Chapter 769 Returning Home to Joy!

The Chu people withdrew their camp;

Tian Tian smiled;

Marquis Zheng also smiled.

Of course, the withdrawal of a water寨 (water camp) wouldn't change the overall defense of the Chu people south of the Wei River. Marquis Zheng had no intention of taking advantage of the situation to cross the river;

A smile, a bit of fun, that's enough, that's worth it.

This was life. What ordinary people saw as a terrifying 金戈铁马 (jing ge tie ma, war), Marquis Zheng saw as just another part of life.

Marquis Zheng said to Jin Shuke beside him,

"Jin Shuke."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Now, the Chu people are retreating in fear of the Jingnan King's flag. In the future, this Marquis hopes that they will also retreat in fear when they see your 'Jin' banner."

Zheng Fan deliberately didn't mention himself, but in essence, it was the same thing.

"Your subordinate vows to work hard and live up to the Marquis's expectations!"

Marquis Zheng nodded and said, "Let's go, let's go home."

However, at that moment, a raft came over from the Chu side.

Marquis Zheng saw it and signaled the Pixiu beneath him to wait a moment.

Soon, the Chu messenger brought a message.

It said that General Nian Yao wanted to host a banquet on the shore and meet the Jingnan King.

Everyone knew that the Chu Kingdom's general admired the Southern King of Yan as a role model. In Zheng Fan's eyes, Nian Yao was actually a fan of Lao Tian (Old Tian).

However, a banquet with wine, huh.

"Jin Shuke, the Jingnan King isn't here. Guess, is Nian Yao on the other side?"

"Your Lordship, the war between the Chu and Qian countries has long ended. It wouldn't be strange if Nian Yao was transferred back here."

"Heh."

Marquis Zheng shook his head. If Nian Yao were in charge of the defenses on the opposite bank, whether to launch an attack on Chu after the spring, as originally planned, would have to be reconsidered.

When Lao Tian (Old Tian) was around, he once said that the position of a famous general in this world could not be without this Nian General, who came from a slave background.

In the Yan-Chu War, the Chu Kingdom lost, but General Nian always maintained his dignity.

It was also because of General Nian's early attrition that Yan lost the opportunity to expand its gains. The Jingnan King's burning of Yingdu and the Marquis of Pingxi's digging up the noble ancestral graves were, in essence, a catharsis before leaving.

"In a while, General Liang will come again."

"Your subordinate understands."

Let Liang Cheng come and take a look first. Marquis Zheng was confident in himself, but there was no need to leave such an excellent advisor unused.

But in Jin Shuke's view, he was a confidant valued by the Marquis of Pingxi, so the number one confidant in the army must be Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng should be the one who inherited the mantle of the Marquis of Pingxi.

Marquis Zheng didn't reply to the "General Nian" on the other side. He went straight back to Zhennan Pass, visited the people and households in and around Zhennan Pass, gave a few speeches to the soldiers, and then distributed the rice, flour, and oil that were already prepared as New Year's goods as rewards brought by Marquis Zheng to the army and civilians.

These political shows delayed him for a few days, which was just enough time to wait for the Sword Saint to return before heading home to Fengxin City with the Sword Saint.

…

"That sword-maker from the Dugu family is really easy to talk to," Marquis Zheng said.

"It's just a sword," the Sword Saint said.

No matter how you put it, it was just a sword;

It wasn't as if the Sword Saint wouldn't be the Sword Saint without Longyuan. Even with the Sword Saint, wasn't Jin also destroyed?

When there was no need to be stingy, the sword-maker still had the demeanor of a great Chu nobleman.

"I saw Nian Yao," the Sword Saint said.

"The real Nian Yao?"

"Not sure, he claimed to be Nian Yao."

"Oh."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure either," Zheng Fan said. "Maybe the Chu people have a hunch. The Phoenix Nest Internal Guard isn't just there for show."

Before the troops moved, the supplies had to go first. The Chu court couldn't have failed to receive news of some recent movements in Fengxin City.

However, he didn't know if his trip to the Snow Plains would dispel their doubts.

Marquis Zheng laughed;

"But it doesn't matter. The Chu people will inevitably be wary of my Yan army going south, and my Great Yan has always wanted to go south. We both know this very well."

"The people in the Chu territory south of Shanggu County have resumed their lives," the Sword Saint said.

"You can't bear to part with it?" Marquis Zheng asked.

"Not really."

"When you get back to Fengxin City, ask your son, and ask the normal neighbors, ask them if they want to fight. They will tell you that they do.

Only by fighting,

can those who aren't standard households become standard households and eat the iron crops of the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion;

and those who are already standard households want to gain more rewards through fighting and live a better life.

Lao Yu (Old Yu),

think about it,

you think the people are satisfied just because they don't freeze or starve?

No, they won't be.

When they can't eat enough and don't have enough clothes, that's what they think about, but when they live that kind of life, people are never satisfied.

They will want to eat more refined food, and they will want to wear more comfortable clothes.

They want the dowry prepared for their daughter's wedding to be more generous, and they want to choose more impressive furniture when their son gets married.

After taking care of their sons and daughters, they still think about the benefits for their grandsons and granddaughters.

They will never be satisfied, and they will never be satisfied.

