Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 414: A word of praise and unanimous "Thank you! Bow again! I owe you words"

"Father, why did the Queen Mother beat me?"

"Humph! Why should I beat you? What do you think?"

The emperor looked at Zhao Fang and asked.

"How can we treat this important matter of diplomatic relations between the two countries as a joke? You said you want Bei Liao to give it to them, so they should give it to them?"

Looking at the emperor's appearance under the bright yellow candlelight,

Zhao Fang stood up and walked to the emperor, tugged at his sleeve and said, "Father! It's not like Bei Liao can ask us to agree to it! Since the founding of our Great Zhou, there has been no precedent of marrying noble ladies to foreign countries!"

The emperor threw the memorial on the table and looked at his only son angrily: "Stop pulling, you are tearing my sleeves! You just listened to your mother's words, did I agree?"

Zhao Fang was surprised and asked, "Ah? Father, you didn't agree?"

After saying that, Zhao Fang's eyes turned, and he looked at the emperor and whispered, "Father, you didn't want to establish friendship between the two countries from the beginning?"

The emperor raised the corners of his mouth, picked up the memorial from the desk and unfolded it, then lowered his eyes and continued reading.

"Father, do you really think so?"

"That's right. If the two countries really become friends, it will be inconvenient to take action in the future!"

"Father, what are you reading? It's dark now, let me read to you!"

The emperor reached out and handed the memorial over.

While Zhao Fang was arranging the memorials for his own reading, he said, "Father, do you think the Queen Mother is teasing me?"

"Your mother is teaching you not to believe everything you hear, but to think more and investigate more."

Zhao Fang nodded, holding the memorial and bowing like a court official: "Thank you, father, for your teachings."

The emperor raised the corners of his mouth slightly and raised his eyebrows slightly, obviously enjoying it very much.

Zhao Fang stood up and began to read the memorial in his hand: "Father, this is the memorial from the Ministry of Personnel commending the soldiers on the front line. Where did you read it?"

The emperor nodded and nodded at the memorial that Zhao Fang had unfolded.

Zhao Fang glanced at it and said, "Well, has the father of the Duke of England Zhang family seen it?"

The emperor nodded.

Zhao Fang then said loudly:

"Xu Zaiduan, a Zhonglianglang (rank 28 in the military rank), has accumulated military merits and is expected to be promoted to Wuyi Daifu (rank 22 in the military rank)"

"Fang'er, stop for a moment."

"Father?"

The emperor shook his head and said, "This bunch of officials from the Ministry of Personnel are really something! The eldest son of the Xu family will be promoted to Wuyi Doctor (the 21st level of the military rank)"

"Yes, Father."

After saying this, Zhao Fang placed the memorial on the imperial desk and added a few strokes.

Zhao Fang continued to recite in a crisp voice.

"Wu Jie Lang (rank 38th in the military rank) Zhu Qinghu, with accumulated military merits, is expected to be promoted to Yi Wei Lang (rank 30th in the military rank)"

"."

"Dunwu Lang (Martial Rank 43) Di Jing has accumulated military merits and is expected to be promoted to Wugong Lang (Martial Rank 35)."

"Dunwu Lang, Zhang Fangsong has accumulated military merits and is expected to be promoted to Wuxian Lang (37th level of the military rank)"

"Dunwu Lang, Zhang Fangling has accumulated military merits and is expected to be promoted to Wujie Lang (the 38th level of the military rank)"

"."

"Xiuwu Lang (Martial Rank 44) Guo Kui, with his accumulated military merits, is to be promoted to Wulue Lang (Martial Rank 39)"

"Xiu Wu Lang Yue He"

"Well, Fang'er, do you still remember Guo Kui, Yue He and the others?" the emperor said.

Zhao Fang nodded: "Father, I remember that they were all warriors recommended by Jing'er."

The emperor smiled and said, "Increase one level as well."

"Yes! Thank you, Father."

Zhao Fang wrote a few strokes with a smile on his face.

In fact, this is the difference between ordinary military men and the children of nobles.

The 44th level of the martial arts rank, 'Xiu Wu Lang', is a watershed for martial artists.

It can be understood that from the 44th level upwards, the identity of a warrior has changed greatly. In today's terms, this person is no longer a non-commissioned officer but an officer.

