Zhang Ping trusted Dr. Zhang immensely. Hence, he didn’t harbor even the slightest suspicion about the pills given to him by the doctor.
Of course, even if he was suspicious, there wasn’t a better doctor than Dr. Zhang around to verify whether the medicine contained any problems. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
Especially after the first pill, his heartache instantly subsided. Therefore, after experiencing the effects of the medicine, Zhang Ping, as per Dr. Zhang’s instructions, took a pill every two hours.
After consuming three pills, Zhang Ping felt immensely well. He didn’t experience any discomfort; instead, he felt revitalized and energetic.
Therefore, Zhang Ping, without even taking a nap at night, alongside Duan Xiao, researched battle plans on how to smoothly capture the Capital City.
Having learned that Zhang Ping had consumed all three pills, Dr. Zhang quietly climbed into Zhang Yun’s carriage, lowering his voice to say, "Young Master, the general will have an attack in a day."
Zhang Yun nodded, calculating the time. It was a day and a half to Changzhou, which meant his father, could never make it there. He praised, "Well done."
Watching him, Dr. Zhang hesitated before asking, "My family..."
"Don’t worry, they are all fine."
Dr. Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and got off the carriage.
Le Shu quietly questioned Zhang Yun, "Young Master, what about Duan Xiao..."
"Not worth worrying about."
Le Shu nodded, "The spy reported that the person leading the rebellion suppression from the Capital City is the old Duke, and he seems to have already arrived in Changzhou, standing by and waiting for the Jibei Army."
Zhang Yun wasn’t surprised, "Apart from the Duke Residence, the Imperial Court has no general talent to use. It’s not surprising that the old Duke leads."
There had been talented generals, such as Marquis Nanping and his own father, the Pingxi General Zhang Ping. However, with his father’s betrayal causing internal strife and chaos, there were, naturally, no presentable generals left.
"Deliver the message from the spy to my father," said Zhang Yun. "He is marching too hastily."
Le Shu acknowledged and promptly left.
Zhang Ping soon learned of the spy’s message. His face instantly darkened with anger. "I hadn’t expected that old fool to reach Changzhou ahead of us," he growled.
Since the old Duke was already in Changzhou, waiting for his chances, it was not appropriate for them to rush. A hasty march would exhaust the troops, causing them to be weary and weak, essentially serving themselves up for the old Duke to devour.
Therefore, he issued an order, "Send the message to the troops, so they march slowly."
After the procession slowed down, Zhang Ping gathered his officers to revise their plans. Knowing that he would have to confront the old Duke made even the now robust Zhang Ping to approach with caution.
After long conversations with the officers, Zhang Ping reflected on his two younger legitimate sons, Zhang Jin and Zhang Zun. They were either too young and still needed nurturing or lacked intelligence, strategy, and manipulation abilities compared to Zhang Yun.
As for Zhang Yun, his son, he still needed to use him.
Therefore, he ordered his men, "Summon the third one. Since he is awake now, let him join the meeting."
Someone immediately left to collect Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun, wrapped in a thick cloak, got off the carriage, and walked into the meeting camp. Inside, he found over twenty people, including his younger brothers. They looked at him with a sense of schadenfreude. His father personally raised these two younger brothers. The eldest was fourteen, and the youngest eleven.
"Father." Zhang Yun greeted Zhang Ping, looking pale and visibly weak.
Zhang Ping glanced at Zhang Yun, grunting in approval, "The troops, twenty thousand, currently stationing in Changzhou, are under the old Duke. This information came from your spy. Can you share a good strategy for capturing Changzhou?"
"While the old Duke does command twenty thousand troops, half of them are from Jinglu. As you should know, in recent years, the King has been commanding these troops but the generals he picked are not skilled in training the men. Therefore, they are not to be feared. Hence, even if a battle ensues, you have thirty thousand troops at your disposal, so regardless of the circumstances, we are sure to win."
Zhang Ping was quite pleased to hear Zhang Yun’s assurance of victory and inquired, raising his eyebrows, "So, you’re suggesting that we don’t need a good strategy?"
"Yes. Even though the old Duke is a renowned general, he is old, and his troops are not enough, so he’s not worth worrying about," said Zhang Yun.
Hearing this, Zhang Ping felt reassured. It was his anxiety of knowing that the old Duke had personally led the troops that made him tense. He clearly had an advantage in every way which, bringing him great relief. "Alright, if that’s the case, everyone, you may leave!"
Everyone vacated the camp.
Zhang Jin and Zhang Zun, noticing that Zhang Yun’s movements were slow and that he coughed every three steps he took, exchanged a glance then sidled up to him. Zhang Jin initiated the conversation. "Third brother, in the battle of Nanping, our second uncle, elder brother, and fifth brother all died, and you were the only one who returned. Have you ever thought that our father might suspect that you had something to do with their deaths behind the scenes? You were so daring to return?"
Zhang Zun chorused, "Yes, third brother, are you not afraid to die, or are you too naive? Have you forgotten that you are a son of a concubine? Even if you manage to kill them, our father would never pass the throne to a son of a concubine."
Zhang Yun stopped in his tracks and looked at the two. Being young, they couldn’t hide their thoughts. Spoiled children perhaps never felt the need to hide anything. They were blunt, revealing all without fear, probably because they had a favored mother.
His own mother was about to pay her redemption fee to end her bond, but before she could, she was claimed by his father when he was drunk. After conceiving him and being made a concubine, she faced the cruel treatment from the women in the backyard. She didn’t survive long after his birth and died early when he was old enough to remember.
His situation was not the same as Zhang Mao’s. At least, the current mistress of the Pingxi General’s Residence was his biological mother. Even though his mother doted only on his younger brother and not him, he still had a mother, unlike Zhang Yun, who lost his mother a long time ago.
His status in the Pingxi General Residence was earned through his struggles and hard work, that’s how he gained his father’s recognition and was put to use.
As for the incident in Nanping, he genuinely did not plan to hurt any of these so-called blood relatives. He wasn’t stupid, even if he planned to harm them, he would wait till his father had seized the throne. Right now, with his father’s grand plan still in motion and the outcome uncertain, it was too early to make a move.
However, some people are blind, including his father. Imagining that the throne was within easy reaching, he couldn’t wait and started struggling for it.
It was insane of him to start fighting for it now.
He looked at the two in front of him as they continued their conversation. He listened without any expression until they realized that he hadn’t reacted to their words. Then, he coldly interrupted, "Are you done? Continue if you’re eager to die sooner."
The two stepped back in unison.
Zhang Yun sneered coldly, "If you dare not speak further, get out of my sight. Don’t provoke me."
He didn’t want to be provoked into killing these two useless things right now.
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