Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 530 - 494: Your Peach Has Been Picked!

Chapter 530: Chapter 494: Your Peach Has Been Picked!

Early in the morning, Mei Fei had Deputy General Wang Lihui urge everyone to tidy up a bit more for today.

Because Mei Fei had already received news that Kaihuang was sending messengers to reward the Three Armies in the northern Longyun Path.

At the same time, there was also good news to announce.

Mei Fei knew that, according to regulations, among the military forces in the northern Longyun Path, every four to five years, a young officer would be promoted to general.

And according to the timeline, it was due this year.

Yet, throughout the entire Longyun Path, among the younger generation, although Changsun Bubai had three sons,

His eldest son was known to be no good.

The second son was too pedantic to achieve greatness.

The youngest son was still a child, who, it was said, had gone to train in the Jin River Path, the best he was when he left weighed a hundred and twenty pounds, but when he returned, he and his jar together weighed only twenty pounds!

Therefore, the remaining choice for young general naturally fell to his own eldest son, who was as tall and mighty as Deputy General Wang Lihui and even three parts handsomer in appearance than Deputy General Wang Lishui.

Although his own eldest son didn’t look very much like him, he did resemble his deputy general quite a lot.

But Mei Fei thought this was normal, perhaps because his eldest son had spent a lot of time with Wang Lihui; by the influence of contact, he had come to look like him.

Just like his second son, Mei Xiu, who had encountered an attack by the Tujue clan when he was young during a trip to the frontier; saved by a passing Changsun Bubai, he had ended up resembling Changsun Bubai somewhat.

Thankfully, Mei Fei’s wife and children would soon be arriving in Shuofang.

When that time came, with a family reunion, his son would naturally grow to look more like him.

At this moment, Deputy General Wang Lihui came in to report, "Grand Commander-in-Chief, the Kaihuang messengers are not far from the camp."

"Quick! Go out to welcome them!"

This time, Mei Fei was quite the spectacle.

Though on paper, Shuofang Army boasted a full eighty thousand troops, in reality, there were just over sixty thousand, yet nearly fifty thousand had turned out this morning.

It could be said that aside from those on duty, cooking, and those resting after the night’s watch, all who could come had come.

Upon arriving and witnessing the vast Shuofang Army, the Kaihuang messengers could feel the formidable might of Shuofang’s forces.

No wonder Kaihuang favored Mei Fei so highly; it seemed that this Mei Fei indeed had some real abilities.

"Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mei Fei of the Longyun Path’s Shuofang Army, leading the officers and soldiers of the Shuofang Army, warmly welcomes the Kaihuang messengers!"

Saying this, Mei Fei kneeled on one knee toward the distant chariots.

The officers and the troops behind him likewise kneeled down.

Even though the messengers were still some distance away from Mei Fei and his men,

This gesture alone sufficed to show the importance Mei Fei placed on the arrival of the Kaihuang messengers this time.

"Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei Fei, you are too kind!"

Anyone who could serve as a messenger responsible for rewarding the Three Armies in the frontier regions naturally was no fool.

Though Mei Fei was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Longyun Path, whereas he could call himself Deputy Commander-in-Chief, they couldn’t address him in that manner.

"Look who I have brought with me?"

Mei Fei lifted his head and noticed, among the Kaihuang messengers’ carriages, there emerged one particular carriage. By its side, on a tall steed, was a striking young man with a similar bearing to Changsun Bubai; it was his second son, Mei Xiu.

Every time Mei Fei saw Mei Xiu, he felt as though he was seeing Changsun Bubai himself.

Then to hear "Changsun Bubai" call him grandpa; the feeling was exceedingly thrilling!

"Grandpa—Look who I’ve brought with me?"

Then, the adjacent carriage halted, and from it stepped down a woman, richly dressed and with an elegant demeanor.

The woman was holding the hand of a child.

In her left hand was a little boy who appeared to be only five or six years old, Mei Fei’s youngest son, Mei Zhong.

On her right was a girl of sweet sixteen, Mei Fei’s daughter Mei Qingsheng.

Seeing his family, Mei Fei’s eyes immediately moistened.

At that point, the Kaihuang messenger, feeling the mood was right, cleared his throat and began to read from the imperial edict.

"Mei Fei, attend to the imperial edict—"

Mei Fei quickly knelt properly on the ground, sneaking a look at his son Mei Wu, who was already struggling to keep from grinning.

He knew that his eldest son was about to be conferred as a general.

"In accordance with heaven and the times, receiving this illustrious command. The Great Sui Dynasty, established through martial prowess, guarded by warfare. Now, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Shuofang Army, Mei Fei, has served and protected the country with toil and distinguished contributions. It is specially permitted for his family members to relocate to Shuofang, a reunion for the entire family. Rewarding Mei Fei with..."

