Chapter 777: The True and False Marquis Pingxi

A'Ming sat on the ground.

Most of the surrounding mess had already been cleared away.

The Blind Man came over with an orange in his hand, peeled it, and began eating it himself.

A'Ming raised his head and looked at him.

The Blind Man pointed toward the ground.

"Don't mind the dirt?"

Where had the Blood Clan's adorable obsession with cleanliness gone?

A'Ming said nothing.

The Blind Man walked over and lightly bumped A'Ming's back with one knee.

"Enough. Enough already."

"Where's Master?"

"Went back."

"Back to Fengxin?"

"Back to Zhennan Pass. Gongsun Zhi has already gone west in pursuit, and Gong Wang was ordered over too. It shouldn't be a major problem."

At minimum...

Fengxin City itself would be safe.

"I really don't want to talk to you right now," A'Ming said.

"That makes things awkward for me. I'm such an easy person to talk to."

A'Ming nodded.

"If I tell you one more time that I came this close to killing Nian Yao, you'll say I'm like Xianglin's Wife."

"I wouldn't say that."

"You'd think it."

"Yes."

"And if I tell you I want to go assassinate Nian Yao now, you'll say I'm being impulsive and my brain's filled with blood."

"You're still very weak," the Blind Man consoled him.

"You can't empathize."

"But I can understand it rationally. Master's furious because he saw Nian Yao's contempt for him, on top of those deliberately arranged... ways of dying. You, on the other hand, don't care much about those dead men. What you care about is the wine jars. The human swine. In truth, Nian Yao wanted to provoke Master, not you. In his eyes, you're probably just some... demon who nearly killed him?"

"You mean I'm getting angry on my own account over something that wasn't even meant for me?"

"If anger had to obey reason, the world would be far too harmonious. He touched your anger. Real anger. I understand. There are plenty of places in this world where people drown infants. Even more where children are abandoned or abused. The Demon Child doesn't care. But if someone did it right in front of him..."

A'Ming rose.

"Where are you going?"

"Talking to you is boring as hell. You think you're the narrator? Who are you analyzing my psychology for?"

"Sometimes a person doesn't understand what he's thinking himself. He just sinks instinctively into the emotion."

"Go away."

"I can go away. But where are you going? I don't recommend going after Nian Yao alone. First, he's somewhere out west, and we already have people pursuing him. If they catch him, they catch him. If they don't... then they don't. It's like what happened to Master on Wangjiang last time. By pure coincidence, a married pair of jianghu experts with nothing better to do happened to run into him. But there was only that one opportunity. You already missed yours."

"Shut up."

A'Ming stopped a wheelbarrow carrying a corpse and gestured for the soldier pushing it to leave.

The soldier acknowledged the order and walked away.

A'Ming then pushed the corpse into a nearby tent.

Rows of bodies had been arranged neatly inside. Once their identities were confirmed, they would be cremated. Their families, whether they had been laborers or auxiliary troops, would receive compensation according to the proper standard.

The Blind Man followed him inside.

A'Ming lowered his head and bit into the neck of the corpse before him.

The dead man's body was no longer fresh.

Once a person had been dead for too long, even half a day, the taste deteriorated badly.

The Blind Man had never drunk blood himself, but he had heard A'Ming talk endlessly in the past about the finer points of blood tasting.

"What are you doing?"

"Recovering faster." A'Ming raised his head. "I'll use their blood first. Recover whatever I can. Then I'll avenge them."

"You don't need to explain that to me."

"I'm afraid you'll tell Master."

"It wasn't me."

"Then who?"

"Fine. It was me."

The Blind Man shook his head.

"Rest for a while. After some time passes, go back to Zhennan Pass yourself."

A'Ming did not answer.

He moved to another corpse and sank his teeth in again.

The Blind Man left the tent.

He took out another orange.

Peeling it as he walked...

...

"Master."

Liang Cheng entered the command tent.

"Nian Yao went west."

"This subordinate already knows."

"My head isn't very clear right now. So from here on, listen to whatever I say, but when the time comes to make the final decision, you decide."

"This subordinate understands."

"I don't think Nian Yao will choose to attack Fengxin City. Even if he went mad, that would be impossible. But I also don't think Gong Wang or Gongsun Zhi will be able to catch him."

Zheng Fan rose and walked to the sand table.

