Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 17 Farewell

On the way to Wanqiu City, Fu Zihou looked at the dense forests on both sides of the path with a vigilant look. Occasionally, when he saw someone passing by, he would look at the other person calmly.

There is famine everywhere now, and there are countless refugees. No one knows whether they will suddenly encounter a group of robbers on the road, emerging from the sides of the trail, or some refugees will look for targets and attack them in groups after dark.

Before leaving, his father specifically told Fu Zihou that once they left the village, without the protection of the clan leader and the Zhao family, any refugee could become a villain, and there must not be any negligence.

"Zihou! Fu Zhi!!!"

Suddenly, there was a noise behind them, faintly the sound of horse hooves. At first, no one in the Fuji family paid much attention to it, until they heard shouting, then they stopped and looked back.

When they saw that it was the Zhao brothers who brought people on horseback, everyone in the Fu family looked at each other in confusion and became a little worried.

After all, there are still dead bodies buried in the Fu family.

Although they were buried very well and covered with a bed, they would hardly be discovered. But when they thought about what might happen if the Zhao brothers brought people to capture them, whether it was Aung, Zhang, Tao and others, they all felt guilty.

If they really came to arrest people, then except for the brothers Fu Zhi and Fu Zihou, the rest of the Fu family would have no chance of escaping.

"drive!"

As the two Zhao brothers approached on horseback, Grandpa looked at Tai and Fu Zhi, with a nervous look on his old face. Zhang and Tao also held the packages on their shoulders tightly.

"Brother Han, Brother Gu! What are you two doing?"

Fu Zihou noticed the expressions of his family members, so he walked back first with the package on his back. He stopped a few steps away, looked at the two Zhao brothers who came in front of him, and asked with a bow.

The relationship between the Zhao family and the Fu family has been very good during this period. At this moment, Fu Zihou looked at the expressions of the two Zhao brothers and knew that they were obviously not here to arrest them, so he felt relieved.

Old Liu looked at Fu Zihou's actions and realized his intention, but did not go forward to accompany Fu Zihou. Instead, he looked around calmly, ready to find a retreat for everyone in the Fu family if anything really happened.

"My two brothers are also going to Wanqiu City today. We heard from the villagers that you moved away early in the morning, so we caught up with you and are going to Wanqiu with you."

Zhao Han reined in his horse, turned over and dismounted, looking at Fu Zihou while panting slightly.

Not only Zhao Han who was riding a horse was panting slightly, but several Zhao family followers who were jogging behind Zhao Han and his brothers were not much better. Fortunately, after becoming Zhao family followers, they trained every day, otherwise they might not be able to keep up with the Zhao brothers.

"There's chaos everywhere. Your family, young and old, has a lot of luggage, including women. It will be safer if you have more people with you!"

Zhao Han looked around and then said to Fu Zihou.

Just as Zhao Han finished speaking, Zhao Gu, who had already dismounted, also led his horse to Fu Zihou.

"After my father learned about this, he also said that if your family is going to Xin County, you will have to go to Wanqiu City to pick up the official letter! The governor of Huaiyang is a relative of our Zhao family. We two brothers are familiar with the Wanqiu government office. It will be much easier for us two brothers to pick up the official letter for you!"

Zhao Gu said.

At this moment, looking at Fu Zihou and other people from the Fu family, the young Zhao Gu was also very confused. Recalling that his father at home had learned the news, after thinking for a few breaths, he asked the two brothers to catch up with the Fu family and give them convenience.

Zhao Gu seldom saw his father treat the people in the village like this. In the past, anyone who could make his father so serious and attentive must have been a talented person with some fame, or a famous knight.

Ever since my father saw Fu Zihou that night and braved the rain to come to the Zhao family to present the sword, he has been particularly concerned about the Fu family and almost wanted to marry my younger sister to Fu Zihou.

"what?"

"Help us get the circular!"

After hearing what the Zhao brothers said, not only Fu Zihou who was talking to them, but also the other members of the Fu family behind them, all changed from their initial worry to surprise.

What is the Zhao family trying to gain by helping their family so much?
Now, the Fu family has no reputation or background, and even their money has been taken away by Fu Hong. They really can't understand what benefits their Fu family can still bring to the Zhao family.

"I feel guilty for leaving without saying goodbye. Zihou, how dare you trouble the Zhao family again!"

Fu Zihou looked at Zhao Han and shook his head. He felt a little overwhelmed by the Zhao family's enthusiasm.

"Zihou, this is too formal!"

Seeing this, Zhao Han stepped forward. Being much older than Fu Zihou, he grabbed the package on Fu Zihou's shoulder with one hand. After that, he ignored Fu Zihou's refusal, took the package in his hand, and then tied it directly to the back of his horse.

