Chapter 1 Sheng Le Army
There was a tent right next to the Sheng Le Army's commander's tent. The person living inside didn't come out to patrol, nor did they have any other duties. Every day, all they did was sit outside the tent with their wine gourd and drink.

The Sheng Le Army continued the tradition of the Zhenbei Army: when going on expeditions, unless specifically permitted, drinking alcohol privately was forbidden. But clearly, this person had received General Zheng's special permission.

Every day, when General Zheng had his evening meal, he would also call that person in to eat together.

Tonight was no exception.

The dishes on the table weren't very lavish, but in this military camp, they were considered exquisite.

Zheng Fan served the Sword Saint rice, and the Sword Saint helped Zheng Fan get soup from the pot.

Then,

The two sat facing each other and began to eat.

Halfway through the meal, the Sword Saint spoke first, "Is there going to be a war?"

The Sword Saint didn't participate in any military secrets. He himself was clear that the reason his tent was arranged next to Zheng Fan's commander's tent was actually to use him as a bodyguard.

"Yes, we'll cross the river tomorrow night."

"Mm."

The Sword Saint nodded, lowered his head, and shoveled down two more mouthfuls of rice. Then, feeling he should say something, he stopped his chopsticks again and said:

"Finally, the war is about to begin."

"There's something I need to tell you in advance."

"Speak."

"Our army's crossing the river this time is to cut off the food supply and external aid to the Chu army in Yupan City on the other side."

"What are you telling me this for?"

"We will also be living off the enemy."

The Sword Saint narrowed his eyes slightly, but still said:

"I understand war."

In war, no one is spared from death. The common people have always been the greatest expendable resource of war.

The so-called living off the enemy is nothing more than seizing the food of the people in the enemy-occupied areas, so that the Chu army has no food to seize.

"Mm."

Zheng Fan nodded. The Sword Saint's attitude was much better than he had imagined.

After all, he had been watching the city gates for several months and was no longer as naive as before.

"I only hope that the barbarians and the Chu people will be driven away soon so that the people can recuperate as soon as possible. The people of Jin have had a hard time for more than a year."

"I know. Don't worry, this battle won't take too long."

That was the characteristic of the Jingnan Marquis in battle. He was accustomed to quickly defeating his opponents to achieve his strategic goals.

Even though the task of his unit this time was to isolate the Chu army in Yupan City from its rear, Zheng Fan didn't think the war would stagnate. Tian Wujing could always find a way to break the situation quickly.

According to Liang Cheng's opinion after communicating with him, this time, it seemed that they were only attacking the Chu people, but the real target was actually the barbarians.

"If there's anything you need me to do, just say it directly." The Sword Saint didn't stand on ceremony.

Zheng Fan nodded and said very seriously:

"There's a very important thing I need you to do."

"Speak."

"Protect me."

"............" Sword Saint.

To be able to say such a shameless thing so openly, how...thick-skinned must one be?

"You know my position in this army. Protecting me means protecting the morale of this ten thousand-strong army."

The corners of the Sword Saint's eyes twitched, but he sighed and said:

"I understand."

"Mm, then I'm relieved."

In fact, the Magic Pill was with Zheng Fan, right in the groove at the chest of his armor.

That place was a position specially reserved by Xue San when he made the armor for him, specifically to put the Magic Pill for his lord.

Well, it was a bit like Iron Man's armor, with a place to put the energy block in the middle.

The growth and education of children were important, but Zheng Fan felt that his life as a godfather was also very important. If he died, what would happen to the child?

Therefore, Zheng Fan disregarded the Little Marquis's reluctance and left Sheng Le with the Magic Pill.

But there was no need to worry about the Little Marquis's safety. Blindman and Fourth Niang would protect him. Moreover, before leaving, Zheng Fan had specially opened a basement under his bedroom and moved the Shatuo Queshi coffin that had been lying in the back house to under the bedroom.

It was equivalent to the Little Marquis sleeping in a cradle on the ground,

And Shatuo Queshi sleeping in a coffin underground.

Before leaving, Zheng Fan took wine and dishes and talked to Shatuo Queshi for a long time, telling him how important the child was to him. He felt that Shatuo Queshi should have listened.

With Shatuo Queshi, this "godfather," "watching" the child below,

It should be quite safe.

"I'm very curious, why didn't you Yan people use that Marquis of the South earlier?"

"I'm not very clear either, but the main reason should be underestimating the enemy."

"Tian Wujing has changed a lot since he came out of the mountain this time."

"Have you seen him?"

"He sensed me, and I sensed him, but I didn't make a move."

"So, you deliberately released your auras to say hello?"

The Sword Saint hesitated for a moment and nodded:

"Yes."

Was this the interaction between big shots?

One aura was released,

Then the other side released its aura too,

There was no need for eye contact. Everything was understood without saying a word.

