Long Xutuo was upset, and extremely upset at that!
Recently, rumors had spread across the Sword South Path that King of Shu, Yang Ling, was planning a rebellion.
But don’t just spread rumors!
King of Shu, could you damn well give me a sign!
Back then, Long Xutuo was a fierce general of the Sword South Path and a close confidant of King of Shu, Yang Ling. free\NovelHub.c o(m)
He was even invited several times to the Shu King’s Mansion to drink and make merry with King of Shu, Yang Ling.
But later on, King of Shu, Yang Ling, became negligent in the Sword South Path, indulging daily in pleasures, enjoying the carefree days of a local prince.
If things continued , aside from his throne, the substantial tax revenue from the Sword South Path, and the Shu King’s Mansion’s dozens of concubines.
What else did he have?
So, Long Xutuo frequently advised, hoping King of Shu, Yang Ling, could pull himself together, stay away from women, handle the affairs of Sword South Path more, and revitalize Sword South Path!
As a result, he was sent by King of Shu, Yang Ling, to aid Chuan-Yu Road.
After returning and failing to accomplish something, he was exiled to near Qing City Mountain to train new soldiers and eliminate bandits.
Sword South Path had treacherous terrain, with many mountain roads.
The challenging transport made Sword South Path’s commercial profits quite high, naturally providing a good environment for mountain bandits and robbers.
But damn it, on Qing City Mountain was one of the strongest martial powers of Sword South Path, the Qing City Sword Sect!
Which blind bandit or robber would come here to rob?
For such a long time, Long Xutuo hadn’t even mentioned eliminating bandits.
To find a girl, he had to run forty miles into Qing City.
Recently, as the news of King of Shu, Yang Ling, planning a rebellion spread, Long Xutuo was anxiously waiting every day, while also worrying.
If the news from King of Shu, Yang Ling, didn’t come, and in the future, the rebellion failed, it wouldn’t have anything to do with him, as he was just a general of Sword South Path and didn’t participate in the rebellion.
But on the other hand, Long Xutuo always felt he was a confidant of King of Shu, Yang Ling, as he was recognized and promoted after King of Shu, Yang Ling, came to Sword South Path, which was a favor of recognition.
Although he knew rebellion was wrong, if King of Shu, Yang Ling, informed him to join the rebellion, he would immediately agree and bring his 15,000 troops to join Yang Ling.
But the problem was, the rumor had spread to the point where even the woodcutters near Qing City Mountain knew about it.
I am, after all, a general of Sword South Path; is it that difficult to inform me?
At that moment, Zhang San sent someone with a letter, stating he was assassinated shortly after arriving at Sword South Path, and it was an assassination attempt by someone from a Martial Path Sect.
So, using the identity of the Divine Martial Great General, he requested Long Xutuo to bring his troops to cooperate in the operation.
Logically, Long Xutuo was supposed to follow such orders as they were from a higher authority.
But now, the entire Sword South Path was spreading news of King of Shu, Yang Ling, planning a rebellion.
This was like being a rebel army!
And Zhang San was here for suppression.
Long Xutuo looked at the letter and the order sent by Zhang San, frowning.
What rebel army accepts orders from the suppressing army?
But because King of Shu, Yang Ling, hadn’t sent any news, he couldn’t betray first!
In the end, unable to resist, Long Xutuo could only take his 15,000 men to meet with Zhang San.
Zhang San and Long Xutuo agreed to rendezvous at a location north of Binjiang Village, thirty miles south of Qing City Mountain.
Zhang San arrived with his troops early and immediately prepared wine and meat.
When Long Xutuo arrived with his large troop, he noticed that Zhang San had already prepared the dishes, waiting for him.
"Great General Zhang!"
Seeing Zhang San, Long Xutuo couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Back then, he even took Pei Shoushen to Chuan-Yu Road to support him when he was just the Acting Military Chief.
But now, the man had become a Great General, ranked higher than himself, and even held the title of Duke.
He couldn’t help but feel envious in his heart.
"General Long, long time no see, come, come all you brigadiers, have a bite first, then we’ll talk business."
