Chapter 117: Summoned by the Marquis

“Are you trying to die?”

Feng Siniang looked at the Blind Man.

Everyone knew what the Blind Man’s abilities were.

With him around, everyone slept more peacefully at night.

But nobody could tolerate the bastard casually sweeping his psychic power around whenever he had nothing better to do and peeking into people’s private affairs.

“Eh?

“You really do call him Daddy?”

The Blind Man sounded genuinely surprised.

“Keep pretending for this old lady.”

“I’m not pretending.

“I really guessed.

“Everyone was young once, right?”

After saying that, the Blind Man used telekinesis to turn his wheelchair toward his room.

At the same time, he said, “You lot prepare.

“You still have to accompany Master to Nanwang City tomorrow.”

Xue San looked toward the Blind Man’s retreating back and fanned the flames for Siniang.

“Look.

“He’s guilty!”

Feng Siniang did not get angry.

Instead, she covered her mouth and smiled.

“He really wasn’t lying.

“We changed what we call each other a long time ago.”

Xue San froze.

Then immediately grabbed the wheel rims of his wheelchair and began moving away.

As he fled, he shouted, “I’m still a child!”

……

The story was finished.

Fortunately, Shatuo Queshi’s story really was excellent.

It possessed tragedy.

It had the grandeur of a true man rising in fury.

It lacked neither the huge spectacle of one man facing a thousand cavalrymen alone.

And as for storytelling how to lay the groundwork, how to build atmosphere, how to develop the plot, how to reach the climax that had always been Zheng Fan’s original profession.

After Hero Chen finished listening to Shatuo Queshi’s story, he released a long sigh.

“A true man should be exactly like that.”

“Indeed.”

“I truly never imagined even among the barbarians there could be such a heroic figure.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask you for one thing?”

“We’re friends.

“I admire you deeply, Hero Chen.

“There’s no need to be so polite.

“Friends helping each other is only natural.”

“Once I recover from my injuries, I will return to Qian and kill that Brigadier General.”

“Perfectly reasonable.”

“I failed to distinguish right from wrong and nearly killed you.

“That is my sin.

“You ignored our previous enmity, did not kill me, and even helped treat my injuries.

“That is a debt of gratitude I owe you.”

Zheng Fan modestly shook his head.

Inside, however, he was delighted beyond words.

Go on.

Keep talking.

I’m waiting.

I’m waiting right here.

“After I return home and complete my revenge, I will find someone to send my severed head to Willow Fort.”

“…”

Zheng Fan.

Are you fucking joking with me?

“Hero Chen.

“I didn’t mean for you to—”

“Brother Zheng’s meaning—

I understand.”

“As long as you understand.”

“Then I won’t send the head.”

“Mm.

“As long as you’ve thought it through.”

“I will preserve my body intact and have someone send my entire corpse to Willow Fort.

“Though Shatuo Queshi was a barbarian, he was truly a great man of this age.

“I am willing to imitate him!”

“…”

Zheng Fan.

“Brother Zheng, are you still dissatisfied?”

“I don’t want you to die.”

“What I did to Brother Zheng was unforgivable.

“Only death can redeem that sin!”

“I don’t need you to redeem anything.”

“Even if Brother Zheng is broad-minded enough to forgive me, I still cannot forgive myself.

“I reversed black and white.

“I nearly killed the wrong man.

“How would that make me any different from those vicious villains who bully the weak because they are strong?”

“But in my eyes, Hero Chen is righteous enough to shake the heavens and repays kindness and grudges openly.

“Besides, a person lives one life.

“How could anyone pass through it without ever making mistakes?”

“One must first know shame, then grow courageous.

“That is what makes a true man.”

“But Brother Zheng—

I am a Qian man.

“You are a Yan man.”

Zheng Fan froze.

Tsk.

Hero Chen might be foolish, but he really was not stupid.

Very likely, he had long since understood why Zheng Fan had spared him, kept him here, and treated his injuries.

