Because Zhang Hongji's request to marry Yuan Yan failed, in the past when Zhang Wenjing mentioned this second brother, it was easy to think that he was mediocre and incompetent.
Based on the personalities of Li Xia and Zhang Wenjing, whenever they talk about other people's relationships, they all think that Zhang Hongji should be himself instead of thinking about Yuan Yan.
In the eyes of people at the time, infatuated men always seemed weak, not to mention that Zhang Erlang was inherently weak and sickly.
But this is just Zhang Wenjing's impression.
"I rarely see my second brother. I heard people joking about these old things when I was young. You know that the girl's family is only interested in these things. I don't know what else my second brother does besides liking Sister Yuan."
Li Xia said: "Today I asked Yuan Yan her impression of Zhang Erlang."
Zhang Wenjing became interested as soon as she heard this. She put down the gift card in her hand, pushed Li Xia to sit down on the chair, and sat on his lap.
"Every time I asked Sister Yuan, she always told me to stop making trouble, but she never told me what she thought."
It was clear that there were still many serious matters to discuss, but she already looked like she wanted to hear Li Xia talk about her family's shortcomings.
"It's nothing. She said that Zhang Erlang didn't have any intention for her. It was just a matchmaker. If it didn't work, it wouldn't work..."
Zhang Rou and Yuan Haowen were brothers-in-law. Back then, Zhang Hongji wanted to marry Yuan Yan, but they were considered to be a good match.
The reason why it didn't work was that the Yuan family just felt that Zhang Hongji's status was too high, he was also frail and sickly, he was prone to trouble, and he was not a good match.
Yuan Yan later married a scholar, but he never thought that his husband's family would die earlier than Zhang Erlang.
Living in troubled times, losing a husband is a difficult life for a woman. She has always been reluctant to mention these past events. It was only when Li Xia asked about it that she reluctantly elaborated.
But I don’t think Zhang Erlang had any intention of marrying anyone other than her at that time.
As for what Zhang Wenjing later said about "the second brother's heart is in his heart", in Yuan Yan's eyes, it was just to help the friendship between the two families.
When Li Xia relayed this point, Zhang Wenjing couldn't help but retort: "Is it because of family friendship? After sister Yuan's husband died, she returned to Xiurong's family and became a monk in Baiheguan. Her second brother even chased her to Baiheguan."
"Yuan Yan said that she worshiped Master Yuqing as her teacher at that time, and Master Yuqing was also a disciple of Master Piyun Song Defang. Zhang Erlang had practiced Taoism with Song Defang in his early years. Later, when Song Defang passed away, he went to Sanqing Temple to express his condolences. On his return, he was worshiped by Master Yuqing.
I invite you to stay at Baihe Temple to recuperate."
"Excuse." Zhang Wenjing said: "When I was a child, I saw my second brother keeping a portrait of Sister Yuan at home. He said that he came to Baihe Temple by chance. Do you believe it?"
"I know that Zhang Erlang really likes Yuan Yan and deliberately found an excuse to see her." Li Xia said: "But if he likes her, it should not affect his judgment. You see, after his marriage proposal was rejected, it was forgotten.
No matter how indifferent he was, even though he had concerns about it later on, he never stalked him, and it was out of love and politeness. This shows that he has his own mind..."
Zhang Wenjing found it funny and asked, "Why are you suddenly so concerned about their past?"
"I was wondering, why did your second brother turn to us?"
"With Sister Yuan on our side, of course he would prefer that the Zhang family join us."
"Maybe a small part of the reason is because of Yuan Yan, but it's definitely not the whole reason." Li Xia said: "If he is really so emotional, it will be very dangerous."
"It means that second brother understands that you are the most worthy of assistance."
"You just believe me that much?"
"Well, I trust my own vision." Zhang Wenjing said without hesitation, "Second Brother's choice this time shows that he also has a vision."
Li Xia smiled and said, "Okay, I already have a rough impression of him."