"aunt……"

After tying them up, Zhao Han didn't bother to pay attention to Fu Zihou, and walked directly towards Zhang, Tao and others, using his own horse to help the Fu family carry their luggage.

"This……"

Fu Zihou looked at Zhao Han's back, words coming to his lips but unable to speak, so he turned his head and looked at Zhao Gu.

Zhao Han's enthusiasm was really hard to refuse. If he kept refusing, it would be his fault. So Fu Zihou could only raise his hand with gratitude.

"Thank you!"

Fu Zihou bowed and said that he had not yet repaid the favor that night and now he was being taken care of by the Zhao family.

Zhao Gu looked at Fu Zihou with a smile and patted him on the shoulder.

"No need to be polite!"

Zhao Gu said this, and then led the horse to help carry the ceremony.

"Young Master Zhao, how can this be possible?"

It wasn't just Fu Zihou. Grandpa also looked at the actions of the Zhao brothers and said with an embarrassed look on his face, holding his crutch.

"Mr. Fu, it's okay!"

The Zhao brothers waved their hands to indicate that everything was fine. They took Zhang's package and put it on the horse's back. They did not take the luggage off the wheelbarrow, but asked other followers to help push it.

Looking at the cheerful actions of the Zhao brothers, Zhang's face was filled with joy.

"Look at the young master of the Zhao family. Even after we left the village, we still remember our fellow villagers..."

Zhang said with a smile, then looked at Fu Zihou, and her smile disappeared instantly.

"Look at your teacher again. He didn't even send you off this morning!"

Zhang spoke sarcastically, and while exaggerating the Zhao family, she also did not forget to belittle Liu Zhiyuan. It was obvious that she was still resentful of Liu Zhiyuan's harshness and ruthlessness. After saying that, Zhang looked at the Zhao brothers and a smile suddenly appeared on her face.

"With the help of the two young masters of the Zhao family, when we arrive in Wanqiu City and get the circular, can't we just leave? It's so much easier!"

Zhang couldn't stop smiling. She was so happy when she thought that the Fu family could get the circular directly at the government office in the city while everyone else was queuing up.

By then, others will know that her family are all well-connected people! They are not just refugees!

Standing next to the brothers Zhao Han and Zhao Gu, Zhang felt a lot more relaxed instantly as she no longer had to carry any packages and the heavy luggage on her shoulders. Seeing her sister-in-law Tao also breathing a sigh of relief, she walked to her daughter-in-law Tai, took the luggage off her shoulders, and took the initiative to put the luggage on Zhao Gu's horse.

Zhao Gu looked at Aunt Zhang's rude look and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. However, he didn't mind it. Instead, he smiled and took the initiative to help Zhang pack her luggage.

However, after listening to Zhang's words, Zhao Gu couldn't help but feel curious. It seemed that something unpleasant had happened between Zihou and his mentor.

"Why do you bring it up again?"

Tao frowned, came to Zhang's side, and gently tugged at the corner of Zhang's clothes.

When Zhao Han heard Zhang's words, he, like Zhao Gu, couldn't help but look at Fu Zihou curiously.

"It was Zihou who failed the teacher's kindness in trying to keep him. The teacher's efforts were in vain. The teacher was angry just now. Don't blame the teacher!"

Fu Zihou listened to his aunt's words, saw the curious eyes of the Zhao brothers, and shook his head to explain with guilt.

These words not only informed the two brothers of the Fu family of the reason, but were also deliberately spoken to the Zhao family's guards standing by.

After interacting with the two Zhao brothers for some time, Fu Zihou knew the characters of these two brothers. They were proud and would never criticize others behind their backs. In the past, they would never contact other villagers.

But the followers were different. They often interacted with the villagers and chatted with others.

"I'm not angry..."

When Zhang heard what Fu Zihou said, she was about to refute him angrily, but Tao pulled her clothes, so she put on a sour face and said nothing.

Fu Zihou breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his aunt was finally willing to calm down, and then looked at the two Zhao brothers.

"When Brother Han and Brother Gu return to the village and meet Teacher Zihou, please tell him that when we meet him again in the future, I will explain the reason to him. Besides..."

Fu Zihou bowed and saluted, then thought about it and shamelessly asked the brothers Zhao Han and Zhao Gu,

"Please continue to protect our teacher in the future! I will definitely repay you for your kindness one day!"

After Fu Zihou finished speaking, he looked up at the brothers Zhao Han and Zhao Gu with a serious face. The former was an entrustment to a good friend, and the latter was a request to the Zhao family. Since Zhao Zi thought highly of him, Fu Zihou was willing to respond to Zhao Zi with a promise.

"Don't worry, Zihou! As long as the Zhao family is here, what happened that night will never happen again!"

