Chapter 379: Removing the Thorns!

“My son’s surname is Zheng.”

By all rights, Liang Cheng should have found those words unpleasant to hear.

After all, he was a proud ancient zombie. If someone called his own Master “son,” did that not mean a “Supreme Emperor” had suddenly appeared above his head out of nowhere?

But that was not how the accounting worked.

The origin of all this still went back to that night when Zheng Fan, following the principle that one less problem was always better than one more and that it cost nothing to bow in a temple whether the place belonged to Confucians, Buddhists, or Daoists had kowtowed before a crude little altar.

Sha Tuo Queshi had left no descendants.

His Sha Tuo Tribe had already been exterminated as well.

The altar he personally established had been meant to commemorate himself in advance and to honor the yellow desert sands that had given birth to him and raised him.

But because of Master’s single devastating kowtow—

Zheng Fan became Sha Tuo Queshi’s **Blood-Food Successor**.

It was much like the common custom of visiting ancestral graves during festivals or on the anniversary of a forebear’s death, burning paper offerings and setting out food.

The living offered blood-food to the dead.

The dead, from somewhere beyond mortal sight, blessed the living with safety and prosperity.

Calling it a transaction would be too cold.

Too much emotion was bound up in the practice.

It was better described as an unspoken agreement established by custom.

The familiar phrase—

*May the ancestors protect us.*

—was rooted in exactly this idea.

So when Sha Tuo Queshi said, “My son’s surname is Zheng,” he was not wrong.

Zheng Fan had kowtowed to him.

Offerings had never been neglected during festivals.

And every so often, Zheng Fan would bring wine and small dishes over simply to sit beside Sha Tuo Queshi and talk.

Sha Tuo Queshi might now be a zombie, but he had also genuinely saved Zheng Fan several times.

Zombies were frightening.

But if ordinary people were given a choice and asked whether they wanted such a dependable “zombie godfather” looking after them most would probably nod furiously and shout:

*Yes, yes, yes!*

Liang Cheng hesitated.

Then turned around and went back into the residence.

By coincidence, Zheng Fan had just stepped out carrying a jug of wine and a plate of dried tofu he had cut himself.

Judging from the arrangement he had clearly intended to go chat with Sha Tuo Queshi.

Too much had happened today.

It had essentially amounted to a full argument with the Demon Kings.

And the more turbulent a day became, the stronger a person’s desire to find someone and talk.

For the first time, Liang Cheng suddenly felt Master seemed somewhat pitiful.

Every Demon King possessed a resilient temperament.

Every one of them had weathered more than enough storms.

Even Xue San, after being beaten half to death, could still let the matter go relatively easily.

Zheng Fan was different.

Zheng Fan had spent this entire road running at full speed, forcing himself to keep up with the Demon Kings.

“Why did you come back again?”

Zheng Fan asked with a smile.

Liang Cheng did not conceal anything.

“Master, this subordinate just advanced.”

“Oh.

“Congratulations.”

Zheng Fan did not seem surprised.

It was almost as though he had expected the result.

They understood one another too well by now.

For example, Zheng Fan naturally knew exactly what Xue San had been trying to accomplish by crossing the line earlier.

“This subordinate’s bloodline recovered somewhat further.

“And now...

“I can communicate with Sha Tuo Queshi through a form of zombie-to-zombie communication.”

“Hmm?

“Can you help Sha Tuo Queshi recover?”

“Perhaps not yet.

“But I should be able to do something for him.”

“You’re a great zombie yourself and you don’t even know exactly what your own abilities can do?”

Faced with the question, Liang Cheng answered with perfect sincerity.

“Master, before I became a zombie, this subordinate was already extremely powerful.

“After becoming a zombie, I immediately became an ancient great zombie.

“So I genuinely do not know exactly how lower-ranked zombies differ from one another, or what limitations their abilities have.”

“...”

Zheng Fan.

Truth was often what hurt most.

The meaning of Liang Cheng’s words was essentially:

*I debuted at the peak.*

It was like some genius who entered university at eleven or twelve.

If you insisted on asking him what ordinary middle-school or high-school life felt like he genuinely had no idea.

“Come on.

“Let’s go look together.”

“Yes, Master.”

...

Because the Count Pingye Residence had not yet been completed, the underground chamber suitable for Sha Tuo Queshi’s coffin was not ready.

So inside this temporary residence, Sha Tuo Queshi had been placed in the most secluded room of the rear compound.

When Zheng Fan and Liang Cheng arrived, they discovered the Demon Child had already brought the Young Prince over.

