Chapter 278: Chapter 278

This was a gamble. Those three were staking the National Destiny. Finally, Zheng Fan and his companions stopped; they had reached Nanwang City.

After the Jingnan Army withdrew from Nanwang City, Hui Wenzu finally experienced what it felt like to be a commander.

However, he hadn’t breathed the fresh air of freedom for long before news from the capital scared him witless.

My goodness, his hefty three hundred pounds of flesh slumped straight to the ground, and it took considerable effort from his attendants to help him up.

Then, Lord Jingnan, returning with a murderous aura as if he had just slaughtered his own entire clan, issued his military orders. The gentry and noble families of Yinlang County subsequently suffered the iron hooves of the Jingnan Army.

However, a number of them had already been purged earlier due to the assassination at the General Mansion. Additionally, Yinlang County had been a battlefield for the Qian State’s Northern Campaign a century ago, so the power of the gentry here was not as deeply entrenched as in other parts of Yan. Thus, this second round of cleansing didn’t take too much time.

Subsequently, various supplies from the Imperial Court began to be transported to Yinlang County, to the Jingnan Army, and to Nanwang City. After the terrifying wealth accumulated by the gentry over hundreds of years was confiscated by the Imperial Court, it was immediately channeled by the Yan Emperor to the "war zone."

This was a war for Yan’s National Destiny!

Upon entering Nanwang City, Zheng Fan headed directly to the General Mansion.

After being notified by a servant, Hui Wenzu immediately came to the reception hall to meet Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan was sipping tea. Upon seeing Hui Wenzu, PFFT... tea sprayed from the corner of his mouth.

"Brother Zheng, Brother Zheng?"

Zheng Fan raised his hand, signaling he was alright. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve, as there were no such things as paper napkins back then.

Truthfully, Hui Wenzu’s current appearance was utterly unexpected.

It was clear that Hui Wenzu was exhausted. However, he hadn’t become gaunt from fatigue; instead, he looked even more unhealthily puffy, especially with his heavy, drooping eye bags, which gave him a distinctly cartoonish appearance.

As for Hui Wenzu calling him "Brother Zheng," Zheng Fan wasn’t particularly surprised. The Sixth Prince had already stopped using the royal "I" in his presence, so it was quite normal for Hui Wenzu to no longer refer to himself as "this official."

Chief Zheng found it amusing. He had always been riding the coattails of the Earl of North Border, yet in the end, he found himself wearing the mantle of Lord Jingnan.

But regardless, after all the trials and tribulations, he had finally managed to achieve some semblance of dignity and no longer had to grovel as frequently as before.

"Brother Zheng, come."

Hui Wenzu personally led Zheng Fan to his study, a place Zheng Fan had visited once before.

Hui Wenzu’s courtyard was bustling with people coming and going; everyone was busy, a stark contrast to the deserted quiet of his previous visit.

Upon entering the study, Hui Wenzu closed the door, walked over to his armchair, and immediately slumped into it.

Zheng Fan had only ever heard the saying "women are made of water." Now, he witnessed that if you were fat enough, you too could be made of water.

After Hui Wenzu collapsed into his chair, his belly, from his stomach to his chin, rippled in several waves that took a long time to subside.

"Brother Zheng, oh, this official... I’ve grown thin from all this exhaustion..."

Zheng Fan knew that exhausting work, like frequently staying up late, could indeed make one’s body become puffy and bloated.

"Alas, I’ve been an official for half my life, and this is the first time I’ve ever been this exhausted."

"Sir, your diligent service to the nation is truly taxing."

"Enough of the pleasantries. Chatting with you, brother, is the only chance I get to catch my breath. You have no idea how many ordinances this General Mansion has to issue every day! Direct Thief!"

Vast quantities of supplies and massive numbers of convicts were being escorted to Yinlang County in wave after wave. All of it required management by Hui Wenzu, the Commander of Nanwang City.

It wasn’t clear if it was due to concerns about potential obstruction or some other reason, but the position of Nanwang City’s Prefect had remained vacant.

However, from what Zheng Fan had observed since entering Nanwang City, the city, though appearing somewhat congested, could still be described as well-ordered.

This was a testament to Hui Wenzu’s capabilities. Perhaps the Imperial Court had reassigned him here precisely for his proficiency in handling complex and voluminous tasks.

Fatty Hui had indeed not failed the Imperial Court’s expectations.

Perhaps, such is life, Zheng Fan mused. He recalled how, back in Hutou City, Hui Wenzu had discussed with him how he should surrender the city once the North Border Army rebelled.

At that time, Hui Wenzu had devoted most of his energy to political struggles and aligning himself with factions. In short, he was more of a bureaucrat than an official. But now, although exhausted, his energy and spirits were clearly still good.

Not having to worry about intrigues and conspiracies, being able to focus wholeheartedly on one’s work—that was a kind of enjoyment in itself.

"Regarding the matters in the capital, this official is already aware. HEH, HA HA HA..."

Hui Wenzu burst into laughter.

The two of them, who had once schemed together about the Marquis’s plans while serving as subordinates, never expected that their Lord and the Yan Emperor were actually in cahoots. This was the most fantastical outcome, but at the same time, it was also the best.

Yan would not have to face terrifying internal strife and civil war. Instead, it could mobilize all its strength for the largest and most heavily invested campaign of external expansion in a hundred years. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝

"Sir, this subordinate just returned from the capital. I haven’t even gone back to my stronghold yet; I came to see you first."

Hui Wenzu pointed at Zheng Fan; he had naturally guessed the purpose of Zheng Fan’s visit.

"Don’t worry, I’ve kept it for you. We two, we’re the real insiders here."

Zheng Fan nodded. He didn’t quite understand how he had suddenly become an "insider" with Hui Wenzu after becoming Lord Jingnan’s lackey, but when a superior actively tried to build rapport, one wouldn’t be foolish enough to spoil the mood.