The Demon Lords

Feng Guan picked up the teapot, refilled his cup with tea, and said:

"Why can other military leaders tolerate it, but Lord Pingye cannot?"

Zhang Yuanshan heard this, smiled, and said:

"Being born human, who is naturally willing to endure such constraints? It’s just the force of circumstances, compelled by necessity. The other military leaders in the Jin land can tolerate it because Lord Jingnan is pressing them, whether they want to or not;

but it’s well known that Lord Jingnan regards Lord Pingye highly, and does the world know it, but Lord Pingye does not know?

Precisely because he doesn’t need to tolerate it, he doesn’t have to endure it."

"But this approach is indeed a bit too much; earlier, I was proclaiming an edict."

"He’s done even more extreme things before; the Third Prince is still at the Lakeside Pavilion now."

"That’s indeed true," Feng Guan nodded.

Zhang Yuanshan picked up a piece of fish head and put it in his plate, idly fiddling with it as he said:

"Our emperor is wise and powerful, with the capacity to accommodate even the vast sea. Even if Eunuch Feng returns and exaggerates things before the emperor, our emperor would just laugh it off as nothing more than young people venting their temper and grievances. Tsk,

young people.

Lord Pingye is indeed young, a few years younger than me."

"Young people, young people." Feng Guan repeated this phrase.

"Being young is good; it means making mistakes isn’t a big deal, and the emperor can be more forgiving. Besides, we’ve both seen the situation here at the Snow Sea Pass.

Who knows when the northern snowfields will become turbulent again?

Regarding the southern Chu State, they suffered a great loss this time, the royal family and the Qu Clan both lost face. Although both sides are tacitly withdrawing troops and ceasing hostilities now, if war breaks out again, this troop at the Snow Sea Pass will inevitably move south.

Otherwise, if the Chu people enter Jin and open up Jin land, the Snow Sea Pass will instantly become an isolated island.

Looking around a hundred miles from Snow Sea Pass, can you see the smoke rising from many villages? Can you see how many cities are really inhabited?

It isn’t easy for the Snow Sea Pass to have today’s scene."

"Lord Zhang, which side are you on?"

Zhang Yuanshan said calmly, "I’m on the side of Yan. What we see and hear today can just be seen, but when we return, what should be communicated must be conveyed, but without exaggeration, and even have to help shield Lord Pingye a bit."

"Why?"

"Because even if you tell the truth, our emperor would find you annoying!"

Zhang Yuanshan raised his voice.

Eunuch Feng’s momentum immediately faltered.

"Eunuch Feng, I’m only giving you some advice because we’ve been traveling together for many days. Yes, I’m an external official, and you’re an internal official;

what’s needed for internal officials is loyalty, but it depends on where. External officials need reputation, even if they deliberately oppose the emperor, the emperor mostly just laughs; internal officials, why do you need fame?"

"This unworthy servant..."

"I’ve said what I needed to say; even if I hadn’t, Eunuch Wei would surely tell you these things when we return.

Think about who stands behind Lord Pingye,

Lord Jingnan, the Sixth Prince,

which one can you afford to provoke?

If we take ten thousand steps back, not considering others, just looking at Lord Pingye, the emperor praises him as the pillar of the next generation of Yan’s military, can you push him?

Finding a step to climb up is common, but some steps are covered with thorns.

Moreover, if any rumor detrimental to Lord Pingye emerges today, we’ll be the ones to bear the consequences."

"This unworthy servant understands."

"Then perhaps Eunuch Feng should restrain his powers?"

Feng Guan waved his sleeve, and the mist beside the table instantly dispersed.

Zhang Yuanshan pointed at the pickled fish with his chopsticks,

and said:

"Eat more, the fish from the snowfield ponds can’t be found elsewhere."

Eunuch Feng took another piece of fish fillet into his mouth,

and said:

"It’s truly delicious."

...

Small pavilion, lantern, sunflower seeds.

Liang Cheng sat across from the blind man,

and asked:

"Why not go and listen in?"

The blind man shook his head and said, "What they say isn’t important and is easy to guess;

it’s nothing more than grumbling, dissatisfaction, venting, self-adjustment, facing reality, and resignation."

"Listening to it like this indeed seems uninteresting."

"Yes."

"Are you well-prepared for this entry into the capital?"

"No time for that; I’ll have to carefully plan on the road. Unlike last time when my lord entered the capital himself, he was just a sidekick beside Lord Jingnan. This time, however, he’s playing the lead role."

"It seems we don’t have enough manpower," Liang Cheng said.

San’er is still in Liang State, A Ming remains asleep, Siniang is injured, and either the blind man or Siniang must stay to manage Snow Sea Pass’s operations, with Liang Cheng himself having to stay here to command troops.

However,

upon hearing this,

the blind man laughed,

and said:

"No worries, we have ready helpers."

...

Side room, tea table, two plates of pastries, a pot of grape brew.

Siniang lifted a small cup,

Xiong Liqing and Liu Ruqing promptly raised their cups.

"Sisters, although this grape brew tastes sweet and sour, drinking too much can get you drunk. I don’t get drunk, so please feel free."

Previously when Siniang ran a brothel and club, she used to drink all kinds of wine like water.

"With you in high spirits, sister, we’ll do our best to accompany you," Liu Ruqing whispered.

"Indeed, indeed, I’m happy today too. The drums were played joyfully; if it were in Chu, elder brother would certainly reprimand me, but he just laughed."