Chapter 36 - Great General Meng’s Kindness
Chapter 36 – Great General Meng’s Kindness
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Old Zhou, not bad. I couldn’t tell that you were so capable!” Sun Gongping stepped forward, put his arm around Zhou Shu’s shoulders, and praised him after Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, and the other superintendents left in a sorry state.
“There’s a lot that you can’t tell.” Zhou Shu shrugged.
Although he had gotten the contracts of Zhang Yibei, Wu Laoliu, and the others, he didn’t plan to ask them to come here immediately.
It would take a few more days to complete the construction of the 0th Workshop. They wouldn’t even have a place to stay if they came right away.
Most Forging Apprentices didn’t have other residences in the capital city. If they left their original workshops, they could only sleep on the streets.
Since this was the case, he might as well let them stay in the workshops for a few more days. After all, Xiao Zongshui and the other superintendents wouldn’t dare play any tricks for the time being.
“Great Divine Constable Sun, what is the background of Great General Meng?” Zhou Shu couldn’t help asking the question in his heart when only he and Sun Gongping were left.
In this world, those who could hold high positions were definitely Martial Dao experts.
Even Zhu Chuanfeng respected General Meng. But Great General Meng seemed like an ordinary person, so it was very strange.
It wasn’t that ordinary people couldn’t become officials. But even if ordinary people became officials, they would think of ways to cultivate the Martial Dao.
Cultivating the Martial Dao wasn’t only for battle but also to strengthen one’s body and prolong one’s life!
Ranked martial artists could easily live to a hundred years old, but what about ordinary people? Men seldom lived to be seventy years old.
“You don’t know?” Sun Gongping looked at Zhou Shu in surprise. “There’s actually someone in Great Xia who doesn’t know of Great General Meng?”
Is it strange? Zhou Shu thought but didn’t dare to say so. After all, he was an outsider and wasn’t sure if not knowing Great General Meng was normal.
“You know as well as I do that I’ve been burying my head in the workshop, forging. I don’t know much about what’s going on out there,” Zhou Shu said in a low voice.
“Even so, it shouldn’t be to the extent where you don’t even know Great General Meng,” Sun Gongping said.
Although he complained, he continued, “Great General Meng, Meng Bai, is the commander-in-chief of the three military forces of Great Xia, the only God of War in Great Xia!”
After hearing what Sun Gongping said, Zhou Shu finally realized how powerful that seemingly ordinary old general was.
Meng Bai was Great Xia’s most talented martial artist and also Great Xia’s most talented military general.
When he was thirty years old, he was already a second-rank martial artist. Furthermore, he had led troops to defeat enemy armies and saved Great Xia from danger many times.
Meng Bai had stayed in the Country Protector Army, the Demon Executing Army, and the Fiend Eradication Army before, and he had climbed up from the bottom step by step to reach the position of commander-in-chief.
Now, he was the commander-in-chief of the three military forces of Great Xia and the number one person in the military!
Even though Zhu Chuanfeng was a Grand Craftsman, he was nothing compared to such a legendary figure.
“He’s a second-rank martial artist?” Zhou Shu said. “I couldn’t tell.”
He couldn’t sense any martial artist aura from Meng Bai’s body. Was the difference in cultivation between the two too great, so Zhou Shu couldn’t tell?
But Zhu Chuanfeng was a fifth-rank martial artist, and Zhou Shu could feel the pressuring aura of a martial artist from him. Is it possible that Meng Bai has already returned to his origin state?
“Ten years ago, during the Ten Nations Martial Arts Tournament, the great general fought against the experts of the Ten Nations alone and was severely injured.”
Sun Gongping said sadly, “Ever since then, the great general’s realm has been constantly dropping. In recent years, he has become an ordinary person…”
“I see.” Zhou Shu nodded.
This was someone who had done great service to the country, and he wasn’t just a martial artist. He was also a great general who led the army. This was why he had his current status.
“With Great General Meng’s evaluation of you, you can do whatever you want in Great Xia in the future.” Sun Gongping patted Zhou Shu on the shoulder. “In the future, who will dare say that the princess doesn’t know how to read people?”
“Even without Great General Meng’s evaluation, I’m still me,” Zhou Shu said nonchalantly.
“You…” Sun Gongping was speechless. He thought that he was arrogant enough, but he didn’t expect Zhou Shu to be even more arrogant than him.
“Right, Old Zhou, if His Majesty allows you to comprehend the saber intent, ask if you can bring me in as well!”
Zhou Shu, “…”
…
As it turned out, when a big shot wanted to do something, the efficiency of the matter was frighteningly high.
Otherwise, things could drag on forever!
Meng Bai was an out-and-out big shot. In a sense, his authority was even greater than Princess Yin Wuyou’s.
Before sunset on the same day, the imperial decree was delivered to Zhou Shu.
What a scam! This was the first time Zhou Shu received an imperial decree, and it was even a reward. But he wasn’t happy at all.
Meng Bai really did do something bad out of good intentions.
The reward is a chance to comprehend saber intent. Wouldn’t it be better if it was gold?
If that doesn’t work, I will accept jewelry or jade.
Don’t some people say that in feudal society, the emperor will sometimes reward ministers with palace maids?
Which of these rewards isn’t better than this lousy opportunity?
I don’t care about comprehending saber intent at all!
