"Call me brother."

Even in the Chu Kingdom, he had heard that the Jingnan Marquis valued the Pingye Count highly. Rumor had it that the Pingye Count was the Jingnan Marquis's personal disciple, taught the art of warfare hand-in-hand.

Even more rumored was that the reason the Jingnan Marquis ordered the slaughter of 40,000 surrendered Qingluan troops beneath Jade Plate City was solely to help the Pingye Count break through his inner demons and advance his martial path.

The former could be said to have some basis;

The latter was simply too absurd.

However, the latter rumor came from a member of the envoy who had accompanied Jing Yang on a mission to the Yan Kingdom.

He said that on that day, tens of thousands of Qingluan troops stained the Wangjiang River with blood, their corpses floating everywhere. He was terrified, but he saw the Pingye Count walking upstream along the Wangjiang River, his expression dazed, as if he were in the midst of "comprehending" something. Behind him, the Jingnan Marquis followed step by step, clearly protecting him.

As soon as this statement came out, it was believed that the Chu envoy had lost his mind that day, because no matter how much one valued, admired, or treated someone as one's own, it was impossible to go to such lengths.

The envoy was shelved after returning to his country, and even his family regarded him as mad.

But now,

The words "Call me brother,"

Made the princess suddenly think of that unrealistic rumor,

Even,

She suddenly wanted to believe it.

This was the command tent in the military camp,

But the Jingnan Marquis directly asked her to change her address, the meaning of which had already moved beyond a superior's "heartfelt trust" in his subordinates, and surpassed the concept of a "trusted confidant."

Xiong Liqing placed her hands in front of her,

Bowed,

And called out crisply:

"Brother."

Facing the pressure of the Jingnan Marquis was immense; Xiong Liqing felt that her tone was already trembling when she said "Brother."

Tian Wujing retracted his hand and untied a jade pendant from his waist.

Although he was in the army, Tian Wujing was still wearing casual clothes today, and his gilded armor was hanging on the side of the command tent.

The white robe he wore was embroidered with majestic dragons. Logically speaking, Tian Wujing was still only a marquis, not a king, and wearing this was overstepping, but no one would care about such things.

"It's not anything good, but keep it for now."

The jade pendant was tossed by Tian Wujing in front of the princess. The princess blinked, first turning her head to look at her "husband."

"Keep it," Zheng Bo said calmly.

Usually, Zheng Bo was used to receiving milk money from the Marquis.

Besides,

After calling him "Brother," it was only natural for an elder to give a gift.

"Thank you, Brother."

The princess accepted the jade pendant.

The jade pendant was indeed not a particularly good piece of jade; at least, for a princess of the Great Chu, there were not many pieces of jade in this world that she would consider precious.

This jade was merely a decoration on the hem of the Jingnan Marquis's clothing. Although the Jingnan Marquis came from the influential Tian family, he never cared about such things.

However,

The value of jade is measured differently from gold and silver.

It is often said that jade nourishes people, but in fact, people also nourish jade.

Gold and silver utensils can be melted down and still retain their intrinsic value, but jade is different.

With jade, one must look at the material and color, and second, most importantly, one must see who has worn it before.

In the evening,

The Jingnan Marquis kept them for dinner.

Jiang Hu and Gongsun Ling were not qualified to eat in the command tent; they were taken down by the guards to be arranged for.

Three dishes were placed on the small table: pickled vegetables, a meat soup, and a large steamer of steamed buns.

Steamed buns produced in Xuehai Pass were considered a dish.

All three sat on the carpet. The Marquis and Zheng Fan sat very casually, in a relaxed manner;

The princess sat kneeling.

When the Marquis picked up a piece of meat, Zheng Bo and the princess also began to eat.

The two reached for the steamed buns together. Zheng Bo took a bite and smacked his lips, finally tasting the flavor of home, so comfortable.

The princess also took a bite and was surprised to find that the steamed bun had filling inside, shredded radish and meat, which didn't feel greasy at all.

For the two who had been eating barbecue all the way out of the mountains, this steamed bun was already a rare delicacy.

The Marquis said:

"It's a coincidence that the supplies were just sent from Xuehai Pass a few days ago."

Xuehai Pass naturally did not have to bear the military expenses of the army here, but according to the tradition of Xuehai Pass, during festivals, the gifts for important figures with good relations with their lord were indispensable.

Zheng Fan nodded, picked up some pickled vegetables, and continued to eat with the steamed bun.

The Marquis and Zheng Bo ate very quickly, while the princess seemed more refined. After the two men had finished eating, the princess also put down her chopsticks.

