Chapter 740: Chapter 741: You’re Here for a Promotion and a Raise!?

Si Kouji was unaware of the specific details of the battle at Long City, so naturally, he didn’t know that Ye Yunfeng had saved King Yan Nan’s life.

What’s more, he was also unaware that King Yan Nan had taken his beloved daughter to the Ye Mansion the previous night for a lively meal.

The most crucial part was that what he had just said... was actually the truth.

—In the battle at Long City, it was indeed Ye Yunfeng who had single-handedly turned the tide, securing their victory.

All the officers and soldiers held Ye Yunfeng in the highest regard. King Yan Nan and Feng Zhang were overjoyed to have such a subordinate. They couldn’t be prouder, so why would a single provocative comment from Si Kouji make them dissatisfied with Ye Yunfeng?

Tang Zhongli clicked his tongue and couldn’t help but mutter under his breath.

"They say this Si Kouji is a clever man, but why didn’t he do his homework before coming? This is just perfect. He tried to suck up, and ended up saying exactly what King Yan Nan wanted to hear."

Shen Yanchuan: "..."

Tang Zhongli pouted, his jealousy palpable. "I heard that the father-daughter duo stayed at the Ye Mansion for a long time last night before heading back. Heaven knows how much of the Ye family’s private wine collection they drank!"

Shen Yanchuan: "..."

He turned his head and calmly reminded him, "King Yan Nan doesn’t smell of alcohol, so he likely didn’t drink yesterday. The same goes for Ye Yunfeng."

"Then Princess Qingyang must have drunk it all herself!"

Tang Zhongli said bitterly,

"Otherwise, why wouldn’t she be here today causing a scene?"

Shen Yanchuan: "...Good point."

He nodded in agreement.

When Princess Qingyang’s temper flared, she feared neither heaven nor earth. She wouldn’t care whether it was the Southern Hu Mission or the Wazhen Mission visiting today; she would do exactly as she pleased.

At that thought, Shen Yanchuan felt a small sense of relief.

’Looks like we might actually have some peace and quiet today,’ he thought. ’This business... can be settled that much faster.’

This business, of course, was the matter of Tuoba Yu.

Si Kouji hadn’t expected this reaction from King Yan Nan and was momentarily at a loss for words.

King Yan Nan, however, was just getting started.

"Your Majesty has already rewarded A Feng, but I believe that for such a great service, no reward is too great!"

Emperor Muwu seemed to understand his intent and pointed at him with a smile.

"Let Us think," the Emperor mused. "For King Yan Nan to bring this up so suddenly... surely you’re not trying to poach someone from Feng Zhang?"

Although Feng Zhang also served under King Yan Nan, there was a difference between a direct and an indirect chain of command.

Everyone could see how badly King Yan Nan wanted to keep Ye Yunfeng by his side.

King Yan Nan laughed heartily. "HAHAHA, it seems nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty. But back then, the boy did follow Feng Zhang to the border. Feng Zhang was the one who discovered his talent, after all. As much as I want him, I can’t just steal him away, can I?"

As he said this, he suddenly turned his head and glanced at Tuoba Yu.

Instantly, every hair on Tuoba Yu’s body stood on end!

He had relentlessly tormented King Yan Nan back in Long City. The two of them were mortal enemies!

If King Yan Nan decided to retaliate, to target him specifically, then he...

King Yan Nan snorted inwardly, his disdain for Tuoba Yu deepening.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and declared in a solemn voice,

"However, the border is fraught with conflict. I believe we must reinforce our border defenses, promote promising officers whenever possible, and forge a more solid line of defense to protect our people! Otherwise, I fear incidents like this recent bandit uprising will become impossible to suppress!"

Si Kouji instantly grew anxious.

’Isn’t this an open declaration that they’re reinforcing their defenses?’

’If they continue to station more troops along the border, then—what will become of Nanhu!?’

’With an enemy watching us like a tiger stalking its prey, we’ll have to remain on high alert day and night! There will be no end to it!’

"Th-this is—King Yan Nan, surely you exaggerate! We have no—"

"Exaggerate?"

King Yan Nan sneered.

"Our nations share a border. After an incident like this, our response is perfectly reasonable. This time, it was five thousand. What if next time someone gathers more thugs and bandits—ten thousand, twenty thousand, or even more—to violate our borders and terrorize our people? What should we do then!?"

Si Kouji was speechless.

Only then did he realize that this negotiation would be far more difficult than he had anticipated.

From the very beginning, King Yan Nan had no intention of letting them off the hook.

This time, they would accept the reparations, *and* they were determined to increase their military presence!

Si Kouji dared not imagine the shock and fury of his Monarch and the court officials when he brought this news back to them.

His throat felt dry. Steeling himself, he pleaded, "What King Yan Nan says is not without reason, but this is a matter of great consequence. I implore... I implore Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Emperor Muwu remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Si Kouji grew even more anxious.

"We understand your concerns, we truly do, but increasing your military presence is... it’s simply... Our Monarch is resolute in his intent to eliminate the bandits. I assure you, something like this will never happen again—"

"Mere words are no guarantee, are they?"

King Yan Nan’s stance was unyielding.

He had stood guard in the Southwest for years and had dealt with the Southern Hu people on numerous occasions. He knew exactly how cunning they were. He wouldn’t believe a single word they said.

It was utterly impossible that Tuoba Shan had been completely ignorant of Tuoba Yu’s actions this time.

The situation at the border had been relatively stable in previous years. But lately, perhaps because Tuoba Shan had become secure on his throne, he had gradually started to harbor other ambitions.

Therefore, he was determined to use this opportunity to sever all of Nanhu’s probing hands at once.

King Yan Nan shot Si Kouji a sidelong glance. "If this happens again, perhaps Lord Si Kou would be willing to serve as our army’s vanguard and charge into battle to slay the enemy?"

"You!"

Si Kouji could finally take no more. His face contorted with rage as he shouted,

"King Yan Nan! We came here with the utmost sincerity! Cease with these jests! I am a man of Nanhu! If I am to die, I must die for Nanhu! How could I possibly—"

"So Lord Si Kou is well aware of that," King Yan Nan scoffed. "Since you cannot charge into battle for our army, in what capacity are you telling us to simply drop the matter? It’s so easy to be generous at others’ expense, isn’t it?"

"I—"

Si Kouji nearly choked.

The onlookers’ gazes toward King Yan Nan filled with solemn respect.

They had always known King Yan Nan to be a valiant and peerless warrior, but now they realized his skill in verbal combat was by no means inferior.

King Yan Nan continued, "Our military reinforcement is purely for self-preservation, nothing more. Lord Si Kou, you are splitting hairs. Wouldn’t it be better to just accept it?"

’Accept it?’

’A military adjustment of this scale has far-reaching implications! How could he possibly accept it!?’

King Yan Nan had no patience to argue with him further. His expression turned serious as he said,

"I believe that Du State, situated between Long City and Xia City, has always been undermanned due to its complex terrain and sparse population, leaving its defenses weak. If we are to dispatch more troops, it is the perfect location. I propose that we dispatch Ye Yunfeng with a contingent of troops to fortify the region. Doing so would connect Long City and Xia City, forming a solid defensive line along the border. What are Your Majesty’s thoughts?"

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