Chapter 1 When Zheng Fan Returned with His Troops to Tiger Head City

It was already afternoon when Zheng Fan led his troops back to Tiger Head City. The unit disbanded at the city gate, and the original five centurion's soldiers, plus the servants and menials cobbled together from the various families near Tiger Head City, all returned to their respective homes and mothers.

To be honest, for Zheng Fan, who was leading troops for the first time, it really felt like "the collapse of a dynasty."

Fortunately, Zheng Fan was able to take it in stride. This wasn't his unit after all. His future army, led by A Ming and Fan Li, was still on its way to Tiger Head City, and it would probably take another four or five days to arrive.

A registrar and several clerks were waiting at the city gate. Zheng Fan didn't need to make another trip to the yamen; he completed the handover right there.

In reality, it was just a formality.

The Qian Kingdom was very strict in its control and prevention of military power and warriors, even to the point of being perverse. Even in times of war, they often appointed civil officials to command and military officers to assist.

But in the Yan Kingdom, especially in the Northern Sealing Commandery, apart from the Northern Garrison Army, the rest were basically private soldiers of various families.

No matter how many procedures you go through or how exquisite the tiger tally is, it won't change the fact that people have been eating from that family since they were young.

Of course, in fact, the Northern Garrison Army is the largest of them all. If you really want to say that the 300,000 Northern Garrison Army soldiers are all private soldiers of the Li family, it wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Back at the residence, Fangcao had already led the servants in preparing to welcome him back and wash away the dust. Zheng Fan wasn't in a hurry to eat. Instead, he went straight to his backyard. The water in the hot spring pool was already prepared. After taking off his clothes, Zheng Fan took his son and soaked in it.

Even in later generations, in China, most people being able to take a hot shower at home was only something that has been realized in the last ten or twenty years.

Many years before, bathing, especially in winter, meant going to a bathhouse.

In that era, going out to bathe really just meant going to bathe…

But it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, and difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a cleanliness obsession, but as a modern person returning to ancient times, what he looked forward to and desired the most was being able to take a comfortable bath every day.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

The stone continued to float on the hot spring pool.

Zheng Fan supported himself on the edge of the pool with his arms and closed his eyes.

From the time he set out from Tiger Head City until his return, so many days, food wasn't much of a problem, but being able to soak in a bath like this had become an extremely luxurious thing.

"In the future, when we go to the south, we'll have to build a hot spring pool at home too."

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

At this moment, Fangcao's voice sounded from outside:

"Master, the yamen has sent someone to deliver a message."

Zheng Fan reached out and wiped his face, and asked:

"What is it?"

"Envoy Xu invites master to a banquet."

"Envoy Xu?"

Zheng Fan was stunned for a moment, and asked:

"Which envoy?"

Zheng Fan clearly remembered that when Shatuo Queshi knocked on the door, he smashed that carriage into the memorial arch. The carriage, along with the horses in front, were smashed to pieces.

That red snow wolf, which was intended as a gift, was also smashed into original-flavor wolf meat paste.

"Um... It should be the original Envoy Xu, right? A few days ago, this servant saw Envoy Xu's motorcade returning to the city after inspecting the border."

Xu Wenzu isn't dead?

Zheng Fan frowned slightly and called out to the outside:

"I understand."

"This servant takes her leave."

Zheng Fan came out of the hot spring pool. As he was changing his clothes, Si Niang pushed the door open and walked in. Unlike Fangcao, she had no scruples whether Zheng Fan was bathing or not.

After all, they were family, and they knew what was appropriate.

"Master, Xu Wenzu is still alive."

Clearly, Si Niang had also gone to investigate specifically after receiving the message from the yamen, and only then did she return to give Zheng Fan a definite report.

"Tell Liang Cheng to be prepared. If it really comes to it, we'll retreat to Mei Family Fort."

"Yes, Master."

That's right, Zheng Fan didn't plan to attend the banquet.

Hongmen Banquet, attending once is a good story, but going every now and then would probably mean his life would be gone.

Zheng Fan cherished his life and didn't want to lose it for a meal.

