Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 461 - 435: What is the Most Valuable?

Chapter 461: Chapter 435: What is the Most Valuable?

"Changsun Wuji, you better explain to me quickly, what exactly is going on here? Does the Great Sui still have places without even a Town Martial Office branch?"

This indeed turned Zhang San’s understanding of the Town Martial Office on its head.

After all, since the moment he had crossed over, he had always been within the Town Martial Office.

In Zhang San’s mind, the entire official power of the Great Sui was controlled by Kaihuang, and the martial factions beneath the officialdom were managed by the Town Martial Office.

And now you’re telling me that the entire Longyun Path doesn’t even have a single Town Martial Office branch?

Changsun Wuji explained with a smile, "While your Town Martial Office is formidable, there are still only so many of you. There are a great many martial artists across the world, more than you can manage, so there are definitely some places that are prioritized while others are neglected."

"Just look at the whole Longyun Path, positioned directly north of the Capital Region Road, it is the gateway to our Great Sui’s border with the Tujue, right?"

Zhang San nodded.

"So here, the martial factions are mainly focused on both the south and north directions. In the south, close to the Capital Region Road, to put it plainly, they’re already dogs raised by the nobles of the Capital. Those dogs don’t need the Town Martial Office to manage them, after all, you probably wouldn’t want to offend the masters behind these dogs."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San began to understand why he had been chased and attacked right after he left the Capital Region Road.

He had originally thought they dared to make a move only after he left the Capital Region Road.

Now it seemed that it was because he had entered the Longyun Path, which was the exact territory of these hawks and dogs, so they found it more convenient to strike at him.

"And the north? In reality, the majority of martial artists are filled with hot blood, eager to protect their home and country and fight against the Tujue. Everyone’s goals are basically the same; it’s just that the methods of each martial faction differ. But when it comes down to it, everyone is Sui people, all wanting to defend their land from the Tujue’s iron hooves, all wanting to shield their fellow citizens from the Tujue’s invasions and plundering. Since these martial artists are united in heart and intent, differing only in their lineage and affiliated marital factions, to tell the truth, there really isn’t much need for management. Right?"

Upon reflection, Zhang San found this to be quite reasonable.

But Zhang San immediately remembered that when he had gone to the meeting for Big Sister, he had met twenty-eight secret officers, all wearing masks, clearly from the four divisions: east, west, south, and north.

So, he couldn’t help feeling that it was impossible for there not to be a Town Martial Office branch in the north.

"So you’re saying..." Zhang San asked out of curiosity, "that the martial artists in the north actually get along harmoniously? Infighting is rare?"

Changsun Wuji laughed loudly and said, "Yes! Let me put it this way; I can come to Spring Breeze Town up to ten or eight times a year, and I’ve never seen martial artists fighting here! It’s truly quite..."

Changsun Wuji had not finished speaking when they heard the sound of two martial artists quarreling not far off.

"You’re just a discarded disciple of the Changbai Sword Sect, what are you worth!?"

"Hmph! You, someone who was expelled from the Southern Fist Sect for lack of skill, have the nerve to fight with me over a woman?"

"What do you mean ’fight over a woman’? We’ve been together for a long time, you’re the newcomer!"

"I’m the newcomer? When I ’entered later,’ you didn’t even know where you were!"

"Kid, stop deluding yourself with grand dreams. Ling already has my child in her belly! What are you whining about here for!?"

Hearing that the woman already had the other man’s child, the face of the Changbai outcast betrayed shock as he stumbled backward two steps.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! She clearly told me she was pregnant with my child before, but it was a miscarriage. Therefore, she couldn’t have children again, she... she... how could she possibly have your child?"

"Kid, face the reality! My Ling just doesn’t want you anymore. Stop fawning over her!"

"It’s you! It must be you! You must have coerced Ling! My Ling! I’ll fight you!"

Zhang San frowned as he watched the two Primordial Qi Realm martial artists who had refined Qi into their bodies fight each other.

It was a bit more entertaining than a street brawl between drunken ruffians, but only just a bit.

Zhang San glanced at Changsun Wuji, who bowed his head pouring wine, pretending not to have heard anything.

"I’m going out for a walk; I’ll come back to find you."

Zhang San got up and started wandering around Spring Breeze Town.

Then, beneath a wall at the very center of the crossroads in Spring Breeze Town, he made a mark and added beside it a triangle and a small arrow.

