Chapter 305

Gu Tingye shook his head and said:

"How is that possible? Bai Gao isn't that easy to conquer!"

Everyone to the side nodded.

Xu Zaijing said:

"So it's not a war of national conquest. There will be no shortage of battles later. We don't need to be in a hurry; studies are the paramount path."

Zhang Fangling, who was to the side, said: "Fifth Brother's words are correct. If it weren't for the fact that I'm truly not cut out for studying, my family wouldn't let me go."

Zheng Xiao nodded and said: "I'm also going to train under my elder brother's command. It will be difficult for you to see me in the future."

Xu Zaijing patted Zheng Xiao on the shoulder: "Good, Young General Zheng."

"Go, go, go!"

After Zheng Xiao knocked Xu Zaijing's hand away, he looked at Gu Tingye and said:

"Erlang, a general's success is built on ten thousand bones. Fifth Brother's uncle, the previous Viscount Zhu, had his entire army wiped out and sent back urgent military reports, yet his reward wasn't even raised to a Count. You can see how difficult it is to achieve merit."

"If you can study, it's better to study."

Hearing this, the others all nodded.

"Brothers, what are you talking about? Why are you so discouraged?"

Rong Xian came over and said.

Zheng Xiao laughed: "Go away, we are different from you, the only son of a Marquis."

Rong Xian smiled and listened to Liang Han explain for a while, then his eyes changed when he looked at the Fourth Young Master of the Zhang family and Zheng Xiao.

He cupped his hands and said: "This little brother has always had a dream of joining the army, but unfortunately, heaven doesn't grant one's wishes. Two brothers can go to the front line, this little brother admires you."

Zheng Xiao: "Let's go together?"

Rong Xian was stunned and waved his hand: "Forget it."

"Pfft~"

As everyone was talking, they had already arrived near the Xuande Gate in the south. Liang Han asked curiously:

"Xian'er, aren't you going back through the Donghua Gate?"

"Not going back. Today I'm going to help a few comrades in the army with their duties. I've seen too much along the way, I'm afraid I'll get lovesick."

Hearing this, everyone started to tease him. After all, there were still the six golden flowers of the Imperial Son-in-law Lu's family going to the Donghua Gate.

Xu Zaijing looked at Zheng Xiao and said: "Pei Erge Zheng, you say, between the Jin Kingdom and Northern Liao, which one is more powerful?"

Zheng Xiao looked at the Fourth Young Master of the Zhang family and said: "It should be the Jin Kingdom. I heard they have won many battles on the battlefield before."

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhang Fangling and said: "Then the ones coming to our Great Zhou this time should also be elites, right?"

Zhang Fangling nodded:

"Yes, there is news that they encountered robbers at night when they came. The Jin Kingdom warriors didn't even have their skin broken before they cleaned them all up."

"And I heard from the interpreter that they aren't just elites; more than half are the Jin Kingdom's 'Zha Ye' and those surnamed Wanyan."

Liang Han asked: "Third Brother, Wanyan is the Jin Kingdom's royalty, but what is a Zha Ye?"

"Learning the Northern Liao way of calling it, it's just noble teenagers like you and me."

"Oh!"

Xu Zaijing said: "How about we ask the Jin Kingdom warriors for advice?"

Zheng Xiao frowned: "Advice on what?"

Xu Zaijing smiled at the corners of his mouth:

"How to defeat the Northern Liao army like chopping melons and vegetables."

"Every year on the third day of the New Year, someone accompanies the Northern Liao envoys to shoot arrows in the South Imperial Garden. How about this time, we invite the Jin Kingdom warriors to ride horses at Madam Wu's polo field?"

Several Great Zhou noble teenagers stopped their steps.

Zhang Fangling said: "Then let's talk to the Emperor and see if it's feasible!?"

Zheng Xiao said: "Let's go!"

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing turned around first, and then saw Chai Zhengzheng, who had lowered her head.

Rong Xian turned his head and wanted to speak, but seeing Chai Zhengzheng, his eyes were also surprised, and then he looked at his clothes and triumphantly lifted his chin.

He cupped his hands in a deliberately suave manner:

"Brothers, I'm going to my duty first."

"Xian'er, go ahead."

Everyone said goodbye, either waving or speaking.

Afterward, they walked toward the palace.

Chai Zhengzheng hid beside Gu Tingyi. Seeing the noble descendants cupping their hands, she squatted down several times following Gu Tingyi.

Gu Tingye, who was walking behind, came to the side of Tingyi, who was accompanying Chai Zhengzheng, and said:

"Little sister, what are you guys doing?"

"Second brother, I'm with the Chai family's young lady, going to see the shops in her family."

Gu Tingye nodded and walked to the side of Xu Zaijing and the others, talking to himself:

"On this first day of the New Year, are the shops open?"

Liang Han, who was to the side, said:

"They are! The government allows gambling on the first day of the New Year, who wouldn't open their doors?"

Gu Tingye nodded and followed the crowd.

Inside the hall,

Taking advantage of the gap while Gu Tingyu was speaking, the Emperor drank some tea with the Great Zhou ministers.

At this time, the Grand Eunuch walked over:

"Your Majesty, there are several young men from noble families outside the hall..."

"Oh? Then let them come in."

A group of Great Zhou ministers looked at Zhang Fangling, Xu Zaijing, and the others entering the hall with confusion on their faces.

"Fourth Brother, tell the ministers what you all want to do."

Zhang Silang:

"Your Majesty, ministers, we were thinking that Northern Liao has archery in the South Imperial Garden!"