Great General Meng even invited an imperial decree. If I don’t go, I’ll be going against the imperial decree!
How about I sell the opportunity to Sun Gongping?
After being depressed for a while, Zhou Shu still hadn’t decided whether or not to challenge the emperor’s dignity.
“Superintendent Zhou, the great general said that after the decree is passed down, I am to bring you over.” The eunuch who came to read the imperial decree to Zhou Shu didn’t leave, and his expression was calm as he spoke.
“Where are we going?” Zhou Shu asked casually.
“To the Saber Cave to comprehend the saber intent,” the eunuch said. “The Saber Cave isn’t far from here. The great general said that to allow you to gain some comprehension as soon as possible. I am to send you to the Saber Cave and supervise you. Unless you comprehend something, you can stay in the Saber Cave forever.”
Forever?
I can’t leave until I comprehend something?
Can you first tell me what kind of place the Saber Cave is?
You’re not going to let me put on a show of walking on a mountain of knives, are you?
Zhou Shu cursed in his heart. Looking at this eunuch’s attitude, he won’t stop until he brings me to that cave.
Meng Bai really wants to turn me into a saber expert!
Although he was doing this out of goodwill, Zhou Shu still felt a deep sense of helplessness. But for some reason, his heart felt warm.
“Eunuch, I have no problem with going to the Saber Cave, but I have something to do first.” Zhou Shu cupped his hands at the eunuch.
“Sure, we’re not in a hurry,” the eunuch said.
“Eunuch, I still need to ask you for a favor!” Zhou Shu said. “During this period, I’ve forged a batch of Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber. I want to give them to Great General Meng first before going to the Saber Cave.
“To tell you the truth, I’ve been stupid since I was young. I don’t even know when I’ll be able to comprehend saber intent once I go to the Saber Cave. The earlier these Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers are delivered to the hands of the soldiers, the earlier I’ll be at ease.”
Zhou Shu now had a total of 100 Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers in his hands. If these sabers were not sent to the military, how could they bring him any benefits?
If he didn’t make use of this opportunity thanks to General Meng, was he supposed to leave these sabers in the 0th Workshop to rot?
“Superintendent Zhou is indeed a talent who cares about the country.” The eunuch was very gratified. “Leave this matter to me. I will naturally get someone to deliver these Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers to Great General Meng, and I will definitely not let you suffer any loss.”
Although the Forging Division was also an organization of the Imperial Court, the workshops in the Forging Division had their own operating mechanism.
The weapons they forged were for the three military forces, which needed to buy the weapons with money.
After all, the operations of the Forging Division required a large amount of funds.
Thus, even if they were comrades, the three military forces of Great Xia couldn’t just pick up weapons from the Forging Division. They had to use their own funds to purchase them.
Similarly, Zhou Shu didn’t have the authority to give away the weapons he forged. Unless he used his own forging materials, the weapons he forged would still have to go through the workshop’s official accounts.
Another way to see it would be that the workshops of the Forging Division were like the military factories or state-owned enterprises of Earth in Zhou Shu’s previous life. They also had to trade with the military forces.
It wasn’t as if the forging materials used by the Forging Division didn’t cost money. The materials were also not the personal properties of the workshop superintendents.
“Thank you, Eunuch.” Zhou Shu cupped his hands.
He didn’t care how much money the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers could be exchanged for. After all, he didn’t intend to embezzle.
To him, the most precious thing was the benefits from the Legendary Armament Canon if the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers could complete kills.
While speaking, Zhou Shu recalled the military generals who had previously given him gifts. The border army generals should have more opportunities to kill enemies. Should I give the next weapon to the border troops?
“Superintendent Zhou, please.” The eunuch was already urging Zhou Shu to leave.
At the same time, some of the guards he brought had already lifted the two large wooden chests. They would deliver the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers in the chests to Meng Bai.
Meng Bai would decide on which troops to assign the sabers to.
Zhou Shu didn’t care how Meng Bai distributed them. It was fine as long as the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers had the chance to kill.
“Eunuch, is the Saber Cave far?” Zhou Shu asked while boarding the eunuch’s carriage.
“Not far. Just a few steps away.” The eunuch’s attitude was extremely polite, and it was unknown if this was because of Meng Bai. Logically, there was no need for him to be this polite toward a mere workshop superintendent.
“So close? Why haven’t I seen it before?” Zhou Shu said strangely.
“The Saber Cave is a forbidden area of the Imperial Court. No one is allowed to enter without His Majesty’s permission,” the eunuch said. “Only young talents like you, Superintendent Zhou, have the chance to enter the Saber Cave to comprehend the saber intent. You must treasure this opportunity.”
“Is this opportunity very rare?” Zhou Shu asked. “Eunuch, can you tell me what’s going on with this Saber Cave? This way, I’ll be prepared and won’t be unable to comprehend anything.”
“There’s nothing I can’t say.” The eunuch’s lips curled up. “The Saber Cave was left behind by a mysterious grand master of the Saber Dao in Great Xia. It contains a high-grade saber intent. If an ordinary martial artist can comprehend a thing or two, it won’t be a problem for them to advance into the ranks. General Cheng Wanli benefited from it.”
Zhou Shu didn’t know why, but the more he listened to the eunuch’s introduction, the more he felt that this place was somewhat familiar.. Could my predecessor have gone there before?