CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 21 SHEPHERD BOY POINTING AT THE APRICOT BLOSSOM VILLAGE_2

"Does anyone object?"

This statement was quite cocky and challenging, and it made it difficult for others to back down.

But Hui Wenzu didn’t care anymore. Damn it, they were all old soldiers; subtle games and cryptic behavior wouldn’t be perceived by them anyway. It’s better to be straightforward and crisp.

Whenever accolades were lavished or a battle was requested in the military, wasn’t the main tent always raucous?

If you want meat, speak with military merits!

The severed heads couldn’t be faked; the Wolf Land Soldiers’ hairstyles and customary adornments were unique. Hair could be shaved and ear holes pierced, but distinguishing fresh marks from old ones was difficult. Moreover, faking so many heads was simply impossible.

These merits were undeniable.

Thus, the pit they had previously dug for Hui Wenzu, they had effectively jumped into themselves.

Zheng Fan, standing behind Hui Wenzu, really wanted to ask, What are you actually fighting over?

Previously, Zheng Fan hadn’t understood clearly. He simply sensed they were "dividing the spoils." Whatever they were dividing, my Green Willow Fortress must have a share.

Hui Wenzu seemed to sense Zheng Fan’s thoughts and continued, "These one thousand five hundred barbarian soldiers will be given to Commander Zheng. Any objections?"

Holy crap, one thousand five hundred barbarian soldiers!

Zheng Fan’s breathing grew heavy.

What had he relied on to build his strength? Five hundred barbarian soldiers, right? This time, the losses incurred to obtain these heads were actually substantial. But if these one thousand five hundred barbarian soldiers were added, the Green Willow Fortress’s military strength would instantly double! Moreover, the barbarian soldiers were actually quite easy to tame; the Blind Man had experience brainwashing them!

On his way to Nanwang City, Zheng Fan had imagined many possibilities, but he truly never thought he could win such a huge prize this time!

I want them, I want them! They’re mine, definitely mine!

Zheng Fan took a deep breath, somewhat moved by Hui Wenzu’s persistence on his behalf.

Alas, Fatty Hui is truly a good person. Thinking back to when I wanted Shatuo Queshi to smash him into meat paste, a pang of guilt struck my heart.

The regional commanders fell silent. They really had nothing more to say. They had set the standards themselves, so they had to abide by them.

Just as they and Deng Ziliang had said earlier, in the Yan Army, military merit was the measure of all things.

Deng Ziliang, however, smiled, the previous cold indifference on his face vanishing. He proactively walked towards Zheng Fan and said, "Brother Zheng."

One doesn’t strike a smiling face, especially when this person was a Senior Commander, a rank higher than his own. Zheng Fan cupped his fists and said, "Lord Deng."

"Brother Zheng, your actions fill me with admiration. To be able to serve as fellow soldiers with you in the future, marching south to conquer Qian, would truly be a great joy in life."

"Lord Deng, you flatter me."

Deng Ziliang continued, "Brother Zheng, I have an impertinent request. I wonder if I should voice it."

"Since Lord Deng himself calls it an impertinent request, perhaps it’s better not to voice it then."

"..." Deng Ziliang.

The surrounding regional commanders, including Hui Wenzu, visibly flinched upon hearing Zheng Fan’s reply. This kind of response was something they were quite unaccustomed to.

Deng Ziliang also looked taken aback for a moment but still spoke, "Brother Zheng, could you cede five hundred barbarian soldiers to me? My Apricot Blossom Fort, my Deng Family, I, Deng Ziliang, would owe you a great favor!"

Just as I thought!

Zheng Fan immediately shook his head and said, "Lord Deng, you may not be aware, but my unit suffered significant losses this time and is in urgent need of replenishment. I hope Lord Deng will understand."

"Brother Zheng, that’s not very generous of you. You’re just a Commander, with a single fortress. How many soldiers can you possibly accommodate?"

Deng Ziliang’s tone began to sound rather displeased.

He rarely pleaded with anyone like this, yet today, after doing so, he had still been so blatantly rebuffed.

Since when had the face of the Sanshi Deng Family become so worthless?

"My fortress is quite large. Never mind another fifteen hundred; even if we took in three thousand, we could house them all. Lord Hui is aware of this."

Hui Wenzu nodded. "The Green Willow Fortress is a rebuilt fortress. Among the frontier fortresses in Yinlang County, its scale is indeed the largest."

The Green Willow Fortress had been designed by the Blind Man, and Ji Chengjue had funded its construction; naturally, it was large.

Deng Ziliang pursed his lips and said again, "Brother Zheng, can you not give my Deng Family some face?"

"Lord Deng, please don’t make things difficult for this humble subordinate any longer."

Deng Ziliang snorted. "Could it be that the Sanshi Deng Family isn’t even worthy of Commander Zheng’s regard?"

At this point, several regional commanders close to the Deng Family brazenly chimed in, "Commander Zheng, one shouldn’t be too greedy in life."

"Exactly. Both of you are future pillars of our Great Yan, future comrades. You shouldn’t let things become so strained."

Right now, Zheng Fan felt like it was the New Year holiday, and some bratty kid from a relative’s family was relentlessly demanding to play with his most cherished collectible figurine. Even after being clearly refused, the kid would cry and wail, coming up with all sorts of excuses, while a bunch of idiotic relatives nearby would pressure him to be magnanimous: ’He’s just a child, what’s the harm in letting him play for a bit?’

Zheng Fan was baffled. So what if Deng Ziliang was still a child? He wasn’t *my* child! Why is he being so stubborn with *me*?

Zheng Fan’s anger began to flare. He now had a rough idea of what had transpired earlier in the document signing room.

It was probably Fatty Hui who wanted to swallow these one thousand five hundred barbarian soldiers for himself, but this young talent from the Deng Family wanted to butt in and snatch them away directly. Thinking that Fatty Hui had already fallen out with them for his sake, I should also stand firm. Especially since this young Deng talent hadn’t left a good impression on me from the start today, and now he even dares to try and snatch food from my bowl?