Chapter 180 Going Home Together

Zheng Fan didn't advise Tian Wujing to leave the army and return first. Although Pixiu were more enduring and faster than the best warhorses, Tian Wujing had led the troops out, so he couldn't possibly leave alone, even if his wife was about to give birth.

To offer such a suggestion would first be an insult to Marquis Jingnan, and secondly, it would be sucking up to someone who might actually take your life.

After traveling for more than twenty days in the Heavenly Barren Mountain Range, the army finally emerged and returned to Shengle City.

Si Niang and the Blind Man mobilized the soldiers and civilians in the city to organize a grand banquet to reward the soldiers of the expedition, which was essentially a continuous feast.

Moreover, there was very little meat at the feast, mostly vegetarian dishes. However, the Yan soldiers, who had never experienced being able to eat as much meat as they wanted, devoured the vegetarian dishes as if they were hungry tigers, eating with great relish.

Tian Wujing also entered Shengle City. Although he probably wished he could leave immediately and rush back to Litian City, things had to be seen through to the end.

Today was a grand feast for the entire army. Although the imperial court's rewards had not yet been announced, it could be considered a premature celebration. As the commander of the expeditionary force, he naturally couldn't leave on this day.

After today, the army could be left to several commanding officers to reorganize and return, while he could travel back lightly.

Originally, this table in Shengle City was prepared by Si Niang herself, to entertain Tian Wujing and a group of Jingnan Army commanding officers.

To Zheng Fan's surprise, Yao Zizhan hadn't left yet.

According to their agreement, this Qian Country literary sage should have finished teaching and left long ago.

When Zheng Fan set off, he had specifically instructed the Blind Man that this old man was somewhat extraordinary, but he was still quite amusing. Killing him would be a bit of a waste, so he should be released.

After all, he still had to be kept around to help him brag a little back home, as agreed.

But the old man hadn't left, and he even shamelessly waited for Tian Wujing and Zheng Fan in the main hall.

After Yao Zizhan announced his identity,

The Jingnan Army commanding officers wisely excused themselves to Tian Wujing and Zheng Fan, the host, saying that they felt more comfortable eating and drinking with the soldiers, and left the table to depart.

This made Zheng Fan re-evaluate Yao Zizhan's influence. Perhaps because he had been immersed in "Three Hundred Tang Poems" in his previous life,

Zheng Fan didn't have much of a feeling for the poetry immortals and poetry sages of this world, but the fact that Yao Zizhan's reputation could make these commanding officers feel they should excuse themselves was much more interesting.

Perhaps the old man often boasted that the Yan Emperor was willing to exchange three thousand iron cavalry for his old bones; it might not have been a lie.

Therefore, the originally full table was suddenly reduced to only three people.

Tian Wujing sat in the seat of honor, Yao Zizhan sat in the second seat, and Zheng Fan accompanied him at the end.

Yao Zizhan first raised a glass of water wine,

And toasted Marquis Jingnan:

"Yao Zizhan, a remnant of Great Xia, congratulates Marquis Jingnan on his triumphant return!"

Tian Wujing raised his glass in a perfunctory response.

After all, three of the four great powers were direct descendants of Great Xia.

The Great Xia Emperor initially enfeoffed the Marquis of Yan, the Marquis of Jin, and the Marquis of Chu, to deal with the barbarians, the wildlings, and the mountain tribes, respectively. All three were successful, not only expanding the territory of Great Xia and clearing out foreign tribes, but also continuing to this day.

On the other hand, Qian Country had no blood relation to Great Xia. After the fall of Great Xia, that part of Qian Country had been split and divided for several generations.

But the Zhao Emperor of Qian Country wouldn't say that. He insisted on fabricating history, claiming that his ancestors were someone under the Great Xia Emperor, who had made great contributions, etc., desperately trying to get a seat at the table, even if it meant deceiving himself.

"Marquis, I have also heard about the events in Cheng Country. Alas, the Yu clan, after hundreds of years of pioneering, is now in a precarious situation. It is truly lamentable.

It was not easy for our ancestors to start their businesses. If we, their descendants, cannot defend our homeland, what face will we have to meet our ancestors in the afterlife?"

Zheng Fan ate his food silently, while also finding Yao Lao Tou’s words a bit strange, too sentimental.

Truth be told, the Yan Emperor dared to put his arm around Situ's shoulder and say, "You and I are both remnants of Great Xia," and jointly defend against the enemy, but the Yan Emperor could not say such things to the Qian Emperor or reveal such intentions.

The sneaky behavior of the Qian people a hundred years ago was far too memorable.

What was Yao Lao Tou up to with this sentimental act?

Tian Wujing put down his wine cup and said:

"Mr. Yao, if you have something to say, please say it."

He at least gave Yao Zizhan some face and didn't say, "Speak plainly."

Yao Zizhan sat down and said:

"Marquis, Cheng Country is in a crisis. What I want to say is that Chu Country cannot be relied upon now, and my Great Qian is far away. I only hope that you and the Yan Emperor can help the Situ family, considering that we are all remnants of Great Xia.

It doesn't matter who sits on this land, but it cannot be the wildlings."

"Is this the meaning of your Emperor, or your own meaning?"

Yao Zizhan rose,

Took out a yellow scroll from his bosom,

And sincerely said:

"His Majesty the Emperor of Great Qian has a secret decree here!"

Zheng Fan continued to eat,

Si Niang's fried lotus root slices were fragrant but not greasy, crispy but not burnt, truly delicious.

Tian Wujing also picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Leaving Yao Zizhan in an awkward silence.

After a while,

Yao Zizhan couldn't hold on anymore and handed over the secret decree, saying:

"Marquis, this is His Majesty's own handwriting."

