Chapter 1 Zheng Fan's Predicament

General Zheng was now filled with question marks.

And these weren't fake question marks.

Because he genuinely didn't know what was going on.

In his own residence,

how could there be… such a beautiful woman?

Indeed,

the saying that clothes make the man (or woman) was absolutely true.

After a bath,

hair styled,

wearing appropriate clothing,

and without a child in her arms,

this woman seemed like a completely different person.

General Zheng still couldn't equate her with the pitiful mother holding a child to whom he often gave snacks.

This kind of transformation was actually more exaggerated than a photo edited with later generations' apps because the woman had been so miserable before, without even a piece of clothing to cover herself.

Tian Wujing pointed at Zheng Fan,

and said:

"General Zheng, tell this Marquis, is this also to stabilize morale?"

"………" Zheng Fan.

Tian Wujing continued:

"And the door isn't even closed?"

"…………" Zheng Fan.

Tian Wujing feigned realization, nodded slightly, and said:

"No wonder you caught a cold."

"…………" Zheng Fan.

Actually,

this was the most he'd smiled in over half a year.

Some people were destined to be lonely; they might be used to it, but no one truly enjoyed it.

So-called reclusive hermits were, in essence, just trying to escape. Those who dared to face loneliness directly had no one to share it with.

Tian Wujing's smile slowly faded from his face.

In truth, as long as he won the battle, he didn't care what Zheng Fan was fooling around with in the city, nor would he be harsh about it. After all, he was well aware of Zheng Fan's little quirks.

Many in the Zhenbei Army and Jingnan Army knew about the time when Marquis Zhenbei and Marquis Jingnan had fought over Zheng Fan. Marquis Zhenbei had always regretted not being able to bring Zheng Fan, this "Beifeng County" native, back to the Zhenbei Army.

But in reality,

Li Liangting had told Marquis Jingnan that this kid was a real diamond in the rough, but they had to smooth out the edges on the back of his head; he wasn't like those common soldiers.

How could Marquis Zhenbei not know how many of his generals and soldiers had once entertained the idea of ​​seizing the throne and putting him on it?

But it was understandable that they would think that way, and such thoughts were quite simple, apart from the treasonous element.

But Zheng Fan was different; his mind was too active, and in terms of his style, he, Li Liangting, Tian Wujing, and the Yan Emperor, had only been able to be so unrestrained because they were in that position, with very few people able to hold them back.

Yet this kid, despite not yet sitting in a high position, was already exuding that aura.

It was a kind of contempt for rules, etiquette, and the established order.

What would happen when he did ascend to a high position in the future?

So, at first, Tian Wujing had also been thinking of suppressing Zheng Fan.

But Zheng Fan was just too "outstanding,"

and Tian Wujing himself had experienced some things,

he was a little tired,

and some things,

he was too lazy to bother with anymore.

Actually, Zheng Fan also felt this way. In the past, Marquis Jingnan had indeed been suppressing him for his own good, but since the last expedition to the snowy plains, things had begun to change drastically.

Before, the appreciation from Marquis Jingnan had only come from the shadows; you knew, I knew, and some who were privy to the inside information also understood how much Marquis Jingnan valued this General Zheng.

But starting half a year ago, many had noticed that Marquis Jingnan wanted to promote this General Zheng.

In fact, from imperial families to the small vendors selling fried dough sticks on the streets of Yanjing, they all needed to consider succession.

Because only when you have a successor and can allow your group to become familiar with and recognize their abilities in advance can the transfer of power proceed relatively smoothly in the future.

The Jingnan Army's operations were already quite large, and after the Zhenbei Marquis's estate relinquished half of the Zhenbei Army, the Jingnan Army became the only true independent faction in the Great Yan military, separate from the court and the Emperor.

Of course, Zheng Fan hadn't thought about these things. He liked "begging for alms" everywhere, but in essence, he didn't think about inheriting anyone's assets to directly become a "second generation" successor. He preferred to treat it as a development and management game, building his own "Minecraft" brick by brick.

A'ming came over with a few armored soldiers carrying food and dishes. The woman also realized that she had been too rude, and when she saw that General Zheng, who was as great as the heavens, was also kneeling at this moment, she immediately knelt down as well, and then A'ming led her away.

From beginning to end, A'ming maintained his cold expression, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

"My Lord, that was just an accident, an accident, haha."

Zheng Fan awkwardly placed the food and dishes on the small coffee table.

There weren't many dishes, two meat and one vegetable, but on the battlefield, it was considered rare and exquisite.

Speak not during meals,

Zheng Fan accompanied Marquis Jingnan for the meal, and then had the armored soldiers outside clear away the dishes. Others brought tea and after-dinner desserts.

Indeed,

even after being besieged for so long,

General Zheng's standard of living hadn't really declined.

Occasionally, he would go to the city wall and wave to the soldiers, eating fried noodles with them, but most of the time, he had his own private kitchen.

