Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 296 - 285: What ill intentions could I have by inviting you for a drink?

Chapter 296: Chapter 285: What ill intentions could I have by inviting you for a drink?

Zhang San clinked cups with Pharaoh, then whispered, "Master, next time we drink, get some hearty dishes. You’ve only got a plate of peanuts here, not even a piece of meat."

Pharaoh glanced at Zhang San and nudged the peanuts towards himself.

"Take it or leave it."

"I didn’t say I didn’t like it!"

Zhang San pulled the plate of peanuts back towards himself a little.

"Master, what did you want to see me for?"

Pharaoh lowered his voice and said, "After I returned, I did not tell them that I’ve taken a new closed-door apprentice. So, your identity must also remain a secret for now."

Zhang San knew that Pharaoh must have his own plans, so he continued to listen intently.

"You are my Pharaoh’s closed-door apprentice and will inherit my position as the leader of Legalism, leading it. Therefore, you must make the heads of the four families of Legalism submit to you, or at the very least, build up a level of complete trust for now."

Zhang San looked at Pharaoh and couldn’t help but say, "Would they even dare to object to this transfer of power?"

Pharaoh shook his head and sighed.

"I don’t want them to be convinced because you are my apprentice, but rather, I want them to be convinced because you are convincing."

Zhang San, hearing this familiar line of reasoning, fell deep into thought.

"So, it turns out that Shang Bufa was indeed the one you sent to Chuan-Yu Road back then."

Zhang San knew that Shang Bufa’s identity was not simple. Being able to hold the position of an Officer in the Ministry of Punishment at a similar age to his own meant he certainly had some abilities. But more importantly, he likely had a strong background and connections.

Pharaoh smiled and nodded, feeling increasingly that his apprentice was smart and astute.

"It’s good that you understand your master’s painstaking efforts."

"Master, then give me a bit more of your painstaking efforts and hand over the data and intelligence on the four families. After all, you can produce that information effortlessly and at no cost."

"Out, out, out, out, out! You’ll get that intelligence by yourself."

Zhang San guessed that Pharaoh probably wouldn’t provide any more support to him, so he started pondering other things.

"Master, when I originally rushed over from Chuan-Yu Road, I was in such a hurry that I didn’t bring any money with me, you see..."

"You truly are my apprentice; just like me, you don’t carry money when you leave the house."

Zhang San sighed helplessly, knowing that he couldn’t fleece his master of anything more and was ready to get off the carriage.

"Master, I’ll get going then. After I handle the heads of the four families, I’ll come to see you."

With that, Zhang San lifted the curtain of the carriage door, then reached out to grab the half jar of wine on the carriage and jumped off.

Without even having the chance to reach out, Pharaoh watched as the jar of wine at his side left with Zhang San.

"That wine was expensive, this kid!"

Pharaoh sighed helplessly, then couldn’t help but start laughing.

The coachman outside heard Pharaoh’s laughter and couldn’t resist asking, "Pharaoh, what are you laughing about?"

Pharaoh began to laugh even louder.

"I’m thinking about what these four family heads will face when they encounter this unfortunate apprentice of mine in the future. It doesn’t seem funny at first thought, but the more you think about it, the funnier it gets."

At this moment, the heads of the four Legalism families had no idea what kind of treasure their leader Pharaoh had summoned for them.

"Pharaoh, I’ve always had one question."

"What question?"

"Why was Shang Bufa the chosen one?"

Pharaoh knew that what the other party was asking was not why Shang Bufa was chosen for the Chuan-Yu Road, but why Shang Bufa was chosen to be Zhang San’s right-hand man.

Shang Bufa was one of the earliest to come into contact with Zhang San, and it could be said that if Zhang San became the leader of Legalism, then Shang Bufa would certainly be his most capable assistant.

It could even be said that Pharaoh’s current choice was destined to make the Merchant Clan the foremost among the four families after Zhang San took control of Legalism.

Pharaoh no longer laughed heartily but answered very seriously, "Because Zhang San’s ’technique’ is different from our current Legalism. If Legalism wants to advance, it needs to reform."

"The Shen Family values power, only knowing the importance of power, yet not realizing that power can also corrupt the heart."

"The Shen Family values techniques, knowing how to assist the emperor and can protect themselves by the emperor’s side, yet they hardly achieve anything great."

"Although the Han Family claims to combine techniques, power, and authority, it is also because he only combines them without truly practicing them, so on the surface he seems impressive, but in reality, he is the most vulnerable."

"Only the Merchant Clan, because they are not truly descendants of Shang Yang, just bear an empty title. They always feel that they are not truly of the Legalist fold, and hence they understand best what true Legalism is."

"If Zhang San wants to do great things, he must rely on the Merchant Clan."

Although the coachman did not quite understand, he felt that Pharaoh’s point-by-point analysis should make sense.

After disembarking from the carriage, Zhang San went to the roadside to inquire about the location of the Merchant Clan’s ward and then headed straight for their residence.

Daxing City was very large, and for easier management, it was divided into 108 wards at the beginning of its construction.

Since the Imperial Palace was to the north, most of the officials’ residences were also in the wards on the northern side.

Naturally, the closer to the Imperial Palace, the more expensive it gets, and the further away, the cheaper.

The location of the Merchant Clan was somewhat distant from the Imperial Palace.

Just from this point, Zhang San still had a rather good impression of the Merchant Clan.

Upon reaching the gate of the Merchant Clan’s residence, Zhang San said to the people at the gate, "I come from the Government Office of the Magistrate of the Metropolitan prefecture, a friend of Shang Bufa. He has sent me with news about a matter he inquired about, please convey the message."

Hearing Zhang San saying that he was from the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s Government Office and thinking there must be some important matter, the person immediately went in to convey the message.

Soon, Shang Bufa came out from inside.

Although he knew people in the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, he had not asked anyone for information, which made him somewhat curious.

He only realized that it was Zhang San waiting outside when he came out.

He was just about to call out when Zhang San pulled him aside.

"Let’s go, let’s talk over some drinks."

"No, why did you say you were from the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s Government Office?"

Zhang San chuckled and responded with a question, "If I said I was Zhang San from the Town Martial Office, do you think the person at the door would have passed on my message?"

Shang Bufa was startled by his words and asked suspiciously, "How did you know? My father just came and told me not to have too much contact with you."

Zhang San nodded slightly, smiling, "You see, the old man really knows the art of speaking. When he says not to have too much contact, it means we can still meet, but just less frequently. It’s not the same as no contact at all, right? Come on, let’s go have a drink first."

Not knowing what Zhang San wanted with him, Shang Bufa was dragged along to a small tavern by Zhang San.

At this moment, from inside the carriage parked opposite the Merchant Clan, Pharaoh witnessed the entire scene.

"Pharaoh, why do I always feel that Zhang San wants Shang Bufa to take the fall for him?"

"What else? If this kid even dares to let the Town Demon Office take the fall for him, what can’t Shang Bufa take on?"

The coachman was somewhat speechless, for it seemed to him that whatever Zhang San did seemed quite right in your eyes.

As Pharaoh watched the retreating figures of Zhang San and Shang Bufa disappear around the street corner, he sighed.

"It’s just that today someone from King Jin also made a move, which I did not expect. It seems that our King Jin also wants to contend with the Crown Prince. The court is about to become chaotic!"