Chapter 1 The Tumult in Jin

The pacification of the Jin region had occurred years ago. Although in the past two years, the troubles in Yingdu had been recurring, seemingly without end, those were, after all, matters for the nobles and of no concern to ordinary people.

Generally speaking, since the reign of the late Emperor, Jin had been governed as another "home base" for the Yan people.

Furthermore, with Xu Wenzu's governance and the reconstruction of Jin East under the rule of the Marquis of Pingxi's household, the traditional wealthy area of the former Dacheng Kingdom, centered on Yingdu, had shown a prosperity and busyness that was not inferior to the past.

Even the small county towns outside Yingdu gave people a sense of vitality.

Inside the carriage,

Marquis Zheng was lying on his side,

Si Niang by his side peeled fruit from time to time and fed it into Marquis Zheng's mouth, then gently wiped the juice from the corners of his lips with her fingers.

A small charcoal brazier was lit in the carriage, with tea brewing on top, making it quite comfortable.

Outside, it was raining.

As the saying goes, spring rain is pleasing, summer rain is cloying, autumn rain urges, and winter rain is annoying.

Raindrops entered along the necks of pedestrians, bringing a cold chill, diluting the warmth of their bodies, constantly tormenting them until they lost their tempers.

Of course, this was nothing to Marquis Zheng, who was sitting in the carriage at this moment.

A warm carriage, accompanied by a beautiful woman, and watching the pedestrians outside scramble for cover, ah, with such a contrast, life was more flavorful.

Marquis Zheng, after leaving the capital, had been hurrying back, but after reaching this area, he was only one Wangjiang River away from Jin East.

Sun Ying and the others had to return to their home in Yingdu first. In addition, Marquis Zheng had also arranged to meet with Xu Wenzu in Yupan City. At the same time, he had to handle the handover of Yupan City's affiliation, as the Emperor had said, and wait to take it into his possession. Not being proactive in acquiring territory meant there was something wrong with one's brain.

Dealing with these matters one by one here was better than waiting to return to the Marquis's mansion and then coming out again. After returning, he could indulge in laziness to his heart's content.

Therefore,

The journey naturally slowed down here.

With good mountains, good water, and good scenery, sitting in a carriage, looking around, and walking slowly, there was no need to hurry, and it was also good to clear his mind after leaving the capital.

Currently, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the guard cavalry had been transferred away long ago. This trip was truly light and simple.

At the entrance of the inn in the small county town,

Marquis Zheng got out of the carriage and stretched comfortably. Coincidentally, a group of red-tent sisters and a group of male prostitutes walked into the inn's main entrance one after another.

Hmm,

This was the breath of life.

Relying on escorts, guards, and staying in post stations, one would naturally not see this kind of flavor.

"No wonder Kangxi and Qianlong liked to go to Jiangnan for incognito tours, hehe."

"If Master likes it, isn't it the same in Fengxin City?" Si Niang said with a smile.

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "Fengxin City is too clean."

Under the management of the devils in Fengxin City, everything was in order, the streets, the city, inside and out, people performed their duties, and even the red-tent businesses were rectified in a planned and orderly manner.

It was comfortable and Zheng Fan liked it, but it lacked that pure freedom.

Except for Si Niang, the other devils had returned to Fengxin City in advance. San'er and Fan Li didn't want to leave early, after all, they had been so close to advancing, but unfortunately, they had matters to deal with at home.

Therefore, the security force around Marquis Zheng was very weak at this time.

Um,

Only one Xu Chuang, Fourth Rank, plus a Sword Saint.

Xu Chuang drove the carriage, and the Sword Saint sat with him. A letter had come from home, and there was still some time before the expected date of delivery. In addition, his son Liu Dahu had recently participated in a training exercise, led by an old captain in the army to familiarize himself with the terrain around Jin East, and would arrive in Yupan City in a few days.

Being a stepmother was difficult, but being a stepfather was also difficult, especially when his own son was about to be born. The Sword Saint didn't want to neglect his stepson, so he simply accompanied Zheng Fan to Yupan City, picked up Liu Dahu, and then went back together.

The food in the inn was very plentiful. Thanks to the frequent passage of merchant caravans, there were actually all kinds of flavors, but there wasn't much expectation about how authentic it would be.

Marquis Zheng ordered a table full of dishes, and together with the Sword Saint and Xu Chuang, each held a rice bowl and ate slowly.

All three were cultivators, so their appetites were actually very large.

Xu Chuang had lucked out this time. After entering the capital, especially before the assassination of Prime Minister Zhao Jiulang, he had been very uneasy for a long time, probably thinking that he was going to end up here, and that he would only be completing Wen Mingshan's legacy.

