The Demon Lords

Chapter 511 26 Wicked Water_1

By dawn, the chaotic situation in the capital city of Jin State had been pacified. To be precise, Yu Huacheng had led nearly two thousand Jin soldiers in a desperate attempt to turn the tide, causing some minor trouble for the Yan Army. However, once Liang Cheng beheaded Yu Huacheng with a single stroke, the Yan Army's remaining tasks primarily involved clearing out the routed soldiers and stabilizing the situation.

The word "Jin" represented a great nation that had existed for almost as many years as Yan. Now, after countless hardships, it was thoroughly trampled into the muddy, filthy water.

After this night, even if Emperor Jin and the Empress Dowager still existed, the words "Great Jin" would completely lose their color.

This wasn't like the fall of other empires, which often produced countless martyrs and inspired many loyal to the former regime to rebel. In the preceding decades, the Jin imperial family had, in fact, already been hollowed out by three major families. They had grown weak to the point of collapse, merely maintaining a façade. Now, even this façade was no longer necessary.

Zheng Fan and the Empress Dowager sat together for most of the night. As dawn approached, Zheng Fan stretched. Looking at the Empress Dowager, who hadn't slept at all, he couldn't help but ask curiously,

"Empress Dowager, how can you hold it in for so long?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager glared at Zheng Fan.

Interestingly, their relationship had improved considerably after the previous night. Ordinarily, the Empress Dowager maintained an imposing image, but she knew such pretenses were useless before an unabashed troublemaker like Zheng Fan. Having worn a mask for so long, only to see it shattered the night before, she now found herself able to face people with her true self.

"Alright, is there a spittoon in the room? You know, that thing you can use to pee in at night?"

Zheng Fan gestured with his hand.

Seeing the Empress Dowager remain silent, Zheng Fan shook his head and said,

"A commode? Chamber pot? Cleansing pot? Night soil bucket?"

The Empress Dowager still said nothing.

"What on earth do you Jin people call that thing? Never mind, figure it out yourself."

At this point, Siniang walked over.

"My lord."

"Are they alright?" Zheng Fan stepped forward, took Siniang's hand, and asked.

The Empress Dowager watched Zheng Fan take the fair-skinned soldier's hand, her brow furrowing slightly, but she quickly dismissed it.

It's like if your father and grandfather both smoked or drank; you wouldn't think smoking or drinking was a big deal.

Under the pervasive influence of such customs in Jin State, its aristocrats had a high tolerance for this sort of proclivity.

"A Cheng was slightly injured while killing Yu Huacheng. The others are unharmed."

"That's good, that's good."

Siniang turned her gaze to the Empress Dowager. After noting the Empress Dowager's pretty features, Siniang covered her mouth and chuckled, "Tee hee, My lord, am I getting a new sister?"

"General Zheng, the Lord has been brought into the palace," an armored soldier reported from outside.

Brought into the palace?

Zheng Fan immediately understood the implication and said to Siniang,

"Keep an eye on her."

Then, Zheng Fan said to the Empress Dowager,

"She's a woman. You don't need to be embarrassed now, do you?"

The Empress Dowager looked at Siniang, somewhat surprised. A woman?

Outside, Jingnan Army soldiers formed a cordon; inside, Siniang stood guard. Zheng Fan believed that nothing unexpected could happen to the Empress Dowager.

After speaking, Zheng Fan hastily left the bedchamber. As he mounted his horse, he asked the soldier who had just brought the report,

"Where is the Lord?"

"He just entered the palace through the South Gate."

"Got it."

Zheng Fan rode towards the palace gate. The Empress Dowager's bedchamber was located at the rear of the Jin imperial palace. He figured he would encounter them on his way from there to the front gate.

In fact, the Jin imperial palace wasn't very large. This was because the outer city of the original palace had become a residential area, significantly reducing the palace's overall area, much like the Forbidden City of later generations.

In the small square before Zhenghe Hall, Zheng Fan saw the entourage escorting Lord Jingnan. Renjuan was personally leading the group, surrounded by hundreds of armored soldiers. In the center was a Pixiu, upon which a person was leaning.

