Chapter 1 Zheng Fan Leaves

Zheng Fan left, following the Jingnan Marquis.

On the newly constructed section of the city wall in Shengle City, the Blind Man, Si Niang, and Xue San stood side by side, watching the two figures grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

Fan Li couldn't figure out what they were looking at on the city wall. He scratched his head and continued to move bricks below.

The Blind Man held an orange that seemed like he'd never finish eating.

Peeling it, he said:

"Why didn't you take San'er with you?"

Xue San replied, "I'd like to know that too."

Immediately after,

Xue San looked at Si Niang and said, "Si Niang, your man ran off with another man."

Si Niang shook her head and sighed:

"This old lady can't beat him."

The tone unconsciously began to shift.

The Blind Man hit the brakes,

Saying:

"But one thing is for sure, at least with the master by the Jingnan Marquis's side, there shouldn't be any safety issues."

"Did you even consider who the Jingnan Marquis might encounter?" Xue San retorted.

The Blind Man stuffed a piece of orange into his mouth and said, "You're just arguing."

Si Niang then said, "It seems the Jingnan Marquis really values the master."

The Blind Man nodded, deeply agreeing.

At the same time, they were also clear that the master had a kind of "affection" for the Jingnan Marquis.

Like an elder, like a big brother, with both admiration and awe.

Somewhat like his feelings toward Sha Tuo Que Shi.

"Rather than saying the Jingnan Marquis values the master, it's more accurate to say he values our collective," Xue San said.

Liang Cheng's tactics, the Blind Man's analysis of the situation, Si Niang's craftsmanship, and so on.

"I can't say it like that." The Blind Man retorted, "This isn't me arguing with you. The master is already far away; it's fine to speak ill of him now;

But one thing we have to admit is that the master has a kind of charm. He can grasp the right measure and maintain good relationships with those big figures.

If they are pretending to be pigs to eat tigers, then what the master excels at is pretending to be a Corgi."

"The next time the master is promoted, I'll pass this evaluation on to him," Xue San muttered.

"It's just a pity, if it were the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, to be honest, wholeheartedly following the Jingnan Marquis would be great." The Blind Man looked back at the city wall below and said, "Forget it, let's handle the matters at hand first. The construction progress of the city wall needs to be accelerated."

Si Niang nodded and said:

"I will give the orders. It doesn't matter if we work some more slaves to death. Then we'll find a reason to kill some wildling overseers. Those wildling slaves will be even more grateful to us."

"Si Niang, just do what needs to be done. Don't say it out loud. It makes me feel guilty." The Blind Man continued to eat the orange.

Xue San then jumped onto the battlements,

Saying:

"I say, should we send someone to notify A'Cheng up ahead?"

"No need. The Jingnan Marquis has his own ideas. Maybe they won't even meet up with A'Cheng and will instead traverse the Heavenly Mountains themselves and wander the snowy plains."

Xue San shuddered and said,

"Blind Man, you already have a woman. Why does the way you talk now feel more and more like A'Ming and A'Cheng?"

The Blind Man ignored this,

Turning to Si Niang, he said:

"Let's get to work. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Now that even the most idle person has gone out, we have no excuse not to give it our all."

………

City Lord Zheng was bitter. Truthfully, he really didn't want to go to the snowy plains.

Just the Heavenly Mountains alone were enough; he was already tired of them the last time he went in.

No wonder the Jin people only occasionally raided the Heavenly Mountains after driving the wildlings out of the Three Jin lands, instead of trying to completely exterminate them. First, the environment within the Heavenly Mountains was truly harsh, and even if they conquered the place, it wouldn't have much development value. It was the same as the Yan people's attitude towards the desert. Second, the really formidable wildlings were in the snowy plains. Unless the Jin people imitated the Qian and engaged in civil engineering projects in the Heavenly Mountains, spending huge amounts of money and manpower to build fortresses, even if you drove them out, they would eventually return.

Was the hot spring in his mansion not warm enough, or was Si Niang's needlework not skilled enough?

Why not enjoy his good life, instead choosing to cross mountains and ridges to freeze on the snowy plains?

But with the Jingnan Marquis by his side, Zheng Fan didn't even have the courage to complain. He could be casual in his everyday speech to show closeness. Important figures who had been in power for a long time might like that "closeness."

But daring to argue on the issue of "military discipline" was like the old man taking poison, tired of living.

After the first two days of entering the mountains, they could still see traces left by Liang Cheng's troops, but for the next four or five days, they basically disappeared.

A road that two people could pass through might not be passable for a large army, so Liang Cheng must have gone to clear another route.

Fortunately, Zheng Fan's riding skills had been honed through several major battles, and coupled with the physique of a seventh-rank martial artist, he wouldn't chafe his inner thighs from riding for extended periods.

Finally, on the seventh day of entering the mountains, after traversing the last valley,

The snowy plains,

Were before his eyes.

Although called snowy plains, they were not completely covered in ice and snow. In fact, this should be a very wide pasture where the climate played two extremes.

