“Which one of us three is any good?”

“Look at what you’re saying; at least I see that this Great Yan is getting better and better.”

Li Liangting shook his head and said,

“On the road from the west to the capital, what I saw and heard, the lives of the people, can’t be considered good.”

“The troubles that need to be taken care of will be taken care of one by one. The days ahead will slowly get better. Besides, natural disasters are unpredictable. We have to endure them whenever they come;

But,

No matter how big the natural disaster is, it’s much better than war.”

Zheng Fan helped Li Liangting sit down on the chair, looked at Zheng Fan, and smiled,

“You kid, from the little shrimp you were back then, you’re now a Marquis, but you still have such sweet talk.”

“No matter what, I can’t lose the thing I rely on to make a living.”

“You’re too modest, too modest. When it comes to fighting, which of the next generation of kids can compare to you?”

“I like to hear you say that, please say more.”

“Heh, I’m hungry, can’t talk anymore, just thinking about this bite of duck. Alas, the rules set by the ancestors are so boring. If there’s a lack of carnal desires in wealth and glory, what’s the point of living such a bland life?”

Zheng Fan personally wrapped a piece of duck for Li Liangting and handed it over.

Li Liangting took it, put it in his mouth, and pointed to the table, shouting to Ji Chengjue;

“Little Sixth, is this all there is?”

“Yo, Uncle, eat as much as you like, I guarantee you won’t be cut short.”

Ji Chengjue went down to continue roasting the duck.

Looking at the back of Little Sixth Ji leaving, Li Liangting smiled:

“I just love to eat the duck this kid roasts for me.”

“The taste is very good.”

“No, no, no, the meat is roasted, and a little seasoning is added. In my mouth, they all taste the same, but among His Majesty’s children, he is the one who looks the most like His Majesty, whether in appearance or anything else.

When His Majesty was a child, he used to fight with me for chicken legs;

Now,

When I look at him, it’s like I’m watching His Majesty roast duck for me.”

These words,

Li Liangting can say, but Zheng Fan can’t.

At this moment,

Li Liangting looked at the Sword Saint and said;

“I heard Liang Shen mention it back then, you went to our Beifeng County to have a fight with him?”

The Sword Saint didn’t respond, stood up, and silently walked to the window on the other side.

To this,

The Prince of Zhenbei was not angry.

Don’t think that because the Sword Saint lives next to the Marquis’s mansion, and don’t think that because the Sword Saint has accompanied Zheng Fan out a few times, the dignified Sword Saint of Jin is really just an offering or servant of the Marquis’s mansion.

The Sword Saint’s arrogance has never faded.

He once killed the head of the old Situ family with a single sword,

Naturally, he can be unreserved towards the Great Yan Prince of Zhenbei;

The reason why he responded to Li Liangshen before was not because Li Liangshen was the General of the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion, but because Li Liangshen was a swordsman, and they knew each other.

The Sword Saint doesn’t understand what it means to “bow down to serve the powerful,” but at his level, when he doesn’t want to or is too lazy to go, most of the social interactions can be ignored.

Li Liangting smiled;

“I remember you lost to Wu Jing, right?”

The Sword Saint still ignored him.

“My kung fu was a little better than Wu Jing’s back then, but Wu Jing has good talent. If I hadn’t been injured, he should be a little stronger than me now;

So,

We’re actually about evenly matched.”

The Sword Saint remained unmoved, continuing to look at the pedestrians and scenery on the streets of Yanjing City below.

Li Liangting chuckled “hehe”,

His hair was already half white.

Actually, he wasn’t too old.

But this time in Beijing, Zheng Fan felt different from the last time.

It is said that the Prince of Zhenbei suffered a serious injury in the past, which led to the interruption of his martial arts path. For martial artists, in general, their qi and blood will decline as they get older;

But this scene was manifested earlier on the Prince of Zhenbei.

Li Liangting continued to eat roast duck,

At the same time, he said to Zheng Fan;

“Is there any problem with that area of Jidong?”

Before, they were reminiscing about the past, talking about elders and juniors, but now, they were talking about official business. Since it was official business, there was no need to maintain the posture of a junior.

“Not a big problem.”

Li Liangting nodded and said, “After all, the wild men are not as resistant to beatings as the barbarians.”

“Yes.”

Zheng Fan would not deny this.

The snowy plains are indeed not comparable to the deserts. If the snowy plains hadn’t produced a Wild Man King, the Situ family after the three families divided Jin could have pinched their Luanzi and beaten them.

