Chapter 158

Zhang Rui, born from the three hundred Huben of the Imperial Forest Army that followed Prince Zhen on his inspection tour of the Eastern Yue Province.

A family of Ming Song military officers, truly rooted and correct.

More than a dozen generations ago, his ancestors were listed in the "Capital Military Yellow Register," and although they were not considered extremely wealthy, they were a top-tier family.

However, more than a hundred years ago, a gambler became the head of the family, and in just over a dozen years, they squandered the family fortune, and their days immediately went downhill.

By the time it reached Zhang Rui, it was even more dilapidated, barely able to maintain food and clothing.

But even so, he still had to practice, otherwise, if he were removed from the military register, it would be equivalent to erasing his status as a "family of military officers."

Not only would he be letting down his ancestors, but his social status would also fall several levels.

By then, if he were retaliated against by the street gangs that his father's generation had offended, one could only imagine what tragic events would occur.

So he could only play the grandson in the "Imperial Forest Training Ground," acting as a little brother to those children of families in the "Capital Military Yellow Register" who had maintained their wealth.

So don't think that just because he is now big and sturdy and skilled in archery and horsemanship, Zhang Rui must be a straightforward person from a military family.

In fact, the opposite is true.

He has many hidden agendas.

Otherwise, even if he had been saved by Zhang Gui once, as an old person in Prince Zhen's Traveling Palace, he wouldn't be so intent on currying favor with him.

And intentionally or unintentionally inquiring about so many things.

Yesterday the crow wind howled, but today's weather has been sunny and warm.

As Zhang Rui walked shoulder to shoulder with Lü Zhenduan toward the pier, he thought to himself:

"This grandson Sun Boting is truly not a human son.

A dignified Black Dragon General of the Center who leads three hundred Huben and guards the 'Eastern Yue Province Inspection Traveling Palace.'

One of the 'Nine Bestowals' that the imperial court protects openly and restrains secretly for Prince Zhen.

After being yin-yang mocked by that Mr. Yin a couple of times, he was so scared that he feigned illness and rolled off to recuperate somewhere, I don't know where.

Leaving us three hundred Imperial Forest soldiers, known as the 'Ming Song's Number One Army,' to be cut into pieces.

And filled into the so-called 'Longhu Curtain Office' to serve as officers.

Reorganization is reorganization, I suppose.

Anyway, I, a ninth-rank 'Small Star Chief' of the Imperial Forest Army, have transformed into a sixth-rank barbarian colonel, which isn't too much of a loss.

After eating the pie in the sky, if I'm forced to sell my life, I'll sell it; who told the situation to be stronger than people?

But even if I haven't really fought a war, I know that there can't be a battle tactic in the world that wastes human lives like this.

Prince Zhen's 'Traveling Palace' must have had some kind of mishap; I need to find another thigh to hug.

Whether it's useful or not, it's better than waiting for death without doing anything.

And this Caiyang Longhu at least treats the lives of the people below as human lives.

Just this alone makes him a one-in-a-hundred good superior.

On the contrary, helping the saved soldiers catch fish to eat now is a bit excessive.

If this is sincere, wouldn't he become a saint!

It's truly unfathomable, unfathomable.

But these truths and falsehoods are not the key.

The key is that he has the power of a demon god.

It feels like on the battlefield, he can directly slaughter sixth-rank heavy armored knights as if they were small fry.

There is absolutely no need to use us as shields.

That is enough."

The logic of the world is just that absurd.

Small people without power cannot actually do much evil.

But even so, after working hard for a dozen days, wanting to rest for one day might lead people to say:

Being so poor, yet not working hard to support the family, it's truly deserved to be poor for generations.

Even their living is a burden on the world, and they are doing evil!

But those figures who can do earth-shattering things, usually "do ten evils and perform one good," are still regarded as role models or even reliance.

Truly, what can you do about it!