When the coffin lid blasted away and Sha Tuo Queshi’s aura leaked outward, Zheng Fan the Martial Artist might not have noticed.

But the Demon Child was a spiritual entity.

There was no possibility it would miss something like that.

Inside the room, the Young Prince sat directly on the edge of the coffin extremely close to Sha Tuo Queshi.

There was really only one thing to say:

A child raised by the Demon Child truly feared neither raw nor cooked.

Ordinary nannies took children to see cats and dogs while worrying the animals might scratch them.

The Demon Child?

It simply brought its charge over for close-range interaction with a zombie.

That was countless times more dangerous than placing a child inside a tiger cage.

On the other hand one could only sigh again over how absurdly hard the Marquis of Jingnan’s son’s fate truly was.

Ordinary children who encountered something unclean—or were frightened by some evil presence—might become afflicted and fall ill.

The Young Prince had grown up with a ghost as his playmate.

He crawled around on top of coffins.

And somehow his appetite remained magnificent.

He ate whatever he was given.

When Zheng Fan entered, Sha Tuo Queshi, sitting inside the coffin, slowly turned his head toward him.

His face remained expressionless.

But Zheng Fan could clearly feel the man’s attention.

Sha Tuo Queshi had once interacted with the Demon Child.

Because the Demon Child was Zheng Fan’s “son.”

Sha Tuo Queshi had also once killed intruders while protecting the Young Prince.

Because the Young Prince was Zheng Fan’s “godson.”

*You kowtowed to me.*

*I will protect your descendants.*

Sha Tuo Queshi had kept that promise.

Whether in life or in death he remained a man who valued his word.

Liang Cheng opened his mouth.

A series of hoarse scraping sounds emerged from his throat.

At the same time, green light rose inside his eyes like ghost fire from the underworld.

As though drawn by Liang Cheng, Sha Tuo Queshi opened his own mouth and began responding with equally rasping sounds.

After a short while, Liang Cheng said:

“Master, his consciousness remains very muddled.

“But we can try asking him a few things.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

“Ask him what he wants.”

He could hardly keep accepting this man’s protection with a clear conscience forever.

If possible—

Zheng Fan also wanted to do something for Sha Tuo Queshi.

Liang Cheng began questioning him.

After a while, he translated:

“Master.

“He said... yellow sand.

“Flocks of sheep.

“An oasis...”

“Those were his exact words?”

“This subordinate inferred that this is what he means.”

“Oh.”

Zheng Fan sighed.

“He misses home.”

What the dead ultimately sought was burial in peace.

What they longed for was to return, in soul if nothing else, to the land of their birth.

It was instinct.

The instinct of all living things.

Leave home while young.

Return home when old.

That was one of the great cycles people sought through life.

A destination.

Sha Tuo Queshi’s home had been the Sha Tuo Tribe.

But that tribe had already been exterminated.

His homeland, however was the desert.

A trace of guilt rose inside Zheng Fan.

Because of him, Sha Tuo Queshi had been carried from the desert to Tiger Head City.

From Tiger Head City to Cuiliu Fort.

From Cuiliu Fort to Shengle.

And then farther east all the way to Snow Sea Pass.

Every time Zheng Fan moved, he rose in rank and gained wealth.

His influence became larger and larger.

But for Sha Tuo Queshi every move carried him farther from home.

“Master, this is merely the simplest desire inside him at present.

“His consciousness is still not mature enough.”

“But that also makes it his truest desire.”

Zheng Fan sighed again.

Then said:

“One day—

I will rebuild a Sha Tuo Tribe for him.”

Liang Cheng nodded.

“That is only right.”

At that moment, the Blind Man walked over.

He did not actually need anyone to announce him.

A casual sweep of mental power was enough to locate Zheng Fan anywhere inside the residence.

The Blind Man entered.

The first thing he noticed was Liang Cheng.

The corner of his mouth immediately curled upward.

This round truly had become the revenge of the honest men.

First, the blockheaded idiot Fan Li.

Then this cold zombie.

Those two of all people had advanced first.

One really could not judge a man by his appearance.

And character settings could not be trusted completely either.

“Master, military intelligence arrived from Yupan City.”

Zheng Fan turned toward him.

“What happened?”

“The First Prince’s dowry.

“The Keyan Tribe.

“Nearly thirty thousand tribesmen.

“They have already begun crossing the Wang River.

“When the message was sent they should still have been in the middle of the crossing.

“Now that it has reached us, the whole tribe has probably already crossed.

“They may even be continuing east by now.”

“So fast?”

Those ten thousand barbarian cavalry were something Count Zheng had been thinking about day and night.

