Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 546 - 508: The Tujue Invasion

Chapter 546: Chapter 508: The Tujue Invasion

After hastily paying respect to their master outside the camp gates, the group entered the military camp.

Zhang San took his eldest disciple, Li Xuanmin, around while Changsun Wuji pondered over his future brother-in-law.

Changsun Bubai, on the other hand, led Li Wude towards his own tent, so the parties quickly separated.

As soon as they separated, Li Xuanmin couldn’t help but grumble to Zhang San, "Master, don’t you find it odd that my grandfather insisted I join the army on the Longyun Path and serve under my future father-in-law instead of fighting the obvious battle at the Jin River? I’ve heard that my future father-in-law is quite the schemer, a real Old Fox. What if I pick up his bad habits? And you, sir, your attire suggests you are also a military man. I’ve heard that Military Envoy Changsun is very cunning, is that true?"

Changsun Wuji smiled awkwardly and said, "It’s true."

Zhang San, seeing that Changsun Wuji probably wouldn’t reveal his true identity, also purposely did not expose it.

"My disciple, even though your future father-in-law is cunning, you must understand that there are many cunning people in this world. If you could learn all of his cunning, what would you have to fear from other cunning people in the future?"

Li Xuanmin slapped his chest and declared, "What’s there to fear? I’m not afraid now! Cunning or not, I can cut through it all with one slash!"

Zhang San countered, "But what if your future wife and children are in someone else’s hands, and they threaten you? Can you still make that slash?"

Li Xuanmin was stunned.

Zhang San pressed on, "Even if you don’t have any weaknesses in the enemy’s hands and you protect your family well, what if your immediate superior covets your military achievements and doesn’t reward you, yet he is favored by the Emperor, can you still make that slash?"

Li Xuanmin was speechless.

Zhang San finally asked, "You have taken me as your master, and naturally, I will help and support you, but how do you know that one day I won’t betray or even harm you for my own benefit?"

"You can guard against blatant enemies, but can you guard against those who feign loyalty by your side?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanmin began to sweat.

From childhood, Li Xuanmin believed that strength was enough.

This was what his benefactor taught him when he was six.

But ten years later, having taken his benefactor as his master, he realized that the dangers in this world come from both seen and unseen quarters.

"Master, why do I suddenly feel a bit scared looking at you?"

Zhang San laughed and said, "What is there for your master to fear? You’re not even afraid of the gentleman beside us, so why fear me?"

Li Xuanmin glanced at Changsun Wuji and asked with a bow, "I am Li Xuanmin. May I know how to address you, sir?"

"I am Changsun Wuji at home, my father is Changsun Bubai, known as the ’Old Fox.’"

At that moment, Li Xuanmin felt his brain start to smoke.

Meanwhile, at Changsun Bubai’s side, two middle-aged men were also discussing Li Xuanmin.

"Elder Brother Changsun, what do you think of Zhang San? How do you rate him?"

Changsun Bubai countered, "What do you think about the story of Zhang San saving your entire family? Is it true or false?"

"Elder brother, it’s certainly true. You know the situation with my family back then. I offended the Wen Family and was then demoted back to the Jin River. On the way, I was ambushed by the Demon Clan, which I had never seen before and found quite peculiar. Thankfully, our benefactor descended from the heavens. It was Zhang San who we just met; his features and eyes were unmistakable, definitely him."

Changsun Bubai said, "Zhang San may have only recently arrived at our Lingwu Army. But whether it’s his talent for cultivation, his personal strength, or even his strategic mind, all are top-notch. This guy is definitely out of the ordinary. That’s why I just gave you a heads-up."

Li Wude quickly expressed his gratitude again.

"Thank you, Elder Brother Changsun."

"After all, Li Xuanmin is my future son-in-law, I have to think of his best interests. Don’t assume that just because Zhang San is only two or three years older, his mentorship won’t make a massive difference. With Zhang San’s guidance, Li Xuanmin’s future will be boundless."

Upon hearing this, Li Wude couldn’t help but ask, "What’s the story with this Zhang San? I haven’t heard of any significant person emerging from the Zhang family in the Capital!"

Changsun Bubai sneered once.

"The Zhang family? This Zhang San is a key disciple of the Pharaoh and the future leader of Legalism. Just for this reason alone, my son-in-law being under Zhang San’s wing, he will surely be on the right path."

Upon hearing this, Li Wude was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Elder Brother Changsun. Thank you, Elder Brother Changsun."

"You’re welcome, but I don’t understand why you didn’t let Li Xuanmin join the military under the Jin River path. Recently, I heard that Yuchi An has almost driven Gao Junxian out of the Jin River path!"

Li Wude sighed and said, "My second son, although somewhat capable, isn’t the sharpest. If he were in the military, I fear he would be easily plotted against. Keeping him near you, for you to train and sharpen him, is safer. After all, mere ability is useless without cunning!"

Changsun Bubai knew that Li Wude had agreed to form a family alliance partly because the Changsun Family was in trouble at the time, and Li Wude, being a relative of the Empress, formed this alliance to protect the Changsun Family.

On the other hand, Li Wude knew that Changsun Bubai was a man of great potential and being allied with such a person could also brighten the future of the Li Family.

Just as the two old friends were deep in conversation, a soldier came to report, "Reporting to the Military Envoy, Grand Commander-in-Chief Mei has ordered that because the Tujue troops have crossed the border, the Lingwu Army must urgently deploy and engage the enemy from Matoushi to Suanzaozi Slope!"

Upon hearing these two places, Changsun Bubai frowned.

Seeing this, Li Wude asked, "Is there a problem with that area?"

"That area is considered within the Lingwu Army’s defense zone as well as the Shuofang Army’s, and the Tujue specifically choosing this location sounds suspicious to me."

Li Wude immediately asked, "Have you offended Mei Fei recently?"

"I haven’t, but Zhang San has. By the way, when Mei Fei’s messenger came, did he mention how many Tujue troops there were? And how many troops has the Shuofang Army dispatched? Surely, I’m not expected to mobilize the entire army just on Mei Fei’s command, am I?"

The reporting soldier said awkwardly, "The messenger only mentioned that Tujue troops were invading and it wasn’t a large force. General Ningyuan can resist them with his troops alone."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Bubai knew something was amiss.

"Where is the messenger?"

"I don’t know, he said he was going to find General Ningyuan!"

Changsun Bubai immediately had someone summon Zhang San.

Changsun Bubai already sensed that something was not right about today’s developments.

However, Changsun Wuji ran over in a panic.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! Something’s wrong! Zhang San just received a message saying that Mei Fei ordered him to lead his troops to intercept the Tujue."

Changsun Bubai hurriedly asked, "Zhang San didn’t go, did he?"

"Zhang San went, and he took Li Xuanmin with him. He said he wanted to show him firsthand what treacherous human nature can be like!"

At that moment, Changsun Bubai turned to look at the bewildered Li Wude.

The heads of the two middle-aged men felt incredibly heavy at that instant.