Leaving the back residence, Zheng Fan walked into the front hall. A table was filled with dishes.

Zheng Fan sat down alone, poured himself a drink, and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Before long,

Fangcao came to the front hall again. Before she could say anything, a hearty laugh came from behind:

"Colonel Zheng has worked hard along the way, worked hard along the way!"

It was the voice of Comrade Shen Hai.

Zheng Fan immediately got up. No matter how he felt in his heart, he still walked to the entrance of the hall and bowed to Xu Wenzu, who was striding towards him from the gate:

"This humble officer greets you, sir!"

"Hey, no, no, no need to be so polite, no need to be so polite."

Xu Wenzu had lost weight,

And he had lost a lot of weight.

But because he had a good foundation,

He was still very fat.

Xu Wenzu grabbed Zheng Fan's hand and looked around. Just as Zheng Fan thought this fat man was going to pull out a dagger and die with him,

Xu Wenzu said:

"Is it convenient to talk here?"

"Don't worry, sir. Everyone in the residence is one of us."

"Good, that's good."

Xu Wenzu walked straight to the table, sat down, poured himself a drink, and drank three cups in a row. After drinking, he covered his face in a somewhat unseemly manner, and even let out a "cry."

Perhaps because he was too fat, his crying and sobbing sounded like normal snoring.

"Colonel Zheng, this old man, this old man almost thought I would never see you again."

"What are you saying, sir?" Zheng Fan also sat back at the table. He wanted to reach out and take Xu Wenzu's hand, but seeing that his hand was covered in tears, snot, and things of that nature, he hesitated and didn't take it.

"Sir, this humble officer really didn't expect that I would still be able to see you after returning. This humble officer always thought... always thought..."

Zheng Fan was trying hard to build up his emotions, intending to squeeze out some tears, but perhaps because he had just drunk a little wine, he actually squeezed out:

"Hic!"

Zheng Fan immediately lowered his head when he hiccuped.

He had been blowing sand in the desert for so many days that his acting skills had deteriorated too much.

Fortunately, Xu Wenzu didn't pay attention to this detail. Instead, he took the initiative to reach out and wanted to grab Zheng Fan's hand, but Zheng Fan's hand retracted and instead received a roast chicken that Zheng Fan had proactively handed over.

Xu Wenzu was stunned for a moment as he held the roast chicken.

Zheng Fan said emotionally:

"Sir, you've lost weight."

"Isn't that right, isn't that right!"

Xu Wenzu's sore spot was touched. He lowered his head and took a bite of the roast chicken in his hand, chewing vigorously as he shouted:

"Three days, this official was lost in the desert for three days. Two horses died of exhaustion before I finally managed to return!"

Zheng Fan's mind worked quickly, and at the same time, he saw several silk threads wrapped around the beams above the hall.

This meant that Si Niang and Liang Cheng were already on guard outside, meaning that Zheng Fan didn't need to worry.

"Sir, how did you survive? Afterwards, this humble officer cried for days and nights in front of the wreckage of that carriage.

At that time, this humble officer saw the carriage where you were hiding being lifted up by that barbarian thief, and this humble officer almost went crazy;

Then, seeing that barbarian thief actually smash the carriage into the memorial arch, this humble officer went completely crazy, picked up a knife, and was ready to fight that barbarian thief!

Your kindness to this humble officer is as great as a mountain. In this humble officer's life, apart from the commandery princess, you are the most generous and benevolent to this humble officer!

At that time, Centurion Yang Wenzhi was also loyal and righteous, and even drew his knife, willing to accompany this humble officer to go together.

Only through time does one see a man's heart. This humble officer admires Centurion Yang Wenzhi's character even now.

Who would have thought that the barbarian thief, knowing that there was no way out, would actually try to assassinate the current crown prince.

If the crown prince were killed within the marquis's estate, wouldn't that be giving those people in the imperial court an excuse to slander our marquis's estate? In addition, this humble officer was already crazy because of the 'news of your death,' so I didn't hesitate to pick up my knife and rush up to fight the barbarian thief."

