“Please, after you, Marshal!”
With Zhuo Fan as guide, they passed through the Poison Dragon Array, reaching the peak of Blackwind Mountain. Instead of a lavish clan dwelling, they were greeted by simple gates of a barracks.
They could even hear faint cries of kill from beyond.
Frowning, the five were quite puzzled. [What is the Luo clan up to now?]
With a smile, Zhuo Fan gestured, “Ha-ha-ha, please don’t take offense, Marshal. We have just recently gone through a bloody attack and are still tense. Our guards especially, training day and night. Will God of War be willing to say a few words to our young blood? The whole clan would be most grateful.” Zhuo Fan bowed again.
Dugu Zhantian nodded slowly. He first wanted to know what the Luo clan was cooking up, and second, to know how deep they hid their assets.
For the emperor to view them so highly and pull him from the borders in rescuing a nameless clan, he had to see for himself what they really were.
Following Zhuo Fan through the gates, the five arrived before Luo clan’s manor. What had them all in shock was that there were no buildings around, only tents. They looked akin to an army ready for war.
That was Zhuo Fan’s ingenious plan was all about. He tore down all buildings for tents to stir Marshal Dugu’s sympathy and make him feel at home.
With how Dugu Zhantian spent years on end on the battlefields, he’d be more at home in a tent than between four walls.
This was also a form of flattery, to conform to one’s tastes, covert as it was.
Sure enough, Dugu Zhantian trembled as he nodded. Zhuo Fan no longer spoke, having a sly grin on his face instead.
They soon arrived at Luo clan’s training area, where Captain Pang was in the middle of practice with his guards. Most of them were still children, but their every strike was filled with zeal and their eyes burning with power. They look strikingly similar to veterans after decades of war.
Not even Dugu Zhantian could remain unfeeling seeing such a scene. Just what could those ten-year-olds have possibly seen to harden their gaze?
As an experienced commander, with decades of war behind him, he knew how to turn a batch of fresh recruits into dauntless warriors.
But never in his wildest dream did he expect to see this in a backwater clan. The world was filled with marvels!
He was now burning to know who was this great figure behind the Luo clan.
Unbeknownst to him, this burning zeal in the eyes of the youths was thanks to the Wraith Art they trained in.
As for those kids whose spirits were crushed, they lay dead, with bones crushed and bodies mauled. What he was seeing were those that came back from the brink of death, standing at the peak. How could they not be dauntless!
“Marshal, our third rate clan just went through a disaster and only the surviving few are training now. You must be thinking it’s a sorry sight.” Zhuo Fan sighed in feint modesty.
Dugu Zhantian shook his hand, “No no, hardly. The kids may not have cultivated, but their eyes are those of elites. If these are just your survivors, then your main guard unit that fell must’ve been a monster. How could such a mighty guard ever need rescuing?”
Zhuo Fan blinked and smiled.
[This Marshal is pragmatic. I see now why he is acclaimed as a God of War. He is an upright and just man.]
Zhuo Fan nodded secretly, having understood more about the Marshal’s nature.
“Then Marshal, please feel free to point out some tips.”
“No need! I would not dare show my meager skill before you!” Dugu Zhantian laughed, “Steward Zhuo, I only wish to meet with your Clan Head. Such a man has set four 5th-grade arrays, and still trained such young warriors. I’m truly eager to see him!”
The four behind him were shocked.
Marshal was the God of War, with countless figures wanting to meet him. But now, it was the other way around. It was he who wanted to see someone else.
Just who was guiding the Luo clan? How could the mere training of some guards move the grand Tianyu’s God of War?
The four sighed as they turned to look at the guards again. These small few children were indeed far stronger than their own elites, it’s no wonder…
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed and grinned, “Since Marshal is so eager, please come with me. Our Clan Head is also waiting.”
Zhuo Fan entered the biggest tent as the others rushed to catch up to him. How could they have known all of this was Zhuo Fan leading them by the nose…
“The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. These are: The Moral Law, Heaven, Earth…”
(Starreader: excerpt from Sun Tzu’s Art of War.)
A bright voice read.
Dugu Zhantian’s faltered his steps, “That’s the Art of War. Who is reading?”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Young master had been training for twenty hours. He needs some rest!” Zhuo Fan slapped his forehead and rushed in another direction. He was unconcerned about the others following him, though.
Dugu Zhantian’s group followed either way.
