Chapter 237: Shock

Facts are always better than eloquence!

Although Zhang Gui had long thought that the Stone Corpse Soldiers under his command could completely compete with the special arms of many great powers in the Eastern Continent.

And the Stone Corpse Soldier soldiers of the True Dragon Kingdom themselves also put on a posture of being quite awesome and afraid of no one during the "drill" in the country.

But this kind of self-imagined "victory" is completely different from the victory after a real hard-hitting battle!

Even if Zhang Gui personally made an objective analysis of this clash between the Stone Corpse Soldiers and the Flower Dragon Cavalry, listing the three contingencies for the Stone Corpse Soldiers' victory:

"First, the 'True Dragon Armor First Corps' used ten thousand Stone Corpse Soldiers to fight against two thousand four hundred and one Flower Dragon knights.

It equals four to one, and there is still wealth, so winning a 'great victory' is actually a matter of course.

Second, this clash was won by Zhang Gui, the master of the Stone Corpse Soldiers, personally taking the field and deploying the ten-thousand-man 'Gold Soldier Line' battle array.

It is very difficult to replicate next time.

After all, in reality, no matter which country, the emperor's personal expedition cannot become the norm.

First, because the Flower Dragon Cavalry was not familiar with the characteristics of the Stone Corpse Soldier arms, they chose the wrong tactic at the beginning.

They didn't guerrilla, but chose to charge the entire army, which immediately gave them a 'break'."

And he made his analysis public, but when more than seven hundred frozen Flower Dragon beast corpses were sent back to the True Dragon Kingdom.

It was still a shock to the whole country, and more and more citizens began to take the initiative to ask for military service.

No longer the resignation to fate as before.

And Zhang Gui found that the Ming Song Empire began to attach importance to the existence of the "Fish-Dragon Giant Ship," so he gave up the idea of continuing to "pick up leaks."

After all, as long as there is prevention, a small magic array can offset his element rule power, making the casting difficulty increase countless times and becoming not worth the loss.

So Zhang Gui returned to the True Dragon Kingdom, used the metal little flying men of "Heavenly Craft Opening All Things" to finish building the "Great Monument," and after sacrificing the dead Stone Corpse Soldiers.

He teleported back to Zhihai Town, waiting for the arrival of the New Year with nothing to do for the time being...

Time passed, and it was the first month.

This morning.

Before long, the entire town was blanketed in silver, looking exceptionally enchanting.

Zhang Gui sat in a pavilion in the backyard of the Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office, blowing in the cold wind, admiring the snowy scenery, and eating hot pot—it was truly delightful.

Suddenly, an officer on duty reported:

"Reporting to the Heir Apparent, a staff member from Prince Zhen's 'Traveling Palace', Lü Zhenduan, requests an audience."

Zhang Gui was stunned and asked subconsciously, "Who?"

"A staff member from Prince Zhen's 'Traveling Palace', Lü, Lü Zhenduan requests an audience."

"Old Lü is here? He is still a Zaicheng of our Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office; what kind of 'audience' is he requesting?

Let him in at once."

"Yes." The officer on duty felt he had handled the matter poorly and retreated hurriedly with a bitter expression.

Unexpectedly, just as he was about to leave the courtyard, Zhang Gui suddenly called him back.

"Wait a moment. Go and tell Right Chancellor Ding.

From today on, he is the Third-Rank Primary Chief Administrator of the Stone Corpse Kingdom's Heir Apparent Mansion.

From now on, he shall use this new identity to oversee the civil and military affairs of the 'Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office'. Go."

The officer on duty replied, "Yes," and exited the backyard.

Shortly after, a shivering Lü Zhenduan walked into the backyard of the Curtain Office.

Seeing his dejected appearance, Zhang Gui felt that while there was certainly an element of acting involved, at least thirty percent of it was genuine.

He hurriedly stood up to welcome him and supported Lü Zhenduan.

"Oh my, Old Lü, quickly, quickly, quickly, come into the pavilion, have some hot soup, and warm yourself by the fire.

