Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 644 - 590: Now It’s Your Show!

Chapter 644: Chapter 590: Now It’s Your Show!

Mei Fei’s face twisted in hatred after Zhang San slapped him twice.

Of course, it might not have been hate but the result of being slapped.

"I greet Your Majesty Emperor Kaihuang. I... deserve to die... wuuu wuuu..."

Mei Fei hadn’t finished speaking a couple of sentences before he began crying bitterly.

Zhang San, who was standing behind him, immediately bowed and said, "Reporting to Emperor Kaihuang, the criminal Mei Fei confesses his crimes and deserves death by law."

Mei Fei quivered with rage from head to toe.

Emperor Kaihuang glanced at Zhang San, who immediately shut up and stepped back.

Mei Fei began to cry out his grievances, explaining the hardships he faced, insisting his misjudgment of the enemy was not out of cowardice.

"Your Majesty! Please believe in me! At that time, I truly believed that when the Tujue army attacked, we must rely on our fortified cities to counter them. Look, did we not win the battle of Ren City?"

Emperor Kaihuang looked emotionlessly at the generals and ministers gathered around.

After observing everyone’s reactions, Emperor Kaihuang knew that this outcry would not overly complicate things for Mei Fei, and he felt relieved.

"So, you merely misjudged the situation, which is a grave error for any general. You must be punished!"

At this, Zhang San stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Emperor Kaihuang, please show mercy! Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mei Fei only misjudged the Tujue military situation and took the Shuofang Army away from the battlefield on his own initiative without informing other forces; he didn’t notify the residents of Longyun Path; and his several days’ defense of Ren City almost led to its breach. I implore you, show mercy, Emperor Kaihuang!"

Upon hearing these words, Emperor Kaihuang’s face darkened.

Mei Fei had gone too far!

Wanting to find a city to fend off the Tujue when feeling outmatched was understandable.

But failing to inform the civilians and the allied forces was indeed excessive.

To say Emperor Kaihuang wasn’t disappointed in Mei Fei would be impossible.

But Emperor Kaihuang knew well that Mei Fei, who had firmly stood by his side before he even became Emperor, needed protection, or he risked disheartening many.

Whether it was Changsun Bubai or Zhang San, they were ultimately loyal subjects.

The heart of a loyal subject is not easily chilled.

But Mei Fei’s and many ministers’ hearts were chilling rather quickly.

At the moment, although Emperor Kaihuang also felt that Mei Fei needed to be dealt with, for the sake of imperial considerations, he still defended Mei Fei, saying, "Zhang San speaks absolute truth! Such actions by Mei Fei must be severely punished! Do not think that because you, the Shuofang Army, also contributed in the battle of Ren City, you can offset your faults! That is absolutely not possible!"

While Emperor Kaihuang spoke of the contributions of the Shuofang Army and the impossibility of offsetting faults,

in reality, everyone could tell that Emperor Kaihuang intended to credit the defense achievements to Mei Fei.

And then, owing to this victory in the battle of Ren City.

He likely planned to let him down gently in the end.

"Emperor Kaihuang is wise!" Zhang San continued to speak.

Now, Emperor Kaihuang got a headache whenever he heard Zhang San speak.

Why must you always oppose those above you wherever you go?

In the Capital, you were the Crown Prince, second only to one.

In Longyun Path, you were the Deputy Commander-in-Chief, again second only to one.

Then, Zhang San said, "Although Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mei Fei received the letter from the Lingwu Army and did not arrive at the Great Wall defense area in time, nor did he inform my Lingwu Army, resulting in our dreadful losses when five thousand Tujue elite cavalry flanked us, I believe Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mei Fei also has merits toward Great Sui. It is just unfortunate for those brave soldiers of the Lingwu Army who need not have died. I do not know how the dead soldiers’ families will survive now. If I ever meet their families begging on the streets in the future, I will surely give them more to eat, so they do not starve immediately."

At this point, Wen Chudao stepped forward to relieve Emperor Kaihuang from this difficult position.

"General Zhang, rest assured, the Lingwu Army has established great merit in this battle. The fallen soldiers will definitely receive compensation."

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang also immediately spoke, "Fivefold! Disburse the compensation at five times the normal rate for the Frontier Army! Those who bleed for Great Sui shall not let their families suffer the hardships of wind, frost, snow, and rain!"

Although Emperor Kaihuang was usually frugal, he knew that this money had to be spent.

Despite feeling some pain at this moment, as the Emperor, wealthy with all under heaven, spending a bit of money was not degrading.

"Emperor Kaihuang is wise! Although those soldiers who are severely injured may end up destitute and begging on the streets with their families after being discharged from service, I believe the families of the fallen soldiers will definitely give them something when they encounter them begging on the streets..."

"Those injured in this battle shall receive substantial rewards!" Emperor Kaihuang felt that Zhang San most likely knew that he didn’t want Mei Fei to die.

Simply sparing Mei Fei’s life, but taking his own money instead!

My heart aches so much!

"Many thanks to Emperor Kaihuang! I, on behalf of the commoners who lost their homes due to Mei Fei’s premature retreat, express gratitude to Emperor Kaihuang."

At this time, Changsun Wuji by the side also figured out what Zhang San meant.

"General Zhang, this doesn’t seem right! Emperor Kaihuang has provided fivefold compensation for the dead soldiers and substantial rewards for the injured of the Lingwu Army; what does this have to do with the commoners? They merely suffered because they couldn’t evacuate in time from the Tujue attack, potentially exposing their corpses in the wilderness, possibly having their homes burned, possibly losing all their possessions."

Zhang San smiled and waved his hand, "Changsun Wuji, you just don’t understand. Although these commoners suffered losses because Mei Fei led the Shuofang Army to retreat without orders, as long as the Lingwu Army is here, they can still take care of a small portion of the commoners by buying grains and vegetables on Longyun Path, ensuring they won’t starve."

"I see."

Emperor Kaihuang, watching the act put on by Zhang San and Changsun Wuji, was seething with anger.

"This time, with the Tujue invasion, the commoners along Longyun Path have suffered from the war. It is my failure, as Emperor Kaihuang! Longyun Path, tax exemption for five years!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San was finally satisfied.

After all, he had now leveraged Mei Fei’s life to secure the maximum benefits for Longyun Path.

"Thank you for the grace of Emperor Kaihuang!"

Zhang San was the first to thank Emperor Kaihuang, and then all the court officials present knelt down to express their gratitude to Emperor Kaihuang.

Emperor Kaihuang smiled with satisfaction.

There is an old saying: losing wealth to avert disaster.

Now, it appears true.

If it wasn’t for saving Mei Fei, a representative individual, how could he possibly have disbursed so much money.

Fortunately, the national treasury is not short of money.

If money can solve a problem, it’s no problem at all.

Just look now, everyone is kneeling...

Emperor Kaihuang’s gaze had just swept downwards when he noticed that everyone had knelt down, with the exception of two people.

One was Zhang San; after all, he seemed to have never seen Zhang San kneel before.

Usually, in the imperial court, a simple bow was sufficient; there was no need to kneel.

But the other, a tall young military officer with dark skin, who was he? How come he had never seen him before?

"Who is this young general?"

Emperor Kaihuang looked at Big Head Wang, curiously asking.

Zhang San glanced at Wang Junwu.

My fifth brother! Brother San has just demonstrated, now it’s your turn to perform!