Chapter 1 The Winter Solace

The small river outside Cui Liu Fort had already frozen over, and the desolation of winter had shrouded everything, leaving only the sun to bring a meager comfort to the living beings on this land.

A Ming leaned against a tree by the river, a withered stalk in his mouth.

Across the river, Liang Cheng rode past on horseback. Seeing A Ming, he reined in his horse.

A Ming closed his eyes, pretending not to see him.

Before long, a shadow blocked the sunlight from shining on him. He opened his eyes with some reluctance, looking at Liang Cheng standing before him.

"I heard them say you've been accompanying the lord to practice archery this month?"

"What's your advice?"

Liang Cheng shook his head. "Nothing."

Then, Liang Cheng took out a bag from his pocket, filled with raisins, and handed it to A Ming.

The warm winter sun shone down, and beneath the frozen river lay the restlessness of anticipation for spring.

In the cold wind, there was a hint of almond, and amidst the cold and bitterness, one could almost taste a touch of sweetness.

Raisins,

Two men,

One sitting, one standing,

This scene seemed frozen into an oil painting, always inviting more imagination.

A Ming looked at Liang Cheng and said,

"Are you sick in the head?"

"Fang Cao told me to bring them to you."

A Ming didn't reach out to take them, but said,

"Do you know that raisins are shoveled and swept back after they're dried? Did you think they'd be washed after being dried?"

"You won't eat them?"

"No."

Liang Cheng casually grabbed a handful, sat down next to A Ming, and began to chew.

"You're not afraid of getting dirty," A Ming laughed.

"There probably aren't many things in this world dirtier than the two of us."

One was a vampire, the other a zombie.

Both were yin and evil beings, a kind of "dirty" that surpassed ordinary dirt.

"Didn't realize you could be self-conscious?"

"I admit I'm self-conscious. I'm really afraid of the dark."

"Are you really sick today? Trying to make me laugh to death?"

"Fang Cao said you've been in a bad mood lately, asked me to come and comfort you."

"You've got your eye on her?"

"No."

"Right, the daughter of the Jiedushi (military governor) is taking the initiative to seduce you, and you're still unmoved. Hey, are you not interested in women?"

"When they talk about this topic, you're usually tied to me."

"........" A Ming.

"Si Niang (Fourth Mother) told me that she's very optimistic about Fang Cao's potential, and wants you to talk to the girl when you have time, clear things up."

"There's nothing between her and me."

"You killed her father."

"As if you didn't kill her mother."

"The demonic pill did it."

"Oh, sorry, no. What does Si Niang mean?"

"It's not asking you to fall in love with Fang Cao. Although this is ancient times, it's not a big deal for a girl to have a crush. In later generations, confessing and being rejected are commonplace."

"Those are Si Niang's exact words?"

"Yes. Si Niang thinks you have to help break the girl's thoughts. Once it's out in the open, it'll be fine. She wants to cultivate Fang Cao."

"Alright, I'll talk to Fang Cao in a few days."

"Okay,"

"And then? I won't eat the raisins. If you want them, take them and eat them slowly. What are you still doing here?"

"I'm just a little curious to ask, what's it like practicing archery with the lord every day?"

"Oh, I get it," A Ming suddenly realized. "You're here to laugh at me?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll tell the lord to switch you out to practice archery with him tomorrow. Wouldn't you understand then?"

"It's different."

"What's different? It's not like you can easily be shot to death anyway."

"For an archer, the feeling of shooting an arrow, hitting the target, and either being deflected or piercing through, arrow after arrow hitting the flesh, is a world of difference."

"Hehehe."

Liang Cheng handed A Ming his water skin.

"It's dry. Drink more water."

"Shameless."

"I want to see."

"Despicable."

"Anyway, you've already laughed. Let me laugh even harder, okay?"

"Heartless."

"Hurry up. I have things to do. I have to go to Nan Wang City to collect money and supplies."

A Ming reached out and took the water skin, pulled out the stopper, and took several gulps.

While drinking, A Ming didn't let any water leak from the corners of his mouth, but before long, his clothes had already started to get wet.

Seeing this, Liang Cheng shook his head and said,

"Truly tragic."

"Satisfied?" A Ming put down the water skin.

Liang Cheng shook his head again and said,

"Next time, let's use a water tank for you to drink from. I want to see a fountain."

"........" A Ming.

