The Demon Lords

"So, Comrade Deep Sea will soon be joining us here again, eh?" Xue Three joked while adding charcoal to their stove.

"Mmm." Zheng Fan nodded, picked up a nearby kettle, and added a bit more water to their clear broth.

They were having a hot pot meal with a mini charcoal stove. The broth base was utterly simple: just a pinch of salt, two green onions, and three slices of ginger.

The ingredients were even simpler: just soft tofu, nothing else.

When the water started to boil, Zheng Fan added some chunks of soft tofu. After it simmered for a while, Zheng Fan, Blind Bei, and Xue Three each picked out a piece.

The dipping sauce was even simpler: just soy sauce.

The soft tofu, dipped in soy sauce, was smooth, tender, delicious, and piping hot when eaten.

"PHEW..."

The three of them ate while letting out puffs of breath.

Blind Bei took another sip of the Yellow Wine from Yinlang County, his expression one of pure enjoyment.

"This kind of meal, especially in winter, is truly comforting," Xue Three remarked.

Blind Bei nodded, adding, "Back in the day, this was considered a poor man's meal because tofu was cheap."

However, the Demon Lords in Green Willow Fortress had very good food and drink conditions. Occasionally enjoying a simple and light meal was a way to change their mood.

As Blind Bei added a few more pieces of tofu to the pot, he turned to Zheng Fan and asked, "My lord, what do you plan to do about Zuo Jiqian?"

Zuo Jiqian had already come to plead his case yesterday. Although Zheng Fan had put him off and he had eventually left in disappointment, this matter would surely be settled once Hui Wenzu took office.

"Nothing," Zheng Fan answered frankly.

Blind Bei nodded in agreement, saying, "My lord is wise."

"By my calculations, Hui Wenzu should be entering Yinlang County today. After we finish eating, let's go to the post station to welcome him in advance," Zheng Fan said.

"Indeed, my lord is always thoughtful," Blind Bei agreed.

Regardless, Comrade Deep Sea was coming. Meeting him privately before he took office in Nanwang City was entirely beneficial and held no disadvantages.

Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land is inherently one of life's great heartwarming events. Emeifeng and Deep Sea collaborating once more on a different front would also be a fine tale.

Zheng Fan couldn't empathize with how anxious and terrified Zuo Jiqian was, but he could foresee that once the chubby Lord Hui, Hui Wenzu, arrived and became his direct superior, Zheng Fan's days would become even more comfortable.

Zheng Fan took a sip of his grape wine and said, "Alright, let's finish eating and then set off."

In the small room, the three men were thoroughly enjoying their soft tofu hot pot. However, midway through their meal, a knock came from outside. Fangcao's voice followed, "My lord, a messenger from Mr. Liang is here. He says that many refugees have gathered in Nanwang City and asks if we at Green Willow Fortress are willing to take them in?"

"Refugees?" Zheng Fan put down his chopsticks and asked, "Did they mention where these refugees came from?"

"They came from the south."

"From the south?"

Green Willow Fortress was located on the southernmost border of Yan State. Since the refugees came from the south, it was obvious they were from Qian State.

Zheng Fan put down his chopsticks and said to Blind Bei, "Let's go and have a look, and then head to the post station to wait for Hui Wenzu."

「...」

The column of refugees wasn't massive, but it certainly wasn't small. Both sides of the road were teeming with their figures; a preliminary estimate put their numbers at several thousand.

Zheng Fan sat on horseback, with Blind Bei and Xue Three at his side.

Perhaps it was because the last time Zheng Fan had gone on a spree in Qian State, it had thoroughly frightened the Demon Lords under him. Consequently, after that, whenever Zheng Fan went out, he was accompanied by at least two people. If Mo Wan, whom Zheng Fan always kept with him, was also counted, then he had an entourage of three Demon Lord bodyguards.

Some Yan State cavalry, from an unknown fortress, were maintaining order among the column and guiding its direction of travel.

These refugees were moving in groups, mostly as small as a family unit or as large as an entire village, with their families in tow. Because there were many elderly, women, and children, the proportion of able-bodied young adults among them was not very high.

Xue Three rode over to inquire about the situation and returned to report, "My lord, they are indeed from Qian State. They were originally heading to Nanwang City but were redirected en route. Those cavalrymen are from Jitui Fort. Apparently, Zuo Jiqian ordered Jitui Fort to accept all refugees from Qian State."

"So they really are people from Qian State," Zheng Fan remarked.

This was because Qian State had always given the impression of being cowardly despite its wealth. Although its military strength was lacking, it held considerable advantages in economy and culture.

Therefore, the fact that people from Qian State would actually sneak across the border into Yan State genuinely surprised Zheng Fan.

Noticing Zheng Fan's surprise, Blind Bei said, "My lord, this is quite normal. Qian State may be prosperous, but due to the incident with the first Earl of North Border a hundred years ago, it never seriously managed its Northern Three Prefectures. Additionally, the Northern Three Prefectures have many garrison soldiers and a heavy burden of corvée labor. After being severely oppressed, these common people find that life is actually easier in the Yan State to the north."

In Yan State, while powerful clans and families were numerous, these aristocratic clans weren't actually that harsh to the farming households under their control. At the very least, the main family would try to ensure their farming households could survive as much as possible. Also, when their own conditions permitted, they would release some economic and even political benefits to share with them.