Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 556 - 518: The People Chose You!

Chapter 556: Chapter 518: The People Chose You!

Li Xuanmin heard Zhang San’s words, his face a mix of shock and bewilderment.

The master had come over, wasn’t he supposed to help him?

Why did he instead make him kneel down?

The next moment, Zhang San kicked Li Xuanmin.

Of course, this kick from me, Zhang San, was definitely not because you’re my future son-in-law, but purely a master’s earnest teaching.

As Li Xuanmin knelt down, Zhang San lashed him with a whip.

"Do you know why these people, hearing my name, just gave up?"

Li Xuanmin was still somewhat confused, but upon hearing his master’s question, he did not dare not to answer.

"Because the master is strong, his reputation far-reaching, and hearing it they dare not bully you."

Crack!

Zhang San lashed Li Xuanmin with the whip again.

This whip tore through the clothes on Li Xuanmin’s body.

"You think they are afraid of me?"

Crack crack crack!

Zhang San hit Li Xuanmin with several more lashes, then looking at his clothes, he sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Take off your clothes."

Li Xuanmin did not dare to resist and obediently removed his clothes.

"The ones inside too."

Li Xuanmin continued undressing until he was bare-chested, kneeling by the side of a wheat field.

Zhang San pointed toward the wheat field next to them, speaking harshly, "You think this is just food? This is the peasants’ livelihood!"

"Now you’ve joined the army too, you’re a soldier, if someone damages your sword or spear, then throws down a couple of stinking coins, acting like they are doing you a favor, could you just let it go?"

Only now did Li Xuanmin realize that he probably had indeed done something wrong.

"Is your treasure only a treasure, and others’ treasures not?"

Zhang San said, striking Li Xuanmin with several more lashes.

Previously, having clothes on made it somewhat better, as they offered some protection.

But now that Zhang San had made Li Xuanmin take off his clothes, each lash drew up a spatter of blood.

Changsun Youde immediately ran over, kneeling next to Li Xuanmin, and said to Zhang San, "Brother San, stop hitting him. He... he... he doesn’t dare to resist using Qi, please spare him this once! I can tell that Brother Li truly realizes his mistake."

Zhang San knew that Changsun Youde came to plead because she liked this boy, Li Xuanmin.

"He realizes his mistake? I think he only realizes the pain!"

Zhang San said, delivering another lash to Li Xuanmin who was kneeling on the ground.

Then he shouted at Changsun Youde, "Remember! If you are to marry this man, it’s for life! Today you can protect him, and even if you lie down on top of him I won’t hit him anymore! But think carefully, if in the future he behaves recklessly outside, it means you and your children will suffer disdain at home! Do you want a man who stands upright and proud, or one who gallops through the fields treating the common folk like dirt?"

Changsun Youde originally wanted to reach for Li Xuanmin’s arm and continue pleading with Zhang San.

But having heard these words, Changsun Youde looked at Li Xuanmin beside her, then slowly bowed her head.

"Brother Li, I remember today’s pain. You must remember it too."

Zhang San knew that Changsun Youde was sensible.

Li Xuanmin, looking at Changsun Youde, also finally realized that what he had done seemed trivial, but in reality, it was a very poor start.

"Master, I realize my mistake. I should not have scorned the people. Go ahead and hit me."

Previously, although Li Xuanmin was kneeling on the ground taking the whipping, it was entirely because Zhang San was his master.

A command from the master, he did not dare disobey.

But at this moment, he truly realized that he had been wrong.

Crack!

Zhang San delivered another lash, then asked Li Xuanmin, "Do you know why I named you Li Xuanmin?"

In that moment, Li Xuanmin was a bit dumbfounded.

He understood the lesson before him.

This beating, I felt I deserved it too.

But this name of mine, wasn’t it something you came up with on a whim?

What’s there to ask why?

Zhang San, seeing that Li Xuanmin couldn’t answer, struck him again with his whip.

