Zhang Heng pushed the door open and saw Xu Zhenren sitting on the futon meditating. A smile immediately appeared on his face.
“Ah Heng!”
When Xu Zhenren heard the call, he stood up from the futon and asked, "When did you come back?"
“As soon as I got off the bus, I came to say hello to you immediately.”
Zhang Heng looked Xu Zhenren up and down: "Master, you seem to have gained weight."
“Master, you still know that I am your master.”
“I’ve been away for more than half a year, and I don’t know how many more telegrams I send on weekdays. I might as well call you Master.”
After the initial joy, Xu Zhenren immediately turned on the majestic mode.
It’s a pity that Zhang Heng is not a literary talent, so the master’s majesty is of little use to him. He said with a smile: “Master, you have really gained a lot of weight. From the back just now, I thought you were your uncle.”
“Nonsense.”
Xu Zhenren knew that Zhang Heng could not be frightened, so he no longer had a sullen face: "But it is true that I have gained a little weight recently. By the way, you wait here first, and I will call two people to introduce you to him."
“Who is he?”
Zhang Heng asked a question, but Xu Zhenren did not answer.
“Mysterious.”
Zhang Heng ignored him and first offered incense sticks to the ancestor, and then added oil to the ever-burning lamp in the Taoist temple.
While I was busy, I suddenly felt a sense of crisis in my heart.
The next second, Zhang Heng turned sideways without thinking and pointed backwards.
“Ouch!”
A figure flew out and fell hard to the ground.
Zhang Heng took a quick look and saw that he looked familiar. Isn’t this Qian Jiale?
“What’s going on? Didn’t I say that I introduced someone to you? Why did you hit him?”
Xu Zhenren also came back at this moment, with a girl beside him: "This is your junior brother Jia Le, he is the disciple of your uncle Simu. He started earlier than you, but he has not officially become a disciple yet, so he can be regarded as your junior brother.
."
After saying that, he introduced the girl next to him: "This is Qingqing, the disciple of Master Ikkyu next door to your Uncle Four Eyes. After I accompanied your Uncle Qianhe to transport the body back, your Uncle Four Eyes asked me to take them out.
Go around and learn a lot."
After the introduction, Xu Zhenren helped Jia Le up: "Jia Le, are you okay?"
"fine."
Jiale said with strength.
After saying that, he opened his clothes and took a look. He saw bruises on his heart and two obvious fingerprints.
“This evil disciple’s skill has increased again.”
Xu Zhenren glanced at it and said to Jia Le: "You are here early. If this happens in a few years, I will kill you with one finger."
“Isn’t it too scary to die with one finger?”
Jia Le rubbed his fingerprints with an aggrieved look on his face: "Uncle, didn't you say that my brother has just been practicing Taoism not long ago?"
“It didn’t take long, less than a year in total.”
While explaining, Xu Zhenren warned: "Your senior brother has a special status. You can't make such jokes with him in the future."
“I don’t dare anymore.”
Jiale learned a lesson and introduced himself to Zhang Heng: "Senior brother, I am Jiale, and my master is Taoist Master Simu. Please call me Ale."
Zhang Heng frowned slightly.
He clearly felt a crisis just now, but with Jiale's strength, he shouldn't be made to feel a sense of crisis.
“Brother, my name is Qingqing, and my master is Master Yixiu of Guangji Temple.”
Qingqing clasped her hands in front of Zhang Heng.
"Um."
Zhang Heng nodded, not thinking about what just happened.
“Ah Heng, how are you doing with the situation in Rongcheng?”
Xu Zhenren couldn't help but ask.
“Everything is done over there. Uncle Jiu will be in charge in Rongcheng and he should not go back to Wuhua in the future.”
"By the way, Master Zhaixing is also in Rongcheng now. He is here for Yue Qiluo's affairs."
