Chapter 796 Fate

"The monkeys on both banks keep calling, but the light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains."

Zheng Fan sat on the boat, holding a cup of Daze Fragrant Tongue in his hand.

In the past, when drinking tea, Zheng Fan only understood this one kind, but only now did he understand how to drink it. This tea must be brewed and sipped little by little.

This tea is like wine, with a strong aftertaste, so it must be tasted slowly, stretching and spreading out the comfortable and dizzy feeling.

In the past, Zheng Fan actually used it as a "sleeping pill," drinking a large cup or a large pot and falling asleep.

This method was just taught by Fan Zhengwen.

Fan Zhengwen is indeed a wonderful person, and he teaches very carefully.

"I didn't expect there to be so many tricks to drinking tea." Zheng Fan said with a smile.

"My lord, I didn't expect there to be so many tricks to fighting a war either. In this world, you still have to specialize in your field. It's almost impossible to be omniscient and omnipotent."

"I've only seen one."

"Oh?" Fan Zhengwen asked curiously, "May I ask who this master is, my lord?"

Marquis Zheng shook his head, not planning to continue the topic.

Seeing Marquis Zheng's thoughts, Qu Peiluo opened his mouth and said, "The poems that you recited earlier, my lord, have a grand pattern and atmosphere, but I have one thing that I don't understand. Our boat isn't traveling very fast right now."

The boat was going against the current, and coupled with the large number of people and goods being transported, it also had to coordinate with the soldiers and horses marching on the shore, so naturally, it couldn't be fast.

Fan Zhengwen then spoke,

"My lord's poem isn't about our return this time, but about the last time you led your army by boat into Chu, personally opening up a new pattern in the Yan-Chu war.

At that time, my lord, you were heroic and high-spirited, and your elite soldiers were ready to go. Deep within the boats, they were like a kunpeng (a mythical bird) spreading its wings. The pattern of the confrontation between the millions of troops of the Yan and Chu countries will be broken by you.

The sound of monkeys on both banks is nothing more than the Chu army's incompetent anger, not worth mentioning;

Such sincerity, such excitement, such unrestrainedness,

The crossing of ten thousand mountains is just a trivial matter."

Hearing this, Qu Peiluo said helplessly:

"Alas, I shouldn't have asked. The clown is myself."

There were many operas in the land of Chu, and all kinds of troupes emerged one after another. The image of a clown for funny entertainment had already appeared.

And in the last battle against Chu, Marquis Zheng led a surprise attack into Chu, first burning Yongcheng and then blocking the Regent, and then, in a counterattack, he slapped Qu Peiluo and his Qingluan Army to death on Qingtan.

But who would have thought that everyone could now sit on the same boat and drink from the same pot of tea.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

The sound of vomiting came.

It wasn't that someone deliberately wanted to have some physiological discomfort with this kind of "shameless" flattery. The one vomiting against the side of the boat was a young personal guard, but he was wearing silver armor, showing his extraordinary status and importance.

It was Chen Xianba.

"Xianba, how many times is that?" Zheng Fan asked.

Chen Xianba finished vomiting, wiped the corner of his mouth, and clasped his fist and said, "My lord, your subordinate is inexperienced and has embarrassed you."

Fan Zhengwen then said, "Little Brother Chen killed a Chu state pillar general on the battlefield at such a young age. If that's considered inexperienced, then I, Fan, would really have no face to continue sitting here and drinking tea."

In the battle outside Fan City, the Dugujian family's army was pushed back, and Dugu Mu personally led the central army to cover the retreat, and finally died in battle. The one who beheaded him was Chen Xianba.

Logically speaking, this kind of military merit would not be too much to reward. In the end, the Marquis of Pingxi transferred him from Jin Shuke's personal soldier camp to his own Embroidered Uniform Guard.

No one would think that the Marquis of Pingxi would not reward merit. In fact, this was the greatest reward. Everyone knew that the Marquis of Pingxi was taught by the Prince of Jingnan when he was brought by his side.

He already had military merit to his name, and after a few years of experience and influence by the Marquis of Pingxi, he would definitely soar into the sky and be able to stand alone.

"Xianba, didn't you say that you are best at fishing?"