As for the deserts,

The century-old Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion has never really let go of that sandy land.

When the Keyan Dongge tribe first arrived at Xuehai Pass, Zheng Fan dared to immediately lead them to fight the wild men. These barbarians could also howl and rush up to beat the wild men. This is actually a manifestation of the “food chain.”

“Tell me, how do you plan to deal with them? After all, there is one thing in common, whether it is the desert or the snowy plains, the troops of my Great Yan cannot really completely cover and station there.

Our two families, placed in the Qian Kingdom, are two frontier towns. Naturally, we must not hide our secrets in defending the country, but share our experiences and learn from each other.”

Obviously,

Although there was a bit of an elder’s tone in his words, Li Liangting was actually looking at Zheng Fan as a person of the same level.

“Your Highness, the method is actually the same method, nothing more than dividing, co-opting, and打击 (daji, strike) them.”

“Isn’t there anything new?”

“I organized a group of people from outside the world, monks, Taoists, sorcerers, and so on, as well as some members of the Hunmen (mixed sects), and let them go to the snowy plains to preach.

Now, it has initially taken effect.

Many large tribes in the snowy plains have already built Taoist temples or Buddhist temples.”

“Heh, I remember, don’t the wild men believe in some stars?”

“Yes.”

“Actually, it’s almost the same. The barbarians believe in barbarian gods. In essence, they are all ethereal, murky, invisible, and intangible things.

Your method is not bad. This is digging up people’s ancestral graves from the root.

It’s a pity,

It can’t be used in the desert for the time being.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

Li Liangting wiped his mouth and said:

“The snowy plains were beaten down, subdued, and softened by Wu Jing and you together. Since ancient times, if the blade is not sharp and you can’t beat people on the battlefield, you can’t get your breath straight.

Think about that Qian Kingdom, claiming to be a land of culture and education, with talented and romantic scholars, but look, my Great Yan, although there are some pedantic scholars, most of the people actually look down on the Qian people’s appearance with feather fans and silk scarves.

There’s no other reason, it’s just that they’re useless on the battlefield.

For the barbarians,

For the past hundred years, it has been a slow process of cutting their flesh with a soft knife. They have to be beaten to the point of collapse, to the point where they themselves believe that their barbarian gods will no longer protect them. Then, your method will really be useful.

Okay,

Write a letter back and send some people over to my mansion to promote it. We have to make some preparations too, don’t we?

Don’t worry,

The people,

Won’t be taken for nothing,

Are you lacking warhorses there?”

“In response to Your Highness, we are not lacking.”

“That’s right, I almost forgot that the snowy plains are also a place that produces horses. How about armor?”

The armor of the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion is known throughout the world!

“In response to Your Highness, we are manufacturing it ourselves. There are mines being opened in the Tianduan Mountains, and forging is being done every day outside Fengxin City.”

San’er improved the forging method, from the forging techniques to the furnace, everything was improved. The only thing he didn’t understand was the magical inscriptions.

But in comparison, for that lost inscription technology, the improvement of the original process has enabled the re-equipment of the troops under the Marquis’s mansion to proceed in an orderly manner.

The quality of the armor is absolutely guaranteed.

Li Liangting seemed a little surprised,

But then,

He shook his head and smiled;

Yes, he had heard that this little brother was no less capable in governing the people than he was in commanding troops.

Alas,

What a pity, what a pity, he didn’t win against Tian Wujing back then.

It’s also my fault that I wasn’t decisive enough back then. If I had been decisive, this kid would probably have come to me. After all, he is also from Beifeng.

“Warhorses are not lacking, armor can also be self-sufficient, grain, it’s impossible to transport it over;

Alas,

But in my life, I just don’t like owing people favors. Or, how about I give you Qian’er?”

“………” Zheng Fan.

“You and Qian’er have a緣 (yuan, fate).”

“Your Highness…”

Although Si Niang at home is talking about training some princesses and commandery princesses all day long;

But for the commandery princess of the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion, Marquis Zheng really can’t imagine what she would be like in his backyard!

No man wants a crazy woman living in his backyard, right?

“Qian’er is often ridiculed, saying that she was the first to discover you, but in the end, she let you, this phoenix chick, leave her palm. You, now that you sit higher and higher, she, the more criticism she receives.

