Chapter 452 Cold-Blooded Animals

That night, Fan Zhengwen and his wife did not stay at the outer residence but returned to their family home in Xiayong.

Fan Zhengwen's identity was not simple; some occasions required his appearance.

After they left, Zheng Fan waved his hand, rejecting Si Niang's suggestion to prepare dinner. He had drunk too much herbal tea and wasn't hungry.

Si Niang walked behind Zheng Fan and began to massage his shoulders and neck, saying,

"My lord, Fan Zhengwen is not a simple man."

There were very few people Si Niang would describe as not simple.

Zheng Fan nodded silently.

"His speech, actions, even the control of every micro-expression, are all masterful. He is an ambitious man, and a remarkably talented one," Si Niang continued.

Zheng Fan closed his eyes and smiled, saying,

"Do you believe that when he comes tomorrow, he will bring a complete plan?"

"I believe it," Si Niang replied.

"We all know what kind of person Little Sixth is. His father secretly erected a shrine to his maternal grandfather and mother, and he could still pretend to be sad and show himself by the fields.

"I don't believe such a person has much family affection in his heart, especially for an aunt he hasn't had much contact with, and a more distant uncle.

"They are all political figures, all cold-blooded animals. It can only be said that the existence of this aunt has become a bridge, better uniting them. But in essence, it is Fan Zhengwen's abilities that have been recognized by Little Sixth, leading him to be absorbed as a part of his sphere of influence.

"I even think that from the moment Fan Zhengwen learned I was entering Chu, he was already planning this. Even if he couldn't catch this princess, there would still be a junzhu (princess of the second rank), xianzhu (princess of the third rank), a direct daughter of the Qu family, or some other target.

"He would arrange everything for me early on, selecting the right target.

"It's like walking into a private, high-end tailor shop. The clothes he chooses for you not only fit your height and build but also match your tastes and aesthetics. At the same time, he will prepare multiple options for you."

"I didn't expect my lord to rate him so highly."

"He is not meant to be confined to a pond. That's why he is unwilling to continue living in Chu with the label of a family slave, especially since he cannot escape this identity for generations to come."

If the Chu Kingdom doesn't fall, the Fan family will forever be family slaves.

"Has my lord not developed a desire to nurture talent?" Si Niang asked.

Zheng Fan shook his head and said,

"He overlaps with Blind."

After a pause,

Zheng Fan continued,

"Blind is far more outstanding than him."

Zheng Fan already had this kind of talent for planning and strategy.

Having too many talents of this kind is not necessarily a good thing, as it could lead to a situation where one plus one is less than two, or even less than one.

Besides, if all else fails, the Wild Man King is also adept in this area.

No matter how outstanding Fan Zhengwen is, the Wild Man King will definitely not be worse than him, and the Wild Man King has also proven his ability on a large scale.

It can only be said that the Wild Man King's path to rise was thwarted by Tian Wujing.

Although Zheng Fan has always adhered to the principle that "what's mine is mine, and what's Little Sixth's is also mine,"

He didn't intend to recruit Fan Zhengwen.

Most importantly, there's no reason for him to give up being a future royal relative and get on Zheng Boye's ship unless Little Sixth fails in the struggle for the throne.

"By the way, don't you think this Daze Fragrant Tongue is strange? Other teas have a refreshing and energizing effect, but this tea can actually help people sleep."

"Therefore, Daze is a good place. My lord can visit it in the future."

"Yes, but there are too many places I want to visit. Let's first..."

Si Niang immediately said, "First snatch the princess?"

Zheng Fan was stunned. He really couldn't understand Si Niang's obsession and interest in women with the status of "princess" or "junzhu (princess of the second rank)," but at this time, he didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he nodded and said,

"Yes."

…

The next afternoon, Fan Zhengwen came again. This time, Zheng Boye wasn't sleeping.

Fan Zhengwen was riding in an ordinary cargo carriage, just as he had done yesterday, disguising himself as a laborer.

In short, Zheng Fan, standing at the door, couldn't find any flaws.

Previously, in the Mengshan area, Zheng Boye could brazenly enter with his troops because Fan Zhengwen was confident that he could completely isolate the news there, having the confidence and assurance to keep the news within Mengshan.

But in Xiayong, because he couldn't completely control everything, he appeared very cautious.