Indeed.

Officially speaking, Zheng Fan was a man of Yan.

More than that, he was a Yan military officer.

If war eventually erupted between Yan and Qian, the title of “the man who fired the first shot of the Yan–Qian war” would probably land on Zheng Fan too.

Hero Chen understood Zheng Fan’s intentions.

Hero Chen chose death.

The greatest heroes serve the country and the people.

To ask Hero Chen to become the subordinate of a man whom Qian people would call a “Yan dog,” to turn him into a Qian traitor he could never accept it.

Fortunately, Zheng Fan had already prepared for this possibility.

If the most perfect result could not be obtained, then the next step was to settle for second-best and maximize whatever value he could still obtain.

After all, Hero Chen’s head or Hero Chen’s intact corpse had no use whatsoever to Zheng Fan.

Liang Cheng still lacked the ability to manufacture intelligent zombie puppets.

And Zheng Fan did not possess the sacrificial priesthood of the Barbarian Royal Court’s High Priest.

“How about this, Hero Chen?

“We each compromise one step.

“You help me kill three people.

“Would that be acceptable?”

Hero Chen opened his mouth to speak.

Zheng Fan cut him off.

“These three people will not be Qian men.

“At the same time, they will all be targets within your ability to kill.

“Most importantly, they will definitely be villains with crimes piled to the heavens.

“People who deserve death!

“Hero Chen, how does that sound?

“Once you kill those three people, you and I owe each other nothing.”

Hero Chen shook his head.

Zheng Fan was starting to feel helpless.

“You disagree?”

“Mm.”

“Fine then.

“Hero Chen, stay here and recover properly.

“Once you are completely healed, you can leave and return to Qian to avenge the villagers of Chahe Village.

“Meeting itself is fate.

“We could be said to have become acquainted through fighting.

“I truly do want to make you my friend.”

Zheng Fan turned the rims of his wheelchair and prepared to leave.

But then Hero Chen spoke.

“Remove one condition.”

“What condition?”

“Within my ability.”

……

Early the next morning, Feng Siniang helped Zheng Fan dress.

He did not put on armor.

He did not wear the Golden-Thread Soft Hedgehog Armor beneath his clothes either.

In Zheng Fan’s current condition, simply being capable of walking was already difficult.

If he added weight, he could easily tear open wounds that had not yet fully healed.

He did not ride a horse either.

Liang Cheng drove the carriage.

Feng Siniang and Zheng Fan sat inside.

Fan Li and A’Ming sat outside with Liang Cheng.

The whole thing had somewhat the feeling of Emperor Qianlong taking the princesses out traveling in *My Fair Princess*.

Winter scenery was bleak everywhere.

The so-called silver-clad landscape was merely the kind of romantic language scholars and poets in this world liked.

Most ordinary people hated winter bitterly.

“Cough, cough…”

Perhaps the carriage was too bumpy.

Or perhaps the cold wind when they left had gotten to him.

Zheng Fan began coughing.

Feng Siniang immediately patted his back.

Then she used the boiling water from the small charcoal stove inside the carriage to brew him something similar to an instant herbal remedy from later times.

Honeysuckle.

Wild chrysanthemum.

A few other medicinal herbs.

It was meant to clear heat and remove toxins.

Zheng Fan held the cup in both hands and used it to warm his fingers.

He took tiny sips.

At this moment, he felt as though he had already reached his seventies or eighties.

A winter afternoon.

Holding a tea cup.

Walking downstairs into the residential compound to watch old friends play Chinese chess.

It was not that Zheng Fan was physically weak.

After injuries this serious, restoring vitality was not something ten days or half a month could accomplish.

Besides, Zheng Fan had only awakened two days ago.

They reached Nanwang City.

The soldiers guarding the gate carried out routine inspections.

These were not Nanwang City’s original defenders.

They were troops of the Jingnan Army.

