At noon, the sky was a little cloudy, but it didn't affect Zhang Dangju's good mood at all.
He was sitting behind the low seat in the front hall of the palace, with a smile on his face.
Since he was dismissed from office, he has never been so happy if he could help the Confucian lineage to overwhelm the military strategists and become the most prominent school in the world.
Not only is Zhang Dangju likely to be revived, he may even have the chance to be famous and famous throughout the ages.
The emperor and Wei Qing focused on cultivating Huo Qubing, mainly because Huo Qubing showed the potential to become a famous general.
This was his judgment after communicating with Princess Pingyang.
If someone can be found to show equal talent in front of the emperor, it will naturally weaken Huo Qubing's favor and weaken his importance in the emperor's heart, and then gradually penetrate into it, affecting the war between soldiers and Confucianism.
Zhang Danju almost immediately thought of his eldest grandson, Zhang Xiaoyuan.
"My eldest son, Sun Xiaoyuan, is familiar with civil and military strategies. He has been taught by many respected teachers since he was a child. Among the younger generation, I have never seen anyone who can compare with Xiaoyuan."
When Zhang was in charge of virtuous people, he did not avoid relatives.
He has always been like this, and he was removed just because he allowed others to serve his own interests.
At this time, Zhang Dangju called Zhang Xiaoyuan in front of him to prepare for the school exam.
He also invited Shenghou Zhou Ping, Taichang, the newly appointed head of the Nine Ministers after he was dismissed.
Zhou Ping is nearly fifty years old. He is short and stocky. He wears an official robe and ties his hair with a crown. His eyes are bright and he looks very energetic. He is sitting on his knees behind another short mat next to Zhang Dangju, with a calm face.
Looking at Zhang Xiaoyuan not far away.
"Excuse me, Chief Zhou, to come over today. I have something to ask of you."
Zhang Dangju was addressed as an official instead of an honorific, which was a sign of self-effacement.
Zhou Ping smiled and returned Zhang Dangju's gift.
The two of them were polite for a moment, then turned their attention to Zhang Xiaoyuan, who was sitting in the next seat, with his neck held high like a fighting cock and his back straight.
Zhang Xiaoyuan is twenty-three years old. He is indeed a talented person. He has a fair complexion, an impressive figure, and an excellent appearance.
He himself is also quite talented and well-read in classics and history.
Confucian practice does not need to be like a military strategist, and you need to penetrate all the first nine realms before you can have supernatural powers.
Zhang Xiaoyuan just passed the most important level of Confucian practice a few months ago. He can write all kinds of articles and classics with his pen, borrowing the power of heaven and earth for his own use, and his spirit is in full swing!
He heard Zhang Dangju say that if he wanted to be elected to a position, the best thing would be to go to the emperor's side, and he was overjoyed.
Isn't it just for this moment that I have been studying hard for so many years?
Huo Qubing was young and had a prominent position, surpassing all his peers, simply because he was able to accompany him and was always by the emperor's side.
One can imagine Zhang Xiaoyuan's joy at having the same opportunity as Huo Qubing, and he said with emotion:
"My grandson has long wanted to compete with Huo Qubing, and he will definitely live up to the expectations of his father and Taichang."
After a pause, he said proudly: "Not to mention my Confucian classics and knowledge of writing books and biographies. When it comes to military strategies, my grandson is proud that he is not inferior to others. I have been familiar with military books and various battle formation strategies since I was a child.
If you are skilled in the application, wouldn’t you know that Wu Qi, the military sage, was also a Confucian student?”
Too often Zhou Ping and Zhang Dangju look at each other. Young people are inevitably arrogant, which is not a good thing.
But you need to have the knowledge to match it.
Zhang Dangju made a gesture, which meant that Zhou Ping was free to test.
Zhang Xiaoyuan's face was serious: "Whether it's Confucian knowledge or military strategy, please feel free to ask Mr. Taichang."
Zhou Ping was not polite and asked casual questions. As expected, Zhang Xiaoyuan answered the questions fluently and easily.
After a long while, Zhou Ping was quite satisfied and said, stroking his beard: "You should study your knowledge carefully and wait until the opportunity is right. Let's see how I arrange it."
Zhang Xiaoyuan raised the corner of his mouth, became more energetic, and thought to himself: My chance has finally come.
————
After noon, Secret Investigation Institute.
Song Ran followed Huo Qubing and walked out of the hospital in small steps: "Where to go next?"
There was some confusion in her eyes. Huo Qubing said before that he was coming to the Secret Investigation Institute. She thought he was looking for her master, Ru Bohu, but that was not the case.
Huo Qubing came to see the Gongzao branch of the twelve branches of the two hospitals under the secret investigation.
Song Ran thought he wanted to make weapons.
But still not.
Huo Qubing talked with Dagong Zao for half an hour and gave Dagong Zao the construction conditions. Song Ran listened to the whole process and heard every word clearly, but when combined together, it was not clear.
What Huo Shizhong wants to build is like a sealed box. It only needs to be as big as a palm and has a large quantity...
