Zhang Ping’s head was buzzing. He wanted to pin someone -- anyone -- down for answers, but he didn’t know who to confront. His eyes filled with bloodlust, the red orbs practically bulging out as he asked, "Are you saying this is true?"
"Absolutely, General. If you don’t believe me, you can go out and ask. Tens of thousands from the Jibei Army can vouch for this." The man, collared by Zhang Ping, struggled to gasp for air. "General, now is not the time to dwell on agony. You must push forward and take Capital City. Otherwise, once Nanping settles down, we may not even have a chance to attack Capital City."
Upon hearing these words, Zhang Ping abruptly let go of the man, waving his hand in furious disbelief. "Come, bring others. I want to hear it from them."
He couldn’t believe that two hundred thousand troops, up against Nanping’s mere thirty thousand, could have fallen. His younger brother, Zhang Cheng, was not incompetent. Why else would he have entrusted him with such a critical task?
He asked again, "And what about my eldest son? You said he was captured?"
He had yet to hear about the capture of Zhang Mao. He had thought the plan a sure success: Zhang Mao leading the assault on Nanping, Zhang Cheng supporting him with troops, and Zhang Yun coordinating secret agents, joining forces with the Nangong Family to kill Su Rong. He believed they had left nothing to chance with Nanping.
The man let out a heavy sigh, "Yes, the Young Master was captured. Marquis Nanping’s heir took him to the top of the City Building. When Second Master saw the Young Master, he couldn’t bear to attack and didn’t proceed with the siege immediately."
"Foolish!" Zhang Ping exploded into a rage: "How could they have stalled the siege for a mere Zhang Mao?"
The man nodded, "That’s why when my Young Master arrived in Nanping and saw that two hundred thousand troops were camped beneath the city without any intent to attack, he knew he couldn’t delay your grand plan for the sake of the captured Young Master. He rushed to the military camp to persuade the Second Master, but ... it was already too late..."
Zhang Ping paced back and forth, seething in rage, "They deserved to die."
That phrase was directed at Zhang Cheng.
"A hopeless case. Why didn’t he kill himself?" Zhang Ping was livid.
That phrase was for Zhang Mao.
"They jeopardized my great plan, a group of wastes." Zhang Ping was so furious he wanted to draw his sword and charge out.
That phrase included a scornful mention of Zhang Yun, as he was equally frustrated by his miserable retreat.
Duan Xiao rushed in from outside the tent, "General, please contain your anger. Excessive rage can harm your health. For you to plan for the greater tasks ahead, it is important to maintain your health. First, we must focus on devising a countermeasure: since we have lost the advantage with Nanping, we must hasten to seize Capital City, kill the Emperor and the Crown Prince, and annihilate the Yan family’s power."
Gradually, Zhang Ping ceased his ranting and looked at Duan Xiao, "Two hundred thousand soldiers, only forty thousand returned. How can I not be furious?"
"General, venting our anger is fruitless at this point. At the very least, having these forty thousand soldiers return is better than losing them all in Nanping city. Adding the rest of the scattered soldiers that have joined our convoy, you still command an army of three hundred thousand," Duan Xiao said. "We need to quickly seize Capital City with these three hundred thousand troops. Once we capture the city and claim our victory, we will be able to rally more troops. There’s still a chance. If we do nothing out of rage, then indeed there will be no chance."
"You are right," Zhang Ping gradually reined in his anger, "Issue the order. We will march urgently towards Changzhou."
There was still around two hundred li to Changzhou. He must rapidly capture Changzhou, a place of valuable strategic importance, before the Imperial Court’s reinforcements arrived. He needed to reach Changzhou first.
He regretted deep within, wishing he had not wasted a day regrouping in Longxi County.
Zhang Yun passed out quite intensely, but his awakening was surprisingly swift. Just as Zhang Ping commanded the urgent march, Zhang Yun had just been moved onto a horse carriage when he regained consciousness.
Zhang Ping’s personal bodyguard, Le Shu, quietly relayed the news of Zhang Ping’s furious frenzy and Duan Xiao’s pacifying words to Zhang Yun. Zhang Ping had demanded answers from many people, only to receive identical accounts of how hard the third son struggled to bring back the forty thousand soldiers. Touched by both Zhang Yun’s pitiful state and the return of forty thousand troops, Zhang Ping spared him and ordered an immediate march.