Zhang Heng told what happened here, and then asked Zhenren Xu: "Master, did it go well for you and Master Qianhe to transport the body?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenren smiled and said, "Fortunately, I followed you this time. Your uncle Qianhe encountered a thunder coffin on the way to transporting the corpse. The thing inside was immediately deceived. It was very dangerous at the time."
"Fortunately, I didn't give you your master for nothing. I directly used the bodies of two royal guards to invite the two generals Heng Ha, and after a fight, I killed them with the sword."
When Zhang Heng heard this, the plot really changed.
But things got better. Master Qianhe had a very good relationship with Master Xu, and with this life-saving grace, now, the entire corpse extermination lineage must remember Master Xu's favor.
“Ah Heng, it’s the end of the year, why don’t you take the time to go back to Maoshan with me?”
“We invite the master of the temple, your master-uncle Zhenren Ziyan, to meet you. By the way, we will also take you to meet the elders and offer incense to your master.”
“Yes, Master.”
Zhang Heng responded with all his words.
“Okay, you just came back today, there must be a lot to do.”
"You go and do your work first. If you are not busy tomorrow, come to the Taoist temple for dinner."
Xu Zhenren is very open-minded.
He knew that Zhang Heng was not only his apprentice, but also the backbone of the Zhang family in Dagou Town.
When he comes back, he must have a lot of things to do, and as a master, he must support him.
“Thank you, Master.”
Zhang Heng saluted, and then said to Jiale and Qingqing, who were guests, "Senior brother has a lot to do today. When you are free tomorrow, senior brother will take you out for a walk."
“Thank you, senior brother.”
Jiale and Qingqing are both happy.
Zhang Mansion.
“The master is back, the master is back.”
Seeing Zhang Heng return, everyone cheered.
The concierge trotted all the way to the middle courtyard and backyard: "Everyone, get out soon, the master is back."
Zhang Heng raised his eyes and looked.
Seeing him, everyone felt as if they were celebrating the New Year, not to mention how happy they were.
That look.
Zhang Heng had raised a golden retriever before. This metaphor may not be appropriate, but the way everyone looked at him was really the same as that golden retriever. Their eyes were full of joy.
“Okay, that’s all good!”
Zhang Heng smiled and greeted everyone.
“Master!”
After walking a few steps, the old housekeeper came out with Grandma Sun and a group of little maids.
The old housekeeper and Grandma Sun are fine, mature and prudent.
The four little girls couldn't help it. They burst into tears as soon as they saw him. They all cried and threw themselves at him: "Master, why did you come back? We miss you so much."
“Oh, I haven’t seen you for half a year, you’ve grown up a lot.”
Zhang Heng allowed himself to be hugged by a group of little girls, and he was also very happy: "Especially Yuyu, he has grown half a head, right?"
Look down.
Maybe the nutrients have been supplied to the height, but other places are still the same, with no improvement.
“Hey, what’s wrong with your face?”
Zhang Heng raised Yuyu’s little face and found three fingerprints on her left face. His face suddenly darkened: “Who hit her?”
An Yuyu said aggrievedly: "It's my father."
“Your father?”
Zhang Heng frowned slightly: "What's going on?"
“My grandma and I were working in the house, and he would come to us every now and then to ask for money.”
"He came here again this morning asking for money. I didn't have any money to give him, so he slapped me."
An Yuyu didn't even cry when he was beaten, but when Zhang Heng glanced at him, he immediately felt aggrieved. Tears fell down: "He went to gamble and lost every time. My mother and I gave all our wages."
He won, but it was still not enough for him to lose."
“Oh, my poor little one.”
Zhang Heng wiped the tears on Yuyu's face, held her in his arms and comforted her: "It's okay, I will take care of it."
“Clan leader.”
Within a few words, Zhang Zhentian was here.
He walked forward excitedly, not knowing where to put his hands: "You are finally back, and I feel uneasy when you are not here."
“What’s wrong with you? I’ll send you telegrams every now and then.”
Zhang Heng released An Yuyu, and while walking, he motioned for Zhang Zhentian to follow: "The sky in Dagou Town cannot fall."
