Chapter 1391 - 340: Granted a Marquis Title

Chapter 1391: Chapter 340: Granted a Marquis Title

Upon hearing the sounds outside,

Lord Zheng immediately turned his head to look at the Sword Saint.

Prince Jingnan coming straight in wasn’t surprising; the soldiers outside saw him but dared not stop him unless Lord Zheng had given orders beforehand.

Even if a report was to be made, given Prince Jingnan’s nature, the messenger would likely not outrun Prince Jingnan.

As expected, the messenger’s voice came after that of Prince Jingnan:

"Lord, Prince Jingnan has arrived, er..."

Clearly, the messenger found that Prince Jingnan, who came in earlier, was now right in front of him.

However, while the gatekeeper couldn’t sense it in advance, how could the Sword Saint not?

The Sword Saint chuckled and said:

"The blind one often likes to play this trick on others, I want to try it too."

"..." Zheng Fan.

After speaking,

The Sword Saint’s Longyuan suddenly let out a tremor, although Prince Jingnan’s voice arrived early, he himself hadn’t come in yet.

The Sword Saint hesitated for a moment, shook his head, and left with his sword.

Speaking of which,

Prince Jingnan then walked into the room.

Meeting here was better left undone; what laid between them—positions and past entanglements—was too complex to resolve, so why not set it aside and continue living in ways they each preferred.

Of course, earlier Tian Wujing didn’t come directly to face the Sword Saint, not out of fear, but as a form of respect.

Seeing Tian Wujing appear before him, Lord Zheng promptly kneeled down in greeting, and his body turned weakly, tumbling to the side.

Tian Wujing went straight over to a nearby chair and sat down,

What Lord Zheng anticipated as assistance did not occur;

Yet, fortunately, Lord Zheng had long since grown accustomed, rolling onto his side on the ground before getting up quietly, standing before Prince Jingnan.

Tian Wujing was not merely a martial cultivator; though everyone knew his Third Rank peak martial cultivator physique was intimidating, he himself was also adept in external arts.

In the external arts, there is a skill called "face reading," which is quite similar to the "observation" in Chinese medicine’s "observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking"; alchemists need this to study the condition of the subject, so their "deductions" can be precisely targeted.

Thus, Tian Wujing could tell from a single glance that Lord Zheng’s complexion was alright, knowing Lord Zheng was mostly fine now.

At most, it might be a case of "mental fatigue," which typically occurs among noblewomen, cooped up at home all day, contemplating and brooding, leading to overthinking and becoming sick.

But this condition falling upon a grown man, especially a general, wouldn’t be regarded as a major illness—after all, compared to losing limbs or being hit by poisoned arrows, it’s not even considered a sickness.

"Your Highness."

Lord Zheng proactively picked up the teapot, ready to pour water.

Tian Wujing gestured to stop him, took the teapot himself, poured a cup of tea, and said to Zheng Fan:

"You’ve just eaten, don’t drink tea yet."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lord Zheng then sat down opposite Prince Jingnan.

"East Mountain Fort was captured rather quickly."

"Thanks to your strategic leadership, Your Highness."

"Speak normally."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I didn’t expect Shi Yuantang would play such a trick, yet Shi Yuantang likely didn’t expect to be pushed to death by you like this."

Lord Zheng nodded and said:

"Indeed, although we claimed victory this time and captured East Mountain Fort, the casualties of our troops were truly dire."

"With the early fall of East Mountain Fort, the situation has entirely opened up. Even with a royal forbidden army stationed there, it couldn’t change the outcome of the fort’s capture and annihilation.

The Chu State army’s steadfastness will be shaken from the bottom up; the Chu State generals will waver in their steadfast defensive tactics. When the other Yan armies sweep down remaining military forts and villages, the resistance will be much less."

"Indeed, but my troops suffered extreme losses this time, alas, these brothers have accompanied me in campaigns across the land for so many years."

Tian Wujing shook his head, looked down, and took a sip of tea.

Lord Zheng could discern that Prince Jingnan was in a rather good mood now.

This pleasant mood was probably similar to when he previously saw Jin Shuke.

"You’ve captured Yangshan Village, East Mountain Fort too, and even killed a Zhuguai of the Chu State. The leading merit, secondary merit, all go to you in the war against Chu.

It’s, pretty much enough.

Next, your troops shall rest and regroup here."

Lord Zheng exhaled deeply,

He wanted,

just this sentence!

In the prior battle at East Mountain Fort, the army from Snow Sea Pass he brought was halved in casualties; continue fighting, and those family troops would scarcely remain.

Luckily, like business, initial investments pave the market; now the returns finally appeared.

"Next, I shall appoint three actual generals beneath me to respectively command our army’s central, eastern, and western fronts.

You shall be the general for the eastern front."

Actually, Lord Zheng held the title of "Cheng State General," but that was an honorary title linked to his status, while the general here was a legitimate military position overtopping chief commander, albeit temporarily. When rewards are bestowed post-war, starting status won’t be the same, there’ll be differentiation.

Moreover, even without this "Eastern Army General," Gongsun Zhi and Gong Wang had long been under Lord Zheng’s control, much like what Lord Zheng previously said to Jin Shuke: Your achievements are remembered in my heart;