Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 460 - 434: No Town Martial Office!?

Chapter 460: Chapter 434: No Town Martial Office!?

In the military camp, everyone was eating beef and mutton while praising Zhang San.

Zhang San, facing everyone’s toasts, responded frequently.

"Zhang San, impressive! Just got here yesterday, and by evening you pulled off such a big deal. Nice! I have high expectations for you!"

Originally, Changsun Bubai merely thought Zhang San was a clever and shrewd person, and somewhat upright—all in all, someone who could get by.

But nobody expected that Zhang San would steal more than two thousand cows and sheep from the Tujue as soon as he made his move.

Hearing this, Zhang San couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Military Envoy, to be honest, I initially captured over ten thousand cows and sheep..."

The surrounding generals’ eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

Over ten thousand cows and sheep, that couldn’t have come from a small tribe!

"But I don’t know how to herd sheep. Right after leaving their tribe, half of them ran away, and over three hundred horses didn’t stay either; all gone without a trace."

"After that, along the way, I was left with these four to five thousand, with a sheep taking off here and a cow there. I had no choice but to use Wind Series Techniques to blow them back."

"And then blowing too hard, I blew some to death. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had so much meat to eat so openly today!"

Everyone burst into laughter when they heard Zhang San’s lament.

At first, some couldn’t understand why Zhang San would just settle with the two thousand odd cows and sheep he brought back, and why he even killed over a thousand on the way and brought them back with his Storage Ring.

Now they finally understood that some had died on the road because of Zhang San’s mishandling, so he could only bring the carcasses back.

Changsun Bubai whispered to Zhang San, "The dead cows and sheep have been taken by the military. There was actually a shortage of food in the military, and we were considering getting some livestock, even purchasing some. Just sell them to the military at a low price, so everyone can enjoy a bit more good food."

Zhang San knew that Changsun Bubai whispered this suggestion fearing that if he said it out loud, Zhang San might not want to sell or would consider the price too low and find it hard to refuse.

Since he was being so considerate, Zhang San had to consider his position as well.

"Military Envoy, that’s too kind. These dead cows and sheep, let everyone eat them for free, my treat to everyone, not a penny charged!" Zhang San said loudly. The generals around him were moved, not expecting the new recruit who was not only handsome but also generous.

"Of course, don’t just remember my good deed. Last night, I went out with Changsun Wugen; today’s meal is on us both, and you all have to treat us back. Hahaha..."

Changsun Wugen knew Zhang San was giving him face, even though it actually had nothing to do with him.

But Changsun Bubai discovered that Zhang San was truly careful with every step.

On the surface, it might seem that he was trying to curry favor with Changsun Wugen.

But in reality, unauthorized leave from the camp at night was a serious matter. Changsun Wugen had orders and had reported it, but Zhang San had not!

It was neither a big deal nor a small matter, but nonetheless, a slight misconduct.

Yet now that Zhang San had put it this way, could he, as the elder, openly slap the faces of his son and Zhang San? He could only make up an order afterwards.

"Right, Zhang San, you can sell the remaining cows and sheep. There are quite a few towns to the south of Lingwu where you can find buyers for cattle and sheep. The ones you brought, we’ll count the dead ones as military merits for you. These merits aren’t as high as those for killing enemies, but it still counts as a minor contribution."

"Thank you, Military Envoy. Then I’ll ask another question, how much can I earn from selling these cows and sheep?"

Changsun Bubai slightly shook his head, smiling, "I’m not very knowledgeable about this matter, but many generals lead their men to raid and then sell a part of the loot while reporting another part for military merits. Selling them externally not only lets the commoners know we’ve gained an advantage over the Tujue but also earns more money. Then, everyone uses this money to buy cultivation resources."

Zhang San had an epiphany.

"But I’m not too clear on this, could I get cheated if I go to sell them?"