…
This time, the news from Baozhou was a bit unexpected. Zhang Rou was transferred to Yanjing, but his second son Zhang Hongji stayed in Baozhou and was responsible for secretly communicating with Li Xia.
This result was beyond Li Xia's expectation.
He also needs to piece together what happened in Baozhou thousands of miles away through news one by one, piece together the face of Zhang Hongji, and decide whether the other party is trustworthy.
After learning about the past between Zhang Hongji and Yuan Yan from Zhang Wenjing, Li Xia began to piece it together based on the experiences told by Yu Dechen.
"Remember the Yu Dechen I talked about last time? He was rescued by Zhang Erlang and came back with the caravan this time."
"how come?"
"I just said that Zhang Erlang followed Song Defang to practice Taoism in his early years. Later, he also lived in Xiurong Baihe Temple for a period of time."
"Well, my eldest brother died young, and my second brother was frail since he was a child. At that time, my father was away fighting for many years, so he was fostered under the family of Master Piyun for a period of time."
Li Xiandao: "After Song Defang's death, Taiyuan Sanqing Temple was hosted by his disciple Qin Zhian, who was an old acquaintance of Zhang Erlang. Less than a hundred miles north of Sanqing Temple was Baihe Temple. Several of the temple's contents were arranged by your second brother.
people."
"My second brother arranged for someone to be at Baiheguan?" Zhang Wenjing thought for a moment and said, "I understand, he stayed there to protect Sister Yuan, but later Mr. Yishan passed away in Huolu, and Sister Yuan never came back after arriving at Huolu.
When I went back, my second brother’s people stayed in Baiheguan.”
"According to Yu Dechen, he assassinated Hao Tianju at the gate of Taiyuan City, and then grabbed Hao Tianju's carriage and rushed out of Taiyuan City. Qin Zhi'an was on the carriage at the time, so the disciples of Sanqing Temple did not allow the Mongolian army to fire arrows, and Yu Dechen fled eastward
After driving for more than ten miles, the pursuers arrived, but Qin Zhi'an drove him away to divert the pursuers and asked him to go to Sanqing Temple to find a Taoist named Yun Guizi."
It was not difficult for Qin Zhi'an to lure away the pursuers. Maybe after the carriage was stopped, he would stab himself and say that the assassin had escaped somewhere.
However, Li Xia was not sure whether the old Taoist priest could avoid Zhang Hongfan's pursuit by doing this.
This matter was unknown to him.
Li Xia continued: "After Yu Dechen arrived at Sanqing Temple, he found Yun Guizi. Yun Guizi is a good friend of your second brother, so he has some connections in Taiyuan."
Zhang Wenjing asked: "But the second brother should not have received the news at this time and can tell his friends to help, right?"
"Mao Jujie left people in Taiyuan. After hearing about the assassination at the city gate, he went to Sanqing Temple to find Yun Guizi to inquire."
"Fifth uncle?"
Li Xiandao: "According to what Hao Tianyi said, before he ran away, he met Mao Jujie. Mao Jujie asked him carefully about what I was doing."
"It can be seen that father was considering whether to assist you, so he sent his fifth uncle over." Zhang Wenjing asked quickly: "Did Hao Tianyi say that you were wise and powerful at that time? If not, he would have to be severely punished."
"Hao Tianyi doesn't need to say more. He abandoned his family and came to join me. He has shown with his actions that he thinks I am worthy of joining him."
Zhang Wenjing was very proud. She put her hands around Li Xia's neck and said, "Then my fifth uncle must also know that you are an unparalleled hero."
"I don't know if I am an unparalleled hero in his eyes, but he really wanted to get in touch with me, so he sent someone to steal the Golden Tiger Talisman to help Hao Tianyi leave. He also left someone in Taiyuan. Yu Dechen said that this man is small.
He has a sinister eyebrow and a stern eye. When I told him his name, he turned out to be an old acquaintance of mine."
