After driving fast all the way, we finally arrived at the bank of Mianyuan River.
He was welcomed in by the nephew of the Qin family. After Zheng Puyi worshiped Qin Mi, he came to talk to his brother Zheng Yan.
Zheng Yan looked very haggard. Even though the funeral was more than two months ago, he could faintly discern a ray of sadness lingering in the depths of his eyes.
Alas, Qin Mi was like a father and son to him.
When he was ten years old, he was sent by his family members to worship Qin Mi as his teacher and lived in the Qin Mansion until he returned home at the age of sixteen.
Moreover, it is reasonable that he has a sincere and sincere temperament, is extremely filial to his relatives, and would not let go for a long time.
"Zijin, I haven't seen you for a long time, brother."
Seeing Zheng Pu arrive, he stood up and stepped forward to hold Zheng Pu's hand. His words were light but heart-warming.
Zheng Pu also sighed with emotion, "Brother, don't be too sad."
"Yeah, I know."
Nodding gently, Zheng Yan pulled Zheng Pu to a remote place to sit and talk.
Ask each other about their current situation, etc.
Not long after the conversation, Zheng Yan once again mentioned Zheng Pu's marriage with the awareness that an elder brother is like a father.
When he mentioned it two years ago, Zheng Pu declined because he had not yet established his career.
Now that Zheng Pu has been promoted to the rank of general of an army, it is reasonable to mention him again.
Furthermore, since ancient times, generals have died in hundreds of battles. Leading armies on expeditions, the battlefields are dangerous. As the elder brother, can he not urge Zheng Pu to get married and give birth to children as soon as possible?
Zheng Pu had no choice but to say that he could not decide on his own marriage.
Zheng Yan was so shocked that he was speechless for a long time.
After a long time, he came back to his senses, and after careful consideration, he decided on his own, "In this case, I won't go into details about this matter. However, I wrote a book and returned to the mulberry garden, asking your sister-in-law to find a concubine to serve you.
If you are sewing clothes, please stop making excuses."
Do you want to take a concubine first?
However, it is also a common thing for the children of wealthy families.
For example, the concubine of Guan Xing is older than the legitimate son.
Zheng Pu, who could not find any excuse, could only shake his head and smile bitterly at his brother's harsh words.
Two days later, a servant of the Qin family came to report that someone was looking for him.
Zheng Pu moved to look, and it turned out that it was Zhang Qing who came with words.
It was said that Zhang Mu had arrived at the bank of the Mianyuan River. He did not dare to visit directly because of his status, so he set up a banquet for Zheng Pu and invited Zheng Pu to come and talk.
The place where the banquet was held was in a bamboo forest by the river.
Cut bamboos to spread the mat, use river beach stones as a table, lotus leaves as a plate, put the meat, wine, and bamboo chopsticks for cutting meat.
It's quite rude, but it's more casual.
Zhang Mu was alone, sitting on a stone, holding a wine cup in his hand and looking at the ripples of the river while drinking. He seemed a bit careless about details, but he admired the style of a madman in the artistic conception of the waterside.
Judging from the place he chose and his demeanor, he must have read a lot of books when he was young and was a good ranger, right?
Zheng Pu, who was approaching, saw him from a distance and couldn't help but secretly thought.
As they approached, they saw Zhang Mu, who was in his thirties, over seven feet long, and quite majestic.
Star-like eyes, sword-shaped eyebrows, heavy nose, thin lips, big ears, wide mouth, and three beards hanging down from his jaw, make him look dignified. His elegant outfit adds to his ability and decisiveness.
"I am Zhang Mu and Zhang Gongshang."
Seeing Zheng Pu being attracted by Zhang Qing, Zhang Mu stood up and bowed his hands first, saying, "I have heard the name of Mr. Zheng in Sangyuan for a long time, and I am lucky to meet him today. A vulgar person who has only a little food and wine will still look after Mr. Zheng."
Don’t mind it.”
There is no shortage of etiquette and personable manners.
In an instant, Zheng Pu thought that this person was not a vicious villain.
"Don't dare to take it seriously."
He also hurriedly held the ceremony, but Zheng Puxian smiled and said, "Thank you, sir. Thank you for your kindness, brother."
