Siniang’s inn had been closed for some time. The "aunts" were gone, and the young female agents were still in training. Letting them attend to guests was akin to using priceless calligraphy and paintings as toilet paper.
Furthermore, Xue Three, the storyteller, and A Ming, the brewer, were also absent. Naturally, the inn had ceased operations.
Fortunately, Hutou City still boasted quite a few taverns, a testament to its thriving commerce.
Upon Zheng Fan’s arrival at a tavern entrance, his full suit of armor prompted the proprietor himself to come out. Bowing and scraping, he personally escorted Zheng Fan to a private room on the second floor.
Ding Hao opened the door to the private room for Zheng Fan.
Inside, a round table was surrounded by five men.
Interestingly, all five were clad in full armor, not casual attire.
The cold appetizers were already on the table, but everyone’s chopsticks and bowls were neatly arranged, clearly untouched.
It could be said that these five centurions were showing Zheng Fan considerable deference.
They had arrived early and were sitting in solemn wait.
Zheng Fan knew this certainly wasn’t because he was to become their leader tomorrow, escorting the birthday tribute to the Earl of North Border’s mansion.
Firstly, the incident at Mei Village, combined with the charade he and Hui Wenzu had performed at the entrance of the Recruitment Envoy’s hall, had elevated perceptions of his background and influence to an unfathomable degree.
Officials at the level of Hui Wenzu and the county magistrate could afford to tread cautiously, observe the political winds, and even bide their time for the best offer. But for these high-ranking soldiers, who were not even considered Colonels, they simply did not have the luxury of sitting back and observing.
The Earl of North Border’s mansion, in particular, was a towering presence in all of Beifeng Prefecture, even within the entire Yan State military hierarchy. They simply could not afford to disregard its importance.
When Zheng Fan entered the private room, the five centurions rose in unison, stepped away from the round table, and knelt on one knee.
"We pay our respects to Zheng Colonel!"
Zheng Fan was pleased with their attitude. In the past, such a display might have left him elated and light-headed, or perhaps at a loss. However, after being relentlessly flattered in myriad ways by the six demon lords at home, he had inevitably developed some immunity.
Moreover, as per Ding Hao’s advice, there was no longer enough time to build relationships amicably like Liu Bei. Therefore, he decided to firmly establish his authority from the outset.
Without uttering any pleasantries, nor rushing them to stand, Zheng Fan sat down himself after Ding Hao proactively pulled out a chair for him.
He leaned slightly back against the chair, one hand gently stroking his chin, while the other rested loosely on the armrest.
If Xue Three and the others had witnessed Zheng Fan’s sitting posture at that moment, they would probably have acclaimed him in their hearts as "Lord Nine Thousand Years."
Arrogant? Indeed. Disdainful? Absolutely.
Yet, none of the five men kneeling below dared to voice a complaint. The more Zheng Fan seemed to disrespect them, the higher their estimation of his background soared, and the more subservient they became.
Humans, so easily cowed.
"Today, I am treating you all to a meal. Rise and take your seats.
"I am merely a humble servant, a dog of the Earl of North Border’s household. I cannot accept such grand honors from you. If my young mistress were to find out, alas, she would surely pull my ears and scold me for acting so recklessly outside."
Young mistress, ear-pinching, reckless behavior. Reflect on that. Reflect carefully. Reflect deeply!
As the five centurions rose, their eyes met, and they could all see the excitement in each other’s expressions.
The superiors might worry whether the Earl of North Border’s estate could weather the tide of feudal power reduction, but these men did not concern themselves with such distant matters. Latching onto the powerful figure before them was their top priority!
Their reactions were all noted by Zheng Fan, which pleased him greatly.
Zheng Fan needed to win them over. At the very least, on the journey from Hutou City to the Earl of North Border’s estate, these five men and the soldiers under their command had to obey his orders.
Only then could he maneuver more freely. Wouldn’t it also make it easier to secretly eliminate Hui Wenzu?
Moreover, these five centurions had extremely strong control over their soldiers, because these troops were almost entirely their own private family forces!
It could be said that throughout Beifeng Prefecture, aside from the North Border army which had its own independent and formal military hierarchy, the garrison troops in all other cities were severely compromised by the infiltration of local magnate families.
Officers from common backgrounds like Wang Li and Ding Hao, who had risen through their own efforts, were a small minority.
This was partly because Yan State’s political system was one of co-governance by the monarch and powerful clans, leaving the Yan Emperor with limited reach over many local affairs.
Secondly, since the defense of Yan State’s entire northern region was primarily the responsibility of the North Border army, the local forces in various cities had naturally grown lax and degenerated, becoming little more than security details.
"Zheng Colonel, allow me to make the introductions," one of them began. "This is Zhao Shuanhu, this is Qian Dacai, this is Yang Wenzhi, this is Meng Changyuan, and I am Wang Duan."
These corresponded to five minor families from the vicinity of Hutou City: the Zhao Family, the Qian Family, the Yang Family, the Meng Family, and the Wang Family.
This manner of introduction, much like Zhang Fei’s fondness for declaring himself "Zhang Yide of Yan people," also served to highlight their family origins.
These five families were not particularly powerful. Their influence was mostly limited to the immediate surroundings of Hutou City; in a place like Tuman City, they would have little presence.
Zheng Fan lazily raised the wine cup before him.
The five men immediately raised their cups in unison.
"I am a straightforward person," Zheng Fan began. "I dislike excessive formalities when doing things. However, I always remember a piece of advice my Lord often reminds us of."