"I heard from Jianbi that your cultivation has improved again? It seems that the Jingnan Marquis is even less of an opponent for you now."

"You're naive."

"Mm?"

"I can improve, so Tian Wujing can only stay where he is?"

"You mean?"

The Jingnan Marquis's hair has turned white, and he's also become stronger?

Zheng Fan suddenly felt a little frustrated.

He was already complacent about reaching the seventh-rank martial artist, but the real big shots and geniuses could continue to improve.

It seemed that it was also time to comprehend "killing intent" on the battlefield and try to find an opportunity to break through to the sixth rank.

Killing people

Was always the best way to cultivate.

"Actually, I'm looking forward to it."

"What are you looking forward to?"

"I'm looking forward to how Tian Wujing will deal with the barbarians after he takes command this time. Tian Wujing's methods have always been very ruthless. This time, he will be even more ruthless. He has resentment in his heart."

"The topics on our dining table seem to be getting more and more profound."

"I saw that little dwarf teaching the craftsmen how to build siege equipment. You won't have a chance to get anything this time."

"Siege warfare will kill a lot of people. I can't bear it. My foundation is still too weak."

"Anything else? I'm done eating."

"Yes."

As he spoke,

Zheng Fan took out the map and spread it out on the ground next to the small table. He pointed to a section of the Wangjiang River on the map and said:

"Here is where we will cross the river tomorrow. We will go more than eighty *li* deep."

"Do I need to know about these things?"

After experiencing two failures and setbacks, the Sword Saint had realized his limitations. Whether in politics or military affairs, he was a little naive, so he no longer touched these kinds of things.

"Here is Yupan City, where the Qingluan Army of Chu is stationed. It is also an important town where the allied forces of the barbarians and Chu restrain the Wangjiang River."

"I know."

"But here, less than a hundred *li* away from Yupan City, is Fengxin City. Have you heard of it?"

"Fengxin is a small city that produces paper materials."

"That's where Situ Yi's new capital is."

Hearing this, the Sword Saint's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Zheng Fan continued:

"The Jingnan Marquis has just arrived, and the Jingnan Army has also just arrived. I believe that even if Yingdu City has spies, no, it must have spies, it will still take time for them to send the information back. Our army will secretly cross the river from the downstream tomorrow, and then make a long-distance raid all the way to the east. I think we can take advantage of a time difference.

Do you know what the time difference means?"

"I can guess."

Zheng Fan nodded, and his finger heavily poked at the newly marked Fengxin City, making his meaning very clear.

The Sword Saint then said:

"You just said that your unit's task is to isolate the rear of Yupan City."

"Isn't Fengxin City behind Yupan City? No matter what I do, I don't forget to pick up some benefits along the way. I think that pseudo-emperor's head is a very good military achievement.

Moreover, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but this kind of long-distance raid is my specialty. When I first started with only a few hundred barbarian soldiers, I dared to play like this, and I even captured a city from the Qian people and killed the Qian governor to take back. I'm quite familiar with it."

"What do you need me to do?"

"We don't have time to attack the city, and it's impossible to attack the city, so the only feasible method is...seizing the gate."

"I understand."

"Someone will cooperate with you, but whether you can win the battle after the raid depends on you."

In the past, when he first started, Zheng Fan had played the decapitation and gate-seizing tactic with the demon kings.

Now, with a Sword Saint by his side, it would be a waste not to play special tactics!

Most importantly, Zheng Fan had already figured out the Sword Saint's temper and values.

The Sword Saint hated the barbarians the most, and secondly, he hated these "puppet armies." His values couldn't be more upright.

"However, some specific situations will have to wait until we cross the river to see."

"I have a condition."

"Please speak."

"Can Situ Yi and Situ Jiong, the two brothers, die?"

"It would be better to capture them alive. After all, they were once enthroned."

"Capture them alive?"

"But you also know that there are no eyes on the battlefield, and anything can happen."

"Very good."

"I have some wine here. Take it all and drink it. Starting tomorrow, drinking is forbidden. The army has its own rules, and drinking can easily lead to mistakes."

The Sword Saint took the wine.

When he stood up, ready to leave, he stopped again and said:

"I think you can also drink a little wine at night."

"I don't like drinking."

"Drinking wine can make it easier to fall asleep, so you don't have to toss and turn at night."

"Are you peeking at me?"

"Next door tent, it's hard for me not to hear your movements. You're still young, with a strong libido."

"Oh, I don't know who's preparing to go back and get married after this battle."

"Are you investigating me?"

"You live in my city. It's hard for me not to know. You're not young anymore. You should start a family, or your fire will die out in a few years."

The Sword Saint looked at Zheng Fan,

Zheng Fan also looked at the Sword Saint,

Then,

The two burst out laughing.

After a long time,

The Sword Saint asked a little incredulously:

"Is this really all the wine left?"

"I have to save some room in my stomach."

"What for?"

"To drink blood starting tomorrow."