Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 87 Since we've received your protection, we should share your hardships (Bonus 4k chapter for a reader whose birthday I don't know).

"Mr. Zixu, you dared to hit someone? You deserve to be arrested!"

"Exactly, if I hadn't been late, I might have kicked you a few times. What kind of person are you?"

"Is Mr. Zixu alright?"

"Are you alright, sir?"

"."

Hearing the commotion around him, Zhang Xian cupped his hands and looked around, saying, "Gentlemen, I am fine. Thank you for your concern."

As he spoke, he walked over to the man who was being held captive by the soldiers and squatted down.

"You claim I wiped out your entire Li family, what evidence do you have? And who told you that?"

It's not the remnant of the Li family that's scary; what's scary is how this remnant knew the information and why they were so sure that they were the ones who did it.

It's impossible to say that no one instigated this.

"Pooh!"

The man remained silent, only glaring at Zhang Xian with hatred before spitting out a mouthful of saliva.

"Sir, he seems to be a clerk in the government office."

At this moment, one of the soldiers who was holding the man down recognized his identity.

Zhang Xian bowed to them and said, "Thank you all for your help in rescuing me. I will definitely prepare a gift to send you off later."

"Absolutely not, absolutely not!"

Several soldiers quickly shook their heads.

Zhang Xian didn't try to persuade him, but seeing that the man was convinced that he was the one who destroyed the family and refused to say anything, he got up and didn't ask any more questions.

"Is my dear brother alright? My dear brother!"

He was hurriedly pushed aside by the crowd, and Guo Huai ran over with his clothes open and his cloth shoes still on.

Zhang Xian had no choice but to step forward and say, "My dear brother, the soldiers and servants arrived just in time, and this man was unable to harm me."

Guo Huai patted Zhang Xian's body up and down to check him over: "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright."

Seeing that his younger brother was indeed alright, Guo Huai then looked at the man who had been helped up by the soldiers.

"Li Min! It's you! How dare you assault someone in the street!"

"Take him back to prison and keep him under guard! I will personally go to the government office to inquire about this!"

"promise!"

The soldiers, knowing the relationship between Guo Huai and the Duke, bowed and accepted the order.

With the bandit leader taken away, the crowd of onlookers, having lost their excitement, also bid farewell to Zhang Xian.

Guo Huai grabbed Zhang Xian's arm: "Brother, you absolutely cannot travel at night. If there is one thief, there will be two or three more. What if they are lying in ambush by the roadside? Stay at my residence tonight, and I will send someone to take you back first thing tomorrow morning."

"Alright then." He had no choice but to go along with Guo Huai.

Otherwise, it's questionable whether people can sleep at all tonight.

Having just left the Guo residence, he returned. In the side room, Zhang Xian lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, his eyes slightly closed.

"Don't let me find you."

As I pondered these things, sleepiness gradually crept in.

The next day, his biological clock made Zhang Xian jump out of bed.

His sleepy eyes were half-closed, but his body had already begun to dress and put on his shoes on its own.

Hearing the commotion inside, the maids in the side room also got up, carrying copper basins of warm water and cloths, and pushed open the door.

The sound instantly dispelled Zhang Xian's drowsiness.

Then I realized that this was not a paradise, and there was no old man whipping people here.

"Sir, please come to me."

Seeing Zhang Xian getting dressed, the maids put down what they were holding and came over one after another. With their delicate hands, they helped him put on his clothes.

Then came wiping my face, washing my hands, and rinsing my mouth.

After tidying up, the sky outside the window was still not bright.

But Zhang Xian was wide awake and could only continue practicing in the Guo residence.

The whooshing sound of the waves crashing down was intense.

Tong Yuan had already begun teaching him the basics of the Overlord Halberd. This halberd technique was named the Overlord Halberd, and its use naturally followed a domineering path.

Straightforward and powerful, with wide-ranging attacks, if paired with the right weapon, a single strike can wipe out an entire area.

This halberd is not only suitable for foot combat, but also for mounted combat. It was created by Tong Yuan in his later years. It is said that he admired the bravery of the invincible Overlord in his early years, so he used him as a model to create it, hence the name Overlord Halberd.

As for its practical effectiveness, Tong Yuan spent his entire life fighting others, making many enemies and often fighting against multiple opponents. Therefore, this halberd technique, which incorporates his life experience, is naturally a real killing move rather than just a fancy display.

Since the Guo family didn't have any iron halberds, Zhang Xian found a long stick, tied a stone to it, and practiced with it.

They practiced until dawn, and only stopped when they were covered in a thin layer of sweat.

As soon as he stopped, several maids who had been waiting nearby with teary eyes came over to wipe his sweat.

"Sir, you are not as weak as you claim."

Zhang Xian laughed and said, "These are all just fancy moves. I can't use these moves in a real fight. I'll just run away."

A fragrant breeze carries the scent of birdsong.

As dawn broke, the people at the Guo residence gradually rose.

Guo Huai coughed as he went out and saw Zhang Xian surrounded by maids in the corridor.

