Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 472 - 444: Thunderbolt Warfare! _2

Chapter 472: Chapter 444: Thunderbolt Warfare! _2

On the way back, Changsun Wudiao couldn’t help but ask, "Grandfather, why is Brother San so rash? He seems quite smart usually!"

Changsun Bubai did not answer the question but instead glanced at his other two sons and asked, "What do you two think about this matter?"

Changsun Wugen replied, "Grandfather, I think Zhang San was deliberately provocative. Perhaps from the start, his target was Deputy General Wang; he just wanted to use the deputy general to hone his skills and improve himself."

Changsun Bubai turned his gaze towards his eldest son, Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji chuckled and said, "There’s that layer of meaning in what Second Brother mentioned, but Second Brother has seen too little. There are definitely grudges between Zhang San and Peng Hu, possibly even a deadly feud. That’s why Zhang San was so enthusiastic when he first saw Peng Hu—I was curious. Now I think about it, at that time, Zhang San must have already thought about how to trap Peng Hu to death."

"Of course, it’s also because Peng Hu is indeed a wasteful man who lusts after benefits. But think about it—after Mei Fei invited them and then his men were killed, do you think Mei Fei would consent? Would the other commanders consent?"

"Moreover, Zhang San knew that Wang Lihui was a good-natured and decent person, so he took the opportunity to provoke the generals, with Wang Lihui as his true target, but not merely for a contest."

"Second Brother, Third Brother, think about this: after Peng Hu died, what was the attitude of the other generals toward Zhang San and what was Mei Fei’s attitude? But then, starting from Zhang San spitting blood, didn’t everyone feel alleviated? Even when we were leaving, I looked back and Mei Fei was even smiling."

"On the surface, it seems that Zhang San lost face, and our men brought along were beaten till they spat blood and passed out. But in reality, Zhang San’s strength must have greatly progressed today, and he also managed to get rid of Peng Hu."

"People, when they’ve gained substantial benefits, must give up some face. Otherwise, if all the benefits were ours, everyone would be discontented. Too many discontented people, and we’d be the unlucky ones. This move by Zhang San was indeed brilliant."

Hearing Changsun Wuji’s analysis, Changsun Bubai nodded in satisfaction.

The second son, Changsun Wugen, could only see some aspects of the martial path, but Changsun Wuji had already seen deeper into people’s hearts. Not bad.

At that moment, Zhang San suddenly woke up.

Hearing some noise inside the carriage, everyone gathered around to check on Zhang San’s condition.

The pale-faced Zhang San poked his head out of the carriage, glanced at the Changsun family outside, and grunted through clenched teeth the words: "Send coal."

After speaking, Zhang San fainted again.

Changsun Wudiao didn’t understand, and Changsun Wugen also looked puzzled.

Changsun Wuji thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked towards his father.

Changsun Bubai also understood the meaning of Zhang San’s words in an instant.

"Wudiao, if there is anything in your barracks you want to bring along, tell your Second Brother now so he can help you pack it tonight. You come with me now to the east side; if we hurry, we should be able to catch up with Yuchi An and his men."

Changsun Wudiao still didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew nobody could defy his father’s orders, so he quickly told Changsun Wugen where he kept his weapons and hidden money in his room. Then he was pulled by Changsun Bubai to race eastward at full speed on horseback.

Changsun Wugen watched the retreating figures of his grandfather and younger brother with a puzzled face, then turned his head towards his elder brother.

"Big Brother, did you understand?"

"Sending coal in the snow: it’s just that Zhang San was too weak, so he managed only two words."

Changsun Wugen pondered for a moment but still didn’t understand.

"Big Brother, who are we sending coal to, and what does it mean to take Third Brother along? From Grandfather’s orders, it seems like Third Brother might be leaving for a while."

Changsun Wuji curled his lip, feeling why among the three brothers, only I am smart. Can’t you two manage?

