The Arrogant Zhang Shi

“Zhang Shi, how dare he be so insolent!”

“How dare he speak to this commander in such a tone!”

“Has he forgotten that it was this commander who appointed him Deputy Commander? He’s only been here a few days, and already he thinks he can turn the world upside down?”

Amid his fury, the personal guards trembled in fear.

Only Ruan Fei approached with a smile. “Oh, Brother Mengyan, don’t speak of General Zhang Shi that way!”

“That’s simply the kind of temperament he has!”

“If he weren’t so headstrong, how could Ren Tianye have made things difficult for him?”

“Besides, he’s only doing all this for our sake. At worst…I’ll send more people to keep watch.”

As she spoke, Ruan Fei’s face was full of delight. “Brother Mengyan, I’ve already secretly organized an intelligence team to monitor any unusual activity in the camp. If General Zhang Shi truly goes too far, I’ll report it to you at once!”

“Doesn’t that sound good?”

Had anyone else said such things to Zhou Mengyan, he would not have bothered to listen. But because it was Ruan Fei speaking, her words actually sank in.

He pondered for a moment before saying, “Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

“A man like Zhang Shi, who swept across the northern frontier and annihilated every enemy stronghold, is undoubtedly a great talent. And throughout history, great talents have always been difficult to tame. They’re spirited stallions with tempers of their own.”

“He has indeed always been rather overbearing.”

As he spoke, Zhou Mengyan gradually came around.

The anger on his face slowly faded, replaced by a measure of calm.

“Brother Mengyan, I knew you were the most broad-minded…” Ruan Fei sidled up to him like a lovestruck bird and nestled into his arms. “See? You understood General Zhang Shi right away.”

Zhou Mengyan greatly enjoyed her intimacy, but he still shook his head. “Even so, I’m not entirely at ease with Zhang Shi.”

“What kind of person is Zhou Buzhang?”

“He was already someone who opposed me. Now that he’s training men under him, who knows whether they’ll have a good word to say about me?”

“What if he ends up producing a whole group of men who refuse to follow my orders?”

Ruan Fei pouted coquettishly. “Oh, Brother Mengyan, you’re worrying too much.”

“Although Zhou Buzhang may be displeased with you, isn’t General Zhang Shi keeping an eye on him? With General Zhang Shi there, how could Zhou Buzhang stir up any trouble?”

“Besides…”

“Didn’t Little Fei already tell you?”

“Little Fei has secretly organized an intelligence team within the army. They’ll monitor every move in the camp and serve as your eyes, Brother Mengyan.”

“If anything happens, Little Fei will report it to you immediately. You can deal with it then. Isn’t that right, Brother Mengyan?”

The worry on Zhou Mengyan’s face finally disappeared.

That was true. He still had Little Fei!

Back then, it was because he had his wife that he had been spared many potential troubles. Now that his wife was gone, Little Fei was still here. She could help him with plenty of things.

And Little Fei was much more agreeable than his wife.

His wife would point at his nose and curse him, but Little Fei never did. She always indulged him and obeyed his orders.

Zhou Mengyan’s expression brightened completely, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes. “Now that you put it that way, I was in the wrong just now.”

“How about this? I’ll find an opportunity to host a banquet for General Zhang Shi and apologize to him.”

Ruan Fei wrapped her arms around Zhou Mengyan’s neck. “Brother Mengyan, I knew you were the best judge of talent.”

“Being with you makes Little Fei so happy.”

“Really?” Zhou Mengyan smiled. “What kind of happiness?”

Ruan Fei gave him an offended little pout. “Brother Mengyan, you’re so wicked!”

“Hahaha. Your wife is gone, and the restraints are gone with her. I’m free to soar beneath the heavens now. Little Fei, do you really think you can escape from my grasp?”

…

While the two of them were wrapped up in flirtation, Zhang Shi had already brought Zhou Buzhang to the military camp. He took the main seat without inviting Zhou Buzhang to sit, merely watching him in silence.

His gaze carried scrutiny, along with an imposing authority that brooked no argument.

Just as Zhou Buzhang was growing increasingly uneasy, Zhang Shi suddenly smiled. “General Zhou Buzhang, when you came here, did your wife say anything to you?”

Zhou Buzhang hurriedly replied, “My wife told me to serve General Zhang Shi faithfully.”

Zhang Shi smiled again. “Oh? General Zhou Buzhang, we soldiers speak plainly and directly. Why are you beating around the bush?”

“In any case, I was the one who rescued you from the others just now. Are you really going to offer me nothing but empty words?”

Zhou Buzhang was instantly drenched in sweat.

It was not fear or panic, but guilt—the guilt of knowing that he himself did not approve of what he had done.

Just as he was about to say something else, Zhang Shi suddenly pulled a stack of banknotes from inside his robes. He rose and held them out to Zhou Buzhang.

“I told your wife that if you came to serve under me, I would first give you one hundred thousand taels of silver, so that your Zhou family could get through its present difficulties.”

