Brother Zheng is correct.

“Correct.

“I spoke recklessly.”

At that moment, Zheng Fan saw a group of guests leaving the mourning hall after finishing their condolences.

“Brother Zuo.

“Let us first offer the Garrison Commander incense.

“Afterward, we can find a tavern and discuss things properly.”

“Good.

“That suits me perfectly.”

Zheng Fan and Zuo Jiqian walked toward the mourning hall.

As they entered, they saw a tall, thin man consoling the widow and mourning sons.

More than ten elderly men stood behind him.

Zuo Jiqian lowered his voice.

“That is Prefect Lin of Southwatch City.

“The men around him are patriarchs of the nearby great clans.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

Together with Zuo Jiqian, he stepped forward and took incense.

The mourning hall was enormous.

A fine sandalwood coffin stood directly in the center.

Perhaps because too many guests had come to pay respects, and because Yan people had never cared much for ceremonial formalities, incense tables had been placed on all four sides of the coffin for efficiency.

It was like expanding a security checkpoint from one entrance to four to improve crowd flow.

Even so, the people waiting to offer incense had already formed several rings around the mourning hall.

Most importantly, the Prefect was still putting on a performance of closeness to the people.

And with so many local clan patriarchs accompanying him, they blocked the crowd even further.

Yet nobody dared hurry them.

Instead, everyone nearby had to coordinate their expressions.

When the Prefect looked grave, everyone else had to look grave.

When the Prefect smiled, everyone else had to produce an equally appropriate smile.

Zheng Fan was nearly becoming dizzy from all the incense smoke.

He regretted coming inside.

If he had known, he would have simply wandered around for a bit and left.

Why insist on offering incense?

It was not as though he had come here to draw a lottery prize.

At that moment, A’Ming, who had remained behind Zheng Fan, suddenly leaned close to Zheng Fan’s ear.

Softly, he said, “Master.

“There is a sound inside the coffin.”

Zheng Fan’s gaze immediately sharpened.

He tilted his head back slightly.

“You’re certain?”

“Certain.”

Unless the Garrison Commander’s family had done something absurd like burying his favorite dog or cat inside the coffin to accompany him an unlikely possibility then there was only one explanation...

Zheng Fan suddenly wondered what the hell was wrong with this world.

In the north, he could understand barbarians enjoying games with corpses.

But now that he had come south, was he really going to run into another corpse reanimation?

“If I’d known, I would’ve brought Liang Cheng with me.”

Zheng Fan joked.

Zombie meeting zombie.

Like countrymen meeting far from home.

Surely they would have plenty to talk about.

But at that exact moment something suddenly changed!

BANG!

A tremendous crash rang out.

The coffin lid abruptly shot into the air.

Everyone inside the mourning hall cried out.

Then, one hand rose from inside the coffin.

On its palm rested something shaped like a round ball.

Its surface was covered in countless tiny holes.

Before anyone could react a sharp click sounded from inside the sphere.

WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!!!

Countless fine needles burst outward from the ball in every direction!

At the critical instant, A’Ming grabbed Zheng Fan’s shoulder and yanked him backward.

At the same time, he deliberately placed his own body between Zheng Fan and the needles.

“AAAAAH!”

“AAAAH!”

“AAAAAAH!”

Countless screams erupted throughout the mourning hall.

Zheng Fan could feel A’Ming’s body shudder several times in front of him.

Clearly, he too had been struck by several needles.

“Hiss...”

Amid the sudden chaos, A’Ming drew in a breath.

Then he deliberately turned his head and looked at Zheng Fan, whom he had shielded behind himself.

He asked, “Master.

“I didn’t hear what you said just now.

“Could you repeat it?”

(End of Chapter)