But who knew that he could continue to eat and drink well, and also get rid of his shackles.

Since ancient times, those who mastered literary and martial arts sold themselves to the Emperor's family. Although Marquis Pingxi hadn't said it directly, he was already treating himself as a trusted thug. Looking at the Sword Saint eating across from him, Xu Chuang felt that staying in the Pingxi Marquis's household seemed like a good place to end up.

The inn wasn't actually big, but behind the inn, there was a courtyard, which should be holding a banquet. It was very lively and noisy. The group of sisters and brothers who had come in earlier had gone there. With their addition, it would be difficult for the scene to be quiet.

The sounds of dice games, teasing, and laughter, vaguely mixed with music and silk bamboo, didn't feel noisy. Perhaps, this was the breath of life.

Marquis Zheng stopped for a while after drinking a bowl of soup.

His appetite wasn't actually small, after all, he was a Fifth Rank martial artist. It wouldn't sound good if his appetite was small.

But because Si Niang had fed him a lot of snacks in the carriage, he wasn't really hungry. After stopping, Zheng Fan began to look around.

There were also many guests eating around, some of whom looked like merchants from Yan, sitting there, eating and drinking, occasionally casting proud glances around.

Of course, in Marquis Zheng's eyes it was pride, but in the eyes of others, it might just be acting arrogant.

It had only been a few years since Jin had been conquered by the Yan people, and the Yan people's sense of superiority was still very strong.

There were also some foreign merchants, possibly from Qian and Chu, who also paid attention to looking around while eating, but with a cautious air.

In addition, Zheng Fan also noticed that many people were deliberately glancing at his table, focusing on Si Niang, who was sitting beside him.

Si Niang hadn't disguised herself, and her original appearance was extremely eye-catching, no matter where she was.

However,

On his table, Xu Chuang wore both a saber and a sword, and the Sword Saint also had a Long Yuan wrapped up beside him. Looking at himself, it was obvious that he was some noble young master traveling with a beauty. Those people were just looking, and there wouldn't be the kind of fools who would come up to tease or simply try to take possession of your female companion because she was beautiful.

In this world, traveling with a beauty was equivalent to exposing a lot of wealth. How could you dare to do this without the confidence to protect yourself?

It was a pity that

Marquis Zheng was currently feeling a bit too full,

If there were a few fools who didn't have eyes and wanted to tease Si Niang at this time, Marquis Zheng would be more than happy to have a post-meal activity.

After all, after becoming a Fifth Rank martial artist, he had almost no presence in the assassination of Zhao Jiulang.

When your realm improves, not fighting always leaves you with a regrettable feeling of being stifled.

At this time,

A figure of a constable appeared at the door.

This person was wearing the clothes of a constable, but the saber he wore was a military saber, and he also had a set of leather armor on the outside. Behind him, he also had four or five yamen runners.

The yamen runners behind him were unclear, but the leader was clearly an official from Yan.

After the Yan people conquered Jin, on the one hand, they gave the Jin people space and channels for promotion to become officials. During the reign of the late Emperor, on the suggestion of the crown prince, a parallel system was adopted, where basically the more important positions were held by both Yan and Jin people as chief and deputy.

This constable should be the captain in this county town in charge of local security. Judging by his attire, he should have retired from the Yan army, or be called "promoted" to the local area.

The shopkeeper greeted him enthusiastically, calling him: "Lord Gao, Lord Gao."

Lord Gao pointed inside, asked a question, then smiled and led his men through the inn lobby to the banquet in the back.

After the shopkeeper sent him in, he came out again and happened to pass by Zheng Fan's table, so he took the initiative to greet him:

"Esteemed guest, is the food to your liking?"

Zheng Fan glanced at the Sword Saint and Xu Chuang, who were still eating, and nodded, "Not bad."

"It's good that esteemed guest likes it. By the way, the kitchen just got some fish, all river fish caught from the Wangjiang River, very fresh. They're making soup, and I'll send you a small pot to try later. Once the river surface is completely frozen, this fish will be hard to get."

"Then thank you."

"You're welcome."

It was also because Zheng Fan had ordered a table full of hard dishes with a high customer price that the shopkeeper would give a complimentary dish.

"By the way, it's quite lively inside. Who's holding a banquet here?"

Marquis Zheng was full anyway, so he chatted casually.

"Oh, inside is a local镖局 (biao ju, armed escort agency) celebrating a birthday. The镖局 (biao ju, armed escort agency) is called Tiger Might, newly opened for less than two years, but the boss was a wounded veteran from the Yan army, who formed a partnership with some former soldiers. They have some connections with the army."

