Zhao Li took an extra look at Zhang Yun and greeted him with a bow.
Zhang Yun stared at Zhao Li, "What brings you to me? My older brother has defected to the Imperial Court, counterattacking Jibei Army from atop the Nanping City Building. No matter what he chooses, you are his most loyal hound. Now he and I are in dispute, aren’t you afraid that I might kill you upon visiting me?"
Zhao Li stared right back at Zhang Yun, "I’ve been entrusted with a task from the eldest master, to deliver two letters to the third master."
"Oh? What letters?" Mocked Zhang Yun, "A letter from my brother for me? Doesn’t he plan to poison me with it?"
Zhao Li shook his head, "The third master can have someone check."
He finished speaking and produced two letters, "One is a personal letter from the Eldest Master, the other a personal letter from Lady Su Qi. He repeatedly instructed me to ensure that both were delivered to the Third Master."
Zhang Yun abruptly stopped laughing, "Who did you say? Lady Su Qi? Su Rong?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
Zhao Li handed the letters to Zhang Yun.
The person standing next to Zhang Yun immediately took the letters, carefully examined both, and then handed them to Zhang Yun, "Young Master, there is no poison."
Zhang Yun received the letters, holding one in each hand, one was thin, the other thick. The thicker one was undoubtedly from Zhang Mao, labeled "For the third brother", while the thin letter was half as heavy, bearing a sentence "For Zhang Yun", its sharp and vigorous handwriting not resembling a woman’s.
He stared at it for a while before opening Zhang Mao’s letter which was barely four pages long. The letter recounted Zhang Yun’s experiences of how he was captured at the Eighteen Forts, imprisoned in Nanping City’s Dungeon, and how in order to find a way out, he joined Su Rong. What’s more, after the crisis in Nanping City was lifted, when Nanping’s best doctor declared that his leg couldn’t be saved, she used her medical skills to perform a miracle and saved his leg, then how she reassured him that a real man doesn’t change his name sitting or standing, he is and will always be Zhang Mao and so on.
The entire letter did not contain a single piece of advice, only accounts of his experiences. It wasn’t until the end of the letter that he mentioned, "Third brother, Lady Su Qi has taken a liking to you and hopes that you join her in creating a foothold in Nanchu. We, as brothers, will look out for each other in the future. Although she is a woman, her ability surpasses many men in this world. I am willing to sincerely devote myself to her and hope the third brother thoroughly thinks over his decision. In this world, there are plenty of arrogant people who pride themselves in high positions, but Lady Su Qi, who selects talents and gives them opportunities, treats people equally as if they were brothers, dear friends, and beloved family, which is truly commendable."
After reading the letter, Zhang Yun fixated on Zhang Mao’s final paragraph for a while before opening Su Rong’s letter.
Su Rong’s handwriting was certainly pleasing, very rare indeed. Both Zhang Yun and Zhang Mao had been practicing handwriting since childhood and had put a lot of effort into it. But in spite of this, Zhang Yun conceded his handwriting was not as elegant as Su Rong’s.
Su Rong’s letter was only a page long.
"Third Master Zhang, your father, Zhang Ping, lacks the fortune of an emperor. The crisis of Nanping City has been resolved and Jibei Army now belongs to the Imperial Court. If my guess is correct, the maximum number of military forces he can rally is around two hundred and fifty thousand, while at most, you control forty thousand. Together, it’s still less than three hundred thousand. To seize the throne of Daliang with such an insignificant fraction, seems like a fool’s dream. Of course, if my guess is correct, your father might have already allied himself with Dawei and cooperated with the Nangong Family. Such a move indeed enables them to attack from within and without, endangering Daliang. Thousands of commoners suffer from the disasters of war, all to satiate his personal ambitions. Zhang Ping does not mind being leaving a notorious legacy, just like the entire Zhang Family who doesn’t care about being branded as treacherous ministers. It’s really beyond words. But I believe, third master Zhang, that you are intelligent and talented. You’re tactful, flexible and can act prudently. If someone as talented as you were to be branded notorious, it would indeed be a pity. I have accepted your brother, Zhang Mao, observing his sincerity, I’ve started to think highly of you and I would feel disappointed to lose such a talent. If you are willing to work for me, I will welcome you with open arms. Although Nanchu Country is small, its ambition might vastly differ from that of the Third Master. As a Nanchu Princess, I still have a thorny path to tread in order to reach a high position. Although the path ahead is not smooth, I have faith in myself. If the third master is willing to join me, while I dare not guarantee that I can promise you a glorious future, rising as high as the sun and moon, when it comes to sincere treatment and mutual support, it’s something I can definitely provide. Regards, Su Rong."
