Chapter 1 The Early Years

In the past, there weren't any deep-seated grudges between Yan and Chu. They wanted to hate each other, but they couldn't reach each other to do so.

Yan's power over the past century suppressed Jin so much that it could only stubbornly proclaim that its Three Jins cavalry wasn't necessarily inferior to the Yan people, but in reality, it was constantly anxious.

The Qian people were even more ridiculous. Not only were they frightened into spending huge amounts of manpower and resources to build continuous fortresses on the three borders, but they also forcibly diverted the Qian River, digging out the Bian River to protect their capital and block the Yan cavalry.

As for Chu, the emperors of Chu would occasionally shout a few times every now and then. After shouting, they would continue to drive away the Shanyue people in their own territory or annex the surrounding small countries. When tired, they would come out and shout a few more times to show their presence.

But all of this changed drastically after Yan destroyed the Wenren and Helian families. Originally, the Chu people had the Situ family and the Zhennan Pass overhead. Everyone would occasionally bicker and fight as if it were military training.

Chu had never put much effort into preparing to go north, because there were still many lands waiting to be explored and developed at home and in the south. At the same time, it was difficult for the Situ family to invade Chu with their own strength, as they were unable to do so.

But when Chu discovered that the neighbor overhead was suddenly about to become Yan, the Chu people panicked, because the aura of annexation displayed by the Yan people was too strong, so strong that it was almost suffocating.

Marquis Zhenbei, as the number one warlord in Yan, directly sided with the Yan Emperor.

Marquis Jingnan did not hesitate to exterminate his entire family in order to clear the obstacles for the rise of Great Yan.

In addition, since the current Yan Emperor ascended the throne, in addition to his ruthless methods, every move he made was almost a model of a wise and powerful ruler.

He didn't believe in the otherworldly,

He didn't like extravagance,

You couldn't find any of the faults and labels of any foolish ruler of the past on this Yan Emperor.

It could be said that,

Being the son of the Yan Emperor was indeed very painful;

But in the eyes of outsiders, in the eyes of monarchs and nobles of other countries, looking at this Yan Emperor was like looking in a mirror, and the self in the mirror looked so awkward.

It was a pity that the late Emperor of Chu passed away early. Although the Fourth Prince quickly consolidated the situation with strong measures, he missed the Three Kingdoms War after all. Of course, it couldn't be said that he missed it, but Yan's move of using Qian to attack Jin was really unexpected. The Qian Emperor, the person involved at the time, even issued an edict prohibiting the armies on the three borders from returning to aid.

After that, the elites of Marquis Zhenbei and Marquis Jingnan swept through the Wenren and Helian families in a ten-day campaign, not giving the Chu people time to react.

The only thing the Chu people could do was probably after the Yan people had already occupied most of the Three Jins, they hurriedly reached an agreement with the King of the Savages and entered Jin together to resist the Yan state.

Because Situ Lei, the monarch of Cheng at the time, refused to submit to Chu and seek refuge, and at the same time, the Chu people also sensed that Situ Lei intended to degrade his country and belong to Yan.

This forced the Chu people to seek external cooperation.

Originally, the situation should have been great.

In the first Battle of Wangjiang, the joint forces of the Savages and Chu defeated the Yan army. For a time, the Chu was in an uproar. From the nobles to the common people, everyone cheered, feeling that the nightmare of the black dragon flag that enveloped them was finally about to dissipate.

But Marquis Jingnan re-emerged, and the Earl of Pingye's long-distance raid eventually destroyed the Savage army in one fell swoop. What made the Chu people even more desperate and angry was that, even after the peace treaty had been concluded, the Yan people actually broke the treaty and slaughtered 40,000 Chu soldiers who had laid down their weapons.

Killing prisoners is the greatest humiliation to a country. It means that things have been done to the extreme, and there is no room for reconciliation in the future.

It is also a kind of contempt for you from the bottom of their hearts.

These boatmen, you say they are Chu people, yes, but not entirely. In any era, those who dare to engage in smuggling are by no means good people. Honest people dare not do it, nor do they have the channels to do it.

Therefore, don't look at these boatmen's shabby clothes and seemingly "honest" appearance, but their information channels are actually very rich and can be said to be well-informed.