"Even if you're practicing archery with the lord, wearing heavy armor isn't suitable. Wearing a soft armor shouldn't be a big problem, right? At the very least, you won't be shot into a honeycomb."

"I'm wearing leather armor."

"And you're still shot up like this?"

"The lord infused his qi and blood into the arrows."

"Oh?"

"That tone is a bit strange. I think I hear excitement."

"It seems that Fang Cao really isn't suitable for you. You're not feeling down at all. You're getting happier the more the lord shoots you."

"I know we're both dirty, but don't say such ambiguous things. It makes me feel like I'm unbearably dirty."

"If I remember correctly, Ding Hao once said that the external release of qi and blood is a sign of entering the eighth rank of martial artists."

"Correct."

"In that case, the lord is indeed a martial arts cultivation prodigy in this world."

"It's still early, but he's already grasped the knack. I feel that in a few more months, he'll be able to achieve stable external release of qi and blood. By then, he'll be close to entering the eighth rank. Compared to the average cultivation speed of people in this world, the lord is indeed a genius."

"You've worked hard."

Indeed, he had worked hard. He still had to be shot for a few more months. It was a rhythm that would have him shot from winter to spring.

"There's no helping it. Aren't we all waiting to level up?"

"Oh, right, one more thing."

"Speak."

"I heard someone say that the reason you were chosen by the lord to be the archery target is because you eavesdropped on the lord's inner monologue?"

"Is that the kind of eavesdropping where someone walks to your bedside and leans on your bed to talk to you?"

"Although I don't know the specific situation, I can roughly guess that you were pretending to be asleep and didn't remind the lord that he had gone to the wrong room."

"So, it's my fault too?"

"The lord can't be wrong."

"Right, it's my fault."

"I'm a little curious. Did the lord's monologue that day say anything about us?"

"You know, you're the first person to ask me this question."

"Oh?"

"Fan Li wouldn't think of this. Xue San knows he has a big mouth, so he wouldn't come and ask me because he knows I wouldn't tell him. Si Niang is close to the lord, so there's no need to ask."

"What about Blindman?"

"Blindman used to be a psychologist. He didn't come to ask because he knows that anything, while it's in your belly, may indeed be truly real, but once it comes out of your mouth, even the truest thing will be mixed with falsehoods. Sometimes, you deliberately mix in falsehoods, and sometimes, you may even be deceiving yourself without knowing it."

"Are you saying that the lord..."

"I didn't say anything. You're a zombie. Tell me, does Sha Tuo Que Shi have consciousness now?"

"Yes."

"There you go. Fan Li can say anything without thinking because that's his persona, but we're different. In the future, be more polite to the lord. Blindman used to force the lord to practice martial arts, he was a little too impatient, and you even used your fingernails to poke the lord."

"So, you're just whitewashing yourself?"

"I've always been loyal to the lord. If I wasn't completely loyal, would I willingly accompany the lord to practice archery for a month?"

"Did you get shot so hard by the arrows that you went stupid? Why are you even deceiving yourself for no good reason?"

A Ming raised his head, sighed, looked at the sun overhead, and said with emotion,

"For the sake of living."

…………

"Brother Zuo, what's wrong with you?"

Zheng Fan said with great shock.

"Brother Zheng, could you please put away that smile on your face before asking me with concern?"

"My apologies."

"Sigh."

Zuo Jiqian leaned on his crutch, signaling the two subordinates behind him to send the gifts they had brought inside.

"Brother Zuo, come inside and sit."

Zheng Fan welcomed Zuo Jiqian into the fort.

Fang Cao brought in two cups of hot tea and some pastries before retreating.

Zuo Jiqian curiously scanned the layout inside, sighing,

"Brother Zheng is truly a refined man. Even the inside of the fort is decorated so exquisitely."

In the fort's hall, the furnishings and decorations could be described as luxurious, and even famous calligraphy and paintings had been hung up.

This wasn't some "Zheng Residence"; this was Cui Liu Fort!

Moreover, when he came in, Zuo Jiqian had also noticed that his side's project funds and materials had only just been approved, and the real construction would have to wait until the thaw in the spring, but this Cui Liu Fort had already been built. Furthermore, the area it occupied was truly vast.

It wasn't just capable of housing a few hundred people; it wouldn't be a problem for over a thousand people to live inside.

