Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 647 - 592: When the time comes, give me a quick end!_2

Chapter 647: Chapter 592: When the time comes, give me a quick end!_2

Emperor Kaihuang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Brilliant! Brilliant! Then, after we release these 60,000 Tujue people back, what then?"

"Emperor Kaihuang, why are you so genuine? Are you really going to release them all? It would be good if even 30,000 make it back. As for the remaining 30,000, keep 10,000 who are honest and able to work as slaves. After all, Longyun Path suffered greatly in this battle and needs significant repairs where there is a lot of hard labor needed."

"For the remaining 20,000, send people to escort them north of Longyou Road, hand them over to the Great Khan of Dashi Bian, as well as to the north of Longwang Road to Xing Luohou. Khan."

"As for Sharlobi, we just say that those two Khans sent people to take them away. We can’t distinguish the relationships among these Khans; we thought they were all together, so we released them."

"To Dashi Bian and Xing Luohou, just say that after we captured the Tujue army, we felt they might need manpower and thus sent the people over to them."

"At that time, the internal strength of Tujue will change, diminishing some and strengthening others, and this will consequently breed resentment amongst them; they will end up fighting amongst themselves without us having to lift a finger."

At this moment, although Emperor Kaihuang hadn’t sent anyone to verify this, he felt that Zhang San indeed had the capability to withdraw the Tujue forces from four directions.

"In this way, Tujue’s able soldiers will only number 130,000, and the fear spread among those 30,000 will continue to grow. Then it will be about how to strike the Tujue fiercely! In this battle, Sharlobi has already lost a Khan, and if there are further losses, it will greatly impact his position as Great Khan, making even more people on the steppes refuse to accept this Great Khan!"

"So, once we return all the Tujue captives, how the battle will be fought will be up to the Distant Army Count!"

At this point, Wang Junwu stepped forward, pointing at the map, and began to analyze for Emperor Kaihuang how to fight the upcoming battle!

...

That night, the entire Ren City was peaceful and serene.

After all, Emperor Kaihuang was present, along with about two hundred thousand troops stationed nearby, so security was absolutely assured.

But nobody expected, late at night, that Emperor Kaihuang wasn’t staying in his temporary residence but had taken a few people to nearby Broken Dragon Mountain.

"I, Bai Dushu, pay my respects to Emperor Kaihuang."

Emperor Kaihuang knew that the legendary figure who had made a name in the Longyun Path battle was none other than Bai Dushu from Longwang Road.

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang, looking at the fair and delicate face of Bai Dushu, smiled and said, "Excellent! Excellent! A hero from youth! Very good! Very good!"

As he spoke, Emperor Kaihuang helped Bai Dushu up, while Zhang San immediately made a secret sign to Bai Dushu.

Bai Dushu didn’t understand the meaning—was he not supposed to get up?

So he continued to kneel on the ground.

This made him grin; why couldn’t the man just say polite words?

He quickly added, "Emperor Kaihuang, you flatter me too much; it wasn’t Bai Dushu’s efforts that were good, but your leadership!"

Only then did Bai Dushu understand and nodded repeatedly, "Right, right, right! It’s all due to your leadership, Emperor Kaihuang."

While saying this, Bai Dushu stood up somewhat awkwardly and stepped to the side.

Zhang San quietly reminded him, "Next time, don’t say ’right’ three times in a row; it sounds sarcastic."

Bai Dushu felt that navigating human relationships was even more complicated than fighting on the battlefield.

You humans are indeed very difficult to deal with!

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang looked at the water source guarded by Bai Dushu and his men on Broken Dragon Mountain. After all, no one could guarantee that the Tujue wouldn’t suddenly attack again. Thus, protecting Ren City’s water source was crucial.

"This battle has been tough on you all."

Emperor Kaihuang stood on Broken Dragon Mountain, looking out over Ren City and the surrounding wilderness, knowing that the ability to hold off Tujue was entirely due to these officers and soldiers.

The crowd immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty, these are all duties within our roles."

Suddenly, Emperor Kaihuang thought of the times he and the Empress were together, the Empress always asked some very difficult questions.

Especially the one about making the Empress angry with three sentences; he couldn’t really make her angry, but still had to make her angry—it was quite irritating.