"Oh, I see."

Wounded soldiers left the army and were re-employed locally, and it seemed like they were doing well.

Escorting goods, on the surface, was to prevent robbers, but if they had some connections with the army, things would go more smoothly.

When the imperial court was in difficulty, the local garrison's expenses were reduced. Not everyone could get the full amount or more like Marquis Zheng did in Xuehai Pass. Most of the local warlords had to set up checkpoints and collect taxes in their own territory to generate revenue.

"You continue to eat, I'll go to the kitchen to urge them."

"Okay, by the way, put more scallions and cilantro in the fish soup."

"You wait, I'll remember."

Before long, a pot of fish soup was brought up.

The fish soup was snow-white, exuding a fresh and fragrant aroma. Even Marquis Zheng, who had already eaten his fill, took a bowl from Si Niang. In addition, Si Niang also summoned the waiter to bring a cup of vinegar for her master to add a little.

"Hoo…"

He blew on it,

Took a sip,

Delicious.

"The soup is good, you guys drink it too."

Si Niang got up and filled a bowl for the Sword Saint. The Sword Saint nodded, put down his rice bowl, picked up the soup bowl, toasted Si Niang, then took two sips, put down the soup bowl, and continued to pick up his rice bowl.

While Si Niang was serving the Sword Saint, Xu Chuang was eating while watching carefully. When Si Niang also filled a bowl of soup for him and handed it over, Xu Chuang immediately took it with both hands, stood up, paused for a moment, not knowing whether to nod or bow, so he could only awkwardly sit down again, meaning that he understood.

Actually, Xu Chuang was also a well-known figure in the martial world, but unfortunately, at this table, one was the Marquis of Pingxi of Great Yan, and the other was the Sword Saint, so he could only be a younger brother.

However, just as they were drinking, the sound of bowls being smashed suddenly came from the courtyard behind the inn, followed by a roar:

"Shopkeeper, I f*ck your mother!!!"

This roar stunned the diners who were eating in the inn lobby.

Marquis Zheng looked over there with a smile, holding the soup bowl. Finally, there was some excitement to watch.

The Sword Saint continued to eat, and Xu Chuang also looked on curiously.

A group of people came out of the backyard, led by a one-eyed dragon with a large beard. Although he only had one eye, his eye was frighteningly red at this time.

The one-eyed dragon stepped forward and grabbed the shopkeeper's collar, cursing:

"You damn bastard, when I asked someone to order a banquet at your place, didn't I specifically say, no fish, no fish, how dare you old thing send fish soup to my table!"

"Bang!"

After cursing, he kicked the shopkeeper to the ground.

Behind him, the Lord Gao who had come to the banquet with the yamen runners was standing there watching, without saying a word to intervene.

The crowd behind the one-eyed dragon were also very angry.

"This… this I gave it as a gift, a gift."

The shopkeeper, who had fallen to the ground, cried out very aggrievedly.

At this time, the people in the inn also came over, some helping the shopkeeper up, and some blocking in the middle.

"Damn it!"

The one-eyed dragon seemed to get more and more angry, and even drew his knife.

"I was happily celebrating my birthday, but you, you son of a b*tch, ruined it!"

Seeing that he had drawn his knife,

The Lord Gao in charge of local security reached out and grabbed the other party's wrist, signaling him to restrain himself.

"Brother Gao, how can you ask me to endure this, how can you ask me to endure this!"

Lord Gao sighed upon hearing this and said to the shopkeeper who had been helped up:

"You were wrong in this matter."

Who would have thought that this shopkeeper, despite his gentle manner, had probably been truly provoked by this matter today, and shouted directly:

"Is there any law, is there any law, I only gave you three tables of people fish soup, is the fish not fresh? Is there poison in the soup? You just use this matter to make trouble for me, beating and scolding me, is there any law, is there any law!

If you want to eat for free, just say it, if you want to find fault, just say it,

Don't humiliate people like this, bullying us Jin people to death."

However, the shopkeeper was full of heroic spirit, but none of the diners around helped to respond.

They were just quietly watching the excitement. It wasn't like the bickering of江湖游侠 (jianghu youxia, wandering martial artists). There was no need to shout a good word or reason. Here, there were both Yan people and officials. Who would want to get involved in this muddy water?

"Bullshit, I care about eating your food for free, I don't lack the money to eat!

Damn it,

You dare to yell at me,

Brother Gao, you step aside, I have to crack this grandson's head open today!"

At this time,

Zheng Fan noticed that the Sword Saint had put down his rice bowl and was deliberately drinking a bowl of fish soup.

