Do you have the strength to force me to join the Liangshan bandits?

Chapter 371 Zhang Shuye: Should I still address him as Your Majesty? [1st Update]

Surely Cai hasn't forgotten about me...

In the dungeon, Zhang Shuye was very melancholy.

He initially thought Cai Fu was just deliberately ignoring him for a couple of days, but little did he expect it to last for months...

Zhang Shuye thought he had guessed Cai Fu's meaning. Since Cai Fu was not killing him, he must have taken a liking to him.

Just like the states of Jin, Chu, and Nan, while rebellion can rely on heroes, governing a country still requires cultured people.

But Cai Fu hadn't shown his face even after all these days, and Zhang Shuye began to doubt his guess:

Cai Fu might have taken a liking to him, but it wasn't to the point where he couldn't live without him...

On the other hand, I wonder how my two silly sons are doing in Cai Fu's hands. Are they getting enough to eat?
In Longtou City, Zhang was eating with a chicken leg in his left hand and a lamb chop in his right, his mouth greasy with oil.

"It's so fragrant!"

When Zhang Shuye thought of his two mentally challenged sons, his eyes filled with tears. He wondered if they could sleep.
In Longtou City, Zhang Li lay sprawled on the large bed, one of his thighs still resting on Zhang Yong's waist.
"Hulu-hulu-"

Ugh--

Zhang Shuye wiped away the tears that slid down his cheeks. Without his own discipline, his two foolish sons had become incredibly lazy...

In Longtou City, at the third crow of the rooster, Yue Fei, carrying his Liquan Panlong Spear, went to wake Zhang Li and Zhang Yong.

"Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!"

After being whipped a few times on the buttocks by Yue Fei with the butt of his spear, Zhang Li yelled as he got up and rushed out the door!

Uncle Zhang sighed deeply, wondering what his two mentally challenged sons would look like when he saw them again—disheveled, emaciated, ragged, and penniless…

Just as Uncle Zhang was feeling down, the sound of a lock being opened suddenly rang out.

Zhang Shuye was taken aback: Dinner's served so early?

Shi Xiu entered carrying a lantern, followed by Cai Fu's tall and imposing figure appearing at the prison gate.

The moment Zhang Shuye saw Cai Fu, tears welled up in his eyes:
You rascal, you finally decided to come!

When Cai Fu walked in, he saw that although Zhang Shuye looked alright, his clothes were tattered and torn.

After all, this was the only set of clothes Zhang Shuye had worn since he went to prison. He hadn't changed them since he was imprisoned, and they had been soaked in water for two days. It was reasonable and logical that they were tattered and torn. It was impossible for the prison guards to change his clothes.

"Brother Zhang, it's been a long time."

Cai Fu's words made Zhang Shuye turn his face away:
"If Your Majesty has come to persuade us to surrender, please refrain from speaking."

"I went to two places during this period."

Cai Fu didn't mention the matter of persuading him to surrender; it was as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, having a casual chat.

"One is the South."

"laugh!"

Zhang Shuye laughed disdainfully: "A place the size of a palm dares to call itself a country?"
"This is absolutely hilarious!"

Cai Fu: "The other one is the Liao Dynasty."

"laugh!"

After scoffing, Zhang Shuye suddenly opened his eyes wide:

"The Liao Kingdom? You mean the Liao Kingdom in the north?"

Cai Fu smiled slightly: "Indeed."

Zhang Shuye turned his face around and glared angrily:

"I originally thought that even if you were a traitor, you were still a hero!"
"I never imagined you were colluding with foreign powers!"

"Fuck you!"

Before Cai Fu could even speak, Shi Xiu had already started cursing:

"My master took back Mozhou from the Liao Kingdom!"

"This is called expanding territory!"

"what?"

Zhang Shuye looked Cai Fu up and down in disbelief:

"How...how did you manage to take back Mozhou?"

"What's so difficult about this?"

