Chapter 995 Two Swords

"You've done a good job."

Zheng Lin lowered his head, following behind the blind man, and didn't speak.

"Do you know why we placed a seal on you when you were just born?"

Zheng Lin still didn't speak.

"Actually, you know in your heart."

The blind man sighed and sat down, leaning against a nearby rock.

"You were born powerful, which is both your advantage and your disadvantage. Just like in this world, there are pixiu and fire phoenixes; who knows, even further back, there might have been other beings that could be called divine beasts.

"But in the end, they either went extinct or were enslaved by others.

"A solitary powerhouse often doesn't have a good destiny."

Zheng Lin squatted down next to him. The dignified heir to the Regency of Great Yan picked up a twig and started digging at an ant nest.

"For a long time, what you've seen and what you've thought, in reality, I, we, all know in our hearts, including your father.

"You're experiencing what we experienced, and your father is being experienced by you as he was experienced."

The blind man revealed a smile at the corner of his mouth,

and said:

"When your mother was pregnant with you, we were worried about the birth. Descendants with overly powerful bloodlines often bring great difficulties to the mother during childbirth.

"Fortunately, we had something to rely on at the time. At the very least, we had your father there to hold things back, so things wouldn't get to the most critical point."

Hearing this,

Zheng Lin opened his mouth,

and in his eyes,

a red glint flashed momentarily.

The blind man couldn't see it, but how could any change in the surroundings escape his perception?

"You're angry. You're angry that your father seems like a very ordinary person. You're angry that because of your father, you, who could have had a more powerful bloodline, failed to reach what you believe to be your rightful peak.

"This is actually a very unreasonable thing,

"because it was your mother and your father who created you together.

"Without your father,

"you might have possessed a more powerful bloodline, but you wouldn't be the you that you are now.

"Um,

"Did Xue San teach you the biological story of the tadpole and the yolk?"

The corners of Zheng Lin's mouth couldn't help but curve into a slight smile.

He said:

"No, he was just about to teach it when Big Sister came and scared the hell out of Godfather."

"Hahaha."

After the blind man finished laughing,

he continued:

"We've also had regrets, but those regrets, looking at them now, are actually a kind of good fortune.

"Not to mention that without your father, your mother might have had a difficult birth. To be honest, even we godfathers wouldn't hesitate at all when it came to choosing between saving the mother or the child; we'd definitely prioritize your mother.

"Furthermore…"

The blind man reached out and placed his hand on Zheng Lin's head:

"In some ways, you're actually very similar to your father."

Zheng Lin's expression stiffened again.

"Your father is a wise man. He's very genuine."

"Heh, genuine…"

"So genuine that it makes people mistakenly think he's a puppet, a mascot, even…a good-for-nothing.

"But that very genuineness is sometimes actually the best disguise.

"This time is a good opportunity. You can spend more time with your father.

"Our expectations for you are roughly that you can be very powerful, very powerful. In fact, your talent is there, your starting point is there, and it's impossible for your future not to be powerful.

"But in terms of character, you can lean a little more towards your father. That way, you'll live longer…and more importantly, you'll be able to live happily."

Zheng Lin took a breath and let it out.

"What's wrong? Annoyed with me?"

Zheng Lin nodded and said, "No."

"That's good."

"Godfather, I'll be returning soon."

"Returning where?"

"To Fengxin City. So what Godfather said about spending more time together is impossible.

"He's going to go on an expedition, borrowing the road from the Chu Kingdom. To be safe, he'll definitely keep me at home.

"He needs to use me to threaten the Chu Emperor.

"In case the Chu Emperor dares to betray him, if he dies, I'll inherit his throne."

The blind man slowly stood up and asked:

"Then tell me, will it be useful?"

"What will be useful?"

"Will you avenge him?"

Zheng Lin didn't speak.

The blind man smiled slightly and said, "You will."

A gust of wind blew, stirring up the surrounding fallen leaves.

The blind man reached out and gently brushed away the fallen leaves on his clothes,

and said:

"Your sister will return to the palace, but you won't this time."

"Hm?" Zheng Lin was a little surprised.

"This is your father's intention. This time, he plans to take you with him on the expedition."

"How?"

"It's very simple. Arrange a substitute to ride back in the same carriage as your sister. With Da Niu helping to cover it up, who would know that the real Young Master hasn't returned to the palace?"

"Why?" Zheng Lin looked at the blind man. "This isn't his style."

"This really is his style. Do you know what I, Godfather, want most?"

"To rebel." Zheng Lin said almost reflexively.

If the blind man's influence on Tian Tian was only a side effect of shaqima,

then on Zheng Lin, it was almost relentlessly instilling his obsession into him.

"Your father, as I said before, is just seeking happiness. We few have put in half of this foundation, and your father alone has put in half.

"But he doesn't really care about the prosperity of this foundation for generations to come.

"So, arranging for a puppet to go back and complete the process is enough.

"This time, he wants to bring you by his side.

"He wants to change the environment for the two of you, father and son, to one that doesn't belong to the palace, so you can spend some quality time together.