After saying this, we sat down humbly.
Zhang Mu waved his hand towards Zhang Qing, telling him to stay away and not to disturb the conversation between the two.
Seeing this, Zheng Pu raised his eyebrows slightly and signaled his servants to walk further away from Begging House.
But he didn't want to, and the beggar turned around and left. Zhang Mu's eyes were like a hawk, staring at Zheng Pu, and asked coldly, "The Zheng family in Shifang is very knowledgeable, but I don't know, have you ever heard that 'when a man is angry, blood will splash three feet'?"
Do you think so?"
It also made Zheng Pu's eyes and pupils shrink sharply in an instant.
He saw that Zhang Mu's face was filled with hatred and ferocity in an instant, and there was also a trace of ferocity at the corner of his mouth, like a lone wolf that chooses others to devour.
Moreover, one hand was already hanging down on the small meat-cutting dagger.
He also knew that Zhang Mu's body was more majestic, he had roared in the mountains and forests for a long time, and his skills were strong. If he suddenly jumped up to kill him with a small dagger, he would definitely not be able to avoid it.
Even if he doesn't die, he may still be disabled!
And the retinue, the beggar, had no time to save the siege!
Because I used profit to induce his subordinates to surrender, he jumped over the wall and wanted to kill me to vent his anger?
It's just that he has been a bandit for more than ten years, and he has never allowed his subordinates to burn, kill, and loot. He must be a man of considerable foresight. Why do you want to die with me today?
In an instant, Zheng Pu was filled with thoughts.
The close-fitting lining of the back was wet with the cold sweat that had quietly broken out, making it sticky and uncomfortable.
Although he had already experienced fighting on the battlefield, he was always protected by Beggar Yacuo at that time. He was not like today's vicious gangsters who had been bandits for more than ten years, and would splatter blood three feet away if they didn't agree with his behavior.
But her appearance has not changed at all.
"Brother Gong Shang came here at the invitation, do you want to fight for your life with me?"
Moving very slowly, he put his hand on his chin and rubbed his beard. Zheng Pu looked directly into Zhang Mu's eyes and laughed softly, "However, I don't understand. I want to find a way out for brother Gong Shang, so why does he hate me evilly?"
?”
"Looking for a way out?"
As if he had heard the joke, Zhang Mu sneered, "Zheng Zijin, although I fell into the trap of being a bandit, I am not an illiterate coward!"
Ha~~
If you don't speak out, I'm still worried about you being reckless and fighting to the death.
Since you have spoken back to me, you must be weighing the pros and cons, and you are just acting like a stern person!
Hearing Zhang Mu's disdain, Zheng Pu couldn't help but feel reassured.
Don't refute it immediately.
But he first picked up a piece of roasted meat with bamboo chopsticks and chewed it slowly, took a wine cup and drank a glass of wine, then said with a smile.
"Promoting in the military is the most difficult thing. Brother Gongshang came from a poor family. He was no more than 10 years old when he was appointed as a military prince who led five hundred soldiers. It can be seen that brother Gongshang had a lot of ambition to make contributions back then. I am today
What's wrong with letting my brother choose between being a general or a rich man?"
Zhang Mu tilted his head slightly and did not answer.
However, Zheng Pu did not wait for him to speak, and continued to speak eloquently.
"Brother Gongshang is angry with me because I have recruited his subordinates to prevent him from roaring in the mountains and forests again."
"However, as a court official, it is my duty to disobey An Li and his concubine. Since it happens to be the meeting, how can An not allow the thieves to change their ways?"
"Besides, I am not warning you that if these tribesmen continue to follow Brother Gongshang, it will be difficult for them to last long!"
At this point in the narration, Zhang Mu raised his hand to interrupt, his face became even more determined, "What is the meaning of this statement?"
"Brother Gongshang, neither you nor I are ignorant. Why should we ask questions when we know clearly?"
After asking in reply, Zheng Pufang continued to point out the situation, "Brother Gong Shang has been gathering in the mountains and forests for more than ten years. There should be very little of the money and equipment that he brought from the army, right? What if Zhang Qing and others went there with their old and young children?
Isn’t it true that Brother Gongshang has many people? In the mountains and forests, the land is barren and the yield is not abundant, making it difficult to feed oneself. Due to poverty and weakness, Brother Gongshang will eventually fall into a dilemma one day.”
