Chapter 308: The Marquis of Xiangyang, Unlike the Past [Thanks to everyone for your support

The first quarter of the Chen hour (after 7:00 AM).

Quyuan Street.

A group of people rode their horses out from the main gate of the Xu residence, followed by a flatbed carriage.

Xu Zaijing rode side-by-side with his elder brother. Behind them were Qingyun, the Li brothers, Alan, and Xunshu, as well as Zaihang's page and personal guard.

A group of more than ten spirited horses, with riders who were all sturdy men, were very eye-catching on the streets of Bianjing.

Xu Zaijing and the others headed west as they had the day before, exited Bianjing's Xinzheng Gate, passed the Baojin Tower south of Jinming Pool, went through the official road where they raced horses yesterday, and after passing Wu Tower, arrived at the entrance of the polo field.

At the entrance of the polo field, there were three men wearing winter clothes standing with their horses.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and his group, the three hurriedly tapped their horses' bellies, paced their horses over, and cupped their hands:

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master."

Xu Zaijing returned the salute: "The three of you have been waiting a long time!"

Lu Junyi glanced at the carriage behind Xu Zaijing and smiled: "We just arrived too."

Xu Zaijing nodded, then introduced Zaihang beside him. Everyone exchanged salutes again, and then entered the polo field.

At this time, it was still early, and there were not many people in the wide polo field.

There were only a few tents that looked like they had been fitted with thick cotton curtains,

and Liang family servants were busy moving stone coal and charcoal.

Lu Junyi and the three looked around the polo field with some curiosity. Although they were high disciples of Zhou Dong, they didn't have many opportunities to come in and play on weekdays.

Seeing that there were no scoring flags or drumming "atmosphere groups" described by others, Lu Junyi and his fellow disciples looked at each other and said:

"Fifth Young Master, calling us here today, is it not to play polo?"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said:

"Brother Lu's words are correct. Today is to learn from the martial artists in the Jin envoy group, after all, they have fought several major battles with Northern Liao."

"Inviting the three of you here is, first, thinking that we can have more help! Second, the several of you are high disciples of Zhou Duzhi, and you can also see different things."

Lu Junyi and the three nodded. Their master, Zhou Dong, was also from the fighting ranks of the Western Army, so naturally, he had taught them about battle formations.

As they spoke, everyone arrived in front of the tents and dismounted. The people entered the tents, while the horses were led by the Xu family servants to a shed to the side.

After taking their seats, the sturdy Wu Song looked at Xu Zaijing and said:

"Fifth Young Master, I heard from Master before that the Jin state and Northern Liao have fought consecutive battles and won consecutive victories. Do they have any differences from us?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said:

"Looking from the outside, there are none!"

Zaihang to the side interjected: "Northern Liao has been established for many years, with many soldiers and generals. The Jin state being able to win consecutive battles must have its own merits!"

Hearing this, everyone in the tent nodded, especially the Li brothers, whose eyes were full of approval for Zaihang's words.

Soon, Qingyun brought the boiled tea from behind the tent.

Everyone hadn't drunk a few sips when a Xu family servant standing at the tent entrance reported that dozens of people riding horses had entered the polo field entrance again.

Xu Zaijing put down his teacup, walked to the tent entrance, and took a look: "Look, those who entered are the Jin martial artists."

Lu Junyi and the others hurriedly followed him out.

After the Jin martial artists entered the polo field, they divided into one large and one small group. The small group came to the Xu family tent where there were people, while the large group went to the horse shed.

Wanyan Zongjun dismounted in front of the tent and looked curiously at the three people behind Xu Zaijing who were staring straight at him.

Then, after nodding at Xu Zaijing, he asked in stiff Great Zhou language: "If there is a chance today, let us... compare."

Xu Zaijing's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he cupped his hands: "This little one will naturally accompany you!"

The translator who had lived in Bianjing for a long time looked at Wanyan Zongjun's happy appearance, shook his head slightly, and sighed.

After the "appointment to battle" was successful, the group of Jin martial artists continued to walk toward the large tent prepared for them by the Great Zhou Ministry of Rites.

Another quarter of an hour passed,

and more and more people came into the polo field.

In the Xu family tent, Lu Junyi was acting as a referee for Qingyun and Wu Song, who were arm-wrestling.

Before the winner was decided, Zheng Xiao flew off his horse at the tent entrance.

After seeing Xu Zaijing, he hurriedly waved and said:

"Third Brother Zhang, Fifth Young Master, hurry out, several Dukes and important court officials have all come!"

Everyone in the tent was stunned and hurriedly stood up.

Standing with Zheng Xiao at the tent entrance,

Xu Zaijing looked at the large group of people entering the polo field, observing carefully while his lips moved slightly as he asked:

"Second Brother Zheng, what's the situation? Why... hiss!"

"Behind the Duke of Lian, the Marquis of Xiangyang, and the Duke of Qi, who are the ones riding horses side-by-side?"

Zheng Xiao said in a low voice: "They are the Duke of An, the Duke of Ling, and the Duke of Han. Behind them, with my father and the Marquis of Yongchang, is the Duke of Xin."

It was no wonder Xu Zaijing didn't recognize them, because the elders of the An, Ling, and Han families really had little interaction.

