Once the siege of Baozhou was lifted, the atmosphere in the city became very different from the past.
The soldiers and civilians saw with their own eyes how Li Xia forced Brother Yixiang to retreat as soon as Li Xia's dragon flag came out, and they had greater confidence in this new dynasty.
The Northern Expedition has reached its final stage, and the next step is obviously to besiege Yanjing.
Under this situation, the soldiers were gearing up one after another, their morale was high, and the city was full of enthusiasm.
On April 14, only three days after the siege of Baozhou was relieved, a group of carriages slowly entered the city from the south gate and drove straight to the Lianchi Villa, or now called the Lianchi Palace.
Yuan Yan was also among the officials who went north. He met with Li Xia and reported on her effectiveness in calming the people in the north. He did not leave the front hall like other officials.
Because Li Xia said to her: "You did a good job. By the way, Wen Jing wants to see you. She is waiting for you in the backyard."
The weather was perfect that day and the scenery beside the lotus pond was pleasant.
Yuan Yan and Zhang Wenjing were walking side by side by the pool. They both looked like gentle ladies, as if they had blended into the painting.
"When my father was alive, he often talked about wanting to live in the Ten Thousand Volumes Library for a long time." Yuan Yan looked at the tall building across the lake and smiled. It looked much brighter than before. "We finally recovered Baozhou.
so good."
"It's so good." Zhang Wenjing also laughed and said, "It feels like I'm back when I was a kid, but even better than when I was a kid."
"Are you happy to see your father and brother?"
At this point, Zhang Wenjing suppressed the smile on her face. Yuan Yan then asked, "What's on your mind?"
"It's true, but it's not a big deal. It's just that the war hasn't stopped and many things are busy."
"Just don't tell me." Yuan Yan put his hands on his back as usual and said, "I've been shopping with you for a while. I'm still busy, so I'm leaving."
She took two steps, but then looked back at Zhang Wenjing. "Huh?"
"I'm just a little worried about my father." Zhang Wenjing said, "Sister Yuan, you know, since I entered Baozhou City, I have only briefly met him twice, but it seems that he is busier than Your Majesty."
"Why?" "It's just a desire to achieve great results."
Zhang Wenjing pursed her lips, showing her dissatisfaction after all.
Yuan Yan pondered for a while and said: "Marshal Zhang is willing to serve His Majesty, which is always a good thing."
Zhang Wenjing shook her head, smiled helplessly, said no more, changed the subject, and said: "My second brother wants to see you. However, if you refuse, I will refuse on your behalf."
Yuan Yan waved his hand to indicate that Zhang Hongji was gone.
She thought for a while, looked at Zhang Wenjing, and said, "You have always been smart, but this time I am afraid that you will get confused if you show concern. How could your Majesty not know about Marshal Zhang's thoughts?"
It is not difficult to guess what Zhang Rou is thinking.
I just hope that the Zhang family will make more contributions, accumulate power, and help Zhang Wenjing ascend to the lower position in the future. Of course, it is still too early to say this now, and Li Xia will not allow any infighting. Zhang Rou is looking forward to it.
It will be a long time later, even if he has passed away for a long time by then.
No one can say that this kind of thinking is wrong unless he points it out. But Zhang Wenjing can realize that there is something wrong with it.
She never dared to speak, but she only dared to confide when facing Yuan Yan, whispering: "I have never thought about arguing with Sister Gao."
"Don't mention it to Marshal Zhang. If you mention it, he will never admit it. He will only ask you if it is wrong to serve the country wholeheartedly."
"That's why people feel depressed."
"Don't worry, your Majesty knows it well." Yuan Yan said: "The world is so big, can all the credit be given to Marshal Zhang alone? The Zhang family made the first contribution to the attack on Yanjing, so I will give it back."
Someone is needed to destroy the Song Dynasty, not to mention the vastness of the world."
Zhang Wenjing was stunned, but she didn't expect Yuan Yan to say such words.
Thinking again that Yuan Yan had met Li Xia before coming to see her, she couldn't help but wonder whether Li Xia intended to let Yuan Yan enlighten her.
He is a man who always knows everything well.