Once Snow Sea Pass gained those ten thousand riders, whether marching north into the snowfields or heading toward Zhennan Pass to parade in front of the Chu, everything would become much easier.

Unlike now when all they could do was bury themselves in construction while every resource remained painfully tight.

Building oneself up.

Relying upon one’s own labor.

Those principles certainly had to be upheld.

But when potential targets for plunder existed nearby, refusing to conduct at least some bloody and sinful primitive accumulation would almost feel disrespectful to oneself.

At the same time, once Count Zheng controlled those ten thousand barbarian riders, he still would not possess forces comparable to a Zhenbei Army Chief Commander like Li Fusheng.

But he would firmly enter the second tier among Great Yan’s Chief Commanders.

This ignored noble titles completely.

It referred only to the number of troops under one’s command.

The Zhenbei Army’s six commands had once contained three hundred thousand cavalry.

That meant each Chief Commander controlled close to fifty thousand riders.

Even after subtracting miscellaneous formations, each man certainly commanded at least forty thousand.

Count Zheng, by comparison, still possessed only around half that strength.

Of course, the Zhenbei Army had suffered enormous losses during years of campaigning in every direction.

But its replacement system was also far faster than his.

Zheng Fan looked toward the Blind Man.

“Begin preparing tents and reception supplies immediately.

“All supporting logistics must be ready.”

The Blind Man nodded.

“Master, there is another document from the Ministry of Revenue.

“It lists the money, grain, and supplies the Ministry will transport to Snow Sea Pass during the first half of this year.”

At that point, the Blind Man smiled.

“Master.

“It is the full quota.”

“The full quota?”

The State of Yan’s military garrisons in Jin territory had generally received only half their nominal allotment of money and grain.

Some areas received even less.

Whatever remained missing had to be made up by local commanders themselves.

Snow Sea Pass occupied a crucial position and carried a great many responsibilities, so receiving more than seventy percent would already have been extremely generous.

A **full quota** meant everything.

No discount.

Not a copper or measure withheld.

Even in later generations, specially allocated funds and supplies moving from the central government to local administrations were often shaved at every level.

Much less in an age like this.

“Master, it is more than merely the full quota.

“They have even compensated for expected losses during transportation.

“And as for the specific categories of money, grain, and equipment... if everything is converted into value, the total is more than twenty percent above what the so-called full quota should have been.”

“Money and grain” did not literally mean only silver and one variety of staple grain.

There were countless categories inside the allocation.

And countless ways to manipulate the accounting.

Zheng Fan trusted that both the Blind Man and Siniang were experts in matters like these.

So if the Blind Man said the shipment was genuinely fat, then that meant the Ministry of Revenue’s allocation was nearly three times larger than the usual amount Snow Sea Pass would have received.

“Who handled it?”

Zheng Fan immediately tasted the hidden flavor in the matter.

As the head of a frontier military power bloc, he understood perfectly well the saying that officials worked more easily when they had friends at court.

And when someone poured this kind of absurdly concentrated nourishment into your mouth why would a stranger treat you so well?

Yes, the money came from the national treasury.

But living human beings controlled the treasury.

The Blind Man silently produced another letter.

“Master, this arrived together with the Ministry document.

“It is from the Sixth Prince.

“The Sixth Prince is currently observing affairs inside the Ministry of Revenue.

“In rough terms, he is something like an intern there.

“But clearly...”

The Blind Man did not finish.

There was no need.

Everyone understood.

Count Zheng drew in a deep breath.

Then slowly released it.

Unable to restrain himself, he stretched both arms wide.

“This feeding... feels damned comfortable.”

The Blind Man agreed:

“Very comfortable indeed.

“In the past, the Sixth Prince could only use income from his own businesses to support us.

“A little stream.

“Enough to quench thirst.

“Useful at exactly the right times.

“Now he is mobilizing the national treasury to support us.

“That volume of milk— is much more comfortable.”

“You handle the reply to Little Sixth.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Also send a letter to the Marquis of Jingnan.

“Offer my greetings.”

The Marquis of Jingnan was currently stationed at Fengxin City.

But even a three-year-old child knew who possessed the greatest authority across the lands of the Three Jin.

“Offer my greetings,” naturally, meant:

Shouldn’t the money and grain being sent from Yingdu be arriving soon?

At the same time, once the Ministry of Revenue’s allocation entered the region, the Marquis should kindly help keep an eye on it.

Those supplies had the surname **Zheng** on them.

Nobody else should be allowed to reach in and divide them.

If one was a trusted subordinate one naturally ought to enjoy the benefits of being trusted.

