"Besides, I can't conceal the news that I've come to Tanyang from those in the capital for long. People in Tanyang will also hear it within half a month at the latest."

Ling Zhang was surprised to ask, "Do we only have half a month?"

Yuwen Tong agreed slightly, "Yes."

Ling Zhang frowned and looked at him. Half a month was too quick but they still had many things to do.

"Half a month is enough." Yuwen Tong said. He seemed to know what was on Ling Zhang's mind.

"What we should do now is to find hard evidences to catch Zhang Chong, Imperial Concubine Shu, the Sixth Prince and their partners off guard. We don't need to put up a desperate fight with Zhang Chong. The hidden weapons, the account books about trading with Jia Family, collusion with bandits and the secret routes are what we need to find." Yuwen Tong continued.

Ling Zhang could understand that they should find weapons, books about Jia Family's trades and collusion with bandits. But what was the secret route? Was that the reason why Yuwen Tong believed Zhang Chong threatened the imperial power and the reason that led the emperor to dispatch army to kill bandits and Zhang Chong?

"I will tell you after I find hard evidences." Yuwen Tong said.

So Yuwen Tong had already come up with a plan to deal with Zhang Chong?

"I need to tell you something." Ling Zhang told him Liu Yi's words and said, "I asked Liu Yi and Wang Dashan to watch it. If they find the bandits, they will follow them to see where they come from."

Ling Zhang wanted to check it by himself. But they didn't have much time. So he thought he'd better let Yuwen Tong know about it.

Yuwen Tong raised his eyebrows. He finally knew Ling Zhang's intention to let Liu Yi and Wang Dashan to watch.

"They are all good at Kung Fu. It's okay to let them do it."

Yuwen Tong thought, since Ling Zhang believed in Liu Yi and Wang Dashan, it was not bad to let them have a try. Anyway, Yuwen Tong had asked his people to watch too. Nothing could go wrong.

"Formation?" Yao Yi was confused, "I never heard that Ling Family was good at formation."

"Just do as I told. Don't talk nonsense." Yuwen Tong looked at him coldly.

"I'm sorry. I'll investigate it right now." Yao Yi went out soon.

After Yao Yi left, Yuwen Tong used his brush to draw the half of the formation drawing he saw in Ling Zhang's study. And he could remember all the details with just a glance. Ling Zhang would be so shocked if he were here. Because Yuwen Tong had such a good memory!

Looking at the formation drawing, Yuwen Tong had to praise its subtlety even though he just saw the half of it. By virtue of his profound knowledge about formation, he observed it and thought for a moment before he began to draw the other half of it.

What he drew was the same as Ling Zhang's formation drawing!

"Great." Yuwen Tong looked at the formation drawing and murmured, "But... it must be changeable. It won't be hard to destroy the formation if twelve people stand in fixed positions. Only the moving formation can be the true one."

Then he even painted another formation. Twelve people changed their places in it.

He didn't stop until he drew eight different ones.

Ling Zhang would be so surprised if he were here at this time.

Yuwen Tong still wanted to continue. But he stopped before painting a new one. He muttered to himself, "I have to let my men perform it first. Then I can find the rest variations of it."

"Twelve... Ling Family has twenty-four guards, which can form two sets of formation. Is it just a coincidence?" Yuwen Tong raised his eyebrows. No wonder Ling Zhang checked these guards so clearly. He must want to use them to practice the formation. After thinking about it, Yuwen Tong burnt all the eight drawings.

Such a great formation must make a difference in war. He had never heard of this kind of formation. Where did Ling Zhang or Ling Family learn it?

......

......

"Brother Tao, sorry to have kept you waiting." Ling Zhang went to the front hall in a hurry.

Tao Yi suddenly came. Ling Zhang was afraid that Yuwen Tong was found. So he asked the servant to bring Tao Yi to the front hall. Then he ran here quickly.

Tao Yi was bored to sit there. Seeing Ling Zhang, he said happily, "You finally come. What are you up to in your yard?"

"Just checking some account books. I come right after hearing you are here." Ling Zhang said. He of course didn't check books. But Yuwen Tong was in his study and it would be impolite let him leave. After Yuwen Tong finally left, Ling Zhang walked here quickly.

"Why do you come to see me?" Ling Zhang asked.

"I'll tell you some secrets." Tao Yi smiled mysteriously, "Come on, let's go to the restaurant. We can chat and drink."

"Brother Tao, since it is a secret, it's not good to say outside. If you want to drink, I will ask the servant to prepare something good." Ling Zhang said.

Tao Yi complained, "It's boring to stay at home. Don't worry, I've ordered a room in restaurant and no one will bother us. Let's go."