"Gong Wang and Gongsun Zhi will inevitably move toward Fengxin City first while pursuing him. Politically, that's the only correct choice."

Whether Nian Yao intended to head straight for Fengxin City or not... those two Garrison Commanders first had to make sure the city and its surrounding region were safe.

"The military station he burned used to store grain. That proves Nian Yao knows eastern Jin extremely well. The intelligence was a little outdated, but that's nothing surprising. And for him to take this risk, leading only this small force over mountains and ridges to come here... his purpose is obvious. He's trying to stop our campaign."

Zheng Fan rubbed his face hard with both hands.

"Continuing west is also meant to draw my troops backward. If I were him, I'd move west while staying close to the southern mountain range, keeping an escape route back into the mountains at all times and avoiding encirclement as much as possible. Truthfully, part of me is even thinking: fine, then I simply won't bother with him. I won't send troops back. Let him wander around eastern Jin by himself."

Liang Cheng stood quietly and listened.

"No..."

Zheng Fan shook his head.

"Tell me what you think first. I can't focus too much on him. Otherwise, whether I try to think along with him or think in reverse, I'll still be letting him affect me."

Liang Cheng nodded.

"Master, what Nian Yao is doing actually resembles our own old style very much."

When they had first risen from Cuiliu Fort... when they developed Shengle City... when they established themselves at Snow Sea Pass... they had always taken dangerous first moves and plunged deep into enemy territory with isolated forces.

Now, for once, they had genuinely planned to "overwhelm the enemy with superior force."

And instead... they had run headfirst into their former selves.

"The largest problem now is this. With Nian Yao himself appearing inside Jin territory, if we follow our original plan, will the main Chu forces south of the Wei River still dare cross north and invade Shanggu Commandery when there is no absolute authority left behind to make that decision?"

Zheng Fan nodded.

"That was the flaw in our original strategy. We focused too much on the enemy commander's thinking. Of course, in war, the opposing commander's temperament has to be part of the calculation. But now their commander isn't even home, and our entire plan is suddenly on the verge of falling apart."

"This subordinate failed to consider enough."

"No. It's not your fault. I thought your strategy was excellent at the time too, and it suited my taste very well. The problem now is that we assumed we'd make the first move. Instead, Nian Yao moved first. Shanggu Commandery. The Wei River. The Chu army on the far bank. What do we do next?"

"Master, this subordinate has a hypothesis."

"Oh?"

Liang Cheng walked to the sand table.

"When two armies face one another, it's like playing chess. Empty within solid, solid within empty. Each side tries to anticipate the other's anticipation. The more we try to predict what the opposing commander intends to do, the more likely he is to deliberately lay false trails and guide us toward the wrong conclusion. In certain matters, both sides are equal. For this campaign against Chu, we are currently using only eastern Jin's own strength. Troops, reserves, laborers... all of it is ours. Mobilizing an entire state is an enormous undertaking. Chu should not have fully mobilized either. Even if they began preparations the moment they noticed our movement, unless circumstances force him, that Regent will not launch a true national war. Which means the cards in our hands and the cards in Nian Yao's hands are both more or less visible. This elite mountain force made up of Shanyue tribesmen is one of his surprise moves, but it still lies within the range we can accept. The problems we face are the same problems he faces. We suffer from limited forces. The Chu army, which is disadvantaged in the broader strategic situation, suffers even more. We can move south however we like. Break through. Detour. Raid for supplies. All of it works. What about them? Take this operation as an example. In truth, it has already pushed them close to their limit. So why do it?"

"A'Cheng, I was just trying to climb out of this loop. Now you're dragging me straight back in."

Liang Cheng pointed at Zhennan Pass on the sand table, then traced westward along the mountain range.

"He plunged in headfirst without caring about anything else. I do not believe Nian Yao is unafraid of death."

"I just said..."

"No, Master. In trying to eliminate the influence Nian Yao deliberately created in your mind, perhaps that is exactly his goal. We need to look. Look carefully. And look boldly. Since he came in, he must have thought about how to get back out. And he must get back out safely. After making such a huge loop, he cannot have done all this for nothing. He still needs to grab some benefit on the way. And that benefit must be valuable enough to justify Nian Yao personally making this journey."

Zheng Fan stared at the sand table.

He trusted Liang Cheng.

He always had.

Truthfully...

Liang Cheng's ability to command troops was not inferior to Old Tian's.