At this point, Zheng Pu paused briefly and responded solemnly.
"Either, eliminate the old and weak members of the tribe in order to continue to survive. Or, lead the army to go out and plunder counties, and use the government buildings and arsenals as capital. Brother Gongshang, do you think I am right?"
Zhang Mu was silent again.
The ferocious look on his face before was slowly dissipated.
Because every word Zheng Pu said was relevant to his current situation. Moreover, the dilemmas he mentioned were all irreversible dead ends!
First, it is not advisable to eliminate the old and weak members of the tribe.
If the skin is gone, how will the hair be attached?
If the old and the weak are expelled, how can his subordinates be willing to serve?
Second, plundering counties and counties is to drink poison to quench thirst.
The imperial court heard that there was a bandit in power, so why not send troops to fight against it?
Moreover, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who is now in power, is strict in enforcing the law. For the sake of his official career, those county generals would not dare to ignore him and tolerate him even if he fled into the mountains and hid in dormancy!
"Heh~~~"
After pondering for a long time, Zhang Mu sneered, "According to Zheng Lang's words, I have no way out. I have to surrender and let Zheng Lang do whatever he wants?" After saying this, without waiting for Zheng Pu to reply, he spoke directly and asked again, "Since
Zheng Lang is so good at eloquence, why don't you help me solve my doubts again."
"It's just based on facts. How can we talk about eloquence?"
With a toothy smile, Zheng Pu said humbly, "However, Brother Gongshang has doubts. If I have an answer, I will tell you everything."
"good!"
Zhang Murang praised loudly, but what he said again was extremely cruel, "I know that Zheng Lang is favored by the Prime Minister now, and he has become the Xuanwu Warlord! Therefore, I am confused.
You thieves, why don't you just act on your impulse and kill Zheng Lang here, so that you can become famous in the world?!"
However, when Zheng Pu heard this, he laughed endlessly.
When Zhang Mu's veins popped out from his laughter and his eyes burned like fire, Fang Kankan suppressed his laughter.
"Hey, brother Gongshang, please don't make inconsistent remarks."
Waving his hand, Zheng Pu raised the wine cup and asked for a drink, and said softly, "It is true that if Brother Gongshang rises and draws his sword at me, he can definitely kill me here. But Brother Gongshang also knows that the Prime Minister's weapon is different from mine. If
I was harmed by thieves and bandits. How can the successor Xuanwu Warlord An not ask for orders to avenge the evil for me? By then, not to mention that there will no longer be a place for brother Gongshang in Bashu, and even the young and old in the family may be slaughtered by the Xuanwu soldiers to vent their anger!
"
After finishing speaking, Zheng Pu added another sentence.
"I forgot to inform Brother Gong Shang. When the Xuanwu Army was established, the Prime Minister assigned me two deputies. One was Zhao Yihong, the second son of General Zhengnan; the other was Huo Shaoxian, the son of the late Grand Administrator of Zitong."
This time, even Zhang Mu, who had experienced countless things, was stunned.
He had heard of Zhao Yun, the general who conquered the south, and Huo Jun, the former governor of Zitong.
We also know that the fact that these two heirs serve as deputy ministers to Zheng Pu means that the Prime Minister is very different.
If he killed Zheng Pu here, it would not be surprising if his whole family would be exiled.
Moreover, there was a faint feeling of emotion in his heart.
At first, I felt that Zheng Pu recruited him for an interview just because he wanted to recruit and subjugate a group of thieves and get a promotion based on his merits! How could he sincerely seek a way out for him?
However, for the second son of General Zhengnan to serve as deputy, does he need this kind of merit to be promoted?
As rumored, the Zheng family in Shifang is a family that has accumulated good deeds!
Zheng Lang of Mulberry Garden is well-deserved!
Zhang Mu sighed secretly, thought for a while, then stood up and bowed in obeisance.
His voice was full of excitement, "I admire this lowly man, but I am a bandit. I am a disgrace to my family. Now Mr. Zheng of Mulberry Garden will not give up. He condescends to come to me to surrender. To save me, I am in the midst of water and fire. If I admire you and surrender without tears, am I not different from an animal?"