Zhang Sanlang and Silang joined the army under Marquis Yongyi several months later than Guo Kui.

But because of their background, the two sons of the Duke started out as Dunwu Lang!
This was deliberately suppressed by the British Duke.

The same thing happened to Zheng Xiao under General Zheng Jun.

They started twelve levels higher than Guo Kui.

Zhao Fang continued reading:
"Lu Junyi, a Congyi Lang (Martial Rank 45), has accumulated military merits and is to be promoted to Wuyi Lang (Martial Rank 42)"

"Wu Song, a Congyi Lang, has accumulated military merits and is expected to be promoted to Xiuwu Lang (the 44th level of the martial arts rank)"

"Bingjie Lang (Martial Rank 46) Fang Ding."

"Li Tianrun"

"Deng Yuan Jue"

"Father?" Zhao Fang looked at the emperor hopefully.

The emperor nodded helplessly.

Zhao Fang was busy writing again.

After experiencing the battles, Wu Song, Deng Yuanjue and others have been transformed from soldiers into officers.

If there had been no war against Bai Gao, even if they were outstanding in the army, they would have had to work their way up from the bottom to have a chance of promotion. There was a chance, but it was not certain that they would be promoted to military officers.

And now,

They went north after competing with the Jin warriors on the polo field this year.

In less than ten months,
Those who were capable of this had already risked their lives to complete the journey that took others seven or eight years and became military officers of the Great Zhou.

The emperor looked at Zhao Fang who had finished his revisions. When Zhao Fang was about to continue reading, the emperor said, "Fang'er, stop here."

Zhao Fang was stunned: "Ah? Father, I haven't found Jing Ge'er yet."

The emperor smiled and took out a memorial from the imperial desk, handed it to Zhao Fang and said, "Xu family boy, it's on this memorial."

Zhao Fang hurriedly took it and quickly flipped through it.

Although Xu Zaijing was a sergeant under his father in the Northwest Army and was in charge of more than a dozen people, this was his position, not his military rank.

Besides, the emperor and the empress knew when he went to the northwest.

Therefore, Xu Zaijing's military rank when he joined the army was Wu Yilang (42nd level), and He Guan, who "protected" Xu Zaijing, had been in the army for many years and had the same military rank.

Zhao Fang looked at the memorial and read it carefully: "Wuyi Lang Xu Zaijing has made outstanding military achievements and is proposed to be promoted to Wuyi Da. Gongwei Lang??? (32nd level)."

Zhao Fang said anxiously, "Father! Brother Jing stopped the enemy and entered Xingqing Prefecture. The Ministry of Personnel planned to promote him to Wuyi Doctor (the 20th level. That is, he was promoted 20 levels in a row). Isn't that good? Why did you cross it out?"

As he spoke, Zhao Fang pointed to the place where the emperor had made a mark on the memorial.

The emperor raised his lips and said, "Fang'er, look down."

Zhao Fang looked down as he was told.

"Wu Yi Lang He Guan has made outstanding military achievements and is expected to be promoted to Gong Wei Lang"

"Wu Yi Lang Yin Qingyun. Planned to be promoted to You Wu Lang (Wu Rank 34)"

".Alan Sanwu intends to be promoted to Wuyilang."

"Wang Yan intends to be promoted."

"I want to rise at my will"

"."

Looking at the memorials, the scouts under Xu Zaijing and the Great Zhou soldiers who entered Xingqing Prefecture with him had been promoted to a very wide range of military ranks, even higher than those of the brothers of the Duke of Ying.

Zhao Fang said hesitantly, "Father, are you dividing up all the credit?"

The emperor nodded and said, "Fang'er, there is an end to this martial arts rank! We must reward him slowly. It would be better to convert his military merits into silver and give it to him."

Zhao Fang nodded solemnly.

"Besides, the kid from the Xu family doesn't seem to care about this thing."

Zhao Fang looked at the emperor.

The emperor looked at the memorial in Zhao Fang's hand and said, "We in the Great Zhou do not value civil over military! But in fact, we still use civil to control military."

"Military merit is not difficult for the Xu family kid, but if he wants to enter the central government in the future, he must have a good background! He must be on the list!"