Ever since the day assassins appeared at the funeral of the former Commander-in-Chief, when the Marquis of Jingnan personally led troops into the city, he had never withdrawn.

“Inside is Lord Zheng, Garrison Commander of Willow Fort.

“He has been summoned into the city by the Marquis.”

Liang Cheng spoke directly.

The gate soldiers immediately abandoned their inspection and signaled that the carriage could enter.

Once inside, the carriage naturally slowed.

A’Ming asked curiously, “That’s it?

“They’re not checking us anymore?”

“Didn’t you see the two men sitting behind the gate soldiers at that table?

“After we identified ourselves, they began flipping through ledgers.

“They were obviously checking the records.

“Even the matter of which people the Marquis intends to summon into the city today has been passed all the way down to ordinary gate soldiers for verification.

“What you saw was a group of gate guards hearing Master’s identity and the Marquis’s summons and immediately flattering us by letting us pass.

“What I saw was a rule— one observed jointly from the Marquis himself all the way down to the lowest soldier of this army.”

A’Ming wanted to roll his eyes at Liang Cheng.

But after thinking about it, he decided against it.

The man had seen that little scene and clearly wanted a chance to deliver some grand observation and act impressive.

Who told A’Ming to conveniently hand him the ladder?

Before long, they reached their destination.

A’Ming lifted the carriage curtain and helped Zheng Fan down.

“Then we’re going to the Commander-in-Chief residence,” Liang Cheng said.

Zheng Fan nodded.

A’Ming was accompanying Zheng Fan to meet the Marquis of Jingnan.

Of course, A’Ming would most likely have to wait at the gate.

Only Zheng Fan himself would be allowed inside.

But no matter what, if Master went in, somebody had to remain outside waiting.

Fan Li, that simple brute, was unsuitable.

Siniang was a woman.

Liang Cheng was the best driver.

So A’Ming was the one left behind.

The Marquis of Jingnan had not occupied the Commander-in-Chief residence.

Instead, he lived in a Tian Clan estate inside Nanwang City.

Security outside the residence was extremely tight.

Elite armored soldiers stood in rows.

After Zheng Fan handed over his identity token and waited a short while, a Lieutenant Commander came out.

He cupped his fists to Zheng Fan.

“Lord Zheng.

“Please follow me.”

Zheng Fan nodded toward A’Ming, then walked inside by himself.

As they passed through the rear garden, Zheng Fan saw a group of armored generals walking out.

As the two sides passed, those generals clearly examined him.

Since the Lieutenant Commander leading Zheng Fan did not stop to introduce anyone, Zheng Fan did not flatter himself by taking the initiative to salute them.

Truthfully, Zheng Fan’s official post had been an extremely leisurely one.

The Blind Man handled most of the actual work.

Zheng Fan did not need to waste time managing social obligations or official relationships either.

“Marquis.

“Garrison Commander Zheng has arrived.”

“Send him in.”

“Yes.”

The Lieutenant Commander cupped his hands toward Zheng Fan.

“Lord Zheng, please enter.

“This lowly officer will withdraw.”

Zheng Fan returned the courtesy.

Then he climbed the steps and entered.

Inside, Zheng Fan found the Marquis of Jingnan sitting behind a round rosewood table, holding a bowl and chopsticks while eating.

Three stir-fried dishes were laid out on the table.

Along with one large basin of food.

The Marquis of Jingnan pointed his chopsticks toward the seat opposite him.

“If you haven’t eaten, sit down and join me.”

“Thank you, Marquis.”

Zheng Fan did not stand on ceremony.

Because he had traveled by carriage, their speed had been slow.

It was already almost noon by the time he arrived.

After Zheng Fan sat down, a woman dressed in black approached and handed him a bowl already filled with rice, along with a pair of chopsticks.

Who else could it be but Du Juan?

At this moment, Du Juan’s clothing looked extremely domestic.

She genuinely looked no different from a woman of the Marquis’s household.

Of course, even if she were your own sister-in-law, she was not someone you could casually stare at.