Zhang San spoke as he enthusiastically beckoned to the officers under Long Xutuo.
Long Xutuo awkwardly said, "Great General Zhang, we came out to fight, this eating and drinking is..."
Zhang San waved his hand and said, "Even in war, we must eat! Besides, my rank is higher than yours, I’m the superior here. If I say eat, then you eat. Come on, brothers!"
Zhang San waved his hand, and several brigadiers feigned reluctance as they quickly moved towards the feast. \(n)ovel(.)co(m)
After a round of excessive feasting, Zhang San still did not address the main issue. He would chat about the cuisine of Sword South Path one moment, and the beautiful landscapes the next.
The officers felt no pressure at all following Zhang San.
"This time, I brought troops to Sword South Path not to suppress the Martial Path Sect, but for a matter assigned by the Red Emperor. However, this time I encountered an issue, and given my position as Deputy Chief of the Town Martial Office, I can’t ignore it, hence I need your help."
Zhang San said, raising a hand. Baili Niezhen brought twelve Cat-eared Ladies over, each giving a small chest to the brigadiers present.
The brigadiers curiously opened the small chests, dazzled by the radiance of the gold inside.
Long Xutuo didn’t even need to look to know that the larger chest in front of him was also filled with gold and silver.
Meanwhile, several large chests were carried over.
Zhang San waved his hand, and someone immediately moved the large chests towards Long Xutuo’s troops.
"These are for you, consider it a token of gratitude for helping me out. Since by rank, I’m the superior Divine Martial Great General, it wouldn’t be right to bribe you. And those are for the soldiers. You eat meat, the soldiers drink some soup. Later, if we do fight, you don’t have to risk your lives, but you must have momentum. Especially the killing intent! When necessary, you still have to fight."
Long Xutuo looked embarrassed.
Zhang San came to suppress the rebellion, and him bringing people here was already problematic.
Now, he also accepted Zhang San’s gifts.
How would he explain this to King of Shu, Yang Ling, later?
But the brigadiers weren’t concerned about that.
Why not accept the money?
Following Long Xutuo, life wasn’t harsh, but since Long Xutuo wasn’t favored by King of Shu, Yang Ling, their treatment wasn’t particularly good.
After eating, Zhang San led everyone north, although Long Xutuo’s expression was quite unnatural, his brigadiers were very enthusiastic.
However, this enthusiasm turned into silence once they saw the boundary stone of Qing City Mountain in front of them.
By now, the two thousand troops had arrived at the foot of Qing City Mountain.
"My, Great General Zhang, you’re not planning to attack the Qing City Sword Sect, are you?"
Long Xutuo knew military formations could slaughter, and some Martial Path Sects could be directly destroyed, but it depended on the sect.
A sect like Qing City Sword Sect, rumored to have at least two or three Purple Mansion Realm experts, and they were just two with two thousand men.
Wouldn’t that be insane!
"It is indeed the Qing City Sword Sect, so what? Is there a problem?"
Zhang San looked innocently puzzled, even making Long Xutuo feel like Zhang San might know nothing about the intelligence of Sword South Path.
"General Zhang...Great General Zhang, the granddaughter of the sect master of Qing City Sword Sect, Lin Mengbai, is married to King of Shu, Yang Ling, and is the Queen of Shu. You cause trouble here, and someone will soon come... to scold you, or even drive you away!"
Long Xutuo considered it but didn’t voice out the half-sentence "come to kill you".
As soon as Long Xutuo finished speaking, a group of people flew down in a hurry from Qing City Mountain.
At the front was an elder with some white streaks in his sideburns, dressed in a dark robe, flying foremost.
Seeing Zhang San here, he immediately landed from his sword and then jogged over along the mountain gate of Qing City Sword Sect.
"Sect Master of Qing City Sword Sect, Lin Wenshan, at your service, Deputy Chief Zhang. It’s a misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding! I hope Deputy Chief Zhang can give my Qing City Sword Sect a chance to explain!"
At this moment, Long Xutuo looked at Zhang San’s calm face and Lin Wenshan’s respectful demeanor, completely bewildered.