"Xuanmin, Xuanmin, do you think I want you to choose the people in the face of major rights and wrongs? You’re wrong! It was never about you choosing the people, but the people choosing you!"

"A ruler is like a boat; the common people are like water. Water can carry the boat; water can also overturn the boat. If a ruler contemplates dangers like this, then dangers will not come!"[note 113]

As Zhang San spoke, he continued whipping Li Xuanmin.

After several strikes, the horsewhip broke.

Zhang San glanced to the side and shouted to Bai Dushu, "Hand over your whip."

With a grin, Bai Dushu thought, You whip and it’s fine, as you are his master. I’m still a personal soldier to his father-in-law; if I hand over the whip, won’t I be asking for trouble?

Although Bai Dushu was somewhat pedantic from his studies, he wasn’t foolish and shook his head repeatedly.

"The whip is broken, it’s enough!"

Zhang San bellowed, "It’s not enough! Folks, who has a whip? Bring me one!"

The neighboring farmers initially thought Zhang San was just venting for them, but they hadn’t expected him to actually beat this young man surnamed Li to such a state that even the whip broke.

"Military Chief Zhang, we know you’re a good person, and we see the young man has admitted his wrongdoing. Let it be, please, let it be."

"No!" Zhang San roared, "Today he didn’t treat you as humans, so you must beat him to death! No one can ride on another’s head! No one!"

Li Xuanmin immediately knelt down, kowtowing, "Disciple remembers this."

Seeing Zhang San’s earnest sincerity, the surrounding farmers also expressed their forgiveness.

Zhang San glanced at the injuries on Li Xuanmin, and although he seemed to hit hard, he actually held back; the force he used was not as great as when he usually whipped Hei while riding.

Suddenly, Zhang San thought, Hei is a Chi Dragon, apparently born with strong defensive power.

Hmm...

It’s okay, looking at Li Xuanmin now, he seems quite capable of withstanding the whipping, he should be fine.

"Pay up!"

Zhang San coldly stated this, and Changsun Youde beside him exhaled in relief, knowing Brother San had finished the punishment.

Li Xuanmin immediately turned out everything he had on him, respectfully laying it out in front of himself.

"Master, all the money and valuable things I have are here."

Zhang San glanced over it, thinking that this money wasn’t nearly enough for compensation; it could even buy this entire field of wheat.

However, Zhang San still glared and said, "Not enough! Compensate with your horse too!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuanmin couldn’t help but grimace.

He had not felt too distressed being whipped, but to give away the fine horse that Kaihuang had just rewarded him with did truly upset him!

But seeing Zhang San glaring, he could only nod.

"Dear folks, everything was my fault, Li Xuanmin. This horse, I also compensate to you!"

The farmers, though not knowing how valuable the horse was, were frightened to hear it was awarded by Kaihuang and waved their hands repeatedly.

Zhang San winked at the villagers to accept it, then had Li Xuanmin mount the horse belonging to Bai Dushu.

Finally, after whispering a few words to Bai Dushu, he led them away.

Bai Dushu promptly approached the farmers and said, "Keep these things here for now. I’ll bring someone later to redeem them at full price. Then, this money should be shared by the entire village to avoid trouble."

Only then did the farmers understand that Zhang San’s wink was not just about accepting the offer but also about looking out for them.

Meanwhile, on horseback, Li Xuanmin glanced at Zhang San and whispered, "Master, I’m sorry for disgracing you."

Zhang San snorted and said, "This is not a disgrace. If in the future you exploit the common people, and they end up flaying you alive, that would be a real disgrace!"

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[note 113]Quotation explanation

This statement is quoted from"Xunzi · Duke Ai": "A ruler is like a boat; the common people are like water. Water can carry the boat; water can also overturn the boat. If a ruler contemplates dangers like this, then dangers will not come!"

Though it originated from Xunzi, it was Confucius who said it.