Zeng Shilin's hands trembled when he heard Zeng Anmin's audacious words.
He rolled his eyes irritably.
"Rebel? With what?"
"No troops, no land, no name, no people—what are you going to rebel with?"
"The Holy Dynasty's popular support is stable now. Who would follow you in doing something as stupid as hanging their head from their belt for no reason?"
"Do you think founding a state is really that easy?"
His father's string of questions was aimed at Zeng Anmin, yet his tone sounded more as though he were questioning himself.
A flicker shone in Zeng Anmin's eyes, and his voice carried a faint, secluded note.
"Troops? Aren't the troops in your hands from this southern campaign?"
"Land? After the southern campaign, once the Southern Mountains of the Wan Yao Range are taken... won't that be land?"
"And do you remember Lou Yingqi?"
"He's your lackey. He's currently serving as Governor of Fengqi Road. If we can persuade him to defect... and you and I, father and son, seize the Southern Mountains..."
"Then, with Qinghai Bay to the east and Fengqi Road to the west..."
"The current struggle between the two great powers, the Holy Dynasty and Jiang Kingdom, may yet become a three-legged balance between our three states!"
The more Zeng Anmin spoke, the more feasible the plan seemed to him.
First of all, the troops sent to attack the Southern Mountains were all from the Mandarin Duck Army.
And who led the Mandarin Duck Army now? Wu Qianfeng!
He was Zeng Anmin's chief disciple.
"As for a name... Father, what do you think my relationship with the Princess is like?"
Zeng Anmin stared straight at Zeng Shilin.
"A mere woman..." Zeng Shilin had not even finished speaking before Zeng Anmin cut him off.
"The one sitting on Jiang