Fan Zhengwen didn't bring Min Shi this time, but an old man.

The old man's appearance was very sloppy, but when he approached and saluted, Zheng Fan found that the old man's originally turbid eyes instantly became clear.

After entering the house, Fan Zhengwen excused himself, taking a package to change his clothes and wash up.

Yes, he still needed to take a bath.

Careful in his work, yet possessing a certain elegance and restraint, tsk, Zheng Fan seemed to see Blind's shadow in Fan Zhengwen.

The two were exactly alike in their affectations.

Zheng Fan sat in the hall, with the old man sitting in front of him. The old man didn't change his clothes but cupped his fist toward Zheng Fan before sitting down, saying:

"This humble one, Weng Zanghai, greets the Earl of Pingye, may the Earl of Pingye be blessed."

"Please sit down, Old Sir."

"Thank you, Earl."

Weng Zanghai sat down and began to drink tea without saying a word.

After a short while,

Fan Zhengwen, having quickly washed up, walked in, looking like the handsome middle-aged man from yesterday.

"Hehe, I apologize for the spectacle, Earl. When it comes to discussing serious matters, I feel uncomfortable if I'm not clean."

Zheng Fan laughed, "I understand."

Fan Zhengwen looked at Weng Zanghai and said,

"Earl, this is Weng Zanghai, my tutor."

Weng Zanghai stood up and added, "This old one is a strategist for Master Fan."

Zheng Fan nodded again, indicating that he understood.

In fact, all three were very straightforward people. Today's meeting exuded a refreshing energy from the start.

After a simple introduction, Weng Zanghai walked to the center and took out a drawing from his bosom. It was a map, but with some annotations.

Weng Zanghai squatted on the ground, spread out the drawing, and then stood up, taking a few teacups to hold the drawing down. He then reached out and brushed aside the hair falling on the side of his face, saying:

"Earl, here is Mengshan, here is Xiayong, and here, here, here, and here, this large area, is the Qu family's fiefdom."

The Qu family's fiefdom was very large. To make a comparison, the Qu family was like a duke of this fiefdom, while families like the Fan family were like vassals under the duke.

"Qu Tiannan, the Pillar of State of the Qu family, died outside Jade Plate City. In Chu, there are rumors that Qu Tiannan didn't necessarily have to die, or at least, not die so pathetically. The reason he met such an end was that the court, due to the Regent's naivete, trusted the Yan Kingdom's treaty, which led to this Pillar of State ordering 40,000 Chu soldiers to lay down their arms and be slaughtered."

Zheng Fan shook his head and said,

"In fact, it was just a difference between dying later and dying sooner. Because the siege had already lasted a long time, and the Chu army had been short of food since the beginning of the siege."

Qu Tiannan was the Pillar of State of Chu. Such a person was definitely not an ordinary individual. Even if his family name helped him become this Pillar of State, the Qu family was so large and powerful that they would never have chosen a useless fool to inherit the identity of the Qu family's Pillar of State.

If there was enough food,

If reinforcements were expected,

Even if the Chu emperor issued multiple edicts,

Qu Tiannan would have refused to open the city and surrender, using the excuse that a general in the field may disobey some orders.

He wasn't stupid;

But reality forced him to bury his head like an ostrich.

Weng Zanghai smiled upon hearing this, saying:

"What the Earl says is naturally true, but truth and falsehood have never been what the court and the public truly care about. First, it may be to quell criticism. Second, after all, the Qu family supported the Regent from the beginning and also directly sent out the family's elite Azure Luan Army to conquer the Jin Kingdom, and they were all lost.

"Both emotionally and rationally, the Regent must compensate the Qu family.

"Marriage is naturally the best way.

"It is said that the Fourth Princess of Great Chu, Xiong Liqing, is young and beautiful. She was deeply loved by the late emperor and, like the Regent, was born to Consort Ming. Therefore, it is most appropriate to use the Fourth Princess to marry Qu Peiluo, the eldest son of Qu Tiannan.

"The Regent wants to keep the Qu family tied to his war chariot."

Zheng Fan nodded, listening attentively.

Weng Zanghai didn't dwell on the family relationships for too long. In fact, his previous explanation was to highlight the noble status of this Chu princess, and she was definitely not the kind of unloved, inconsequential princess born to an unloved consort.

