The military officer and the soldiers watched Fang Yun and his son with exceedingly strange looks.
Zhang Jing'an looked bewildered. "You've taken this joke too far. Of course I can't become a general right now! Just because I said I wanted to be a general, you have to help me?"
"I'm your father," Fang Yun said with complete seriousness. "Since you want to become a general, naturally I must do everything I can. But as you can see, you don't even have a literary rank. You can't become a general."
"Of course I know that!" Zhang Jing'an was both embarrassed and angry, feeling utterly humiliated.
Fang Yun said, "Since you want to slay demons and exterminate barbarians but can't become a general, I think you should start as a soldier. If you can't even be a soldier, saying things like that seems an insult to the soldiers of the Human Race! Besides, even without a literary rank, you can still become a general if you render great service."
"Really?" Zhang Jing'an's eyes widened.
The military officer beside them seemed about to say something, but ultimately kept silent.
"Of course," Fang Yun answered earnestly.
"Then I'll start as a soldier!" Joy appeared on Zhang Jing'an's face, and his eyes filled with anticipation.
Fang Yun nodded lightly. "Good. That's a worthy son of the Zhang Household!"
Then Fang Yun turned to the military officer. "I'd like to ask Jin Han for a favor. My son and I wish to serve temporarily as soldiers in the Jingxi Guard. Treat us exactly like ordinary soldiers, without any privileges. Once we enter the Jingxi Guard, I'll take off my Hanlin Academician robes."
Zhang Jing'an watched Fang Yun, unsure what exactly he intended to do.
The military officer smiled ruefully. "Please wait a moment, Marquis. I'll