One Hundred and Nine: Taking Shape

Xuan, why are you only taking people with martial potential? Yu Wenchengdu asked.

The reason is simple. I can’t take too many people with me, so I can only bring those I need. And the people with martial potential are precisely the people I need. It’s that simple, Zhang Xuan explained.

When he saw that his second brother was still frowning, he went on, Our biggest purpose in going back with Old Master Tong this time is to train in martial arts, and only after that can we graduate. After we graduate, we’ll most likely go off to join the army. The three of us going by ourselves may not draw the attention of the higher officers, so I want to bring a large group with us to enlist. That will make a different impression. The officers will pay far more attention. After all, one person’s strength is limited, but the strength of a crowd can create endless possibilities. Have you heard the story of the chopsticks?

Yu Wenchengdu shook his head.

If we take one chopstick, it snaps very easily, right? But if we take ten chopsticks, then they can’t be broken so easily, Zhang Xuan was saying when Zhao Yun suddenly chimed in, Xuan ge, I tried it. Even ten chopsticks break very easily.

Zhang Xuan’s face twitched. He had not expected Zhao Yun to slap him in the face so bluntly. Zhao Yun’s remark also drew laughter from the others.

Xiaoyun, you’re impressive. Then try fifty. If fifty can still be broken, then the chopsticks are definitely poor quality. Where did you buy them? Go report the seller to the authorities for peddling inferior goods. All right, let’s continue with what I was saying. Where had I gotten to? That little Yun brat threw me off so badly I don’t even know where I was anymore.

You’d gotten to the part where the officers would also pay far more attention, Yang Zaixing answered at the right moment.

Right. If it were only the three of us, then if, and I mean if, we suffered unfair treatment during enlistment, with no one above to appeal to and no one below to turn to, what would we do? But if there are more people, that changes things. With more people, the officers above us will pay more attention too. If we suffer any grievance or hardship in the course of enlisting, with such a large band of brothers behind us, they will all back you. And very possibly, because you are the one leading this group, you could even end up serving as some little squad leader. That’s possible too. Do you understand now? I’ve talked myself tired.

When Zhang Xuan finished, he cleared his throat and took a sip of tea.

At this point, Old Master Tong and Elder Yang stepped aside.

Brother Yang, you heard what Xiaoxuan just said. How much of it do you think was his real intention?

Yang Bo thought for a moment. There should be some truth in it. After all, with more people, one can indeed attract the attention of those above. But this little brat Xiaoxuan feels ambitious to me.

Yes, ambitious indeed. Still, if I can lend a hand, I will. After all, he is still my nominal disciple. As for Xiaoxuan, we’ll have to wait and see whether he becomes a dragon, or merely a worm, Old Master Tong said, glancing at the men gathered around Zhang Xuan: Yang Hu, Yang Zaixing, Yu Wenchengdu, and Zhao Yun. He could feel Zhang Xuan’s following slowly taking shape. By the way, Brother Yang, are you really willing to let Zaixing follow Xiaoxuan into all this nonsense?

Yang Bo also looked toward Zhang Xuan and Yang Zaixing. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. What use is it for me to be reluctant? Old Tong, you know the relationship between Zaixing and me. Let him decide for himself. I can’t decide for him. At most, I can do what I can to help. People always grow up in the end; the road ahead must be walked by oneself, and no one can force it on another. But to tell the truth, I’m quite optimistic about Xiaoxuan. He ought to make a name for himself. Zaixing following him is surely better than following me while I keep hiding here and there. Without Xiaoxuan, by now we might already have finished drinking Lady Meng’s soup.

Hearing Yang Bo’s words, Old Master Tong also recalled the night Zhang Xuan had saved Yang Bo and the others. It seemed that neither he nor Zhang Xuan had ever asked why Yang Bo and the others had been hunted down. But the thought merely flashed through his mind once, because that was another man’s private matter. If they did not wish to mention it, he would not pry. If Yang Bo and the others needed help later, they need only say the word; within the limits of his ability, he would certainly not refuse.

Now that Zhang Xuan and the others had set the broad course, the next step was to put everything into practice. Old Master Tong and Yang Bo rode ahead, scanning the stream of refugees as they went. Whenever they spotted someone who seemed to have martial potential, the two would exchange opinions. Once they reached agreement, they would have Zhang Xuan or someone else ask whether the person was willing to follow and work with them. After all, such matters could not be forced. Was there not an old saying: a melon forcibly twisted from the vine is not sweet?

Zhang Xuan, Old Master Tong, and Yang Bo’s plan was good, but regrettably, their start was less than auspicious—indeed, very unfavorable. All along the way, as Old Master Tong and Yang Bo looked, they had not even found anyone who matched the standard they had in mind.