Chapter 53: Though I Am Aged, My Arrows Are Still Sharp!

Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang walked quickly into the main hall; the conflict had already ended.

Zhang Yunxiu was red-faced and panting, being held back by several servants.

On the other side, two Tatar women with high bridges of the nose and deep-set pupils were sobbing with their heads lowered, surrounded by a group of female attendants.

"You beast, are you only happy if you tear this house apart?" Zhang Juzheng was furious; he knitted his brows, walked behind Zhang Yunxiu, and kicked him squarely in the buttocks.

Zhang Yunxiu stumbled and nearly fell face-first into the dirt, but thanks to Zhang Fu holding him, he managed to steady himself.

When he looked back, Zhang Juzheng had a dark, gloomy face and was staring coldly at him.

"Father, this child thinks these two women..."

For the sake of his old father's health, Zhang Yunxiu braced himself to argue, but Zhang Juzheng, full of impatience, waved his hand to interrupt: "You think what? Is it your turn to be the master of this house?"

"It won't sound good for your reputation if word gets out."

Zhang Yunxiu said timidly.

Qi Jiguang, standing to the side, saw it clearly; he assumed Zhang Yunxiu had also taken a fancy to these two stunning beauties.

The next moment, a voice with a hint of a smile rang through the hall: "My dear nephew, your father is the honorable Chief Grand Secretary of the dynasty. I noticed he lacked two maidservants by his side, so I took the liberty of sending these two Tatar women. It will be good for them to attend to the Grand Secretary's daily needs."

Zhang Yunxiu was drawn by the voice and looked toward the source.

He saw a man with a tiger-like presence; although the man deliberately suppressed it, the inadvertently revealed murderous aura made Zhang Yunxiu's face change slightly.

Who else could it be but Great Marshal Qi?

Zhang Yunxiu was both shocked and respectful, and he hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute: "This junior, Zhang Yunxiu, pays his respects to Great Marshal Qi."

Qi Jiguang waved his hand, pulled the two sobbing Tatar women forward, and barked at the two of them: "You two bumped into this young master just now? Why haven't you apologized to this young master yet?"

"We ask for the young master's forgiveness," the two women said in unison.

Zhang Yunxiu did not know how to respond. At this moment, Zhang Juzheng swept a glance at the servants and concubines watching the commotion and snorted: "What are you looking at? Why haven't you gone off to attend to your own business?"

The household members acted as if facing a great enemy and scattered like hawks, disappearing without a trace.

In an instant, only three men and two women remained in the hall.

Zhang Juzheng led Qi Jiguang to sit on the armchairs, while Zhang Yunxiu stood side-by-side with the two Tatar women in the center of the hall.

"Yuanjing, I won't be afraid of you laughing at me, but this beast has developed a mental illness; he is sometimes good and sometimes bad. It is truly a misfortune for the family," Zhang Juzheng said, looking at Qi Jiguang and pointing at Zhang Yunxiu to complain.

"Grand Secretary, I see that your son's eyes are bright and his life force is like a dragon; he does not seem to have a mental illness."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head, did not answer directly, and only sighed: "This boy used to be very timid, but now he is lively and restless, like a completely different person. He even dares to... forget it, let's not mention it."

Qi Jiguang turned his tiger-like eyes to glance at Zhang Yunxiu, who happened to be looking at him as well. Their eyes met, and they quickly looked away.

He smiled and tried to comfort Zhang Juzheng: "The ancients had a saying about sudden enlightenment; your son has likely just had an awakening."

"That's right, this child had an epiphany in a dream, and a deity told this child that Father should not be close to female beauty," Zhang Yunxiu smiled, climbing up the pole as it was offered.

"Shut up!" Zhang Juzheng glared at his son, then looked at Qi Jiguang with a hint of apology: "Yuanjing, you should take these two women back, so that I don't have to be bothered by them all day."

"How can there be a reason to take back something that has been given away?" Qi Jiguang waved his hand, smiled faintly, and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu: "Grand Secretary, your son is eighteen years old but has yet to take a wife. Why not send these two women to his quarters?"

"Him?"