The Marquis looked at the princess and said, "Keep eating, don't be restrained."

"Okay."

The princess obediently picked up another steamed bun.

The Marquis then looked at Zheng Fan and said, "Tell me about it."

The princess was slightly stunned. Discussing these topics in front of her was indeed a bit unexpected, but this also proved from the side that the Jingnan Marquis regarded her as one of his own.

Zheng Bo then told the Jingnan Marquis about his experiences since entering Chu.

After listening,

The Marquis said:

"Read that poem to me again."

"Rage fills my helmet... ..."

Laughing, I thirst to drink the blood of Yan slaves, here, "Yan slaves" was changed to "Barbarian slaves."

After listening to the poem, the Marquis nodded, pointed at Zheng Fan, and scolded with a smile:

"Poetry becomes meaningless when it comes to you. Since ancient times, great poets have climbed mountains to express the ravines in their hearts; have watched the sun at the seaside, lamenting boundlessness; have watched maple leaves fall, expressing a hundred turns of sorrow.

The way of poetry is nothing more than borrowing things to express feelings. By looking at the poem and tasting the words, one can grasp the scenery and feelings that the person saw and touched on that day;

When it comes to you, it's nothing more than the way of writing that comes easily. Such an elegant thing is full of artifice in your hands."

Although the Jingnan Marquis was famous for his personal martial power and divine use of soldiers, his cultural literacy was also not low, after all, he came from the direct line of the Tian family.

A *Man Jiang Hong* was indeed extremely heroic, but the Marquis knew that it was not Zheng Fan's direct expression of his feelings.

The Marquis understood what kind of person Zheng Fan was. Just like this time entering Chu, he was forced to go.

Therefore, without this feeling or this scenery, he could write such a good poem, which could only be said that he was batch-forging poetry as if it were weapons in a foundry.

Zheng Bo smiled awkwardly.

"But your brother-in-law is very satisfied with this poem?"

The princess spoke at this time; "Yes, the emperor has always regarded my husband as Mr. Su, and almost regards him as a confidant in literature."

The Marquis nodded and said, "Who knows he is a wolf with wild ambitions."

The princess smiled shyly and said, "After going back and forth, I don't know what I was thinking, but I felt that I should go with him. Brother, do you think I'm bewitched?"

Xiong Liqing was obviously letting go,

From the moment the Jingnan Marquis asked her to call him brother,

This smart woman began to use her specialty.

Sometimes, there will inevitably be some estrangement between men, because both sides will be more restrained in expressing their emotions. On the other hand, women can make up for this defect.

Moreover, she was a princess of Chu, not an ordinary woman. She was also more adaptable in front of some big scenes and big figures.

Tian Wujing said:

"Being bewitched is good. This kid has thousands of problems, but only one thing: whoever treats him sincerely, he will treat others sincerely. No matter how much you give up on him, don't be reluctant, because you've already given it up. Only by asking for nothing can you gain."

"Yes, Brother."

"Tonight, I will submit a memorial to His Majesty, saying that the princess of Great Chu has entered Yan and is in love with my Great Yan's Pingye Count. His Majesty and the officials of the court will surely be very happy.

But don't worry, His Majesty is not a stingy person and will not confer on you any titles such as Princess of Return to Righteousness.

Since you have entered Yan and chosen someone, you should put your husband's family first."

"Yes."

The princess slowly got up and said, "Marquis, my husband, I'll go make tea for you."

This was because she felt that she had been sitting for long enough and it was time to leave the space for the two men to talk.

After the princess walked out of the command tent,

Tian Wujing tapped the small table lightly with his finger,

Said:

"How is it?"

"Replying to the Marquis, the interior of Chu is scattered but not chaotic, because there is a regent."

Tian Wujing nodded and said: "The annexation of Jin was due to the Three Families dividing Jin for a long time. The ruler is not a ruler, and the minister is not a minister. But Qian Chu is different. To take Qian Chu, we must use means that are more rapid than annexing Jin.

Using soft knives to cut meat won't work; we'll be cutting our own meat."

"Yes, this subordinate also thinks that we should take it with thunderous force. We may not swallow it in one bite directly, but like the Qian Kingdom, either we don't fight, or if we fight, we must completely break its three border towns. The same is true for the Chu Kingdom. If we are really determined to fight, its Zhennan Pass must be taken in one battle, and its military forces must be scattered over Chu's Shanggu Prefecture."

This was like a wolf hunting; either it circles around its prey all the time, or once it sees an opportunity, it must bite off a piece of meat from its prey.

