Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 531 - 495: Look at the butt!

Chapter 531: Chapter 495: Look at the butt!

Zhang San uttered an ’oh’ when he heard this.

He had an air of nonchalance.

Bi suspected that Zhang San might have been so frightened by his own words that he hadn’t managed to react, so he repeated it.

"Now the martial path forces in the north of Longyun Path are all in chaos, fear there’s going to be a big trouble."

Zhang San nodded slightly, then sat up and said, "I know! You just said it once."

At this moment, Baili Niezhen, having heard voices inside, rushed in with two maidservants.

Zhang San waved his hand and said, "Don’t worry, it’s one of our own. This is my colleague from the Town Martial Office, Secret Officer Bi."

Baili Niezhen looked at Bi with a face full of vigilance.

"Rest assured, the Secret Officers of the Town Martial Office all wear masks like this representing their respective constellations. He truly is from the Town Martial Office, not an outsider, and I’m not being coerced. If I happen to be coerced in the future, I will blink at you."

Baili Niezhen finally felt reassured and left Zhang San’s tent with the two sisters.

Bi glanced at Zhang San and asked with a puzzled expression, "You’ve heard about the turmoil among the martial path forces in the north of Longyun Path, how can you be so calm?"

Zhang San smiled and said, "If I’m not mistaken, it must be Mei Fei who released the news, seeking to win over other martial artists. On one hand, it is to bolster the Shuofang Army’s presence, and on the other hand, it’s actually aimed at me and the Lingwu Army."

"After all, everyone can see that I have a good relationship with the Changsun Family of the Lingwu Army. Therefore, after I established the Town Martial Office outpost, these martial artists claiming rewards for slaying Tujue martial artists naturally had to go through the Lingwu Army."

"Over time, these martial artists have grown closer to the Lingwu Army. Those who can accept military discipline will naturally join the Lingwu Army."

"In the end, the Lingwu Army will have martial artist powerhouses internally, with martial artist support externally. This is not a situation that Mei Fei wants to see. So he will definitely take action. I just thought that it would take Mei Fei about half a month to arrange everything. But now you’ve come to me in such a hurry, surely Mei Fei must have made some big move, right?"

At this moment, Bi looked at Zhang San with a somewhat shocked expression.

Because Zhang San had truly foreseen everything.

"That’s right, Mei Fei’s side has offered increased rewards and promised powerful martial artists the opportunity to join the military and become military martial artists."

Hearing this, Zhang San knew that Mei Fei was in a hurry.

So, the smile on his face became even more smug.

Curious, Bi asked, "Aren’t you worried that Mei Fei might just take your original plan and use it? Or if Mei Fei messes up, it could affect you?"

Zhang San remained composed, waved his hand dismissively, got off the bed, and started dressing while explaining to Bi.

"First of all, benefit is everyone’s pursuit. Since Mei Fei offers better terms, naturally some will go, it’s inevitable. I’d be anxious for nothing, I can’t stop them. So worrying is needless; it’s better not to worry at all."

Bi exhaled helplessly and found that Zhang San truly had a great mentality.

"Secondly, I’ve long understood what kind of man Mei Fei is. He’s brave but not tactical, it’s simply that Kaihuang likes him, thinking he’s very loyal. Guarding the border relies more on loyalty than on ability, which is why he was made the Grand Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Longyun Path. In truth, his capabilities are lacking!"

"We might as well think, what would a man of insufficient ability do when he’s in charge of an army too large for him to handle?"

Bi was still contemplating the question, but Zhang San had already given the answer.

"Favoritism."

Bi thought about it and realized it was true.

If you can’t fully control a place, the best method is actually to control all the key positions through your own loyalists.

Only then, can things avoid going awry.

"Favoritism isn’t completely wrong, after all, sometimes, during certain periods, that’s how it is, you need to stabilize the situation first. But the problem is, Mei Fei has been doing this for so many years in Longyun Path, and he’s still practicing favoritism, then it’s bound to be troublesome."

"A man who practices favoritism, will his rewards and punishments not be based on merit but rather on how close someone is to him? Can the people under him be a group getting things done? Hardly. Most of them are either useless or just embezzlers that fill their own pockets."

"So, Mei Fei suddenly panicked this time. Then he increased the investment, trying to get the martial artists of the northern Longyun Path to side with the Shuofang Army. This is good in itself, after all, martial artists are getting more benefits. But the problem is, with those embezzlers under Mei Fei, how can they resist temptation when they see these benefits?"