“Yes.

“This subordinate understands.”

Liang Cheng spoke next.

“Master, since the Keyan Tribe has already crossed the Wang River, should we send troops to receive them?”

Zheng Fan considered it.

Then nodded.

“Have Jin Shuke lead one thousand cavalry.

“He is a barbarian himself.

“Communication will be easier.”

Hearing that Jin Shuke had been chosen—

Liang Cheng and the Blind Man naturally understood the deeper meaning.

That boy’s earlier display of loyalty had not been wasted.

The road beneath his feet had widened again.

Since the subject had already come up, Zheng Fan turned to Liang Cheng.

“Postpone the expedition into the snowfields for now.

“Once the barbarian cavalry arrive, we’ll design a new plan.”

The earlier talk about leading troops north had really been meant to let Zheng Fan relax and vent his anger.

But Count Zheng was not King You of Zhou.

He could still distinguish military affairs from personal amusement.

If his available troops were about to double in the near future, charging north now and alerting the enemy would simply be stupid.

“Yes.

“This subordinate understands.”

“Oh, right.

“Blind Man.

“Hurry and finish an operational plan together with that Savage King.

“Then begin preparing ideological and political education for those ten thousand barbarian cavalry.

“At the latest, by autumn, we must launch one major campaign into the snowfields.

“Snow Sea Pass now has this enormous population inside and outside the walls.

“If we do not plunder properly— next winter will be difficult to pass comfortably.”

“Master can rest assured.

“This subordinate will handle it.”

“All right.

“I want to be alone for a while.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Yes, Master.”

The Blind Man and Liang Cheng left.

One carried the stone containing the Demon Child.

The other carried the Young Prince.

Once outside, the Blind Man tapped the stone in his hand and teased:

“One idiot.

“One zombie.

“Both have already advanced.

“You, the biological son— how long are you planning to take?”

The Demon Child ignored the provocation.

The Young Prince, in Liang Cheng’s arms, reached out and rubbed his hands over Liang Cheng’s body.

He could sense that Liang Cheng’s skin felt different from that of ordinary people.

“Huu...”

The Blind Man rolled his waist once.

Then asked:

“That was the method, right?”

He meant the way to advance.

Whether it truly was that form of honest confession.

Liang Cheng nodded.

“I thought you would find an excuse to stay behind.”

“Truthful words become tiresome if several people repeat them to you in one day.

“Like chicken soup for the soul.

“Drink too much in a short time and it becomes nauseating.

“No need to rush.

“I’ll wait until Master’s emotional response cools a little before I go.

“Besides— if I fail the first time, repeating the exact same heartfelt confession a second time will inevitably feel stale.”

The Blind Man had already calculated everything.

“As long as you know what you’re doing,” Liang Cheng said.

He felt no need to worry about the Blind Man.

“Actually, most of us have it easier.

“Do you know who will have the hardest time?”

“Xue San?”

“Third did trip himself badly this time, but it is not a serious long-term problem.

“The hardest two are actually the one in my hand— and Siniang.

“One is the biological son.

“The other is the woman sharing Master’s pillow.

“Do you know why those two, despite being closest to Master, failed to succeed first?”

“Why?”

“Because the closer people are— the harder it becomes to speak completely honestly.”

The Blind Man pointed toward his chest.

“It cuts too close to the heart.”

*Hum!*

The Demon Child flew up and smashed directly toward the Blind Man’s head.

The Blind Man neither dodged nor resisted.

He simply stood there and shouted:

“Ah Cheng! Save me!”

*Pa!*

Liang Cheng reached out and caught the stone.

Now that Liang Cheng possessed the advantage in strength, dealing with the Demon Child was not particularly difficult.

Of course, that assumed everyone was merely fooling around and nobody intended to fight to the death.

The Blind Man calmly straightened his collar.

He did not seem to feel the slightest embarrassment over being too talkative and annoying.

Instead, he continued:

“It cuts close.

“But everything has two sides.

“The closer the relationship— the more easily wounds can heal.”

Then the Blind Man bent over.

He leaned his face close and poked the Demon Child’s stone twice with one finger.

“You think Master does not understand that Siniang’s feelings toward him are not purely those of a man and woman?”

He paused.

Then added:

“And you think Master doesn’t know your greatest dream is to become a gloriously unfilial son?”

...

Inside the room, Sha Tuo Queshi had already lain back down.

His eyes were closed.

He did not move.

He looked no different from an ordinary corpse.

Zheng Fan personally adjusted the cushions and pillow inside the coffin.

Then he pulled the expensive silk blanket over Sha Tuo Queshi properly.