Coming to the living room, the two of them sat down.
Zhang Zhentian was only sitting on one side of the chair, not daring to sit down at all: "You are our God. If you are not here, how can we have a backbone?"
"Ha ha."
Zhang Heng laughed, and then asked about the gentry: "Have all those gentry who refused to sell grain to us been dealt with?"
“It’s taken care of.”
Zhang Zhentian whispered: "Just four of the respectable gentry were hanged to death by Zhenhu, and one was frightened to death. After killing chickens to scare the monkeys, all of them are now honest."
"Um."
Zhang Heng nodded: "Looking back, I plan to appoint Zhenhu as the commander of the South China First Division, and transfer it with Zhang Jinzhong's Hainan First Division to guard Hainan, and let Zhang Jinzhong station troops in Yangjiang. What do you think?"
Zhang Zhentian hesitated: "Zhenhu's loyalty is not a problem, but this piece is loyal..."
He glanced at Zhang Heng cautiously: "He has not been following you for a long time. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to transfer him to Yangjiang?"
"Hahaha!"
Zhang Heng smiled and said: "You are confused again. Although Zhang Jinzhong's surname is Zhang and he is a division commander, he is not a member of the Zhang family. His officers and guards around him are. What do you think he can do?"
"Furthermore, I believe Zhang Jinzhong is a very reliable general. I have been kind to him. His family is also in Dagou Town. Even if he is captured, if he is asked to curse me, he will be killed if he doesn't curse."
On his head, he would stretch out his neck to be chopped off without saying a bad word about me, do you believe it?"
Zhang Zhentian opened his mouth, not quite understanding where Zhang Heng's trust in Zhang Jinzhong came from.
After all, Zhang Jinzhong will not take long to seek refuge with people as time goes by.
"Since you have confidence, let him work it out first and see if he can make trouble."
Zhang Zhentian said nothing more.
“Clan leader.”
Just as he was talking, Zhang Zhenhu also came back.
“Tiger.”
Zhang Heng pointed to the chair next to him and asked: "Do you want to be the commander of the First Division of South China?"
“Chief, do you want to appoint me as the division commander?”
Zhang Zhenhu looked surprised.
Zhang Heng did not answer this, but continued: "Just tell me whether you want to or not."
“Think about it, even in your dreams.”
Zhang Zhenhu was overjoyed: “You won’t lie to me, right?”
“What did I lie to you about.”
In front of Zhang Zhenhu, Zhang Heng used another rhetoric: "You know about Zhang Jinzhong's Dagou Town Guard Group, right?"
“He made great contributions in the battle against Hainan. I said before the war that whoever made the greatest contribution would be appointed as the commander of the Hainan First Division.”
"Now he has the greatest credit, and I cannot make a mistake. However, I don't trust him. I am worried that putting him in Hainan will cause trouble, and I want to move him under my nose to watch him."
“But if he is transferred, Hainan’s defense will be empty, and I can’t trust the others.”
"So I am going to appoint you as the commander of the First Division of South China. You can replace him and avoid the limelight."
Zhang Zhenhu could understand the previous words, but the last sentence was a little confusing.
“To avoid the limelight?”
“Why are you avoiding the limelight?”
Zhang Zhenhu had a question mark on his face.
“You forgot, you hanged several local squires.”
“While I was away, none of them dared to show their heads.”
“Now that I’m back, do you think they won’t come to beat drums and cry out for injustice?”
“When the time comes, if I help them, I will beat you up; if I help you, I will break away from these squires.”
“So the best way is to transfer you to Hainan and let the tide calm down, so that I can give an explanation to the outside world.”
Zhang Heng pointed at Zhang Zhenhu: "Don't feel aggrieved. Those hanged ghosts are more unjust than you. They can't kill people with just a nod, but they insist on hanging people. Do you think you are a bandit?"
Zhang Zhenhu quickly gave up and said, "Chief, I didn't think so much at the time."
