The you of yesterday, I couldn’t aspire to reach. The you of today… HEH HEH HEH.

Such is the magic of fate.

Zheng Fan knew that Emperor Jin had his own troubles. Still, no matter how difficult things were, during their many days marching together, Emperor Jin could surely have found an opportunity to meet him. But the man had simply looked down on him, likely feeling it unnecessary to ‘waste’ the Yan Emperor’s display of magnanimity by meeting a minor military leader like Zheng Fan.

If Li Fusheng or Li Bao had been here, this Emperor Jin would surely have been drinking and making merry with those two unrefined men. Suspicions, apprehensions—all would be cast to the wind. He would have even perfectly blended in playing drinking games and gossiping about women with those two coarse northerners.

If an emperor lacked such audacity, how could he possibly have dared to do something as risky as opening the gates to let the enemy in?

Right. If people look down on you, then they just look down on you. Zheng Fan had always been very clear-headed about this. Apart from feeling a little guilty towards Ji Chengjue, he was able to take it in stride.

But now, the tables had turned. The Emperor Jin, chased by the Situ Family’s army like a rabbit, had fled all the way here, even to Zheng Fan himself, requesting that he open the city gates to grant him refuge.

How the mighty have fallen! So, you bastard, you have days like this too, eh? Where’s your carriage? Where are your maids? Where’s your golden spittoon? Where’s your imperial dignity?

Truth be told, at this moment, Chief Zheng truly felt a thrill akin to an ex-girlfriend who had left him for being poor, now crawling back for a reconciliation after society had given her a harsh beating.

But thrill was thrill, and satisfaction was satisfaction; acting rashly out of emotion at this juncture was unnecessary. With the Situ Family’s enthronement and rebellion, the situation in Jin State, which had just settled down, had instantly become extremely chaotic.

For Zheng Fan, quickly quelling this chaos was in his best interest. Otherwise, how could he continue as the City Lord of Shengle?

He couldn’t possibly run from Green Willow Fortress to this unknown fort to continue being a mere Commander, could he?

If Fatty Hui of Nanwang City found out about this, he’d probably add eight chicken legs to his dinner in celebration. It’s the classic scenario: the more miserable the one who left me becomes, the happier I am.

“Open the city gates! Welcome His Majesty, the Emperor Jin!” Zheng Fan issued the order.

The city gates creaked open, and Emperor Jin’s troops marched in.

Zheng Fan said to Liang Cheng, “Previously, to have a good chat with Emperor Jin, the Blind Man, Siniang, and the others collected a fair bit of information about him.”

It was like a con artist casing a target; you had to gather intelligence beforehand, understand your target’s preferences.

Of course, according to the Blind Man, this was a kind of ‘extramundane art,’ commonly used by fortune-tellers. They’d start by subtly eliciting information: if you were a long-distance traveler, they’d advise you not to travel frequently in the near future; if you were a farmer, they’d talk about the celestial phenomena; if you were part of the establishment, they’d speak of benefactors and detractors.

Elicit information first, then dig your own pit based on it. A fortune-teller couldn’t survive without such skills.

“I understand, My lord,” Liang Cheng nodded.

“After all that analysis, do you know what kind of persona the Blind Man came up with for this Emperor Jin?”

“Please enlighten me, My lord.”

“Quite interesting. He dared to open the South Gate himself to let the Yan Army enter the pass, and he could lower himself to proactively kneel before the two Lords; he’s certainly a ruthless and decisive individual. However, he tends to overdo things. It appears he’s constantly kowtowing and selling out his country, and now he’s a puppet emperor. Yet, deep down, he’s genuinely a proud and, frankly, stubborn man.

The Yan Emperor operates from a commanding height, with a grand vision. I’ve also met the Qian Emperor; perhaps he was tricked because he truly didn’t know how to wage war, but his mastery of interpersonal skills and conduct was truly consummate.