"According to custom, since the wedding date is on the Lantern Festival, the Fourth Princess should stay in Yingdu to celebrate the New Year. Therefore, the junzhu (princess of the second rank) has less than half a month to travel from Yingdu to Juyuan City, where the Qu family's main residence is located.

"Because this is a princess marrying out, not the royal family recruiting a consort.

"Therefore, I predict that around the tenth day of the first lunar month, the princess's wedding procession should appear near Zhou County, south of Juyuan City, because there is a royal villa there. The late Chu emperor stayed at that villa when he inspected outside Yingdu.

"And Chu weddings, especially when a princess is marrying, will definitely not lack etiquette. Both the Regent and the Qu family value this marriage very much and will never allow outsiders to find fault with it.

"The accompanying eunuchs, dowry, and all the other procedures must be followed, at least for three days.

"Therefore, on the tenth day of the first lunar month, the princess's wedding procession should just arrive at this royal villa outside Zhou County.

"And this is the opportunity for us to act!

"First, the journey from Yingdu to Zhou County in ten days will inevitably be rushed, and the wedding procession will be exhausted;

"Second, they will have just moved into the villa, unfamiliar with the surrounding environment, and it will be difficult to immediately hand over all aspects. This is also the first time the Qu family has welcomed a princess, and there will definitely be too many things to coordinate. On this day, both sides should be very busy."

Zheng Fan listened patiently and, seeing Weng Zanghai stop, said:

"Is there a third reason?"

Weng Zanghai smiled and said, "Earl, the royal villa in Zhou County, no matter how good a place it is, will become dilapidated if it is not inhabited for too long and lacks human care. In addition, because of the major event of the princess's marriage, the villa will definitely need to be renovated, and my Fan family is specifically responsible for this matter."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan showed a smile on his face and said, "So, the timing is just right?"

If the Fan family renovated the villa, then it would be much easier to insert their own people.

Instead of attacking from the outside, they could directly launch an internal attack, hold the princess hostage, and break through, which would significantly reduce the difficulty of the matter.

Moreover, it would coincide with the time when the escort team and the Qu family were both busy with etiquette and various handovers.

Weng Zanghai said, "That is indeed just right."

"Not right."

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "There is still one problem."

"Please speak, Earl."

"To be honest, I didn't think abducting a princess would be that difficult, even when I first heard Fan Xiong mention it yesterday. Of course, with Mr. Weng's arrangement, it will inevitably be even easier.

"But I think the real problem is how to escape after snatching the princess?"

Zheng Boye, who dared to directly break through Mianzhou City with only 300 riders back then, naturally wouldn't think that capturing a married princess was difficult. Although there would be experts and Chu royal guards protecting the princess, it was, after all, different from being on the battlefield.

Moreover, some soldiers are used for fighting on the battlefield, while others are used as ceremonial guards. It is estimated that there will be many ceremonial guards in the wedding procession. They may seem numerous, but they lack experience in battle formations and are unlikely to pose a significant threat.

However,

Once the princess is captured,

How do they escape afterward?

This is, after all, the Chu Kingdom. Capturing a princess in the Chu Kingdom will enrage the entire Chu Kingdom, and the Chu army that comes after them will inevitably be countless.

Back when he was fearless as a newborn calf, he was chased all the way by the Qian army. In the end, if Tian Wujing hadn't led the Jingnan Army to scare away Grand Tutor Yang, he might have immediately "died" at the very beginning of his venture.

Arranging an escape route through the Fan family after capturing the princess is possible, but it would be equivalent to completely selling out the Fan family.

Zheng Boye didn't care. Even if he used the Fan family as a disposable item, ran back with the princess in glory after using them, what would it matter to him if the Fan family was exterminated?

But would the Fan family be willing?

"Earl, your discernment is clear. The greatest difficulty lies in the escape route. If the escape route is not arranged well, it will cause the entire plan to fall into a passive state.

"However, Earl, please look, here is Mengshan, and next to Mengshan is Qishan. In theory, Qishan also belongs to the Qu family's fiefdom, but that area is managed by the Wu family.

"The Wu family, like my Fan family, are slave families of the Qu family, but the Wu family is more involved in the trade between Qian and Chu."

Hearing this,

Zheng Fan raised his head,

"Hehe."

