Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 466 - 440: Mei Fei’s Banquet

Chapter 466: Chapter 440: Mei Fei’s Banquet

Although the Lingwu Army and the Shuofang Army were some distance apart, this did not mean that one would be unaware of major events happening in the other.

On the contrary, as soon as there was a slight stir in one, the other promptly received news.

For instance, recently Mei Fei had heard that Kaihuang had sent someone to join the ranks of the Lingwu Army as a lowly soldier, and this person’s identity was rather special.

Consequently, Mei Fei had someone inquire, and very soon they had acquired all the information about Zhang San.

More importantly, Mei Fei had heard that on his very first evening, Zhang San had gone out on a patrol and seized back over two thousand cattle and sheep from the Tujue.

Such a capable person, sent by Kaihuang to Changsun Bubai’s side, couldn’t help but make Mei Fei worry if he might lose favor.

Thus, that afternoon, Deputy General Wang Lihui from Mei Fei’s ranks arrived at the Lingwu Army camp.

After all, he was Mei Fei’s Deputy General, so Changsun Bubai still received him with much enthusiasm.

"Ah, it’s Deputy General Wang, please, come in. You’re visiting at this time; you must have already eaten, yes? Then I won’t insist on hosting another meal."

Wang Lihui smiled awkwardly, too embarrassed to admit that after running from Shuofang to Lingwu for one and a half shichen, he was indeed hungry!

"Here’s the thing, my Commander-in-Chief heard that Military Envoy Changsun has recently admitted a mighty warrior, and wishes to meet him, so he sent me to invite Military Envoy Changsun and this new mighty warrior to a banquet."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Bubai knew that Mei Fei was most likely seeking to undermine his position.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t dream of offering a meal for him to enjoy.

"As it happens, I’m also in a dilemma. When this person arrived, Kaihuang’s order was to let him be a lowly soldier, yet he certainly has talent. But I worry that assigning a higher position right at the start would go against Kaihuang’s wishes. It’s a tough choice..."

Changsun Bubai really did have these concerns, which is why, although he had reported Zhang San’s feat of leading a night raid against the Tujue and capturing thousands of cattle and sheep, he only recorded the merit for Zhang San and did not request a promotion for him.

At this moment, Zhang San entered the central tent, first saluting Changsun Bubai with a fist wrapped in his palm, and then greeting Deputy General Wang with the same gesture.

"Military Envoy, you were looking for me?"

Changsun Bubai immediately introduced him to Deputy General Wang, "This is Zhang San, who has just arrived in our Lingwu Army, and this is Deputy General Wang Lihui, from Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei’s ranks."

Zhang San promptly exchanged greetings.

"So this is Zhang San! Truly a person of outstanding appearance!"

"Not at all. It’s all thanks to the training from Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei."

Wang Lihui was awkwardly silent, thinking that this polite conversation felt too superficial; he didn’t even know how to respond.

After an awkward and silent moment, Wang Lihui thought of something and spoke, "Oh, right, Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei was delighted to hear of Zhang San’s arrival. Tonight, he has prepared a feast at the Shuofang Army camp and invites Zhang San and Military Envoy Changsun and his family to be guests, and hopes you will not decline."

"The meal is free, no need to bring a gift over, right?"

Zhang San asked directly.

Changsun Bubai coughed once, seriously saying, "When visiting your superior, how can you not prepare a gift? That would be very rude."

Wang Lihui immediately waved his hands, saying a bit awkwardly, "No need, no need, it’s good enough if you come. Just come."

Zhang San thought for a moment, then said to Changsun Bubai, "Then let’s not eat at noon, let’s go over now. There must be delicious food in the evening!"

Changsun Bubai nodded seriously, then started calling people together.

Wang Lihui, who was not fond of speaking and not good at it, for some reason, felt that upon meeting Zhang San today, he seemed to have encountered another person who was not good with words.

Soon, Changsun Bubai called his three sons and his daughter, took Zhang San along with a squad of bodyguards, and followed Wang Lihui towards Shuofang.

On the way, Changsun Bubai whispered to Zhang San, "Although Mei Fei isn’t much to speak of, this Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wang Lihui is a very decent person—honest, straightforward, somewhat shy, and usually doesn’t talk much. Basically, when he comes with a message, in most cases it’s a good thing. But if someone else brings the message, that may not be the case."

Zhang San had actually realized from the moment he saw Wang Lihui that the man did appear to have social anxiety and even seemed to be the first to lose composure upon seeing him.

