The Demon Lords

Chapter 552 58 The Crown Prince_1

Xue Three was feeling really awkward, because he knew Mo Wan must be in a foul mood.

It was like a child who had enthusiastically gone downstairs with his father's money to buy candy, only to return happily and find the door bolted.

"Mo Wan, would you believe me if I said I landed on the wrong roof?"

...

The next morning, Chief Zheng, clear-headed and refreshed, was practicing his sword skills in the yard.

An hour later, he finished his practice. Siniang brought him breakfast, along with a damp, hot towel.

"My lord, don't be so anxious. You only advanced recently; you need to take it slow and rest a bit."

"This isn't like when I used to draw comics, deliberately slowing down the plot and padding it out by not leveling up, just to make the story longer."

"That may be so, but a few days' delay won't hurt. It's best to balance work and rest. Besides, quite a few people have examined your physique, My lord. In this world, you're considered to have extremely high talent for martial arts."

"I'm used to training. If I go a day without sweating, I feel off."

"Siniang, I need this money to buy equipment. Please approve it for me."

Zheng Fan, wiping his sweat, heard this and turned around, puzzled. He saw Xue Three standing there, his face bruised and swollen.

"San'er, what were you up to last night?"

Xue Three smiled and said, "I had a fight with A Ming."

"Why would you pick a fight with him now?"

He's recovered one more layer than you; how could you fight him?

"He said I was short. That's intolerable, so I fought him."

"Oh, in that case, you definitely had to fight."

Zheng Fan sat down, picked up his bowl of porridge, and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten, My lord."

"Alright, it's approved." Siniang passed over the approval slip. Any extra expenditure from public funds required approval from Siniang or the Blind Man, even if it was one of the Demon Kings making the withdrawal.

"My lord, take your time eating. I have to go; the brothers under my command are all waiting for their equipment."

"Mm, go ahead."

Xue Three turned and left. He had chosen fifty men to train under him, who could eventually become scouts on the battlefield. Therefore, new equipment needed to be purchased: hidden weapons, flying claws, and even light leather armor all needed to be newly provisioned.

"San'er actually left just like that," Siniang remarked, propping her chin on her hand and curiously watching Zheng Fan eat his porridge.

"He seems a bit off," Zheng Fan observed.

"Isn't it because of you, My lord?" Siniang replied. "Ah Li has advanced, but San'er hasn't."

"The Blind Man hasn't advanced either, has he?"

"The Blind Man, no matter how anxious he gets, won't show it. San'er is different."

"Heh, but A Ming really went hard on him last night."

"Indeed. San'er is slurring his words so badly now. By the way, My lord, merchant caravans have already started gradually coming our way."

"Mm, as for attracting investment, just manage it well."

"Yes. There's still a lot of plunder in the residence, and many good things from the three wild people's villages you and the others conquered last time. All of these can be used for trade."

Although Shengle is not densely populated, it's an extremely suitable transit point on the trade route.

Now that the war between the three states has ended, merchants can no longer hold back and have begun a new wave of trade expeditions.

"Right, how are things progressing with Gao Yi?"

Gao Yi was the Colonel of that thousand-strong Jingnan Army unit. When Lord Jingnan had allocated this force to Zheng Fan, Gao Yi was the highest-ranking officer among them.

To absorb these thousand Jingnan iron cavalry, I must deal with him first.

"The few Captains of the Jingnan Army are relatively easy to deal with," Siniang reported. "Bestow some gold and silver as rewards, and they'll soften their stance. Besides, they're aware of the relationship between you, My lord, and Lord Jingnan, and they all believe you have a boundless future. However, this Gao Yi seems to be completely unyielding."

"Oh?"

"The mid-level officers Lord Jingnan has promoted over the years are all very loyal to him."

"So you're saying, no matter how I try to win him over, it's useless? He only listens to Tian Wujing?"

"Yes, My lord."

"That's problematic. I was thinking of absorbing this force to create a fait accompli, then going to Tian Wujing to throw a tantrum and play pitiful. I reckoned he would have to acquiesce then. But now, with Gao Yi refusing to submit, if he doesn't nod his head, I still can't take control of this unit."

"My lord, the original commander of this military force was Ren Juan, the Regional Commander of Xinsu City."

"Heh. One's own troops are like the flesh of one's palm; how could one bear to give them away? Going through Ren Juan is absolutely impossible. When Tian Wujing first assigned this thousand-strong cavalry to me, it was clear he intended it as a way to discipline Ren Juan. Besides, while they might clap their chests and call me one of their own when we're drinking, when it comes to actual business, those old veterans of the Jingnan Army won't truly see me as one of them. Forget it. I'll hold off on that 'invitation' for now."

"Understood."

"I need to find a chance to meet with Tian Wujing again."

Initially, Zheng Fan was very respectful of Lord Jingnan, then he became fearful. Later, he developed a feeling akin to a younger brother being cared for by an elder brother.

How many elder brothers in this world can save their younger brother's life twice?

"The last time Lord Jingnan fought the Sword Saint of Jin State, his injuries might not have fully healed. Our storerooms have many medicinal herbs from Skybreak Mountain."

"Just sending these gifts won't be enough. Tian Wujing is a realist."