Looking at you like this, having traveled long distances on the sea, braving the wind and snow to see me...

Nothing has happened to *that person*, has it?"

As he spoke, Zhang Gui pointed in the direction of Xianrong Island and tapped his own head.

Lü Zhenduan shook his head, panting.

"No, no, it hasn't reached that point yet."

*It hasn't reached that point yet*—that meant the time hadn't come, but *in the future, it would*.

Zhang Gui pressed Old Lü onto a heated stool in the pavilion and tucked his legs under the blanket of the kotatsu.

He then picked up a small hand warmer from the table and shoved it into his hands.

He found a new bowl and served him some hot soup, meat slices, and mushrooms.

"Eat, eat. Relax first, then we'll talk.

Don't let yourself catch rheumatism or bone pain; you'll suffer for a lifetime."

Even knowing there was an element of acting involved,

given the contrast in their status and circumstances at this moment, Zhang Gui's willingness to perform such a heartwarming act before Lü Zhenduan was already extremely rare.

Tears welled up in Lü Zhenduan's eyes, but for a moment, he felt he had nothing to say.

Finally, he ate the meat slices while shivering, moving his legs, which were feeling increasingly comfortable under the blanket.

"Longhu, you really are the one who knows how to enjoy life!"

Zhang Gui chuckled and sat back down opposite Lü Zhenduan.

"Old Lü, it seems you really have suffered some hardships these days.

That's why you think being well-fed and warm is 'true enjoyment'.

If you had understood this earlier, why would you have bothered to come here?"

Lü Zhenduan was stunned, smiled self-deprecatingly, and let out a long sigh.

He remained silent and buried his head in eating and drinking.

At this moment, Ding Chengqi hurried over from outside to 'thank the official'. Seeing Lü Zhenduan there, he grinned broadly.

"Oh, so Zaicheng Lü is here too. A pleasure, a pleasure."

Before Lü Zhenduan could answer, he turned to Zhang Gui and prepared to kneel respectfully.

But he was stopped by Zhang Gui himself.

"That's enough, that's enough. Chengqi, actually, I have never liked people kneeling to me.

I am not a clay idol in a temple, nor a spirit tablet in an ancestral hall; what is the point of kneeling?

So from now on, we can bow with hands cupped or bow in respect, but there is no need to kneel.

You should pass on these words of mine as well. I don't care about others, and I can't control them.

But from today on, all civil and military officials of the 'Dragon-Tiger Curtain Office', as well as any idlers in the government offices, are 'to bow but not to kneel'.

Do you hear me clearly?"

"This humble official obeys," Ding Chengqi said, cupping his hands and bowing.

"That's right," Zhang Gui clapped and laughed. "And that 'Third-Rank Chief Administrator of the Stone Corpse Kingdom's Heir Apparent Mansion' is just a title.

It has no real benefit, so you don't need to take it too much to heart."

"Heir Apparent, there is an old saying: 'A person lives for their face, just as a Buddha strives for a stick of incense'!

All the living beings in this world live their lives for nothing more than 'fame' and 'profit'.

So how could I, your humble official, not be grateful for this 'title' you have given me?"

Ding Chengqi retorted earnestly.

Zhang Gui was stunned, nodded in deep agreement, and patted Big Ding on the shoulder.

"Fine, in any case, we will continue to work hard, and we will eventually reach the day when the willows are dark and the flowers are bright.

For now, let's not talk about anything else; just eat and drink, and live in the present."

"Come, come, you sit at the table too."

"Heir Apparent, today is the day the rice arrives at the dock; it's the first month of the year, so it's really busy..."

"Understood, understood. Then go and get busy.

Just don't work too hard.

No matter how busy life is, it must be lived slowly, hmm, lived slowly."

"Every time I receive your teachings, I find that 'one hears thunder in the silence and discovers ultimate truths in the mundane,' and I benefit infinitely."

Ding Chengqi gave a thumbs up, exclaiming with a mix of sincerity and pretense.

Afterward, he exited the backyard of the government office with a leisurely air.

(End of chapter)