Standing behind Xu Zaijing, the three brothers Lu, Luan, and Wu looked at each other and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Xu Zaijing: "Oh! But why do those three look so listless?"

Zheng Xiao coughed lightly and said:

"These three and the old Prince Kang... are close friends."

Xu Zaijing nodded, summarizing it as: they are all lecherous.

Then, in his field of vision, the Marquis of Xiangyang was talking, and the Duke of Qi beside him kept nodding.

Wu Song asked in a low voice behind Lu Junyi: "Brother, why is the Duke of Qi so respectful to the Marquis of Xiangyang?"

Lu Junyi said in a low voice: "The Marquis of Xiangyang is the Duke of Qi's father-in-law."

Wu Song nodded.

Soon, the Bianjing nobles riding horses passed by the Xu family tent.

Zaihang led Xu Zaijing to greet them for a few steps, bowed, and cupped his hands in salute.

The Duke of Lian, who was walking in front, looked at his grandson's sworn brother and waved with a smile: "Zaihang, hurry, don't be so polite with your brother."

The Marquis of Xiangyang beside the Duke of Lian glared and said to Xu Zaijing:

"Little Brother Jing, you stinky brat, you don't even say you'll come to my mansion to see this old man! I gave you such a good pair..."

He glanced at Qi Yiqiu and didn't continue.

The Duke of Qi smiled and looked at Xu Zaijing, nodded, and said: "Brother Heng is behind. Brother Zhang and Brother Jing, take a look at him later."

"Yes."

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother replied.

And the old man knew who had wanted to plot against the Guangrui Army of the Gu family before, and the Marquis of Xiangyang was also surnamed Gu!

So the Marquis of Xiangyang continued:

"Little kid of the Zheng family, when you face the little brats of the families behind later with Little Brother Jing, don't show mercy, beat them up."

"Whose things do they dare to covet!"

Zheng Xiao hurriedly agreed.

The three walked toward the tent of the Jin envoy.

The three Dukes of An, Han, and Ling who followed behind looked at the sons of the Xu and Zheng families somewhat indifferently,

only nodding politely without saying much.

The Marquis of Yongchang, Marquis Liang, and the old Marquis of Zhongjing, who was not young, at the very back, spoke a few words to the two.

The Duke of Xin looked at Zheng Xiao and the Xu brothers and said:

"The two children of the Xu family, are you two really more formidable than your elder brother?"

Xu Zaijing and Zaihang looked at each other and said: "Eldest brother is formidable!"

The Duke of Xin looked at the two Marquises beside him and smiled:

"It's believable for Brother Zhang to say that! For you to say that, Brother Jing, it's just to fool my three stupid sons who have never been on the battlefield."

As he spoke, the Duke of Xin pointed vaguely at Xu Zaijing, and then chased after the several Dukes in front with the two Marquises.

Later, several officials from the Three Departments and the Ministry of War came, among whom was Gu Tingyu.

Gu Tingyu followed among the high officials of the Three Departments and the Ministry of War, nodded at Xu Zaijing, and entered the tent beside the Jin envoy.

After a while, a large number of young Bianjing nobles entered the polo field,

and naturally divided into two groups. One group gathered in front of the Xu family tent, and one group gathered in front of the Duke of An's tent.

Walking at the very back were the carriages of the Ministry of War, carrying many Great Zhou standard armors, swords, and shields. These carriages stopped behind the tent where Gu Tingyu was.

When Qi Heng, Gu Tingye, and the other young masters living in Xingguo Lane arrived near Xu Zaijing,

Zheng Xiao looked at Qi Heng, who was close by, and said beside Xu Zaijing:

"This old Marquis's concubine is pregnant, the momentum and thoughts are just different, ha!"

Gu Tingye smiled and glanced at Qi Heng, who was somewhat embarrassed.

Before, because there was only Princess Pingning, the Marquis of Xiangyang Mansion might have given it to a collateral branch with no blood relation later.

The Marquis of Xiangyang was naturally somewhat disheartened, but ever since the two concubines became pregnant, the Marquis of Xiangyang could be considered as dead wood sprouting new buds, and the whole person was full of vitality again.

And the Marquis of Xiangyang Mansion's few relatives were the Duke of Qi Mansion and the Marquis of Ningyuan Mansion. At this time, there was actually a feeling of sharing a common hatred.

Of course, the Sun family of Xishui Gate was barely considered a relative.

Looking at the appearance of the Marquis of Xiangyang just now, on the way out of Xingguo Lane, who knows how he was talking to Gu Tingye and Qi Heng.

Xu Zaijing to the side also smiled and greeted Zheng Xiao's four nephews.

Looking up, he saw Seeing Hu Yanjiong following at the very back.

Subsequently,

Zaihang led Xu Zaijing to talk affectionately with Seeing Hu Yanjiong. The sons of the Zheng and Gu families also didn't seem unfamiliar, and the smile on Seeing Hu Yanjiong's face gradually increased.

After a while,

Jin martial artists were sent over, preparing to say some things to the young nobles.

After a few sentences, the translator had some difficulty translating. Seeing Hu Yanjiong to the side picked up the conversation, after all, he had stayed in the Jin state for a long time.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 309 =====