Afterward, Zheng Fan sat cross-legged on the floor.

Facing the coffin, he laid out wine and food.

Two pairs of chopsticks.

Two bowls.

Only after estimating that the Blind Man and Liang Cheng had already gone some distance did Zheng Fan raise his cup toward the coffin.

“Come.

“Let’s drink one first.”

...

The Keyan Tribe’s migration column continued east.

Five thousand Jingnan Army cavalry escorted its northern flank.

Another five thousand escorted the southern flank.

This had been the tribe’s treatment ever since entering Yan territory through Beifeng Commandery.

Over the past several centuries, plenty of barbarian tribes had migrated into the State of Yan.

There had even been barbarians who served as officials in Yan’s imperial court.

But a migration on the scale of the Keyan Tribe had never happened before.

Keyan Mou, chieftain of the Keyan Tribe, sat on horseback with a wineskin of fermented mare’s milk in his hand.

He had spent almost the entire road half drunk.

Whenever the migration required the clan leader to deal with outsiders, his eldest son, **Keyan Dongge**, had handled the matter instead.

The land and climate inside Yan and Jin were indeed far better than the desert.

But the desert was Keyan Mou’s homeland.

If he had not been thinking about every old man, woman, and child in the tribe he would never have accepted relocation.

And worse they had been relocated as part of the Barbarian King’s dowry for his daughter!

But there had truly been no choice.

People had to survive.

Keyan Dongge rode to his father’s side.

“Father, several dozen more tribesmen fell ill today.”

During a migration over such a vast distance, illness caused by unfamiliar climate and water was perfectly normal.

Not only the elderly and children suffered.

Even warriors of the tribe sometimes fell sick.

“Send them to the priests and have them cared for.

“Also ask the Yan again.

“See if they can send more physicians to treat our people.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Dongge.”

“Father?”

“In the future, you do not need to report every matter like this to me.

“You are already an adult.

“You are the Young Chieftain of the Keyan Tribe.

“You are the future leader of our people.

“You need to learn how to use your own wisdom and courage to lead them forward.”

Whether in the dynasties of the Central Plains or among the desert barbarians, competition among sons was always a taboo and sensitive subject.

Because it touched the most fundamental question of power.

The Keyan Tribe was unusual in this respect.

Keyan Mou had inherited leadership from his own elder brother.

And among Keyan Mou’s children, Keyan Dongge was his only son.

All the rest were daughters.

So when it came to the question of the Keyan Tribe’s next leader there was no second choice.

When the migration passed Yanjing, Keyan Mou learned the present Emperor of Yan had seven sons.

Rather than feel envy he actually felt a little sorry for the Emperor.

Naturally, he would never dare say such words aloud.

The Emperor of the Yan people had now become the Emperor above the Keyan Tribe as well.

Once the Keyan Tribe entered Yan, it was impossible to imagine them returning to their desert homeland in the short term.

Every person in the tribe from old to young would now have to live under Yan authority.

And the Yan quite obviously did not trust them.

It was not enough to move them from the far western frontier all the way to Snow Sea Pass in the extreme east.

Wherever the column went, no fewer than ten thousand Yan cavalry remained nearby.

The Keyan Tribe itself could also gather close to ten thousand mounted warriors.

But every woman, child, and elder in the tribe traveled in the same column.

Under such circumstances, they neither could nor dared provoke conflict with the Yan.

“Father, you remain as strong as an eagle of the desert.

“Besides, we still have seven elders in the tribe.

“All of you possess extraordinary experience and wisdom.

“I still have far too much to learn.”

As the sole heir, Keyan Dongge was not merely offering false modesty.

He was an only son.

What exactly did he need to rush for?

What belonged to him would inevitably become his.

Even if his father somehow produced another son now, the age difference would be so enormous that the child could hardly threaten his position.

When a person knew his own standing was secure he naturally possessed more room to think about the common good.

“Huu...”

Keyan Mou smiled.

He shook his head and raised the wineskin for another long drink.

“Dongge.

“What worries me most now is whether Snow Sea Pass has prepared enough food for our people.

“After such a long migration, our warhorses have been protected relatively well.

“But most of our cattle and sheep have already been consumed along the road.

“If that Yan Count at Snow Sea Pass cannot provide us with enough grain, hides, and cloth— this winter will be extremely difficult for the tribe.”

Livestock were a form of productive wealth to desert barbarians.

Much like farmland for the people of the Central Plains.

Their herds had nearly disappeared during the migration.

What were they supposed to do?

Tell the whole tribe to learn farming?

Even if they did it was already too late in the season.

