The Demon Lords-Chapter 760 - 167 Dowry_3

Ji Wujiang smiled and said,

"I am flattered by General Zheng's high opinion of me. If I have caused any offense in the past, I hope for your understanding."

This was to put to rest the incident where he had sent men to demand money and supplies from the Eldest Prince, back when the latter was Marshal of the Eastern Conquest Army.

"It's all in the past." The Eldest Prince sighed, then added, "Rather, it is I, Wujiang, who should congratulate General Zheng on his impending appointment as Commander of Snow Sea Gate."

It wasn't that the Eldest Prince possessed some uncanny foresight; rather, upon entering the city, he had noticed soldiers compelling the captive wild people to work on repairing the city's fortifications. It was the same principle as a county magistrate not bothering to repair the county yamen; they'd be reassigned in a few years anyway, so why go to the trouble? Therefore, if General Zheng weren't planning a long-term stay at Snow Sea Gate, he wouldn't be rushing to repair the city walls now.

"Yes, that's a possibility," Zheng Fan did not deny.

"With General Zheng stationed at Snow Sea Gate, I can rest assured. This comes from me, Wujiang, from the bottom of my heart."

The Wild People's rebellion had inflicted grievous harm upon the entire state of Cheng. Now that the lands of Three Jin were under Yan's control, the people of Jin were, in effect, Yan people. From the Eldest Prince's standpoint, he naturally hoped for a truly dependable general to guard the snow plains. After considering everyone, the only one truly trustworthy at present was indeed Zheng Fan.

At the same time, the Eldest Prince was also aware that, judging by the distance to Yanjing, the Imperial Edict for the appointment certainly hadn't arrived yet. So, who could guarantee and decide this matter in advance? Only Lord Jingnan. If Lord Jingnan were to recommend Zheng Fan as Commander of Snow Sea Gate, then the imperial court, including his own father, the Emperor, would almost certainly not object.

To speak a harsh truth: at this moment, who would dare object?

Hearing this, Zheng Fan suddenly remembered what the Sword Saint had told him a few days ago: "You're so devious; I'll feel at ease with you in charge of Snow Sea Gate."

A silence fell between the two.

The Eldest Prince was the first to break it, saying, "After I return to Yanjing to report on my mission, I should be getting married soon."

To be able to speak of one's own marriage in front of someone was, in fact, a sign that they considered you a friend. However, the Eldest Prince's upcoming marriage was, in essence, a political alliance. He had to bear responsibility for the first great defeat of the Eastern Conquest Army. Upon his return, punishment was inevitable—his titles would be reduced, and he'd be suppressed, all as a necessary show for outsiders. Then, to utilize his remaining value, he, as the eldest son of the current Ji Family, would marry the daughter of the Barbarian King.

This also meant the Eldest Prince had completely lost any possibility of inheriting the Dabao, eliminated from the path to seize the throne even more thoroughly than Ji Chengjue. The competition among other princes was an internal affair of the Ji Family. But if a prince who had married a barbarian woman attempted to covet the Yan throne, he would undoubtedly face an onslaught from all echelons of Yan society.

Centuries of blood feuds and deep-seated hatred meant that the Yan people could never allow their future queen mother to be a barbarian. Similarly, how could they permit their next emperor to have barbarian blood flowing in his veins? 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

One could sense the Eldest Prince's inner desolation at this moment. If, today, he was merely serving as a temporary instrument for the alliance between the snow plains and Snow Sea Gate, then after his grand wedding, he would be positioned as a long-term balancing lever between the barbarians and the Yan people.

That wasn't the worst of it. The truly terrible part was that if war were to break out again between Yan and the barbarians in the future—and who could say it wouldn't—how would the Eldest Prince be expected to position himself? Even if he considered himself a Yan person, still a member of the Ji Family, the court could never again allow him to lead an army against the barbarians. In fact, the Eldest Prince would have few opportunities to lead troops at all in the future, nor would he have many chances to wield real power. Heaven knew if he might collude with internal traitors to bring barbarian troops into Yan. The warning precedents of Situ Yi and Situ Jiong were stark reminders; the Yan people would not permit themselves to risk such a mistake again.

"When the date of Your Highness's wedding is set, I will certainly send a congratulatory gift."

"Thank you, General Zheng."

"Your Highness is too kind."

The Eldest Prince leaned back in his chair, his whole body seeming to relax. Zheng Fan also leaned back, similarly relaxing. With their posture, both men signaled that the heavy topic was concluded and a new one was beginning.

"General Zheng, are you and my sixth brother, Ji Chengjue, very close?"

"To be honest with you, Your Highness, the Sixth Prince helped me establish my initial foundation."

If it weren't for Ji Chengjue's desperate and continuous support from the rear back then, my Green Willow Fortress couldn't have been built so quickly, I couldn't have raised over a thousand elite cavalry, and I wouldn't have been able to sustain the constant strategic risks I took in the early days. Comparatively, the later stage, when my power snowballed and grew ever larger, was not as difficult as the initial struggles of starting up.

"My sixth brother, Ji Chengjue, is the cleverest among us brothers. Initially, Father actually favored him the most."

This topic was now touching upon the Royal Family's private affairs. But General Zheng only found himself increasingly intrigued; this was getting exciting.

"However, Father has suppressed Ji Chengjue too harshly these past few years. But in my opinion, Ji Chengjue hasn't lost yet."

Damn it! I just wanted to hear some juicy gossip, and you hit me with something this explosive?

Any warlord, before truly rising to power, is extremely cautious. With the Yan Emperor on the throne and Tian Wujing above him in the hierarchy, under such circumstances, General Zheng did not believe he possessed any qualifications to participate in the struggle to seize the throne.

The struggle to seize the throne, throughout history, has always been the world's greatest gamble. Win, and you soar to the heavens. The glory of 'merit from aiding the dragon's ascent' surpasses all else.