He Wanted to Make Another Recommendation

"You've aged thirty years in just three short years!"

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou's miserable state and witnessing his return to his old trade, still running a business at his advanced age, only to end up losing both his money and his life, Zhang Qian felt sorry for Zhang Xuezhou.

Based on their actual age, the other person was only in their early twenties at that time.

Holding Zhang Xuezhou's hand, Zhang Qian felt a deep sadness in his heart.

But his mind quickly became active again.

When he pulled Zhang Xuezhou's hand, he felt that Zhang Xuezhou's hand did not look like that of an elderly person at all, and that Zhang Xuezhou was strong and powerful.

"Did you put something on to make you look so old?"

As Zhang Qian Zhang Xuezhou Yanmen Pass, he couldn't help but ask a question in a low voice.

"It's too dangerous outside," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Applying some will effectively reduce the risk!"

"Really applied?"

Zhang Qian tugged at Zhang Xuezhou's face in disbelief, then pulled at his hair.

"You're pulling on me and it hurts!" Zhang Xuezhou cried out. "Give me some water, I want to wash this off!"

"That's not fair! How come they got in without even getting a token?"

The clamoring of Wu Chao came from outside Yanmen Pass, and Zhang Xuezhou turned around to look.

His face was made up like Hongku's. Zhang Qian didn't recognize Hongku, but to Wu Chao, it was a nightmare-like face.

Deducing Zhang Xuezhou's identity from his appearance would be quite difficult for Wu Chao.

Zhang Xuezhou just wanted to get rid of this outfit as soon as possible, lest Wu Chao have any ulterior motives.

The area where the Yanmen Pass was located was an oasis, providing ample water for the army.

Zhang Xuezhou was led by Zhang Qian to the water inlet of the stable. He didn't care about losing face and immediately took off his clothes and started scrubbing hard there.

Water, resembling yellow mud, streamed down her face, revealing glimpses of her fair skin.

Once his head was submerged in water, the wig finally came loose.

"Your disguise is amazing!"

Zhang Qian looked at Zhang Xuezhou, who had removed his disguise, and clicked his tongue in amazement. All his previous pessimistic mood vanished.

Clearly, judging from Zhang Xuezhou's appearance, this guy has had very few hard times.

"Someone else did it for me, and they even used Incantation Technique. I'm afraid they'll kill me!"

Zhang Xuezhou washed his face and hands, then glanced at Hongku with a venomous look, without even thinking of picking it up.

Zhang Qian, on the other hand, didn't care at all. When he saw that Zhang Xuezhou didn't want it, he picked up the wig, shook off the water, and then put it on his own head.

"This wig is truly exquisite. If you shaved your head and put it on, it would be indistinguishable from a real person," Zhang Qian exclaimed. "Are you going on some big business trip? Do you need to look like this?"

"No way! I just did some casual business. An hour ago, I was being chased by a pack of hyenas!"

Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand.

He let out a deep breath.

Only after entering Yanmen Pass and washing away Hongku's disguises to make sure there wasn't a single hair of Hongku on his body did Zhang Xuezhou feel completely at ease.

"Ziwen, it's a good thing your official position hasn't changed, otherwise I wouldn't be able to go home," Zhang Xuezhou said sincerely.

"I don't know whether to feel relieved or saddened by your words," Zhang Qian said in a muffled voice. "Three years after three years, I've remained a junior officer the whole time, with no sign of promotion whatsoever!"

"You'll definitely become a great general someday," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"Then thank you in advance!"

Zhang Qian let out a long breath. After settling his mount, he found an open space nearby and practiced his Subduing Tiger Fist.

Without war, guarding Yanmen Pass would indeed be an easy and pleasant job, and one could even receive a high salary compared to ordinary people.

Although this salary was somewhat meager in Chang'an City, Zhang Qian's position was still the envy of many.

But Zhang Qian never had the idea of just getting by.

A soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general is not a good soldier. His ambition lies in achieving great deeds, not in spending his days idly and dealing with patrols and inspections from time to time.

"That was a really good punch!"

Zhang Xuezhou had seen Zhang Qian practice the Subduing Tiger Fist before, and it turns out that Zhang Qian is still practicing the Subduing Tiger Fist to this day.

