In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

However, in terms of opportunities, he was far less fortunate than his eldest son.

The Zhang family welcomed a new member, and even Zhang Xiaoshan was all smiles, let alone Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Xiaoshan has many female confidantes, finally overturning the previous fate of the Zhang family having only one son, and this is only the beginning.

Moreover, Zhang Yuan's recovery during this period was extremely rapid.

After all, the dragonfish meat and the highly nourishing turtle soup were incredibly helpful in Zhang Yuan's recovery.

Moreover, the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, brewed with a miraculous medicine that had been used for millennia, brought about a transformative change in Zhang Yuan.

“Okay! Okay! Okay!

Hehehe, they all take after their mother; they'll definitely be incredibly handsome when they grow up!

Zhang Xiaoshan wasn't handsome, but his fair skin made him look good, and he had a refined and scholarly air.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan held his two grandchildren, reluctant to let go.

Besides the bond between grandparents and grandchildren, it's even more auspicious to have a grandson and a granddaughter together.

"Grandpa, let me see!"

Zhang Sheng looked at his two younger brothers and sisters with great curiosity.

"Alright, be careful, don't get handsy!"

Seeing the family enjoying themselves, Huang Rong recovered and looked at the children in Zhang Yuan's arms.

"Rong'er, thank you for giving my Zhang family a healthy baby boy, breaking the Zhang family's fate of having only one son in the lineage!"

"This is what Rong'er should do, Father. I want to see Zhong'er!"

"Hehe, this kid looks just like you now, and even though he was just born, his eyes are already bright and piercing, which shows that he is also exceptionally gifted."

As she spoke, she placed the two children in front of their respective mothers.

For a moment, both Huang Rong and Master Mingchan radiated maternal glow.

"My lord, intelligence has arrived from Yanmen Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass—a great victory!"

At this moment, Liu Sheng Piaoxu walked over, carrying a message from the Northern Frontier, which was delivered at the same time.

Zhang Xiaoshan arrived without any surprises. This wasn't a story of Sui and Tang heroes; it was a story of Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty, a world of high-level martial arts.

Therefore, what truly determines victory or defeat is not the number of people, but strength.

Especially with his use of poison and divine weapons to pave the way, Zhang Xiaoshan's methods are all ingenious schemes, or to put it bluntly, despicable.

Even Zhang Yuan was pleasantly surprised to receive the news: a great victory?

Could it be that the nine border passes truly held back the million-strong cavalry of the Northern Yuan from marching south?

Looking at the intelligence report in his hand, Zhang Yuan realized that this was not just a great victory. Xingyin had directly annihilated hundreds of thousands of Northern Yuan cavalry and Dongfang Bubai had defeated 500,000 Later Jin troops.

This kind of intelligence would be absolutely unbelievable if it were leaked outside.

But even Zhang Yuan was shocked to see the handwritten notes of two grandmasters. He looked at Zhang Xiaoshan in astonishment. What arrangements had Zhang Xiaoshan made to achieve such a domineering and terrifying result?

"Shan'er, come with me!"

Zhang Xiaoshan knew the general outcome without needing any information.

After all, with so many experts, unless all the experts from the Northern Yuan came out, they simply couldn't stop his underhanded methods.

White phosphorus incendiary bombs, poisoned wolves, and ambushes by skilled assassins—one link after another!

···

"Zhang family!"

In the battle of the northern frontier, the Holy Gate supported Yumen Pass, the Sun Moon Divine Sect supported Shanhaiguan Pass, the Zhang family supported Yanmen Pass... Heroes rose up one after another.

In particular, the epic battles of Yu Huatian slaying Ao Bai, the Evil King Shi Zhixuan defeating Bi Xuan, and Xingyin battling the Demon Master Pang Ban have spread throughout the entire Nine Provinces.

At the same time, it made everyone realize that the Central Plains were full of hidden talents, which were incomparable to those foreign tribes.

Moreover, the losses on each battlefield varied, but all achieved great victories that spread throughout the Central Plains.

In particular, the Zhang family's annihilation of the main force of the Northern Yuan at Yanmen Pass shocked the entire world.

Although Yanmen Pass did not have the largest troop strength, it was the site of the main force of the Northern Yuan and one of the three core battlefields.

Northern Yuan, Later Jin, Turks!

Moreover, they also have the help of the demon master Pang Ban and many other experts from the Northern Yuan.

However, with the combined efforts of the Zhang family and many peerless masters, the hundreds of thousands of Northern Yuan troops perished before Yanmen Pass. Compared to other Northern Frontier forces that were merely defeated or routed, this was an absolutely terrifying achievement.

After learning the details, the entire Kyushu region, as well as various alien races, were filled with extreme fear.

I never imagined that such a terrifying poison existed in the world.

If they were randomly placed in any military camp, the consequences would be unimaginable should an outbreak occur.

Opinions on the Zhang family's actions are mixed!

The common people and those in brothels and theaters naturally went to great lengths to publicize the Zhang family's achievements, resulting in widespread praise.

But the scholars and literati thought differently, believing the Zhang family to be too cruel, inhuman, and murderers...

Zhang Xiaoshan naturally didn't care about the two extreme opinions.

They knew the hardships of life at the bottom of society, and they understood that the Zhang family was ruthless to outsiders but kind to their own people. This was the best way to protect them.

But scholars see it differently. In their eyes, the Zhang family are undoubtedly murderers and executioners!

Most importantly, the Zhang family are just businessmen!

Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—the lowest classes in society—how could they possibly become a 'great hero'?

Moreover, the methods used were utterly despicable: poisoning, traps, ambushes...