As Mei Fei listened to the announcement of various rewards in the imperial edict, he was very happy, but still hoped they would quickly finish so the matter of his son’s military commission could be announced.

"Furthermore..."

Upon hearing this word, Mei Fei’s heart couldn’t help but leap to his throat.

It’s here! The long-awaited moment has finally arrived!

At this moment, Mei Wu, who was standing to the side, was so excited that his entire body was trembling, the armor leaves on his body rattling as a result of his shaking.

Those in the know understood it was out of excitement, while those not in the know may have thought he didn’t visit the latrine in the morning and now could barely hold it in.

The brigadier general who was kneeling behind Mei Wu and was directly behind Mei Wu’s behind turned pale, and didn’t even dare to open his eyes.

"Additional rewards for the Shuofang Army..."

Mei Fei and Mei Wu both sighed almost simultaneously.

But the content for the general’s appointment was likely to follow.

"By my command!"

Hmm?

When all the rewards were read out, Mei Fei and Mei Wu both raised their heads and glanced at the Kaihuang envoy.

The Kaihuang envoy also glanced back at the father and son.

"Mei Fei, give thanks for the grace!"

"My gratitude for the great favor of Kaihuang..."

After receiving the imperial edict, Mei Fei immediately approached the Kaihuang envoy and whispered, "Emissary, I remember that, according to customary practice, the Longyun Path should have appointed a young officer as a general this year, right? Has it been postponed, or...?"

Upon hearing this, the Kaihuang envoy gave a slight smile.

"It has been appointed. It has been appointed."

Upon hearing this, Mei Fei was overjoyed.

Indeed!

I knew it!

How could my excellent son not be appointed as a general!?

"The appointee is Zhang San of the Lingwu Army, the General Ningyuan of the Fifth Rank. He may command three thousand troops and serve temporarily as Changsun Wuji’s deputy. He is granted the authority to deploy troops at his discretion. Congratulations Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei, your forces have gained a formidable general!"

"Oh, it’s nothing..." Mei Fei could only laugh it off on the surface, but inwardly he had already cursed Zhang San out.

After entertaining the Kaihuang envoy, when Mei Fei returned to the central tent of the Central Army, he was so angry that he drew his Horizontal Blade and fiercely chopped at the table!

Deputy Commander Wang Lihui and Mei Wu immediately restrained Mei Fei.

"Grand Commander, don’t be angry!"

"Father! Why don’t we slip the Kaihuang envoy some money, and have him appoint the general’s position to us, then all would be settled," Mei Wu suggested.

Mei Fei glared at his eldest son and said angrily, "Do you think this is up to him? This is decided by Kaihuang!"

Knowing that it was too late to change the outcome, Mei Fei was even more upset.

"Wang Lihui, how’s the plan to pluck Zhang San’s peaches going?"

"Reporting back to the Grand Commander, Shen Buxing and Zheng Poyue are on it."

"Tell them the reward is doubled! Other benefits can also be increased! If Zhang San dares to grab my son’s possession, I’ll make him pay!"

At this moment, Zhang San was unaware of what was happening with the Shuofang Army.

Even after the Kaihuang envoy announced his appointment as General Ningyuan, he felt no stir in his heart, as the salary wasn’t really that much, and even though it had increased, it was still not enough for his cultivation.

Relative to that, the "White Bone Immortal Method" that Bai Dushu had just given him was far more intriguing.

The true form of Bai Dushu was a hedgehog.

As a member of the Bai Family from the Five Immortal Clans of the Northeast, he was interested in reading from a young age and later found in his home a secret manual once cultivated by an ancestor. It was said that back then, their Bai Family was a Demon Clan with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

But after their decline, they focused primarily on defense.

And this "White Bone Immortal Method" was a Bone Refining technique with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Zhang San was curious about how Bone Refining could provide both offense and defense.

However, that very night, in his dreams, Zhang San met the old man again.

Upon waking up, though still with his eyes closed, Zhang San recalled the "White Bone Immortal Method" he learned in the dream. It was indeed both cruel and domineering.

But just as Zhang San opened his eyes, he was suddenly startled by two glowing pupils—one white, one red—that appeared in front of him.

"What the heck!?"

Zhang San was about to react when he was blocked by the other party.

Then he saw that it was Secret Officer Bi who had arrived.

"My Officer! There are many ways to kill me; you don’t have to scare me to death, right!?"

Bi glanced at Zhang San coldly and said in a chilling voice, "There’s trouble with the martial path forces to the north of the Longyun Path!"