If there is any disturbance, these boatmen can immediately draw their swords and fight the water bandits.

Throughout the night,

Zheng Fan sat on the chair on the deck,

Half-closed his eyes,

Watching the boatmen busy back and forth in front of him.

There was a waterway, but it wasn't very smooth. There were many places where you needed to be careful when sailing at night, especially after the fleet turned south, the river became narrower, and the risk factor increased a lot.

However, these boatmen were all experienced smugglers. No matter how difficult the road was, they would become familiar with it after walking it many times.

Si Niang stood by Zheng Fan's side, accompanying him.

No one knew what Zheng Boye was thinking at this time, and he thought about it for an entire night.

When dawn appeared,

Zheng Boye stood up from the chair, and Si Niang brought water over for him to wash his face.

Fan Yongxin came down from the second floor of the cabin at this time. He didn't ask why Zheng Fan didn't favor the three women last night, but said very respectfully:

"Boye, breakfast is ready, authentic Chu flavor breakfast."

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "Thank you for your trouble, but we brought our own food."

"Boye, you're being too polite, could it be..."

"Yes, I'm afraid you'll poison us."

"........." Fan Yongxin.

It could be seen that Fan Yongxin was very embarrassed, because he was more accustomed to the way of dealing with people like a smiling tiger. Even if he and his opponents secretly sent people to fight each other in the past, they would give outsiders a feeling of meeting an old friend when they met.

"Don't mind." Zheng Fan said.

"Boye, you're joking, this servant, this servant..."

Zheng Fan reached out and patted Fan Yongxin on the shoulder, and said, "Do your job well, and I will see everything you do."

"Yes, Boye."

Breakfast was very simple, fried noodles that they brought themselves, with hot water, not very delicious, but enough to fill their stomachs.

When it was almost noon, the fleet docked, and everyone began to disembark.

This was a small pier, surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side. Behind the pier, there was a water village built against the mountain. This should be one of the Fan family's hideouts.

On the wooden walls of the water village, you could see guards holding bows and knives. Many of them were also wearing armor. Although they weren't uniformly armored, the aura of solemnity was definitely not comparable to ordinary water bandits.

While waiting for his subordinates to disembark, Zheng Fan stood on the shore, looking at the water village, and couldn't help but say to Si Niang beside him:

"Before the Yan Emperor trampled on the aristocratic families, the private soldiers of the aristocratic families in Yan were more formal than this."

Like the Fan family, they only dared to build a water village in this "remote and desolate" place to hoard a little armed force, but in the past, the aristocratic families in Yan could summon their tenants to gather and train when needed. Even for a long period of history in Yan, the private soldiers of the aristocratic families were an important part of Yan's military strength.

Fan Yongxin came over at this time and said: "Boye, the water village can be vacated, and all of our people can be withdrawn for your people to move in. Tomorrow, I will accompany Boye into the mountains."

The Fan family's attitude was very low.

"No need, we are guests, how can we disturb you like this? My department will set up a small village here to rest and adjust, so don't disturb the brothers in the water village."

"Then........."

"Let's do it this way."

"Yes, Boye."

Zheng Fan's subordinates camped on the spot, and the water village sent out some pigs and sheep, which they accepted, but all the wine they sent was refused.

Ruan San, the commander of the water village, stood on the turret and looked at the scene on the beach, frowning slightly.

Fan Yongxin was standing beside him at this time;

Ruan San opened his mouth and said:

"At first, the Yan people didn't want the wine, I thought it was because they were worried that we would poison the wine, but now I don't think so, none of them brought wine."

In this era, wine is almost an indispensable thing, especially for soldiers.

"What does Commander Ruan think of the quality of this Yan army?" Fan Yongxin asked.

"The camp on the beach is simple and effective. Manager, you can look here and there. The two protruding parts are guarding the camp. It can be so orderly in a short period of time. This Yan army can be said to be a well-trained elite.

However, since it is the personal soldiers brought out by that Boye, they must also be one in a hundred good players. It is not surprising to be able to do this."

"But Commander Ruan, you have to see clearly that there are Jin people, Yan people, barbarians, and even some savages in this Yan army."

Ruan San narrowed his eyes and nodded silently.