Song Ran had never seen what this thing could be used for before.
"You have been following me, and I asked you to check the activity area of the Spring and Autumn Crossing Road. Do you have any clues?" Huo Qubing glanced at Song Ran.
He had received Song Ran's file before. After returning home from his uncle Wei Qing that day, he combined his spiritual consciousness with Teng She and vaguely sensed that several sects in the file had their own vertical and horizontal paths that had been passed down during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
The suspicion was the highest, so Song Ran was ordered to conduct a thorough investigation.
"I've sent people to investigate. Zonghengdao caused turmoil thirty years ago. After being wiped out, it disappeared and its power was weak.
It is said that there are occasional traces of activities in several counties near Hedong. Xiao Ying went there in person."
Song Ran responded: "How did Huo Shizhong judge that there was something wrong with the Zonghengdao? I think their personnel are withering and they are on the verge of being unable to continue. How could they do such a big thing as assassinating Liu Huai in Chang'an?"
When she spoke, Huo Qubing was getting into the car.
The position protruding from the front of the carriage was almost as high as an ordinary person's chest. Huo Qubing took one step forward and climbed onto the carriage with extremely coordinated movements, as if he had stepped over an ordinary step, giving people the impression of moving smoothly.
"The secret scroll your master gave me said that my apprentice is not very smart, so I should be more patient..."
Huo Qubing's voice came from the carriage.
He said casually that he disliked Song Ran for not thinking about herself and having too many problems.
But Song Rang had just received all inferior comments from Ru Bohu, and it was so seamlessly connected with Huo Qubing's words that he immediately believed it and his face turned red.
The master actually said that he was stupid in front of an outsider like Huo Qubing. It was so embarrassing... Song Ran almost shed tears.
Is it stupid to ask more?
Master said so, Huo Qubing also said so...
Song Ran was extremely depressed and stared at the car curtain.
Another voice came from the carriage: "I have something to ask you. Do you know who is the most proficient in the alchemy refining technique in the city?"
"I'm stupid and don't know."
Song Ran snorted lightly, but after taking a breath, he still said angrily: "There are two people, one is Da Nong Ling, one of the Nine Qings.
He comes from a peasant family, and Master once said that he has advanced cultivation and can be called the master of alchemy in the world."
"Big farmers make things busy, which is inappropriate."
Huo Qubing: "Who is the other one?"
"A descendant of the Spring and Autumn Taoist ancestor Li Er who has been passed down to the world." Song Ran said.
"Li Er, I."
Huo Qubing said unexpectedly: "The inheritance left by the Taoist ancestors, the disciple is in Chang'an, who is it?"
Song Ran responded with a bit of sarcasm: "Huo Shizhong is so smart and is always by your Majesty's side, but he doesn't know that there are widespread legends among the royal family?"
He continued: "Your Majesty's little sister Liu Qing had a vision from the sky when she was born, with purple energy reflecting in the sky, and was taken away by people from the Taoist Sect.
It was not the Tao Te Sect that was at fault, otherwise no one would have been able to take away a princess from our Han Dynasty royal family. She was separated for twenty years and only came back a few years ago."
Huo Qubing was stunned, secretly thinking that the Taoist sect might have realized that the Han Dynasty was stable and used some means to lay the foundation for Taoism.
Since ancient times, Taoism must be supported by the imperial power in order to achieve great development. This is another form of dragon support.
Many things are inseparable from interests.
But Liu Qing is a good candidate right now.
"Okay, go ahead and find out the traces of the crossing as soon as possible. There must be something wrong with them."
The carriage carried Huo Qubing, the sound of hooves hitting the ground, and they were far away soon.
Song Ran curled his lips, returned to the secret investigation outer courtyard, and sent an order to step up the investigation of Zonghengdao's activity area and hiding place.
She really wanted to go to her master to settle accounts, but she felt that it was too presumptuous and she didn't dare to go, so she sulked alone.
Huo Qubing left the Secret Investigation Institute and went directly to Daheye Liu Qing to talk about the matter. The content was mysterious and mysterious. The purpose was the same as the reason why he went to the Secret Investigation Institute to find Da Gongzao, to prepare for future confrontation with the Huns.
A few days passed like this in a blink of an eye.
That afternoon, Huo Qubing, accompanied by Yao Zhao, came out of the mansion and prepared to go to the Guards barracks outside the city.
The two walked to the door, and Song Ran, Yue Rao, and Qu Jun happened to come over hand in hand, ready to report on the progress of the investigation: "Huo Shizhong, things have made new progress."
"Let's come together, I told you on the way," Huo Qubing said.
"Son."
Everyone was about to board the car when a voice came from the Huo Mansion.
The eldest maid, Xiong San, followed quickly and glanced at everyone: "Master, are you going to fight? I also want to follow him to do some activities. I haven't been out for several months."
"Yeah." Huo Qubing responded and got on the carriage first.
Qu Jun, Yue Rao, and Song Ran looked at each other and asked, "What kind of war are we fighting?"