Ling Zhang was speechless and had to go out with Tao Yi. They went to the Fengtai Restaurant again.

Entering the room, they ordered wine and dishes. After closing the door, Tao Yi said, "I heard from the capital that Marshal Yuwen would come back to report on his work this year. Well, do you want to go to the capital with me?" Ling Zhang didn't know what to say. Tao Yi just wanted to tell him this secret?

Why should he go to the capital to see Yuwen Tong specially?

Yuwen Tong was in his house! If he were Tao Yi, he wouldn't do it. "Brother Tao, why do you invite me to go to the capital city with you?" Ling Zhang asked.

"You like Marshal Yuwen very much, right? Don't you want to see him?" Tao Yi said.

Ling Zhang's feeling was complex. When did he say that he liked Yuwen Tong? Did Tao Yi become really stupid?

"I..." Ling Zhang suddenly stopped, if he said he didn't like Yuwen Tong, Tao Yi must argue with him. Besides, Yuwen Tong was the great marshal and the God of Army. It might be true that some people didn't care about him. But it would be a little strange if Ling Zhang hated him.

"I'd like to. But my uncle suddenly asked me to manage the herbs plantation. So I'm busy every day and have no time to leave." Ling Zhang said with regret.

Tao Yi was disappointed, "Why do you suddenly run the herbs plantation? Why doesn't your uncle urge you to study and achieve the first place in the Imperial Examination?"

Ling Zhang explained, "You know that I worry about my family's situation. My family has conflict with Zhang Chong and Jia Family. At present, I can't focus on studying." If he couldn't revenge and survive, it would be useless to achieve the first place in the Imperial Examination.

Thinking of Ling Family's situation, Tao Yi sighed, "Yes. Zhang Chong turned more arrogant recently. Few days ago, Jia Zhong called many County Magistrates to send gifts to Zhang Chong, which made my father so angry. Jia Yuanling's thing just finished. But Jia Family forgave Zhang Chong so fast."

"Did Jia Yin go?" Ling Zhang asked.

"Jia Yin? He stays at home and refuses to see anyone." Tao Yi said.

"So there must be some hard feelings between them." Ling Zhang said.

"You are right." Tao Yi nodded.

"You really won't go to the capital with me?" Tao Yi asked him again to make sure.

Ling Zhang said, "I'm so sorry. Brother Tao, you just came back to Tanyang. Will you go to the capital so quickly?"

"I didn't want to go back so fast. But Marshal Yuwen is coming back. I have to go there as soon as possible. Maybe I can see him once." Tao Yi said.

Ling Zhang looked at him silently. A long time later, he began to say, "Brother Tao, you are behaving like a young girl yearning for love."

Tao Yi spitted out a mouthful of wine and was almost choked to death. He corrected, "What are you talking about? I just admire him."

Ling Zhang looked at him quietly and didn't say anything.

Putting down the drinking glasses, Tao Yi said, "You also like Marshal Yuwen, don't you?"

Come on! How did Tao Yi find he liked Yuwen Tong? He just echoed Tao Yi at that time and didn't say more. Ling Zhang looked expressionless but was speechless in heart.

"Marshal Yuwen won't run away. You will see him even if you go back late. Why are you leaving in such haste?" Ling Zhang asked.

"You are wrong. Marshal Yuwen will really run away." Tao Yi said mysteriously, "You don't know. Marshal Yuwen never stayed at the capital more than ten days each time when he goes back to report on his work. He will sure leave on the tenth day. And his reason is so perfect every time that even the emperor can't refuse him."

Ten days? Ling Zhang was stunned slightly. Yuwen Tong always stayed at the capital for less than ten days. Why?

Ling Zhang thought of something in his mind. But before he caught it, Tao Yi said again, "In addition, I heard that Marshal Yuwen didn't have a good relationship with his family. So he didn't want to stay at the capital for a long time."

He didn't get on well with his family?

"His uncle's family are his only relatives and he doesn't have any other elders to control him. How can he have a bad relationship with his family?" Ling Zhang was confused.

Tao Yi looked at him and joked, "Look, you also know about his family situation so clearly. How daredyou tease me just now?"

Ling Zhang was speechless.

Yuwen Tong told him that. He didn't try to know Yuwen Tong's family at all!

But he couldn't explain it. Otherwise Yuwen Tong would be exposed.

Tao Yi laughed in a strange manner. He said, "I find that you are not honest. You look uninterested in him. But you hear about his situation secretly."

Ling Zhang interrupted him with his emotionless face, "Brother Tao, I have to go back."