Zhang Ping’s greatest fury was directed at the captured Zhang Mao and the killed Zhang Cheng.
After Le Shu finished his explanation, Zhang Yun snorted in mockery, "Turns out our father doesn’t even harbor a shred of familial affection."
Hearing about the deaths of his younger brother and son, he did nothing but curse at them for delaying his grand scheme, showing not a trace of grief. How could such a man be fit to seize the throne?
He leaned against the carriage’s wall, taking out a bottle of medicine and stuffing two pills into his mouth. He sneered, "If the father is heartless, then don’t blame the son for being unjust."
He commanded, "Summon Doctor Zhang. Tell him I’ve awakened."
Le Shu nodded and quickly departed.
Shortly after, Doctor Zhang climbed into Zhang Yun’s carriage. He gave a respectful bow, "Third Master, have you awakened?"
Surprised in his tone. He hadn’t expected Zhang Yun to wake up so quickly; earlier, his pulse had suggested it would be a while before he regained consciousness.
Zhang Yun glanced at him and offered his hand, "Doctor Zhang, please check my pulse again."
Doctor Zhang immediately began checking his pulse. The reading left him in such shock that he nearly shouted out. He stared at Zhang Yun in disbelief and fear, stuttering, "Th-th...Third Master, w-what happened...?"
His medical skills were the best in all of Jibei, otherwise, he would not have been appointed as Zhang Ping’s personal doctor. Who could tell him what had happened to the Third Master in just a short period? How did he recover completely from severe poisoning and the resultant devastated state in just an hour? His pulse was that of a completely healthy man.
"Doctor Zhang, your medical skills are indeed the best in Jibei, but I wonder if Doctor Zhang, the person, is also the most prescient." Zhang Yun looked at him, casually saying, "I have already sent someone to bring your wife and children. From now on, Doctor Zhang, would you like to follow me?"
Doctor Zhang was stunned and immediately fill with panic, "Thi...Third Master, what...what are you..."
He wanted to ask Zhang Yun, ’Why?’ He started to nurture an inconceivable suspicion, staring at Zhang Yun in horror.
"To let someone die suddenly is difficult for others, but for Doctor Zhang, it should be very easy." Zhang Yun stared back at Doctor Zhang, seeing the shock and terror reflected in his eyes. Without any hint of emotion, he continued, "Doctor Zhang, you know who I’m referring to, right?"
Doctor Zhang shivered, "Thir... Third Master... Mi... mi..."
"Shh, don’t say it." Zhang Yun raised a finger to hush him, unwrapping the cryptic words, "My uncle is dead. My fifth brother is dead. My eldest brother nearly died. I too, was on the brink. The lives and deaths of so many loved ones are all inconsequential for the general’s grand plan."
He withdrew his hand, "Doctor Zhang, do you consider your family more important?"
Doctr Zhang fell to his knees on the carriage floor, his face drained of color, "Third... Third Master, I... I cannot... betray the general. H..he has shown me kindness."
Zhang Yun laughed, "Really? So you refused?"
He waved his hand, "Fine, I understand. You may leave."
He seemed not concerned about whether Doctor Zhang would inform Zhang Ping about their conversation. He dismissed him nonchalantly.
But because of this, Doctor Zhang didn’t dare to leave. He didn’t dare to step out of the carriage, let alone walk away as nonchalantly. Terrified and pale, he looked at Zhang Yun, unable to comprehend why he wanted to stage such a scene, why he wished to have his own father die suddenly. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Yet, he seemed to vaguely understand. Zhang Yun had just said that the lives and deaths of so many loved ones were not as important as the general’s grand plan.
"Why aren’t you leaving?" Zhang Yun rushed him, making it seem like he didn’t want him to ponder too much.
Doctor Zhang sat stagnant in the carriage for a long while before deciding, just as Le Shu was about to pull him off the carriage, "Third...Third Master, I...can."
He repeated, "Third Master, I can."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