“Here. This is the money I promised you.”

“Take it and use it to get through the crisis you’re facing.”

Zhou Buzhang stood rooted to the spot.

When Zhang Shi had rescued him from the crowd just now, Zhou Buzhang had already felt deeply grateful to him.

Zhang Shi was right. Soldiers did not need to be coy about everything. They said what they meant, did what they wanted, and acted on their feelings.

That was how Zhou Buzhang had always been.

If someone showed him kindness, he repaid it.

He had already begun to feel favorably toward Zhang Shi. Now, seeing Zhang Shi immediately produce one hundred thousand taels of silver, a fire ignited within Zhou Buzhang’s heart.

A raging fire!

Flames leaping toward the heavens!

“G-General Zhang Shi…”

“Take it.” Zhang Shi waved his hand generously. “There’s nothing happening in the camp today. Take the money home and use it to resolve your immediate difficulties. As for the rest…”

“Report to me tomorrow.”

“As for the guards at the gate, don’t worry about them either. Tomorrow, I’ll arrange for someone to escort you in. In this military camp, no one would dare refuse me.”

Overcome with emotion, Zhou Buzhang clutched the banknotes in both hands. Tears glimmered in his eyes, but he merely knelt and struck his forehead heavily against the ground.

Then he rose and strode out.

However, just as Zhou Buzhang reached the doorway, Zhang Shi suddenly called out to him.

“Buzhang, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“You’re taking this money home to resolve your troubles, but you need to think carefully…”

“How long will this money last you?”

Zhou Buzhang’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

How long would it last?

One hundred thousand taels of silver was no small sum!

For an ordinary family, it would be enough to last a lifetime. Zhou Buzhang had once been a prominent figure in the army and spent more than most, but under normal circumstances, even he could not use it all in ten or twenty years.

But…

His circumstances were different now.

Forget one hundred thousand taels of silver—even two hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, or a million taels…what difference would it make?

The moment he returned to that household and handed the money to his wife, Shen Zhian, she would immediately pour it into those bottomless pits he could never even see the end of.

One hundred thousand taels…

It would be gone in the blink of an eye!

The veins across Zhou Buzhang’s body tightened as he began to pant heavily.

There were some things he was not unaware of.

He had simply always pretended not to know.

On the one hand, it was because he felt responsible for Shen Zhian and the child. On the other hand… he had never been one to meddle in such matters. Because he trusted them, he was willing to let go.

But now, everything that willingness had bought him had turned out to be nothing but an illusion!

Before this, he had been muddleheaded and lacked the courage to act. But now… after seeing Zhang Shi and arriving at the military camp, the heart that had lain dormant for so long began to thunder once more!

“General Zhang Shi…”

Perhaps influenced by Zhang Shi, Zhou Buzhang made a decision in that instant.

With a thud, he dropped to his knees and cried out in anguish, “General Zhang Shi, save me!”

Normally, Zhang Shi—who had always been courteous to those ensnared by the enchantment of the love demon—would immediately help Zhou Buzhang to his feet and offer him words of comfort.

But this time, Zhang Shi merely asked in an indifferent tone, “Save you alone?”

“Or save your entire family?”

Boom!

It was as though thunder had exploded above his head.

Zhou Buzhang’s whole body swayed.

Save him alone?

Or… save his entire family?

General Zhang Shi had already seen everything clearly!

But…

Could his family even be saved?

And would General Zhang Shi truly save them?

Zhou Buzhang’s heart churned violently. Countless images flashed through his mind, yet his resolve grew firmer with every passing moment.

He suddenly knelt fully on the ground and shouted, “General Zhang Shi…”

“Save me alone!”

Zhang Shi finally burst into laughter. “Good, good, good! You haven’t disappointed this general after all. You understand now that saving you means saving your family as well. As for those in your family who don’t deserve to be saved, let them be!”

“Yes, General Zhang Shi!”

“However…” Zhang Shi changed his tone. “If you want this general to save you, you’ll have to do something for me.”

Zhou Buzhang declared loudly, “General Zhang Shi, I will obey any order you give!”

“Is that so?” Zhang Shi said with a smile. “What if I order you to risk your life?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Buzhang replied, “Even if I must climb a mountain of blades or descend into a sea of fire, I, Zhou Buzhang, will not so much as frown.”

Zhang Shi laughed again. This was, after all, exactly what he had expected. He had seen too many love-struck fools. Once people trapped in the clutches of the love demon were rescued from their misery, they were truly willing to sacrifice even their lives.

He helped Zhou Buzhang to his feet and said, “The matter I’m entrusting to you is simple in one sense, yet difficult in another…”

“The simple part is that you must help me train naval officers and recruit soldiers. In any case, you once commanded a great deal of prestige. As long as you show yourself, there should still be plenty of people willing to follow you.”

“Yes!” Zhou Buzhang agreed. “General Zhang Shi, I can guarantee that. If I am allowed to command the navy again, I will certainly regain the soldiers’ respect!”