Speaking up to this point,

Zheng Fan took the initiative to open the wound on his abdomen and show it to Xu Wenzu,

"Fortunately, the heavens had eyes, the barbarian thief was executed, and the crown prince didn't die either. This humble officer was also lucky enough to be rescued.

Only Centurion Yang Wenzhi had his body shattered by a punch from the barbarian thief, and even a complete corpse couldn't be found, alas."

After hearing Zheng Fan's words and seeing Zheng Fan's wound, Xu Wenzu immediately said, combining it with the news he had received from the marquis's estate after returning:

"Colonel Zheng, you've suffered."

"Half of this humble officer's life belongs to the commandery princess, and half of it was given by you, sir. This is what this humble officer should do.

It's just, sir, you still haven't told this humble officer how you survived?"

"Alas... It was also good luck. At that time, this official happened to have a stomach ailment and got out of the carriage to find a place to relieve myself."

"............" Zheng Fan!

Damn it,

How can you be so lucky!

I specially asked Shatuo Queshi to smash you to death once and for all,

But you said you happened to be going to the toilet?

If it were any other reason, that would be fine, but after hearing this reason, Zheng Fan really wanted to pick up a knife and chop up this fat man in front of him!

"Sir, you are blessed by the heavens!"

Zheng Fan enunciated each of these words.

Immediately afterwards,

Zheng Fan immediately calmed down and continued to ask:

"Sir, since you were fine, why didn't you come to find this humble officer?"

In fact, Zheng Fan clearly knew why Xu Wenzu didn't come to find him.

He was in the marquis's estate at that time, and Xu Wenzu couldn't enter the marquis's estate at all unless he exposed his identity.

Moreover, Yang Wenzhi, who had been responsible for being Xu Wenzu's inside contact in the team, had been chopped into many pieces by Si Niang, and couldn't take care of him anymore.

Most importantly, Xu Wenzu's own identity as envoy couldn't be revealed to the marquis's estate!

"Alas."

Xu Wenzu sighed.

Zheng Fan immediately added fuel to the fire, saying:

"This humble officer once told the Old Madam about your affairs, mentioning your loyalty to the marquis's estate. This humble officer thought at the time that you had already sacrificed yourself for the marquis's estate, so naturally, we couldn't let the marquis's estate forget your deeds;

It's just............"

"It's just what?" Xu Wenzu immediately asked.

"It's just that the Old Madam only replied to this humble officer with three words."

"Which three words?"

"I know."

"I know? I know... I know."

An expression of understanding appeared on Xu Wenzu's face,

He immediately dropped the roast chicken, which had already been half-eaten, in his hand,

Knelt down facing north away from the table,

And kowtowed three times solemnly,

Scaring Zheng Fan to immediately stand up as well.

"The Old Madam's kindness, the Old Madam's kindness!"

"Sir, what exactly is going on?"

Zheng Fan asked as he helped Xu Wenzu up.

Damn it, I can't make it up anymore, you help me brainstorm!

"Colonel Zheng, it was the Old Madam who protected me, it was the Old Madam who protected me. The Old Madam knew that I had been there, and also knew my intentions, so she protected me and arranged for me to leave, which is why she said those three words to you."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan immediately put on a solemn expression,

And said:

"The Old Madam is extraordinarily wise."

"Yes."

Xu Wenzu sat back at the table.

Suddenly, he lowered his voice again and said to Zheng Fan:

"Colonel Zheng, this time when you returned, did you receive any instructions from the marquis's estate?"

This line,

Is really similar to,

Have any instructions come from the old home?

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "Sir, it's not that this humble officer doesn't trust you, but... but..."

"But what?"

"It's that this humble officer has already been assigned a new mission by the commandery princess."

"A new mission?"

"Yes, the commandery princess has asked this humble officer to go to the south. If nothing unexpected happens, the Ministry of War's transfer order should be coming in a few days.

In addition, the commandery princess has also used other channels to equip this humble officer with a batch of manpower and armaments that are unrelated to the Northern Garrison Army, and let this humble officer take them to the south."