Actually, Zheng Fan didn't plan to interfere in this kind of matter. The contradictions between Yan and Jin, the inequality and friction between the conquerors and the conquered, needed the cooperation of policies and time. It wasn't something that could be resolved by managing a matter in this inn.

Moreover, Zheng Fan knew that the Sword Saint was too lazy to care about this injustice, even though he was a Jin person.

The Sword Saint was no longer the Sword Saint of the past, and his merciful heart had long been put away.

The former Sword Saint would roar when he saw injustice, and if the Yan people relied on their power to bully others, he would directly draw his Long Yuan and chop off their heads;

Now, whoever said to him, "I didn't expect the dignified Sword Saint of Jin to..." he would chop off their heads.

But after all, he was a Jin person. If he didn't care, Zheng Fan had to speak up. You don't need it? But I'll give it to you. Usually, you burn more incense so that you have enough incense to ask people to help you and protect you at critical moments.

Zheng Fan turned his head and looked at the Sword Saint, saying:

"Is the fish soup good?"

The Sword Saint nodded and said, "It's quite delicious."

Zheng Fan reached out and patted the Sword Saint's arm,

Said;

"Okay, I understand, don't worry."

"…" The Sword Saint.

Zheng Fan turned around and shouted at the one-eyed dragon:

"What's wrong with sending a fish soup, I drank this fish soup too, it's quite delicious."

With a rustle, the nearby diners immediately turned their attention to this side. Hey, there really was someone willing to uphold justice and stand up!

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

The one-eyed dragon pointed at Zheng Fan and cursed directly:

"Do you have the right to speak here? I f*ck…"

Si Niang's eyes turned cold, but someone else was faster than him.

Xu Chuang had already gotten up and came directly in front of the one-eyed dragon, punching him in the chest, and then giving him an uppercut, pressing the whole person to the ground.

"Buzz!"

The saber was drawn,

Stuck at the edge of the other party's neck, making the one-eyed dragon's face stick to the ground with his head buried at Zheng Fan's feet.

This posture,

This position,

This control,

After all, he was a Fourth Rank master, not just bragging.

At this time, the group of鏢局 (biao ju, armed escort agency) people behind drew their weapons one after another, and even the Lord Gao also drew his weapon. If it weren't for the fear of Xu Chuang's saber on the one-eyed dragon's neck, they would have all rushed forward together.

The Sword Saint continued to drink soup, not pretending to be calm and composed…

But because he was the dignified Marquis of Pingxi of Great Yan, if he could be harmed by a group of Yan people and officials on the territory of "Yan", then this Marquis of Pingxi might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself.

"Sigh."

Marquis Zheng sighed,

Took the chopsticks,

And patted the one-eyed dragon's head,

Xu Chuang understood, slightly reduced his strength, and let the one-eyed dragon raise his face to look at Zheng Fan.

"I said, what's wrong with this fish soup?"

Unexpectedly, this one-eyed dragon was still quite tough even with a knife on his neck, with no fear on his face,

Instead, he stared at Zheng Fan,

Said:

"Today is my birthday!"

"Oh, I haven't heard that Yan people can't eat fish on their birthday."

"This fish was caught from the Wangjiang River."

"So what?"

"So what?" the one-eyed dragon roared: "I was from the Left Route Army back then!"

Marquis Zheng frowned slightly.

"I specifically told this shopkeeper beforehand not to serve fish.

Little white face,

Do you know,

That when fighting the savages and Chu people by the Wangjiang River, how many of my Left Route Army brothers drowned in this Wangjiang River, and the fish in this Wangjiang River grew up eating the flesh and blood of my brothers.

Today is my birthday,

And this damn shopkeeper actually served me the flesh and blood of my former brothers to congratulate me!"

In the first battle of Wangjiang, the Left Route Army crossed the river first to set up a camp. The savage army attacked from the front, and the Chu navy blocked the retreat, and countless people drowned.

Marquis Zheng nodded upon hearing this,

Said:

"Is that so, then give me some face, let's just forget about this matter."

Unexpectedly,

This one-eyed dragon didn't take his own life seriously, but cursed:

"Give you face, and just forget about it?

Little white face,

Do you have that much face?

Heh, not a small tone, do you think you are the Marquis of Pingxi himself!"

"Hehehe, hahahaha…"

Zheng Fan was amused,

And reached out to pat the one-eyed dragon's face,

Said:

"Aiyo, you are so cute, tsk tsk, give him a reward."

——————

My schedule is completely upside down, don't wait for the next chapter, read it in the morning, hug everyone tight!