“Good!” Zhang Shi said. “Now for the difficult part.”

“The difficult part is that I don’t merely want you to train these men. I also want you to select the truly capable among them…”

He paused, then emphasized, “To select talent for Lord Duke!”

Boom!

Another clap of thunder sounded above Zhou Buzhang’s head.

Select talent for Lord Duke?

Could that mean…

General Zhang Shi was a secret agent sent by Lord Duke?

Surely not. A spy had become the deputy commander of the army guarding the Yangtze defense line?

Zhou Mengyan… was as witless as ever.

“Didn’t understand?”

“Your subordinate understands!” Zhou Buzhang hurriedly replied. “Your subordinate will certainly recruit talent for General Zhang Shi and Lord Duke… It’s just that…”

Zhou Buzhang hesitated, then said no more.

Yet Zhang Shi could read the question in his eyes.

It was nothing more than: They had only just met today, so why did Zhang Shi trust him so completely?

There was no mystery. It was because Zhou Buzhang had been targeted by Zhou Mengyan!

Even if Zhou Buzhang really went to report him, Zhou Mengyan would have to believe him first!

“All right. Since that’s settled, go deal with your family affairs. We’ll be busy for quite some time from here on out!”

“This military camp used to be under the lady’s command. Now it belongs to Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan. But I have ambitions of my own.”

“My ambition is for this place to come under my command in the future!”

“I want to make sure Zhou Mengyan can no longer stop me!”

“Just as he once couldn’t stop the lady!”

Zhou Buzhang once again bowed respectfully. “Yes, General Zhang Shi!”

…

With Zhou Buzhang’s addition, Zhang Shi’s power expanded rapidly, taking on a flourishing new aspect. At the same time, Gu Qingyue’s all-female army was flourishing as well!

“Little Sister Wanqin…”

Gu Qingyue wore a white robe and exquisite makeup. With one hand clasped behind her back, she exuded the bold air of someone surveying the world and giving orders.

She pointed toward the territory before them and said to the newly arrived Ning Wanqin, “This is the realm I have won for you!”

Following the direction of Gu Qingyue’s finger, Ning Wanqin looked out and saw a densely packed military camp stretching endlessly into the distance, a remarkably imposing sight.

Her heart immediately surged with excitement.

This…

This was her cause!

Although she had suffered one setback after another during this period, first losing Lu Chaosheng and then Shen Moyan, leaving her utterly dispirited, all her unhappiness vanished the instant she saw this all-female army!

With this women’s army at her command, Ning Wanqin would follow General Zhang Shi’s example and establish a glorious reputation of her own!

“Little Sister Wanqin…” Gu Qingyue said with a smile. “You deserve some of the credit for this. When I sent people to recruit troops from the Jiangbei fortress cluster, how could things have gone so smoothly without your help?”

“Now that you’ve arrived, why don’t you come with me and take a look at the army?”

“Good, good, good…” Ning Wanqin agreed excitedly. “I’ve been wanting to see our all-female army too!”

“Let’s go!”

Gu Qingyue rode ahead, with Ning Wanqin following beside her. Before long, they arrived at the encampment of the all-female army.

Although Ning Wanqin knew little about military affairs, she had seen a thing or two while accompanying Lu Chaosheng before. At a glance, she could tell that the all-female army looked quite formidable.

Even the women standing guard were broad-shouldered and heavily built.

“These women all come from poor backgrounds. In a place like Cloud Capital, women with their looks basically have nothing to do with love. Their lives are very difficult. So when I offered them the right conditions, it was easy enough to trick them into coming here!”

“Once they’re tricked into coming, they can forget about leaving!”

Gu Qingyue explained this matter with complete calm.

Ning Wanqin nodded. Love might be everywhere in Cloud Capital, but in the end, it was only women like them who got to enjoy it. Ordinary women gained nothing from being influenced by it. Their looks alone kept them from ever passing the threshold. In the end, they could only return to ordinary lives and struggle to get by.

From that perspective, it was hardly surprising that they had been recruited.

Still, this differed somewhat from what Ning Wanqin had imagined. In her mind, the all-female army should have been filled with women who were both graceful and heroic, each one strikingly beautiful. Only then would it live up to her splendid, flower-strewn vision!

These broad-shouldered, heavily built women…

They might be fine for doing odd jobs, but if they were truly going to fight, each one needed to look like a beautiful female general!

That way, their very presence would be enough to scare the enemy away!

Gu Qingyue seemed to have guessed what Ning Wanqin was thinking—or perhaps she had been thinking the same thing herself. She said, “Sister Wanqin, among the sixty thousand men in the army, quite a few are not from impoverished backgrounds and have dreams and determination. I’ve assigned all the especially handsome ones to various leadership positions and to our dare-to-die squad…”

“Sister Wanqin, would you like to go take a look?”

Ning Wanqin’s eyes lit up at once.

Her dream… it had come true!

…