“Brother, come with me to the government office.”

"Master of the house."

Upon seeing Guo Huai emerge, the maids bowed and fled as if escaping.

Zhang Xian put down the long stick in his hand and responded.

Then he went to the government office with Guo Huai.
-
The government office of Zhen Ding Prefecture.

The two men did not go to the prison for interrogation upon arrival, but instead went to the main hall.

As the morning light slanted in, the air inside the main hall of the prefectural government office was filled with the sweet scent of sandalwood. Prefect Guo was bent over his desk, reviewing documents.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

"To pay my respects to Your Excellency."

Guo and Zhang exchanged greetings. Prefect Guo raised his eyes slightly, casually waved his hand, and said, "Sit wherever you like." His eyes then returned to the official documents.

After a while, Prefect Guo, having finished processing the last official document, finally stood up and straightened his back.

"Ziren is certainly up early today. And who is this?"

Upon hearing the question, Zhang Xian stood up and bowed: "Zhang Xian, Zhang Zixu, a native of Changshan Zhending, greets Your Excellency."

Upon hearing the name, Prefect Guo narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue: "So you are the great physician and benevolent master Zhang Zixu of Peach Blossom Manor. I have heard of your name many times before."

"You flatter me, Your Excellency. These are just a few words of small praise."

Zhang Xian smiled and humbly clasped his hands in greeting.

"Uncle, we're all family, so don't beat around the bush. We've come here to interrogate someone."

"Interrogation?" Prefect Guo frowned and asked, "What is it?"

Guo Huai stood up: "Yesterday evening, a clerk from the government office attacked someone in the street, and he was talking nonsense, saying that my virtuous brother killed more than two hundred people in his family. Today, we want to interrogate this person."

"A clerk from the government office assaulting someone in the street?!" Prefect Guo raised his voice, "What an absurd thing to do! Guards!"

"Lord of the Prefecture!" A minor official entered the gate.

"Is this possible?"

"That's true, he was imprisoned last night," the clerk replied. "Why didn't you report such an absurd matter to me?!" Prefect Guo frowned.

The clerk knelt down and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency is busy with official duties this morning, so we dare not disturb you."

"Absurd!" Prefect Guo slammed his fist on the table.

"Go, take him to the clerk in the hall!"

".promise."

The minor official trembled, then bowed and retreated.

In the main hall.

Prefect Guo sat down again, and Zhang Xian and Guo Huai also sat down.

Guo Huai said, "It seems the fox's tail has already been half revealed."

Prefect Guo: "Hmm, most likely they are from the prefectural government."

Zhang Xian, standing to the side with his eyes wide open, also sensed something amiss.

Guo Huaichao said to him, "The Zhen Ding government office is not a place where one person can have the final say. Most of the people who work here are from wealthy families in Zhen Ding and Changshan. This time, Li Min beat you to death in the street. It was probably these scions of powerful families who did it."

"I wonder if it was a test by them or the intention of their family," Prefect Guo added.

Zhang Xian cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your explanation, brother and magistrate. I wonder how I should react to this matter?"

Prefect Guo tapped his fingers on the table: "How do you want to react?" He was also very curious about Zhang Xian. Today was their first meeting, and his appearance, temperament, and demeanor were all excellent.

"Turning a big problem into a small one, and a small problem into nothing?" Zhang Xian asked tentatively. "Li Min was originally a victim of the Li family this time. He was manipulated by villains and his mind was clouded. I don't blame him."

"As for the others, Your Excellency can simply give them a warning, and I will certainly obey."

"Good." Prefect Guo nodded in satisfaction. Knowing when to advance and when to retreat, he is a good prospect.

The three talked for a short while before Li Min was brought to the front of the hall.

Dressed in prison clothes with his hands behind his back, he was forced to kneel on the ground by the soldiers who were escorting him.

His hair was disheveled and his eyes were lifeless.

“Li Min.” In the hall, Prefect Guo struck the table with a muffled thud.

Li Min, who was kneeling, looked up at the hall and gave a numb reply.

"Did you offer any explanation for assaulting someone in the street yesterday?"

"none."

Why Xiren?

"."

"Alright, you're not content with being a proper clerk, you insist on causing trouble. Zixu said he'll let you off this time. Take off your prison clothes and go home on your own later. From now on, take good care of your household affairs and don't let others mislead you into becoming your pawns."

Seeing that Li Min was completely disheartened, Prefect Guo had nothing more to ask and hastily ended the matter.

Li Min looked at Zhang Xian in astonishment, only to see that he only gave her a regretful smile.

A surge of emotion welled up inside him. Could it be that he was really wrong? Was it not Zhang Zixu, the man his colleagues were talking about, who had wiped out his entire family?

Why did they say that?
Li Min was puzzled, and before she could ask any questions, she was taken away by the soldiers again.

Zhang Xian narrowed his eyes slightly, glanced at his departing figure, and then looked away.

The attack was thus hastily concluded on the surface.

But behind the scenes
This is not over yet!
For one afternoon, Zhang Xian was taken to the government office by Guo Huai. It was a good thing to get to know the prefect, so he did not refuse.

