NovelKBC Chapter 975 - 221: New Year’s Visit (Part 3)
Chapter 975 - 221: New Year’s Visit (Part 3)
Clearly a simple and straightforward nonsense, deliberately dressed up with some pretentious grandeur.
Old Zeng was slightly taken aback to see Zheng Fan speaking so casually in front of Tian Wujing, but he soon smiled and said:
"I embarrassed Lord."
Zheng Fan had realized in his heart and told the old man:
"Later, just follow me back to Snow Sea Pass."
The old man immediately knelt down,
and kowtowed to Zheng Fan, saying:
"Thank you, Lord Pingye, for taking me in!"
"How many people do you still have under you?" Zheng Fan asked.
"Reporting to Lord, there are still dozens of people."
"Can they all be like that spider woman?"
Last time, that spider woman left a very deep impression on Lord Zheng.
"Lord, she was a protector in my pavilion. However, due to the incidents in the past two years, the protectors in my pavilion have basically been completely depleted, leaving only some artisan heritages."
"Alright, take it slowly. You can always recover in the future."
"Thank you, Lord."
Zheng Fan hesitated for a moment, wanting to find a token on himself. He had a jade pendant on him, but it was just for show, and he didn’t care much about it. Even the lords wouldn’t mind it.
Simply, Zheng Fan took out his Zhonghua-brand iron box, drew out a "soft package Zhonghua" from it, and handed it to Old Zeng.
Old Zeng took the cigarette, sniffed it before his nose, and asked somewhat puzzled:
"Tobacco?"
"Take this as a token, you can rally your subordinates. Either wait outside the city for me to leave or bring them yourself to Snow Sea Pass first."
Old Zeng solemnly accepted the cigarette, cupped his hands and said:
"I understand, my lord."
At this moment,
Tian Wujing spoke:
"That’s enough."
"Yes, Prince, I take my leave."
Old Zeng turned to leave, and the tall man followed. Zheng Fan noted some subtle details, guessing that the tall man might not be a living person but a puppet.
To say a phrase that boosts others’ morale while diminishing one’s own, if in the wild, facing Old Zeng, it would be hard to say if he could survive;
But in front of Tian Wujing, he was thoroughly submissive, lowering himself as much as possible.
After Old Zeng left the ancestral hall with the puppet,
Zheng Fan very earnestly bowed to Tian Wujing,
"Enough, don’t bother."
Zheng Fan’s words of gratitude were left unsaid, and he could only smile awkwardly.
Earlier, he thought of presenting the dwarf tribe artisan masters on his side to Lord Jingnan, but who knew Lord Jingnan had already prepared a group of artisan masters to gift him.
As for why they had to meet in such a remote location, it was considered; sects like the Tianji Pavilion, even if in decline, were still a significant presence in the Jin land and not to be underestimated.
In principle, if they wanted to seek allegiance with the court, they should pledge to the Yan Emperor, to be absorbed by the Spy Bureau.
Therefore, these matters could only be conducted in darkness; once exposed, trying to obtain them would be unjustified.
Even if an application for use was made to the court through a Memorial, after passing through the Spy Bureau or the Ministry of Works, it wouldn’t be the same anymore.
Tian Wujing didn’t want to hear Zheng Fan’s pleasantries,
just pointed to the Buddha statue,
and said:
"Qian and Chu are like this Buddha statue—seemingly solemn but actually decayed. Unfortunately, our Yan’s iron cavalry is blocked by Qian State’s three borders and Chu State’s Town South Pass.
You have always studied siege techniques. You may use these people at ease. First, make preparations, and when real warfare begins, then utilize them.
Indeed, our Yan is financially strained, but it’s not that we cannot fight or unable to fight. If we could knock down Town South Pass at once, the army would drive straight into Chu region, and there would be no talk of financial strain."
The shorter the war lasts, the smaller the logistic and financial costs, Yan State can’t fight prolonged wars but can fight short ones.
"I understand, my lord."
"When no one else is around, don’t refer to yourself as a subordinate."
"Yes, brother."
"......"
Even Lord Jingnan was momentarily stunned.
Then,
Lord Jingnan nodded.
Zheng Fan was illustrating what it means to infiltrate comprehensively.
"Haha."
Zheng Fan first chuckled and sat down facing Lord Jingnan.
"The Town South Pass line, Xue Rang’s troops, combined with the Chu people’s imperial family guards, total up to about two hundred thousand."
Zheng Fan heard this and agreed, "Quite a big feast."
"The Town South Pass can’t be taken overnight, and I’m not planning to order mobilization of other troops to Fengxin city here this year."
"Hmm?" Zheng Fan detected an implication in Lord Jingnan’s words.
"But we can’t just sit back and watch the Chu people’s antics. Not responding would be impolite. It’s a good thing you didn’t bring Qian’er this time, because I planned to call you over to discuss this matter."
"Lord, feel free to instruct me."
"The Wang River flows south from the Skybreak Mountain range into Chu territory, diverging, winding through the mountains, finally merging into Chu’s great marshland.
So, entering Chu isn’t necessarily through Town South Pass."
"But other places aren’t suitable for large armies to enter," Zheng Fan said.
The entire Jin land is like a large basin with the plains leading to the outside, each guarded by strongholds.
"Send small groups of troops in to make a point to the Chu people," Tian Wujing suggested.
Lord Zheng reacted immediately,
and quickly said:
"I believe General Ren Juan, with his divine strategy, is capable of this task!"
Tian Wujing looked at Zheng Fan.
"No, I mean, Lord, this..."
"Remember when you, Lord Zheng, dared to attack Mianzhou city with three hundred barbarian soldiers? How come you’re suddenly so cautious now?"
"My Lord, back then I wasn’t afraid of anything as I had nothing to lose, but now I’m..."
"Accomplished and renowned?"
"I..."
"Try it, take a thousand riders in, it’s not that you have to achieve something significant, just roam in and out, making the Chu people keep in mind. It’s the same as before; I won’t give you specific military orders, just adapt as you go."
"Lord, I think this matter requires long-term planning. Give me some more time; if not this year, then next, if not next year, the year after for sure, I can help you take Town South Pass."
Tian Wujing nodded.
Zheng Fan sighed in relief.
"Leave at the start of the new year, just in time to visit and pay respects to that regent of Chu State."
"..." Zheng Fan.