Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 701 - 641: It Still Has to Be Zhang San, Always Knowing to Share My Worries

Chapter 701: Chapter 641: It Still Has to Be Zhang San, Always Knowing to Share My Worries

Zhang San saluted Emperor Kaihuang with a fist and palm salute, his attitude respectful.

"As a humble minister, I am a subject of the Great Sui and also a commander in the army. I persuaded the Tujue’s four-pronged force to retreat, I strategized the defense of Ren City, I outwitted the Tujue, and I contributed to the salvation of Your Majesty’s carriage... Are these not all duties expected of me?"

Hearing Zhang San’s words, sweat almost broke out on Emperor Kaihuang.

After such a list of accomplishments, Emperor Kaihuang felt certain that whatever Zhang San was about to ask for, it surely wouldn’t be small.

"In the previous great battle, to save Your Majesty, my Mo Blade was nearly worn out from use. That blade was forged and given to me by my disciple Li Xuanmin, who is also one of the former Four Young Masters of the Capital, Li Sandao. I was thinking, surely there must be plenty of fine forging materials in the national treasury. Just grant me some materials so I can forge a few Mo Blades. So that next time I meet the enemy, I won’t be without a weapon in hand."

Truth be told, the national treasury did have no shortage of forging materials, and many of them were indeed high-quality.

Emperor Kaihuang believed that even if the materials were to be allocated for the highest standard of forging, providing enough for Zhang San to forge a few dozen Mo Blades wouldn’t be an issue.

He could even assign someone from the Ministry of Works or the Mohists to specifically assist Zhang San with the forging.

But was this all that Zhang San was asking for?

Could it be too modest a request?

"Zhang San, although some forging materials are precious, after all, they are meant for crafting weapons. No matter how valuable, how much more expensive could they be? You... don’t wish to take the opportunity to ask for something more substantial?"

Emperor Kaihuang thought it better to take the initiative rather than wait for Zhang San to make outrageous demands.

After all, if one is to be bitten eventually, being prepared lessens the pain when the bite comes.

However, Zhang San smiled.

"Emperor Kaihuang, with the great war over and the northern people’s livelihoods devastated, the families of fallen soldiers in the army need consolation, and new recruits require training. What part of the state, from top to bottom, doesn’t need funds? I certainly love wealth, to an indescribable extent! But... I also know, without a country, there is no home! If I, on account of my minor contributions, demand all I can for my personal gain, I may be satisfied, but what of the state? What of the people? We are ministers, Your Majesty’s ministers, but even more so, we are ministers to all under heaven. We cannot think only of ourselves every day!"

Upon hearing Zhang San’s speech, Emperor Kaihuang might have been moved if he did not already know Zhang San’s character so well.

"Minister Zhang has said..."

Emperor Kaihuang’s mouth opened, but he could not bring himself to say the word "good."

For Emperor Kaihuang feared that as soon as he spoke it, Zhang San would then make another "small" request.

"This touches my heart! Zhang San, since you put it that way, it shall be done. In terms of food allotments, I will increase yours and Wang Junwu’s to one thousand three hundred, and add another three hundred for Bai Dushu!"

Emperor Kaihuang knew he couldn’t truly be stingy about everything.

But the rewards he now offered were reasonable and not excessively valuable.

Zhang San and Wang Junwu immediately thanked Emperor Kaihuang.

Zhang San knew Emperor Kaihuang was worried about him making exorbitant demands.

And Wang Junwu knew that it would have been sufficient to reward only Zhang San; including Wang too, probably had something to do with concerns regarding Princess Qionghua.

In Emperor Kaihuang’s view, if Princess Qionghua was willing, then as the Imperial Son-in-law, naturally the more abundant his food allotment, the better life would be for him and the princess.

Conversely, if the princess does not agree, and I receive more food from my fief, it would be good to keep myself silent.

After realizing all of this, Wang Junwu bowed his head and said no more.

At this moment, Zhang San spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report."

At that moment, a sudden sense of dread filled Emperor Kaihuang’s heart.

No way! No way!

Just after receiving an increase in food from my fief, and then you still come to me?

What do you want to do?

"What else is there, Marquis Beyond the Law?" Emperor Kaihuang reminded Zhang San, through his form of address, not to overstep.

Zhang San said with a smile, "Your Majesty, last night at the gate of the Imperial College, I encountered the newly appointed Grand Preceptor Ren Buqun, and we had a very pleasant conversation. As a result, I heard this morning that the Grand Preceptor caught a chill after chatting with me at the gate of the Imperial College last night. This..."

At this point, Zhang San heaved a deep sigh, seeming somewhat self-reproachful as he said, "It’s also my fault. I did not consider that the Grand Preceptor is advanced in years, and at his age, who could stay up so late discussing the education of students with me. It was my lack of consideration!"

"As a result, this morning I received news that the Grand Preceptor had fallen ill. Then nearly half of the teachers at the Imperial College started coming to me, even interrupting my classes from time to time with documents asking me to take care of them. I am just an ordinary teacher at the Imperial College, how could I overstep my place? This is not acceptable! But now, the students of Martial Studies Class Four can’t even get their medicine approved. With the Grand Preceptor ill and no one in charge at the Imperial College, everyone comes to me. My position is not right, and my words have no weight; I really have no choice!"

At that moment, Emperor Kaihuang understood.

No wonder this guy previously declined my rewards; he had his eye on the position of Grand Preceptor.

That position had also been a matter of lengthy persuasions by those old Confucian men, and it was only after I became thoroughly annoyed that I grudgingly agreed to let Ren Buqun take the post.

Originally, Emperor Kaihuang had intended for Zhang San to handle Ren Buqun, but who would have thought that in just one night, he would have the old man bedridden?

He really is young and energetic!

"Since that’s the case, I hereby appoint you as the Preceptor of the Imperial College. In addition to being responsible for the teaching of your current Law Class A, you will also handle the disciplinary issues of the college. I have heard plenty about the ongoing conflicts between students from noble families and those from humble backgrounds. This matter, I entrust entirely to you. As for other affairs within the Imperial College, should Grand Preceptor Ren Buqun be too sick to work, you may temporarily act on his behalf. However, if Ren Buqun recovers, he will still be the one in charge. Understand?"

Emperor Kaihuang knew that if he took the opportunity to remove Ren Buqun now, those old Confucian men would explode, so he might as well let Zhang San clean up after them.

After saying this, Emperor Kaihuang laughed and said, "It has to be Zhang San who knows how to relieve my worries! You all should learn from him."

At that moment, the few Censors who had initially planned to impeach Zhang San were shocked and astonished.

They had received news early this morning that last night, Grand Preceptor Ren Buqun had caught Zhang San taking students out to drink, and as a result, the Grand Preceptor was disrespected and disobeyed.

Then this morning, it seemed that Grand Preceptor Ren Buqun was faking illness, probably to pressure Zhang San into an apology, or even provide material for the Censors to impeach him.

But now... how did it turn into the Grand Preceptor being too sick to work, and Zhang San becoming the Preceptor, and even acting in the Grand Preceptor’s stead?

Moreover, what Zhang San mentioned seemed to be not much different from what actually happened.

Ren Buqun! Stop faking it! Get up and work!

If you don’t work, Zhang San will take over everything!