Xu Haifeng responded with a low bow, also rubbing his injured area, thinking to himself: I'm also wounded, why doesn't anyone apply medicine for me? He sighed at the unfairness of fate.

  "Congratulations, milord." Jiang Gongming suddenly stepped forward with a flattering smile and said.

  Xu Haifeng was inexplicably injured and instead of receiving condolences, he was being congratulated. He asked, "What's the occasion for celebration?"

  "Miss Fang has a deep affection for our master, isn't that a wonderful thing?" Jiang Gongming said with a smile.

  Does she have feelings for me? Xu Haifeng thought carefully about what had just happened, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of any place where this arrogant miss had shown him kindness: "Impossible..."

  Jiang Kongming suddenly burst out laughing: "As the saying goes, beating is affection, scolding is love. If she didn't have feelings for the master, why would she take the initiative to strike, and specifically hit the master instead of the student or that humanoid dragon?" After finishing speaking, he quickly took a step forward and rushed into the study ahead of time.

  Xu Haifeng only then realized that the guy was just toying with him, and he hated it so much his teeth itched, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he had no choice but to follow along.

  The Fang family's study was also divided into two rooms, inside and outside. Jiang Kung-ming entered the outer room, putting on a dignified appearance, and respectfully asked Hui Hai-feng to go first. If one didn't know his true nature, they would really think he had great respect for others.

  Only Xu Haifeng, who had been with him for a long time, had a feeling that Jiang Kongming's attitude towards people was different, but in essence, they were all equal. Whether you are a high-ranking royal relative or a beggar on the street, there is no distinction between high and low in his eyes.

  According to him, that's just equality from birth, only with different divisions of labor. Only he can say such outrageous and unorthodox words with such reasonableness.

  As he entered the study, he indeed saw Fang Lingtian sitting at his desk reviewing documents. Xu Haifeng didn't dare to look more and bowed: "Greetings, Uncle."

  "En, get up." Fang Ling Tian put down the scrolls in his hands and stood up, his eyes looking towards Jiang Kong Ming.

  Jiang Kongming gave him a slight bow, then leisurely fanned himself with his feather fan, a profound and mysterious smile appearing on his face.

  Fang Ling Tian couldn't see through his depth, and a strange light burst forth in his eyes. "Is this the Jiang Jun Shi that Feng Er spoke of? Indeed, he is a hero of his generation."

  Jiang Kungming bowed calmly and said: "Thank you, Minister, for your praise. I am just doing my duty."

  Fang Lingtian nodded slightly, and didn't say another word. In fact, Xu Haifeng didn't want Jiang Kongming to show up, but Fang Lingtian insisted on meeting him, so he had no choice but to bring him along.

  "Please take a seat." It's rare for someone to receive such treatment in the study.

  Xu Haifeng and others thanked and sat down separately, but Qin Yong looked left and right, not knowing where to sit for a while. For his build, the chairs in the study were indeed a bit small. In the end, he simply plopped himself on the floor, muttering in his mouth: "Now the military advisor won't say I'm destroying public property, will he?"

  Xu Haifeng was about to scold, but saw Fang Lingtian shaking his head, looking at Qin Yong's eyes full of praise, obviously without any intention of blaming him: "So next time Qin Yong comes, I'll specially prepare a chair for you." After finishing speaking, he also said to Xu Haifeng: "Such a brave general should be well served, and cannot be neglected."

  How can Fang Lingde and he be of the same mind? It's really worthy of being biological brothers. Xu Haifeng humbly nodded, thinking to himself that he would surely accept it with humility, but he wouldn't change his ways no matter how much he was taught.

  "The wind, this time I'm looking for you is about the matter of going on a mission to Xiongnu." Fang Ling Tian said, returning to the main topic.

  Xu Haifeng's gaze swept over Jiang Kongming, thinking to himself that this guy really had some skills, having guessed the purpose of their trip. However, he naturally and smoothly replied: "Please instruct me, Uncle."

  Fang Ling Tian picked up the scroll on the table and said, "Min Zhi Tang and Gu Dao Rong repeatedly recommended to the Emperor that Cheng Ying Hao be appointed as the ambassador to Xiongnu, but after you, Feng Er, showed your divine might at the imperial examination, they stopped mentioning it. The Emperor has finally made up his mind, appointing you as Deputy General, leading three thousand Black Flag soldiers on a mission to Xiongnu."

  Upon hearing the news of his reappointment, Xu Haifeng's face lit up with a smile, but then he suddenly thought of something and asked: "Father, isn't a deputy general supposed to be in command of 10,000 troops? Why am I still in charge of only 3,000?"

  Fang Ling shook his head and said: "Uneducated and unskilled, going on a mission to the Xiongnu is not about fighting wars, what's the point of bringing so many people? Wait until you come back, I'll let you form a new army."

  Xu Haifeng's old face suddenly turned red, and he said, "Yes, I understand, child."

  "You have another purpose for this trip, which is to see off a relative."

  "Escorting relatives?" Xǔ Hǎifēng turned his head to Jiǎng Kǒngmíng and winked twice, implying "How come you didn't figure out that we still need to escort relatives?"

  Jiang Kongming raised his eyes and said, "This kind of nonsense, without any basis or evidence, can only be figured out by a god."