"So, we want to invite the Jin Kingdom warriors to ride horses at the Jinming Pool polo field on the third day of the New Year, and incidentally exchange pointers on foot combat..."

After Zhang Fangling finished speaking,

The Emperor asked with a smile:

"Ministers, what do you think of this suggestion from these boys?"

The Minister of Rites, Huangfu, cupped his hands to the side:

"Your Majesty, this old minister feels this move has the same effect as what the colleagues said just now. It is feasible!"

"This minister seconds the motion!"

The Emperor nodded and said:

"Good, then let the Ministry of Rites prepare at the Liang family's polo field."

"Fourth Brother, you pick the people yourself."

Zhang Silang looked at Xu Zaijing, who was lowering his head, and said:

"Your Majesty, this little one wants to pick together with the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family."

The Emperor laughed: "Granted."

Several people hurriedly bowed and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Grand Eunuch to the side said: "Young masters, let's go."

After leaving the hall gate,

Zhang Fangling looked at the excited Liang Liu Lang and Qi Heng:

"You two are young and short, put aside your thoughts for now!"

Both of them let out sounds of disbelief.

Xu Zaijing said: "Liang Liu Lang, Hengge'er, this time we also have to ask for advice and exchange pointers with the Jin Kingdom warriors. If you go up, you will only get hurt."

"Alright..."

Zhang Fangling looked left and right and said:

"There are more than thirty Jin Kingdom warriors, we have to put together a ten-man team at least."

"Third Brother, me, Zheng Xiao, Jingge'er, Yege'er—that's only five!"

Xu Zaijing said:

"Doesn't Zheng Xiao's family have four nephews, plus Jiongge'er, and each of our servants? Twenty people is also possible."

"And my family also has two Bai Gao Kingdom warriors."

Gu Tingye said: "The Li brothers?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Yes, they are also practicing that set of Bai Gao Kingdom foot-soldier techniques."

"Good! When there is time, we must wrestle with them!"

Liang Han, who was to the side, said:

"Brothers, then, then are we still racing in Bianjing tomorrow?"

"The few from the civil official families have never been convinced."

Zhang Fangling said: "Race! And incidentally see if we can find a few more people."

Xu Zaijing said as he walked: "How about we find some young captains from the army to join us on the third day?"

Zheng Xiao nodded: "It's best if they have been on the battlefield!"

Xu Zaijing pointed at Zheng Xiao and said: "You reminded me, I really do have a few who have been on the battlefield."

Xu Zaijing was naturally referring to the few comrades who had survived with Zhu Qinghu before and had their bones broken and healed.

After everyone calculated as they walked, they had already arrived outside the Xuande Gate.

After leaving the palace gate, they either got into carriages or onto horses and returned home, then sent servants to notify others. Because it was a day away, it wasn't too urgent.

After Xu Zaijing returned home and told the Li brothers about this, he went back to his courtyard to catch up on sleep.

But the news that there would be a good show at the polo field by Jinming Pool on the third day of the New Year spread.

On the afternoon of the first day of the New Year, after returning from paying New Year's respects in the palace,

The descendants of the Duke of Han, the Duke of Ling, the Marquis of Zhongshan, and other families gathered together.

"That day, I saw the miserable state of the Prince of Jing's guards, I think we should stop going to cause trouble for that star of disaster, right?"

"We are really no match for them!"

Lu Sanlang of the Duke of Ling family touched his neck, still feeling lingering fear.

The heir of the Marquis of Zhongshan loosened his collar and said:

"You don't understand this! People who are brave and fierce don't have that much effect in a foot-soldier battle formation!"

"Besides, is our polo playing bad?"

Han Chengyun said:

"Boge'er is right! Among our families, who doesn't have a few people with military backgrounds?"

"It was just small skirmishes before. On the third day, soldier against soldier, general against general!"

Lu Sanlang said: "However, there is news that the Xu family's personal guards killed several thieves! I—I'd better forget it."

Heir of the Marquis of Zhongshan: "I say Lu Sanlang, among our families' long-term servants, who hasn't seen dead people, or done it themselves..."

Han Wulang: "Ahem!"

The heir of the Marquis of Zhongshan stopped talking.

Han Wulang continued:

"Hange'er has offended two prince's residences, but his third aunt is the second wife of the fourth son of the Duke of An!"

"The Duke of An's family has some very capable people. Why don't we pull in the young masters of the Duke of An's family?"

"By then, first defeat Zhang Silang and Xu Wulang, then defeat the Jin Kingdom barbarians. We will definitely be able to make people look at us with new eyes! Sanlang, together?"

Lu Sanlang touched the crossbow arrow scratch on his neck and shook his head: "I'm not going."

In the afternoon,

The sun shone obliquely.

On the bustling Pan Lou Street,

The Zhou family's bow and arrow shop.

Sounds of hawking and cheering came from outside the door.

Zhou Niangzi looked at Qingyun at the door and smiled:

"Little brother, you look quite familiar."

"Zhou Niangzi, this humble servant is a servant by the side of the Marquis Yongyi's Fifth Young Master. I have come specifically to present a post to Lord Zhou, hoping to invite Lord Zhou's high disciple to the residence for a chat."

Zhou Niangzi was stunned and smiled happily:

"I remember now! Your young master is truly amazing! Little brother, wait a moment!"

As she spoke, Zhou Niangzi walked to the backyard and shouted:

"Yu Xiao Yi! Xiaoyu! Xiaosong! Come out, someone is looking for you!"

(End of chapter)