"My Lord!!!"

Zheng Fan clearly understood why Lord Jingnan had remained outside the city alone the previous night. Furthermore, the lack of any news regarding the Sword Saint during the night's offensive strongly suggested the Sword Saint had gone to find Lord Jingnan.

"My Lord, My Lord!"

Zheng Fan dismounted and ran towards them, preparing to perform a whole routine—'fall down,' 'scramble up,' 'fall down again,' 'struggle up once more,' and then 'choke back sobs'—with a difficulty rating of 3.7.

But then, Lord Jingnan on the Pixiu suddenly raised his head and looked at Zheng Fan as he ran over.

Huh?

Eh?

Zheng Fan instinctively slowed down.

Not critically injured?

Not on his last breath?

Not coughing up blood?

Lord Jingnan spoke, "Are you in a hurry to mourn for me?"

"No, it's just..."

Zheng Fan was somewhat embarrassed.

When he first heard the news, he had genuinely believed Lord Jingnan had been severely wounded, perhaps even nearly killed, by the Sword Saint.

The greatest difference between Martial Cultivators and Sword Saints was that Martial Cultivators could "bathe" in a sea of soldiers, while Sword Saints were peerless in single combat.

Looking at Lord Jingnan's current state, doesn't this mean he defeated the Sword Saint?

For a moment, Zheng Fan was at a loss for how to describe Lord Jingnan. His military prowess was godlike, and his personal strength was just as formidable. If it weren't for the stain of annihilating his own family...

"Renjuan."

"My Lord, I am here!"

"You will assist Chief Zheng with the subsequent matters."

Next, of course, was the plundering of wealth.

Yan State did not plan to station troops in the Jin capital. Their own New Jin territory had not yet been fully assimilated, and it was unnecessary to bite off more than they could chew. At the same time, a small buffer zone was needed between Yan State and the Situ Family. Yan State would continue to maintain Xinsu City as the border.

However, the wealth here certainly couldn't be overlooked. Zheng Fan needed money, and so did Lord Jingnan. Expenses for armaments, pre-battle morale boosts, post-battle rewards, and daily governance were pouring out like water.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

And so, this task fell to Zheng Fan.

Of course, Zheng Fan was merely an intermediary; he would undoubtedly subcontract the work later.

Moreover, Zheng Fan believed that after their practice run in Chuzhou city, Siniang and the blind man would be even more adept at cooking the books and lining their own pockets.

He refused to believe that Tian Wujing, however multi-talented, could also possess the qualifications of a senior certified accountant.

"My Lord, you should rest first. I've already sent for the best physician here," Renjuan reminded.

Lord Jingnan remained silent.

Renjuan silently gestured for the procession to continue forward; Zhenghe Hall was just ahead.

As the group began to move again, Zheng Fan couldn't help but say to Renjuan,

"Master Ren, isn't it inappropriate for the Lord to rest in Zhenghe Hall?"

Zhenghe Hall, situated on the central axis of the Jin imperial palace, was not large and wasn't used for grand court assemblies. However, it was where the former Emperor Jin held private meetings with his closest ministers and also functioned as the Imperial Study.

Upon hearing this, Renjuan glared at Zheng Fan.

"Renjuan."

Lord Jingnan had spoken.

"My Lord?"

"Though I just fought a bout with the Jin Sword Saint, I can still twist your head off right now."

"My Lord, if you want my head, I will cut it off myself and deliver it to you! It was my oversight."

Lord Jingnan closed his eyes. It was unclear whether his injuries were flaring up or if he simply didn't wish to speak.

Renjuan could only wave his hand, signaling the procession to change direction and head towards a side hall to the west.

Zheng Fan continued to follow.

After Lord Jingnan had been settled, he waved his hand and said,

"All of you, go attend to your duties. I need to recuperate by myself."

Only then did everyone withdraw.

Once outside, Renjuan looked at Zheng Fan and said,

"I was negligent earlier. Thank you for the reminder, Chief Zheng."

