Chapter 370: Chapter 370

Chief Zheng was well aware of whose bread he was eating.

Lord Jingnan was seated at the head of the table, a rather strange sight. Within the northern military camps, it was typically Li Liangting at the head, yet here was Tian Wujing.

This was because Zheng Fan did not know the upcoming battle was to be fully commanded by Tian Wujing; even Li Liangting had to obey Tian Wujing’s commands.

This arrangement seemed rather odd, as the northern army’s strength was 200,000 while Lord Jingnan only had 50,000 men.

However, fortunately, Zheng Fan had seen plenty of this "oddity" in Yan and therefore didn’t find it hard to understand.

Li Liangting sat below, eating candied chestnuts one by one.

Zheng Fan knew that the Earl of North Border had lived frugally since he was young, so he wasn’t surprised to find the Earl eating whenever they met.

"Little Zheng," said the Earl of North Border.

If Tian Wujing hadn’t been present, Zheng Fan would have wanted to casually rise and say, "Hey, your servant is here."

Thinking about how in his past life, the Marquis of Huaiyin could endure humiliation for personal gain, and how Qi Jiguang could demean himself as a dog to curry favor with Zhang Juzheng.

Chief Zheng felt he could similarly drop any pretensions—given that the Earl of North Border was no longer young—he could treat this as amusing an old fool in his family.

However, Tian Wujing was present. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on nοvelfire.net

It made Zheng Fan feel as awkward as being with a lover while the husband was also present.

Thus, he could only respectfully say, "Lord, your servant is here."

"Of those strategies you shared with me in the imperial garden last time, which ones have borne fruit now?"

"To answer Your Lordship, I have underestimated the intelligence of the Qian people."

The primary objective of Zheng Fan’s initial strategy was to harass the Qian people with small detachments, baiting their elite forces into the open to create an opportunity to annihilate them.

However, the Qian people didn’t take the bait. Grand Commandant Yang wasn’t lured away; instead, they initiated widespread scorched-earth tactics, resolutely avoiding field battles and giving no such opportunities.

The Earl of North Border shook his head and said, "This is now and that was then. The Qian land is vast and densely populated; not all of them can be fools."

This was, in fact, an indirect defense of Zheng Fan.

"What this Lord says doesn’t matter."

The Earl of the North Border hinted at something.

At this moment, Tian Wujing, who was seated at the head, shifted his gaze onto Zheng Fan.

Immediately Zheng Fan felt a surge of pressure weighing on him.

Regarding personal relationships, he had only met the Earl of North Border twice, if this occasion was counted.

By any measure, his relationship with Lord Jingnan was closer.

However, Lord Jingnan’s act of annihilating his own family had thoroughly frightened Chief Zheng’s fragile heart. He had even suffered nightmares about it after returning.

Therefore, when facing Lord Jingnan, the more familiar Zheng Fan became with him, the more terrified he grew.

"Chief Zheng," Lord Jingnan started to speak.

"Your servant is here!"

"How many soldiers are currently at the Green Willow Fortress?"

"Reporting to Your Lordship, 2,500 cavalry can be mobilized, all in full armor, each with two horses!"

"It’s a pity Chief Zheng isn’t a merchant."

Chief Zheng was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground.

This was genuine fear, without a hint of acting.

In this life, aside from dedicating time to cultivate himself to the Eighth Rank as a Martial Cultivator, Zheng Fan had spent most of his time and energy learning the art of acting.

How could he not understand the implications in Lord Jingnan’s words?

You might be able to fool Hui Wenzu with some things, but trying to fool Lord Jingnan is tough!

Perhaps the entire Yinlang County, or even the entire border war situation, couldn’t escape this Lord’s eyes. The leader of the Spy Bureau for Yinlang County, and indeed for the entire intelligence network against the Qian State, was his woman.

Preserving strength by avoiding battle was a major taboo; no superior would permit such a thing. It was crossing an unforgivable line.

Besides, Lord Jingnan was the type who would annihilate his own family with a single command. Even if Lord Jingnan appreciated him, should he decide to have him executed with a mere wave of his hand, it would be done.

This time, when Zheng Fan went out, he only brought thirty riders. In the army, these thirty riders were... practically a joke.

Oh, and there was A Ming. But without mobilizing an army, any one of the four commanders from the Earl of North Border’s residence could easily pummel the current A Ming into pulp.

The Earl of North Border laughed heartily, his tone akin to that of a mutual friend who, while appearing to mediate a couple’s quarrel, was actually fanning the flames: "Chief Zheng is indeed a clever man, but why does he do foolish things? Everyone in Yan knows that Lord Jingnan’s army is strictly disciplined. Ah..."

Tian Wujing calmly looked at Zheng Fan.

His words made Zheng Fan understand everything, which, in turn, led to an awkward silence.

Sometimes, an overly perceptive subordinate wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

The Earl of North Border continued to add fuel to the fire, saying: "Little Zheng, tell me, what can you possibly offer in exchange for that head of yours? I heard you lopped off the heads of many Wolf Land Soldiers, but that little fatty Hui Wenzu already gave you 1,500 barbarian cavalry for it. That military merit has long been cashed in. Now, what will you use to trade for your head?"

The Earl of North Border glanced at Tian Wujing, who was seated at the head, and continued: "This Lord has pleaded for you, but your Lord is an impartial man of iron who only recognizes military discipline, not sentiment. Tsk, tsk. He said he wants to execute you, and he absolutely will. This Lord spoke a mountain of good words, all to no avail, unless you can produce the head of a Qian State Prince to trade for your own life.

However, Little Zheng, you are still..."

The Earl of North Border was first trying to use Lord Jingnan’s own previous words to shut his mouth, and then subtly hinting—if the first attempt to poach him failed, he’d try a second time!

However, before the Earl of North Border could finish speaking, Zheng Fan immediately pushed the box beside him forward and opened it.

His forehead touching the ground, he declared: "The head of Prince Fu of Chuzhou of the Qian State is here!"

"..." The Earl of North Border was speechless.

Li Liangting’s left hand clenched violently, crushing the remaining handful of chestnuts into powder. He looked up at Lord Jingnan, seated at the head, and saw that Lord Jingnan’s expression remained calm.

Direct Thief! This scoundrel knew all along that this young man, Zheng, had taken the head of a Qian State Prince!

They were putting on a show, the two of them! So what was he, jumping around in the middle of it all, like a fool?

Lord Jingnan spoke calmly: "Very well, I shall give the Earl of North Border face this time."

"..." The Earl of North Border was again speechless.