Chapter 64 A Man Useful to the People

"This batch of gold and silver treasures—aren't they from the county seat? Those two thousand Rouge Tiger bandits came from the Li Stronghold, and they are carrying the gold and silver treasures looted from there."

Zhang Chen took the long robe handed over to him by Li Dahuniu and draped it over his shoulders. "It's only early September, and yet the little breeze is already so damn chilly."

"Here, the gold and silver treasures from the Li Stronghold can be considered ownerless property. Our Zhang Village Militia arrived quite promptly, but many families in the county seat have already been wiped out by the bandits, and their gold and silver treasures are likewise ownerless."

Zhang Chen sighed before continuing his bluff:

"Our Zhang Village Militia's timely arrival spared most of the residents in the county seat from disaster. This is a tremendously fortunate and joyful event. Of course, I am not here to claim credit. As everyone knows, I am a modest and prudent person—a person who is beneficial to the people, a person devoted entirely to others with no thought of self..."

"Enough, enough." Yang Fuli interrupted Zhang Chen's self-aggrandizement, rebuking him, "Everyone knows you led the Zhang Village Militia to reinforce the county seat and saved a good many people."

"Let's get back to the point then. Most of the gold and silver treasures in the county seat have rightful owners. Upon presenting valid proof, witnesses, or documents, the folks of the county seat may reclaim their family's valuables. As for the gold and silver treasures from the Li Stronghold—those without owners—they shall all belong to the public."

Zhang Chen stepped forward, his expression righteous and unyielding: "All ownerless gold and silver treasures shall be wholly appropriated as military provisions for the Zhang Village Militia. We will train diligently to forge a formidable force. Next time bandits strike, our Zhang Village Militia will march into the county seat to defend it."

Stealthily casting a glance at Wang Shumeng, Zhang Chen walked over to Shi Keren: "Mr. Shi, I heard your esteemed self is planning to give your beloved daughter's hand in marriage to me. How can this possibly do? I consider myself lacking in both talent and virtue, and I am unworthy of the honor. Well... I deem myself entirely unworthy of your esteemed daughter..."

A few days ago, Qi Dazhi had, half-seriously and half-jestingly, offered to send his legitimate daughter, Qi Yuxuan, to Zhang Chen as a concubine.

At that time, Zhang Chen politely declined.

Soon after, the matter morphed into a rumor: Zhang Chen's academic prowess was extraordinary, and next year, he would surely pass the imperial examinations to become a Xiucai and a Juren.

Therefore, the scholar Zhang Chen looked down upon Qi Yuxuan, the daughter of a military officer. In truth, he wished to take Shi Keren's legitimate daughter, Shi Peike, as a concubine.

Shi Keren greatly appreciated the highly capable and handsome Zhang Chen, and it was rumored he would soon send Shi Peike to Zhang Chen to be his concubine.

Zhang Chen had also heard this rumor, and he strongly suspected it was fabricated and spread by Tian Yayi, that scoundrel full of malicious schemes.

Undoubtedly, this rumor caused both Qi Dazhi and Shi Keren to hold a deep grudge against Zhang Chen.

Not many people had enmity with Zhang Chen and dared to fabricate rumors about him, but Tian Yayi disliked Zhang Chen, and he certainly had the audacity to do so.

Zhang Yixin, the head of the Zhang Village Intelligence Department, also believed Tian Yayi was behind the rumor and requested instructions from Zhang Chen to deal with him.

Zhang Chen dismissed the idea: "Forget it. That bastard Tian Yayi is the cousin of that little wench Tian Yachun. If Qi Dazhi and Shi Keren want to curse me, let them curse. The innocent need no defense."

"No, Zhang Chen, you mustn't believe the rumors..." Shi Keren cursed inwardly at Zhang Chen: *Zhang Chen, you little bastard, you are utterly cunning, unruly, and boorish. How could this old man ever give Peike to you as a concubine? Keep dreaming!*

"You needn't say more, Father-in-law. You don't need to explain; your son-in-law understands. I know everything..." Zhang Chen cursed inwardly at Wang Shumeng: *That fool Wang Shumeng finally figured out how to protect the wagon train and flee out of the city.*

Shi Keren had led the effort to block the wagon train, acting as the ringleader.