Keyan Dongge remained surprisingly calm.

“Father, there’s no need to worry.

“Doesn’t the snowfield lie directly north of Snow Sea Pass?

“The savages graze herds too.

“If we lack livestock, then when the time comes I’ll lead our warriors north and take theirs.

“At worst, we give a few shares of what we seize to the Yan Count at Snow Sea Pass.

“We can hardly watch our own people freeze and starve.”

Barbarians looked down upon savages.

It was a very real hierarchy of contempt.

Even after the savages had ravaged Jin territory, the desert tribes still considered them inferior.

“Dongge.

“Once we reach Snow Sea Pass, you absolutely must not move the tribe’s warriors without permission.

“If you do, there will be serious trouble.”

“Father, I understand what you’re afraid of.

“We are willing to fight for the Yan.

“But the Yan must first make sure we do not starve to death!”

“No matter what, you need to rein in your temper.

“Now that our tribe has moved inward, everything we do must be careful.”

“I understand, Father.

“I won’t go looking for trouble with the Yan.”

For nearly a century, because of the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence and the Zhenbei Army, the desert barbarians had carried a very real fear of the Yan.

“Woooooo—!”

At that moment, horn after horn suddenly sounded.

The two Jingnan Army cavalry formations escorting the Keyan Tribe immediately came alive and began accelerating.

The sudden change threw the migration column into confusion.

Keyan Dongge instinctively assumed the Yan were about to attack.

He immediately reached for the horn at his side, intending to summon the tribe’s warriors around him and prepare to fight.

“Put it down!”

Keyan Mou lashed out with his whip.

The horn flew from his son’s hand.

“If the Yan wanted to kill us, would they need to wait until now?!”

At the same time formation after formation of Yan cavalry appeared from the east.

Black Dragon Banners rose above them.

The riders galloped without restraint straight through the Keyan Tribe’s moving column.

“Father, what exactly is happening?”

By now, even Keyan Dongge could see the Yan were not preparing for battle.

Keyan Mou threw his wineskin onto the ground.

He straightened his clothing.

Put on his hat.

Then said slowly:

“When we passed Yingdu, didn’t we say we wanted to pay respects to the Yan’s southern Marquis—the man equal in fame to their northern Marquis?

“He wasn’t in Yingdu.

“He was in Fengxin City east of the Wang River.

“Now we have already crossed the Wang River.

“So tell me— which great Yan figure do you think is ahead of us?”

As he spoke, Keyan Mou pointed toward the Jingnan Army riders around them, all visibly excited.

“Other than that southern Marquis— who could make Yan soldiers this excited simply by appearing?”

The Keyan Tribe had been enough of a thorn in the Barbarian King’s eye that the man wanted it removed.

Its leader, Keyan Mou, naturally could not be some useless drunk.

The moment he saw the excitement on the Yan cavalrymen’s faces, he understood just how high the southern Marquis stood in their hearts.

Keyan Mou himself was a tribal chieftain.

Even so, he directly controlled perhaps two or three thousand core warriors.

That southern Marquis, by contrast, could make these Yan soldiers sincerely adore him.

Merely seeing him once made them feel they had received some enormous honor.

Such prestige...

Keyan Mou narrowed his eyes.

At that moment, the thought that appeared in his mind was unexpectedly this:

*If that southern Marquis ever rebels, and our tribe follows him...*

*after he succeeds, could the Keyan Tribe gain a chance to return to the desert?*

One could hardly blame Keyan Mou for thinking this way.

Ever since leaving the desert, he had suffered day and night beneath the humiliation and pain of exile.

Returning home had become an obsession.

“THE PRINCE OF JINGNAN HAS ARRIVED!

“KNEEL AND RECEIVE HIS HIGHNESS!”

“THE PRINCE OF JINGNAN HAS ARRIVED!

“KNEEL AND RECEIVE HIS HIGHNESS!”

“THE PRINCE OF JINGNAN HAS ARRIVED!

“KNEEL AND RECEIVE HIS HIGHNESS!”

The Jingnan Army riders shouted the words again and again.

The imperial decree stripping Tian Wujing’s princely title had already been issued.

He had formally fallen back to the rank of Marquis.

But the Jingnan Army soldiers had no intention of changing what they called him.

Once a Prince always a Prince.

They liked calling him that.

What exactly was the imperial court going to do about it?

If the court insisted they stop calling him **Your Highness** then the only alternative title they were willing to use was:

**Your Majesty.**

“Dongge.

“Summon the tribal elders.

“Come with me to pay respects to the Yan southern Marquis.”