For those in high positions, other faults don’t matter, but the only one thing they can’t do is fail to recognize talent. This is the biggest drawback!

If Qian’er is given to you,

No one will dare to talk about her past, don’t you think so?”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s kindness, but, but I already have a wife.”

Although Si Niang is the undisputed hostess of the Marquis’s mansion, and the princess doesn’t dare to be disrespectful in front of her, but officially, the princess is Zheng Fan’s legal wife.

“Heh, just a princess of the Chu Kingdom, her status is a bit noble, but is the commandery princess of my Prince’s mansion really worse than her, the princess of the Chu Kingdom?

Let His Majesty issue an imperial decree and arrange for a co-equal wife. It won’t be bullying the Chu people either.”

“Your Highness…”

“Hahahaha, I’m not teasing you, I’m not teasing you.”

Li Liangting slapped the table and shouted;

“Little Sixth, do you want to starve your uncle to death?”

“Here it comes, here it comes!”

Ji Laoliu came up with the newly baked roast duck, and said with a smile as he walked:

“Aren’t I afraid of delaying your son-in-law hunting?”

Li Liangting looked at Zheng Fan, shook his head, and smiled;

“It’s not the old days, it’s not the old days, Brother Zheng…”

“Your Highness, I can’t bear your title.”

One moment son-in-law, the next moment brother, the seniority is changing too fast.

“Hey, let me say something that I’m not afraid of you getting annoyed. If it wasn’t for Qian’er being engaged to that Crown Prince back then, this Prince really wanted to tie you up in the Imperial Garden and take you back to be a live-in son-in-law of my Li family!”

By the window, the Sword Saint, who had been looking at the scenery, smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth when he heard this.

Marquis Zheng was a little dumbfounded. Of course, he knew that the Prince of Zhenbei was joking.

But it would be a lie to say that he wasn’t shocked just now.

Just a little bit, the demon kings were going to change the script with him to become a live-in son-in-law, and then the demon kings would kneel in front of him, respectfully welcoming the return of the Li family’s son-in-law master!

That scene is too incongruous.

Li Liangting continued to eat duck while chatting. He didn’t eat very fast, but the problem was that normal people would stop when they reached a critical point, or drink some tea and eat a little more, but he almost always maintained a constant speed.

The second duck was quickly gone, and then came the third.

After eating five ducks in a row,

Li Liangting reached out and gently patted his lower abdomen, and sighed;

“I’m old, I’m old, this appetite is no longer good.”

You must know that the ducks roasted by Ji Laoliu are all big and meaty, and an adult can eat one with a pancake.

Most of the guests here order a duck for two or three people to share.

Just then,

A red-robed eunuch came up to the restaurant, and the eunuch bowed to Li Liangting and Zheng Fan in turn:

“Greetings to the Prince of Zhenbei, greetings to the Marquis of Pingxi.”

Li Liangting wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked:

“Is the process over there finished?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Outside the city, the ceremony to welcome the Prince of Zhenbei back to Beijing was still going on.

“Damn it, I knew it would take so long. Fortunately, I came in to eat duck first, otherwise, it would be so uncomfortable to act with them there on an empty stomach.

By the way,

Are we going to enter the palace?”

“Your Highness, His Majesty means to let you wait here first.”

“Oh.”

Li Liangting nodded, indicating that he understood.

Taoran Street was cleared.

The Imperial Guards and Secret Service agents plowed the entire street like they were plowing the ground, again and again.

Before long,

Someone came in a carriage.

The person who came was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, also dressed in casual clothes.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince went upstairs, first saluted the Prince of Zhenbei, and then sat down at another table.

Ji Laoliu sliced a duck and sent it to the Crown Prince.

Soon after,

The Fourth Prince came, also dressed in casual clothes.

After coming up, he first saluted the Prince of Zhenbei, then paid his respects to the Marquis of Pingxi, and then sat down at a table behind the Crown Prince.

After that,

Little Seventh came.

After Little Seventh came in, he first kowtowed to the Prince of Zhenbei, then saluted the Marquis of Pingxi, and sat down next to his Fourth Brother.

Ji Laoliu also brought a duck to their table.

The eldest son hasn’t returned yet.

Logically speaking, this time, the two Princes and two Marquises should be gathered in Yanjing, but there may be some differences in time.

Prince Jingnan arrived a little earlier, while the eldest prince seemed to have been deliberately asked to arrive later.

Immediately afterward,

Tian Wujing walked up.