Since Zhang Chen had entangled Shi Keren, Wang Shumeng naturally had to lead the wagon train out of the county seat. To ensure the convoy could exit the city smoothly, the master had humbled himself to call Shi Keren father-in-law, addressing himself as his son-in-law. His skin was truly thick. Well, for the sake of Zhang Village's development, the master had made a huge sacrifice—he was truly great!

Seeing that the convoy had successfully cleared the city gates, and realizing he could no longer block them, Shi Keren wore a stern and solemn expression as he said, "Zhang Chen, Zhang Chuyang, this old man will never marry Peike to you—not even as a primary wife, let alone a concubine. Give up this pipe dream!"

"I understand completely. Well, joking aside, Elder Shi, my greatest virtue is self-awareness. I have never dared to harbor extravagant hopes of winning the favor of Miss Shi. I already have a concubine, and in a couple of years, I will marry Miss Xu as well. One wife and one concubine—that is more than enough for a lifetime!"

Zhang Chen bowed to Shi Keren and said, "Once we secure this batch of gold and silver treasures, our Zhang Village Militia will undergo regular training for three to five months and transform into a formidable force. Next year, the Zhang Village Militia will completely clear out all outlaws—bandits, pirates, and Japanese raiders—within a three-hundred-li radius of Zhang Village. I guarantee that by then, Fushan County seat will be completely safe. Please bear witness to this, Mr. Shi!"

"Very well, this old man shall wait and see." Shi Keren cursed inwardly at Zhang Chen: *The Zhang Village wagon trains have already left the city. For the county residents to go to Zhang Village with proof to reclaim their gold and silver is nothing more than a joke. We have no choice but to trust the words of this turtle's grandson, Zhang Chen.*

...

Having dealt with Shi Keren and the others who tried to block the carts, Zhang Chen returned to the medical station to continue treating the wounded.

Just moments before, Zhang Chen had already finished stitching up the wounds of Zhang Min and San'an. By the time he returned to the medical station, Zhang Min had regained consciousness.

"Fatty said your medical skills were extraordinary, and at first, I didn't believe it." Zhang Min looked at Zhang Chen, who was currently performing debridement and suturing on a heavily wounded soldier. "Eldest Young Master, I suppose I should drink light saltwater too?"

"That's right. Drink three large bowls of light saltwater." Zhang Chen scolded Zhang Min, "Strenuous activity will cause your stitches to tear. Behave yourself these next few days."

Zhang Min had followed Zhang Chen since he was nine years old, practicing martial arts under his guidance all those years.

With his exceptionally strong physical constitution, Zhang Min's wounds were nothing serious.

At that moment, Zhang San'an also regained consciousness. "Master, we won, didn't we? Those Rouge Tiger bandits are truly hard as hell to kill!"

Zhang San'an hailed from Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan 布政司 (Adminstrative Commissionerate), and he was a lay disciple of the Shaolin Temple.

A year ago, in the middle of the night, a massive horde of bandits launched a sudden raid on the village where Zhang San'an's family lived, slaughtering everyone in sight. Zhang San'an's family was completely wiped out by the bandits.

After killing five or six bandits, Zhang San'an fought his way out of the village and began wandering the jianghu.

Robbing the rich and aiding the poor along the way, Zhang San'an traveled the jianghu for over half a year.

A few days prior, while wandering into Dengzhou City, Zhang San'an grew weary and longed to find a stable livelihood.

Someone was recruiting skilled individuals near the city gates. After a moment of consideration, the highly skilled Zhang San'an applied and was accepted.

Thus, Zhang San'an arrived at Zhang Village.

That day, when Zhang Chen was selecting bodyguards for the militia, Wang Shumeng recommended Zhang San'an to him. Zhang Chen accepted him and appointed Zhang San'an as the captain of his personal bodyguard unit.

Zhang San'an was his original name, and Zhang Chen did not change it.

After finishing treating the wounds of those seven or eight severely injured men, Zhang Chen finally mounted his horse and returned to Zhang Village.

By then, it was already the precise hour of Mao (around 6:00 AM).

The weather was rather chilly, making a cold-water bath impossible. He entered the bathing room, intending to wash up in the large wooden tub before finally getting some sleep.