Zhang Yun’s expression fluctuated as he stared at Su Rong’s letter for a long time.
So long, in fact, that the wind began to blow on the low hill, frosty gusts carried pure snowflakes that fell onto the letter. There he sat, motionless, allowing the pure snow to settle on it.
Zhao Li stood at a respectful distance, neither humble nor arrogant, patiently waiting without pressuring Zhang Yun, carefully watching every minute change in Third Master’s expression.
The person standing behind Zhang Yun also stood quietly.
Apart from the sound of snow fluttering in the wind, the rustling of clothes in the gusts, the occasional snorting and pawing of the weary horses, and the occasional yawns of the exhausted soldiers, who’d been hiding and traveling for days, there was silence.
Zhang Yun suddenly shook the letter paper, and the snow sprinkling along with it, landing on his broad sleeve, then was blown away by the wind. He folded the letter slowly and tucked it back into the envelope, placing the two letters into his bosom before turning to the guard next to him, "Pen and paper."
The guard immediately handed over the pen and paper.
Zhang Yun wrote on the paper in reply, "I am deeply honored by Lady Su Qi’s high regard and I am willing to pledge my loyalty to a new master and may the winds carry me to Nanchu. Lady, you have overstated. I harbor no ambition to outshine the sun and the moon, the seat in the grand hall dipped in purple gold earnestly awaiting for me will suffice."
After finishing, he paused before adding, "During the day I colluded with Nangong Yu, putting you, Lady in a dangerous situation. I feel grateful for your generosity as you have forgiven me and returned kindness for enmity. I am ashamed of my past actions, and if I simply turn back and apologize, it would truly shame me. I sincerely wish to go and reunite with my father in Longxi County, offering him the twenty-five thousand soldiers under his command, surrendering without shedding blood or armor, as an act of atonement for my wrongdoings."
His handwriting was firm, penetrating the paper, each letter drying instantly in the cold.
Once he finished writing, he quickly folded it without a second glance and handed the letter to Zhao Li, "This is my reply to Lady Su Qi. You give it to her."
Zhao Li received the letter with both hands, "yes."
Zhang Yun replied, "I won’t write an answer to my older brother’s letter. You tell him to focus on his recovery."
Zhao Li responded positively.
Zhang Yun waved his hand, "Go!"
Zhao Li carefully put away the letter, mounted his horse and left that place.
After he left, Zhang Yun stood up and instructed the man beside him, "Let’s head to Longxi County, steering clear of Zhou Chen."
The man by his side agreed.
With that, forty thousand soldiers veered to avoid Zhou Chen’s one hundred thousand troops, heading to Longxi County. They also went unnoticed by Zhou Shen.
After avoiding Zhou Shen, the man beside him, who seemed to have been holding back for a long time, couldn’t help but ask Zhang Yun, "Young Master, why did you agree to pledge allegiance to Su Rong?"
Zhang Yun raised an eyebrow, "Do you want me to pledge allegiance to Dawei?"
"Not that, it’s just that your servant didn’t expect..."
Zhang Yun laughed, a tone of relaxation enveloped him, "Neither did I..."
He paused, "The Nanchu Princess, such a magnanimous person, even a man like me who almost killed her was welcomed grandly. How can she not achieve great things? Good rulers are hard to come by, but what’s even rarer is to have the capacity as vast as the sea, encompassing the heavens and the earth."
He sighed gently, "Speaking of which, I must thank my brother. I never thought the day would come when he would talk about watching out for each other with me."
The man beside him still seemed doubtful, "Could this be a plot devised by the eldest master and Lady Su Qi, luring you into a snare?"
Zhang Yun flicked his sleeve, "You underestimate Su Rong. If she had the intent to eliminate those talented and chose to execute me, then she would self-demolish her City Wall. Who would allegiant to her in the future? For me, do you think it’s worth for her to take such a risk and make other talented people want to pledge allegiance but hold back?"
The man beside him was immediately reassured, and his whole being relaxed as well. Laughing, he shook his head, "You’re right, master."
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