Wuji County, Zhongshan County, Jizhou, Hebei Province.
In the Zhen family of Wuji, more than ten people sat around with worried expressions.
Sitting in the middle was a woman in her forties. She had a solemn expression on her face and was carrying a seven or eight-year-old little girl in her arms. She looked like an ice sculpture and her big black eyes were like ink as she looked at everyone curiously.
Zhongshan Prefecture was located on the border of Jizhou and Youzhou, sandwiched between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.
When Yuan Shao first entered Jizhou, the Zhen family offered gold and silk to congratulate him, expressing their loyalty. After all, Yuan Benchu was famous throughout the four generations of the Three Dukes, and he was a good backer.
However, when Gongsun Zan attacked Yuan Shao, the counties responded in unison, and the Zhen family suddenly hesitated.
The family head, Zhen Yi, was dead. The current head of the family was his wife, Zhang Shi, who was also Zhen Yan's mother.
To be able to sit firmly on the position of the family head as a woman and make everyone submit to her, one could see her ability.
This time, he had gathered everyone in the clan to discuss this matter. He wanted to make a choice between these two forces. If he hesitated any longer, he would probably end up with an unpleasant ending.
"Everyone, tell us." Mrs. Zhang sighed tiredly.
The little girl in his arms raised her head and sensibly rubbed her tightly furrowed brows to comfort her. Zhang shi couldn't help but smile bitterly. This youngest daughter was the smartest and also a beauty. However, in this chaotic world, the more beautiful a woman was, the more twisted her fate was.
Someone stood up first and said," General White Horse is famous in Youyan. Hu Er is terrified when he hears about it. The name of White Horse Yi Cong is even more famous in the world. Yuan Benchu will definitely lose this battle. What else is there to doubt?"”
Immediately after, someone objected,"Gongsun Zan is a brave and ordinary person. How can he compare to Yuan Gong's great talent and bold vision?" Deacon Yuan's troops were also strong and might not lose!”
The two groups of people argued, and the more Zhang shi listened, the more annoyed she became. She slapped her palm on the table and shouted,"Enough!"
Although she had some tricks up her sleeve, she was a woman. In this era, women rarely went out, and there were not many who were literate. They were barely able to do business, and they were still lacking in knowledge when it came to the world.
Her husband and eldest son had died early, and her second son had stayed in the south for nearly a few months and was reluctant to come back. Zhang Shi could not help but feel sad. She almost wanted to hug her younger daughter and cry.
However, in front of these ferocious clan members, she could only say with a straight face,"For the time being, let's build a good relationship with both sides and send more property. I hope it will be delayed for some time.”
After the meeting, Zhang Shi found the housekeeper who sent Zhen Yan south and shouted,"Drag that good-for-nothing bastard back! By the way, did you find the person that Mayor Lu was looking for?”
"This…I did find him, but that little brother Zhao didn't want to go south.”
Zhang shi was stunned for a moment and frowned,"You can't even handle such a small matter! Go and inquire about this person's hobbies. Can't you lure him with benefits?”
"Furen, this Zhao Family's little brother is really strange. He was not greedy for wine and sex, nor did he seek money or fame. He was extremely indifferent. Previously, he had helped Yuan Shao's army deal with the Black Mountain Thieves, but when Yuan Shao rewarded him, he had left and settled down in a hut like a hermit.”
"Hmm? There's actually such a person?" Zhang shi was surprised." No wonder that Prefect Lu wanted to find him. It seems that he is indeed a strange person."”
She pondered for a while and raised her eyebrows."Did you tell him about Mayor Lu's deeds of winning the hearts of the people in the south?”
"This, this is not the case!"
"Then go!"
After Zhang shi sent the housekeeper away, she couldn't help but sigh and mutter,"I hope we won't have to use Lujiang as a backup plan.”
……
In a small village outside Zhending County of Changshan.
Green mountains, clear waters, white clouds, and beautiful scenery.
On the grass, a few children were happily chasing each other and shouting,"I am Sun Wukong, and you are Zhu Bajie!”
"I'm not! I'm the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal!"
Under a tree not far away, a white-robed youth was sitting quietly, reading an ancient book in his hands.
"Brother Zilong, what are you looking at?”
A child came over curiously.
"Oh, I'm reading an ancient art of war. You won't understand it.”The young man smiled gently. He had delicate features and a refined temperament. He looked like a scholar.
"Why don't you watch Journey to the West! Sun Wukong is so powerful!"
"Journey to the West? Sun Wukong?" The young man asked curiously," I've never heard of it.”
Brother Zilong, you're too backward!"
The children made faces at him, but the young man was not angry. He smiled and continued reading.
"Zilong! Come in quickly!" At this moment, a shout came from the thatched cottage behind him.
"Zhao Zilong! At such a young age, do you plan to live in seclusion like me for the rest of your life?”In the thatched cottage, an old man in his fifties twirled his beard as he glared at the old man.
This young man was Zhao Yun and Zhao Zilong. He chuckled and said,""Master, isn't it good for your disciple to stay behind and wait on you?”
The old man was his master, Tong Yuan. He frowned and said,""Sigh, I didn't teach you this skill to bury you! If you think Yuan Shao can't do it, go and vote for Gongsun Zan! Oh right, I heard that your Martial Uncle Wang Yue is in Lujiang, following that Lu Chengfeng. I heard that this person is incomparably benevolent and loves the people like his own children. How about it? Do you want to go and take a look?”
"Mm, alright, then I'll go and take a look!”Zhao Yun pondered for a moment and nodded.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。