The Demon Lords

"Using Mao Mingcai to pressure me?"

"I dare not, my Lord!"

"You keep saying you dare not, yet you’ve done everything."

"My Lord, there are court laws and justice will prevail. My Lord must not act in anger."

Zheng Fan chuckled,

and said:

"Very well, let me see if you can stop me today."

"It is my duty, I ask Lord Pingye for forgiveness!"

As he spoke,

Ran Min stood straight up.

At the same time, he waved his hand, and a group of soldiers appeared on both sides of the road, completely blocking the path of Zheng Fan’s troops.

Zheng Fan’s gaze swept over these Ying Capital City city guard soldiers, who knew very well the person sitting on the Pixiu. When Zheng Fan’s gaze passed by, the soldiers instinctively lowered their heads and closed their eyes.

A person’s name casts a shadow like a tree.

While the direct line of Lord Zheng resides at Snow Sea Pass, his reputation throughout the entire Yan Army is actually very high.

It’s said that every soldier with dreams often dreams of becoming the second Lord Pingye.

Zheng Fan reached out to stroke the mane of the Pixiu,

and said:

"Advance."

Gao Yi drew his sword forward,

shouted:

"By the order of my Lord, advance, and kill anyone who dares to block!"

"Yes!"

All the personal guards drew swords, cocked crossbows, ready in combat formation as if for a mounted battle, began to advance in an orderly manner.

Ran Min stood there; he did not step back.

But his stand was futile,

because the soldiers he brought, outnumbered visibly, started retreating.

Even though Ran Min did not give the order, these soldiers were intimidated by the severe aura of Lord Zheng’s guards and fundamentally lacked the courage or will to have their blades against Lord Pingye.

Retreat, retreat, the city guard soldiers began to unwittingly make way.

Ran Min still stood there,

his gaze,

fixed on Lord Pingye.

Zheng Fan also watched him, in his gaze, carrying a kind of chilling calm that Ran Min felt.

He struggled internally,

but when the foremost guards were within two yards distance, Ran Min leaned to the left, walked back a few steps, and made way.

This man who once roamed the street, drank with the Sixth Prince in front of the government office, participated in the Eastern Conquest Army’s Wang River battle, now, standing alone after his men retreated, truly could not withstand the pressure coming from Lord Pingye.

Zheng Fan rode the Pixiu, slowly passing in front of Ran Min.

Ran Min mustered up courage, lifted his head again, yet found Lord Pingye never even glanced sideways at him.

To be precise, earlier he thought Lord Pingye was watching him as he stood towards the front, but it turned out to be his wishful thinking. He was not even considered by Lord Pingye.

Sometimes, he would recall, imagine if he had not been coincidentally summoned to Eastern Conquest Army, according to his original assignment, heading to Shengle City;

If he had followed Lord Pingye, what would he be now?

Would he have already died in battle, or become a captain under him?

For some reason, even though now he immensely valued by Mao Mingcai, sitting at such a position from a convict’s status is already a great fortune, he often can’t help but reflect on this possibility at night.

The government office’s Academic Affairs Office held many officers, especially recently after conducting the township examination, students across the former Cheng State domain must come to Ying Capital City under their organization to enter the examination academy. Though nominally county level, they are practically the highest academic authority in all of Cheng State.

When Zheng Fan arrived at the Academic Affairs Office gate,

many heads were already peering over the wall.

Lord Pingye went furious at the inn entrance due to the Snow Sea Pass students’ positions being replaced, determined to come personally for an explanation. This was already promptly conveyed to the office by various means.

This was intentional by Zheng Fan. His troops purposely moved slowly to give the news sufficient time to spread; otherwise, how could more people know Lord Zheng’s anger?

However,

perhaps due to seeing Lord Zheng’s personal guard’s intimidating aura, the Academic Affairs Office had already closed their gates, and indeed, no one dared to come out and respond, let alone host them.

In such a situation, even with reason, one cannot avoid faltering, let alone many in the Academic Affairs Office knowing internally they did commit that act; they had no justification.

"Lord Zheng, Lord Zheng!"

At this moment,

Governor Mao Mingcai came galloping, beginning to shout from afar.

Old Mao had mixed in the central government and served as Minister of War; now in Ying Capital City, he is truly the person-in-charge, a provincial official.

He acutely tasted the ominous notes from the report below.

In politics,

everyone is a master,

he has predicted Lord Zheng’s sudden difficulty to be aiming for something.

Especially last night, after Zhang Yuanshan entered the city, he visited Mao at the Governor’s Mansion, discussing extensively the Snow Plain parade.

"Lord Zheng, long time no see, still as impressive, truly makes an old man envious!"

Mao Mingcai greeted with a full smile, as if reuniting with an old friend after many years.

Lord Zheng also responded with a full smile and enthusiastically to greet Mao Mingcai:

"Master Mao, long time no see, still brimming with energy."

"Ah, old, old, truly feeling the years, can’t compare with you, my Lord, youthful and flourishing."

Seeing Lord Zheng talking with smiles, Mao Mingcai relaxed internally, said:

"Lord, I am aware of the matters; please rest assured, I will certainly investigate the origin of this matter for your justice."

"Master Mao is busy with affairs and the burden of this whole region rests on you, Master Mao. Ah, I really regret making you worry and toil over my affairs."

"Lord, no need to say such, the imperial examination is a national policy, the Emperor takes it seriously, and we as ministers should devote our efforts. Besides, it is also the responsibility of my domain’s slip-up that requires remedy.

Please, Lord Zheng, come first to my residence for some tea, I will immediately order the officials to arrest and interrogate. Lord Zheng can listen by my side."

Lord Zheng nodded and said: "With these words, Master Mao, I am relieved. Our border soldiers endure great hardship in guarding, and cannot be stabbed in the heart like this."

"Indeed, you speak truly, Lord."

"When considering, my last meeting with Master Mao was already a year ago? Ah, how time flies."

"Indeed."

"I vaguely remember last time seeing Master Mao, he was an imperial envoy, organizing negotiations with the Chu people under Jade Plate City, standing firm at the negotiation table, truly impressive."

"Haha, indeed, surprising that it has been a year."

"Ah, what was I doing then?"

"My Lord had just come from Snow Sea Pass then."

"Oh yes, how forgetful I am at such a young age, forgetting things. Then I had just hurriedly come from Snow Sea Pass and delivered a military order for Lord, what was the order?

Hmm, it seemed like to execute all..."

As soon as he finished speaking,

Gao Yi shouted directly:

"Lord gives the order, execute all!"

"Tiger!"

"Tiger!"

"Tiger!"

"......" Mao Mingcai.

————

It was meant to be published in the morning, but it ended up taking much longer than expected. By the time it was finished and checked, it was already noon.

I’ll go take a nap shortly, don’t expect an update tonight. It’s too painful to set an alarm to wake and rush a midnight deadline without sleep. Allow me to write after waking naturally.

Hugs to everyone!