Zhang Juzheng slowly turned his body to look at Zhang Yunxiu. Zhang Yunxiu was startled and hurriedly cupped his hands to reply: "This junior appreciates Great Marshal Qi's good intentions, but I am afraid I do not have the fortune to enjoy such exotic charms. I ask that Great Marshal Qi forgive me."

At this, Qi Jiguang did not know what to say.

Everyone is a man, what are you pretending for? It must just be that he is young and cannot let go of his pride. If one were to really strip off their clothes and throw these two beauties onto the bed, what man could resist?

The two women were trembling incessantly, a trace of pallor showing on their beautiful faces.

It was these three men who could decide their fate and life or death at will.

After a few seconds of silence, Qi Jiguang advised again: "The people have already been brought here; how can there be a reason to take them back?"

"Great Marshal Qi, why not take these two women back and bestow them upon meritorious soldiers? Firstly, it can encourage the troops to fight bravely. Secondly, it can demonstrate your Great Marshal Qi's style of a great general who loves his soldiers like his own children," Zhang Yunxiu said to Qi Jiguang, reasonably and logically.

This time, both Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang had nothing to say.

"Well... alright then."

Although it was a bit of a pity, since the other party didn't want them, what else could he do?

Shaking his head, Qi Jiguang stood up and bowed to Zhang Juzheng, preparing to take his leave, but Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly called out to stop him.

Qi Jiguang turned around and asked: "Does my nephew have anything else?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and asked with a smile: "May I ask Great Marshal Qi, what do you think of the combat effectiveness of the Japanese?"

Qi Jiguang did not know why Zhang Yunxiu would ask this, but he could not refuse to answer a question put to him.

After drafting his thoughts in his heart for a moment, he spoke unhurriedly: "Although the Japanese are short in stature, they are naturally combative and have no small amount of combat power. It took me a great deal of effort back then to clear out the bandit troubles in the Southeast."

"If Great Marshal Qi were to lead the troops, could you pacify the Japanese pirates again?" Zhang Yunxiu pressed.

"Pacify what? Haven't the Japanese pirates already been pacified? The entire Southeast coast has now opened the sea ban; I'm afraid it would be difficult to even find a trace of Japanese pirates now," Qi Jiguang said, his face full of confusion.

Zhang Juzheng's gaze was eager; he glared at his son, signaling him to continue.

Seeing that the two men's interest had been piqued, Zhang Yunxiu was secretly pleased and said directly: "The Japanese pirates have invaded our borders; how can we just beat them back? We should strike at their home and let the Japanese pirates taste what it's like to be beaten by others."

"You mean, launch a campaign against the Japanese islands?" Two flashes of lightning seemed to pass through Qi Jiguang's eyes.

"Look... just look," before Zhang Yunxiu could answer, Zhang Juzheng, standing to the side, looked at Qi Jiguang and pointed at his son, "A mere scholar, yet he dares to recklessly discuss state affairs and even tells me we should send troops to fight overseas."

"My ears are almost calloused from hearing it."

Qi Jiguang smiled and said nothing.

"Father, there is countless silver overseas. If the Great Ming army does not fight for years, it will instead fall into disrepair," Zhang Yunxiu argued calmly and methodically. "As long as we win, the things we gain will be far more than what we lose."

"Those who are fond of war will see their country perish; how many emperors who loved to show off their power died because of their campaigns?" Zhang Juzheng rolled his eyes at his son and cited historical examples. "Sui Yangdi campaigned against Goguryeo three times, leading to the people's misery. Genghis Khan campaigned everywhere, which is why the Yuan Dynasty perished after only a few decades, and the remnants of the Northern Yuan slunk back to the grasslands."

"Right now, the most important thing is to rest and recuperate."

Zhang Yunxiu, however, dared not agree; the national strength of Great Ming was currently at its peak. He truly could not think of any country in Asia that could contend with it.

"If the imperial court ever uses troops against the Japanese pirates, I will certainly be the commander, personally leading the army to strike directly at the Japanese pirates' lair," Qi Jiguang, seeing the atmosphere was stifling, cupped his hands and interjected in a deep voice.

Zhang Juzheng was clearly not interested in this, shook his head, and left with Qi Jiguang.

(End of this chapter)