At this time, Lao Zhong also knew about Wang Lun's family background, and he really comforted Wang Lun and Xiao Wu. Wang Lun also told Lao Zhong about his and Xiao Wu's escape experience. When it came to the important point, Lao Zhong It is also a sigh of relief.
When Wang Lun mentioned that he was saved by his colleague Dong, and later Zhou Tong taught Qiankun how to treat old illnesses, Laozhong even sighed with emotion: "Speaking of this Mr. Zhou, he is my benefactor." ah!"
As he spoke, Lao Zhong told Wang Lun and others about how Zhou Tong helped him defeat the Xixia army decades ago. His words were full of admiration for Zhou Tong.
Wang Lun and others naturally knew this allusion, and Wang Lun had heard Zhou Tong tell it with his own ears. However, Zhou Tong's words were just an understatement and a passing glance. It was not like the old man who said it in such detail that everyone listened. You can enjoy it with relish and be fascinated by it.
After talking about this past incident, Lao Zhong let out a long sigh and said: "The past is like smoke and cannot be traced. More than thirty years have passed in a flash. I was in my prime at that time, and Mr. Zhou was still a weak boy. Now I am I am now seventy-two years old, and it is the biggest regret in my heart to think that I met Mr. Zhou on the battlefield, and then we said goodbye hastily, and now we have not had the opportunity to see each other again!"
After finishing speaking, Lao Zhong sighed with emotion and asked Wang Lun, "I wonder if Mr. Zhou is still well now?"
"Teacher is well," Wang Lun replied, and then introduced to Lao Zhong that Xiao Wu was actually Zhou Tong's female disciple.
Lao Zhong couldn't help but his eyes lit up, and he looked at Xiao Wu a few more times. Xiao Wu was very well-behaved, and immediately toasted Lao Zhong, smearing honey on his lips, praising Lao Zhong for being full of energy and majesty. Out of the eight, there is no young man who can compare with me. He praised me so much that I laughed and felt very happy.
The old man also encouraged several young people and said that if they wanted to serve the imperial court, they could come and join them. Wang Lun and others only said so.
Lao Zhong also told everyone to stay for a few more days, and to get together for wine whenever they had free time. Then he drank for a few more rounds until it was almost three o'clock. Lao Zhong was already too drunk, so he was helped by his servants to go back to his room to rest. , Wang Jinze and Wang Lun chatted for a while before they fell asleep.
From then on, Wang Lun and others stayed in the Gan-Shaanxi Jinglue Mansion for more than ten days. Xiaohu, Shi Jin and others had already become very familiar with each other, and they took everyone around Yan'an Mansion every day. Lao Zhong was even more distant. From time to time, I would get together with Wang Lun and others, either eating wine, watching a play, or talking about literature and martial arts.
Lao Zhong's brothers and nephews are all leading troops in the army, his wife died early, Lao Zhong is not a womanizer, and he has no concubines around him. Therefore, although Lao Zhong is the general manager of Gansu and Shaanxi, Daily military affairs are busy, but when I have free time, I can't help but feel lonely in my heart.
Until later, Wang Jin took Xiaohu to the old species' tent. The old species fell in love with the little tiger when he saw it, and he loved him very much. Not long after, he accepted the little tiger as his grandson, and his grandfather and grandson were always there. Together.
Xiaohu was fond of martial arts by nature, so Lao Zhong carefully taught the art of war and taught martial arts. Therefore, Xiaohu not only received the true inheritance of Wang family's martial arts, but also learned a lot about the martial arts and military techniques of Zhong family.
But this time Wang Lun and others arrived, among everyone, Lao Zhong loved Xiao Wu the most. Xiao Wu was also very sensible, so he stayed with Lao Zhong every day, talking to Lao Zhong to relieve his boredom, and it took less than two days. , Laozhong accepted Xiao Wu as his god-granddaughter.
From then on, everyone in the whole Jinglue family called Xiao Wu Miss Wu, but that was enough for others to hear this name. Only Wang Lun couldn't laugh or cry.