"An old acquaintance of yours?"
"White-haired rat, Bai Mao."
"do not know."
"Remember that poem you wrote back then? Your fifth brother stole it and asked Bai Mao to give it to me."
"Really annoying."
Li Xia continued: "Your fifth uncle and your second brother obviously have a tacit understanding, but Yu Dechen doesn't know the specifics. He only knows that after Yun Guizi discussed with Bai Mao, he took him to Baiheguan for temporary refuge. After that, Baozhou
When the order arrived, Yu Deshen was sent out of Shanxi and brought to Baozhou."
"It's a coincidence, right?" Zhang Wenjing said, "This Taoist priest is very lucky."
"After all, it was a situation we put together. It's a coincidence. It makes sense to say that your fifth uncle and second brother were the ones who signaled to save me." Li Xia said: "They didn't have to take risks. The reason why they did this was to express their gratitude to me."
I showed my kindness, or it could be that Yu Deshen dressed up in disguise and showed his ability in the process of assassinating Hao Tianju, which made them think it was worth saving."
Judging from this matter, Zhang Hongji's attitude towards Li Xia is very clear, and can even be said to be very firm.
This was something Li Xia didn't expect at all. After all, he had never dealt with Zhang Hongji. Although he was Zhang Hongji's brother-in-law, Zhang Wenjing was not very familiar with this second brother.
Unexpected, but a good thing indeed.
"After Yu Dechen arrived in Baozhou, he quickly met Lin Zi and Dong Wenyong. They were discussing with your father at the Zhang family's old residence. At that time, your father had received Kublai Khan's edict and was about to leave for Yanjing, so
Let your second brother prepare a dowry for you..."
When Zhang Rou was mentioned, Zhang Wenjing felt a little regretful.
Although this time even if Zhang Rou was not summoned to Yanjing, she would not be able to raise the flag immediately. In terms of the result, it is nothing more than smuggling.
But it still made her feel far away.
She couldn't help but ask: "Then if you send troops to the Northern Expedition in the future, will my second brother have the ability and determination to respond to you? And my father will not be in Baozhou by then, will there be danger?"
Li Xia patted her back gently and said: "You are thinking too far. It is not yet time to think about this. Just saying that your second brother can smuggle with us can already play many important roles. It can not only help
I penetrated into Henan and obtained a lot of intelligence, and I was able to slowly win over the princes of Henan with benefits. In the coming Northern Expedition, our soldiers and horses will not turn a blind eye to the Central Plains, and even a surprise army can quietly arrive in Baozhou..."
~~
When it comes to the significance of the Baozhou incident, Li Xia and Zhang Wenjing can only give a general idea.
In fact, there was more information, and he had to slowly verify, digest, and come up with a response.
For example, Zhang Hongji also gave the latest intelligence on the dispute between Kublai Khan and Ali Buge. He had to compare the intelligence brought back by Hao Tianyi with what Lin Zi had obtained, and analyze Kublai Khan's troop deployment.
For another example, the news that Kublai Khan might set up a spy agency had not yet spread in Yanjing, but Chang'an already knew about it.
Lin Zi returned to Chang'an that day, and the first thing he did after meeting Li Xia was to rush back to the Military Intelligence Department office to summon his confidants to discuss the matter.
"Our Military Intelligence Department is about to have an opponent. There will soon be an office in the north to prevent and target us."
Lin Zi's tone was cold, but his eyes were arrogant.
"The Mongols also want to compete with us in the matter of espionage, but they have forgotten who the king is, who I am, and who you are. I don't know that they are playing house under our noses..."
The atmosphere in the Military Intelligence Department was different from that in the army. No one responded carelessly. Listening to Lin Zi's words, these spies sneered from time to time, looking very sinister.
"Envoy, if that's the case, why not send some people over to serve as the elders of the spy yamen for the Mongols? I would like to be the first to go..."