"The Yan people are good at fighting." Fan Yongxin sighed, "So, since there is this opportunity, why don't we leave ourselves a way out?"

"The Yan people are not trustworthy." Ruan San said.

"Hehe, where in this world are there truly trustworthy people? In business, who can do business properly without being ruined, cheated, played, and killed?

Whether or not they are trustworthy depends on whether we are still valuable to the Yan people.

What's the difference between being a dog of the Qu family and being a dog of the Yan people?

Since we have already become dogs, we should honestly think about how to survive."

"Is the manager teaching me?"

"I'm afraid you're not convinced in your heart."

"Manager, don't worry, my family is living in the Fan family, how can I not be convinced?"

"Saying this is too distant. Go down later, lower your posture, and chat with that Earl of Pingye. After all, Commander Ruan was once from the imperial guards, so you can definitely chat together."

Hearing this, Ruan San was a little surprised and said, "Betting so big?"

"Touching the lips won't kill you, but you can't taste what it tastes like, can you?"

"I understand."

"Okay, I'll immediately send someone to contact the fortresses on the road tomorrow and take care of them."

"Do we still need to take care of them after passing Mengshan?"

"After passing Mengshan, it's not the Fan family's responsibility anymore, someone else has to take care of it."

Ruan San pursed his lips and couldn't help laughing.

"Is it funny?" Fan Yongxin asked.

Ruan San nodded.

"If you're not diligent, you won't even have the chance to be a dog."

Seeming to feel that it was not safe enough,

Fan Yongxin tiptoed and put his mouth to Ruan San's ear and lowered his voice and said:

"The Yan people are building their own navy."

.........

Perhaps because he had been bumping around on the boat all day, Zheng Boye couldn't be said to be seasick, but his spirits were indeed not very good. He hastily ate something and prepared to go into the tent to rest.

Who knew that someone would come to see him.

"Ruan San?"

"Yes, it's me."

"That's good, I have a subordinate here named Xue San, both are Sans."

"It's my honor."

Xue San is not on this beach now, he may be with people in front or behind, in short, he will not be around Zheng Fan.

It is not clear whether the Fan family is reliable, but to be on the safe side, eggs should not be put in one basket.

"You said earlier that you were from the Chu imperial guards?"

"Yes."

Zheng Fan pointed to the water village in front and said:

"It's depressing here."

"Boye, you're being too serious. Boye, this is only the first time we've met, and we've only just talked a few words. Why do you think I'm being wasted here?"

"Everyone carries the sedan chair, and the scene is just a waste of saliva, I'm just used to it."

"Boye is straightforward."

"I can't be said to be straightforward, but there are not many people around me who are familiar with Chu right now. If Brother Ruan is willing to come over, I welcome you very much."

"I'm from the Fan family."

"The Fan family may be mine in the future."

Saying that,

The somewhat tired Zheng Fan pointed around,

Said:

"I have Jin people, Yan people, barbarians, and savages here. I never look at background when using people. Commander Ruan, as a Chu person, the sooner you come, the greater the benefits."

"Boye, your way of wooing people is really direct."

"I'm not very busy usually, and I have a lot of time, but I still don't like to waste time. Today I'm giving you face, and you agree with the trend, and we'll all be happy."

"Otherwise?"

"Otherwise, I'll let Fan Yongxin bring your head to show his loyalty tomorrow."

Ruan San's facial expression twitched for a while.

He didn't expect that he would only follow orders to come over to "formally be polite" a few times, but he would actually end up in such a situation.

This Yan Boye is extremely powerful. This is clearly Chu territory, and the people in the water village behind him clearly listen to him, how dare he!

Zheng Fan raised his eyelids and glanced at Ruan San.

"Boye, can you allow me to go back and discuss it with Manager Fan, and I'll..."

"You can come here, which proves that Fan Yongxin, no, the Fan family has already planned to send you as a gift to me. As a gift, you're twisting and turning here, is there any point?"

Hearing this,

Ruan San gritted his teeth and knelt down to Zheng Fan,

"Ruan San is willing to follow Boye's lead, but my family is still in the Fan family."

"I'll have them sent over."

"Thank you, Boye."

