The Demon Lords

Porridge is plenty this time, but there are still more monks, and it’s still not enough to share. People from Ying Capital City can work their way through, while others from outside Ying have had their slots replaced.

Lord Zheng continued to play with the walnut while saying:

"Is it targeted against us?"

This was Lord Zheng’s first reaction.

Was he just collateral damage or receiving special attention?

The Blind Man spoke: "My lord, I believe the likelihood of us being specifically targeted is low.

There are three reasons:

First, the matter of selecting officials through the imperial examination has always been handled by the Crown Prince. Now, the Sixth Prince is shining brightly, overshadowing the Crown Prince.

And my lord, your relationship with the Sixth Prince is known to everyone.

But if the Crown Prince wants to attack you to hit the Sixth Prince, at this level, it would be like scratching an itch through the boot.

The Crown Prince wouldn’t be so unwise.

Second, due to the war, many aristocrats and clans from Cheng State have long gathered inside and outside Ying Capital City. Even though the court has divided regions into counties, towns, and cities, many places barely have any inhabitants. It’s hard not to replace many slots.

Perhaps, in outsiders’ eyes, our Snow Sea Pass is merely a border post next to the snowy plains, filled with a bunch of soldiers. Besides the military, where are there any scholars?

Thirdly,

The real nobility of Ying Capital City, or the once prominent families of Jin land, find it quite simple to arrange for their progeny to enter officialdom or to arrange positions for close friends or chosen scholars, it’s merely a matter of passing a note.

In Jin land, apart from the imperial exams, the court already has an option for recommendations to join the administration, intended to win over those large Jin families so they would come to Yan and share the spoils.

Families or individuals needing to manipulate examination quotas are merely ’small fry’ with only a bit of power, likely local officials of Ying Capital City or small families nearby.

They don’t have the privilege of ’passing notes’ and can only scrape for food in the path of the imperial exams.

If it were those prominent Jin families or notable forces, they might have their own needs, acting vicariously for someone to bother us at Snow Sea Pass, and it would be somewhat understandable.

But for these local ruffians and small officials to suddenly target us?

Are they crazy?

Therefore, due to these three points, I believe that our Snow Sea Pass scholars failing to enter the exam academy and having their quota replaced should be collateral damage, not a deliberate attack on us."

Zheng Fan listened to the Blind Man’s words and nodded slightly.

Then,

he gently focused his gaze on Gou Moli, who sat well-behaved over there,

and asked:

"What do you think?"

Gou Moli first bowed, then sat upright, saying:

"My lord, I, Gouzi, think that analyzing whether this is targeted at us or not is unnecessary."

Compared to the Blind Man’s long analysis, the words of the Wild People’s King aimed more at directness and "playing to the gallery."

Zheng Fan continued to rotate the walnut,

meeting the eyes Gou Moli cast towards him,

and said:

"Oh?"

Gou Moli appeared greatly encouraged,

and said:

"It depends on whether you want them to target us or not, my lord.

If you need them to target us, then they surely will!"

Zheng Fan slightly straightened his body but continued to lean his back on the chair. His gaze swept downward, and he said:

"Then tell me, do I need it or not?"

Gou Moli immediately said:

"My lord does need it!"

The Blind Man showed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth,

while Zheng Fan nodded,

and said:

"Explain in detail."

Gou Moli picked up the tea in front of him, took a sip, smacked his lips,

and said:

"My lord, if we talk about what was Yan’s real chronic affliction five years ago?"

Without needing Zheng Fan to answer, Gou Moli was completely speaking to himself.

His manner of speaking always carried a strong sense of agitation,

"It was the Earl of North Border’s Mansion."

Gou Moli raised his hand and continued:

"The Earl of North Border’s Mansion has suppressed the Desert Barbarians for a hundred years. If, at the beginning, it was the mainstay of Yan due to the strong threat from the barbarians, in recent generations, as the wild people’s royal court declined, the threat from the barbarians has been minimal.

When the knife once used to face beasts suddenly has no opponent, it’s very easy for this knife to harm oneself.

Moreover, the previous Earl of North Border even participated in the struggle for the throne!"

When the late emperor was just a prince, he lost in the power struggle, leading his royal mansion followers to flee to the Earl of North Border’s Mansion in Beifeng Prefecture. On the way, he was even attacked by assassins. Thanks to the desperate protection of a grand administrator from the palace, he managed to escape. That grand administrator was severely injured in the battle, leaving lasting disabilities and becoming a eunuch.

"Since then, the Earl of North Border’s Mansion has been uncontrollably powerful; those 300,000 cavalrymen not only tormented the Desert Barbarians but were also a thorn in the throat of the Yan royal family and the Ji Family.

At that time, you helped me win the throne, and I am grateful;

But once I sat on the dragon throne and recalled the past, it made me very uncomfortable—how could you have the capability to help a prince seize the throne?

Thus, five years ago, everyone in Yan’s court believed that one day, the Earl of North Border’s Mansion would divide the entire western part of Yan, nearly autonomously, or perhaps their 300,000 cavalry would head east and overthrow the Ji Family.