Zhao Han looked at Fu Zihou's appearance, nodded, then raised his hand to return the greeting seriously, telling Fu Zihou not to worry, and did not refuse the gratitude in Fu Zihou's words.

After all, given the current situation of the Fu family, since Fu Zihou has made the promise himself, if he refuses, it would not only be a lack of trust, but also contempt.

As the son of Zhao Zi, Zhao Han naturally understood this truth.

On the side, although Zhao Gu did not say anything, he looked at Fu Zihou, who was younger than him, and saw that this was the first time they had been in contact with each other for some time that he looked so serious. He could not help but admire his father in his heart.

He finally understood why his father asked him and his brother to catch up with the Fu family and give them convenience after learning that they had left.

Although his younger sister did not marry Fu Zihou, he could see that the Zhao family's actions made Fu Zihou very grateful and he kept it in mind.

It’s obvious that my father didn’t give me any money!
It was obvious that in the past, my father did not often drink and have fun like he did when he entertained those knights, nor did he let women accompany him, nor did he promise Fu Zihou any benefits.

But at this moment, Zhao Gu could clearly feel that Fu Zihou was very grateful to their Zhao family, to his father and his two brothers.

Zhao Gu felt a little depressed, as he felt there was a huge gap between him and his father in terms of how he dealt with people.

No wonder at home, no matter if it was the attendants, the burly warriors, or even the hot-tempered villagers, their expressions and words were full of respect when they mentioned my father.

soon.

There were horses carrying luggage, and Fu Zhi was pushing a wooden cart with the help of Zhao family's followers. The group walked slowly and calmly towards Wanqiu.

Zhao Gu and Fu Zhi were chatting. The two often hunted together and were already familiar with each other. They were recalling the scenes of their previous hunting together. Whenever they talked about past mistakes, they were the ones with the loudest voices and the most exciting expressions, whether in words of regret or expressions of excitement. It seemed that if they were given a bow, they could let the others go first and they would catch up after hunting.

Zhao Han, on the other hand, chatted with Fu Zihou and Aweng, during which he also told them the reason why he left Wanqiu City.

It turned out that the two brothers were going to Wanqiu City to attend Xie's wedding banquet.

"Xie family! Chenjun Xie family?"

The one who spoke was Aweng. At this moment, Aweng was supported by Tai and looked at Zhao Han with surprise on his old face.

Old Liu, who was standing by, was also stunned when he heard what Xie said, and then looked at Zhao Han in surprise.

Chen County was a name that was replaced by Huaiyang County thirty years ago. But in the eyes of the older generation like Aweng and Old Liu, when the Xie family was mentioned, the first thought that came to everyone's mind was a title.

Chenjun Xie family!

This scholar family is well-known not only in Huaiyang, but also in the whole world.

Unfortunately, after experiencing the massacres of the Xie family by Sun En, Liu Yu, and Hou Jing, and the fact that the Xie family did not do as the Wang family did, some branches moved from south to north earlier, resulting in the decline of the Xie family today, and no longer as prosperous as before.

However, even after experiencing bloody massacres again and again, the remaining Xie family is still a prominent and wealthy family and a renowned family in the county.

"Is it the Xie family that even the emperor was proud of the Xie family presiding over the ceremonies?"

Zhang supported Grandpa and asked with interest.

Zhang was not born into a prominent family, so his knowledge of those aristocratic families only existed from other people's words and descriptions. Now, after hearing Zhao Han's words and seeing Zhao Han nod, knowing that it was indeed the Xie family, he immediately became curious.

"Which girl did the Xie family marry? For a family as big as theirs, the betrothal gift should be quite high, right?"

Zhang continued to ask questions like a gossiper.

After hearing this, Zhao Han told everyone he knew as he walked along, in front of the other members of the Fu family.

"I heard from my father that the girl is Yang's daughter. I don't know the exact type of betrothal gifts, but I heard from my father that the money alone is half a million yuan!"

Zhao Han said to everyone.

Since the county magistrate was a member of the Zhao family, my father also had contact with the Xie family.

This time the Xie family held a banquet, and naturally invited the Zhao family to attend.

"What? Five hundred thousand!!!"

"Fifty……"

After hearing what Zhao Han said, not only did Zhang stop and widen her eyes, but even Aweng, Tao, Fu Zhi and Tai were not much better.

The gift that Fu Zihou gave to his disciple was only a string of five-zhu coins, but it was already very generous!

What does five hundred thousand dollars look like?
How many large boxes would it take to hold all this?

This does not include other betrothal gifts...

Is this a marriage between famous families? This is a bit scary.

As everyone in the Fu family was shocked by the numbers Zhao Han said, Fu Zihou, who was walking side by side with Zhao Han, did not expect that the marriage between prominent families would be so grand.