Zheng Fan now has the feeling that he can launder as much black money as possible while he has this opportunity.

"The South? Is this... is the commandery princess laying out plans for the future?"

"This humble officer doesn't know. This humble officer said he wanted to stay by the commandery princess's side, but the commandery princess wouldn't allow it. The commandery princess said that the Li family's soldiers only know one thing: military orders are like mountains!"

"Alas, it seems that she is really laying out plans."

Xu Wenzu shook his head and sighed, and then said:

"Colonel Zheng, rest assured, when you go to the south to take office, this official will provide you with every convenience. Anyway, we should keep the benefits within our own people."

"This humble officer thanks you for your kindness!"

"Colonel Zheng, in principle, this official shouldn't have come to your residence so rashly, but this official really couldn't sit still. Look, this is the imperial edict of self-reproach issued by His Majesty yesterday..."

As Xu Wenzu spoke, he reached out and took out a piece of paper from his bosom. This was definitely not an official court document, but a transcribed copy.

Zheng Fan took the edict of self-reproach and read it once.

At the beginning, it followed the basic etiquette, talking about how difficult it was for my Great Yan to establish the country and praising the achievements of the previous emperors;

In the middle, it talked about how he had been working hard and diligently since he ascended the throne, and how difficult it was;

Finally,

It talked about,

The northern villains are becoming more and more presumptuous, more and more unscrupulous, and have already become a hidden danger to the Yan Kingdom! This is his dereliction of duty as emperor, it is because he did not do well that the country produced such villains!

According to the official explanation, these northern villains definitely refer to the barbarians.

But the barbarians have been beaten by the Yan people to the point where their mothers don't even recognize them anymore. How could they still be considered a hidden danger?

Anyone with discerning eyes can see at a glance that the northern villains mentioned here are the Northern Garrison Marquis's Estate!

Zheng Fan held this piece of paper, took a deep breath,

And said excitedly:

"This is not an edict of self-reproach at all, this is clearly..."

"A declaration of war!"

"A declaration of war!"

Xu Wenzu and Zheng Fan said in unison.

The imperial court,

His Majesty,

The Yan Emperor,

Is going to take action against the Northern Garrison Marquis's Estate!

"Therefore, this official said that the commandery princess is having you go to the south, Colonel Zheng, probably with the consideration of preserving a little incense for the Li family. Colonel Zheng, you must be more careful when you go to the south this time, in the future..."

Speaking up to this point, Xu Wenzu gritted his teeth,

And continued:

"The marquis's estate cannot lose!"

"This humble officer will not go to the south, this Yan Emperor is going too far!!!"

Zheng Fan stood up and tore this "edict of self-reproach" directly to pieces and threw it on the ground.

"Colonel Zheng, you mustn't, you mustn't!"

Xu Wenzu immediately stood up and placed his hands on Zheng Fan's shoulders.

Snot, tears, greasy...

Zheng Fan took a deep breath, took a deep breath, don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry!

"Colonel Zheng, this is the commandery princess's arrangement for the future. Colonel Zheng, you must not let down the commandery princess's expectations."

"Commandery princess, Old Madam..."

Zheng Fan knelt on the ground,

His knees slammed heavily on the floor tiles,

Tears welled up in his eyes,

My knees hurt so much!

"Colonel Zheng, this official knows it's difficult for you, this official knows it's difficult for you..."

………

On the roof of the hall,

Si Niang and Liang Cheng were both sitting on the tiles.

Liang Cheng said somewhat curiously:

"Who did the master learn his acting skills from?"

Si Niang smiled and said:

"From you old actors."

"What's wrong with us?"

"You guys lick people every day against your will, so aren't people allowed to learn some acting skills from you?"

"What about you?"

Si Niang rolled her eyes at Liang Cheng,

Spread out her soft hands and shone them in the afternoon sun,

And said:

"Impudent."

"What's wrong?"

"You have to call me Madam."

"Hehe, wouldn't that mean that the magic pill would have to call you..."

"Shut up!"