"Reporting to my lord, the fishing that I'm talking about isn't fishing from a fishing boat, but diving into the water to catch fish."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan nodded.

Nine out of ten people from pure Yan backgrounds are pure landlubbers.

Because of this, the new round of Wangjiang Navy's formation will absorb a large number of Jin people.

"Just get used to it, don't be afraid. As a general, I'm not saying that you can be proficient in everything, but you should have some knowledge in every aspect. In the future, when we attack Chu or Qian, the navies of these two countries will become a difficult problem for our Dayan's iron cavalry."

"Thank you for your teachings, my lord. I understand. I will go back and practice swimming."

"Okay."

"This child has a blessed face, my lord is very lucky." The Old Ancestor of the Fan family walked out of the cabin.

Fan Zhengwen stood up, and Qu Peiluo hesitated for a moment before also standing up.

In the past, Qu Peiluo was the master, and no matter how high the Fan family's Old Ancestor's seniority was, he was just a slave in front of him, but now he had started over.

In formal occasions, even the Emperor of Yan should be considered a junior in front of this person.

Zheng Fan was still sitting in his chair, dipping a little tea and sipping it slowly.

The Old Ancestor of the Fan family sat in Fan Zhengwen's previous seat, looked at Zheng Fan, and said with a smile, "My lord doesn't believe it?"

"I believe it."

It seemed that Zheng Fan's cold response made the Old Ancestor not know how to continue, and the scene was a little awkward.

Fan Zhengwen said;

"Actually, it should be that my lord himself is blessed by the heavens. We are able to share this blessing because we are following you."

The classic flattery of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

The Old Ancestor glanced at his grandson. He had to say that his grandson's ability to speak was indeed powerful, but he always deliberately provoked him to anger in front of him.

Zheng Fan put down his teacup, shook his head, and said:

"This marquis believes in fate, but this marquis never thinks that he is one of the lucky ones."

Immediately after,

Zheng Fan reached out and pointed at Chen Xianba, saying:

"The same goes for you. Do you think your fate is good?"

Chen Xianba hesitated for a moment,

But after all, he was facing the Marquis of Pingxi, his idol all along. And after joining the army and experiencing this long-distance raid led by the Marquis, the Marquis of Pingxi was like a deity in his heart;

"Reporting to my lord, your subordinate thinks that his fate… is very good."

"Is General Nian's fate good? Climbing from a slave to the position of a general, what about now?

Dugu Mu and Shi Yuantang, are their fates good? Hundreds of years of family fortune fell on them, but what was the result?

If your fate is good, you can't be complacent, because you don't know if the fate of the person you are facing is even better than yours?

This marquis says that his fate is just average, you may not believe it, but in reality, it is indeed like this. On this point, this marquis really doesn't need to deliberately humble or exaggerate anything.

How many times has this marquis been on the verge of death? Some escaped by chance, but most of the time, they were forced to hold on with that breath.

In addition,

This marquis has killed many people who thought their fates were very good, so many that this marquis himself can't count them all;

Among them, some of their fates are even envied by this marquis.

Fate is water, and oneself is tea;

Although some people will say that tea brewed with mountain spring water or old well water is better, the essence of tea depends on the tea leaves. If the tea leaves are not good, adding more water, no matter how good the water is, is in vain."

Chen Xianba knelt down and kowtowed,

Saying:

"Your subordinate will keep your teachings in mind!"

Qu Peiluo also stood up and saluted.

The Old Ancestor was a little dissatisfied and said, "My lord, you are really standing and talking without back pain."

Zheng Fan nodded,

Saying:

"If you talk to this marquis like this again, this marquis will order someone to strip you naked and hang you on the mast."

"…" The Old Ancestor.

Fan Zhengwen wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The Old Ancestor's face turned red and white, but in the end, he stood up and saluted:

"This old woman was wrong."

"When the Fan family used to be slaves, they were the local emperors in their own homes. Later, in Fan City, they were even a small prince, and no one was in charge of them. Anyway, they could say and do things as they pleased.

But this time, the Fan family moved to Yanjing with their entire family,

Entering the officialdom of the Yan country as a Hakka family, your grandson will definitely be careful, this marquis is not worried about this;

As for you,

You may have wealth and glory, but if you don't restrain your isolated and self-admiring temperament of planting flowers and plants, you will cause trouble sooner or later.