Zhao Fang nodded: "Father is right! It's getting late, Father, let's go back!"

"Ok!"

The emperor nodded and stood up from the dragon throne.

On the way back to the dormitory,

In the windless corridor, every few steps there is a female official carrying a bright yellow lantern.

The father and son walked slowly: "Fang'er, after this year you will have to sleep alone, are you afraid?"

"Father, I am not afraid."

"Father, will the soldiers from the northwest come back before the New Year?"

The emperor's beard moved and he said, "It's too cold." "Oh! When they come, I want to treat them to a meal."

The emperor laughed and said, "Would you like some wine?"

"If your Majesty allows, I will eat a few bowls."

The eunuch following behind the two men listened to the conversation between the father and son with a smile on his face.
Although the eunuch had seen this scene many times,
But every time I see him, my heart always feels warm.

When there was no prince,
When the emperor returned to his bedroom after handling government affairs, his back was always hunched, he looked lonely and gloomy, and he would sigh from time to time.

Soon after the prince was born,
The emperor's figure seemed to be in a hurry.

now,

The back figures became a father and son.
The eunuch wanted to laugh when he saw this from behind.

The emperor seemed to have regained his second spring and was full of energy all day long.

Before Bai Gao surrendered, the eunuchs thought the emperor seemed a few years younger.

While thinking about this, the group had already arrived at the queen's bedroom.

Zhao Fang took the lead and stepped into the palace, complaining loudly to the queen: "My mother, my father did not agree."

On the second day,
Before dawn,

Ningyuan Hou Mansion,

Gu Tingyu had already gone to court.

In an open space that was many times smaller than the Xu family's racecourse, the servant Zhique was standing by holding a lantern.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

The whistling sound of sticks being swung echoed in the open space.

At this time,

There were footsteps coming from the corridor behind Zhique.

Zhique looked back and bowed quickly: "My Lord."

"Ah."

Gu Yankai walked over with his hands behind his back.

Standing under the veranda, Gu Yankai looked at the figure moving around in the open space and whispered, "Does he get up so early every day?"

"Yes, sir. When it rains, you can practice under the veranda."

Looking at the ground under the lantern light, whose color was different from the surrounding ground because it was frequently stepped on, Gu Yankai nodded.

Subsequently,

Gu Yankai walked to the weapon rack, picked up an unsharpened round-headed spear and held it in his hand.

Slowly warm up and warm up,
Gu Yankai looked at Gu Tingye who was standing beside him with a gun and said, "Come!"

Gu Tingye eagerly lifted the spear off the ground with both hands, made a spear flower, and then started to attack Gu Yan.

As the saying goes, fists are feared by young men, and sticks are feared by old men.

Gu Tingye has been practicing spearmanship for more than ten years, but he is still much more inexperienced than Gu Yankai, who has as much battle experience as him.

After a few moves,

Feeling the cold and blunt gun tip against his neck, Gu Tingye couldn't help but swallow his icy saliva.

Gu Yankai retracted his spear: "Come again!"

The sky is getting brighter
Gu Tingyi yawned and took the maid to his mother's hall to have breakfast.

Seeing Gu Yankai in the hall, Gu Tingyi was slightly stunned.

It took me a while to realize that Marquis Gu had returned home.

Gu Tingyi felt the unusually quiet atmosphere in the hall: "Father, mother, sister-in-law."

After squatting for a while, Gu Tingyi sat next to Pingmei at the table and winked at his sister-in-law.

Looking at her sister-in-law's eyes, Pingmei shook her head.

"cough!"

Bai coughed.

Gu Tingyi hurriedly picked up the spoon on the table and stirred the rice porridge in the bowl in front of him. He looked up and saw his mother giving his father Gu Yan a cold look. His father also looked a little uncomfortable.

Shengjia Academy,

The curtains in the room have been drawn back,

The winter morning sun shines in.

Master Zhuang lifted the cotton curtain and took off the earmuffs.

Taking off his thick cloak and putting it aside, Zhuang Xuejiu sat on the Luohan chair behind the table and took a quick look. Then he looked at Gu Tingye who was sitting in the middle with curiosity: "Erlang, what's wrong with your face?"