The Keyan Tribe reacted with remarkable obedience.

The ordinary tribesmen immediately knelt once the princely banner appeared.

Keyan Mou led the tribal nobles and elders forward.

They removed their weapons.

Dismounted from their horses.

Then approached the temporary military camp with extreme respect.

Outside the command tent, twenty thousand Jingnan Army cavalry stood ready.

Beyond them, more than ten thousand additional riders patrolled the perimeter.

The Eastern Expedition Army had only recently finished driving away the savages and the Chu.

The Yan army had suffered heavy casualties.

But victory after victory had forged a visible confidence and morale into these soldiers.

And after the war, Tian Wujing had left untouched only Li Fusheng’s and the late Li Bao’s former troops—formations originally belonging to the Zhenbei Army.

Every other component of the Eastern Expedition Army, together with the Jin troops remaining across the Three Jin, had been reorganized and incorporated into the Jingnan Army system.

So although the Yan army had not yet replaced all its recent losses the Jingnan Army itself had actually become stronger.

Looking at the disciplined formations ahead, Keyan Mou took a deep breath.

Before he even reached the camp gate he dropped to his knees outside the palisade.

“Keyan Mou, chieftain of the Keyan Tribe, leads his people in kowtow before the Prince of Jingnan!

“May Your Highness live a thousand years!”

Once the chieftain knelt, Keyan Dongge and the elders and nobles behind him followed.

Keyan Dongge was kneeling very close to his father.

Unable to restrain himself, he whispered:

“Are the Yan trying to crush our spirit?”

They had arranged this massive display without preparing for battle.

Obviously, it was intimidation.

The same method was common in the desert.

When two tribes developed a dispute, the stronger side might first send its warriors to parade through the weaker tribe’s territory.

If the difference in strength was too great the weaker tribe would often choose to yield.

Keyan Mou shook his head and replied quickly in a low voice:

“No.

“Do you think this southern Marquis of Yan has so little to do that he needs to come here merely to flaunt his strength before us?

“Remember— he stands on the same level as their northern Prince.

“He came specifically to support someone.

“To support that Count at Snow Sea Pass.

“They say the Count is his trusted man.

“Looks like the stories were true.

“For a lord of his standing to personally come out and clear thorns from the road for his subordinate... that means once we reach Snow Sea Pass, if we make sure to please that Yan Count— life for our tribe may not be too difficult.”

“To support someone?”

Dongge froze.

He was still young.

His reactions in matters like these were far slower than his father’s.

*Creaaak...*

The military camp gate opened.

“BY HIS HIGHNESS’S ORDER—

THE CHIEFTAIN OF THE KEYAN TRIBE IS SUMMONED TO AUDIENCE!”

A mounted messenger galloped past.

Keyan Mou and the others rose.

They formed a line and entered the military camp.

A commander’s banner stood in the center.

To the west of the banner lay a majestic Pi Beast.

And beneath the banner a stern man in gilded armor sat in a command chair.

His eyes had been closed.

Then, they opened.

And the moment his gaze swept across them, even the young and proud Keyan Dongge could not stop panic and fear from rising inside him.

That presence.

That authority.

His own father could not begin to compare.

Keyan Dongge remembered seeing the Barbarian King once when he was younger.

Perhaps only the Barbarian King himself could stand before this southern Marquis without losing in sheer presence.

More importantly—

Keyan Dongge knew perfectly well that the southern Marquis was not merely unmatched as a commander.

He was also a genuine supreme warrior.

Even without moving a single soldier if this man wanted to kill Keyan Dongge, it would be effortless.

Keyan Mou immediately bowed.

“This lowly desert commoner, Keyan Mou, pays respects to the Prince of Jingnan.”

Then, he knelt again.

This time he performed the full prostration, touching all five points to the ground.

None of the Keyan nobles dared protest.

None showed even the slightest displeasure.

They copied him immediately and offered Tian Wujing the highest salute.

“Keyan Mou.”

“This lowly commoner is here.

“Please command me, Your Highness.”

Tian Wujing stood.

Then slowly walked toward them.

Every step he took felt like a heavy hammer striking the chests of everyone present.

The pressure was terrifying.

His white hair hung loose because he wore no helmet.

The sight alone made the heart tremble.

The Keyan tribesmen had already passed the savage corpse mounds beside the Wang River.

They had already seen the mass graves of Chu soldiers beneath Yupan City.

Those things were all the work of the man approaching them now.

Finally—

Tian Wujing stopped in front of Keyan Mou.

Sweat was already dripping from the chieftain’s face.

His son, Keyan Dongge, was in even worse condition.