As for the Xie family, in Fu Zihou's memory, in history, the Xie family suffered a series of disasters and bloodbaths due to wrong decisions. By the end of the Sui Dynasty, there were few people in the court, but there were still many local officials.

Fu Zihou remembered that the teacher had mentioned the Xie family before. According to the teacher, the current leaders of the Xie family are Xie Wen and Xie Daohong.

The former was young, but served as the General of the Left Tunwei in Chang'an; the latter was old, but served as the Minister of the Imperial Household and the Duke of Yangxia in the Sui Dynasty.

"To get married, five hundred thousand yuan! This is just the money, not including other things!"

When Fu Zihou thought of this, he couldn't help but sigh that the Taifu Qing was really rich.

The position of Taifu Qing was established by Emperor Wu of Liang in the Southern Dynasties. It was one of the twelve ministers, in charge of the receipt and withdrawal of gold and silk treasury, and taxation in customs and markets. Separately, Shaofu Qing was appointed to be in charge of the construction of utensils, smelting, casting, weaving and dyeing, etc.!
After the Sui Dynasty, it became the post in charge of treasury, trade and tax affairs, and followed the orders of the Ministry of Revenue of the Secretariat. In the early Sui Dynasty, it was the third rank, and later it was changed to the third rank.

The 500,000 yuan that the Xie family paid out was probably all contributed by Xie Daohong for the marriage between the Xie family and the Yang family.

As he was thinking, for some reason, Fu Zihou thought of the sixth daughter of the Li family.

Although the Li family was in decline, they were still a prominent family in Xin County. Xie's marriage to Yang's daughter, coupled with the gift of such a betrothal gift, would probably be a good story among the aristocrats for a long time.

As for the sixth daughter of the Li family marrying herself, although the Fu family and the Li family have an engagement, the Fu family will not give her anything after she marries. I am afraid that for her...

"Hou'er, let me talk to you first!"

Fu Zihou felt a little depressed, but suddenly he heard his aunt's voice.

Then Fu Zihou instinctively looked towards his aunt and found that his aunt Zhang was looking at him with a weird expression.

"We in the Fu family have nothing. Don't think of selling off our things to give the Li family a betrothal gift. Your aunt won't agree! The sixth daughter of the Li family was born with a disability and can't speak! And you, don't you look in the mirror? They are the Xie family. How can you, a child of the Fu family, compare to them? When the Fu family was at its most prosperous, it was just a famous family in the county. Even when the Xie family declined, it was still a prominent family in the county..."

As Zhang chattered on, Fu Zihou looked helpless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He didn't know whether to praise his aunt for her thoughtfulness or for her carelessness.

I was just thinking about Xie's marriage and my engagement with Li's sixth daughter, and I felt a little depressed. As a result, my aunt saw through it and guessed what I was thinking.

But now, what his aunt said not only insulted himself and the sixth daughter of the Li family, but also his grandfather and cousin Fu Zhi. They all looked aggrieved, and his mother Tao's face was not very good either.

Seeing his cousin's wife pulling at his aunt's clothes and his aunt Zhang chattering non-stop, fearing that she would have ideas about the family, Fu Zihou was speechless.

"The Li family? Born with a disability and unable to speak?"

When the brothers Zhao Han and Zhao Gu heard what Zhang said, they asked in astonishment.

Hearing the doubtful voices of the Zhao brothers, Zhang suddenly realized something and quickly shut up. Seeing that everyone in the Fu family was looking at her with resentment, she smiled awkwardly, looked forward with a thick face, pretending not to hear.

It turned out that when Zhao Zi came to propose marriage, his uncle had already left to prepare for a rebellion, so it was naturally impossible for the Fu family to stay. In order to reject Zhao Zi, Fu Rui did not reveal the woman's name.

Zhang was afraid that Fu Zihou also wanted to give a betrothal gift, so in her haste she forgot about this.

"The Li family, Xin County... The Li family of Xin County?"

Zhao Han was the first to react. He thought that the Fu family was going to Xin County, and with Fu Zihou's engagement, and now that Zhang mentioned the Li family, he quickly guessed that it was the Li family of Xin County.

Zhao Han had heard his father mention very early on that in addition to the prominent Gao family, there were many other famous families in Xin County, including the Li family.

The head of the Li family is the former Shangshu Youcheng Li Gang, but unfortunately Mr. Li resigned from office and retired many years ago, and the Li family also declined and no longer had the influence it once had. Zhao Han did not expect that the family that had an engagement with the Fu family was actually the Li family.

But why did Aunt Zhang say that the girl from the Li family that Fu Zihou went to see was born with a disability?
It is very unlucky to marry a woman who is born with defects.

(End of this chapter)