I don't want to fight. You know, I've always been quite lazy, but now, they want to fight. What can you do?"

"Do what you want, but there's one thing I've always been curious about. What you just said, I actually felt it when I was in Fengxin City before.

But why is that?"

A year of peaceful life,

the emperor died, and the new emperor ascended the throne. This could only be a small improvement, and it was too far away for the people of Fengxin City.

And those direct descendants who were first in Shengle City and then went to Xuehai Pass had long been accustomed to sharing the fruits of the Marquis's victories in foreign wars.

Suddenly stopping the war, they were a little unaccustomed to it.

"What people fear isn't fighting, what they fear is losing a battle."

"I think your words are a bit absolute."

"I think so too."

There was nothing to delay on the road. They traveled quickly. The Sword Saint didn't want to go to Xiulongyuan, but he couldn't resist Zheng Fan's request, so he went.

So, when the group returned to Fengxin City,

the New Year was over;

the Sword Saint's son's hundred-day celebration was also over.

This was life; nothing could be perfect.

After entering the city, the Sword Saint went home.

Marquis Zheng also returned to his mansion. This time, going out wasn't too hard. The main thing was to let the child see the world.

The black cat and the fox rushed out to welcome their little master. Tian Tian squatted down and caressed them affectionately.

Marquis Zheng also took out the magic pill and handed it to Tian Tian.

Ah Ming habitually turned left after entering the mansion and returned to the wine cellar where he was used to staying. He didn't set up any house in or outside the Marquis's mansion. The wine cellar of the Marquis's mansion was Ah Ming's home.

Anyway, Marquis Zheng and the other 魔王 (demonic kings) didn't like wine.

Marquis Zheng ordered the servants to prepare bathwater. In his previous life, his home was his workplace. In this life, the happiest thing was probably being able to be completely "isolated from the world" when he returned home.

Two stone lions were also placed at the gate of the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion. They were the same style as those in front of the old Jingnan Marquis's Mansion in Litian City. The meaning was self-evident.

Soaking in the湯池 (tang chi, hot spring pool) relaxed his whole body.

Marquis Zheng couldn't help but make a "靡靡之音 (mi mi zhi yin, murmur)",

and then he put the towel under his neck, closed his eyes, and took a nap.

When he woke up, he looked around. There were definitely no maids. Maids could not enter to serve Marquis Zheng when he was taking a bath. Even Mother Ke, the senior nanny in the mansion, only dared to come in and serve the Marquis in bed when the madams were not around.

But the problem was,

none of his three wives came to see their returning man?

Marquis Zheng felt that his status in the family wasn't that low.

He wiped himself dry, put on his clothes, walked out of the house, and stretched.

At this time, a maid who had been waiting for a long time came over and reported,

"Your Lordship, Madam asks you to go to the side courtyard."

Madam refers to Si Niang (Fourth Madam). There was no need to add the word "大 (da, first)" before the Great Madam. The side courtyard in the mansion refers to the small house where the Princess lived, because Si Niang's courtyard was Zheng Marquis's main house.

"Understood."

After taking a bath and a nap, Marquis Zheng was now full of energy. When he approached the side courtyard, he found that the side courtyard had just been moved, and a greenhouse had obviously been installed.

Originally, only the small courtyard where Tian Tian was had a greenhouse.

As soon as Marquis Zheng walked in, he heard the laughter of a group of women, as well as the crisp collision sound of "哗啦啦 (hua la la)".

"Fācái (get rich)."

"Pèng (pung)!"

In the small pavilion in the courtyard,

four women were sitting at a table, playing mahjong.

Si Niang sat in the main seat, with the Princess and Liu Ruqing beside Si Niang, and Ke Shi was accompanying them.

Among the four women, Ke Shi was dressed a little plainly, but her figure was plump and moisturized. The other three madams were dressed in gorgeous and colorful clothes.

Walking in while listening to the sound of playing mahjong,

Marquis Zheng vaguely felt that he was like a warlord from the Republic of China walking into his backyard and seeing a group of concubines sitting together playing mahjong.

Um,

it seemed that it was not far from the truth, he was indeed a warlord now.

"Your Lordship."

Ke Shi stepped away from the table first and bowed to Zheng Fan.

Liu Ruqing also stepped away from the table and bowed.

Si Niang reached out and held down Xiong Liqing, who wanted to leave the table.

"Yo, Master, are you done sleeping?"

"Hehe." Zheng Fan smiled, "I'm done sleeping. You're in a good mood today."

Zheng Fan didn't really notice the change in Si Niang's tone. He had tried various role-playing games when playing with needlework before, so he wasn't that sensitive anymore.

Moreover, he and Si Niang seemed to be master and servant but were actually husband and wife, and were also friends. Zheng Fan thought it was normal for Si Niang to speak to him in any tone.

Walking into the pavilion, Zheng Fan first looked at Si Niang, but Si Niang smiled and pointed to the left,

"Master, see if there's any change in Liqing, my sister?"

Zheng Fan looked at Xiong Liqing and said,

"You've gotten fat."

"………" Xiong Liqing.

Immediately,

the smile on Zheng Fan's face froze,

because as his gaze moved down,

he saw the Princess's slightly bulging lower abdomen.

嘶 (si, hiss)……