This was a secret signal agreed upon by members of the Town Martial Office in the north for arranging meetings.

Because it was at the crossroads, it was easy for one’s own people to notice, with the triangle indicating three days later, and the direction of the small arrow indicating the meeting place.

Then Zhang San strolled around some more and discovered that Spring Breeze Town indeed had quite a few places selling cultivation resources, and the prices were quite fair.

It seemed like, the shops must be backed by martial path forces, otherwise, they would have been robbed long ago.

After his walk, Zhang San returned and noticed White Cloud was there to buy sheep again, and this time, he was actually asking for three hundred sheep directly.

"Brother, I heard you’re from Wind Divine Hall. Your sect must be really rich!"

White Cloud turned his head and saw it was Zhang San, but realized from Zhang San’s tone that he wanted to start getting acquainted, so he said with a smile, "It seems you’re from out of town, aren’t you? Our Wind Divine Hall is a first-rate martial path force in Spring Breeze Town, no, in the entire northern Longyun Path! You look imposing, surely a martial artist as well. Why don’t you join Wind Divine Hall? We’ve got plenty of mutton to eat here! Hahahaha..."

Zhang San also chuckled a few times and said, "I’ve just arrived and want to look around first. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll definitely stop by Wind Divine Hall. May I ask how to address you, brother?"

"White Cloud! And what may I call you?"

"My surname is Zhang, ranked third in my family, so everyone calls me Brother San."

"Then Brother San, if you have a chance in the future, you must come and visit our Wind Divine Hall!"

After pretending to meet for the first time, Zhang San turned and left.

Some of the Wind Divine Hall’s followers asked White Cloud, "Steward Bai, this kid looks much younger than you, and you let him call you Brother San. Isn’t that bullying?"

"You know jack shit! I just saw him sitting with Changsun Wuji! He must be someone important with status. From now on, whenever you see that Brother San, show some respect, got it?"

Indeed, someone tiptoed to look in the direction Zhang San had left and saw that Zhang San had indeed joined Changsun Wuji at a table and started drinking.

A few of them quickly drew their heads back in fear.

Good thing they didn’t act rashly just now. Offending someone from the Lingwu Army would be troublesome.

Indeed, Steward Bai lived up to his name. He was impressive!

After returning to his seat, Zhang San glanced at Changsun Wuji and asked, "How much did you sell for?"

Changsun Wuji took out a purse and handed it to Zhang San.

"This is one third of the money, the rest are still being sold."

Zhang San looked at it and frowned slightly, "That’s not a lot, is it?"

Changsun Wuji raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Is everyone from the Capital that rich?"

Zhang San shook his head, "I didn’t make money in the Capital; it was on Chuan-Yu Road where I made a good sum. Especially when killing corrupt officials, that was pretty lucrative. Now this... tsk tsk tsk..."

"Then you should go rob something valuable from the Tujue next time!"

Zhang San asked curiously, "Cattle and sheep aren’t valuable, so what is?"

Changsun Wuji explained to Zhang San, "Cattle and sheep are valuable, but not in your eyes. What’s more valuable are war horses. Tujue horses are great, and most can be used as war horses—that’s valuable, but not easy to rob. Even more valuable are the Tujue people themselves; you can capture them to be slaves. Slaves can do a lot of work, so naturally, they fetch a higher price. It’s just that both of these things aren’t easy to rob!"

Zhang San wholeheartedly agreed.

Last night’s three hundred-odd horses, he didn’t manage to get a single one.

As for capturing Tujue people and bringing them back, it goes without saying how difficult that would be.

How could he pull off a big heist?

Zhang San began to contemplate robbing the Tujue, considering that opportunities for a legal robbery were few and far between.[Note 103]

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[Note 103]A little legal knowledge

Robbery, everyone knows, is illegal, and I won’t belabor that point. Now let me explain how it differs historically from modern law.

During wartime, if I’m a soldier, is it a crime for me to rob?

In ancient times, there were incentives like three days of plundering after breaching a city, but it’s different now.

According to Article 446 of our Criminal Law "Crimes of Pillaging and Harming Civilians during Wartime"—during military operations, those committing atrocities against innocent civilians or pillaging civilian property shall be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of no more than five years; if the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to a fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than ten years; if the circumstances are especially serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment, or death penalty.