However, Zuo Jiqian was ultimately a member of a distinguished family, and he knew how to handle himself. He believed that the construction of Cui Liu Fort was very likely inseparable from the influence of the Zhenbei Marquis's (Marquis Who Pacifies the North) residence, so he didn't ask about the fort's construction. Instead, he started with the hall decorations used to entertain guests.

"I've always felt that life needs a sense of ritual, especially for us soldiers who keep our heads tied to our waists. We might be gone any day, so we must live each day carefully."

"That's right, Brother Zheng. This time, your brother almost didn't see you again."

"I was just about to ask. What happened to Brother Zuo?"

"It's embarrassing to say, but because Brother Zheng, you took the lead, a while ago, many of our forts, to varying degrees, actively sent troops to wander around in the south. Everyone else was fine. They wandered over and wandered back, and even gained some spoils, but of course, it can't compare to Brother Zheng's feat of capturing a city with a hundred riders. Your brother, I, was also itching to try it out. I also led a few hundred cavalrymen to try and raid the borders of Qian (dynasty). Brother Zheng, you should understand, as a martial artist, watching others lead troops to charge and kill while you shrink back is really unbearable."

"I understand, I understand," Zheng Fan nodded earnestly.

Judging from this, Zuo Jiqian must have suffered a setback.

"But alas, your brother's luck was bad. Not long after crossing the Sui Forts, I happened to run into a cavalry force from Chen Town. The enemy had a full force of over a thousand riders. However, I wasn't afraid at the time. I thought that I finally had a chance to fight a real battle, and in terms of cavalry warfare, my Great Yan has never been afraid of anyone. But who knew that after the engagement, another Qian cavalry force charged out, catching me off guard. Don't laugh at your brother, I almost lost my life in Qian. With great difficulty, I managed to escape with my life, but of the few hundred riders I led out, less than a hundred returned. The losses were huge."

Zheng Fan also sighed, while in his heart, he was calculating that the losses shouldn't be the main thing. With the background of Zuo Jiqian's family, replenishing them shouldn't be a big problem. The biggest problem was that the Jingnan Marquis (Marquis Who Pacifies the South) was probably turning a blind eye to the forts' unauthorized dispatch of troops to harass the people of Qian.

He just wanted to create border frictions to put pressure on Qian, and at the same time, get Qian to send more troops to the border areas.

But it was okay to go out and fool around, and fool around was just fooling around, but if you collapsed and failed, you were beaten black and blue and came back, were you going to put pressure on the people of Qian or give the people of Qian confidence?

In fact, Zheng Fan's previous deeds had given them an excessive amount of confidence. It was true that Qian's military equipment was dilapidated, and it was also true that Qian's people were easily defeated, but a broken ship still had three nails.

Moreover, compared to the Jingnan Army (Army Who Pacifies the South), the border troops Qian could pull out were indeed a bit useless, but the problem was that the troops from the various forts and the county troops of Yin Lang County didn't actually belong to the Jingnan Army system, similar to the difference between the central army and the local security forces during the Republic of China.

The situation in Beifeng County was the same. The gap between the Zhenbei Army and the local garrison was really too big.

At the same time, the barbarian soldiers under Zheng Fan's command, their equipment and cavalry archery skills, even if they were thrown into the Jingnan Army, it was estimated that the Jingnan Army wouldn't be able to match Zheng Fan's Cui Liu Fort police station with an equal number of troops.

Looking at Zuo Jiqian sighing there, Zheng Fan showed concern on his face, but in his heart, he was quite gloating.

Who told you to really not treat the people of Qian as people at all?

At this time, Zuo Jiqian finally stated his purpose.

"Brother Zheng, I heard that in three days, the new general of Nan Wang City will take office. At that time, we guards will have to report to Nan Wang City. This time, your brother has made this mistake and disgraced the Yan people. Your brother is indeed filled with guilt, but your brother has always been thinking about regaining face on the battlefield. If the new general wants to take someone to establish his authority when he takes office, please, Brother Zheng, say a few good words for me."

Zheng Fan said with some surprise:

"Brother Zuo, you're being too polite. You and I have gone through life and death together and have an unbreakable friendship. As long as there's something needed, your brother will definitely not hesitate. But, your brother is low in rank and has little influence. If this new general doesn't even give your Zuo family face, what's the use of me saying anything on the side?"

The Zuo family should have status, and it shouldn't be small.