"Just like he did with your Brother Tian Tian back then."

"Sentimental."

The blind man pointed and said, "But living life requires this sentimentality."

"So, if something unexpected happens, whether it's the Qian people ambushing us or the Chu people stabbing us in the back, the two of us, father and son, could very well be wiped out in one fell swoop?

"He's really stupid."

"He doesn't care."

"Then what about you, Godfather?" Zheng Lin asked back. "If that's really the case, who will help Godfather fulfill his wish?"

"If your father is gone, I probably won't live either."

Hearing this,

Zheng Lin frowned

and asked:

"Godfather, you and my father…"

"The bond between us is much, much deeper than you imagine."

"Is that why you, Godfather, have always stayed by my father's side?"

"Yes."

At this moment, a guard rode over on horseback:

"Young Master, Master Bei, the Prince summons you to the main tent."

…

"This is the military map?"

Inside the main tent,

Zheng Fan carefully examined the map drawn by Nian Yao.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Is it easy for cavalry to travel?" Zheng Fan asked.

"It is possible to travel, but it will take some effort. After all, it's not comparable to flat plains. But as long as we pass through this mountainous area, once we get out, Qian Kingdom's Jiangnan region will be almost completely exposed before Your Highness's iron hooves."

Zheng Fan reached out and outlined the mountainous area.

Back then, during the first Yan-Chu war, when the Chu Kingdom was defeated, Nian Yao immediately led his troops to raid the Qian Kingdom.

Originally, this area should have been a disputed territory between the two sides, with intertwined interests. However, because of Nian Yao's successful raid, the Qian people were eventually forced to "unite against a common enemy" and ceded most of the original disputed area to the Chu Kingdom.

Therefore, the most difficult area to traverse really only had the obstacle of being difficult to traverse; there were no other impediments. The Qian people hadn't established any defenses there.

Zheng Fan reached out and pointed in the direction of Xie Yu'an,

and asked:

"Can the food and supplies be provided?"

"The waterways are abundant and can transport food and supplies to the army. In addition, many of the military supplies that the Qian Kingdom previously sent to our Great Chu haven't had time to be transferred, so we can use them on the spot.

"Your Highness's troops are all cavalry. After leaving the mountains, we can bypass the Qian people's passes and enter Jiangnan directly, so there's no need to worry about food and supplies at all."

Using the military supplies that the Qian people gave to the Chu people to attack the Qian people.

This sounded ridiculous, but it was very likely to actually happen.

The relationship between countries is sometimes really more shameless than the relationship between people.

"In addition, Your Highness, my Xie family will send another ten thousand soldiers, and the Great Chu royal guards will also send twenty thousand soldiers for Your Highness to command."

"The Xie family still has troops?"

It was Chen Xianba who spoke, standing in the corner of the main tent.

Tian Tian stood beside him.

The two of them had been summoned back by Zheng Fan from Gou Moli's place.

Zheng Fan turned his head and glanced at Chen Xianba.

Chen Xianba immediately put away the unruly look on his face and showed obedience.

"Look at the two of you, if you hadn't chased so recklessly, the Xie Pillar of State could have brought back more Xie family soldiers. Maybe he could have provided us with twenty thousand or even thirty thousand Xie family soldiers as support.

"Apologize."

Chen Xianba didn't dare to say anything else and immediately bowed to Xie Yu'an together with Tian Tian to apologize.

Xie Yu'an immediately returned the bow.

At this moment, Zheng Fan asked again:

"Will your father personally lead the troops?"

"My father…is injured," Xie Yu'an replied. "I will personally accompany Your Highness on the expedition."

"Is the injury serious?"

"Thank you for Your Highness's concern. After resting for a while, he should be…"

"Then it's not serious. You two, father and son, come together. Like father, like son."

"Yes, sir."

"By the way, who is the commander of those twenty thousand royal guards?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, it's Zhao Han."

"I remember he was a commander of a route?"

"Yes."

"Oh, he's not dead?"

"He…is not dead."

"Replace him with someone else. I don't want someone who runs away too fast."

"Who does Your Highness favor?"

"It's a pity that if Xiong Tingshan hadn't died, that would have been great."

Xie Yu'an's expression remained normal and said, "Indeed."

Zheng Fan reached out and pointed to Nian Yao, who was standing on the side wearing a mask,

and said:

"Alright, let General Nian be reinstated. Nian Yao, you lead these twenty thousand royal guards."

"This subordinate obeys!"

Zheng Fan looked at Xie Yu'an and asked, "How is it?"

"Your Highness's arrangement is extremely appropriate."

"That's good. Then, let's…wait."

Everyone in the main tent looked at the Prince, waiting for instructions.

"This expedition is a long journey. Not to mention the mountain Yue tribes along the way, even if we enter the Qian people's Jiangnan smoothly, it will be very dangerous. After all, this is stabbing a knife into the Qian people's home.

"In that case,

"summon that sword-maker from the Du Gu family to be my bodyguard.

"I'm a light sleeper.

"I need two swords to put under my pillow so I can sleep soundly."