Then he prepared to stand up.

Tao Yi stopped him immediately and said, "Okay, I won't joke you again. You can still like him secretly."

Ling Zhang almost lifted the table out of anger.

"We don't know why he has a bad relationship with his family. Yuwen Family always concealed it. But..." Tao Yi hesitated.

"Complicated?" Ling Zhang asked.

"It's not really true. Well, Marshal Yuwen's uncle, Yuwen Zhi, is a little arrogant. He looks at others in a condescending way, which makes people uncomfortable. He is totally different from Marshal Yuwen. I feel it is not strange that he can't get on well with Marshal Yuwen." Tao Yi said.

"Have you ever made contact with his uncle?" Ling Zhang asked. Tao Yi's words reminded him of the servants of Yuwen Family in his last life. He felt disgusted suddenly.

"How could I have any dealings with him? I just saw him in some occasions. But I was unpleasant each time. If you have an opportunity to go to the capital and see him, you'd better avoid him." Tao Yi said.

Tao Yi decided to go to the capital city two days later. Seeing Tao Yi was so excited, Ling Zhang regretted a little. But he couldn't tell Tao Yi the truth that he wouldn't see Yuwen Tong even if he went to the capital right now.

Yuwen Tong guessed that the news he was in Tanyang might spread out in the capital soon. Tao Yi would spit out blood with anger when he knew it.

Ling Maomao came back from school when Ling Zhang and Tao were in the restaurant. He rushed to Ling Zhang's yard with his big dog, Ada, and shouted, "Elder brother! Elder brother!"

"Second young master," A servant said, "First young master is not here."

"Where is my elder brother?" Ling Maomao asked.

The servant didn't know Ling Zhang went to see Tao Yi. So he answered, "I don't know, either. He is out for an hour."

Ling Maomao's eyes lit up suddenly. He said, "I know. He must have gone to see Brother Yuwen."

After that, he ran out of Ling Zhang's yard and to the Green Bamboo Mansion with Ada hurriedly. The gatekeepers didn't stop Ling Maomao and Ada. After all, Marshal Yuwen had already told them that Ling Zhang and Ling Maomao could enter directly without his permission.

"Elder brother! Brother Yuwen!" Ling Maomao shouted as he ran.

Yuwen Tong heard it and went out. He asked, "Maomao, looking for your elder brother?"

"Brother Yuwen, is my elder brother here?" Ling Maomao ran to ask him. Ada ran fast behind him. But it stopped as soon as it saw Yuwen Tong and stood behind Ling Maomao, daring not to come close to Yuwen Tong.

"Your elder brother went out. Someone wanted to see him." Yuwen Tong said.

"Ah? Who is it?" Ling Maomao looked so disappointed.

"Tao Yi." Yuwen Tong answered.

"Oh. Brother Tao? Then they must be drinking in Fengtai Restaurant now." Ling Maomao said.

Drinking? Yuwen Tong raised his eyebrows.

"You call him Brother Tao. Are you familiar with him?" Yuwen Tong asked.

"Brother Tao is my elder brother's friend. I don't know him well. But he is a good man because he always tells me stories about Marshal Yuwen."

It was interesting that Tao Yi told Marshal Yuwen's stories to Ling Maomao. Yuwen Tong touched his chin.

"What did he tell you? Would you like to share with me? I also heard some of his stories. If yours are great, I will tell you what I've heard."

Ling Maomao's eyes lit up quickly, "Really?"

"I never lie." Yuwen Tong said.

Ling Maomao told Yuwen Tong in haste that he and Ling Zhang met Tao Yi when they walked on the street the other day. He said, "Brother Tao said that Marshal Yuwen is more handsome than the dough figurine my elder brother bought for me!"

Yuwen Tong curled the corner of his mouth. He felt that he found another character of Ling Zhang. To his surprise, Ling Zhang actually bought a dough figurine of him for Maomao.

"He is right. I... Marshal Yuwen is more handsome and stronger than the little dough figurine."

"I've told you that. You should tell me stories about Marshal Yuwen!" Ling Maomao urged.

"Okay. Come here and I'll tell you." Yuwen Tong brought him into the house.

Ling Maomao followed and sat on the chair obediently, looking at Yuwen Tong with expectation.

"What do you want to hear?" Yuwen Tong asked.

"I want to hear everything about him!" Ling Maomao said loudly.

"There are so many stories. You are too young to hear the bloody facts in war. I'll tell you a story about how scared the enemies got when seeing Marshal Yuwen." Yuwen Tong said without any shame.

"Okay, great." "Do you know Wan Country?" Yuwen Tong asked.