!”
"Serious words."
Zheng Pu quickly stood up and helped Zhang Mu up. Zheng Pu smiled happily, "Brother Gong Shang abandoned the dark side and turned to the bright side. It is a blessing for the court!"
Now that Zhang Mu is willing to submit, things will be easy in the future.
Zheng Pu, who returned to the Qin Mansion, wrote in handwriting at his desk, asking his subordinates to rush to Luoxian County from Qiyacuo, and have the postmen pass the message to the Prime Minister's Mansion. He also asked them to inform Huo Yi and Liu Min to lead the Xuanwu Army back first.
Chengdu.
Well, he planned to stay here temporarily to show his sincerity to Zhang Mu, lest he become suspicious and regret.
Chengdu, Prime Minister's Mansion.
Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who had put his pen down on the case, softly called the clerk on duty and asked him to pass on the order.
That was an arrangement for granting land to Zhang Mu and other bandits.
Just as Zheng Pu expected, the prime minister was delighted and encouraged when he heard that the bandits were willing to surrender and were sent to Hanzhong County to register and register their households.
It's just that he didn't expect that the Prime Minister was just making arrangements. He rubbed his face and looked at his face again, closing his eyes and thinking in thought.
Well, in Zheng Pu's urgent report, he claimed that on his way to pay his respects to Qin Mi, he "accidentally encountered" a group of bandits. And "fortunately" these bandits felt the benevolence of the court and were willing to surrender.
Therefore, the Prime Minister looked at the word "lucky" and couldn't help but twitching the corners of his mouth slightly.
In other words, he has to do everything by himself and never believes in luck.
Turning his head slightly, the Prime Minister thought for a moment, then took three military situation statements from the utensils and laid them out together on the table.
These are all Zheng Pu’s actions in recent months.
Such as the receipt of the order to lead the army to attack Yin, which contains suggestions for transporting grain by ropeway; such as the description of the battle of Jinggu Road, the battle gains and casualties, etc.; such as Zhang Bao's private message forwarded by Emperor Liu Chan, which contains his theory of the Northern Expedition.
.
In just a few months, this son has thought so much about his country, which shows his sincerity.
He often did not express his own merits, such as promoting Zhao Yihong as the Cavalry Superintendent, or subduing bandits to the court for his benevolence and righteousness.
That’s commendable!
With a word of appreciation in his heart, the Prime Minister raised his eyes and looked outside the window curtain.
In the bird's nest under the long eaves, the chicks that were waiting to be fed have spread their wings and gone south to overwinter.
Build a long life!
You can spread your wings to hit the air and fly thousands of miles!
Thinking about this, the Prime Minister's eyes couldn't help but feel a little relieved.
He also thought about his previous intention to choose a meritorious family for Zheng Pu to be his in-law.
But unexpectedly, when he entered the palace recently, the emperor also talked about Zheng Pu's marriage.
Frankly speaking, Zhang Wenrong claimed that Zhang Wenrong, who was far away in Guangshi, Hanzhong, came back with a letter from his family and asked Empress Zhang to discuss with the Xiahou family, hoping to marry the daughter of the Zhang family to Zheng Pu.
Therefore, Empress Zhang asked about Zheng Pu's personality as the Emperor and Zheng Pu often exchanged letters.
"My lord, I think Zheng Qing is very talented and knowledgeable, and he is a good son-in-law of the Zhang family! I wonder what your lord thinks?"
At that time, after the emperor relayed it, he also asked questions based on these words.
The Prime Minister was also quite surprised.
He initially asked his family members to help him look for him, and there were two candidates of the same age. One was the daughter of Ma Liang, an old servant, and the other was the daughter of Shi Xianglang, the chief minister of the Prime Minister's Office.
Who would have expected that the Zhang family also has this evil thought?
However, the Zhang family's youngest daughter's father's achievements are even greater than those of the Ma Xiang family.
Moreover, the Zhang family is now a relative. If Zheng Pu is married to the Zhang family, he will be a brother-in-law to the emperor, which may be better for the country!
However, the daughter of the Zhang family seems to be still young?
Before Zheng Pubei was stationed in Hanzhong, he might not have reached the age of hairpins, right?
