Zhang San, please behave yourself!-Chapter 905 - 839: The Hongmen Banquet Invitation

As the King of Shu revealed his plan, everyone in the room turned to look at Long Xutuo.

Because the King of Shu’s plan was to have Long Xutuo write a letter to Zhang San, inviting him over under the guise of a friendly talk, but in reality, it was a Hongmen Banquet.

Moreover, it involved figuring out a way to take Zhang San down.

In the eyes of Yang Ling, the King of Shu, Zhang San was currently his greatest enemy.

As long as Zhang San was taken down, the Sword South Path army sent to suppress the rebellion would be leaderless.

Then, after solving this wave of suppressors, the Sword South Path army could march north, first entering Chuan-Yu Road, then the Capital Region Road, finally capturing Daxing City, slaying the Red Emperor, and ascending to the throne.

The generals had no idea where the King of Shu had heard of this incredible plan.

It practically treated the enemy as fools.

Why would Zhang San go to Long Xutuo’s military camp?

There was a chance he might go if invited earlier by Zhang San.

But now, with Long Xutuo’s camp adjacent to other generals’ camps, what kind of peculiar head movements would Zhang San have to do to agree to such an obviously abnormal invitation?

So, everyone was curious about how Long Xutuo would refuse the King of Shu.

After all, everyone knew that Long Xutuo had always been a straightforward person.

It was precisely because of his straightforwardness and frequent truth-telling in front of the King of Shu that he was sent to a remote area to accompany the Qing City Sword Sect.

Now, everyone hoped that Long Xutuo would confront the King of Shu as he did in the past, waking him up from his unrealistic fantasies.

But the Long Xutuo of today is no longer the same as back then.

After enduring such prolonged silent treatment from the King of Shu, Long Xutuo had grown significantly.

"Your Highness, King of Shu, what’s the pretext for this invitation? If I talk to Zhang San, I need a reason, right?"

The King of Shu, Yang Ling, pondered for a moment and realized it made sense.

Then, with his eyes rolling, he came up with an idea.

"I know you’re acquainted with Zhang San, so just tell him that I sent you to persuade him to surrender, and offer him many benefits. Then let him come to your camp to discuss."

At that moment, half of the generals in the room looked at the King of Shu as if he were an idiot.

The other half lowered their heads, unwilling to continue witnessing the foolishness.

What state of mind would Zhang San have to be in to accept this invitation, given his status as the Divine Martial Great General sent by Sword South Path to quell the rebellion, and then eagerly come to Long Xutuo’s camp?

Was Long Xutuo crippled?

Shouldn’t it be Long Xutuo going to Zhang San’s camp to consult with him about such matters?

But no one dared to speak, instead continuing to look at Long Xutuo.

The straightforward Long Xutuo would surely give the expected answer.

Many even began to wonder how Long Xutuo would retort the King of Shu.

However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, the now mature Long Xutuo remained silent for a long time, then let out a heavy sigh.

"Your Highness, King of Shu, this matter, I can do it, but there’s just one problem. I’m not good with words, and I lack literary skills. If you let me write the letter, I fear it won’t be convincing enough for Zhang San to come. As for what conditions to offer, I have no idea. How about you find someone to write it? Once the letter is written, I can send someone to deliver it. This way, seeing it’s a letter from you, King of Shu, Zhang San will be compelled to come to my camp. What do you think?"

In that instant, all the generals in the room widened their eyes at Long Xutuo!

How did this old fellow get so clever?

His mind was actually working!

The generals exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

King of Shu, after contemplating, realized that Long Xutuo was a military general, a simple man, and lacking such knowledge was expected.

"Alright, I’ll have someone write a letter in your tone immediately. Then you can deliver it to Zhang San!"

As the King of Shu spoke enthusiastically, he glanced at the other generals.

"When the time comes, everyone joins together. After all, Zhang San is no ordinary character. With everyone’s combined effort, can we not capture a mere Zhang San?"

Although the generals wore smiles on their faces, their hearts were full of confusion and scorn.

The first part claimed Zhang San was not ordinary, while the latter seemed dismissive enough to call him small?

This was a person who had killed even your big brother, the former Crown Prince Yang Ce.

Do you even realize what you’re saying?

After the generals left the Shu King’s Mansion, they all realized something.

You’re planning a rebellion, calling us together not to discuss how to revolt?

How did the conversation end with us dealing with Zhang San, and leaving?

The generals, puzzled, looked towards Pei Renwu, the Grand Commander-in-Chief of Sword South Path.

Pei Renwu swiftly walked away with a look that said, "Don’t look at me."

But Long Xutuo hurriedly caught up, whispering to Pei Renwu: "Old brother, you’ve got to help me!"

After all, Pei Renwu’s youngest son, Pei Shoushen, was Long Xutuo’s apprentice, so they had some rapport.

Seeing Long Xutuo approaching, and with no one else around, Pei Renwu sighed helplessly.

"My youngest son is in Yizhou City, and my eldest is in the Capital City. How can I help you? I don’t even know what to do myself. Moreover..."

Pei Renwu whispered to Long Xutuo: "I heard that Zhang San is ruthless and cunning! How do we handle this? To be honest, I’m just waiting for death now."

Long Xutuo initially wanted to seek some advice from Pei Renwu.

But Pei Renwu already gave up.

Long Xutuo immediately explained: "I’ve interacted with Zhang San. He’s righteous, generous, open-minded, and has good strategies. He’s nothing like the rumors. Sometimes I even suspect he deliberately spread his bad reputation to intimidate others."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You’re not lying to me?"

"Whether you die or not doesn’t matter; I still want my apprentice to take care of me in my old age!"

Pei Renwu thought it over and found some sense in it.

At the very least, with Long Xutuo’s intelligence, although he might not fully understand a person, he wouldn’t be so easily deceived either.

"Alright then, the banquet is tomorrow, right? I’ll take some people to your camp to prepare. After all, no one knows what’s on others’ minds. Together, we can first test Zhang San’s thoughts. Given the situation, we should find ways to protect ourselves first."

While Long Xutuo remained loyal to Yang Ling, King of Shu, that loyalty had nearly waned after constant neglect and this arrangement.

That night, Zhang San received a letter from Long Xutuo.

But Officer Wei chuckled upon seeing the letter.

"Why are you laughing, Officer Wei?"

Zhang San asked curiously.

"Deputy Chief, the envelope, the paper, and even the ink on this letter, are exclusively used by the King’s Mansion in Shu. Even among the four great families in Yizhou City, they can’t pull together a complete set. So this letter couldn’t have been written by Long Xutuo in the camp. The only answer is—"

Upon hearing this, the Immortal Monarch Who Treads Snow in Search of Plums slapped his thigh.

"I know! It must be Long Xutuo stealing from King Yang Ling! I didn’t expect such a decent person to have such petty habits. No way! This person’s character is lacking! Zhang San, we should keep our distance from him."

Zhang San ignored the Silly Roe Deer and instead carefully read the content of the letter.

"So, Long Xutuo wants to invite me to his camp for some discussion about the King of Shu’s rebellion, implying he’d like me to join."

Hearing this, many in attendance frowned.

Because it was evident that Long Xutuo didn’t really want to help Yang Ling, the King of Shu, with the rebellion.

Considering the letter’s origin from the Shu King’s Mansion, its credibility was obvious.

Hu whispered, "Going hastily seems dangerous."

But Zhang San smiled and said, "But since they’ve invited me, wouldn’t it be rude not to go? Tell the messenger I’ll definitely be there by noon tomorrow. And prepare more lamb!"