Compared to the Yan Emperor and Qian Emperor, this Emperor Jin seems much younger. Outsiders consider him a coward, which, ironically, only strengthens his conviction that he is a wise man of foresight, enduring hardships for a greater plan.

Later, I’ll deliberately use the fact that he cold-shouldered me before to provoke him, stir up his anger. Believe it or not, when he finds out who I am, he might actually think I’m straightforward and worthy of friendship.

He might even think I’m a simpleton, someone he can support now and exploit later to reap the rewards.”

“This…”

“This is the script. I’m telling you first to sort out my own thoughts. Honestly, I’m only just realizing that drawing comics in my previous life might have been a mistake. I should have gone to drama school.”

「 」

Not long after, before Zheng Fan even had a chance to request an audience, Emperor Jin himself came up to the city wall tower.

Looking at Emperor Jin up close, Zheng Fan’s first reaction was—He’s very dark.

In recollection, some of the depictions of Judge Bao in television dramas, even with makeup on, weren’t as dark as Emperor Jin.

“General, the Situ Family’s army is not far. Please seal the city gates quickly!” Emperor Jin’s tone carried a few polite words.

Zheng Fan, however, shook his head. “There’s no hurry.”

Sealing the city gates wouldn’t just block the enemy; it would also block his own chances of breaking out. Unless absolutely necessary, Zheng Fan didn’t want to make such a decision.

People could descend the city walls using ropes or baskets, but how would you get warhorses out?

If you couldn’t get the warhorses out, how could you even dream of breaking out?

Ultimately, Zheng Fan still harbored the thought that if worst came to worst, he could just shed his official robes and continue living a carefree life with his Demon Kings, accompanying them in the mortal realm.

As for dying for Yan or for the city, Zheng Fan hadn’t yet developed that kind of conviction.

“General?” Yu Ciming was clearly about to try and persuade him further.

Zheng Fan, however, said with some impatience, “Your Majesty, I know how to wage war.”

Yu Ciming was taken aback. Ever since he opened the South Gate Pass to let the Yan army into Jin State, everyone from the Northern and Southern Lords to the Yan Emperor himself had been very courteous to him. This was the first time he had encountered such disdain from a Yan person.

“Your Majesty, please hand over your men to my command.”

“That is a given,” Yu Ciming replied without hesitation.

“Good. Then, Your Majesty, please go down and rest.”

Zheng Fan thought, Go rest wherever it’s coolest.

“General, I too am knowledgeable in military affairs. I can also wield a sword,” he said, implying he could help defend the city.

Zheng Fan waved his hand. “Your Majesty’s person is invaluable. We absolutely cannot allow any harm to befall you. For the sake of the greater situation, please go down and rest.”

This wasn’t Zheng Fan deliberately trying to embarrass Emperor Jin. Rather, if he hadn’t accepted Emperor Jin into the fort in the first place—guessing that the Situ Family’s troops were primarily targeting Emperor Jin—then letting Emperor Jin continue to flee with his forces would naturally have kept Zheng Fan’s own side safe.

But since he had accepted him, if a battle truly broke out later and an errant arrow struck Emperor Jin—arrows having no eyes—would Zheng Fan then have to hold up Emperor Jin’s head and shout to the enemy:

“Emperor Jin is dead! Let’s stop fighting!”

What a pain, Zheng Fan mused.

Emperor Jin said, “General, you seem to hold some prejudice against me.”

Zheng Fan chuckled and retorted, “Should I revere you?”

The disdain in his voice was palpable.

“You…”

“Your Majesty, please go down and rest peacefully. Don’t hinder this general’s work.”

“Very well, I shall go down then. I leave matters here to you, General.”

Emperor Jin managed to maintain his composure. However, after taking just two steps, he turned back as if remembering something. “My apologies, I neglected to ask the General’s name?”

“Zheng Fan.”

Zheng Fan felt he couldn’t bring himself to add the prefix. Commander of Shengle City? Shengle City had fallen. Adding that prefix now would just be slapping his own face.