"If he's going back, he can't turn around and retrace his steps. Heh..."

Marquis Zheng extended one hand and pointed at Mount Meng.

South of Mount Meng lay Fan Clan territory.

The Fan Clan had already made up its mind to act as Yan's dog.

They were effectively a nail driven by Yan into Chu territory.

"He wants... to pull out the Fan Clan."

Zheng Fan suddenly smiled again.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Still... that's almost impossible. He has barely any troops."

"Master, how many troops did we have when we first broke Mianzhou City? When we took Snow Sea Pass, Gou Moli probably looked equally incredulous. When the Regent of Chu stood atop the city walls and saw our banners, he must have looked just as incredulous. This subordinate has accompanied the Princess and Third Madam into Fan Clan territory before. Fan Zhengwen is an old fox. He may not be skilled at war, but he is extremely skilled at preserving his family's foundation. The Fan Clan's cities were built against Mount Meng and form a connected defensive system. Easy to defend. Difficult to attack. At the same time, Qu Peiluo's forces to the south have already opened an enormous screen for the Fan Clan, effectively creating a buffer zone. If Chu troops want to attack, the Fan Clan will receive warning well in advance. Once they shut themselves in and wait for reinforcements, they become extremely difficult to bite through. Forget how many men the Chu would lose or how much time it would consume. Marquis Pingxi Residence would never remain idle. Isn't that why, when you first assigned Jin Shuke to guard Zhennan Pass, you gave him a standing order? If the Chu began moving against the Fan Clan, Jin Shuke could decide on his own to deploy troops out of Shanggu Commandery into Chu territory to support them."

"A'Cheng, I trust your judgment."

Marquis Zheng patted his own chest first.

"But I still think it's absurd."

"Master, this subordinate believes Nian Yao must have prepared another move around Mount Meng. Once he prepares to act, Chu's vaunted navy can sail directly north along the waterways. First, to receive Grand General Nian. Second, to pin down the Fan Clan. Then Grand General Nian, using this surprise force plus whatever arrangements he prepared in advance, can attack from the Fan Clan's rear, through Mount Meng, precisely where the Fan Clan's defenses are weakest and where they feel safest. Master, do you remember when you were locked in battle with that Pillar of State of Chu? Jin Shuke led only a small surprise force. In the end, he flipped the entire battlefield."

"Stop. Stop. I understand what you're saying." Marquis Zheng licked his lips. "The more absurd something feels, the more likely it is to be true when you're dealing with players at this level."

"Master is wise."

"Your flattery is just like you. Always stiff as hell."

"So what do you think we should do next?"

"Save the Fan Clan?"

"They are Little Sixth's relatives, after all. We can't stand by and watch them die."

"There are two ways to save them," Liang Cheng said.

"Start with the one that's obviously going to be rejected," Marquis Zheng said with a smile.

"Use Marquis Pingxi Residence's name to send formal notices to court, Yingdu, and the Wangjiang Navy, requesting coordinated support. Order Li Fusheng's force into eastern Jin to assist. Our army deploys along the Wei River and conducts a feint while a separate elite force moves through Mount Meng to receive and reinforce the Fan Clan."

"The weaknesses?"

"Dribbling forces into battle one batch at a time. Slow effect. More importantly, after the last campaign against Chu, the Wangjiang Navy lost too many warships. It probably still hasn't recovered. In a direct confrontation with Chu's navy, the odds of victory are low. And we would have to place our hopes on the Fan Clan creating a miracle, with Fan Zhengwen commanding effectively and holding long enough for relief. Unless Gongsun Zhi successfully intercepts Nian Yao, Nian Yao will inevitably hold the initiative. Every response we make afterward would be passive."

"Good. I understand. That's why I reject that proposal immediately."

"Master is wise."

Marquis Zheng shook his head.

"I don't like pinning my hopes for a miracle on someone else. I'd rather find some broken lamp and rub it myself. Whether sparks of a miracle come out doesn't matter. At least if I play myself to death, then I killed myself. That's not a loss."

"Master is wise."

"Then we choose the second road."

"This subordinate obeys!"

"Hey, hey, A'Cheng. Aren't you worried I'm just pretending? You aren't going to explain it directly?"

"This subordinate trusts Master."

"I should still say it out loud, shouldn't I?"

"Master, please."

Zheng Fan extended one hand and traced a line across the sand table, from Shanggu Commandery to the Wei River, then westward along the river.

