The Demon Lords

Chapter 816 179: Come to See_5

"Aren't you tired of living like this?"

"You'll get used to it."

The blind man took out a shriveled orange from his pocket, and without rushing to leave, stood there peeling it, while continuing:

"Every time my lord advances, the difficulty for us to achieve the same advancement actually increases each time. Initially, just basic recognition or a little warmth was enough.

Later on, it requires touching my lord.

Each time it progresses further. What level it is this time, we'll have Siniang try first, then we'll have a benchmark to observe, enabling us to act effectively."

"That's indeed true, it gets more difficult each time."

"Let's take it slow, there's no rush anyway. Handle the things at hand well, and once we return to Snow Sea Pass, we'll have all the time, but we indeed should start preparing now. Consider this my friendly reminder to you."

"Should I thank you?"

"Um, you're welcome. Want an orange?"

...

Zheng Fan arrived outside the command tent; his personal guards went to report, allowing him entry.

Inside the command tent, Tian Wujing sat in the chief seat, and Mao Mingcai from the Ministry of War sat in a lower position.

As Zheng Fan entered,

Tian Wujing pointed to a place on the other side,

and said:

"Sit."

"Thank you, Prince."

Zheng Fan didn't treat himself like an outsider and took a seat.

Mao Mingcai's mood seemed adjusted—unlike his hysterical state on the day of the execution—and he smiled warmly upon meeting Zheng Fan's eyes.

"Lord Pingye made quite a stir this time, guarding Snow Sea Pass, and surprisingly relocated such a large population."

Mao Mingcai spoke directly.

Before Zheng Fan could speak, Tian Wujing interjected:

"I approved it."

Mao Mingcai nodded and continued:

"The soldiers under Lord Pingye from Yan region are still a bit few. To avoid Lord Pingye facing difficulties in control, once I return to the capital, I'll dispatch a unit..."

"I'm short of soldiers here too. After this, we need to guard against the Chu people, and also supervise the construction of our Yan State naval forces. Whatever soldiers, laborers, and convicts the court can support, send them all to me."

"Yes, Prince."

Zheng Fan didn't need to speak; just by sitting there, Tian Wujing shielded him from trouble and interference.

"Since that's the case, about what I mentioned earlier, I hope Prince will consider it. I'll take my leave now as I'll be departing for the capital tomorrow."

"Not seeing you off, take care."

"Thank you, Prince."

Mao Mingcai exited the command tent.

This Minister of the Ministry of War had never fared well within the Jingnan army, let alone in front of Prince Jingnan.

"Prince, I came to ask if you could lend a troop to help escort those civilians to Snow Sea Pass."

"Approved."

"Thank you, Prince."

"Do you know why Mao Mingcai sought me earlier?"

"I don't, my lord."

"He wants to be reassigned to Ying Capital City and came specifically to inform me."

"This..."

Giving up the Minister of the Ministry of War position to be reassigned?

"What's lacking in this person is experience. They do have the ability. With him stationed in Ying Capital City, on the Fengxin side, if the Chu people dare to come north, I'd be able to handle it more calmly."

"Really knows how to be flexible," Zheng Fan remarked.

Zheng Fan still vividly remembered Mao Mingcai's angry reaction during the execution day, but it seems he's now come to terms with it. Since the events have unfolded, one can only watch how it plays out.

In Zheng Fan's view, Mao Mingcai's task this time wasn't successful, regardless of the reasons involved, continuing to serve as Minister of the Ministry of War seems quite inappropriate. So actively seeking reassignment is not a bad way to conclude gracefully.

Besides,

Perhaps being Yan State's Minister of the Ministry of War wasn't as delightful as imagined.

Because military authority in Yan has been heavily delegated.

In the past days, not only was a military officer in Qian State eager to kneel and salute even a minor official from the Ministry of War, but here in Yan State, after Zheng Fan neglected him, there was surprisingly no fear in his heart.