  "It's settled, the young princess is already sixteen this year. The Xiongnu Khan Modu Chanyu has sent an envoy to ask for her hand in marriage. His Majesty has agreed to the marriage for the sake of peace and prosperity between our two nations." Fang Ling Tian sighed and said with a heavy tone.

  "Huh?" Xu Haifeng was taken aback, and carefully asked: "Uncle, if I'm not mistaken, didn't Modu Chanyu hold his 60th birthday celebration this year?"

  Fang Ling Tian's face sank, and he nodded slightly, but didn't respond.

  Xu Haifeng did not dare ask again. He knew it was a political marriage, but the one who would be sacrificed was a little princess of the Great Han.

  "The Huns are the world's number one military power, and our great Han has just defeated the Romans, but we have not yet recovered from the war, so it is not suitable to go to war again, and there is no other choice." Fang Ling Tian seemed to be muttering to himself, as if explaining something to Xu Haifeng.

  "Yes, I understand." Xǔ Hǎifēng also fell silent.

  The study fell into a depressing silence, and after a moment, Fang Lingtian said: "Feng Er, tonight is the 50th birthday banquet of Min Zhitang. He sent someone to deliver an invitation, but I don't want to see him. You take Ying'er with you and attend on my behalf."

  "Miss Ying'er?" Xu Haifeng asked in surprise.

  "It's true, Ying'er just returned to the capital from her grandmother's house today. She is the only young girl in our Fang family, and we old and young people can't help but spoil her a bit too much. As her older brother, you should also take care of her more."

  It's not just that some are overly spoiled, but it's simply excessive to the point of being doted on. However, this is something that can only be thought in one's heart and cannot be said out loud.

  Fang Ling Tian threw the scroll in his hand onto the table and said casually, "Feng Er, during the imperial examination a few days ago, the Cheng family made things difficult for you in every way. What do you think?"

  Xu Haifeng hastily expressed a selfless attitude, saying: "Foster father, these are just small matters. Moreover, the Cheng family has not taken any advantage of them. If they are willing to let it go, then I will absolutely not hold it against them."

  "Fang Ling Tian hummed and said, "You're also a member of my Fang family now, how can you say such spineless words? Alright, let's just forget it. If we don't stand up for ourselves, won't the Cheng family trample all over us? But it's really strange, Cheng Ying Hao has always been steady and calm, even more so than Ming Er, yet why is he so hostile towards you, to the point of offending my Fang family?"

  Xu Haifeng smiled wryly, he couldn't possibly reveal to Fang Ling Tian that Cheng Jia had colluded with the Caesars and ruined their entire plan, or else Fang would ask him how he knew, which would be equivalent to revealing all his trump cards.

  "This time you go, pay attention and take the opportunity to save Lao Er's face. As long as no one is killed, I'll take care of everything." Fang Ling Tian said with a heroic tone.

  "Yes, thank you, Uncle." Only then did Xu Haitian realize that Fang Lingtian had deliberately given him an opportunity for revenge, which was why he wanted him and Fang Yingying to go. Even if there were any conflicts, since the two elders were not present, it could be said that it was just a momentary impulse of the younger generation, and it would not lead to a complete breakdown in relations with the Cheng family.

  He's indeed a cunning old fox, worthy of being one of the four major family heads. Those who can sit in this position are not simpletons.

  "Besides Qin Yong and those two top-notch experts, how many more capable people do you have under your command? This time, bring some more high-level experts along. Even if a fight breaks out, we won't be at a disadvantage." Fang Ling Tian instructed.

  Xu Haifeng's eyebrows rose, a martial artist is indeed a martial artist. It seems that Old Man Fang has become truly angry and will not hesitate to use force to resolve the issue.

  In fact, Fang Lingtian really wanted to kill the arrogance of the Cheng family. In recent years, the power of the Cheng family has expanded extremely, and whether it is Min Zhidao or Gu Daoxu, they have obtained high positions under the secret help of the Cheng family. This behavior has already violated the promise made between the four major families in those days, and gradually formed a trend of one family dominating all, so naturally someone needs to come out and give them a wake-up call.

  It's just in time to borrow Xu Haifeng's hand, first to show kindness to this new adopted son, and secondly to give them a lesson without making a sound. If they still act as usual, then there is only one way to jointly suppress them with the combined strength of the three major families.

  Upon hearing Fang Ling Tian's question, Xu Haifeng slightly hesitated before deciding to reveal a bit more, saying: "There are still three Caesarean prisoners of war in the army, their martial arts skills are above first-rate, and there should be enough manpower."

  Fang Ling's expression changed drastically as he asked in shock: "There are three more? So, there are five top-notch experts in your Black Flag Army?"

  Xu Haifeng looked up and replied: "It's a bit less, but in the future, the child will definitely continue to work hard and strive to break through the 100-person mark as soon as possible."

  Fang Ling Tian looked at this comical adopted son, unsure of what to say. Did he think that a top-notch expert was something to be taken lightly? Could he just casually grab a handful of them or something?

  A top-notch master of the hundred, unless he can capture all the top masters in the world at once, may be able to achieve his goal. It is worth noting that with the vast territory and large population of the Great Han Empire, there are less than 40 top masters who have made a name for themselves on the list. Among them, those cultivated and recruited by the imperial family and the four major families occupy more than half.

  He waved his hand and Fang Ling Tian also didn't bother to argue with him, saying: "You go down and prepare first, when the time comes, I will notify you myself."