The Demon Lords

"Lord Pingye, you’re disregarding the law and belittling the state’s legal system!"

Lord Zheng slightly raised his head,

staring at Mao Mingcai standing before him,

gone was the previous look of cordiality and ease,

replaced with a bit of cold sternness,

"Master Mao, I understand better than you the importance of the imperial examinations to Yan; I understand better than you their importance to His Majesty.

In such cases of impersonation and fraud,

as Ying Capital City’s governor,

knowing but failing to report is to undermine His Majesty’s century-long plan!

Being completely ignorant is dereliction of duty and incompetence!

Dare I ask Master Mao,

which category do you fall into?"

"How audacious, Zheng Fan! I show you some respect by calling you Lord, in terms of official rank, I am above you. What, from your words, do you intend to chop me down as well?"

Even a clay figure has some anger, not to mention Master Mao, who had already been "thrashed" twice by Lord Zheng.

Both times, ordering executions right in front of him, of people he wanted to protect.

"Come, Zheng Fan! Quickly command your subordinates to chop me down too. Let’s see, in Ying Capital City, if it’s really you who calls the shots. I want to see whether this Ying Capital City and the lands of the Three Jin are still the world of Yan!"

Facing such excitement from Governor Mao,

Lord Zheng merely smiled lightly,

turned around,

and pointed to the two plaques behind him,

he said:

"Without rules, there can be no order."

"Who is without rules!"

Zheng Fan clapped his hands,

stood up,

stepped forward towards Mao Mingcai,

"Master Mao?"

Mao Mingcai glared at Zheng Fan.

"Governor Mao?"

Mao Mingcai puffed out his chest.

"Mao Mingcai!"

"You..."

"I know what you, and you all, are trying to do. You’re trying to act like the civil officials of Qian State, making the warriors of Yan adhere to rules."

"Qian’s policy to favor civil over military leads to imbalance. How can we mimic that? But Zheng Fan, your actions today warrant the phrase: Military arrogance!"

"Indeed, that’s why you should think of ways to set the rules straight. Not saying to cage us warriors, but at least there should be a place for us within the framework.

But you,

what are you doing?

The well-regarded imperial exams they’ve turned into a cesspool. If you don’t value these rules, don’t blame me for not wanting to follow them."

"Twisting words and inverting truth!"

"Yes, but what can you do about it?"

Zheng Fan walked right up to Mao Mingcai, just looking at him.

"I entered the capital this time with three hundred guards. You, Master Mao, as Ying Capital’s governor, go ahead! Command the arrest of me, imprison me, question me!

Come on!

You think I won’t dare play tough?"

"Outrageous, outrageous!"

Actually,

Mao Mingcai is quite capable, otherwise, he couldn’t have held a ministerial position, nor could he have been sent by the court to oversee Ying Capital City.

For the past year, the situation in Ying Capital City has been harmonious, despite Lord Jingnan’s command tent moving from Ying Capital City to Fengxin; the rear has never been in turmoil,

all provisions and salaries and various material transports have been smoothly completed by Ying Capital City.

Mao Mingcai is indeed a capable person, with means, cunning, and depth.

But now,

he faces someone like Lord Zheng who doesn’t adhere to rules.

Of course,

the essence lies in,

this place, Ying Capital City.

If in Yanjing, Lord Zheng wouldn’t be this arrogant. Because it’s Ying Capital City, when news here reaches Yanjing, the voices naturally diminish.

Mao Mingcai took two deep breaths, even brushing his mustache and temple.

He restrained his emotions, meaning he extricated himself from Lord Zheng’s command to sack the Academic Affairs Office and entered Lord Zheng’s rhythm.

"Lord Pingye, you are not standing up for those scholars replaced at the Snow Sea Pass, are you?"

Zheng Fan said nothing.

"Analyzing this matter and exaggerating it, Lord Pingye’s intentions, I can actually conceive, but it is the general trend, the general trend cannot be blocked.

Whether it is me, the court, or even His Majesty, no one will allow anyone to obstruct this trend!

You,

Lord Pingye,

also do not have this qualification!"

All are ten thousand-year bastards, figuring out each other’s tunes, tasting them, and it gradually becomes obvious.

"Today, you’ve killed the Academic Affairs Office and those people. You think when you reach the capital, you won’t be questioned for this?"

Lord Zheng suddenly covered his chest with his hand,

showing a look of fear,

saying:

"Yes, I still need to go to the capital."

"..." Mao Mingcai.

Zheng Fan laughed,

turned aside,

looking at Mao Mingcai,

he said:

"Please enlighten me, Master Mao."

Mao Mingcai stared at Zheng Fan, lips twitching a bit, unable to respond immediately.

Lord Zheng waved a gesture,

Pixiu immediately stepped over, lowering its body.

Lord Zheng mounted it,

surveyed the surroundings,

because with the presence of two lords here, and with Lord Zheng’s private guards inside, naturally, no one dared to clean.

Even families of those dead here dare not send anyone to clean up.

"Master Mao, if I wanted to stand up for those scholars at Snow Sea Pass who were replaced, wouldn’t it be simple?"

"With Lord Pingye’s influence, it would be easy."

"Then, what about those scholars without someone like me to back them up? What will their fate be?