When there are no conditions, don't be picky;

when there are such conditions, don't mistreat yourself.

Originally, the food supply in Xuehai Pass was quite tight, but they didn't care about having one more General Zheng to feed.

However, what surprised Zheng Fan a little was that he had mentioned the Sword Saint's matter in his previous narration, but even after finishing the meal, Marquis Jingnan didn't say anything about going to see the Sword Saint, who was lying unconscious in bed.

Of course, compared to not even asking about his own son, it was normal for Marquis Jingnan to ignore the Sword Saint.

For some reason, Zheng Fan didn't dare to actively mention the child in front of Tian Wujing.

It was as if that child, whom he had casually named Tiantian (Sweetie), was a taboo here.

The white hair of the man before him seemed to be warning Zheng Fan as well.

This feeling was hard to describe in words, because Zheng Fan knew that not mentioning the child wasn't because Tian Wujing was afraid, but because Tian Wujing didn't want to lose control of his anger.

"The battle has come to an end, and we need to rest for a while,"

Marquis Jingnan said.

This meant that the Yan people wouldn't launch a northern expedition to the snowy plains or seek to start a war with the Chu Kingdom in the short term.

In fact, after the Three Kingdoms War, the Yan people had destroyed the Helian and Wenren families and obtained half of the Jin Kingdom. Their own consumption was also extremely high.

Originally, it was basic national policy to rest and recuperate for a few years, and then digest the Jin territory they controlled.

But soon, there was another eastern expedition war, and this war was not won in one battle, but with many twists and turns.

The results were great, and it was true that they had swallowed the entire Three Jin Territories, but these Three Jin Territories had been ravaged by war for the past two years, especially the Cheng Kingdom, which had been completely destroyed. The entire eastern half of the Cheng Kingdom was almost a no-man's land.

Right now, the soldiers were truly exhausted and the people were tired. If they didn't rest and recuperate, they would really embark on the road of militarism and exhaust the country's resources.

Of course, not fighting was not fighting, but the tens of thousands of Chu Kingdom "babies" in Jade Plate City could not be let go.

Tian Wujing pointed to the ground beneath his feet,

and said:

"You and Xuehai Pass are quite fated."

"My Lord, no, I don't want to."

Zheng Fan understood the implication. Xuehai Pass was a good place, but Zheng Fan didn't want it.

To the north were the barbarians. If they didn't fight now, they would have to fight later, and the task would definitely fall on him again. And if they were to start a war with the Chu Kingdom in the future, he would definitely have to transfer troops south again.

Fighting was for doing business; Zheng Fan didn't like fighting.

Most importantly, the industrial layout of Shengle City had already been laid out, and he was just waiting to go back for the next wave of development. If he moved now, wouldn't all his previous preparations be in vain?

Yes, Shengle City wasn't a particularly rich place, but Shenzhen was just a small fishing village back then.

Most importantly, Shengle City was located in the middle of the Three Jin Territories, at the northernmost end of the middle. In the future, no matter where the war was fought, as long as he guarded the road to the Heavenly Mountains, the flames of war would never burn on him first.

This was the same reason why children were afraid of ghosts at night and liked to sleep in the middle of their parents.

"General Commander of Xuehai Pass?"

Tian Wujing looked at Zheng Fan.

"My Lord, this position carries great responsibility, and this subordinate is of limited talent and shallow learning. This subordinate is really afraid of failing the Marquis's great trust."

I don't want this place, definitely don't want it!

"Confer the title of Earl?"

The Great Yan was extremely stingy with titles. Being conferred the title of Earl was already considered an extremely high honor.

Of course, the titles of Marquis Zhenbei and Marquis Jingnan couldn't be described as just titles anymore. Even a Prince had to kneel to Marquis Jingnan as a Prince.

"My Lord, this subordinate's meager achievements dare not hope for a title!"

Tian Wujing pointed at Zheng Fan,

and said:

"Promising."

In the past, Zheng Fan had been scolded by Tian Wujing for failing to save friendly forces in order to preserve his strength.

Now, Zheng Fan was reluctant to part with his old assets again.

In the end,

that stingy streak in this person's nature

really hadn't changed at all.

But Zheng Fan insisted on this because he firmly believed in two things: one was that power came from the sword, and the other was that he had to establish his own exclusive territory.

His goal wasn't to secure a good marriage and raise a family, or to reach the pinnacle of life within the Great Yan system. What he wanted was to achieve true freedom through his own strength.

However, Tian Wujing had spoken to him about this as soon as the war had ended, when the Yan Emperor didn't even know the news from the front lines yet. The meaning of promotion, the attitude of pushing him up, was already extremely clear.

Yet Zheng Fan still insisted on being ungrateful!

"Actually…"

Zheng Fan looked at Tian Wujing with extremely expectant eyes. Actually, this should bring a turning point, and this matter should be considered over.

Tian Wujing paused,

seeming to have figured something out,

and said:

"Actually, no one cares whether you're willing or not."

"……" Zheng Fan.