Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 496 - 464: How Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

Chapter 496: Chapter 464: How Could It Be Such a Coincidence?

Zhang San, returning to the Lingwu Army camp, immediately sought out Changsun Bubai and recounted to him the situation with Ying Zhao’s clan.

After listening, Changsun Bubai felt quite relieved.

"Actually, I was somewhat worried that Ying Zhao’s clan, being weak now, would help us, but if they grew stronger in the future, they might become a major concern for the Great Sui. But now that you’ve explained it this way, I’m much more at ease. Especially when you mentioned the Town Martial Office recruiting them as martial artists, I think that’s a very good idea."

After he finished speaking, Changsun Bubai suddenly thought of something and looked at Zhang San with a puzzled face, asking, "Wait a minute! I remember the Town Martial Office doesn’t have a branch on the Longyun Path, so where are they going to serve as martial artists for the Town Martial Office?"

Zhang San chuckled and said, "That’s why I’ve applied to personally establish a branch of the Town Martial Office in the northern region of the Longyun Path."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Bubai was taken aback, then looked at Zhang San with a face full of suspicion.

From his time spent with Zhang San lately, he knew this youngster would not stir without seeing profit.

He trained diligently every day, solely focused on getting stronger.

But he still took the time to stir up some trouble.

These activities seemed scattered—either robbing the Tujue, provoking someone, or killing an enemy...

But in reality, the goal of these activities were all the same: either to strengthen his own power or to remove obstacles in his way.

"What kind of scheme are you cooking up now, kid?"

Then, Changsun Bubai thought of the fact that Zhang San had specially come to tell him about this matter, which surely meant he had something to ask for, and then he sneered and said, "If you don’t come clean, don’t blame me, the Military Envoy, for not helping you!"

Zhang San suddenly missed Prince Ying Jun. Why was he so easy to fool, while Changsun Bubai, this Old Fox, was so shrewd?

"Heh heh... Military Envoy Changsun, we’re on the same side. Would I deceive you? Come, let me explain the complex relationships among the martial path factions in the northern Longyun Path to you."

Zhang San had obtained information from Pockmarked Granny the day before and had mostly digested it by now; he was also very clear about the stances of the various martial path factions and some experts in the northern Longyun Path.

"In fact, these martial path factions are not much different from the factions within our army; they’re mainly divided into three groups."

"First, the Radical Faction."

"These are a group of martial artists who want to fight the Tujue to the end. Most of them have grudges against the Tujue, as they were born in the north and have many relatives and friends who have been killed or captured by the Tujue, which is why they choose to fight."

"Then there’s a small part comprised of young heroes fresh on the martial path who’ve headed north to fight the Tujue and prove themselves."

"In fact, many among these martial artists want to join the army."

Hearing this, Changsun Bubai couldn’t help but be curious; after all, over the years, occasionally some experts would join the army, but indeed the numbers were quite low.

"However, you also know these people are often young, full of zeal, and naturally, they don’t easily meet the requirements of the army. The more experienced ones know the army’s rules are strict and they can’t accept them. But I think this group of martial artists is the one we could strive to recruit."

"Now, onto the second group: the Defensive Faction. Among them are the most experts. Precisely because they are experts themselves, they have witnessed the strength of the Tujue martial artists and know it’s not easy to contend with the Tujue. Therefore, they advocate for defense, just holding off the Tujue."

"Of course, I also know that some of these people are somewhat passive. But their way of thinking is actually very consistent with your ideas, Military Envoy."

"They don’t avoid battling the Tujue, but they know that with the current strength, it is not enough to completely defeat them. That’s why they opt to defend first and attack when they’re strong enough. These martial artists, I think, are even easier to recruit since our ideas are already aligned."

Listening to this, Changsun Bubai nodded slightly, feeling that Zhang San’s analysis had some merit.

"This kid keeps saying ’us’ this and ’us’ that; I’m afraid that’s another deep pit waiting for me to jump into."

"What remains are the martial artists who pursue benefits; I’m willing to call them the Profit Chasers."

"The reason these martial artists choose to come to the north, and even many martial path powers choose to stay and develop here, is that they see the dangers here come with boundless possibilities."

"Protecting civilians or helping the Great Sui, neither is important to them. To them, the only thing that matters is to grow their own power stronger."

"After all, wanting to survive, to live well, that can be understood. However, for the sake of profit, some people do have a line they won’t cross, but others are without principles."

"Among these Profit Chasers, naturally, there are some who just hide in the back and secretly make a fortune, while others take advantage of the benefits offered by Great Sui martial artists, then betray them, and they might even sell off military intelligence."

Hearing this, Changsun Bubai’s eyes couldn’t help but sharpen.

After all, compared to ordinary people, martial artists can more easily obtain military intelligence.

If these people aren’t dealt with, they pose a great threat to the army.

"So what do you plan to do? What do you need me to do? Of course, don’t think that just because you can influence the army, I’m going to help you for free; you still have to give what’s due."

Hearing the earlier part, Zhang San felt that Changsun Bubai was pretty decent, but after hearing the latter half, he felt that being too smart can also be a bad thing, not knowing the ways of the world at all.

"I plan to establish a Town Martial Office base in Spring Breeze Town, but the function of this base isn’t to manage martial artists but to assist them. It’s always better to have some masters in the army for every operation, right?"

"Even if some martial artists can serve as scouts to probe Tujue intelligence and come back, I believe it would also reduce casualties among the soldiers."

"Furthermore, having some capable martial artists teach the Combat Method to the soldiers would greatly benefit both you and the Lingwu Army."

Changsun Bubai nodded slightly; getting such help would naturally be good.

"Zhang San, what’s the cost?"

Zhang San spoke deliberately: "A bounty on the Tujue!"

Then Zhang San explained: "Put a bounty on all Tujue martial artists, let these martial artists go after them, and after killing them, bring back the heads in exchange for merits. These merits should originally count as military merits, but now we don’t need military merits, just the corresponding rewards. This way, there will be martial artists helping the Lingwu Army hunt down Tujue martial artists!"

"Martial artists earn bounties through killing, and you, Military Envoy, can then claim credit for these heads. You’re allowed to make a little profit, but not too much. After martial artists and the army have cooperated more, all those things I just mentioned won’t be an issue. Even some martial artists who are willing to follow military discipline can be absorbed into the army. Military Envoy, what do you think?"

Changsun Bubai felt a bright prospect in front of him.

This was indeed an excellent strategy.

"Zhang San, oh Zhang San, I really can’t think of a reason to refuse you. But..."

"You haven’t been in the Longyun Path for long, and Mei Fei has been operating here for many years; are you sure that none of these martial path forces include Mei Fei’s people? After all, Mei Fei’s hands aren’t clean, and there are some things he can’t handle alone."

Zhang San smiled mischievously and said, "How could it be such a coincidence that the martial path forces in collusion with Tujue just happen to have connections with Mei Fei? It can’t be that coincidental, absolutely not."

Changsun Bubai understood, then laughed.

Zhang San saw Changsun Bubai laugh, then he understood too.