Zheng Fan immediately cupped his hands in salute and replied,

"Master Ren, you've been fighting all night and are undoubtedly weary. It's understandable that your judgment might be clouded due to exhaustion."

"Ha, in truth, it wasn't such a significant matter, was it?"

Zheng Fan detected the implication in Renjuan's words.

Generals who rose to the rank of Commander might have their quirks and eccentricities, but they were certainly no fools.

Zhenghe Hall was a place reserved for the Emperor of Jin, carrying immense symbolic weight of imperial authority. If Lord Jingnan were to reside there, and word of it reached Yanjing, those with ill intentions would undoubtedly use it to stir up trouble.

Previously, if Lord Jingnan had wanted to stay there, he could have. Zheng Fan mused that even if the Yan Emperor found out, he would likely have jokingly asked Lord Jingnan which throne was more comfortable—his or the Jin Emperor's.

Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been an issue.

The bond between the two lords and the Yan Emperor was incredibly strong, something outsiders could hardly comprehend.

But yesterday, Lord Jingnan had hinted to him that the Yan Emperor's health might be failing.

If this speculation was true...

An emperor in his prime and an emperor with health problems were definitely two completely different entities.

However, Renjuan hadn't intended to harm Lord Jingnan at all. It was just that in both the Zhenbei Army and the Jingnan Army, even if the two lords were "dedicated to public service," their subordinates—the Commanders and Lieutenants—all aspired to earn the merit of helping a new emperor ascend the throne.

"Ha, I originally thought that since Lord Jingnan values and promotes Chief Zheng so highly, Chief Zheng must be one of his own men."

Zheng Fan immediately responded,

"Master Ren, it is precisely because I am one of his own that I felt compelled to offer a reminder."

"What do you mean?"

At Renjuan's signal, the surrounding armored soldiers had already dispersed, so there was no fear of being overheard.

"Master Ren, what was your objective in doing that? Were you testing His Lordship's intentions, or trying to demonstrate your own loyalty to him?"

"Continue," Renjuan said, watching Zheng Fan.

"Master Ren, you should be well aware of what kind of person His Lordship is. To describe him as 'loyal and devoted to the state, a pillar of the nation' is no exaggeration whatsoever.

His Lordship... will not rebel!"

"Is that all?"

"Master Ren, that test of yours just now? His Lordship would genuinely kill for something like that."

"Hmph, I am not afraid to die."

"But such a death would be worthless."

"Oh? Worthless? Then tell me, what kind of death would be worthy?"

"Master Ren, this is what you should do. This achievement is too great; why would you want to keep it all for yourself? Besides, can you even manage it alone?"

"Then what should be done?"

"Master Ren, don't be hasty. Let me finish. If you undertake this alone, His Lordship, for the sake of the state, will undoubtedly kill you as a warning to others.

After all, though you are a Commander, our Great Yan is not yet so desperate that it would collapse without you."

"..." Renjuan.

"Master Ren, you should keep such thoughts and intentions buried deep in your heart and not reveal them indiscriminately. This is a matter of great consequence, not like arranging a marriage where one follows established etiquette and proceeds step by step.

In the time to come, Master Ren, don't rush. Gradually contact the other Commanders and Lieutenants of our Jingnan Army. Make sure to only contact trustworthy individuals. Then, have them contact the Lieutenants, Chiefs, Commanders, and numerous core Captains under their own command from among their trusted subordinates.

Once these connections are made, choose a suitable opportunity, the right time, and the right place.

Here, with just a few thousand exhausted troops, what use can we be?

At the very least, the main force of the Jingnan Army must be by His Lordship's side."

"Quickly, tell me, what do we do after everyone is contacted?"

Zheng Fan took a deep breath

and said,

"Everyone will rush forward, draping a dragon robe directly onto His Lordship. Then, starting with you, Master Ren, followed by the numerous Commanders and Lieutenants, down to the tens of thousands of Jingnan Army soldiers, all will kneel together and shout in unison:

Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long, long live the Emperor!"