“Hahahaha.”

Li Liangting laughed when he saw Tian Wujing.

Immediately,

Zheng Fan got up and saluted.

The Crown Prince and all the Princes also got up and saluted Prince Jingnan.

With the confrontation outside the city that day, a conclusion had already been reached as to who would bow first between the Crown Prince and Prince Jingnan, so the other party would not be pretentious at all.

Tian Wujing sat down opposite Li Liangting.

Li Liangting pointed to his hair and said;

“Wujing, you have to take good care of yourself. Your hair is turning white faster than my brother’s.”

Tian Wujing picked up a teacup, took a sip, and didn’t respond.

At this moment,

The Sword Saint flew out of the window and landed on the roof of the opposite tavern, and then sat down.

Next to him, four Secret Service experts were standing, all saluting him, and then the four of them sat down together.

“Cough cough………”

A cough came from the staircase.

Supported by Wei Zhonghe, the Yan Emperor slowly walked up.

For a time,

Prince Jingnan and Prince Zhenbei stood up together and knelt down on one knee towards the direction of the person who came:

“Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”

“Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!”

Marquis Zheng took a few steps back and knelt down.

The Princes knelt down collectively:

“Your sons pay respects to Father Emperor.”

“Get up, get up, all of you.”

The Yan Emperor sat in the main seat at the table.

Li Liangting and Tian Wujing sat on the left and right sides.

Zhang Gonggong stepped forward, removed the duck, and replaced it with tea and snacks.

A square table, with three people sitting at it.

Marquis Zheng didn’t go to fill the missing spot,

Instead, he went to the table behind and sat down.

The Princes were the same, at a table further back, the Crown Prince sat alone, and Ji Laoliu and the Fourth and Seventh Princes sat at one.

The Yan Emperor’s chair was a recliner. After he sat down, he naturally leaned back.

Li Liangting looked at the Yan Emperor’s appearance, didn’t cry, but smiled, and said;

“I told you long ago that this mental work is more exhausting than physical work, but you wouldn’t listen. Well, now you’re like this, haha.”

The Yan Emperor pointed at Li Liangting and laughed as well.

Li Liangting was injured when he was young, and his qi and blood declined early. The Yan Emperor had never been injured. His body was purely worn out.

Here,

It’s not the Imperial Palace, it’s not the Imperial Study, but a roast duck restaurant.

This gathering was not deliberate, but only called 心有灵犀 (xin you ling xi, a meeting of minds).

It wasn’t arranged by Ji Laoliu, but he probably guessed that Li Liangting would come.

When Marquis Zheng was invited by Ji Laoliu, he also guessed something.

But it was impossible to guess that His Majesty and Prince Jingnan would also come.

The whole scene,

Was like a family and friends gathering.

There were no two rows of civil and military officials in official robes, no people with ulterior motives under the plaque of justice and light;

But in this place with the fragrance of duck, it seemed more relaxed.

Once you enter the palace,

Who is who, who sits where, who stands where, the relationship between the ruler and the subject will naturally be established, and it will be impossible to be as free as it is now.

The blind man once jokingly called the Yan Emperor, Prince Jingnan, and Prince Zhenbei the iron triangle of Great Yan. In fact, it was true.

Now it is late autumn of the fourth year of Yongping. The last time the iron triangle gathered was the first year of Yongping, no, not even the first year.

Back then, the three of them were still full of vigor, but now, they have shown a very clear state of decline.

Even Tian Wujing, who was the youngest, had the strongest qi and blood, and was at the peak of his martial arts, was hard to call young and strong because of his white hair.

“You崽子 (zai zi, sons), kneel down.”

The Yan Emperor opened his mouth.

The second son, fourth son, sixth son, and youngest son present,

All knelt on the ground again.

Marquis Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still sat there.

His seniority was difficult to figure out. If you say he was a junior, he belonged to a class; if you say he was of the same generation, he himself felt a little虚 (xu, unsubstantial).

The Yan Emperor pointed at the four Ji sons kneeling on the ground, and said to Li Liangting and Tian Wujing;

“The court and the public all thought that your entry into Beijing this time was to work with me to determine the foundation of the country. Okay, let’s set it first.

I’m tired of looking at it,

I don’t want to look anymore,

These sons of mine, I get annoyed just looking at them for too long.

Liangting, Wujing,

You two, take a look for me,

See which one you find pleasing to the eye and choose that one.”