Emperor Jin chuckled. “HEH HEH HEH HEH. General Zheng, you certainly are a man of genuine character.”

Clearly, Emperor Jin knew who this General Zheng Fan was. After all, whether one met him or not was one thing, but having traveled with his contingent for half a month, it would be truly obtuse not to even know the man’s name.

Considering this, Zheng Fan’s curt attitude towards him was indeed understandable.

This General Zheng is quite the straightforward, simple fellow, Emperor Jin thought.

Emperor Jin performed a deep bow and said with sincerity, “Some days ago, Ciming had his difficulties and thus neglected you, General. Now, you harbor no resentment and offer Ciming protection. Ciming is endlessly grateful!”

Zheng Fan’s eyes immediately reddened.

All his previous dissatisfaction and curtness vanished.

He strode forward, grasped Yu Ciming’s hands, and said with a choked voice,

“Your Majesty, there’s no need for this, truly. It was this humble general who failed to understand Your Majesty’s difficulties. It was my own pettiness.”

Emperor Jin and Zheng Fan clasped each other’s hands, slowly straightening up. Emperor Jin said, “General, once Yan’s heavenly army repels Situ’s rebels, Ciming will certainly host a banquet to drink and celebrate with you!”

“I shall host it! I will! I only ask that Your Majesty graces us with your presence.”

“You are too kind, too kind.”

“It is my duty, my duty.”

“Then I shall take my leave. Should the General require anything that I possess, please send word directly.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

After another round of seemingly reluctant farewells, Yu Ciming descended. This was, after all, not the time for idle chatter.

As he descended, a glint flashed in Yu Ciming’s eyes. This man, though somewhat arrogant, is also guileless. His vision may be limited, but his ambition is immense. He might be controllable in the future, he mused.

「 」

Watching Emperor Jin leave, Zheng Fan turned to Liang Cheng, who stood beside him, and said, “Do you believe that as he went down, he was thinking I’m a complete idiot?”

“My lord, I’m not adept at such mind games.”

“It’s not that you’re not adept; most of the time, you simply can’t be bothered. By the way, something occurred to me last night as I was falling asleep. The relationship between us lot, it’s like those American elections. I’m the one responsible for performing on stage, and you all are my think tank.”

“My lord, you are too modest. Truthfully, that is how I initially thought. But after all these days and experiencing so much, My lord’s growth has been evident to all. This isn’t flattery, seriously.”

“Look at you, still saying you can’t flatter. That last part—’seriously’—was a perfect example of ‘what’s unsaid speaks louder than words.’ Not bad.”

Liang Cheng allowed a faint smile.

Zheng Fan, meanwhile, rested his hands on the crenellations of the wall, gazing into the distance.

In the distance, a dark, oppressive cloud had appeared on the horizon. The Situ Family’s grand army had arrived.

Within the fort, all Yan Army soldiers and civilian laborers had been mobilized onto the walls. Some siege equipment had also been hauled up, but the quantity was insufficient, so they had already begun dismantling houses within the fort for materials.

At that moment, Xue Three and A Ming, leading a few men, carried a coffin over from within the fort.

Zheng Fan understood instantly. He drew his saber, raised it high,

And roared to the defending soldiers around him, “This general has already prepared his own coffin! If the fort stands, I stand! If the fort falls, I fall!

I, your General, stand with you! We fight to the death together!”

All around, whether they were the original subordinates brought from Green Willow Fortress or the newly rewarded civilian conscripts from this fort, everyone felt a surge of adrenaline. They raised their weapons in unison and roared,

“Fight to the death! Fight to the death!”

Zheng Fan, however, curled his lip and muttered under his breath, “I feel so dirty.”

Liang Cheng nodded in agreement.

Then, Zheng Fan shouted to those below, “Bring this general’s coffin up here! This general will stand beside his coffin to defend the city!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep