Late Ming Dynasty: From the Defeated Soldiers at Daling River to Ascending the Throne

When Zhang Lan arrived, his face was even more gloomy than the sky outside.

Chen Feng and Meng Changgeng were cutting tobacco in the courtyard, sitting with Lao Putou, Hao Dadao, and a few others, puffing away on their cigarettes.

"Commander Chen has quite the airs." Zhang Lan stood at the door, not going inside, "To have someone like General He personally come to visit."

With a relaxed smile on his face, Chen Feng rolled up the chopped tobacco in a piece of pre-cut white paper and greeted them with a smile.

"Uncle Zhang, what are you saying? General He came to us himself, how could I possibly kick him out?"

Zhang Lan sneered and glanced around the room. Hao Dadao and the others wisely retreated back inside, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.

"What did General He say to you?"

"I'm an old friend of General He's nephew. General He came to collect his nephew's belongings, and we chatted about everyday things," Chen Feng said, handing a cigarette to Zhang Lan. "We also talked about things in Dalinghe."

Zhang Lan glanced down at the cigarette offered to her, but didn't take it. "It's for your own good that I'm not telling you about Dalinghe."

Chen Feng put the cigarette back in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, and said, "I understand you mean well, but I just want to die knowing why, cough cough cough..."

Because there was no filter, the force of the mixture of cheap paper and cheap tobacco made Chen Feng's eyes water.

Zhang Lan stared at him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. "He Kegang probably didn't just want to chat with you about family matters, did he? Is Zu Dashou also trying to get involved?"

Chen Feng didn't reply, but instead changed the subject, "Uncle Zhang, why don't you let your nephew go out for a bit?"

What are you going out for?

"My nephew wants to send someone to the restaurant to order a banquet."

Zhang Lan frowned. "Are you preparing for your last meal before you're executed?"

"It's not that I want to eat," Chen Feng said with a carefree smile. "It's that General He is inviting you to dinner here tonight. It wouldn't be appropriate for the General to pay, would it?"

Zhang Lan was taken aback. "He Kegang invited me?"

"Yes, right here." Chen Feng patted the door frame. "General He said he wants to get to know you better."

The slight improvement in Zhang Lan's expression froze again.

He remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: "Chen Feng, what exactly do you want?"

Chen Feng lowered his head and took another light puff of his cigarette, smiling but not replying.

Zhang Lan received no response and said nothing more before turning to leave.

"Uncle Zhang!" Chen Feng called out to him from behind.

Zhang Lan turned around.

Chen Feng rubbed his fingers together, smiling somewhat embarrassedly, "Um... could you lend me some money? I'm out of cash."

Zhang Lan's face visibly turned green. He took a deep breath and said, "I'll have the restaurant arrange for it to be delivered."

After speaking, he walked away.

Chen Feng watched his figure disappear outside the courtyard gate, and the smile on his lips slowly faded.

........................

At three quarters past the hour of You (5:45 PM), it was already completely dark.

He Kegang arrived first.

He changed into casual clothes, and without any servants, rode alone.

"Are you ready?" He Kegang asked.

Chen Feng nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, General."

The two walked into the courtyard, and Chen Feng whispered, "General, what if we can't reach an agreement..."

"Um?"

"If we can't reach an agreement, I'll go with you," Chen Feng said. "I'll join General Zu's forces and stay in Jinzhou for the rest of my life, never to enter the pass again."

He Kegang stopped and turned to look at him. "You little rascal, have you thought this through?"

Chen Feng nodded. "If we can't reach an agreement, then perhaps only Ningyuan in this world will be able to accommodate me."

The two entered the house and sat down. Just as the tea was being brewed, the sound of a carriage came from outside.

Chen Feng got up to greet him, and He Kegang followed him out.

Zhang Lan stepped down from the carriage, carrying a vermilion lacquered food box, looking like a guest visiting a guest's home.

Upon seeing He Kegang, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He hurried a few steps forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "General He! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting."

He Kegang returned the greeting, "Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. Please come in."

Zhang Lan then turned to Chen Feng with a beaming smile: "President Chen, thank you for your time tonight."

Chen Feng smiled and accepted the food box: "Uncle Zhang, you're doing me a favor by coming."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhang Lan refused to enter, saying, "Why don't we wait for the other guests?"

So the three of them stood at the gate of the courtyard and waited.

A moment later, two lanterns lit up at the end of the alley. A sedan chair was slowly carried over, followed by a rider.

The sedan chair landed, and Gao Qiqian emerged from it. His chubby, fair face glowed red in the lantern light, and he wore a smile.

Li Ruolian also dismounted. Tonight, he wasn't wearing the Imperial Guard's flying fish robe, but only a blue straight robe, and he kept a stern face.

"General He!" Gao Qiqian stepped forward, his eyes narrowing into slits with a smile. "Oh dear, it's really embarrassing for us to have to spend money on your trip to Shanhaiguan."

He Kegang clasped his hands in greeting and said, "You're too kind, Eunuch Gao. Please come in."

Zhang Lan also stepped forward with a broad smile, "Eunuch Gao, Commander Li, how have you both been? Please!"

Gao Qiqian's smile remained unchanged. "Mr. Zhang, please!"

The two pushed and shoved each other, but in the end they went into the courtyard together.

Li Ruolian followed behind without saying a word.

...........................

The room was already set with food and wine.

The food box Zhang Lan brought contained several exquisite pastries, which, together with the banquet dishes that Chen Feng had arranged for the restaurant to deliver, filled the table.

The wine was warmed to a piping hot temperature.

The group took their seats.

Zhang Lan raised his glass, first toasting He Kegang, "General He, you have guarded this region with great merit and hard work. I, Zhang, would like to offer you a toast."

He Kegang raised his glass and said, "Mr. Zhang, you flatter me."

Gao Qiqian also raised his glass, "We also toast General He. The Ningyuan campaign relied entirely on pillars like General He."

Li Ruolian didn't raise her glass; she kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Chen Feng stood up, raised his wine glass, and toasted everyone: "I'd like to say thank you all for your care these past few days."

Zhang Lan and Gao Qiqian both smiled and agreed, while Li Ruolian reluctantly picked up her cup and took a sip.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the room gradually became more lively.

Zhang Lan and Gao Qiqian were like old friends, toasting each other and chatting happily.

They talked about everything from the weather in the fortress to the current situation in the capital, from the battle at Daling River to the local customs in western Liaoning, as if the tense conflict of a few days ago had never happened.

He Kegang would occasionally chime in with a few words, but each one drew agreement from Zhang and Gao.

Chen Feng moved among them, pouring wine for one person and serving food to another, a smile always on his face.

Li Ruolian sat there alone, looking somewhat out of place.

When the wine was half-finished, He Kegang put down his chopsticks.

As soon as he put down his chopsticks, everyone else at the table stopped eating.

"Gentlemen," He Kegang began, his voice low, "I have invited you all here today because I have a favor to ask of you."

Zhang Lan's smile faded slightly. "General He, please speak."

"Chen Feng and He's nephew are sworn brothers." He Kegang glanced at Chen Feng.

Zhang Lan's expression stiffened slightly.

Gao Qiqian's smile faded slightly.

Li Ruolian's sharp gaze fell on Chen Feng.

"I meant no harm," He Kegang said, picking up his wine glass and slowly swirling it. "I really like this young man, Chen Feng, and I intend to mentor him. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope you will all take good care of him."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Lan spoke first, her smile somewhat forced, "General He is joking. Chen Feng is a capable lieutenant under my master. It is an honor for my master that he has gained General He's appreciation."

He raised his glass: "Come, let me toast General He."

"Mr. Zhang, I don't quite understand what you're saying," Li Ruolian said, looking up at Zhang Lan. "Chen Feng is clearly a probationary centurion of my Embroidered Uniform Guard's Northern Garrison, so how did he become a member of the Shanhai Guard?"

Zhang Lan's smile remained unchanged. "Li Baihu's words are truly puzzling. Chen Feng serves in my master's camp; that's a fact. The Embroidered Uniform Guard—is there perhaps some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?" Li Ruolian sneered. "What misunderstanding is there in matters concerning my Imperial Guard?"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Gao Qiqian smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Gentlemen, tonight is a good night for drinking. We can talk about those official matters another day."

He Kegang nodded and glanced at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng understood, stood up, picked up his wine glass, and bowed deeply to the four men present. "Gentlemen, I come from a humble background and have only managed to achieve some minor merits under General Song. It is truly an honor to have your kind regards."

As he spoke, he downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, revealing the bottom of the cup, and said, "This cup is a toast from a humble man to all of you esteemed gentlemen."

Zhang Lan's smile deepened, and he stood up, picked up his glass, and was about to join in.

Chen Feng's words clearly acknowledged Song Wei as his employer. "General Manager Chen, you're too kind..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Feng spoke again.

"However, Chen Feng also understands that I am where I am today because of Eunuch Wang's support." He looked at Gao Qiqian, "Back in Yizhou, I was indeed instructed by Eunuch Wang to carry out a mission to gather intelligence. I dare not forget that."

The smile on Zhang Lan's face seemed to freeze.

His wine glass stopped in mid-air, and his gaze turned to Chen Feng, something in his eyes quickly cooling down.

Gao Qiqian's smile froze on his face.

He clearly did not expect that Chen Feng would bring up Wang Yingchao at this time, taking credit for the military supervisor eunuch.

Chen Feng added, "If it weren't for the skills of the Embroidered Uniform Guard passed down from my ancestors, I wouldn't have been able to survive those chaotic situations."

Li Ruolian's expression turned even uglier than before. He stared intently at Chen Feng, his scrutiny turning into vigilance.

The candlelight flickered, making the atmosphere in the room exceptionally eerie.