"Military Envoy, what about the strength of Deputy General Wang? He looks tall and burly, like a fierce warrior."

"In the Martial Style Path, among the Shuofang Army, no one surpasses him!"

Hearing these words, Zhang San looked again at the back of Wang Lihui, who was leading the way in front, and had already begun to make calculations in his heart.

Upon arriving at the Shuofang Army’s camp, Zhang San saw that whether it was the soldiers guarding the camp or the patrolling troops inside the camp, the military appearance was sloppy and lax.

On the camp’s palisade wall, soldiers were actually huddling together chatting; had it not been for Wang Lihui shouting out, they probably wouldn’t have even noticed their arrival.

And this was them walking slowly into the camp.

If it had been the Tujue people, they would have likely charged straight into the Central Army tent and taken Mei Fei down!

As for the patrolling soldiers, they were unarmed, not even carrying weapons, just strolling around.

If it weren’t for the fact that they were walking in a line, Zhang San would have suspected they were just out for a walk after a meal.

Passing by the martial training field, Zhang San noticed even more that several weapon racks had toppled over and nobody had bothered to pick them up.

Zhang San whispered to the Changsun Three Brothers beside him, "I must say, the Shuofang Army seems pretty unimpressive! The way Mei Fei manages the army, it doesn’t look too promising, eh? All loose and disheveled, can such troops be expected to fight?"

Changsun Wugen nodded slightly with a look of steadiness.

Changsun Wudiao nodded vigorously in agreement.

Changsun Wuji was about to add a few words of agreement with his mouth wide open, but a stern look from Changsun Bubai, who was ahead, scared him into closing his mouth immediately.

Then Changsun Bubai also glanced at Zhang San to the side and whispered, "Mind your words on someone else’s turf."

Changsun Bubai knew that Zhang San sometimes spoke without restraint, but Zhang San was a smart man; why would he be saying such foolish things out loud today?

Zhang San said with a severe and earnest face, "I’m here as a guest; how could I possibly deceive my host? Right? Inadequate is inadequate!"

Changsun Bubai frowned, puzzled as to what Zhang San was up to.

But the Changsun brothers all looked at Zhang San with admiring eyes.

At that moment, even Changsun Wuji, who was older than Zhang San, couldn’t help but want to call him "Brother San"!

However, when the group reached the entrance of Mei Fei’s Central Army tent, they found that at the tent entrance, there were two rows of personal guards standing on each side, holding Mo Blades and lifting them high above their heads at an intersecting angle in front.

Though the personal guards and Mo Blades formed a corridor that looked majestic and imposing,

were a guard to "accidentally" drop his Mo Blade as one walked inside, the consequences were obvious.

Especially since the intersecting height of the Mo Blades was just about the same as Zhang San’s height, it felt like one might brush against them walking through.

Wang Lihui made a hand gesture toward the front and said aloud, "Gentlemen, please."

Zhang San smiled and stepped into the intersecting "corridor" of Mo Blades.

However, as Zhang San stepped in, the personal guards on both sides raised their Mo Blades ever so slightly as they saw him approaching.

In a moment, all the intersecting Mo Blades created a subtle wave as if rippling through a forest of swords and spears.

Zhang San walked with his head held high and chest out, his face unchanging as he entered Mei Fei’s grand Central Army tent.

Only after him did Changsun Bubai, along with his three sons and daughter, follow him inside.

Changsun Bubai had not expected that Mei Fei would resort to such a tactic now, pity that it did nothing to intimidate Zhang San.

After Zhang San entered, he found that there were already many generals inside the Central Army tent, and the man sitting in the middle, though wearing a smile, had a smile that was seven parts courteous, three parts cunning, and ninety parts sleazy!

Clearly not a good sort at first glance.

"Lingwu Army’s newcomer, Zhang San, pays his respects to Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei! I had always heard of Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei’s excellent military management, and today upon arriving at the Shuofang Army camp, I see the military appearance is well-ordered, and the soldiers are strong and robust; the officials are brave and martial, with an extraordinary bearing. Truly worthy of being the Grand Commander-in-Chief of Longyun Path. Zhang San admires this! Especially you, Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei. I had imagined you to be a robust and muscular warrior, but who could have thought you are actually a refined and cultured military scholar."

At this moment, the Changsun Three Brothers behind him looked completely bewildered.

That is not what you said before we came inside!