Chapter 279: Assassination 4

When Bai Lang is watching, he can still force Wei Zhenzhen to practice martial arts; once Bai Lang is not around, this woman does pastry-making, embroidery, and weaving more diligently than practicing martial arts. Seeing this, Bai Lang could only sigh and give up—worst case, he could find another test subject; as for Wei Zhenzhen, forget it, let her do what she loves. Without passion, one cannot delve deeply into martial arts; I have never seen someone lacking enthusiasm for martial arts become an expert.

Wei Zhenzhen is unwilling to practice martial arts, but her innate talent is actually quite good, which is a pity. When Bai Lang first helped her get started, the Longevity Scripture was actually quite effective—now it seems different from the Yin-Yang of the Double Dragon; her cultivated Internal Force is neutral and harmonious, like spring wind turning rain. "Her offensive capability is useless, but the health-preserving and complexion-enhancing effect is excellent—could it be called the Eternal Everlasting Spring Technique?" Bai Lang also saw that Wei Zhenzhen's Internal Force had spontaneously transformed into this.

She didn't deliberately cultivate it, yet it naturally became this. "Well, at least it proves a theory: martial arts develop differently depending on the person, possibly even splitting into two completely different kinds of martial arts." Bai Lang found a reason: at least, if this martial art could be systematized, most female martial artists would likely cultivate it. "But it's truly useless in combat; however, it seems to have some effect for healing injuries."

Wei Zhenzhen's martial arts are not impressive, so she feels a bit apprehensive when she sees Bai Lang—in fact, when Bai Lang goes out to meet people, the effect is much like a Street Tiger; only old soldiers and fierce generals can ignore his killing aura. However, if Bai Lang erupts with killing intent on the battlefield, few in the world could withstand it. "Going on like this isn't good; it's time to think of a way to fix this problem of overflowing killing aura."

Bai Lang had an idea: to turn the overflowing killing aura into authority, but this would involve the stuff of "mysticism". It seems that officials have official prestige, and this killing aura is very useful for the official prestige of military officers. "This is so I can become a high official, a general." After Bai Lang figured this out, the method of transforming the killing aura let him gain much insight.

This rank is illusory; Bai Lang feels it may not be a rule of the world, but rather a demand of one's own heart—I suppose it's about having the heart for the position, then gaining faith, and from faith comes prestige. His current position as Commandant of Xingyang Commandery can indeed gather his emitted killing aura and transform it into the prestige of a general. On the battlefield it can't add extra flair, but in everyday court sessions it does have some superficial polish.

If Bai Lang now puts on the robe, he can truly match the prestige of Ao Shaobao exactly; in the past he was a bit dry, overly fierce and lacking three parts of steadiness, but nowadays we can say it's exactly the same—if one day he also becomes a Junior Protector of the new or old dynasty, it's guaranteed to be several times stronger than Ao Shaobao's bearing.

This way, Bai Lang, the pressure on those serving him is greatly reduced—Wei Zhenzhen's inability to practice martial arts notwithstanding, her skill in serving is not bad—whether buying food and cooking it at home or washing clothes and folding blankets, she can make Bai Lang comfortable. Whenever Bai Lang sees her coming and going, there is a bashful demeanor; perhaps she also thinks about which day she will attend his bed. "This woman must be thinking about this problem—what a hero the master is, where would he force a woman to attend his bed?"

Bai Lang thought about this, and he also felt self-satisfied about his own heroism—but how did this sudden wrestling thought appear in his mind? His mind suddenly conjured a changing room and wrestling; speaking of it, the grappling techniques in this wrestling have considerable merit, if one gets entangled...... "Nonsense, when Internal Force erupts, how could anyone else's joint lock affect it?" Bai Lang brushed off several muscular men from his mind.

Xingyang Commandery is now quite peaceful; the prestige of the White Tiger Broken Army has spread throughout Henan Circuit, so it's unlikely any rebel army will come to Xingyang Commandery to cause trouble. The Sui Dynasty's realm has fallen into this state, with many pitiful people; but if these starving and drifting masses aren't settled from the start, their turning into bandits is inevitable—by now, many of these rebel armies can no longer return to being law-abiding citizens of the past. Those accustomed to surviving by sword and sword—how could they willingly go back to farming?

"The remnants of the Northern Dynasty's customs— the Xiongnu treat slaughter as farming......" Bai Lang also sighed at this situation. How did Yang Guang end up like this? His campaign against Goguryeo turned out this way— he really deserves the title Emperor Yang. Fortunately, his talent and ambition were finally fully realized in his nephew's son, which is good. At this time, Zhang Xutuo has set out again, leading Luo Shixin and others in command of about seven thousand men to attack Wagang Village—this army has constantly threatened the Sui Dynasty's granaries near Hulao; they must be completely isolated, or there is no solution.

Bai Lang has already entered the commandery troop system; this shows Zhang Xutuo's high regard for him—although there are some complaints about Bai Lang's love of killing, he has already pacified the entire Xingyang Commandery by killing just these people, and on this point Zhang Xutuo, the Envoy, is still very satisfied. In that case, he wouldn't need so many troops to suppress the four directions; he could completely reallocate them into a mobile force. Bai Lang can achieve all this with only a few hundred commandery troops, so Zhang Xutuo naturally values him more than Luo Shixin, Qin Qiong, and other fierce generals.

This could also be considered an unexpected joy for Envoy Zhang—Xingyang Commandery originally had little money and grain, and the commandery troops could not be expanded; he used Bai Lang also to try it out—Luo Shixin, Qin Qiong, and the like are not really willing to be commandery troop leaders; they'd rather follow him into battle. Bai Lang is not too in favor of Zhang Xutuo's proactive attack on Wagang Village: "Li Mi and his ilk harbor ill intentions; after the fire-merger with Zhai Rang, they already control Wagang Village's entire army—so it would not be as easy to fight as when Zhai Rang was around— their hearts are not united. For now, it's best merely to restrict Wagang Village's activities and watch the outcome— that's all."

Bai Lang's strategy can only be said to be mediocre, but he himself thinks it's better—because Wagang Village's opponents are certainly not just Zhang Xutuo; don't forget Luoyang's Wang Shichong and those who will sooner or later kill Yang Guang and rebel, like Yuwen Huaji and the like. And once Yang Guang dies, the hundred-thousand Xiaoguo Army stationed in Yangzhou will not remain; they will surely return to their old homes in Guanzhong—by then, Zhang Xutuo, with the help of the Xiaoguo Army, might truly be able to let the Sui Dynasty reunite the world again.

However, Bai Lang couldn't say that; he could only say that Li Mi now has only one voice in Wagang Village, making it much harder to fight than when there were two voices before. But how could such words convince Zhang Xutuo? Then only another kind of talk could be tried: "Envoy Zhang bears the weight of the world; if Envoy Zhang unfortunately dies, the country is also finished. And I've heard that in the jianghu there are some ruffians who want to assassinate Envoy Zhang— we must guard against this. If we go, that's fine; bring along some family to protect Envoy Zhang's safety."

Zhang Sutuo laughed, "To sweep the world clean, what is this life? Colonel Bai also bears the weight of a commandery. You cannot come with me; if Yingyang Commandery falls, then all my past efforts in Henan Circuit will be wasted. So Colonel Bai! You must not secretly follow this old man! Remember, remember! Holding Yingyang City is the top priority!"