Seeing that the Marquis of Ferlinan was willing to talk to him slowly, Zhang Fan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he was mentally prepared, so he was able to catch the ceramic teacup that had flown into the air in an instant.
If I hadn't caught the cup and it had fallen and shattered, I wonder if two hundred axemen would suddenly appear from the garden and chop me into mincemeat.
"It's really not easy to have a chance to chat with the adults for a while." Zhang Fan looked back at the scenery in the garden.
“General Zhang is a rare guest,” Marquis Ferlinan said with a smile. “He is also a capable assistant personally recommended by Marquis Charles to Prince Reinhardt. His future is bound to be bright. I am most pleased that he has come to chat with me.”
"Is that so?" Zhang Fan smiled and shook his head. "In my opinion, I am more like an unwelcome guest."
"What do you mean?" Marquis Ferlinan asked, somewhat puzzled. "Is there anything about the manor that has failed to provide adequate hospitality, leading General Zhang to this misunderstanding?"
"No, no, the entire manor treats guests with courtesy and provides excellent service, making everyone feel at home." Zhang Fan grinned. "It's just that some bad habits I picked up in the army have caused this delusional disorder to flare up again."
“Hysteria?” Marquis Ferlinan was taken aback at first, then asked with some surprise, “General Zhang, you may speak. I know a few doctors who are quite skilled.”
"Haha, it's not a big problem. I've just gotten used to being on the battlefield, and I tend to overthink things." Zhang Fan laughed like that, then changed the subject and pointed to a two-story building next to the garden. "For example, that building in front is a really good sniping position. If it were me, I would set up a sharpshooter behind the window on the second floor so that I could control the situation in the whole garden."
Marquis Ferlinan stiffened upon hearing this.
“This manor is truly a place where hidden talents abound.” Zhang Fan glanced at the servant standing beside him pouring tea and laughed, “I never imagined that even the servant is a retired special forces soldier from the Adelaide Garrison.”
The servant who was pouring tea stiffened for a moment, and a little water accidentally spilled from the cup. He hurriedly grabbed a towel to wipe it up.
"How did you figure that out?" Marquis Ferlinan paused for a moment, then chuckled, unable to suppress his curiosity. "This must be your first meeting, right?"
“A soldier’s demeanor cannot be concealed. This servant’s tea-pouring posture is too unprofessional. It’s a wonder that someone with such a level of skill can stay in the manor. Moreover, the clothes don’t fit properly. Were they changed into temporarily?” Zhang Fan said with a smile. “There’s a callus on his index finger. That must have been caused by holding a gun and pulling the trigger for a long time. Of course, if you insist that you can get these calluses just by holding a teapot to pour tea, then just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
"Hahaha!" Marquis Ferlinan laughed. "But that only proves he's a soldier. How do you know he's a retired special forces soldier from the Adelaide Garrison?"
“This is even simpler.” Zhang Fan took a sip of tea and said slowly, “It was you who told me, sir.”
"Me?" Marquis Ferlinan was stunned. "When did I...?"
"Besides the captain of the Marquis's guard, I really can't think of anyone else who would be standing here at this moment listening to me and the lord speak," Zhang Fan said with a smile, looking at the servant pouring tea. "Am I right?"
The servant stood there looking embarrassed.
“Too small, my vision is too narrow.” Marquis Ferlinan shook his head. “Luke, go down first and remove the people upstairs as well.”
“My lord…” Luke hesitated.
“I have something to discuss with General Zhang.” Marquis Ferlinan tapped his fingers on the table, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Go and remove everyone around here.”
"Yes!" Luke bowed, accepted the order, and withdrew.
This time, only Zhang Fan and Marquis Ferlinan remained in the garden, at least within the visible area.
"It's our first meeting. General Zhang's talent is truly remarkable, leaving me in awe." Marquis Ferlinan displayed his appreciation for talent, adding, "If General Zhang wishes to serve me in the future, I will certainly welcome him with open arms."
Marquis Ferlinan was being polite, because he knew the other party was a man of Marquis Charles and Prince Reinhardt. Although the two sides hadn't publicly broken off relations, everyone knew in private that there was a life-or-death struggle between Marquis Ferlinan, Marquis Charles, and Prince Reinhardt.
If that's the case, how could the Marquis of Charles and Reinhardt's men possibly be used by the Marquis of Ferlinan?
“There’s no need to wait until another day.” Zhang Fan sat up straight and said earnestly, “I’ve come today to seek refuge with you, sir.”
Quiet.
Marquis Ferlinan's hand, which was drinking tea, froze in mid-air as he stared at Zhang Fan's face.
The two of them just stared at each other like that.
"General Zhang, are you serious?" Marquis Ferlinan asked with a suspicious look.
“Of course it’s true, otherwise why would I come here to see you, sir?” Zhang Fan countered. “Then, sir, were you serious about what you just said?”
Marquis Ferlinan stared intently at Zhang Fan's face. He had been immersed in Ryan's political scene for decades and considered himself to have a good eye for people, but he found that he couldn't see through the young man in front of him at this moment.
"Has General Zhang forgotten?" Marquis Ferlinan said calmly, twirling the cup in his hand. "The former Finance Minister and Chief Inspector of the Police Force, Ryan, who died at General Zhang's hands... were my men."
"Of course I know."
"Knowing you still..."
"The deaths of two insignificant people are worth it if I were the one to die," Zhang Fan smiled. "Besides, doing this will also leave a deep impression on the adults in the shortest amount of time, won't it?"
Good heavens, his right and left hands were being described as two insignificant people, but Marquis Ferlinan was not angry. He nodded and said, "I have plenty of men who can replace them. People like General Zhang are one in a million."