Much less the Marquis’s woman.

“Thank you, Sister Juan.”

“Oh my.

“Marquis, did you hear that?

“Lord Zheng really does have a sweet mouth.”

Du Juan joked.

The Marquis of Jingnan put a mouthful of rice into his mouth.

While chewing, he said, “It is the mouth of a treacherous minister.”

“…”

Zheng Fan.

The Marquis pointed his chopsticks toward the large basin.

“Try this.

“Grand Commandant Yang of Qian sent it.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

He did not stand on ceremony.

His chopsticks picked up something black from the basin.

He placed it in his rice bowl, then put it into his mouth.

“Good?” the Marquis asked.

“Sour at first, sweet afterward.

“The flavor is deep and layered.

“Very rich.”

“Mm.”

The Marquis reached his chopsticks into the basin and picked up a piece of tender white fish.

Then said, “What you just ate was pickled greens.”

“…”

Zheng Fan.

So this was a basin of fish with pickled mustard greens?

Zheng Fan genuinely had not recognized the dish from its appearance.

Ever since waking in this world, the food he normally ate had long since been improved by Feng Siniang and the others.

He really did not have much practical experience with the local food customs of this world.

And those pickled greens why were they so black?

Zheng Fan immediately used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth.

The flavor this was not river fish.

It should have come from the sea.

But Zheng Fan had suffered an allergic reaction to seafood as a child in his previous life.

So he had never been especially interested in seafood afterward.

Because of that, he could not identify exactly what kind of sea fish it was.

“How does it taste?”

“Very good.”

“You don’t seem to like it very much.”

“Something like this is best caught in the morning and served no later than that same evening.

“Only then will it have the freshest flavor.”

“Yes.

“The man who delivered it said it took an entire month to transport this from Qian to here.

“It remained packed in ice the whole way.

“I am told that south of Qian there stretches a vast ocean.

“People living by the sea can survive by fishing.

“What a pity.

“To the north of Great Yan is only desert.

“We Yan people can hardly survive by eating sand.”

“Marquis.

“I believe there will come a day when the people of Yan can enjoy this delicacy too.”

The Marquis of Jingnan lifted the cup beside him.

Zheng Fan could not tell whether it contained tea or wine.

The Marquis took a sip.

“Transporting it all the way from the coast is expensive.

“Ordinary people could never afford to eat it.”

“This lowly officer means— when that day comes, the Qian people who currently live by the sea and survive by fishing will have become people of Yan.”

“Hehehe…”

The Marquis of Jingnan reached out and pointed at Zheng Fan.

“That mouth of yours really knows how to speak.

“It is wasted on a mere Garrison Commander.”

“This lowly officer is unworthy of the Marquis’s praise.”

Was he about to get promoted?

“I can write a letter to Wei Zhonghe.

“You could go place yourself under him.

“In the future, perhaps you might even achieve unimaginable honor and wealth.”

The name Wei Zhonghe immediately made Zheng Fan think of Wei Zhongxian.

Zheng Fan did not rush to celebrate.

Instead, he asked, “Marquis.

“This lowly officer is ignorant.

“Who exactly is Lord Wei Zhonghe?”

“The eunuch holding the seal of Great Yan’s Directorate of Ceremonial.”

“…”

Zheng Fan.

“This Marquis has finished eating.

“You keep eating.”

“Yes.”

Zheng Fan did not stand on ceremony.

He used a spoon to pour some of the pickled-fish broth over his rice.

Then, eating it with the other dishes, he quickly finished the bowl.

Du Juan, standing nearby, came forward to refill it.

“No need.

“I’m full.”

“A soldier serves for his grain.

“No matter when, you should always fill your stomach.

“A full stomach is what matters most,” the Marquis of Jingnan said.

“The Marquis is correct.

“But this lowly officer truly is full.

“I am still injured.”

“Oh.

“That’s right.

“This Marquis nearly forgot.”

