The Earl of North Border was also a man of taste. He pulled out a variety of bottles and jars from his pocket, filled with salt, chili powder, cumin, and other seasonings.
The various cuisines of this era had not yet fully developed. However, when the Earl of North Border produced these items, Zheng Fan instantly felt like he had found a kindred spirit.
Usually, he could only enjoy good food when he was with Siniang and the others. When he was alone outside, eating was really just a matter of staving off starvation.
Even the pickled fish at Lord Jingnan’s house—that pickled cabbage was so dark Zheng Fan didn’t recognize it as such on his first bite!
"Ah, it’s not cooked enough."
The Earl of North Border took the lamb leg from Zheng Fan’s hand and began roasting it again, turning it expertly. Those accustomed to eating this kind of lamb leg naturally have an innate understanding of the ideal cooking heat.
Zheng Fan wasn’t afraid of being blamed. Seeing the Earl of North Border personally turning the lamb leg again, he picked up the bottles and jars from the ground one by one and began to add the seasonings in order.
At first, the Earl of North Border didn’t speak. Seeing Zheng Fan methodically adding the seasonings one after another, timing them perfectly and applying them to specific parts of the meat, he was initially slightly surprised, then said,
"I just enjoy good food."
With Siniang and the others around, Zheng Fan naturally had ample opportunity to eat and drink well. He never considered it a sin to pursue such culinary enjoyment when conditions allowed.
Take Shatuo Queshi, for example. If Zheng Fan had been drinking boiled water and gnawing on cold crusty pancakes while escorting the birthday tribute, Shatuo Queshi probably wouldn’t have recognized him.
So, people who love to eat generally have good luck.
"TSK, TSK. What’s your name?"
"Zheng Fan, Trade Protection Captain of Hutou City, under the banner of the North Border Army, from the former Beifeng Prefecture!"
"Oh, so you’re Zheng Fan?"
"You actually recognize me?"
"I do, I do. Is Qian State interesting?"
"It would be more interesting if we had more men."
"Right now, with 5,000 cavalry, we can raid freely throughout the Northern Three Prefectures of Qian State. With 30,000 cavalry, Qian State’s border army would have to escort us out with full ceremony."
"’Escort us out with full ceremony’... an interesting choice of words."
"I recall Tian Wujing’s Memorandum mentioned a strategy you proposed for attacking Qian State. It advocated for annihilating Qian State’s elite border forces in open field battles using a cavalry corps, correct?"
"Yes. The Qian State border army is severely corrupt, understaffed, and poorly funded. Take Mianzhou, the city I previously captured; there were 2,000 or 3,000 Mianzhou garrison soldiers just outside the city gates, yet they were more adept with hoes than swords. The only real threat to us would be the private troops of the Qian State border army generals and the field cavalry of their three main garrisons."
"But that differs from what you stated previously. In the Memorandum, you disagreed with the ’death by a thousand cuts’ approach."
"I answer as you ask."
"Hmm. First annihilate their elite field army, then strike directly at their imperial capital... Isn’t that a bit too risky?"
"Then let me ask you, how would you rank the strength of our Great Yan’s three major armies?"
"The North Border Army is undoubtedly first."
In terms of soldier quality, equipment, and combat experience, the North Border Army is unquestionably the strongest cavalry force in the East during this era.
"The Jingnan Army ranks second."
"Why does the Jingnan Army rank second?" Zheng Fan asked.
The Jingnan Army only has 50,000 troops, with another 50,000 in reserve. Compared to the Royal Army’s 200,000, it’s nearly half the size.
"A hundred years ago, during times of intense warfare, it was common for the Royal Army in the capital to be dispatched on expeditions. They were almost constantly on the move, whether north to fight barbarians or south against Jin State and Qian State. Campaigns lasting ten years were the norm.
Now, the borders have been peaceful for many years with no major wars. The Royal Army hasn’t left its garrisons in decades.
No matter how numerous they are, how gleaming their armor, or how majestic their parades, they are ultimately just for show. They cannot compare to the battle-hardened aura of a border army."
"Exactly. If our Great Yan could consume all the elite forces of Qian State’s three main garrisons in their Northern Three Prefectures, and then send a corps of 100,000 ironclad cavalry to strike directly at their imperial capital, how many combat-ready soldiers could Qian State’s imperial camp muster? Even if they claim to have 800,000 troops?
Even if the Qian Emperor issued an edict summoning all forces across the land to aid the throne, and even if vast numbers of relief forces from various parts of Qian State were to arrive, their command structure, quality, and coordination would undoubtedly be abysmal.
At that point, our Great Yan’s 100,000 ironclad cavalry could crush Qian State’s imperial camp and their relief army at the very gates of their imperial capital in a single decisive blow. After that, the Qian people’s fighting spirit would surely shatter. Their imperial capital, in my opinion, would fall without a siege."
"Young man, you have a fierce spirit; that’s a good thing. Heh. If we were to truly invade Qian State as you suggest, its entire northern territory would fall into our hands within six months."
"Yes. Qian State might only be able to retreat across the Qian River and cling to the south."
"Biting off too much at once can make you choke."
"Let’s conquer it first, then decide. Our Great Yan would only need to garrison the major cities in the newly occupied Qian territories. As for the rest, we can let it be for the time being."
"Heh. ’Let it be.’ That’s quite a good phrase."
The Earl of North Border made no further comment on Zheng Fan’s strategy. The source of thɪs content is novel※fire.net
In fact, Zheng Fan knew his strategy perfectly aligned with Yan State’s current needs.
With Tian Wujing having brought ruin upon his entire house, and the Jingnan Army moving north to blockade the vicinity of the capital city—though news of these events was suppressed—the Yan Emperor’s purge of Yan’s great noble houses had, in truth, already begun.