Zhang Cheng had a pleasant chat with He Chongwu in the Chicheng Military Preparatory Office. However, the moon was dark and the wind was high, and he had to rush to Beijing tomorrow, so he said at the right time: "Master Bingxian, Zhang Cheng has to rush tomorrow, so he will go to Beijing tonight."
Please take your leave and come back to listen to Master Bingxian's teachings after your trip to Beijing is over."
He Chongwu was no longer as indifferent as Zhang Cheng was when he visited last time. On the contrary, he was a little enthusiastic. He knew that what Zhang Cheng said was true and did not do much to persuade him. He only shouted to the outside of the hall: "Is He Shen here?
"
An old man in his late fifties pushed open the door and walked in. Although he was a bit older, his voice was very rich and he said in a deep voice: "Master, He Shen is waiting for you."
"Well, help me see off General Zhang." He Chongwu ordered.
Then He Shen stood by the door, bowed and said: "General Zhang, please."
Zhang Cheng walked out of the hall, and He Chongwu followed him. He stood at the door and said, "General Zhang, go slowly. When you return from the capital, we will discuss everything in detail."
"Master Bingxian, please stay. It's windy and cold at night, so don't catch a cold. Zhang Cheng has resigned."
The old butler He Shen held a lantern and led Zhang Cheng to the front door of the government office.
…………
He Chongwu stood outside the hall door with his hands folded. Seeing Zhang Cheng and his old servant He Shen walking away gradually and disappearing from sight, he slightly raised his head and looked at the dark sky.
There was a sound of light footsteps behind him, coming from an angle in the hall, gradually approaching, and then he heard a voice asking: "Father, how do you read this piece of sincerity?"
He Chongwu did not turn around, but still looked up at the dark sky and asked: "Jin'er, you have heard the conversation between my father and that Zhang Cheng, please tell me your opinion first."
This person was none other than He Chongwu's son He Jin. He had a son when he was old and loved him very much. He kept him by his side and strictly disciplined and trained him.
Whenever he meets with guests from various parties, he would set up a small table in the next room, brew a pot of tea, and set up a soft chair, so that he, the young master, could eavesdrop on the conversation. After that, he would explain the guests and what they talked about one by one.
Tasting.
The same goes for today's meeting with Zhang Cheng. There is a corner in his hall, and he has used a large screen to separate another residence, which is specially used for He Jin.
Seeing his father asking questions, He Jin thought for a while and then said: "Father, although Zhang Cheng was born in the army, I can see that his speech is quite decent. I am afraid that his ambition is not on the way to the north. It seems that his goal is ambitious and his ambition is not small."
ah!"
"When he was young, this man relied on the power of his uncle, Zhang Yan, and now, with the help of King Qin, he is guarding the North Road. He has the favor of the emperor in the palace, and he has the care of Mr. Yangge in the court. He is the governor of Xuanzhen, and the general
The soldiers all favored him, and when he first guarded the north road, he knew how to kill people to establish his authority, and he had the courage to organize the affairs of the village. His behavior was indeed extraordinary."
Hearing his father's comments, He Jin nodded, as if remembering something, and said hurriedly: "Father, just now Kaiping Guards Commander Xue Liangqing sent someone to visit him and gave him a generous gift.
It is also said that when the new general arrived in Dushi, he massacred more than a hundred people outside the south gate, and accused Zhang Cheng of enslaving the soldiers and embezzling money. This has caused panic in the North Road and unstable people's hearts."
Although He Chongwu looked up at the dark night sky, he kept his eyes closed. Hearing He Jin's words, he opened his eyes. He turned back, waved his sleeves vigorously and ran into the hall, saying:
"What nonsense!"
After He Chongwu sat down, He Jin called for a servant to make tea again. After pouring tea for his father, he sat next to his father and said, "Father, what do you think of Xue Liangqing coming to accuse Zhang Cheng?"
He Chongwu took a sip of tea and said: "Humph, Xue Liangqing was resentful because Zhang Cheng violated his own interests and was not promoted. If a person is blinded by the resentment in his heart, he is like a blind man walking in the dark with a lamp.
"
He Jin was startled and said: "Father, what do you mean, Xue Liangqing will hit an egg against a stone and fight to the death?"
He Chongwu did not answer directly, but said: "Zhang Guowei, relying on Yongning, colluded with him, like a snake and a rat, but he didn't know that Zhang Guowei was as slippery as oil, how could he do such a desperate thing?"
He Jin nodded and said: "Father, it seems that Wu Shoubei also has some opinions on Zhang Cheng. Didn't he plan to trap him before? This time Xue Liangqing has sent people to Chicheng. Will the two of them..."
He Chongwu interrupted him and asked: "Who did Xue Liangqing send to Chicheng?"
"It's his nephew Xue Jing."
He Chongwu closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then opened his eyes and said: "Jin'er, let's wait and see what happens. No matter what the outcome is, it has nothing to do with us. Even if Zhang Cheng has lofty aspirations, if he can't survive this disaster, he will
It’s all in vain.”
He Jin was a little frightened when he heard this, and asked: "Father, if this is really the case, will it cause chaos on the North Road and be blamed by the court?"
"As long as I'm here, the chaos on the North Road will never break out. I'm approaching my sixtieth year now, and everything is clear. I just need to plan some future for you. Alas, I'll wait until the North Road stabilizes.
Plan it.
Jin'er, don't reveal even a single word of what you and I are talking about today to the outside world, you can save it!"
"It's better to go in, father."
"Being a father is a bit tiring, so you should go to rest early."
"Yes, father."
Looking at He Jin's retreating figure, He Chongwu muttered silently: Zhang Cheng, this time it depends on your luck!
…………
Zhang Cheng was tossing and turning in the bedroom in the backyard of the General's Office in Chicheng. Although he had been riding for a day, he was a little tired, but his mind was restless and he had no intention of sleeping.
As he lay on the bed, he couldn't help but miss the shyness of the Liu sisters. As he tossed and turned, his mind was filled with the white flowers of warblers and swallows, and the bursts of songs and dances lingered in his mind, lingering for a long time.
A wave of love broke into his dream.
Just when Zhang Cheng was aroused by the erotic feeling in his sleep, in a small room in the backyard of the Chicheng garrison office, another conspiracy against him was going on.
"Sir Wu, you must stop being rebellious and do extraordinary things in emergency situations. You must not be trapped in a cocoon. If you wait for Zhang Cheng's return, will there still be a place for you on this North Road?" Xue Jing persuaded him earnestly.
.
Wu Youlu just drank tea quietly with a calm expression on his face, but Xue Jing was a little impatient. He thought that this trip could not be in vain. Since he had taken this first step, he could not stop.
If when Zhang Cheng returns, he will conduct an inventory of the farmland and military households as he said, regardless of whether he will allow him to raise his own family, even if Zhang Cheng doesn't care about it, he won't be able to support him.
If the family fortune, the fields and the hermitage that he had worked so hard to save over the years were gone, his comfortable life would be gone forever. He would have to fight for his future.
"Master Guards, although this matter is closely related, as long as we do it secretly, outsiders will not be able to detect it. As long as we get rid of Zhang Cheng, his troops and horses will not be at the mercy of Master Wu. If Master Wu can accept this,
Hundreds of elite soldiers, you must be the next commander-in-chief of the branch defense!"