Although Zhang Qian's Subduing Tiger Fist technique had improved somewhat, the extent of his progress in cultivation and strength was barely perceptible.

Zhang Xuezhou thought for a moment, then touched the new Heavenly Robe he had put on, and took out the Crescent Moon Saber Manual.

The secret manuals that apprentices can produce are not of a very high level, but because these people are born into wealth, these manuals are likely to be of a mid-range quality.

Zhang Xuezhou was quite interested in the first martial arts manual he had acquired and planned to test its effectiveness in the real world.

Therefore, a corresponding translation became inevitable.

As a novice in martial arts, Zhang Xuezhou knew little about it, so he would ask any acquaintance he could find.

Zhang Qian's skills weren't particularly high, but Zhang Qian came from Lineage with considerable knowledge and a good education. His opponent might not be able to recognize high-end goods, but mid-level martial arts should be able to provide an explanation.

After Zhang Xuezhou called out to Zhang Qian, Zhang Qian insisted on finishing his entire set of punches before exhaling and approaching.

"This is some good stuff you got in the Xiong State? Huh? Hey? Where did you get this from?"

Zhang Qian flipped through it.

His understanding of the Sacred Land's script was limited, but even just looking through this exquisitely crafted animal-hide tome, he could sense its extraordinary nature.

"Can the Xiong State even trade martial arts techniques like this?" Zhang Qian asked incredulously.

"You know that Xiong State is a vast and resource-rich land?" Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand and said, "My little thing is nothing."

"How can this be nothing? This..."

Looking at the Subduing Tiger Fist he had performed with empty hands, and then at the crescent-shaped saber set that Zhang Xuezhou was holding, Zhang Qian felt that his years of Struggle were not as valuable as what Zhang Xuezhou could casually pick up in the Xiong State.

After Zhang Xuezhou recited a few sentences, he clearly understood that this was a type of curved sword martial art that some tribes in the Xiong State were proficient in.

The curved sword martial arts of the Xiong State are not suitable for ordinary fighting, but once they are on horseback, their curved sword martial arts will show tremendous power, and when combined with bows and arrows, they are truly exceptional.

Zhang Qian was surprised that Zhang Xuezhou had managed to obtain such a valuable item.

"Besides needing a scimitar, you also need to ride a horse to use it!"

After hearing Zhang Qian's explanation, Zhang Xuezhou was greatly disappointed, feeling that it was very different from the martial arts he had imagined.

He desired a martial art that allowed for overwhelming one-on-one combat, not one that required riding a horse to kill.

This is not suitable for him to use, and even less suitable for application in a reality where few people ride horses.

"Don't underestimate it. Only the elite nomadic cavalry of the Xiong State can learn this martial art. It inflicted heavy losses on us in battle," Zhang Qian said solemnly. "This martial art may not be of much use to us personally, but its benefits to our Great Han army are immeasurable!"

"What? You want to promote this secret manual within the legion?" Zhang Xuezhou asked curiously.

"No, Manqian, think about it..."

Zhang Qian once recommended Zhang Xuezhou, but it was an unpleasant experience.

But when he saw Zhang Xuezhou again, the idea of recommending him resurfaced in his mind.

This time, he wasn't recommending Zhang Xuezhou as a person, but rather the crescent-shaped saber martial arts set that Zhang Xuezhou possessed.

The Great Han Dynasty's legions did not need to learn the Crescent Moon Saber, but knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory. If someone could fully master this saber martial art, the military would definitely have targeted measures to counter the nomadic elite cavalry regiments that had practiced the Crescent Moon Saber.

Personal cultivation of this secret manual will only add one set of mounted combat techniques, but contributing it will surely save the lives of hundreds or even thousands of high-ranking soldiers, and may even determine the outcome of a war.

In large-scale warfare, even a slight advantage is invaluable.

If you accumulate little by little, it will surely turn into the sharpest arrow that pierces the enemy.

Zhang Qian firmly believed in this principle.

He had made a difficult journey to Chang'an City once, but Zhang Qian didn't mind trying again, even if it was a risky endeavor.