Zhang Shixun said indifferently, "What good is it to be a military officer? The Song Dynasty values civil officials over military officers, and military officers are not well-received. Di Qing even became a Privy Councilor, yet he was still suspected by civil officials everywhere and eventually died of depression."
"Di Qing only knows how to fight, not how to be an official."
"I can't be an official either."
Gao Yanei grunted for a long time before finally saying, "I'll teach you."
"You want to teach me how to be an official?" Zhang Shixun almost laughed out loud.
"Don't laugh, I've been an official for several years."
Zhang Shixun looked the fellow up and down. He didn't look like an official at all. "You look so lazy and frivolous. You don't look like an official."
Gao Yanei puffed out his belly and said, "You underestimate me. If I were in the army, wearing armor, with a sword on my waist, standing in front of the team, I would definitely be full of official authority and awe-inspiring. If you don't believe me, I'll take you to the Tianwu Army someday to see it."
"Tianwu Army?"
"The Tianwu Army is the real upper four armies, the emperor's personal army."
"Oh! So what?"
"I'm serving in the Tianwu Army, serving as the commander of the First Army on the Right Wing. Hehe! Didn't expect that, did you?"
"It's... Jade Monkey? This official position is so strange. How can it be related to monkeys? Are there a lot of monkeys raised in the Tianwu Army?" Zhang Shixun deliberately talked nonsense to him.
"Brother, it's Du Yuhou, the Hou in Marquis, not the Hou in monkey." Gao Yanei hurriedly explained.
"Oh! I wonder how high a rank this Du... Du Yu Hou is, and how many people he oversees?"
"Two thousand five hundred people."
"I don't believe it." Zhang Shixun shook his head and said, "You look flabby and sloppy. You don't look like a soldier at all. You look more like a fat, plump monkey."
"Brother, what I said is true. I have one to two thousand men under my command."
"Don't be ridiculous. You think you can manage one or two thousand people? I don't believe it. It's good enough that you can manage yourself." Zhang Shixun walked around him. It was a tragedy for the Song Dynasty that such a person could be an officer.
"I'm not lying to you. I'm really the commander of the First Army of the Right Wing of the Tianwu Army. I have 2,500 men under my command. If I lie, the child I give birth to will be without an anus." Gao Yanei began to curse.
"Since you are an officer, can you prove it to me?"
"Haha! What a coincidence! I just happen to have my badge with me today." Gao Yanei took out a badge from his arms and handed it over.
Zhang Shixun took it and saw that one side of the sign read "Right Wing of the Tianwu Army." On the other side was written "First Army Commander-in-Chief," and in the middle of the sign was the man's name: Gao Chengzong.
"Oh! I didn't expect you to be an officer of the Imperial Guards... Tsk tsk! It's different to have a high-ranking father." Zhang Shixun rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before asking, "As the Du Yuhou, are you the boss of this First Army?"
"Boss?" Gao Yanei blinked, not understanding.
"That's what the most senior official meant."
"That's about right. According to the Song Dynasty's military system, there should be a commander-in-chief and a deputy commander-in-chief. However, both positions are vacant, so I, the chief military officer, am the highest-ranking officer."
"Oh!" Zhang Shixun pondered, looking moved.
Gao Yanei observed his expression and immediately said, "Brother, why don't you come with me to the Tianwu Army? Once there, we'll know if I'm lying to you. What do you think?"
Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhang Shixun pretended to be reluctant and said, "Well, since you've asked me so kindly, I can't refuse you. I'll go with you to the Tianwu Army some other day."
"Don't postpone it to another day! Let's go to Tianwu Army now." Gao Yanei pulled Zhang Shixun and was about to leave.
Zhang Shixun waved his hand and said, "Don't be so anxious, I have to do housework."
"Why would a grown man do housework? When you are rich in the future, you can hire some maids and servants and let them do the housework."
"I'm not a rich man yet." Zhang Shixun didn't want to talk to him anymore and pushed him out.
"Brother, don't rush to send me away."
"I've said enough today. Let's leave the unfinished business for tomorrow." Zhang Shixun pulled and dragged Gao Yanei out of the door, then closed it with a bang.
"Hey! Brother, listen to what I say..." Gao Yanei shouted from outside through the crack of the door.
Zhang Shixun pretended not to hear and turned back to Wang Dong's upstairs in the backyard.
Wang Dong was still fiddling with his notebook in the study. When he heard footsteps, he didn't even look up and asked, "Have you dealt with Gao Yanei?"
"Almost there. I never thought this dandy guy was actually an officer in the Imperial Guards, commanding over two thousand men." Zhang Shixun came and sat down next to Wang Dong. He grabbed the teapot on the table and poured himself a glass of water. He smiled and said, "That guy tried hard to convince me to go with him to the Tianwu Army to take a look."
"Why don't you go?"
"Let's whet his appetite first."
"It's not a bad idea to get a position in the Imperial Guards. It would also be a legitimate status in the Song Dynasty. But I remind you that the Imperial Guards are a quagmire. You may not have any chance if you step into it."
"I know that, but I'm not going to put all my energy into it." Zhang Shixun took a sip of tea and said, "First, I'll build a foundation in the army, develop some connections, and plan for the future."
"As long as you know what's going on, I won't say anything more." Wang Dong stopped there.
"By the way, I want to discuss something with you." Zhang Shixun said suddenly.
"What's up?"
"Remember I took shelter from the rain last night and met a beautiful woman?"
"My memory isn't that bad. Why are you bringing her up again?"
"I want to go find her."
Wang Dong curled his lips and said, "This is your private matter, don't tell me."
Zhang Shixun felt that continuing would only lead to boredom, so he turned and walked towards the stairs.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