Xiao Wu has become Lao Zhong's god-granddaughter, and everyone in the management family respects her. However, no one could have imagined that Miss Wu is actually a troublemaker. It turns out that when Young Master Xiao Hu was the only child, he was already the most mischievous, but Fortunately, Wang Jin is still there to control it, so it won't cause any big trouble.
But since Miss Wu came, she was full of evil ideas, and Xiaohu was a master of loading and firing. In just a few days, the two siblings made a huge fuss in the Imperial Palace. A smoky atmosphere.
Everyone in the house, from the generals to the servants and servants, was frightened by the news of the two siblings, and everyone was afraid to avoid them.
During this time, someone came to Lao Zhong to complain, but Lao Zhong didn't care at all. He just laughed and ignored him. On the contrary, Xiao Wu found an excuse to punish the person who complained.
From then on, no one dared to twist Xiao Wu's tiger beard, but Xiao Wu and Xiao Hu became more and more unscrupulous, even becoming kings of the entire Yan'an Mansion.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. It was already late April in the blink of an eye. Wang Yin's wedding was approaching, and Wang Lun and others were ready to leave.
Wang Jin was unable to attend Wang Yin's wedding with Wang Lun and others because of his busy military affairs, so he had to prepare a congratulatory gift for Wang Lun to take.
The day before departure, Wang Jin held a banquet to see off Wang Lun and others. At the farewell banquet, Wang Jin solemnly told Wang Lun that since Wang Lun's father was gone, Wang Lun was actually the patriarch of the Wang family.
Although the Wang family has suffered a great disaster and is no longer as powerful as before, and is no longer among the four major martial arts families, the Wang family now has successors and will surely be able to rise again in the future. Therefore, we must not lose the prestige of the Wang family when we go to Jiangnan.
Wang Lun stood up and respectfully accepted the order. Wang Jin then ordered Shi Jin. Because Shi Jin had committed the actual crime of killing an official and arson, his current identity could no longer be seen in the light. Even the old Mr. Zhong could not protect him. According to the plan, only by following Wang Lun and helping him wholeheartedly can he be successful in the future. Shi Jin also stood up and respected his master's orders.
But Xiaohu blinked his big eyes, watched everyone talking, and suddenly said: "Dad, I also want to go to Jiangnan with my eldest cousin."
Wang Jin stroked Xiaohu's big head lovingly and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll let you and your brother go out to see the world and gain experience."
Xiaohu didn't expect his father to agree to him so easily, and he couldn't help but cheered loudly with joy.
However, Wang Lun understood what his fourth uncle meant by asking Xiaohu to follow him to Jiangnan. He nodded deeply at the moment, knowing that he would do his best to protect his only bloodline.
Lao Zhong had an emergency military situation that day and had to go out to deal with it in person, so he was unable to see Wang Lun and others off. However, Lao Zhong and Zhuge Mingfeng, the head of the Zhuge family, were family friends. When Zhuge's eldest daughter got married, Lao Zhong naturally had to have a marriage. As indicated, Wang Lun was also asked to send a congratulatory gift.
At the same time, Lao Zhong also prepared gifts for Wang Lun and others. Since Xiao Wu and Xiao Hu were different from others, Lao Zhong specially gave them generous gifts.
Everyone went to bed early that day and got up early the next morning. When Wang Lun and others came out of the room, they saw Xiaohu wearing a helmet and armor, a single sword on his back, a bow and arrow hanging on his waist, a big gun in his hand, and another one in front of him. A big, fat black horse with shiny hair was already standing in the courtyard waiting for Wang Lun and the others.
Wang Lun and others laughed out loud when they saw Xiaohu's outfit. Xiaowu even laughed and asked, "Little Tiger, are you going to fight?"
Xiaohu scratched his big head, but said very seriously: "This armor, weapons and this black horse were all given to me by Grandpa Zhong, so of course I have to take them with me."