“Marquis, the tea has been prepared,” Du Juan said.

The Marquis of Jingnan stood.

“Follow me.”

Zheng Fan followed him into the inner room.

It looked like a study.

But a clothes rack there immediately caught Zheng Fan’s attention.

The garment hanging from it possessed an overwhelming air of nobility.

Embroidered across it was something that looked partly like a dragon, partly like a python.

“Grand Commandant Yang did not merely send fish.

“He also sent a princely robe.

“He said it had been adapted from the court robes worn by princes in Qian, with some adjustments made according to the customs of Yan.

“He also sent an official document bearing the great seal of his office as commander of the three northern frontiers.

“In it, he directly addressed this Marquis as ‘His Highness, the Prince of Jingnan.’”

“I heard that Grand Commandant Yang is a eunuch?”

The Marquis nodded.

He walked behind the desk and sat down.

“He is indeed a castrated man.

“Most people assume he rose through fortunate circumstances— that he gained the Qian Emperor’s favor through the three Yang sisters and climbed upward because of them.

“That is not the truth.

“To reach the position of commander of Qian’s three northern frontiers— forget a eunuch.

“Even if a pig sat there, it would not be ordinary.”

Zheng Fan suddenly remembered Liang Cheng’s words more than a month earlier.

Even if the seat commanding the Jingnan Army were occupied by a pig, the odds of losing to Qian’s frontier army would still be very low.

Hold it in.

Don’t laugh.

“Marquis.

“This castrated bastard is trying to sow discord.”

“He is sowing discord.

“But do you know— he will not remain commander of Qian’s three northern frontiers for much longer.

“And yet at precisely this time, he is still doing these things.

“He may be a eunuch.

“But among all the civil and military officials of Qian, this Marquis believes very few can compare with him.”

Why did officials love flashy surface projects?

Because they produced political achievements quickly.

Very few were willing to quietly build foundations, invest without recognition, and wait for long-term results.

Once their transfer orders arrived, they patted their backsides and left.

Why benefit their successors?

There really were not many people willing to plant trees so later generations could enjoy the shade.

The Marquis picked up his tea cup.

He continued, “What he said before the armies that day, and his decision not to fight, were reported back to Shangjing.

“The entire Qian court erupted.

“Memorials impeaching him for cowardice, fear of battle, and humiliating the dignity of the state have already piled high enough to fill the Qian Emperor’s imperial study.

“Grand Commandant Yang will soon be transferred away.”

For a moment, Zheng Fan could not quite grasp what the Marquis intended by telling him this.

But he remembered the conversation he had with the Blind Man that day.

In the end, the Blind Man had said:

What exactly the Marquis of Jingnan intends to do that is something only Master can gamble on personally.

Zheng Fan drew in a deep breath.

He understood.

From the moment he entered the room, the Marquis had first eaten with him.

Then he had openly shown him this obviously forbidden princely robe.

That could only mean the Marquis had arranged this encounter deliberately.

The opportunity had already been placed before Zheng Fan.

Now it depended entirely on whether he could place the correct bet and board this carriage.

“This lowly officer congratulates the Marquis!”

“What is there to congratulate?”

“If Grand Commandant Yang is transferred away, then the next commander of Qian’s three northern frontiers will certainly not dare repeat his predecessor’s conduct.

“If the Marquis uses troops against him, he will never retreat behind forts and cities and avoid battle the way Grand Commandant Yang did.

“He may even take the initiative to seek battle.

“At that time— the iron cavalry of Great Yan will have its opportunity!”

The Marquis of Jingnan looked deeply at Zheng Fan.

He did not comment on what Zheng Fan had just said.

Instead, he pointed toward Zheng Fan.

“Arrange the handover of Willow Fort.

“Choose one of your subordinates to temporarily assume the post of Garrison Commander.

“In seven days, it will be Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday.

“You will join this Marquis’s personal guard.

“And accompany this Marquis into the capital.”

(End of Chapter)