Don't think that the Emperor will take care of you because of some family ties. To put it this way, the Emperor is very similar to this marquis in this regard."

Fan Zhengwen hurriedly saluted:

"Thank you for your guidance, my lord."

"This old woman, this old woman, this old woman is going back to her room to rest, this old woman shouldn't have come out, my lord, this old woman takes her leave."

The Old Ancestor really couldn't stand being reprimanded by this man, who was much younger than her grandson, like a child, so she had to get up and leave.

After she left, the men present laughed.

"Alas."

Fan Zhengwen sighed and said, "Actually, this subordinate really wants to go to Fengxin City where you are, my lord. I think life can be more comfortable."

Marquis Zheng shook his head and said:

"It's useless for you to go to my place. I have a more powerful financial expert there than you."

"…" Fan Zhengwen.

Blind One is more focused on specific affairs. In terms of ideological politics and the establishment of a bureaucratic system, Si Niang (Fourth Wife) is the financial operator.

In recent years, Marquis Zheng has been able to make great achievements on the battlefield, which is really inseparable from Si Niang's management at home. Si Niang is Marquis Zheng's Xiao He (an important figure in the establishment of the Han dynasty).

Fan Zhengwen's skills conflict with Si Niang's. The two overlap in the overall financial situation and design. If he is just a head of a subordinate in charge of a certain category, then there is no need for someone of Fan Zhengwen's level.

Moreover, the Marquis's Mansion is now the substantive "state" of Jinyuan. How can finance be controlled by outsiders? That would really mean that there would be no secrets at all.

"You are really straightforward, my lord." Fan Zhengwen said with a wry smile.

"It's good to be straightforward, it's comfortable for each other. After going to Yanjing, work hard, help the Emperor, and straighten out Dayan's finances so that Dayan can recover as soon as possible.

I don't want to continue fighting this kind of battle where we can win but still have to withdraw."

After winning, we still have to retreat, at most grabbing something and leaving. It seems like we've made a profit, but compared to the real expansion of territory, it still lacks the real thrill.

It's a pity that although Dayan has a large territory, it can't sustain the logistical supply for a continuous war.

"Don't worry, my lord, your subordinate will definitely do his best."

Qu Peiluo opened his mouth and said, "My lord, how should I be arranged?"

He asked very frankly.

"How do you want to be arranged?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Of course, I will listen to your orders, my lord."

"Ah, you are really not easy to arrange." Zheng Fan stretched himself. "Fan City has already arranged someone."

It was Gou Moli.

"It's not appropriate to arrange you in Zhennan Pass. You don't dare to take over, and this marquis is not at ease;

As for Xuehai Pass, although this marquis's policy of indirect rule over the snowy plains has achieved considerable results, he has not been able to really free his hands to completely integrate the snowy plains. This marquis is not at ease with you in Xuehai Pass. The example of the Dacheng Kingdom is not far away.

As for Yupan City, it's too close to that side, and this marquis is afraid that you will be won over."

The corner of Qu Peiluo's eye twitched;

The young master of the Qu family felt that he had responded to Marquis Zheng's previous words and was quite frank, so he took the initiative to ask about his future arrangements, regardless of his awkward status;

Who would have thought that Marquis Zheng would really put his words into practice, and his self-disclosure made him feel like he wanted to find a crack to crawl into.

And in Fan Zhengwen's ears, when he heard the words "being won over by that side," he pretended not to hear them.

Marquis Zheng propped his chin with his hand,

Smiling:

"In this way, I'm really worried about you being outside. I know your ability. This time, Fan City was able to hold on, thanks to you."

If Fan Zhengwen had defended it himself, Fan City would have lasted at most two days, no more.

Moreover, Qu Peiluo was originally a "top student" who had received the Qu family's good family education and inheritance. The reason why he lost to Marquis Zheng on Qingtan back then was also because he was inexperienced. In the past two years, he had become much more mature.

Marquis Zheng changed his tone,

Saying;

"Fengxin City is still short of a chief military officer to be responsible for the defense of Fengxin City. I'll leave it to you."

Originally, the nominal heads in charge of the defense of Fengxin City were Xue San and Fan Li. These two were actually just nominal positions. Handing it over to Qu Peiluo was just right.