"For that, find Changsun Wuji. This lad, aside from not handling serious business, is pretty savvy with everything else! If you take him with you to sell your cows and sheep, you could earn 20% more than what other generals manage to bring back!"

Zhang San looked toward Changsun Wuji, who was drinking beside him, and didn’t expect that this man was also a little genius in commerce.

So, that very day, Zhang San made an appointment with Changsun Wuji, and early the next morning, Changsun Wuji, bringing along his personal soldiers, accompanied Zhang San, and they brought over two thousand cattle and sheep to the busiest small town south of Lingwu—Spring Breeze Town.

After arriving in the town, Changsun Wuji directly had his soldiers shout out that they were high-quality cattle and sheep snatched back from the Tujue by a Lingwu Army officer.

Instantly, a lot of people gathered around.

Sheep could only be used for their meat, but cattle were different.

Their value, aside from meat, could also be used for farming, which is why the willful killing of farm cattle was illegal.

Therefore, the price of cattle was quite a bit higher than sheep.

Even though the Tujue often harassed the Great Sui, the people of the Great Sui had to admit that the cattle and sheep raised by the Tujue were superior.

If the Lingwu Army could snatch some cattle and sheep to sell to everyone every day, that would be even better.

Then, Changsun Wuji, taking Zhang San with him to the side, set up a table and began to drink sitting behind the desk.

Zhang San curiously asked, "Don’t you need to shout out anything more? Or say something?"

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "No need."

"How do you manage to earn twenty percent more than the other officers on the cattle and sheep you sell?"

"Because I am Changsun Wuji, ah!"

Zhang San wore a look of incomprehension.

Changsun Wuji poured a cup of wine for Zhang San and explained with a smile, "The other officers only snatch back so much, just that little bit, so naturally, not many people come to buy, hardly anyone comes to buy, so tell me, when people haggle over the price, how could they not drop it? I’m different. Every time I come, I bring a large number of cattle and sheep, so a lot of people come to buy. When there are more people, if you haggle and I don’t lower the price, someone else will buy. When you see other people buying, naturally you will buy as well. Moreover..."

"My grandfather, Changsun Bubai, is known by everyone, while those officers are nameless and obscure, even the ones with a bit of fame aren’t known by all. But my grandfather’s fame is known to everyone and my reputation as Changsun Wuji the playboy is even more resounding. They are reassured when they buy from someone famous like me."

Upon careful consideration, Zhang San found the logic to be quite sound.

Just at that moment, from the crowd coming to buy, someone shouted, "I want two hundred sheep, the fatter ones!"

Zhang San was startled and looked toward the person who had shouted, and it was the fat man from the Heavenly Punishment Sect he had seen before—White Cloud.

"Who is this wealthy person, buying two hundred sheep in one go?"

Zhang San pretended not to know and inquired to Changsun Wuji, who was beside him.

Changsun Wuji laughed and said, "I remember that fat man; he’s from the Wind Divine Hall. These martial path powers here need to feed people, right? So, in fact, they actually buy the most every time. However, the martial forces in the north are complex and mixed, with a focus on being a jumble of dragons and snakes. An organization like Wind Divine Hall, buying two hundred, pays for a hundred and eighty, of course. That fatty will definitely report a hundred and ninety when he goes back, so we’ve got a good ten sheep’s worth for Wind Divine Hall, a good ten sheep’s worth for that fatty. He’ll definitely wait for our next sale."

Zhang San realized that this Changsun Wuji really had a talent for business.

"Wait a minute! Are we indulging these martial forces like this? Is the local branch of the Town Martial Office incompetent?"

Hearing these words, Changsun Wuji widened his eyes with a puzzled look and turned to Zhang San, asking, "You don’t know?"

"Know what?"

"There are no branches of the Town Martial Office on the entire Longyun Path at all!"

"What!?"

At this moment, Zhang San’s eyes were filled with astonishment.

But immediately, a wild surge of glee sprang up in Zhang San’s heart!