However, it’s more about waking up at the right time than waking up early. As Zheng Fan was squatting by the well brushing his teeth, he saw two people riding horses approaching on the main road in the distance.
As he took the warm towel Siniang handed him to wipe his face, Zheng Fan rose to his feet and said, "Someone’s coming."
Indeed, someone was coming.
Two people, a man and a woman. The man was dressed in black and had an unremarkable appearance. The woman, probably in her early twenties, had a beauty mark near her mouth, and her eyes held a youthful, flirtatious charm. This text is hosted at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
However, what caught Zheng Fan’s attention most were the woman’s feet.
In the other three states, binding women’s feet was a common custom. Both the literati of Qian State and the nobles of Chu State were infatuated with tiny feet.
But because several generations of Yan emperors had issued decrees forbidding the practice among women in the country, any women in the palace or noblewomen found with bound feet would bring punishment upon their families.
So, while some commoners in Yan State secretly emulated the practice, it did not become a widespread trend.
This woman was wearing a pair of green embroidered shoes.
But their style reminded Zheng Fan of the assassin he had seen yesterday in the mourning hall, the one hiding in the coffin who had unleashed the Violent Rain Needle.
Zheng Fan was unsure if they were the same person; actually, there was no need to be certain.
"Dujuan, Left Leader of the Spy Bureau of Yinlang County. By order of the Lord, I am to request Chief Zheng to dispatch troops to assist in capturing the troublemakers from the academy."
This woman named Dujuan was very courteous. She first showed Zheng Fan her identity token.
After putting it away, she saluted Zheng Fan with clasped fists, "This humble subordinate pays her respects to the Commander."
"Miss Du, you’re too kind."
Zheng Fan didn’t put on airs; it was always good to be polite with people from the "Imperial Guard." It’s quite amusing, he thought. There’s a high probability that yesterday’s assassin and I, the one who killed an assassin yesterday, are now standing face-to-face, exchanging pleasantries.
"Lord Zheng, when can we set off?"
"We can set off right now."
Zheng Fan glanced at Liang Cheng, who stood beside him. Liang Cheng understood.
Soon, a cavalry troop of four hundred barbarians was assembled and ready to depart.
"Miss Du, please lead the way."
"Lord Zheng, you’re too kind."
Zheng Fan and Dujuan rode at the front. The man who had accompanied Dujuan rode with Liang Cheng, followed by nearly four hundred barbarian cavalrymen.
Green Willow Fortress had long been abandoned, and the surrounding area was mostly farmland. Consequently, the roads in and out were not suitable for a large cavalry contingent to gallop, so everyone kept their horses at a controlled speed.
However, Blind Bei had mentioned yesterday that when Green Willow Fortress was rebuilt, this road would also be widened and repaired. As for whether the road repairs would encroach upon farmers’ land, that wasn’t a consideration. A large portion of the farmland around Green Willow Fortress had originally been military farms belonging to the fortress. After the fortress fell into disuse, the nearby fields had been encroached upon by local farmers.
So, legally speaking, these lands were, in fact, state-owned.
"Lord Zheng, are you going to start construction on Green Willow Fortress?" Dujuan had clearly noticed something.
"As you can see, Miss Du, the current fortress is only fit for raising chickens. Without a thorough renovation, people simply can’t live in it."
"But I haven’t seen any memorandum submitted by Lord Zheng for rebuilding the fortress in the official documents. The commanders of the other fortresses have all submitted their memorandums."
Zheng Fan’s heart tightened. Oh dear, I actually forgot about that, and Blind Bei did too! Perhaps our belief in independence and self-reliance was too ingrained. Neither of us even considered that rebuilding the fortress would require submitting a report to the higher-ups. I built my forces from scratch; the soldiers were recruited by me, and the armor and warhorses were bought with money I earned. I’m used to doing things my own way. Of course, the main reason is that Green Willow Fortress is so dilapidated. It’s obvious the higher-ups don’t care about it, so reporting to them feels completely unnecessary, he reasoned.
"When I was in the north, I ran a small business and saved some money," Zheng Fan said. "I figured if I could handle something myself, I shouldn’t trouble the court."
"Lord Zheng, your integrity is admirable. I am truly impressed."
"You’re too kind, Miss Du, too kind."
Actually, if Dujuan really decided to investigate, she’d likely find out which merchant firm hired these craftsmen and who handled the procurement and transport of the materials. But that’s impossible to hide anyway. Besides, the Sixth Prince is supporting me so openly through his business channels. Even if it’s discovered, he could probably explain it as repaying the favor of me saving his life. In any case, the Sixth Prince isn’t a simple character. Even the most inept Prince is still of royal blood. He should have his own ways to handle it. I can’t be bothered to worry or cover for him, Zheng Fan mused.
After passing the willow grove, the main road widened, and Zheng Fan ordered the cavalry to pick up speed.
After riding for about three more hours, just as the sun reached its zenith, they arrived at the foot of a mountain.
The terrain of the Yan region consisted mainly of plains, with few high mountains. Even the mountains that did exist seemed rather miniature.
For example, the Qingming Mountain before them, named with the meaning of a blue bird waiting to sing, was already considered a "famous mountain" within Yinlang County. However, Zheng Fan estimated its vertical height to be just over a hundred meters.
At the mountain entrance stood an archway, and beneath it, a stone tablet inscribed with:
It was founded seventy years ago by Huaiyazi. As a Yan native, he had studied in the three great eastern nations and achieved considerable literary fame.
For the Yan people, who felt a deep cultural inferiority, the excitement of this achievement was comparable to their own remote village producing a provincial Top Scholar in the imperial examinations.