"Go to Hainan, hone your mind, read more military books, and then start practicing."
Zhang Heng said in a faint tone: "Life is very long, and you have been too smooth during this period, which is not good."
“Yes, patriarch.”
Zhang Zhenhu stood at attention and saluted: "I resolutely obey orders."
“Okay, go ahead and you can recruit troops as soon as the food and wages arrive.”
“I will give you ten regiments with a strength of 25,000 men.”
"Recruit people vigorously. When you have recruited enough people, send them to Hainan. I will transfer you back in a year or two."
Zhang Heng waved his hand and said: "Go away."
“Yes, patriarch.”
Zhang Zhenhu ran away in surprise and joy.
After Zhang Zhenhu left, Zhang Heng looked at Zhang Zhentian again: "As for money, you negotiate with Long Nanguang from Rongcheng. If it's not enough, then tell me."
“Yes, patriarch.”
Zhang Zhentian said: "I'll go back and make a budget first."
“Well, let’s go.”
Zhang Heng nodded slightly.
This time.
With the most important things settled, Zhang Heng looked at An Yuyu who was standing aside.
“Go down and wash your face, I’m crying like a cat with a painted face.”
Zhang Heng sent An Yuyu away.
After she went out, Zhang Heng waved to the old housekeeper: "Send someone to go to Yangjiang County and fetch me the Yapo from Yachang. Tell her that I have something to ask her to do."
“Okay, sir.”
The old housekeeper was ordered to leave.
at dusk.
Yapo was brought back.
Ya Po really remembers Zhang Heng. She always wanted to visit him but never had the chance.
Now that I entered the gate of Zhang's Mansion, my desire to perform instantly exploded. As soon as I walked in, I shouted in a sharp and mean voice: "Hey, my lord, look at this big house of yours, what's going on in this world?"
You have enjoyed all your blessings!"
Zhang Heng was sitting on the Taishi chair.
Seeing Ya Po coming in, she smiled playfully and waved: "You old trickster, you are quite sweet. I have an errand for you to do. Well done..."
Hooking his fingers, the old housekeeper came up with a red cloth tray, on which were two large envelopes wrapped in red paper.
“These are all yours.”
Yapo took a closer look and saw that these two large envelopes cost at least fifty yuan, which was enough to buy a cow.
“Sir, if you have something to do, just give it. I will do it for you if I can do it. If you can’t do it, please ask grandpa and grandma. I will keep an eye on you. In short, I won’t let you down.”
Ya Po said with a flattering look.
“It’s not that difficult.”
Zhang Heng held a small teapot in his hand and said with squinted eyes: "Do you still remember the gambler father who sold An Yuyu to you?"
Upon hearing this, Yapo's eyes flashed fiercely: "Is that old beast causing you trouble?"
She bought An Yuyu from a bad gambler. When she bought her, she had an agreement that the daughter she sold was no longer her daughter. In the future, whether she lived well or poorly, she had to be like everyone else.
If you see your daughter enjoying a blessing, you are not willing to accept it and want to come to the house to make trouble.
Don't tell me, Yapo won't agree.
Otherwise everyone would follow suit and get it back after selling it, so she wouldn’t have to do this business.
“Cause trouble?”
Zhang Heng chuckled: "Am I still waiting for him to make trouble with me?"
Ya Po's eyes turned and showed a shrewd look: "I understand."
“What do you understand?”
Zhang Heng asked playfully.
Ya Po gritted her teeth and said cruelly: "I heard that there are foreigners in Shanfo who are recruiting people to build railways overseas. I think that bad gambler will definitely be willing to go."
I am willing to give up.
Whoever is well fed and willing to go overseas to build railways for others may not be able to come back for the rest of his life.
But Yapo said that if the bad gambler is willing, then there must be a way to do it.
Whether it’s a trap or a lie, Zhang Heng didn’t even think about asking, and whispered: “Just do what you want.”