So if reassigned to Ying Capital City, as long as Prince Jingnan doesn't return and sits in Fengxin, Mao Mingcai will be the highest actual authority and status in Ying Capital City.

Comparatively,

it is indeed much more pleasurable and comfortable than continuing as the flimsy Minister in Yanjing.

As for whether there are deeper political intentions here,

such as power distribution and governance control,

this isn't something Zheng Fan should concern himself with.

"Personally handling everything exhausts even iron men. The best situation is focusing on what one is most adept at. Warfare is just like that."

Zheng Fan immediately saluted and said:

"Thank you, Prince, for your guidance."

In fact, Zheng Fan really wanted to say that in this aspect, he has done exceptionally well.

Not only in logistics and supply but also in building the morale of the troops,

I don't even personally fight the battles myself.

"Do you have any other matters?"

"No, my lord."

"Then you may leave; I am tired."

Zheng Fan was momentarily stunned,

this was the first time Tian Wujing said "tired" in front of him.

Because most of the time, Prince Jingnan was always grand and imposing. Even when Dujuan died, and he sat there overnight turning his hair white, it didn't give off a sense of weakness but rather like a tiger harboring a brewing rage.

"I shall take my leave, my lord. Please rest well; health is important."

After leaving the command tent, Zheng Fan didn't pause much and went straight back to his own tent.

As soon as he entered the tent,

he saw Siniang lying sideways on the military blanket, wrapped in a quilt with her back to him,

seemingly having heard his returning footsteps and confirmed it was him,

Siniang deliberately exposed her fragrant shoulder.

Furthermore,

at the end of the quilt, a small leg emerged, clad in flesh-colored stockings woven by Siniang herself.

Perhaps having already relaxed several times in the past two days,

this time, Lord Zheng did not rush pouncing over,

and instead leisurely wiped his face with the water from the basin,

while asking:

"What's up with this?"

Siniang turned over, facing Zheng Fan, and laughed:

"I wanted to test if my lord had advanced again, so I purposely tried to seduce my lord."

"So straightforward?"

"I have no secrets from my lord at all, you know."

"There seems to be a bit of an issue this time."

"My lord, what's the matter?"

"Actually, the first day you returned, I thought of helping you advance, without holding back mentally, but you still didn't advance."

This was the truth.

"My lord, no rush, we can try another way."

…

The relocated people's camp is quite large, though not as orderly as a military camp, it still exudes a certain rigor.

The camp has a very high population density, but there is one area that is separately guarded by three hundred Shengle soldiers, isolated far from the other areas of the camp.

Even these three hundred Shengle soldiers do not get too close to the area, only standing watch on the outer lines.

There, in a tent, during the day it would be packed up and transported by cart, while at night it would be separately set up.

Currently, inside the tent, there is a coffin, and on the coffin, there's a cradle.

The young prince lies in the cradle, holding a rattle, playing with his legs raised, occasionally uttering baby sounds.

Beside the cradle, there is also a bundle, inside which are the snacks and trinkets that Siniang found the young prince had secretly stashed. They're all for Mo Wan, and Siniang helped pack them up and brought them along.

The young prince was happily entertaining himself,

when suddenly,

the coffin beneath him shuddered,

the cradle landed smoothly,

but the coffin detached,

standing upright.

"Clang!"

The coffin lid slammed onto the ground,

revealing the person lying inside the coffin.

"Buzz!"

In an instant,

a two-meter wide opening was torn into the tent by an ominous aura,

the eyes of Shatuo Queshi slowly opened, with a dark glow swirling in them.

And outside the tent,

stood a man in a white python robe, he stood there quietly, even as the terrifying being in the coffin emerged, this python-robed man remained unmoved.

He merely stated calmly:

"I'm here to see my son."

——————

Thank you to Judy Baba, Yanyu Faint, and the fellow member with white hair for becoming the 106th, 107th, and 108th leaders of Mo Lin!

Lately, updates have been a bit late, as the writing sessions are longer, please bear with it.