Qu Peiluo knelt down,

"Thank you, my lord."

"Do you think I'm deliberately mocking you?"

Qu Peiluo shook his head and said:

"You have great courage, my lord."

To hand over his life and wealth for the sake of a "mockery" would be underestimating people too much, and too naive.

"That's good."

Zheng Fan stood up,

"That's it, I'm going back to the cabin to rest. By the way, are the Chu people's soldiers and horses following behind us still following?"

Qu Peiluo replied: "They should still be following."

The team that Marquis Zheng was in did not choose the shortest distance back to Fengxin City, but detoured a little, taking the Great River, going north, and then entering Wangjiang, and finally, going to Yingdu first.

Because of the information difference caused by the distance of the journey,

Marquis Zheng did not know that he had been named "King of Pingxi";

Similarly, the Yanjing City had just issued the decree to confer the title of King, and did not know that the new prince of Dayan had done the feat of performing a circumcision ceremony for the Chu State general in front of tens of thousands of people.

However, Marquis Zheng did receive the first decree from Yanjing City: The Crown Prince was coming.

Before he left the capital, the Emperor had told him that he would send his eldest son to him.

First, this was a symbol of the close relationship between the Emperor and the Marquis of Pingxi's Mansion. Second, it was also a tradition of the Ji family, just like the friendship and trust between the late Emperor and Li Liangting was established in childhood;

But this time, sending him over at this time also contained the Emperor's full support for him.

Marquis Zheng planned to go to Yingdu himself to pick up the Crown Prince, no, he was not picking up the Crown Prince, but the child of Xiao Liuzi's family.

He should still give Xiao Liuzi this face.

Also, because he took the "main road," he had, to a certain extent, left the actual control range of Fan City. In addition, this time, the soldiers and horses, except for those left behind for Gou Moli, and the rest of the soldiers and horses to return were divided into several routes and several batches, so Marquis Zheng didn't have many guards around him, on and off the boat.

But even so, the Chu people did not dare to take the initiative to attack. The main force that the Chu people had gathered was still south of Fan City, and the Chu army trailing here was the garrison from the nearby Chu military fortresses and county towns.

It was better to say that they were expelling the "Yan people" than to say that they were "seeing them off."

Qu Peiluo pondered for a moment and said:

"They should follow for another stretch of the road."

"They have also worked hard, haha."

Marquis Zheng patted Qu Peiluo on the shoulder, turned around, and walked into his own cabin.

Si Niang was sitting there looking at the account books, while also writing and drawing.

"Still busy." Zheng Fan walked over and hugged Si Niang from behind.

"Master, the Fan family has moved to Yanjing with their entire family, and Xiaogouzi (Little Dog) has occupied Fan City, so naturally we have to take over the business that originally went through Fan City. This servant has to arrange and plan again."

The war was over, but the business would continue.

The Emperor didn't allow it, but the people below couldn't be controlled by the Emperor alone. Smuggling business has been impossible to stop since ancient times.

The Chu people were like this, and the Yan people were also like this.

Moreover, for many Chu people, what I hate is the Yan people, but I have no hatred with silver.

The area of Jinyuan was using commerce as the main engine to drive the rapid development and recovery of other aspects, which was the established policy.

"You've worked too hard, you should also rest." Si Niang didn't think much of it.

Many times, when he was with Si Niang, Marquis Zheng had a feeling that he was being supported by a strong woman.

In fact, it was indeed the case.

Except for the occasional war that made him seem very manly, in his daily life, whether in bed or out of bed, it seemed that he was the one being manipulated.

"Next, let's focus on thinking of a way to see if we can solve that problem." Zheng Fan said.

"There's no need to rush this. Isn't Little Liqing already pregnant?"

"It's different."

"Anyway, they are all the master's children. What's the difference from whose belly they come out of?"

Zheng Fan sat down next to her and said, "It's still different. We can spend more time looking around, looking for famous doctors, and alchemists can also be found. We have money and power now, so we're not afraid of not being able to find them.

Come, eat a grape."

Zheng Fan personally peeled a grape and sent it to Si Niang's mouth.

Suddenly, Si Niang pushed away the grape,

Covering her mouth:

"Ugh…"

————

There's more tonight