Hearing this, Bi felt his heartbeat skip a beat.

He understood!

They all understood!

If Mei Fei wasn’t in a hurry, things might actually be a little better, and perhaps they could still smoothly carry out their plans, maybe even grabbing a share of the spoils from Zhang San’s hands.

But Mei Fei was anxious, so he offered a hefty reward.

However, this hefty reward attracted not only martial artists but also people under Mei Fei’s own command.

Once people under Mei Fei’s control were tempted by the spoils...

Bi glanced at Zhang San and asked, "Are you planning to get your hands on evidence of Mei Fei’s subordinates embezzling benefits, and then take the opportunity to cut off Mei Fei’s arms, just like you did with Peng Hu before?"

Zhang San shook his head and looked seriously at Bi.

"I, Zhang San, am the Great Sui’s General Ningyuan and a member of the Lingwu Army. How could I possibly ignore the crimes of Mei Fei’s subordinates when I’m clearly aware of them?"

"I am also the Military Chief of the Town Martial Office and the person in charge of the Spring Breeze Town stronghold on the Longyun Path. How could I possibly stand by when I’m clearly aware that martial artists are being deceived?"

"Because, I genuinely don’t know what has happened. So, whatever happened, it actually has nothing to do with me."

"Whether it’s Mei Fei’s subordinates embezzling the benefits that belong to martial artists or martial artists knowing about this and killing soldiers in anger. I originally had no idea that such a thing would happen, so how could I intervene, right?"

"But... if such a thing really happened, and I became aware of it, I, Zhang San, as the General Ningyuan and even more so as the Military Chief of the Town Martial Office, would certainly not stand by idly and let justice be delayed!"

At that moment, Bi had fully understood.

Zhang San had calculated everything from the start, just waiting for the fool Mei Fei to jump right in.

And Mei Fei didn’t just jump, he even sprinted into the trap.

Now, Bi finally realized why Vermilion Bird, who had been unwilling to deal with him, had also sent him a letter, warning him to be cautious of Zhang San.

This young man was indeed a bit ruthless.

"Right, my Town Martial Office stronghold has been established. The scale is quite large now. Should I have Principal Officer Xuanwu report and apply for some rewards or something? The northern land is bitterly cold, and I don’t have enough cultivation resources!"

Bi snorted coldly and said, "Do you really think that just because you robbed the Tujue of some cattle and sheep, Kaihuang will grant you the position of General Ningyuan below Fifth Rank? It’s also in recognition of your contribution to establishing the Town Martial Office stronghold! Otherwise, how could you jump from being an ordinary soldier directly to below Fifth Rank?"

Zhang San pouted and said, "What Kaihuang gives is what Kaihuang gives. As for Li Moxian’s, isn’t the Chief being a bit too stingy? Just help me talk to him, will you?"

"Fine! When I see Principal Officer Xuanwu, I’ll discuss your requests with her."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San chuckled and retorted, "Aren’t you Principal Officer Xuanwu?"

Principal Officer Xuanwu was taken aback and her dichromatic pupils—one white, one red—instantly widened as she glanced at Zhang San.

"I am not."

"Stop pretending. I’ve seen through you long ago."

Seeing she could no longer feign ignorance, Principal Officer Xuanwu simply took off her mask.

It was only then that Zhang San realized Principal Officer Xuanwu was a member of the Demon Clan with heterochromia.

Although her appearance seemed no different from that of an ordinary human woman, having interacted with the Demon Clan and half-demons for so long, Zhang San could immediately sense the faint traces of demon qi emitting from her as soon as she removed her mask.

"I am originally a Zhi Lady. I joined the Town Martial Office after being saved by the Chief. Zhang San, I’m very curious, how did you figure out that I was Principal Officer Xuanwu and not my daughter Bi?"[Note 111]

Zhang San laughed and said, "It’s quite simple. Look at the butt—Bi’s butt is perkier than yours."

Smack—

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[Note 111]Source Citation

Zhi Lady, cited from Tang Dynasty’s Shi Daoshi’s "Fayuan Zhulin, Volume Forty-Five".

The Zhi Lady is a wolf that has transformed at the age of a hundred years. After transformation, it becomes an extraordinary beauty, sitting by the roadside asking men if she can go home with them. If a man takes her home and marries her, she will eat him after three years.