Chapter 371: Chapter 371

Currently in Yan, even including the Desert Barbarians and the Qian State, there were only two individuals who dared to humiliate the Earl of North Border in such a manner.

One was the Yan Emperor, the sovereign who grew up fighting with Li Liangting over chicken legs since childhood. The other was Tian Wujing.

Although Tian Wujing was a bit younger, Li Liangting respected this Southern Marquis, who was his equal in renown. At the very least, they could sit at the same table, drink wine, converse, and even jest with each other.

The Earl of North Border felt as though he had been swinging his shovel for half a day, trying to undermine another’s foundation, shovelful after shovelful. Finally, he broke through, only to dig up the earth and find his own old face staring back at him!

"’Your subordinate knows his mistake! Your subordinate will not dare to do so again!’"

Zheng Fan knelt on the ground, hands by his sides, speaking with utmost sincerity.

For someone who had traveled through time, such servility was indeed a loss of face.

However, Zheng Fan deeply understood the reasons. Facing Tian Wujing, Chief Zheng had decided from the very beginning to be completely submissive.

"’You may leave. On the day after tomorrow at noon, assemble your troops in Nanwang City and await orders.’"

"’Your subordinate obeys!’"

"’Your subordinate begs leave!’"

Zheng Fan left the ’fortune bag’ where it was, rose, and exited the main tent.

The Earl of North Border glared at Lord Jingnan and said irritably, "’Did you already know he had the head of that Qian State prince?’"

Lord Jingnan nodded. "’Although the Qian State made no announcement, Prince Fu’s death in Mianzhou City occurred shortly after Zheng Fan attacked it.’"

"’Heh, I say, I practically watched you grow up. Are you making fun of me?’"

Lord Jingnan shook his head and said, "’When I was a child, you did beat me a few times.’"

"’Heh, no, no. I’m old now, and you’re in your prime. This old man won’t fight you!’"

Lord Jingnan remained silent.

"’Don’t hold that incident against me. Back then, I was just accompanying His Majesty to your Tian family’s home. We climbed the wall to sneak a peek at his future Crown Princess. You, little rascal, insisted on coming out to catch ’thieves.’ Weren’t you just asking for a beating?’"

Hearing himself described as asking for a beating, Lord Jingnan didn’t get angry at all. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled into a slight smile, because it reminded him of his home from those memories.

Just as he stepped outside, a gust of cold wind blew past. He felt a chill run down his spine. Only then did he realize that the earlier encounter in the main tent had left him drenched in cold sweat.

One learns from their mistakes. I can’t underestimate the heroes of this world anymore. Some fundamental errors must not be repeated, even if it means taking a loss. After all, if I only lose some capital, there’s still a chance to make a comeback. But if my entire family’s assets are confiscated, then it’s game over.

"’Commander Zheng, be careful not to catch a cold,’" Qingshuang said.

Zheng Fan feigned ignorance, cupped his hands, and said, "’Thank you for the reminder, Sir.’"

Beside him, Li Fusheng chuckled and asked, "’Was that head earlier really from a Qian State prince?’"

"’In reply to your question, Sir, yes, it was.’"

Zheng Fan addressed him simply as ’Sir,’ without adding a surname.

In fact, Li Fusheng’s original surname was Guo. After entering service as a retainer, he changed it to ’Li.’ However, this was only his official surname; in daily life, he was still called ’Guo’ or ’Old Guo.’ In his own home, he could openly display and worship the ancestral tablets of his Guo family.

Every era, every period, has its own prevailing customs and practices.

The Yan people and the Barbarians had been fighting for hundreds of years. It could almost be said that ever since the Yan State was founded, even before the Ji Family declared themselves emperors, they were already at war with the Barbarians.

Having fought for so long, some aspects of their cultures naturally began to influence each other.

The Barbarians gradually learned about ’systems’ and ’reforms’ from the Yan people. The Royal Court was able to consolidate power and unify the Desert precisely because several generations of Barbarian kings had studied the Yan methods of political and military reform.

However, they later found themselves unable to withstand the Yan people and dared not continue to challenge such a formidable foe. They turned their attention westward, but tragically overextended themselves. Nearly all the elite forces of the Royal Court and the cream of the Golden Family were annihilated. Then, after a century of relentless attacks and suppression by the Earl of North Border’s forces, they finally collapsed, never to recover. Fınd the newest release on noⅴelfire.net

On the Yan State’s side, its military system showed similar traits. A top-tier army would be accompanied by a large contingent of various military leaders. This was remarkably similar to how the Barbarian Royal Court, when waging war, would use its main forces while encouraging surrounding tribes to contribute their own provisions and troops. They were practically cut from the same mold.

The Li family’s practice of changing surnames was also identical to that of the Desert Barbarian tribes, who used their tribal names as surnames. If a tribe was annihilated, surviving warriors wishing to join another tribe had to change their surname as a sign of submission. Later, if they managed to stage a comeback and become strong enough to break away, they could naturally reclaim their original surname.

This was one example of Barbarian cultural influence on the Yan people.

Thus, the name ’Li Fusheng’ was used only in official contexts, such as when receiving imperial rewards or in official correspondence. At other times, his original surname could be used directly.

This was also why Fatty Hui hadn’t become suspicious earlier when Zheng Fan fabricated the story about his grandfather, Zheng Zhilong, and his father, Zheng Chenggong.

"’You certainly have some luck,’ Li Fusheng smiled. ’But why did you only present it today?’"

"’Replying to your question, Sir, this head was delayed on the road for some time. It only arrived this morning.’"

"’I see.’ Li Fusheng had actually asked this question on behalf of his Lord."

He and Qingshuang were sitting outside the main tent, and nothing said within would escape their ears. Besides, for warriors of their high caliber, keen hearing and eyesight were natural attributes.