In the flower hall on the west side of the central hall of the Akagi Councilor's Office, several tables of wine and food were placed.
Zhang Cheng, Ji Xuanzhu, their uncle Ning Guangyuan, and their second brother Ji Youqing were at a table. Next to them were Wu Tingyue and Zhang Lifang, who were also at a table. Next to them were Jia Sao, Yu Rui, and Xiu Yue.
On the other side were Lin Fangping, Zhang Guodong, Chen Dakuan, Jin Yong and others sitting at the same table.
Logically speaking, the third day after the wedding should be the time to return to peace, but the north road is quite far from the capital, making it difficult to get back and forth.
Therefore, in the Red Castle, his uncle Ning Guangyuan and his second brother Ji Youqing greeted Zhang Cheng and Ji Xuanzhu on their behalf. During the Spring Festival, Zhang Cheng accompanied Ji Xuanzhu to the capital to pay homage to their relatives.
Since it is the etiquette of Guining, there are also some rules and etiquette that need to be observed. Although they are simplified, they cannot be abandoned.
They were busy until the sun set in the west and it was almost dusk. Everything was done. After everyone took their seats in the flower hall, Ji Xuanzhu just took a few bites, then got up and left the table to go back to the inner house.
Wu Tingyue and Zhang Lifang also walked towards the inner house, and faintly heard Zhang Lifang's voice: "...it's hot...it's so comfortable to soak in..."
As soon as the female relatives left, Ning Guangyuan hurriedly called Zhang Guodong and others to come over and eat and drink together.
Ji Youqing then scolded him and said, "Uncle is like this, how can he still look like an elder?"
Ning Guangyuan looked disapproving and said: "We are all our own people, so we can just show off. My niece was here just now. Everyone must abide by the rules. Now Xuanzhu and others have entered the inner room, and we are waiting again Why stick to vulgar etiquette?"
It turns out that in just these few days, Ning Guangyuan has gotten along very harmoniously with Zhang Guodong, Wei Zhice and others. He seems to like the atmosphere here on North Road very much and seems to be happy to miss Shu.
Lin Fangping first came over and poured rice wine for Zhang Cheng and others, and then asked Zhang Cheng softly: "Commander Commander..."
"Come here, everyone. Don't be formal. Just have fun with your uncle today."
When they saw Zhang Cheng speaking, Zhang Guodong and others stood up one after another and walked over with their own glasses of wine. Several ladies hurriedly caught up and put the food and wine from the two tables on one table.
Everyone was playing guessing games and giving orders, all looking very unhappy. After Ji Youqing sat with them for a while, he felt that he really couldn't fit into the atmosphere, so he apologized and left the table alone.
Zhang Cheng likes to drink, and he is very good at playing guessing games. He was having fun with his uncle when he suddenly saw his brother-in-law Ji Youqing leaving the table. He greeted everyone and left the table as well.
…………
The sky was dark, and only red lanterns were fluttering in the autumn wind. The cold night wind blew on people's bodies, and Zhang Cheng couldn't help but tremble.
He said with concern: "It's cold in the north, so don't let me catch a cold."
"It doesn't matter, brother-in-law, can you drink it too?"
Zhang Cheng's second uncle is different from other scholars. Nowadays, those scholars are proud to hold a folding fan, but Ji Youqing has a three-foot green peak sword hanging on his waist.
"I have eaten and drank enough for a long time. I just wanted to spend some time with my uncle. My mother is an uncle, so I always have to accompany my uncle well." Zhang Cheng answered.
"Uncle is more playful, brother-in-law should be more tolerant!"
"Where did this come from? Zhang Cheng thought that his uncle was very good."
Zhang Cheng walked to Ji Youqing's side as he spoke, and asked softly: "May I ask second brother, do you know where the eldest brother is working now?"
Ji Youqing was stunned when he heard this and replied: "My brother is currently serving as the magistrate of Wu'an County, Zhangde Prefecture, Henan Province. My brother-in-law asked me this, what's the matter?"