"You don't have to wear it all with you." Ping'er helped Xiaohu take off his armor, and then said with a smile: "We are going to your second cousin's house in Jiangnan. Just wear casual clothes. Take off this armor quickly." , and put them in the car with these weapons later."
Wang Jin sent Wang Lun and others out of the mansion, and everyone from the Jinglue Mansion came to see them off, waving goodbye.
Xiaohu was young and had nothing to do. He was very happy to be able to travel this time, and he could only cheer for joy.
Wang Lun and others reunited with their companions who stayed outside the mansion, packed up their carriages and horses, and set off southward.
But after Xiao Wu and Xiao Hu left, the Jinglue Mansion suddenly burst into flames with firecrackers and loud gongs and drums. It was very lively for a while. The people in Yan'an City didn't know why and thought there was some happy event in the Jinglue Mansion.
It was already late April when Wang Lun and others set out from the Gansu-Shaanxi Jinglue Mansion. Wang Yin’s wedding was approaching on the eighth day of May, but the journey was still far and time was already very tight, so everyone decided to start from From Yan'an Prefecture, go directly south to Hanzhong, and then take a boat along the Han River from Hanzhong to Hanyang. After entering the Yangtze River, you can go down the river directly to Jiangnan Zhuge Mansion, one of the four major martial arts families in Jiangning.
Wang Lun and others were in a hurry and headed south. On the way, they passed Chang'an City, the thousand-year-old imperial capital. However, because they were too pressed for time, they did not even enter Chang'an City, so they rushed directly along the official road outside the city and rushed to the city. Hanzhong.
However, since ancient times, if you want to go from Guanzhong to Hanzhong, you have to cross the Qinling Mountains, which is 800 miles away. This is also the most difficult journey for Wang Lun and others.
Moreover, if you want to cross the Qinling Mountains, there are only five possible roads. From west to east, they are the Chencang Old Road, Baoxie Road, Luogu Road, Ziwu Road and Kugu Road. And these five roads are not Yangguan Road, they are all along the valley. The narrow paths dug out by the river are difficult to navigate along the steep mountains.
Wang Lun chose the Baoxie Road, which is relatively flat and easy to walk on. But it is said to be flat, but in fact it is only compared to the other four roads.
In fact, this Baoxie Road is still extremely difficult and dangerous. There is almost no smooth road along the way. It is winding and ups and downs, and the road surface is extremely narrow. The widest part is only more than ten feet, and the narrow part can only accommodate one person and one horse. Sometimes the carriage has to have one wheel hanging in the air to pass.
It is even more thrilling when passing through the plank roads. These plank roads are all built on cliffs. On one side is a high mountain and on the other side is a bottomless abyss. Standing on the plank road and looking down from the railing, But seeing the clouds covering the fog, I don’t know how deep it is.
Wang Lun and others traveled all the way through mountains and rivers, experiencing countless dangers, and finally crossed the Qinling Mountains. When Wang Lun and others passed through the Baoxie Road and arrived in Hanzhong, they all let out a sigh of relief. Xiao Wu and Ping'er even clapped their hands on their chests. , gasping for breath.
Turning around and looking at the way he came, recalling the difficulty of the journey, Wang Lun suddenly remembered that the places he passed along the way were at the time of the Three Kingdoms, when Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty, made his northern expedition to the Central Plains and attacked Cao Wei's route of sending troops. Moreover, Zhuge Liang made his last expedition to the north. This is also the path of praise.
Zhuge Liang's lifelong ambition was to protect the Ming Dynasty and restore the Han Dynasty. However, the weather did not cooperate, and in the end he only fell into the starry sky, leaving eternal regrets.
Although Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and his wish to help the Han Dynasty failed to come true, Zhuge Liang knew that he could not do anything, but he did it and devoted himself to serving the country. However, he was respected and admired by later Chinese people, and Zhuge Liang himself became a Chinese An eternal role model in the hearts of people, especially scholars.