"Yes. It is our enemy with wild ambition." Ling Maomao answered.

"You are right. There was a general called Chen Feng in Wan Country. He was is empress's younger brother and got his position with the help of his elder sister. He was a stupid fat man. But he was so arrogant and ambitious, craving for greatness and success. When he came to the front line, he dared to provoke me... Marshal Yuwen on the first day. He claimed that he would behead Marshal Yuwen and take his head back to be rewarded." Yuwen Tong said.

Ling Maomao gasped in astonishment and asked anxiously, "What happened next?"

"Marshal Yuwen didn't say anything to him. He took an arrow and shot him directly. The arrow went straight into his hair, bruising his scalp. His blood fell down, which frightened him so that he wetted his pants. Then he tumbled off a horse and his fat body didn't stop after rolling several times. Everyone was laughing at him." Yuwen Tong said.

"Wow. Marshal Yuwen is so great!" Ling Maomao said with his shiny eyes.

Yuwen Tong was happy in his heart. He asked, "Guess what happened next?"

"What happened?" Ling Maomao asked him quickly.

"Chen Feng suffered from a serious illness when he went back, which made him become thin. Then he escaped to the capital if Wan Country as soon as he recovered." Yuwen Tong said.

"Ah? He ran away." Ling Maomao said disappointingly.

"Marshal Yuwen did that intentionally." Yuwen Tong said.

"Why?" Ling Maomao couldn't understand it.

"Although Chen Feng was a fool, he had an elder sister who loved him so much. In order to avenge him, she vilified Xue Chi, the general of Wan Country, in front of the emperor. Xue Chi was in frontier at that time. Then he lost his position and went back to stay at home in Wan Country." Yuwen Tong explained.

Ling Maomao did not fully understand. He asked, "Then what happened?"

"Later, the new general of Wan Country was worse than Xue Chi and was killed by Marshal Yuwen." Yuwen Tong continued.

Ling Maomao was shocked. Then he finally understood it and praised, "Marshal Yuwen is so clever!"

"He is not bad." Yuwen Tong was not humble at all.

"You told him that. What if he inadvertently disclosed that to others?" Ling Zhang's voice came from the door.

Yuwen Tong turned back and looked at him, "What do you think of the story?"

Ling Zhang walked into the house and said, "Great."

Hearing it, Yuwen Tong felt he was happier than hearing Ling Maomao's praise.

"Maomao, you can't tell others the story Brother Yuwen just told you. Do you understand?" Ling Zhang said in a serious tone.

Ling Maomao nodded, "I get it. I won't tell others."

"Brother Yuwen, do you know other stories?" He looked at Yuwen Tong with expectations.

Yuwen Tong took a look at Ling Zhang and said, "Only story a day. I need some time to recall them"

Ling Maomao was a little disappointed, but also pleasant when he knew that he could hear a story every day. He promised, "I'll come here every day."

"Maomao, you can't always come to bother Brother Yuwen." Ling Zhang looked at him seriously.

"It doesn't matter. I will ask people to tell him if I am busy." Yuwen Tong said.

Ling Zhang looked at him disapprovingly. But he didn't have the heart to turn down Ling Maomao's request when seeing the expectation in his eyes. So he had to agree with Yuwen Tong.

"Elder brother, when did you come back?" Ling Maomao asked.

"I came back when you were immersed in the story." Ling Zhang said.

"I have a day off tomorrow. Let's go out to play!" Ling Maomao suggested.

"I'm busy tomorrow. I have no time to play with you." Ling Zhang said. Yuwen Tong said they had only half a month. So he had to make some arrangements.

"What are you busy with?" Ling Maomao was a bit disappointed.

"It's not safe outside recently. Let's go out next time. I will ask the kitchen to prepare your favorite dessert tomorrow." Ling Zhang comforted him.

"Okay. Why is it dangerous outside?" Ling Maomao asked.

"There are some bad guys." Ling Zhang said.

"Who are they?" Ling Maomao asked again.

"They want to harm our Ling Family." Ling Zhang explained.

Ling Maomao was shocked. Did anyone plan to hurt Ling Family?

"So you should be vigilant when at school. You can't walk around. When seeing strangers, you should avoid and ignore them. Do you understand? You'd better stay with guards and servants. Don't be out of their sights." Ling Zhang told him.

Seeing his elder brother's serious attitude, Ling Maomao didn't dare to refuse.

After staying at Yuwen Tong's house for a short time, he finally left with Ada.

"The story that you told Maomao... is it real?" Ling Zhang asked Yuwen Tong.

"Of course it is." Yuwen Tong said.