"Forgive my ignorance, but General Zhang is now highly regarded by Marquis Charles and Prince Reinhardt. Why would he suddenly choose to come and pledge allegiance to me?"
“Because I want to sell myself for a good ‘price’.” Zhang Fan grinned with an innocent smile, “and this ‘price’ is something that Marquis Charles and Prince Reinhardt can’t offer.”
Price? Neither the Marquess Charles nor Prince Reinhardt can afford it.
Marquis Freeman frowned: "Although I do not wish to belittle myself, I am powerless to offer a price that neither of these two can provide."
Neither the Marquis Charles nor Prince Reinhardt could meet the other's demands, and the Marquis Ferlinan would not be so arrogant as to think he could.
“No, no.” Zhang Fan shook his head, looking at Marquis Ferlinan, “Looking at the whole of Ryan, only you, sir, can afford this price.”
"Oh?" Marquis Ferlinan's interest was also piqued. "General Zhang, please elaborate and let me see what kind of price even Marquis Charles and Prince Reinhardt cannot afford."
"Second only to one person, above ten thousand others," Zhang Fan said with a smile.
"Second only to one person, above ten thousand?" Marquis Ferlinan paused for a moment, took a sip of his tea, and said with a smile, "Then General Zhang should go see Grand Duke Ryan..."
“Grand Duke Ryan is old and ailing; his reign will not last long,” Zhang Fan shook his head.
To tell the Marquis of Ferlinan directly that his cousin, the Grand Duke of Ryan, was doomed was quite audacious.
However, the Marquis of Ferlinan did not show any displeasure. Instead, he continued with a smile, "Then General Zhang should also go and find Prince Reinhardt, who is the first in line to the throne."
“Unfortunately, Grand Duke Ryan doesn’t think so.” Zhang Fan shook his head, disagreeing with the other party’s statement.
"Oh? What do you mean?" Marquis Ferlinan asked with a smile, seemingly particularly interested in the topic.
“Prince Reinhardt became the first in line to the throne entirely because of his family’s ranking, not because of his own abilities,” Zhang Fan explained. “In my opinion, Grand Duke Reinhardt also does not approve of his nephew’s character, otherwise he would not have hesitated to establish him as crown prince even when he was ill.”
The process of granting a crown prince status must consider not only the heir himself, but also the heir's successor.
"Although Prince Reinhardt has many children, most of them are illegitimate children born to his lovers and mistresses. How could Grand Duke Reinhardt entrust the throne to such a group of people in the end?"
“But Prince Reinhardt has the assistance of Marquis Charles,” Marquis Ferlinan said with a smile, “so he might just become a wise ruler after ascending the throne.”
“That’s why I can only come to you, sir!” Zhang Fan laughed as well. “Marquis Charles and Prince Reinhardt are two separate entities. If Prince Reinhardt ascends the throne, the chief minister will inevitably be Marquis Charles. It’s not my place as an outsider.”
"Isn't that right, sir?"
A burst of laughter erupted from the garden.
"It's so refreshing to speak so frankly with General Zhang! I haven't had such a straightforward conversation with anyone in a long time!" Marquis Ferlinan clapped his hands. "Bring the wine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a servant quickly came up from behind the green plants, removed the tea set from the table, replaced it with decanted red wine, added a few dishes of snacks to accompany the wine, and then bowed and withdrew.
"General Zhang may be young, but his ambition is by no means small." Marquis Ferlinan poured Zhang Fan a glass of wine and said with some emotion, "When I was the same age as General Zhang, I was just a lowly clerk serving my cousin. You are truly a formidable young man!"
“You are too modest, sir,” Zhang Fan said, cupping his hands. “As everyone in Ryan knows, the Duke has always been frail and sickly, and it is often you, sir, who handles government affairs on his behalf. This is not something a simple clerk can do.”
"It's all just mundane tasks like copying and writing," Marquis Ferlinan said with a smile. "Unlike what General Zhang does, who lives a life of constant danger."
“Sometimes the pen of a scholar is far more lethal than the gun of a warrior.” Zhang Fan downed his drink in one gulp. “Even if I swear to serve Prince Reinhardt to the death, my merits will ultimately not surpass the status of Marquis Charles.”
"So General Zhang wants to change locations?" Marquis Ferlinan laughed. "But how does the general know that I will definitely accept you? Offending two heavyweight figures like Ryan at once will come at a heavy price for me."
"Hehe, two tigers cannot share one mountain." Zhang Fan laughed. "If Prince Reinhard ascends the throne one day, you, sir, will be the first to be affected."
"How can we allow others to snore on the bed of a tiger? I dare say that the second person to be purged is the meritorious Marquis Charles. I wonder if you believe me, sir?"
"Hahaha—" Marquis Ferlinan burst into laughter.
"Besides, when the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?" Zhang Fan shook his head helplessly and sighed. "As the person recommended by Marquis Charles to Prince Reinhardt, I will probably not have a good end either."
"So I came to seek refuge with you, sir, not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice but to come. It was the only option, the only way to survive."
"Nephew, you flatter me." Marquis Ferlinan, beaming, refilled Zhang Fan's wine cup. "Your early abandonment of darkness and embrace of light is a great honor for me, a truly worthy addition to my arsenal!"
The phrase "my dear nephew" signifies that the matter has been settled.
"cheers!"
Zhang Fan raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, feeling a slight sense of relief. He had finally managed to fool the old man after using so many idioms.
It seems that practicing with Erwin was worthwhile; the old man really likes this kind of literary style.
The next step is to use one tiger to devour another.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com