Because Zheng Fan had seen the Jingnan Marquis chat with Zuo Jiqian for a few words after learning that Zuo Jiqian was a member of the Zuo family.

No matter how the Yan Emperor planned to move against the aristocratic families next, no matter what the Jingnan Marquis's attitude towards the aristocratic families was, in this context, Zheng Fan didn't think that a general who might not give the Zuo family face would give him face.

Although Station Chief Zheng had always been pulling tiger skins, claiming that he had people above him.

But that was to fool others, and he couldn't fool himself into becoming disabled and really think he was someone important now.

"Brother Zheng, you really have to help your brother, otherwise..."

At this time, Zuo Jiqian actually took the initiative to leave his seat and walked in front of Zheng Fan, making a gesture to kneel down.

Zheng Fan was very shocked, and then he was so shocked that he seemed to forget to reach out to help and stop Zuo Jiqian from kneeling.

Zuo Jiqian's knee was bent halfway.

"........" Zuo Jiqian.

Damn, why aren't you helping me!

Zheng Fan continued to look shocked, and was still in a state of shock.

Zuo Jiqian was embarrassed, and the atmosphere in the hall was a bit stagnant.

"Thump!"

Zuo Jiqian closed his eyes and knelt down.

Zheng Fan immediately stood up and said in surprise:

"Brother Zuo, what are you doing? You and I are brothers who have gone through life and death together. What can't be said properly? Why do you have to be like this?"

He was shocked in his mouth, but his hands still didn't reach out to help.

Zuo Jiqian took a deep breath and said:

"This time, only you, Brother Zheng, can save me."

As a member of the family, he was selected by the family to be sent out to serve as an official, and he had consumed the family's resources. If you still lost your official position, it would be equivalent to wasting the family's investment in you. Not to mention the family elders, even those peers who were jealous of you wouldn't let you off easily!

"Brother Zuo, make it clear. Who exactly is the new general? How dare he not give your Zuo family face?"

The previous general of Nan Wang City, Xiao Dahai, died inexplicably, and Zheng Fan couldn't say whether he died naturally or…

Then, the prefect of Nan Wang City was assassinated at Xiao Dahai's funeral.

According to the system, the general of Nan Wang City was Zheng Fan's direct superior, including all the fort guards.

But the situation now was that the Jingnan Marquis had brought the Jingnan Army into Nan Wang City, taking overall command, somewhat interfering with local affairs.

But the new general of Nan Wang City appointed by the imperial court was still coming. His duty was to command the local security forces.

"This new general was demoted from Beifeng County."

"This, Brother Zuo, it's not that your brother is shirking responsibility. Actually, your brother doesn't know many people in Beifeng County."

"Brother Zheng, this time, only you can really save your brother. This time, after your brother had this incident, the Jingnan Marquis didn't issue a single question. This is clearly waiting for the new general to take office to give the new general face. This new general was famous for being selfless in the local area in previous years. He was most daring to deal with the sons of powerful officials. This time, my identity as a member of the Zuo family will not only not help me, but may even harm me."

"Brother Zuo, this, I really..."

"Brother Zheng, I heard that you were once a merchant escort captain in Huto City, Beifeng County?"

"That's right."

"Doesn't that match up? The new general who was demoted to our place also worked in Huto City. You should know him, Brother Zheng."

"Wait a minute..." Zheng Fan stopped Zuo Jiqian, took two breaths, and asked, "Is the new general surnamed Xu?"

"That's right, Xu Wenzu, courtesy name Mingzheng, known as Lord Mingzheng because he most liked to punish the sons of powerful officials."

"Hiss..."

Comrade Shen Hai (Deep Sea), you were transferred here to be my direct superior?

Zuo Jiqian showed a look of surprise and said, "It seems that Brother Zheng and this Xu Mingzheng know each other?"

Zheng Fan nodded and said:

"I know him."

"Then is there a turning point in your brother's affairs?"

Zheng Fan sighed and said:

"Brother Zuo, actually, you can send someone to Huto City to inquire."

"What?"

"The people in Huto City all know that this Lord Mingzheng and your brother are irreconcilable."

"Ah!"

Zuo Jiqian immediately fell to the ground, originally thinking he had grabbed a savior to persuade, but he didn't expect to grab a disaster star.

"Then, then, Brother Zheng, isn't your brother in trouble?"

Zheng Fan reached out and rubbed his face, looking distressed, and said:

"Brother Zuo, I'm in trouble too."