Yuan Yan said again: "Don't worry and let him do it. As long as his achievements are not so high that he will act recklessly, and he will not get into trouble because of it, this old man can only have hope if he has hope."
Healthy."
~~
At this time, Li Xia was meeting Zhang Rou.
Because Zhang Rou was old, a stool was set up in the hall for him to sit down.
"I still want to implore your majesty to allow me to accompany the army to attack Yanjing. I think that the capital city of Jinzhong is in dilapidated state. When the king's troops arrive at the city, Kublai Khan will hold on to the new city of Yuan Dadu, which was built under the supervision of my veteran."
"Having the drawings drawn by Duke Zhang and Liu Lang accompanying the army must be enough. Why don't Duke Zhang rest in Baozhou for a while?"
There was no one else around at this time, and Li Xia spoke very politely.
But Zhang Rou was more polite and always adhered to the etiquette of a minister, trying hard to make every move of hers please Li Xia.
"I have more prestige than Rokuro. If I am here, many people will be swayed by my humble appearance. It will be beneficial to the war. Even if it can speed up your majesty's goal of unifying the world by a day."
In fact, Li Xia agreed with this truth, and after thinking about it, he had no reason to reject Zhang Rou.
He then agreed.
Zhang Rou was overjoyed, and sent several other memorials one after another, such as dedicating many houses and acres of land to help the army, and recommending many scholars from Hebei, all of which were in line with Li Xia's immediate needs.
--
After returning to the Zhang Mansion, Zhang Rou's expression became more and more excited, and she even became less old-fashioned.
He refused to go back to his room to rest. Instead, he sat down in the lobby, called over his twelfth son Zhang Hongyi, who was standing there with his head down, and said, "Go and call your second brother out. He won't show up for several days."
"Father, my second brother is sick."
"He has been ill for twenty years, and since he is not dead yet, he came out." Zhang Rouhu's eyes widened and he shouted: "Go quickly."
Zhang Hongyi had no choice but to turn around and go to Zhang Hongji, who had been closing the door to thank guests for a long time. However, when he arrived at the small courtyard and asked, he heard that Zhang Hongji was not at home today.
"Really? My second brother is not here today. Could it be that he knew that his father was looking for him? What a surprise."
Zhang Hongyi muttered like this, turned around and called someone else, but saw the one-armed Zhang Hongqing on the road.
"Brother Eleven?" "Yeah."
"When I met you, my father asked you to come to the lobby. He said that if you recovered from your injuries, he would receive a civilian job and join the army in the Northern Expedition to perform meritorious service."
"knew."
Zhang Hongyi turned around and took a look and said, "Brother Eleven, are you worried?"
"No."
"Ha." Zhang Hongyi then leaned into Zhang Hongqing's ear and said, "You are also afraid of your father, right?"
Zhang Hongqing was stunned for a moment, thinking about Zhang Rou's words a few days ago, "I'll kill anyone who dares to stop him from serving his father." His expression turned even darker.
He had begun to regret a little, realizing that he had been seriously harmed by Dong Wenyong this time. At least he could still survive for his original crime, but now that once people find out, Zhang Rou is afraid that he will be killed first.
After all, he was sent out as a proton, so how much heartache can he feel?
Walking to the lobby full of thoughts, Zhang Hongqing did not dare to speak and stood aside listening to Zhang Rou's lecture.
In the end, all I could hear was Zhang Judao: "Go and get ready. We will set out in three days."
"Father."
Suddenly a timid voice sounded in the hall.
Zhang Hongqing turned around and saw that it was Zhang Hongyi who spoke.
Zhang Hongyi glanced at Zhang Rou with evasive eyes and said, "Can my son not go to war? My son wants to study in Chang'an."
Zhang Hongqing couldn't help being surprised and somewhat admired his younger brother's courage.
As expected, Zhang Rou was furious and shouted: "What did you say?! Study? Among my father's sons, you are the worst at studying!"
Zhang Hongyi was so shocked that he trembled and almost fell to the ground.
But he held on and said: "But sister, brother-in-law has promised me that I can also take a, that, different path
"What did you say?" Zhang Rou was stunned and asked, "Who?"