In the distance, Zhang Gui finished catching the large fish near the shore and returned to the pier, restoring his normal figure.

He came to the sharp-eyed little soldier, casually stripped off his outer robe, and wrapped it around his waist,

"This outer robe belongs to me now; how about I compensate you with three taels of silver in a moment."

"No, no need, no need, let this outer robe be my filial piety to you, General."

The dumbfounded little soldier came back to his senses and said hurriedly.

"You should only show filial piety to your own mother and father; anyone else who extorts things from you is a bastard.

So you must take the three taels of silver in a moment."

Zhang Gui waved his hand and said:

"As for now, why don't you find someone to pick up the fish to eat? Don't tell me you want me to deliver it to your mouth."

"I, my mother and father are both dead, I, my family suffered a drought, ah, ah, I, I will find someone to pick up the fish.

Thank you, General, thank you, General..."

Upon hearing this, the little soldier didn't know why, but tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.

He didn't even know what he was muttering in his mouth, turned around, and called people to pick up the frozen fish.

At this time, Zhang Rui and Lü Zhenduan happened to come before Zhang Gui.

Looking at the little soldier's retreating back, Zhang Rui suddenly said with emotion:

"This soldier was one of the personal guards I selected, but because he was too sharp, I finally let him be a messenger.

I didn't expect that in just half a day, his heart would be won over by Longhu.

It seems it's not that people are too sharp, but that I am overly utilitarian."

"Sincerity and utilitarianism are actually invisible to anyone.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be the ancient story of the Wu general 'sucking the pus of a soldier.'

But Lord Zhang Rui, as a strong person, if one is reduced to needing to rely on one or even thousands of ordinary people to die for them, only then can they survive alone.

Then it would be better to die early."

Zhang Gui smiled and said upon hearing this.

Although the tone was extremely calm, for some reason, it shocked Zhang Rui until his whole body went stiff.

For a time, he could no longer make a sound.

"This Lord Zhang is a military man after all; he doesn't understand the thoughts of people who have read books.

Who would be willing to admit that their words and deeds, which seem kind and elegant, actually hide the intention of enticing people to sacrifice their lives.

Wouldn't that make one a great traitor and evil person."

Standing shoulder to shoulder, Lü Zhenduan felt Zhang Rui's abnormality, the corners of his mouth twitched with disdain, and he coughed lightly:

"Caiyang Longhu, there is a water curtain message; in a moment, an envoy sent by Prince Zhen will come to see you."

"Me, Prince Zhen, is it that grand? It's an envoy sent by the 'Traveling Palace,' right?", Zhang Gui said in surprise.

If Prince Zhen were a sovereign of a country, the "Traveling Palace" would be his imperial court.

The two sides seem consistent, but in fact, they are not.

And Zhang Gui and Prince Zhen can be considered to have had a spiritual connection for a long time.

He felt that no matter how much the "Traveling Palace" valued him, Prince Zhen himself had always treated him like an ant and didn't pay much attention to him at all.

Why would he send an envoy at a time like this?

If it were in the past, Lü Zhenduan would only pretend to be deaf and dumb and "slide" past such a question from Zhang Gui.

But this time he hesitated and lowered his voice:

"It might be because of the matter where you accidentally helped the 'Hanli Shen Clan' greatly yesterday, which became known to Prince Zhen.

So he sent someone to ask."

"What is there to ask about? This is truly unreasonable, sigh, could it be because of Shi Zhexian? It wouldn't be like that, would it!

What time is it now? As the master of a small nation's war of conquest, how could Prince Zhen have such leisure?"

"Longhu, have you forgotten the story of 'The light shuttle flashes, the dragon marrow arrives, a smile from the divine concubine topples a thousand cities.'

Moreover, Prince Zhen is just asking."

Lü Zhenduan recalled Prince Zhen's style of not being wise, but being able to know people and use them well, and being humble and cautious when he just left the capital last year, and said with a bitter smile.

(End of this chapter)