Zhang Cheng smiled and said softly: "Nothing else. I just heard that Henan is suffering from a serious drought this year. I am afraid that the harvest will be poor. Zhongzhen is afraid that hungry people will cause trouble to the place. That's why I asked this question."
He paused and then said: "Wu'an County, where my brother-in-law is appointed, is not far from Huolu, Zhice's ancestral home. When I was the king of Qin last time, I fought with the cavalry at the foot of Huolu City, and I fought with the local people.
There are some connections, since my brother-in-law is working in Wu'an, I can send someone to contact him, and if something happens, I can also help him!"
Ji Youqing raised his head, looked at the dark sky, and said: "Brother-in-law, in your opinion, can the Ming Dynasty be saved?"
This time it was Zhang Cheng's turn to be stunned. He looked at Ji Youqing in front of him and didn't know how to answer for a moment, so he had to ask: "Why did the second brother say this?"
"well!"
Ji Youqing sighed and then said: "Loyalty can be known. Since the early years of Chongzhen, rogue bandits have appeared one after another. They have collected and confiscated money and food for more than ten years, but the current situation is like this. Last year, it was a great scene. The bandits who were sacrificed rebelled.
Completely destroyed.
Moreover, the Eastern invaders are becoming more and more rampant. In the second year of Chongzhen, they invaded the capital for the first time, and there were still elites from all over the world fighting under the capital city. But last year they invaded and went straight to Shandong. King De was in trouble. Who else can fight with them?"
When he said this, Ji Youqing looked back at Zhang Cheng and said: "Except for Lu Duchen's giant deer's lamentation, only my brother-in-law fought against the Eastern captives, shot Dorgon with arrows, and killed Ma Zhan, Yue Tuo and other slave chiefs.
The country saved a bit of face. However,
But what does all this do?
Although the Eastern captives retreated, they still plundered King De and took nearly 400,000 of my people captive. They marched back outside the pass in a majestic manner. Tens of thousands of troops gathered under the capital city, how could they stop them in the slightest?"
He continued: "Of all the princes in the court, with Huanghuang's words, is there anyone who can help Shao Bao?
We are all vying for power and profit, they are just trying to gain fame and fortune all day long, but there is one person who dares to raise his arms and risk his life to save the country, regardless of life and death?"
Zhang Cheng looked at Ji Youqing with even more surprise. He never thought that his second brother-in-law would have such a big heart?
But he said calmly: "I don't know if there is any rescue in the Ming Dynasty. However, I will try my best to save the people I want to save!"
Under Ji Youqing's gaze, he continued: "Last year, when King Qin was king, there were only a thousand elite cavalry who were loyal and could not save Lu Duchen and his uncle, so they died at the hands of captured cavalry and died on the battlefield.
Therefore, after returning to Xuanzhen, he asked himself to go out to the North Road of the town to train his soldiers. Now he has gathered more than ten thousand brave soldiers. When the army is ready in the coming year, even if it is unable to restore the decline of the imperial court and to exterminate the bandits, it may still be impossible to drive out the Tatars.
prisoner.
But it is enough to protect the people I love, protect the relatives around me, save the people I want to save, and guard a city, a road, and a town."
When Zhang Cheng said this, he also raised his head, looked at the dark sky, and said: "Just like this vast sky, when ordinary people see it, it is pitch black and empty.
But I can see the light, just because there is light in my heart that has not been extinguished, so everything I see is light. Zhang Cheng is willing to use his life's efforts to turn this little light into thousands of rays, pierce the dark void, and light up hundreds of thousands of people.
The eyes of millions of people.”
Ji Youqing looked surprised. He looked at his brother-in-law in front of him with extremely complicated expressions. He had never thought that Zhang Cheng, a warrior, could be so knowledgeable?
At first, he didn't feel the slightest bit of unwillingness for his sister, who was quite reluctant to be called a talented girl and marry Zhang Cheng, a warrior. But tonight's conversation made him feel that the trip was worthwhile, and he also felt towards Zhang Cheng.
generated great interest.
He looked up to the sky again, and seemed to see a glimmer of light in the dark, and still murmured:
"Let this little light turn into thousands of rays of light, pierce the dark void, and light up the eyes of millions of people."