At the same time... he said:

"Under the original deployment, Jin Shuke was to lead an auxiliary force across the Wei and move west to link up with the Fan Clan. Now we change it. The original twenty thousand becomes fifty thousand. The original feint becomes the main attack. The original commander of this route was Jin Shuke. Now... this Marquis will command it personally. You will serve as chief general. Jin Shuke and Gou Moli as deputy generals."

Liang Cheng cupped his fists.

"Master is wise."

"Nian Yao wants speed. His Shanyue tribal troops can run mountain roads like flat ground. Fine. Then we want speed too. Iron hooves drive straight in. Ignore the rear. Ignore both flanks. Let's see who is faster. Nian Yao dares borrow my Jin territory as his road and strike the Fan Clan from behind. Then we'll openly borrow his Chu territory as our road to rescue the Fan Clan. No. I want to trap Nian Yao... dead inside Fan City!"

"This is an enormous gamble," Liang Cheng warned. "If anything goes wrong, this subordinate will protect Master's safe return even at the cost of death. But the accumulated essence of Marquis Pingxi Residence may also be burned away in one blaze."

"He's already bullied us right on top of our heads. Are we supposed to cower? Grand General Nian wants to teach me how war should be fought. He deliberately provoked me, yes. But in his heart, he probably genuinely believes I'm unworthy to inherit Old Tian's mantle. Fine. Unworthy it is."

"This subordinate noticed that as well."

"Oh?"

"Perhaps because A'Ming exposed him. Perhaps because he meant to do it from the beginning. The safest course for Nian Yao should have been to hug the mountains and continue moving in silence. Even after being discovered, he should have kept his head down and traveled at full speed. But he couldn't resist. Or perhaps he chose not to resist. In Grand General Nian's eyes... when Prince Jingnan stood opposite him, he obediently tucked his head inside his shell and took the beating. But when the one opposite is you, Master... he thinks he's capable now. So he started showing off."

"Hahaha."

Zheng Fan rested one hand on Liang Cheng's shoulder and patted it.

There was none of the deliberate grace a lord sometimes showed a subordinate.

It was simply the easy gesture of one brother toward another.

"But Grand General Nian can never imagine this. It's true Old Tian trained me. But all along... the Marquis Pingxi who truly commanded the battles... was never Marquis Pingxi himself. Jin lost one Prince Jingnan. But inside Marquis Pingxi Residence... there is still another Prince Jingnan."

...

Several days later...

Gongsun Zhi led his troops to the walls of Fengxin City.

Fengxin City was perfectly safe.

Not even its outer districts had suffered harassment from the roaming Chu force.

Quite the opposite.

The city reacted with enormous alarm to the sudden return of troops that were supposed to have gone off on campaign.

The gates slammed shut almost immediately.

Seeing that...

Gongsun Zhi nearly coughed blood from frustration.

Goddamn it.

Do they think I'm rebelling?

Still, Gongsun Zhi quickly suppressed every stray thought.

He led his exhausted troops around Fengxin City and continued west in pursuit.

...

"How many have died from exhaustion?"

"Reporting to the General, more than two hundred."

Not merely collapsed.

Not merely unable to walk.

Anyone who fell behind had been killed to prevent their trail from being exposed.

The corpses were dealt with too.

Nian Yao licked his cracked and bleeding lips.

"Heh. So forget all that talk about beasts or not beasts. In this world, the thing that can truly endure the worst abuse is still fucking man. The reception force ahead should be close, right?"

"Reporting to the General, once we pass Front Bend, we should be able to contact the navy."

"Good. That's about right. Tell these animals to squeeze out another burst of strength. Once we meet the navy, they can rest aboard ship. And when we reach Fan City... heh. That's Great Chu's God of Wealth. I'll let them have their fill of gold, silver, jewels, and women!"

"Yes!"

Grand General Nian straightened his chest.

He turned and looked back.

The pursuing Yan troops had indeed split off toward Fengxin City.

That had relieved a considerable amount of pressure.

"Ahhh..."

Grand General Nian stretched.

His left hand rested on his hip.

"Old Turtle Nian. Old Turtle Nian. Heh-heh. In this world... only His Majesty can make old Nian behave like a slave. And only Prince Jingnan can make old Nian behave like a turtle. You man surnamed Zheng... didn't see this move coming, did you?"

[End of Chapter 777]