Prolonged grinding, stalemate, or consumption would be detrimental to the Yan Kingdom.

Tian Wujing stood up and said, "Help me put on my armor. We'll go for a walk in front."

"Yes, Marquis."

Zheng Fan helped the Jingnan Marquis put on his armor. Then, the Jingnan Marquis rode his Pixiu in front, while Zheng Bo followed behind on a horse.

Originally, two cavalry troops planned to follow, but the Jingnan Marquis signaled them to stop.

"A few days ago, I used the defection of a lieutenant general under Xue Rang to give the Zhennan Pass garrison a blow, but the Chu general named Nian Yao reacted quickly, and the Chu army immediately took over Zhennan Pass, not giving me a chance to enter the pass."

When saying these words, Tian Wujing's expression was very calm. On the battlefield, it was a matter of one side looking for loopholes to emerge, and the other side making up for loopholes and waiting for the opportunity to move.

If you fail to seize the last opportunity, just wait for the next one.

"It is said that Nian Yao came from the regent's family slave. Marquis, the Chu land is full of great nobles, which is actually very similar to the situation in our Great Yan when the powerful families were everywhere."

Tian Wujing raised his hand,

Said:

"It's too early to say these things. First, the current situation in the Chu Kingdom is indeed the same as in our Great Yan back then. It is insufficient to expand outward, but if it is in a defensive position, it will be more resilient. Those great nobles know that after my Great Yan's cavalry tramples on the powerful families, once we enter Chu, we will not give them such good days to continue.

Second, we want to implement a strategy of division and disintegration. This Zhennan Pass must also be pried open first. If the Cheng Kingdom had not been defeated back then, Zhennan Pass would not have fallen into the hands of the Chu people."

"But if the Cheng Kingdom hadn't been defeated, this subordinate and the Marquis would hardly have appeared here."

"It's different. Situ Lei still had great ambitions. If he hadn't died early, everything would have been possible."

Back then,

Situ Lei had actually reached a kind of tacit understanding with Great Yan, that is, the Cheng Kingdom would become a vassal state of Great Yan, and Situ Lei would be demoted from the emperor to the lord of the country.

If it really happened, then the Yan army would join forces with the Cheng Kingdom's troops and enter Chu from Zhennan Pass all the way.

"That girl is quite smart."

Since the Jingnan Marquis wanted to say something, Zheng Bo naturally had to accompany him in saying it.

"Yes, it is precisely because she is smart that I dared to capture her and then let her go back."

"It won't be long before your heroic feat as the Pingye Count will spread throughout the world. You always give me surprises."

"It's all because the Marquis taught me well."

"Let's strike while the iron is hot. Give me another year to help me gnaw down this Zhennan Pass."

"Marquis, it will take two years."

Last year was about survival, and the goal had already been completed.

This year, the theme of Xuehai Pass will be development. Various workshops will be opened, the road for merchants must be smooth and busy, and the population, military strength, and self-sufficiency capabilities all need to develop to a certain height.

The year after that will be the real process of quantitative change to qualitative change.

"Two years."

Tian Wujing did not express his opinion on this time.

The two were walking, already far away from the camp, and began to constantly encounter the outer sentry teams.

During the day, the Chu army seemed to intend to expand its sphere of influence and extend its tentacles outward, but it was forcibly curbed by the Jingnan army.

This was not because the Chu people suddenly had a whim and wanted to find some excitement, but on the battlefield, even if it was defense, there was no reason to completely defend the city walls. Moreover, the Chu army's military strength was sufficient and did not want Zhennan Pass to become a completely "isolated city."

Once completely compressed back, to put it bluntly, the Yan army could completely send out small-scale cavalry to go directly from under Zhennan Pass into Chu to Shanggu Prefecture to plunder.

Zhennan Pass was only located at the junction of the most unobstructed plains and mountains between Jin and Chu. It was not said that Zhennan Pass had defended Chu airtightly.

Otherwise, how did Zheng Bo come back this time?

Of course, the road that Zheng Bo took was not suitable for the army to travel, but if it was closer to the east, the road would be much easier to travel, and the Chu people had to control that area.

Therefore, they had to send troops deep, maybe just a few thousand cavalry, or at most ten thousand, because the main force could not be inserted in front when Zhennan Pass had not been captured, otherwise it would be likely that they would not be able to get out, and the military strategy would directly fall into a passive position.

Of course, the Chu general Nian Yao at Zhennan Pass would not want this to happen, because it would put him and the court in a politically passive position.