I met countless sons of powerful families from Changshan in the government office, and on the surface, we all became friends.

At noon, Zhang Xian repeatedly declined Guo Huai's offer to stay and rode back to Taoyuan.

As he rode his horse around the mountain pass, wisps of smoke rose from distant chimneys, and the familiar scent of herbs wafted on the wind, finally relaxing his nerves that had been tense all day.

"The master of the manor is back!"

Several young children were playing under the newly transplanted trees at the entrance of the village. When they saw him return, they immediately dropped the wooden swords they were holding and ran over barefoot.

Zhang Xian smiled and took out a few pieces of malt candy he had bought from Zhengding Street from his saddlebag. The children cheered and took them, startling the egrets drinking water by the stream.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

He dismounted and patted the chubby-faced boy at the head of the group. This boy was the youngest son of the master craftsman Tong Bo. He was a little shy when he first arrived at the manor, but now he had found playmates.

Turning past the threshing ground, a rich aroma of mutton wafted from the direction of the kitchen and dining hall. Huang was busy at the stove; seeing him enter, she quickly lifted the wicker pot lid: "Master is back! Haven't eaten yet? This is mutton soup made according to Cui Niang's recipe, with pine logs and orange peel added. Would you like to try a bowl?"

"Where did the sheep come from?" Zhang Xian asked curiously. Taoyuan had pigs, cattle, and horses, but no sheep were raised. This was because of cost-effectiveness. Pigs and cattle were edible and produced a lot of meat, and horses were rideable. So sheep, a food for the nobility, were not raised.

He stepped forward, took the wooden spoon, and scooped up a spoonful of mutton soup. In the rising steam, he saw a few red dogwood seeds floating on the surface of the soup.

"And they even added dogwood?"

Madam Huang wiped her hands, then took a bowl and filled it for Zhang Xian: "These were all sent by Master Tong's students."

"Has the child tutor been used?"

"It was sent over a long time ago!" Madam Huang said with a smile, handing the bowl to Zhang Xian. "Teacher Tong also asked for half a jar of newly brewed wine, saying it tastes best when eaten with mutton."

Zhang Xian shook his head and chuckled: "From now on, add more water to the wine you give Teacher Tong."

"Alright," Huang said with a smile.

After taking two flatbreads, Zhang Xian sat down at the square table in the dining hall and ate a bowl of mutton soup that was half soup and half meat.

After finishing the bowl, I let out a satisfied burp.

After resting for a while, he went to the farm and livestock farm to take care of things.

By the time I finished, it was already 3 p.m.

Since the sugar had already found a buyer, he simply ordered several people from Taoyuan to ride horses and deliver it to the Guo residence.

He then went to Tong Yuan and continued practicing the Overlord Halberd.

Having a teacher around makes all the difference; there's someone to remind you of various techniques for applying force and to point out any mistakes in your movements.

When you make a mistake, you're bound to get a beating.

At the blacksmith shop, He the blacksmith spends his days either forging armor plates or watching the Tong brothers forge the Overlord Halberd.

The forty-pound iron halberd is almost entirely made of iron, making it quite laborious to forge, even with a water-forging hammer.

If it is for forging commonly used swords, the water-forged hammer is indeed sufficient, but the halberd is very complicated, especially the halberd head. The main blade is shaped like a crescent moon, but it is narrower, only 3 fingers wide, yet it needs to be double-edged. The spine line is adjusted to make it bulge like a fish back to enhance the chopping power.

The side branches are crescent-shaped, only half the size of the main blade, yet they must be treated in the same way as the main blade.

The spear tip should also have a blood groove to facilitate thrusting.

Even with the halberd's tail, the Tong brothers planned to make a pointed end, which could be easily placed by inserting it into the ground in peacetime, and could also be used as a blunt weapon to break armor and injure enemies in times of crisis.

The overall length was set at three meters to accommodate both infantry and mounted combat needs.

It can be said that even though the Overlord Halberd is only in its initial form, He the blacksmith has already seen its ferocity.

No wonder the Tong brothers assured the manor lord that this was a rare and deadly weapon in Changshan.

In his spare time, he assisted the two brothers, and his skills improved rapidly.

evening.

After finishing his practice with Tong Yuan, Zhang Xian found Huang Zhong and whispered a few words in his ear.

The latter nodded upon hearing this, and quietly left the village with his horse and bow as night fell.

Li Min and Zhang Xian will not let this go. Although they said they wouldn't pursue it during the day, they must be completely eradicated.

Moreover, Li Min came with a stick that day, intending to kill him. Although he was kind, he couldn't be magnanimous enough to let go of someone who wanted him dead.

Is Li Min pitiful?

It's pitiful, but since they enjoyed wealth and honor under the protection of the Li family, they should suffer the same fate as the Li family.

If you share the same sins, then you deserve to die!
Therefore, Zhang Xian sent Huang Zhong out, whose archery skills were enough to ensure that no one would notice.

(End of this chapter)