However, Zhang Xiaoshan will not be polite to those who make malicious comments.

You impeached the Zhang family, and Zhang Xiaoshan then handed over the matter of their evil deeds and embezzlement to the Western Depot, allowing Yu Huatian to handle it directly.

Fight evil with evil!

Especially during this crisis in northern Xinjiang, Zhang Xiaoshan orchestrated a situation where all the blame was shifted onto the intellectuals.

Throughout the entire lower classes of Kyushu, within a short period of time, entertainment venues and brothels were all advertising—

The most righteous often come from humble backgrounds, while the most ungrateful are often scholars!

Even Zhu Shou secretly fueled the flames.

After all, drawing heavy troops from nine passes to resist the Later Zhou army is not only a desperate measure but also a plan to leave a lasting stain on one's reputation.

Zhu Shou was originally thinking about how to cover it up?

The Zhang family's scheme to frame him directly handed him the knife.

Therefore, by using the methods of the Eastern and Western Depots, they shifted all the responsibility onto the cabinet and civil officials.

In particular, the fact that the Eastern Depot and Western Depot actually found several secret letters in collusion with the northern frontier during their raids completely confirmed the frame-up.

·········Requesting flowers·· 0

Zhu Shou felt even more grateful to the Zhang family.

After all, if it weren't for Zhang Xiaoshan's risky move, he wouldn't have thought of such a brilliant plan.

Moreover, public opinion has always been in the hands of intellectuals, and it is not an easy task to influence public opinion among them.

The knife handed over by the Zhang family was absolutely sharp and fast.

"Have you heard? The Zhang family has struck it rich this time!"

"Get rich? Get rich in what way?"

"I heard that after the Zhang family's great victory over the Northern Yuan, they split into three groups to plunder the grasslands, bringing back tens of millions of taels of gold!"

"Really?"

In the city, rumors circulated constantly, especially those concerning the Zhang family, which were extremely popular.

"Hehe, the news you hear has been embellished so much, but I do know some inside information."

The Zhang family did indeed transport tens of millions of taels of gold from the grasslands, along with precious gems and gold artifacts of immeasurable value, but it wasn't stolen!

.... ........ 0

"It wasn't stolen?"

Everyone looked at a burly man sitting in the corner of the hall with curiosity in their eyes.

"How do you know this wasn't stolen, strong man?"

Moreover, it's not a bad thing that the nomadic peoples raid our borders, and the Zhang family raids these foreign tribes.

"Hehe, the Zhang family isn't a bandit family, why would they do anything like plundering?"

This gold was actually transferred to Young Master Zhang through a formality four or five years ago; it wasn't looted at all, but rather pre-arranged!

Five years ago? Young Master Zhang?

Could it be the theft of gold from the Liao Dynasty? Back then, Young Master Zhang was entrusted by the Beggars' Sect to travel thousands of miles to rescue Xiao Feng, the Southern King.

This was also the first time that the heroes of Lianyun Village became famous throughout the world.

Back then, the Liao Dynasty's treasury was suddenly robbed, and rumors circulated that tens of millions of taels of gold had vanished, shocking the entire Liao Dynasty.

Suddenly, someone remembered Zhang Xiaoshan's trip north.

Moreover, considering the major events of the time, it was quickly linked to the stolen gold from the Liao Kingdom.

"That's right. After the battle at Yanmen Pass, the Blood Assassins went straight to Yanjing, the former capital of the Liao Kingdom, and retrieved the gold that Young Master Zhang had hidden back then."

Moreover, it was precisely through the theft of gold that Young Master Zhang schemed against the entire Liao Kingdom, eliminating two powerful vassal states, the Liao and Western Xia, with a single plan—a truly remarkable achievement!

"I see!"

If that's the case, then everything makes sense.

After all, even grassland tribes couldn't possibly collect such a large amount of gold.

Moreover, if the Zhang family had truly slaughtered the grasslands, there would have been other news besides the gold.

"Young Master Zhang, you have quite the skill!"

Overnight, tens of millions of taels of gold, as if by magic, were hidden in the former Liao Dynasty palace for five years without being discovered.

You must know that when the Liao Dynasty was conquered, the entire Liao royal palace was looted, but there wasn't a trace of this gold.

"Hey, how could we mere mortals possibly fathom the methods of Young Master Zhang!"

"It's fortunate that Young Master Zhang intervened; otherwise, wouldn't that gold have fallen into the hands of those bastards from the Northern Yuan?"

"That's right, come on, let's drink to Young Master Zhang's unpredictable and miraculous abilities!"

Chapter 585 The Unification of the Nine Provinces: The Zhang Family's Desire to Emerge from Seclusion

"Haha, everyone, do you know that the Zhang family has another piece of good news?"

"In this battle in the northern frontier, although the Zhang family mobilized the majority of their forces, Young Master Zhang did not appear in person, remaining entirely behind the scenes. Do any of you know why?"

After several rounds of drinks, the people in the tavern once again looked at the burly man with curiosity and suspicion.

This big man has a lot of information; he even knows this much.

"Brother, do you have any more news? If it's really good news, I, Long, will cover all the drinks for everyone here today."

"Master Long is so generous!"

"Master Long is truly heroic!"

···

Upon seeing the elegantly dressed middle-aged man step forward, everyone bowed respectfully.

"Master Long is quite the generous man!"

The reason why Young Master Zhang did not appear in the northern frontier this time is because his two wives are about to give birth, and this time they will give birth to a son and a daughter, making them a family with both a son and a daughter!

Otherwise, with Young Master Zhang's intervention, how could the Demon Master Pang Ban have been allowed to return to the grasslands?