Fan Zhengwen also laughed, and Weng Zanghai laughed as well.

Everyone was smart, so many things became clear with just a hint.

If they didn't take the Mengshan route but instead took the Qishan route on their way back, the journey would definitely be much longer. If they came out of the mountains and returned to Jin, it would be further west.

Of course, the closest route would be to swagger back to Xuehai Pass from Zhennan Pass after snatching the princess, which would be the closest route but somewhat suicidal.

Taking the Qishan route would allow them to divert the trouble eastward, removing the Fan family and pushing the Wu family into the pit.

First, it would be like using the Wu family as toilet paper. Second, it would be like eliminating a competitor for the Fan family.

Zheng Fan didn't mind doing such a win-win thing. His requirements were simple: one was the princess, and the other was to safely return to Jin.

If those two requirements could be met, he didn't mind working together. After all, if the Fan family really wanted to sacrifice themselves wholeheartedly, Zheng Boye wouldn't dare to play with them.

Everyone had their own interests, which was the best mode of cooperation.

"Are you confident?" Zheng Fan asked.

"How did the Earl feel about the defenses of those forts when you came in from Mengshan?" Weng Zanghai asked.

Zheng Fan replied, "Very average."

The vigilance of those forts might be better than that of the Qian Kingdom's Ji Fort back then;

But in reality, it was just another version of the Qian Kingdom's border army.

The Qu family raises private soldiers in the fiefdom, and it's legal, while the barren land on the periphery is handed over to slave families to manage. It would be a miracle if they could raise good soldiers under those circumstances.

"Earl, I can only say that the defenses of Qishan are even weaker than those of Mengshan. After all, Mengshan faces the Situ family, so there is still some vigilance. But Qishan is closer to the Qian Kingdom, and they also do business with the Qian Kingdom, so they naturally associate with each other.

"Moreover, my Fan family also has some nails in Qishan. They can help the Earl better pass through Qishan. I can't guarantee that there won't be any accidents, and I can't guarantee that everything will go smoothly.

"But I think that with the Earl and his brave warriors, even if there are only a thousand of them, it shouldn't be too difficult to fight their way out of Qishan."

Zheng Fan nodded silently.

Zheng Fan reached out and rubbed his temples. Si Niang understood and walked out to call Xue San in.

Fan Zhengwen and Weng Zanghai were both shrewd people, so they naturally wouldn't have any prejudice against the dwarf next to the Earl of Pingye and immediately saluted respectfully.

Zheng Fan had already heard the entire plan. As for the specific details, Zheng Fan didn't need to worry too much. As a leader, he only needed to know what to do; as for how to do it, that was the subordinates' business.

"You talk."

Zheng Fan pointed to Xue San and Si Niang and glanced at Fan Zhengwen.

Fan Zhengwen immediately stood up and walked out of the living room with Zheng Fan, leaving Weng Zanghai, Xue San, and Si Niang to continue discussing the details.

Zheng Fan silently took out the big iron box and took out a rolled cigarette.

Fan Zhengwen had a keen nose and immediately said, "Tobacco?"

"Hehe."

"Does the Earl use Five Stone Powder?"

Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "I don't touch that. Do you like it, Fan Xiong?"

Fan Zhengwen smiled and said, "I don't practice martial arts, but I value my life and health."

"It's good to stay healthy, it's good to stay healthy."

"Earl, I have to go back in the evening. Would the Earl be willing to come with me and have a seat at my residence? To be honest, I dare not say anything else, but when it comes to luxury, my Fan family is second to none in the entire northwest of Chu. After all, this is the foundation of my Fan family's existence.

"If I don't know how to have fun, how can I bring my master's family to have fun?

"Moreover, it's still early before the New Year. It's a bit cold for the Earl to stay here. It's inconvenient for the Earl to take troops out of the city in Xiayong, but it's good to dress up a bit and see the local customs and practices of Chu in the city.

"Furthermore, there are twelve phoenix hairpins in my Fan residence. Although it's just a joke among the villagers, the Earl can also appreciate them."

Zheng Fan pondered slightly,

Flicked the ash of his cigarette,

And said:

"Then I'll accept your kind invitation."

————

Thank you to Yue Zui Zui Er for becoming the 115th Alliance Master of "The Descent of Magic"!

Good night, everyone.