Tian Wujing didn't reach out to take it, but said calmly:

"What is the Qian Emperor's secret decree for, given to a Marquis of Yan?"

Zheng Fan chimed in:

"That's right, could it be that the Qian Emperor wants to enfeoff our Marquis as a King of Qian?"

Yao Zizhan smiled:

"Why not?"

Zheng Fan continued to tease:

"Alright, send the Western Army over to be deployed by our Marquis."

Yao Zizhan actually nodded again and said:

"If the Marquis really wants to visit the scenery of Jiangnan in my Great Qian, what harm is there in handing over the three armies of Great Qian to the Marquis?

In the battle to break Jin, the world all thought that Marquis Zhenbei was the real commander, but who in the know doesn't know who really fought that battle?"

"Hey, that's strange, I say, Master Yao, you weren't this foolish before."

Yao Zizhan ignored Zheng Fan and continued to say to Marquis Jingnan:

"Marquis, His Majesty has long admired you from afar."

Tian Wujing nodded and said:

"I will have the opportunity to visit His Majesty the Emperor of Qian in Shangjing in the future. After all, the road has already been scouted.

As for the elegance of Jiangnan, I'll go take a look along the way."

The implication was very clear.

Yao Zizhan sighed and looked at the secret decree. Seeing that Marquis Jingnan didn't accept it, he had to look at Zheng Fan again:

"Brother Zheng, why don't you accept it?"

"Why would I accept it? This is for the Marquis from your Emperor, not for me."

"His Majesty is also deeply impressed with you, Brother Zheng. During the greenhouse meeting, your humor and conversation made His Majesty unforgettable to this day."

Zheng Fan glanced at Tian Wujing, and seeing that Tian Wujing didn't react, he reached out and took the secret decree, but didn't open it to look.

Next,

Yao Zizhan became honest and began to focus on eating and drinking. Before leaving, he even composed a poem to add to the fun, and then said that he couldn't hold his liquor and left the table first.

After Yao Zizhan left,

Tian Wujing also put down his chopsticks, and Zheng Fan immediately put down his chopsticks as well.

"Accompany me to the army to see the soldiers."

"Yes, Marquis."

Zheng Fan knew what Tian Wujing was planning to do, and added:

"Marquis, I'll have my wife pack up some things. We'll go back with you later."

"Are you not going to manage the affairs of Shengle City?"

"I have a few stewards under my command, it won't be a problem. I only ask that the Marquis doesn't punish me for dereliction of duty. I'm still a godfather, so I have to go take a look.

After that, my wife will stay to serve the Madam during her confinement, and I will return overnight."

Tian Wujing nodded, which was considered an agreement, and said:

"Go and tell your wife, I'll consider that I owe you a favor. I'll go to the military camp to see the soldiers first."

"Yes, Marquis."

Zheng Fan first went into the house to talk to Si Niang. After Si Niang heard this, she frowned slightly and said:

"Master, logically speaking, Du Juan should have already given birth. Why haven't we in Shengle City received any news about this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Master, you and the Marquis were marching in the snowy plains and the Heavenly Barren Mountain Range, and it was difficult to transmit letters, which is very normal. But everyone knows that Marquis Jingnan will inevitably pass through Shengle City on his return journey. If the Marquis's wife over there has already given birth, why hasn't anyone come ahead of time to wait for the Marquis's army to return and report the news?"

"That's right."

Zheng Fan took a breath,

And said:

"That's what I was thinking. Marquis Jingnan is so anxious, he should have also noticed that something is wrong. No, that's not right. Counting the days, Du Juan may have just given birth not long ago, and Litian City is quite far from here. The person reporting the news may still be on the way."

Si Niang knew the relationship between her master and Marquis Jingnan, and said:

"Let's hope so, Master. Then, shall we leave?"

"Don't you need to prepare anything?"

"What could the Marquis's mansion be lacking?"

"That's true."

After Zheng Fan gave a few more instructions to the Blind Man, he went to the military camp with Si Niang.

The military camp seemed even more lively because of Tian Wujing's arrival. Marquis Jingnan was walking among the soldiers with a drink in his hand.

This drink was just for show. No one in the Jingnan Army, from the commanding officers down to the ordinary soldiers, dared to force Tian Wujing to drink.

When Zheng Fan and Si Niang entered the military camp, Tian Wujing looked over here and nodded, signaling Zheng Fan to wait a while. He still needed to go and see the wounded and sick soldiers.

Just then,

A horse galloped from outside the military camp, followed by more than a dozen Jingnan Army scouts behind him.

Even though the camp was feasting, the vigilance outside was not lacking at all.

And it was clear that the scouts should have recognized the person, so they did not stop or report, but accompanied and escorted him together towards the central military camp.

The visitor was missing his left arm. When he rode past Zheng Fan, Zheng Fan felt that he looked a little familiar. After thinking carefully, he remembered that he should be one of Tian Wujing's former bodyguards, named Ma Kui. He had been in the Jingnan Marquis bodyguard battalion for a period of time to go to the capital, so he recognized him.

It's just that he should have been seriously injured in the battle to break Jin and became half a cripple, so he didn't stay in the army anymore, but returned to the Marquis's mansion as a "housekeeper."

Tian Wujing watched his former bodyguard ride over, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Ma Kui somersaulted off his horse, and tumbled several times on the ground before rushing to Tian Wujing's side,

The surrounding soldiers initially wanted to laugh, but after seeing the tears and snot on Ma Kui's face, everyone instinctively fell silent;

Ma Kui crawled to Tian Wujing's feet, reached out and grabbed Tian Wujing's boots,

And cried miserably:

"Marquis, Marquis, this subordinate deserves to die, this subordinate deserves to die, this subordinate failed to protect the Madam..."