"Get up, do what you have to do, I'm tired."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

Ruan San left, Zheng Fan walked into the small tent, and after a while, Si Niang also followed in and said:

"Master was very imposing earlier."

Zheng Fan smiled and didn't take the bait.

In fact, it doesn't make much sense to subdue Ruan San here, and Zheng Fan doesn't value it very much either. At least, it can't be said to be subdued at all until the Fan family sends Ruan San's family over.

"Si Niang, do you know what I was thinking on the boat last night?"

"This servant doesn't know, I only know that Master seemed to be thinking for a long time."

Zheng Fan nodded and said:

"I did think for a long time, because I seemed to have overlooked one thing before, to be precise, I was a little confused."

"Why?"

"Yan is actually quite strong. Although we ourselves know that Yan is now showing fatigue due to years of war, and the territory has expanded too much, resulting in dispersed military strength, there are various problems.

But one thing that cannot be denied is that Great Yan, which has just destroyed Jin and incorporated the land of the Three Jins, now looks particularly strong at least in the eyes of outsiders.

The Qingluan Army of Chu was also completely slaughtered, this is prestige, and it can also turn into fear."

"What does Master mean..."

"I think this trip to Chu may not be so tense."

Saying that,

Zheng Fan lay down on the newly laid mat,

And continued:

"It may even turn into a field trip."

.........

Zheng Boye was right,

The next day, when the troops were marching to Mengshan, it really became a field trip.

The Chu people had gathered heavy troops at Zhennan Pass. In front, there was Xue Rang, the former general of the Situ family, who established the pseudo-Dacheng, and behind, there was Nian Yao, who personally led the Great Chu imperial guards, with the purpose of completely blocking the Yan people's possible southward route here.

But in the Mengshan area in the west, Zheng Boye, the youngest Earl of military merit in Yan, was leading his subordinates on the Mengshan trail leisurely with the Fan family.

They did encounter a few fortresses along the way. Some of them couldn't be completely bypassed. If they wanted to bypass them, they had to climb cliffs and mountains, but those fortresses were all quiet.

It wasn't that there was no one, because you could clearly see heads shaking on the fortresses below, but no smoke was lit.

Zheng Fan's army didn't even do any disguises. Everyone was wearing the Yan army armor from Xuehai Pass, which was mainly black. At a glance, it wasn't the Chu army's uniform. The only low-key thing was probably that no one was carrying a flag.

But even so, walking in the Mengshan area was still like entering an uninhabited area.

Even when camping at night, Fan Yongxin brought a garrison officer from a nearby fortress to greet Zheng Fan.

This person's surname was Sun, and his name was Sun Lianren. The fortress under his rule was a large fortress with no less than 300 soldiers, located less than ten miles ahead.

Sun Lianren's diligence made Zheng Boye a little speechless. He even took the initiative to invite Zheng Boye to work harder and hurry up to his fortress to spend the night, so as not to suffer from sleeping outside.

In the end, Zheng Fan refused. Sun Lianren specially sent some wine and meat to reward the Yan army, and at the same time, he said that Zheng Boye must show his face and eat at his fortress for lunch tomorrow, and he would treat Zheng Boye well as a host.

Zheng Boye agreed.

After Sun Lianren left,

A Ming, who had been a little depressed recently because he hadn't drank human blood, couldn't help but say:

"Why are there so many Chu traitors? Master, remember when we went south to Qian, there weren't so many Qian traitors, right?"

They were so enthusiastic that there would be no conflicts, and without conflicts, there would be no fresh human blood. A Ming brought a wine bag when he came, thinking that he would have no worries about eating and drinking along the way, but he miscalculated.

Zheng Fan shook his head and said:

"When we went south to Qian, we fought too fast and too fiercely, and we didn't give the Qian people a chance to surrender. Besides, there were actually many who surrendered, wasn't Blind Man's Wife one of them?"

A Ming glanced at his empty wine bag, feeling a little sad.

Si Niang then said: "Master, it's a pity that the road here is really difficult to walk, but if we had brought not a thousand soldiers this time, but ten thousand or twenty thousand, or even one hundred thousand, wouldn't it be..."

Zheng Fan shook his head,

And said meaningfully:

"Then they wouldn't be so diligent."