They arrived at a small yard where a youth held a bowl on his head and in horse stance. His knees and hands also held a bowl, but the surface of the water was unperturbed.
What laid under his butt was a shining dagger. If his legs slacked for even a second, he’d tear himself a new one. Despite the danger, he was still reciting the Art of War.
Dugu Zhantian was puzzled, “Steward Zhuo, he…”
“Ha-ha-ha, Luo clan’s young master, Luo Yunhai!”
Zhuo Fan chuckled, “From young to old, all of Luo clan admires Marshal Dugu. All of us adhere to military doctrine. Especially the young master, who is training while studying, hoping to one day to serve under the Marshal!”
Dugu Zhantian blinked, [Why is the Clan Head of this Luo clan with his impressive soldiers wish to be under me? Everything about this clan is mysterious. Just what are they after?]
Zhuo Fan probed with a smile, “Marshal, will you accept our young master?”
“Uh, of course. If the youth wishes to serve his nation, to enter the battlefield…”
“Perfect!”
Zhuo Fan’s yell cut him off. He then pulled Luo Yunhai up, “Yunhai, don’t just stand there, Marshal Dugu wants to take you in. Go and pour him tea!”
“Right away!”
Luo Yunhai ran like the wind, like a bird out of its cage. [Finally out of that damn position. I almost couldn’t take it!]
Dugu Zhantian felt dizzy, [Wait, you’re going to make me accept him here?]
“Uh, Steward Zhuo, that was…”
“Marshal Dugu needn’t say anything. My Clan Head would be immensely pleased to know you showed such care for young master. He will be grateful for all his life. You may not know it, but this was our Clan Head’s cherished dream…”
Zhuo Fan held Dugu Zhantian’s large hand, with tears in his eyes. Dugu Zhantian wanted to refuse, but now he didn’t have the heart to go through with it.
[Isn’t it just a soldier? He isn’t half bad either. Perhaps he’ll earn some merits in the future. It’s just taking one extra recruit anyway.] Sighing, he nodded in the end.
Then a screech came, “Marshal Dugu, it’s actually you?”
Luo Yunchang appeared who knew when and was shaking from excitement.
Zhuo Fan’s face was twitching. [Tone it down on the boasting!]
“Steward Zhuo, she…”
“Uh, let me introduce you. She is our young miss, Luo Yunchang!” Zhuo Fan brought her before Dugu Zhantian and explained what happened.
Luo Yunchang’s eyes lit up, jumping in joy, completely out of her modest and virtuous character.
Zhuo Fan’s mouth twitched as he whispered, “Alright now, don’t push it!”
Luo Yunchang reigned in her excitement then apologized to Dugu Zhantian, who didn’t seem to mind.
But the four generals looked particularly close at Luo Yunchang. Especially the third brother, whose eyes were practically burning.
Zhuo Fan laughed inside.
[Yep, she is no less than Diaochan. And Luo Yunchang is also a rare beauty.]
(Starreader: Fictional character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Diaochan is one of the four beauties of ancient China. She is a maid of Dong Zhuo who charmed Lu Bu into assassinating him in 192. )
Zhuo Fan turned to Dugu Zhantian, “Marshal Dugu, taking young master in is the greatest joy that ever graced the Luo clan. Why not make it even better by becoming kin?”
Kin?!
Stunned by those words, the four generals looked at Luo Yunchang with blushes. Dugu Zhantian rubbed his beard and looked expectantly at her, “I don’t know if Clan Head will agree…”
“No worries, dad would definitely agree. It is his cherished wish!” Luo Yunchang rushed a reply.
Dugu Zhantian saw his godsons bashful but hardly refusing. Dugu Huo had it worse, like a volcano ready to blow.
Dugu Zhantian recalled how his godsons had fought by his side for decades and thought it was time for them to start a family. So he nodded, “Since Clan Head agrees, then I’m more than happy to do it!”
The four generals clenched their fists, so excited they were trembling. But who was the one to marry this young miss?
Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed and showed a sly smile.
Luo Yunhai now came with the tea and saw Zhuo Fan nodding. He kneeled as he offered the teacup to Dugu Zhantian.
Dugu Zhantian’s mind was filled with the joy of a wedding, taking the cup in passing.
But at that moment, Luo Yunhai’s voice slammed into their ears, “Luo Yunhai greets godfather!”
Pff!
Dugu Zhantian staggered, as he spat out the tea he just drank…