Chapter 385: Chapter 385

If Blind Bei says it’s simple, then it truly is simple.

Understanding human psychology, creating rifts, borrowing strength to overcome strength, redirecting trouble, dragging others into the fray—these are all areas where Blind Bei excels.

The first step was to select a noble family in the city of Chuzhou to be the first target. Zheng Fan did not ask why they were chosen, and Blind Bei did not explain. Perhaps he just preferred the look of their gatehouse?

Next, a lieutenant was chosen from amongst the surrendered Qian State troops. The rıghtful source is NoveI★Fire.net

Neither of these two were fortunate; they simply served as outlets for gathering intelligence.

Siniang asked Zheng Fan to leave because she was going to assist Blind Bei in torturing the prisoners. She worried the sight would leave unnecessary psychological scars on her lord.

Zheng Fan readily agreed.

Under Blind Bei’s mental pressure and hypnotic influence, and with Siniang’s application of torture, by midnight, they had roughly pieced together the relationships among the various power players in Chuzhou from the mouths of these two men.

Like a rough draft, they had scraped together a somewhat chaotic plan.

Certainly, there would be errors and omissions, but they would not significantly alter the overall situation.

As the capital of Shu Prefecture, the city was home to many influential officials. Now, they had all been labeled by Blind Bei.

Which families were to be eliminated, which ones could survive, which ones needed to be coerced into becoming moles, and which ones should be left with a shred of dignity.

A highly complex and convoluted situation was decisively sorted out by Blind Bei as if he were swiftly cutting through tangled hemp with a sharp knife.

Throughout the latter half of the night, A Ming, Fanli, Xue Three, and Liang Cheng each led a team of troops, watching as the chosen traitor began the purges with his surrendered garrison.

Chuzhou was far from peaceful that night, with the sound of chilling screams, crashing doors, and clashing weapons echoing in all directions.

But the operation was undeniably in motion.

Meanwhile, groups of troops from Sun Guyi’s Northern Army were sent to farms owned by the chosen families in the outskirts of the city to begin "harvesting."

Despite Zheng Fan being in command, he was merely an observer that night.

The complex relationship between invaders and the "colonized," complete with all its contradictions, was executed step by step, point by point, without any rush, as if it were a predetermined procedure.

Upon receiving reports from his subordinates on the situation inside the city, Li Fusheng, mid-bite into his chunk of stewed meat, remarked to the other guerrilla generals eating with him, "This Zheng Fan sure knows how to get things done."

Some nodded subtly, others remained impassive, and still others sneered a touch.

Li Fusheng admitted, "He’s smarter than us."

Well, even Sun Guyi looked a bit uncomfortable at that moment.

Li Fusheng had stirred up quite a bit of resentment for Zheng Fan at this dinner party, the theme of which was "Let’s All Eat Meat Tonight."

Seeing the expressions of the generals under him, Li Fusheng understood their thoughts, and calmly stated, "As a general, one can be crazy, stupid, or eccentric, but never narrow-minded. With a narrow mind, one’s perspective gets smaller. Those were the words the Lord once told me."

The generals immediately put down their meals, kneeled on one knee, and said in unison, "We are taught!"

Li Fusheng continued, "We have been fighting in the north for a hundred years. So much so that besides war, we know nothing else.

"Speaking frankly, I know there are those among you who will report my words tonight to the Lord. However, I, Li Fusheng, am not afraid of this. I would dare say these words even in front of the Lord himself.

"If you don’t want your children and grandchildren to continue eating sand in the desert, we must start to learn things other than just warfare.

"If it’s hard to learn new things, then we should consider accepting those who already have such knowledge. There’s no shame in that."

Upon saying this, Li Fusheng couldn’t help but add, "As for Zheng Fan, it’s no wonder the Lord appreciates him. Initially, I thought the Lord simply found this young man interesting due to his northern background and felt a fondness for his talent. However, it seems there is more to it."

Li Fusheng took out a thick envelope from his side and tossed it down. He pointed to the envelope, saying, "A few days ago, I asked Zheng Fan if we could make the people of the Qian State submit forever through slaughter. This is his answer.

"I might be a crude man, but this letter clarifies the reasons; even I can understand.

"Have a look, you should be able to understand as well.

"This Zheng Fan is indeed gifted."

Relying on his minions to "impersonate" him and "drive" for him, Chief Zheng, who had just earned praise for his extraordinary talent, was currently leisurely wandering around the city of Chuzhou.

Shu Prefecture, while not quite the heartland of the Qian State, being located beyond the three borderlands, already possessed architecture rich with Qian State characteristics.

If Yan State buildings embodied grandeur, then Qian State buildings exuded delicacy and subtlety.

Yes, in the middle of the night, Chief Zheng entrusted all of his tasks to his subordinates, transforming himself into a "modern tourist." Accompanied by a hundred guards from Green Willow Fortress, he began a "city tour."