Gu Tingye, whose cheekbones were red and swollen, twitched his eyes in pain, stood up and forced a smile, saying, "Scholar, I was walking at home and accidentally stepped on ice and slipped."

Zhuang Xuejiu looked at Gu Tingye and said, "You'd better be more careful in the future."

"Yes, pedant!"

Zhuang Xuejiao nodded, waved his hand to signal Gu Tingye to sit down, and said: "The provincial examination will be held in February next year, and you will not have the opportunity to participate. Here are the questions for the provincial examinations from the past two years, Changbai."

Hearing the scholar's voice, Changbai handed a few sheets of paper on his desk to Zai Zhang, and then passed them to the back.

"You six should work on this question first."

Everyone bowed, "Yes, scholar!"

Zhuang Xuejiu waved his hand and looked at the three Lans on the other side and said, "The three girls, please hand in your calligraphy homework as well."

at noon,

The unfinished homework of Changbai, Xu Zaijing and others was still on the table.

Outside the school,
Gu Tingye held Xu Zaijing's arm and walked towards the gate of the yard, followed by Qingyun.

After waiting for a while in the outer courtyard of Sheng's house,

Gu Tingye's servant Zhique came over holding two pieces of sugar cane and said, "Sir, do you think these two pieces of sugar cane bought on the roadside are okay?"

"Okay, okay! Give me the knife too!"

As he said that, Gu Tingye took the sugarcane and dagger that Zhique handed over.

After roughly measuring them, he used a dagger to cut the two sugarcanes into the length of a spear and threw one of them to Xu Zaijing.

"Wulang, come, let's have a sparring match."

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said, "Brother Ye, you are no match for me, so forget it!"

As he said that, Xu Zaijing threw the sugarcane in his hand back into Gu Tingye's arms.

Gu Tingye was stunned, and looked at Xu Zaijing who turned around and left, and said: "Hey! Wulang! Stay! I want to ask you! I want to ask a master who has been on the battlefield!"

Xu Zaijing turned around and smiled: "That's more like it."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing took the sugar cane again and said, "Come on! Brother Ye, what do you want to ask?"

The two people made slow motion gestures.
Gu Tingye frowned and said, "Wu Lang, why are you like my father? You didn't even defend your chest and just stabbed me in the face! You lose now!"

Xu Zaijing: "Brother Ye, let's do it again slowly. Think carefully about who loses."

After the fight, Gu Tingye hesitated and said, "I won! My spear tip hit your chest a split second faster than you hit me in the face, Wulang!"

Xu Zaijing shook his head helplessly, then raised his chin towards Qingyun.

Qing Yun, who understood everything, bowed and explained, "Er Lang, everyone wears armor on the battlefield, and the place you poked is exactly the location of the thick armor! My young master poked his face, and he would be blinded even with a visor."

"My son won!"

Xu Zaijing, who was standing beside him, was using Zhique's dagger to cut sugar cane while he asked, "Brother Ye, don't you wear armor when you train?"

Gu Tingye's eyes wandered: "Hiss! It's early in the morning, and the armor is freezing cold. How can I wear it?"

“That’s why you can’t understand!”

After saying that, Xu Zaijing returned the dagger to Zhique and walked towards the school with the peeled snow-white sugarcane.

Turn around,

Gu Tingyi yawned again as he walked into the breakfast hall.

After a quick glance,
Today her mother Bai's face looked even uglier.

After bowing to the family, Gu Tingyi sat down. She saw a small purple patch on her father's face as he turned his back to her.

"Father, what's wrong with your face?"

"Have a meal!"

Bai said softly.

Maybe it snowed too much last year.

This year, there were only two snowfalls in Bianjing since the beginning of winter.
It's already the end of November and the twelfth lunar month is almost here, but there's still no snow.

Outer city of Bianjing,

On the tall walls of the Wanshengmen Tower, the soldiers defending the city looked at the smoke rising in the distance.

After a while,

A group of elite cavalrymen, without armor and wearing silk or cotton masks to keep warm, were stationed outside the city.

The knights looked at the towering tower.

Two of the knights, whose faces could not be seen clearly due to their cold-weather masks, looked at each other and said in unison, "She probably hasn't given birth yet, has she?"

(End of this chapter)