Therefore, Nian Yao, even if he knew that he was no match for the Jingnan army in field battles, still had to seize every opportunity to expand outward and test it out.

Further ahead, they would encounter the Chu scouts.

But Zheng Fan did not remind the Marquis, but silently unloaded his bow and arrows, preparing to be vigilant.

"His Majesty's idea is also that in two years, Qian or Chu must be broken first."

The Yan Emperor was very anxious, and Zheng Fan had known this for a long time.

This was a monarch with great talent and bold strategy. He longed to advance the situation of the Great Yan unifying the world while he was still alive.

In two years, destroy one country.

"What the court is now weighing is whether to attack Chu or Qian first. His Majesty wants to attack Qian first."

The wealth of the Qian Kingdom can be said to be the most among the four countries.

Annexing the Qian Kingdom was also the Yan Emperor's lifelong wish.

"I still think that attacking Chu first is the most appropriate," Zheng Fan said.

"Why?"

"If we attack Qian, I may not be needed."

This was obvious selfishness.

Once the court decided to fully attack the Qian Kingdom, then Zheng Fan, as a count guarding the northeastern corner of Great Yan, could do very limited things. In all likelihood, he would help the Western Front keep an eye on the movements of the Chu Kingdom.

If there were problems with the battle situation, he might even be ordered by an imperial decree to lead troops thousands of miles to the Qian Kingdom's battlefield. That would be the most losing battle, because the battlefield was too far away from his lair. Even if he won the territory, he couldn't occupy it, and he would have to transport the plundered goods back thousands of miles.

As for merits and fame, Zheng Bo was no longer lacking after rescuing the princess. What he lacked now was strength.

"I also think that attacking Chu first is the most appropriate. The Three Borders of the Qian Kingdom are against my Great Yan's Yinlang Prefecture. The wealth of the Qian Kingdom makes my Great Yan feel like a fishbone in its throat. After destroying the Chu Kingdom, even if we are temporarily unable to continue attacking Qian, my Great Yan's next generation will not slack off.

In war, we must pick the soft persimmons first, but in destroying a country, we must choose the hard bones first."

"Yes, Marquis."

In front, Chu scouts had already appeared, but they were just watching from a distance, because these two riders were coming over in a very relaxed manner.

Tian Wujing continued to move forward, and Zheng Bo still followed closely.

Nearby, scouts appeared more and more frequently, and even a fifty-man scout appeared.

Gilded armor,

Pixiu under the crotch,

Who is coming,

It was already extremely clear.

The Southern Marquis of Yan!

The Jingnan Prince!

The Jingnan Marquis is here!

Messages were constantly being sent back.

"After this matter is over, I plan to withdraw my troops. The Chu people should not dare to go north for a while. At that time, I will lend you 50,000 Jingnan troops to help you take care of the affairs of the Snow Plains again."

The last time, after defeating the main force of the wild man king, because the military strength was exhausted at that time, and there were tens of thousands of Qingluan troops in Jade Plate City, the Jingnan Marquis did not order the Yan army to take advantage of the situation to march north to the Snow Plains to avenge the people of the Cheng Kingdom.

But now that a year has passed, when the confrontation at Zhennan Pass ends, the Yan army will be more relaxed than last year. The Snow Plains still has to be cleaned up.

"Thank you, Marquis."

With 50,000 Jingnan troops, plus the Xuehai Iron Cavalry, Zheng Bo had the confidence to make those wild tribes on the Snow Plains completely kneel down and sing the song of conquest for him.

The people they had looted, their cattle and sheep, no, even they themselves, would become the wealth of Xuehai Pass.

The Naiman tribe alone had already allowed Xuehai Pass to have a sufficient year. There were many tribes similar to or even larger than the Naiman tribe on the Snow Plains!

The Chu scouts kept passing by in the distance,

And at this time,

Chatting and talking,

Unconsciously,

Zheng Fan had already "gone deep" with the Jingnan Marquis to a very deep position, and he could already see the Chu's camp in front.

This was the area that the Chu had expanded outward in the past few days, and it was also the camp that had just been set up.

Zheng Bo will remember the next scene for a long, long time;

Tian Wujing stopped talking,

Just sat quietly on the Pixiu,

Under the moonlight,

A man and a Pixiu were like a sculpture dyed with moonlight, exuding a cold and unapproachable aura.

After a while,

The Chu army's camp in front began to stir,

The Chu army did not rush out in an attempt to surround them here,

On the contrary,

They began,

To withdraw their troops.