The young man’s entire body had begun trembling uncontrollably.

Fear.

Genuine fear.

The most primitive kind.

Like sheep in the desert sensing wolves nearby.

Before this man these warriors of the desert suddenly felt that they themselves were the soft, helpless lambs.

Tian Wujing stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

He lowered his gaze slightly toward Keyan Dongge, who knelt beside his father.

“This is your son?”

*Slap!*

The instant Tian Wujing mentioned him—

Keyan Dongge collapsed limply to the ground.

He tried to kneel again, but panic made his arms and legs tangle.

For several moments, he merely flailed on the earth in humiliating disorder.

None of the Keyan nobles around him dared laugh.

Their own teeth were chattering.

The Jingnan Army soldiers surrounding the camp remained perfectly straight, weapons in hand.

The killing aura of true elite veterans rolled from them.

Only the Pixiu lying nearby remained entirely relaxed.

It yawned as though nobody else existed.

The beast knew perfectly well what was happening.

There was more here than the accumulated killing aura of tens of thousands of battle-hardened Jingnan soldiers.

Its own master a peak Third Grade Martial Artist was deliberately releasing his terrifying presence as well.

With those two pressures layered together how could these barbarians possibly endure it?

The Pixiu stuck out its tongue and licked its lips.

As a mount, it ought to count as one of the beings closest to its master.

But right now it genuinely felt a little jealous of that fellow waiting at Snow Sea Pass.

“Replying to Your Highness, yes.

“This is my unworthy son, Keyan Dongge.”

“Oh.”

Tian Wujing nodded.

Then continued:

“This Marquis lacks a few military officers at his side.

“I have long heard that barbarian warriors fight bravely and campaign well.

“I have always envied such men.”

The moment Keyan Mou heard those words before anyone else could react he answered immediately:

“To follow at Your Highness’s side would be fortune Keyan Mou cultivated across three lifetimes!

“Keyan Mou and every Keyan tribesman present are willing to become Your Highness’s wings and die in Your Highness’s service!

“As for the Keyan Tribe— my son can continue leading them toward Snow Sea Pass.

“There should be no problem.

“He is still young and his prestige inside the tribe remains somewhat shallow, but he is careful in how he handles affairs.

“Your Highness may rest assured!”

First support the Count at Snow Sea Pass.

Then, ask about his son.

Then, say there was a shortage of officers nearby.

Keyan Mou understood the meaning.

Tian Wujing intended to keep Keyan Mou and the senior tribal nobility here separated from the tribe.

Then Keyan Dongge would continue leading the main population toward Snow Sea Pass.

Once that happened it would become far easier for Count Pingye to absorb, control, and eventually swallow the Keyan Tribe.

This was forced annexation placed openly on the table.

Yet Keyan Mou did not dare say no.

Worse he had to cooperate voluntarily and help complete the plan.

Because he had no second choice.

Tian Wujing nodded in satisfaction.

“Good.”

The moment that one word left his mouth every Keyan noble present released a long breath of relief.

But because the southern Marquis had not told them to rise, they remained kneeling in terror.

“Keyan Dongge.

“Raise your head.

“Let this Marquis look at you.”

Keyan Dongge immediately raised his face.

But he had no idea whether he should look flattering or solemn.

In the end, his expression became stiff and awkward.

Fear and tension caused several obvious twitches across his face.

The Young Chieftain of the Keyan Tribe had been utterly crushed beneath Tian Wujing’s presence.

Ground into the earth.

Then ground again.

It was only their first meeting but it would probably leave a shadow in Keyan Dongge’s heart for half a lifetime.

“Your...

“Your Highness...”

“Tell this Marquis— what is the name of the Chief Commander of Snow Sea Pass?”

“Zheng...

“Zheng...

“Zheng Fan.”

“Heh.”

Tian Wujing laughed once.

Keyan Mou immediately turned and glared at his son.

Fortunately, perhaps father and son truly shared one heart.

Or perhaps the crushing pressure had finally made Keyan Dongge’s thoughts move faster than usual.

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

Keyan Dongge struck himself across the face three times.

He used full force.

Blood immediately began running from his nose.

The corner of his mouth split open.

Then he shouted:

“This lowly commoner is ignorant!

“I dared speak Count Pingye’s personal name directly!

“This lowly commoner deserves death!

“Deserves death!

“I beg Your Highness for forgiveness!

“I beg Count Pingye for forgiveness!

“This lowly commoner’s superior—

“No!

“No!

“The master of my Keyan Tribe— is Count Pingye—

Chief Commander of Snow Sea Pass!”

[End of Chapter 379]