At that moment, their sister spoke, "Second Brother, what Brother Zhang San means is for Grandfather to ’send coal in the snow’ to Old General Yuchi. Now, there’s a lack of military forces in the Jin River area, and Mei Fei is unwilling to support. But Old General Yuchi’s arrival means that Kaihuang had issued the order. It’s just that Mei Fei doesn’t want the Centrist Faction to win, so he deliberately creates difficulties, but he will have to send troops to Old General Yuchi eventually—he can’t disobey Kaihuang’s command after all. It’s just that the troops assigned might be old, weak, injured, or marginalized people."

"Although the Centrist Faction is worse off than us now, who knows what the future holds. Giving aid in times of snow proves to be most effective. So, grandfather immediately took Brother San over to reassure Old General Yuchi. Tomorrow, I think you will take the troops over, Brother. By then, Brother San will lead our own troops to assist Old General Yuchi in defending the Jin River route and learn by his side. It’s a sure win."

"I must say, Brother San is really smart, even though he is unconscious, he is still thinking about this."

In fact, it wasn’t that Zhang San was smart, but rather that right after he became unconscious, he dreamt of his long-missed grandfather.

It was his younger self and the familiar grandfather.

His grandfather spent eight years imparting the Mo Blade Method to Zhang San!

During the learning process of the Mo Blade Method, Zhang San realized that slashing was important, but for long weapons like the Mo Blade used by infantry, often it wasn’t used to slash at the enemy but to fend off the enemy’s weapons.

First, prevent the enemy from attacking oneself, then attack the enemy at will.

Just like in a battle, the infantry holding Mo Blades formed a formation and advanced step by step. It wasn’t about slicing everything in front with the Mo Blade but using it to resist the enemy’s charge, then seizing the opportunity to gradually corner the enemy into a tight spot, and slowly annihilate them.

The eight years of learning did not only teach Zhang San the Blade Technique but also made him understand some other things.

Then he woke up, but Zhang San felt an intense pain all over his body. Thinking about everything that had happened at today’s banquet, he thought of a way to help the Changsun Family and struggled to get up to tell everyone, then passed out again.

Once more, Zhang San dreamed of his grandfather.

His grandfather was furiously overworking. During those eight years in the dreamscape, he imparted a Combat Method to Zhang San, named—Thunderbolt Warfare.

Such a Combat Method isn’t limited to the weapons used or whether on horse or foot, it’s merely a method and way of fighting.

Thunderbolt Warfare wasn’t called so because it involved actual thunderclaps that could bomb the enemy but described the method’s entirely aggressive maneuvers, like thunderbolts striking swiftly and fiercely.

When Zhang San woke up again, it was already the third day.

Zhang San himself hadn’t expected to sleep for a full day and night.

He wasn’t sure if it was due to the injuries he sustained earlier or because his grandfather in the dream had taught him sixteen years’ worth of material in one go, making him extremely fatigued.

However, today he had important matters to attend to, so Zhang San immediately got up, wanting to report to Changsun Bubai, but then he heard that Changsun Bubai had taken people to see off Changsun Wudiao.

Zhang San knew, it must be that Changsun Bubai understood his intentions, thus sending his youngest son with troops to support Jin River Avenue.

From the military appearance of Lingwu Army and Shuofang Army, Zhang San could easily distinguish who among Changsun Bubai and Mei Fei was truly capable and who was useless.

Even though Kaihuang might prefer Mei Fei, this did not affect his own judgment.

A useless person, no matter when or who likes them, is still useless.

They are just either useless underfoot or useless held aloft.

Knowing he couldn’t find anyone to ask for leave, Zhang San left a note for Changsun Bubai and then immediately left Lingwu, heading directly for Spring Breeze Town.

After all, today was the agreed day with Hidden Martial of the Town Martial Office in the north.

If today’s discussion is successful, he can start constructing branches for Town Martial Office and a base for Heavenly Punishment Sect in the north!

Especially since he had slept for a day and a night, he was now truly hungry.

First meeting with an old colleague, not munching a meal would be fail to appreciate their hospitality.