Cai Fu casually recounted how he had taken back Mozhou, and Zhang Shuye's expression changed rapidly as he listened:
Isn't that easy? If he weren't a man of both wisdom and courage, he would have already died under the hail of blades from the guards of the Imperial Uncle's mansion!
Even if they escaped back to the Song Dynasty, the furious Liao lord must have already trampled the Central Plains by now!
Based on Zhang Shuye's understanding of the imperial court, at least several million taels of silver would be needed to persuade the Liao army to withdraw!
We might even have to cede a few prefectures to appease the wrath of the Great Liao Wolf Lord...

However, Cai Fu managed to overcome that predicament and even gained control of Mozhou!
With his contributions to expanding territory, Cai Fu deserves to be remembered in history!

Unfortunately, Cai Fu was a traitor...

Zhang Shuye thought for a moment, then shook his head:

"Impossible! Your Majesty, do not make up stories to deceive Zhang Shuye!"
"Expanding territory and opening up new frontiers, is it really that easy?"

"Are you stupid?"

Shi Xiu became anxious, but Cai Fu stopped him and said with a smile:
"If you don't believe me, I'll let you verify it."

Uncle Zhang pursed his lips: "How do we verify it?"

Cai Fu curled his lip and said, "Mozhou is an exclave. If we can't hold it, it doesn't count as expanding our territory."

"My fifth brother is stationed in Mozhou, but while he excels in martial arts, he lacks in governance. If you, Brother Zhang, are interested—"

"How about you govern Mozhou for me?"

Zhang Shuye was so excited he was almost suffocating, but he still managed to control his explosive emotions and gave a cold laugh:
"Does the king want me to be your brother's advisor?"

"of course not!"

Cai Fu chuckled: "I've said it before, Brother Zhang is a great talent!"
"If you go, you'll naturally become the prefect!"

ahhh-

Zhang Shuye's tears immediately fell:
As the saying goes, everyone has their storms and rains, but after the clouds clear, the moon will shine!
This is not surrendering to traitors!
As long as I can protect Mozhou during my term, I will surely be remembered in history after I die!

Zhang Shuye desperately wanted to agree to Cai Fu's request, but he still had to maintain his composure:
"But I am a subject of the Song Dynasty..."

"That's fine!"

Cai Fu interrupted him without any politeness: "Since you're unwilling..."

"I am willing!"

At this point, Zhang Shuye no longer cared about being reserved; he didn't really want to waste his life in the dungeon.

Cai Fu chuckled: "Brother Zhang, if you're willing, you'll probably have to change how you address me."

How did it change?
Zhang Shuye hesitated:

Cai Fu is just a local warlord; should I call him Your Majesty?

It's impossible for Your Majesty to become Your Majesty, it's impossible for you to become Your Majesty in your entire life!
After much hesitation, Zhang Shuye suddenly realized that the title "Hero of the Jianghu" was still the best.

So, gritting his teeth and glaring, he immediately bowed down:

"Thank you, Brother Yuquan!"

Cai Fu laughed. "What did you say last time? Zhang Shuye was born a Song Dynasty man, and he will die a Song Dynasty ghost."
I still prefer your initial rebellious self. Why don't you go back to your old self?
Okay, okay, let's leave it at that!
Cai Fu smiled and helped Zhang Shuye up with both hands:

"Brother, I'll send someone to take you to your post in Mozhou right away!"

Zhang Shuye smiled ingratiatingly: "Brother, before I take office in Mozhou, I have one small request..."

Cai Fu: "Please feel free to speak."

Uncle Zhang said cautiously, "I only have two sons. Could you please allow me to leave before I go..."

That's it?

Cai Fu chuckled: "Brother, I'll take care of it for you!"

"We're having a big feast tonight, and I'll introduce you to my brothers!"

"So that everyone knows that you, Zhang Shuye, are now one of our Liangshan people!"
"I will personally take you to see my two nephews first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Ah this..."

Sweating profusely, Zhang Shuye said, "Brother, there's no need for extravagance for me. Keep everything simple..."

"How about that?"

Cai Fu waved his hand and said, "I, Cai Fu, am eager to find talented people!"

"Now that we have found such a great sage, we must be extravagant and wasteful!"

"Let's be as extravagant as possible! Let's waste as much as possible!"

Zhang Shuye: (_)
(End of this chapter)