For half of the year, the land was lush with vegetation, and for the other half, it was covered in ice and snow.

Now, winter had passed, and spring had already arrived, but the snowy plains still retained traces of whiteness. However, there were a few places that showed a hint of spring.

Zheng Fan and Tian Wujing rested at the foot of the slope. City Lord Zheng gathered some dry firewood, lit a bonfire, and started boiling water. At the same time, he took out the dry rations he had brought and shared them with Tian Wujing.

Tian Wujing wasn't picky about food. He could eat good food with relish, and he never frowned while gnawing on dry rations.

Sometimes Zheng Fan wondered if the Marquis before him was the most emotionless machine he had ever met.

"The woman I saw in Shengle City earlier, is she your wife?"

Actually, according to age, Si Niang should be Zheng Fan's aunt.

But clearly, Tian Wujing wouldn't be naive enough to think that Zheng Fan just treated such a beautiful woman as a maid.

"Yes, Your Lordship."

"When do you plan to have children?"

Zheng Fan was stunned. Was the emotionless machine actually going to talk to him about "parenting"?

"The barbarian tribes have not been destroyed; how can I establish a home?"

"Speak plainly."

"The arrow hasn't hit the target yet."

Not only had it not hit the target, it was still in basic training and hadn't entered the shooting range yet.

"When you're ready to be a father, the feeling will be different."

"Yes, yes, does Your Lordship hope for a little county princess or a little marquis?"

"I prefer girls."

"This subordinate also prefers girls."

Zheng Fan poured out the boiled water and handed it to Tian Wujing.

"I don't know if I can make it back for her delivery after this battle."

"Your Lordship..."

"I'm overthinking things. Once on the battlefield, I can't be swayed by these things."

Zheng Fan lowered his head and soaked the steamed bun in the hot water.

"As long as Nanmen Pass can be secured, and the Situ family is helped to take care of the wildlings this time, the New Jin territory will be completely stabilized."

"Yes, Your Lordship."

Nanmen Pass was the pass that Yu Ciming personally opened for the Yan army to enter Jin. Defending it would prevent those small countries or the Qian from entering the Jin territory. At the same time, as long as the Situ family in the far east could stabilize, they could help keep an eye on the Chu.

In theory, this New Jin territory would be completely incorporated into Yan's control. As for the resistance of the Jin people, as long as Yan didn't create internal strife, it wouldn't amount to anything.

According to the Blind Man's analysis, since Yan had given up such a good opportunity to attack Cheng, it was clear that they were still targeting Qian.

"Zheng Fan."

"This subordinate is here."

"The things you sent earlier, there were many, even this Marquis didn't expect it."

Others sent gold, silver, wealth, and bright, lengthy gift lists.

Zheng Fan sent many small items that women needed for childbirth, and even some mild tonics suitable for pregnant women to eat.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to send medicine to the Marquis's mansion. No one would dare to take that responsibility, but Zheng Fan dared.

In addition, he also sent some rice cakes and steamed buns, inexpensive gifts that ordinary families would send when celebrating a birth, very down-to-earth.

"This subordinate thought that Your Lordship shouldn't lack other things, so..."

"You put in the effort."

This was the second time the Jingnan Marquis had said these words.

"This subordinate should put in the effort."

"Juan'er said that she likes the bibs for children that you sent the most, embroidered by your wife? And some other clothes, enough for the child to wear until five or six years old, the needlework is impeccable."

"Yes, children's skin is delicate, so clothes should be chosen carefully."

"Juan'er said the same thing, and also said that after the child is born, she would like to invite your wife over to learn needlework from her.

She said that she was used to holding a knife for the first half of her life, but after becoming pregnant, she felt that a woman's hands seemed more suitable for holding a needle."

"This subordinate will bring his wife to congratulate Your Lordship on the arrival of your son/daughter."

Tian Wujing finished the last piece of dry rations in his hand,

Clapped his hands,

But didn't rush to get up,

Instead, he looked at Zheng Fan,

And said:

"Juan'er also said that City Lord Zheng is considerate towards children. Since the child will be wearing clothes sent by City Lord Zheng in the future, why not let the child recognize City Lord Zheng as his godfather?"

This was a question;

Moreover,

Zheng Fan couldn't be sure if these were Du Juan's words, or...

Was it a surprise?

Becoming the godfather of your big boss's child?

Perhaps only the Yan Emperor and the Marquis of Zhenbei were qualified to be this child's godfather in this world, but now, he actually had this qualification.

Was it a fright?

Because to become Tian Wujing's family, to recognize Tian Wujing's child as a godson, in the future...

Think about the Yan people's attitude towards Tian Wujing;

Zheng Fan didn't expect to encounter this problem while eating dry rations and drinking boiled water.

However, City Lord Zheng, who had always been cautious and adept at protecting himself, uncharacteristically didn't want to calculate and scheme at this time. He wanted to be pure, he wanted to be casual.

After all, acting like a grandson wasn't because he liked that feeling.

Zheng Fan nodded,

Without feigning joy, excitement, or a deep sense of honor,

But replied calmly:

"Okay."