"Speaking of which, if we Great Sui and Tujue go to war, and one day I am captured by Tujue, my dear officials, how would you respond?"

Bai Dushu, overhearing this, thought it sounded quite familiar!

Could it be that Hu Jing’an had possessed Emperor Kaihuang?

But no, that couldn’t be right!

Emperor Kaihuang is none other than the Red Dust Immortal of the Imperial Path. Our Jing’an certainly doesn’t have such capability!

At this moment, Cao Demeng immediately knelt on one knee.

"If Emperor Kaihuang should meet with mishap, naturally it would be your servant’s responsibility. Your servant would die for his country!"

At this time, Wen Chudao, standing to the side, smiled, "General Cao, you are too serious. Even if we sacrifice our lives, we will never let such an event occur."

Emperor Kaihuang smiled slightly, adopting the tone of Empress Gudu as he spoke, "I am merely supposing. If I were truly captured by the people of Tujue, or even if the enemy were to threaten you with my life before both armies, what would you do then?"

At that moment, Bai Dushu scratched his head, feeling his mind was no longer adequate. He turned to look at Zhang San, curious whether the questions the human race considered were always so complex.

The other ministers who had come along each expressed their own loyalty.

Finally, Emperor Kaihuang noticed that Wang Junwu and Zhang San had been standing to the side without speaking.

"Our General Star of the Jin River Path, the recently appointed Distant Army Count, why do you not speak?"

Wang Junwu, being called upon, had no choice but to come forward.

"This general hasn’t yet figured it out, for this issue is a grave matter."

Hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

In the entire court, both civilian and military, aside from Cao Demeng who felt it was his responsibility, everyone else was thinking of how to seize the opportunity to display their loyalty.

Yet it was only Wang Junwu who was truly contemplating this issue.

Then, Emperor Kaihuang looked at Zhang San again.

He was extremely curious about Zhang San’s response.

"Zhang San, what would you do if you were in my shoes?"

At that moment, Zhang San gave a light smile and said, "That would depend on whether Emperor Kaihuang wants to hear the truth or a lie?"

"Of course..." Emperor Kaihuang paused for a moment and then said, "I want to hear the lie first, then the truth."

Zhang San immediately patted his chest and said, "Should Emperor Kaihuang be in danger, this humble officer would certainly risk life and limb. Whether it means climbing up the blade of a sword or plunging into a vat of boiling oil, as long as it could save you, Emperor Kaihuang, this officer would spare no effort at all costs. Your life, Emperor, is higher than the heavens and deeper than the seas, more than..."

"Stop, stop, stop, stop!" Emperor Kaihuang immediately stopped Zhang San’s exaggerated acting, asking, "Now tell me the truth."

"The truth, well..."

"If even Emperor Kaihuang were to fall into the hands of the Tujue, it means that there must be a powerful figure among the Tujue. And this figure must be mighty enough to capture a Red Dust Immortal. It’s not just about us really fighting desperately, even if everyone were to rush forward, it’s doubtful we could defeat the enemy."

"On the contrary, with you in their hands, you would become Great Sui’s Achilles’ heel. At such a time, you would definitely be beyond saving. Then I could only care about the living and the entire world! I would shoot you with an arrow."

"That way, the Tujue can’t use you to threaten Great Sui. Great Sui can then fight unreservedly against them."

Emperor Kaihuang gave a bitter smile, "So I would just die like that?"

Zhang San clasped his hands in reply, "Your death would be Cao Demeng’s responsibility. My killing, would be considering the bigger picture."

Emperor Kaihuang was somewhat unhappy, yet upon deeper consideration, it seemed that Zhang San’s answer was indeed the one truly beneficial for the country.

One day, when he had to choose between his own life and the future of the country, what would he choose?

After a long silence, Emperor Kaihuang suddenly looked up at Zhang San.

"Zhang San, if one day there truly comes a time when I must choose between my life and the fate of the world. You come take my life!"

"Ah!?"

Zhang San stared at Emperor Kaihuang, eyes wide.

Are you serious about this?

"No...Emperor Kaihuang, don’t joke. We were just chatting, just chatting, please don’t..."

"I appoint you Marquis Beyond the Law! You shall not be charged with the crime of slaying the king!"

"Thank Emperor Kaihuang for your grace!"

As promptly as he had refused earlier, now he accepted just as swiftly!