CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 80 SELF-REPROACH EDICT_1

When Zheng Fan returned to Hutou City with his contingent, it was already late afternoon. The troops disbanded at the city gates. Everyone, including the original five Centurions and the servants and subordinates scraped together from the various family clans near Hutou City, returned to their respective homes and families.

Truth be told, for Zheng Fan, leading troops for the first time, it really did evoke a sensation akin to the "collapse of a dynasty."

Fortunately, Zheng Fan was quite philosophical about it. This wasn’t his own army, after all. His future army, under the leadership of A Ming and Fanli, was still en route to Hutou City. It would probably take another four or five days for them to arrive.

At the city gate, a chief clerk and a few secretaries were present. There was no need for Zheng Fan to make a trip to the government office; the handover was completed right there.

In fact, this was merely a formality.

The Qian State was very strict in controlling and guarding against its military power and warriors, so much so that it could be deemed pathological. During wartime, it was common for civil officials to be appointed as commanders, with military officers serving in auxiliary roles.

But in the Yan State, especially in Beifeng Prefecture, apart from the North Border Army, the rest were essentially the private troops of various families.

No matter how many procedures one went through or how exquisite their Tiger Talismans were, it couldn’t change the fundamental fact of which family had raised them.

Indeed, the North Border Army was the largest among them. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the entire three-hundred-thousand-strong North Border Army was the Li family’s private military force.

Back at his residence, Fangcao had already led the servants in preparing a welcome for his return. Instead of rushing to eat, Zheng Fan went straight to his rear courtyard. The water in the bath pool had already been prepared. After undressing, Zheng Fan took his ’son’—the stone—and submerged himself in it.

Even in modern times, the ability for most people in the country to have a hot bath at home has only been realized in the past ten or twenty years.

For many years before that, one would have to go to the public bathhouse to bathe, especially during winter.

In that era, when one went out for a bath, it was truly just for bathing...

But as the saying goes, "it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality." It wasn’t that he was a germaphobe; rather, as a modern person transported to ancient times, his most fervent wish and greatest desire was to be able to soak comfortably in a bath every day.

GURGLE... GURGLE...

The stone continued to float in the bath pool.

Zheng Fan rested his arms on the edge of the bath pool, his eyes closed.

In all the days since leaving Hutou City until his return, food hadn’t been much of an issue; the real problem was that the simple desire to soak contentedly in a bath had become an incredible luxury.

When we go to the south in the future, I must build a bath pool at home too.

GURGLE... GURGLE...

Just then, Fangcao’s voice came from outside,

"Master, a messenger from the government office has sent a message."

Zheng Fan wiped his face with his hand and asked,

"What is it?"

"The Recruitment Envoy has invited you to a banquet."

"Recruitment Envoy?"

Zheng Fan paused for a moment and asked,

"Which Recruitment Envoy?"

Zheng Fan vividly remembered when Shatuo Queshi had ’knocked’ at the pass; he had smashed that carriage against the memorial archway, obliterating the carriage and the horses hitched to it.

The red Snow Wolf, gifted as a present, was also smashed into a pulpy mess of wolf meat.

"Um... it should be the original Recruitment Envoy. A few days ago, I saw the Recruitment Envoy’s convoy returning to the city after patrolling the border."

Hui Wenzu isn’t dead?

Zheng Fan frowned slightly and called out,

"I see."

"Your servant will take her leave."

Zheng Fan emerged from the bath pool. While he was changing, Siniang pushed open the door and walked in. Unlike Fangcao, she had no compunctions about entering, regardless of whether Zheng Fan was bathing or not.

After all, they were practically family, and she knew the appropriate boundaries.

"My lord, Hui Wenzu is still alive."

Evidently, Siniang had also made special inquiries after receiving the message from the government office, only returning to give Zheng Fan a confirmed report.

"Tell Liang Cheng to prepare. If worst comes to worst, we’ll retreat to Mei Village."

"Yes, my lord."

Yes, Zheng Fan had no intention of attending the banquet.

Attending a Hongmen Banquet once makes for a good story; attend them regularly, and you’ll likely end up dead.

Zheng Fan cherished his life; he had no desire to throw it away for a single meal.

Leaving the rear residence, Zheng Fan walked into the front hall, where a table was laden with dishes.

Zheng Fan sat down alone, poured himself a drink, sipped it, and then picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Not long after, Fangcao entered the front hall again. Before she could speak, hearty laughter echoed from behind her,

"Zheng Colonel, it has been an arduous journey for you, truly arduous!"

This was the voice of Comrade Deep Sea.

Zheng Fan immediately rose. Regardless of his inner feelings, he walked to the entrance of the hall and bowed to Hui Wenzu, who was striding in from the main doorway,

"This humble subordinate greets you, Your Excellency!"

"Ah, no need, no need for such formalities."

Hui Wenzu had lost weight—a significant amount, in fact. But because he had a large frame to begin with, he was still quite portly.

Hui Wenzu’s hand gripped Zheng Fan’s. His gaze swept around the room, as if searching for something. Just as Zheng Fan was thinking this portly fellow was about to pull out a dagger and attempt to take them both down in a mutual destruction, Hui Wenzu spoke,

"Is it safe to talk here?"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency. Everyone in this residence is one of us."

"Good, that’s good."

Hui Wenzu walked straight to the table, sat down, and poured himself a drink. He downed three cups in quick succession. Then, losing his composure somewhat, he covered his face, and the sound of weeping could be heard.

Perhaps it was due to his excessive weight; his sobbing and whimpering sounded more like normal snoring.

"Zheng Colonel, I... I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime."

"Your Excellency, why would you say such a thing?" Zheng Fan also sat back down at the table. He had initially wanted to reach out and take Hui Wenzu’s hand, but seeing it covered in tears and snot, he hesitated and ultimately refrained.