It has been sixty years since the Xu family of Donghai came to Jiangdong after the Yongjia Rebellion. Three or four generations of time have passed by like a flash.
Xu Zongwen's grandfather, Xu Ning, the governor of Jiangzhou, had four sons. The eldest son was Dantu Ling Xu Zuozhi, who was Xu Zongwen's biological father. He died of illness in his early years while serving in office. The second son Xu Yanzhi only served as the Prime Minister of Dantu County, the third son Xu Shouzhi died early, and the youngest son Xu Yizhi is currently the meritorious official of Jinling County. Before Xu Zongwen's rise, he had the highest official position in the Xu family.
Hearing that Xu Zongwen was promoted to high rank and was ordered by the Jin Emperor to marry Huan Yi, the governor of Jiangzhou and Duke of Nankang County, the second uncle Xu Yanzhi and the fourth uncle Xu Yi and their families rushed outside the city early to greet Xu Zongwen, along with Xu Zongwen's mother Nie. , the eldest sister Xu, her brother-in-law Shen Shuren, the administrator of Wu County in Yangzhou, and Wu Yinzhi, the prefect of Jinling County, and others.
"Uu, uh--" Xu Zongwen saw a large number of heads under the city, and immediately reined in the horse's head, climbed down from the Qinglei horse, and walked straight up.
"Mother! Sister, sister-in-law!"
"Second uncle, fourth uncle, second brother, third brother, fourth brother, uncles!"
Xu Zongwen slowly stepped forward with a sincere smile. Various members of the Xu family who were called by him all took a few steps forward. Wu Yinzhi, the prefect of Jinling County, and a bunch of officials were left standing guard, not daring to take the initiative. Go ahead and say hello.
When he heard that during the reorganization of the 18th Battalion of the Forbidden Army, the leading battalion captain Chen Lin incited the Forbidden Army to mutiny. Xu Zongwen suppressed it with thunderous means that night, killing thousands of people on the spot!
"Son! You've been back for so long, why are you just returning to Jingkou now? Do you know how much your mother misses you?" Nie was crying, and Xu Zongwen knelt down on one knee in front of his old mother, letting her go. Nie stroked his hair and looked at his facial features.
The eldest sister Xu helped Xu Zongwen up and said, "Brother, the ground is very dirty. Get up quickly."
"Yes, yes! Son, get up quickly!" Mr. Nie wiped a few tears from the corners of his eyes and stretched out his hand.
After Xu Zongwen stood up and greeted Xu's people one by one, he did not see Wu Yinzhi, the prefect of Jinling County, and the officials behind him.
Xu Zongwen's eyes stayed behind the Xu clan members, and a name that had not appeared for a long time popped out of his mouth: "Miss Zhen'er!"
It's Nie Zhen'er, the same Nie Zhen'er whom I haven't seen in nearly a year!
After the Battle of Linzi, Xu Zongwen took half a month's rest before leading his troops to Yanzhou. Because of the inconvenience of marching, Xu Zongwen did not take Nie Zhen'er with him. After the Battle of Luoyang, the Battle of Yongqiu, and the Battle of Bailangdu, Xu Zongwen returned to Jiankang. Before the idea of bringing Nie Zhen'er back came up, he was granted a marriage by Emperor Jin, and then he reorganized the Forbidden Army. , went to Qiantang to investigate the case, and the matter was completely forgotten...
"Miss Zhen'er, why did you appear here?" Xu Zongwen walked through the crowd and came to Nie Zhen'er.
The expression on Nie Zhen'er's face fluctuated. She could not suppress the excitement in her heart. Her lips trembled as she explained: "Mr. Pei Mansion arranged all this..."
Xu Zongwen reminisced with Nie Zhen'er in front of the Xu clan, completely treating the rest of them as nothing.
No one dared to say a word. Mother Nie even pulled her eldest sister Xu aside to cover her mouth and laugh.
"Wu Yinzhi, the governor of Jinling, has met the general!"
"I've seen the general..."
When Wu Yinzhi and officials from Jinling County and Dantu County saw Xu Zongwen preparing to enter the city, they immediately stepped forward to salute.
Xu Zongwen is currently the Minister of Huangmen, so anyone with a discerning eye thinks that he will continue to stay in the court. However, only Wu Yinzhi, who has been in the officialdom for many years, realized that Xu Zongwen was a sharp sword for the Jin Dynasty and a tool for the Jin Dynasty to deal with the Hu people. The steel sword is the hope of the Jin Dynasty to restore its homeland and the Han people to regain the lost land in northern Xinjiang and the Central Plains! Therefore, the emperor will never keep him for a long time, and Xu Zongwen will eventually return to his battlefield before long!
In view of this, Wu Yinzhi deliberately did not address Xu Zongwen's official position. Instead, he followed the example of Xu Zongwen's subordinates and addressed them as generals, just like those who were demoted in the cavalry army.
"Master Wu and all of you, please excuse me."
"My colleagues shoulder the responsibilities of herdsmen and accumulate documents every day. You must not neglect government affairs just because of one person. Please come back!"
Xu Zongwen stretched out his hands and asked everyone to go back to the government office to handle official business.
Everyone did not dare to disobey, so they had to obey the order and return to the city. The team to greet him was suddenly reduced by half.
Xu Zongwen waved his hand, and everyone in the Xu family followed Xu Zongwen back to Xu's house.
"Hey, where is the fourth uncle?" Xu Zongwen returned to the mansion, but turned around and found that his fourth uncle Xu Yizhi was missing.
The second uncle Xu Yanzhi was a meritorious officer of Jinling County. Just now Xu Zongwen sent away a bunch of officials including the prefect Wu Yin, and Xu Yanzhi also left wisely. This was Xu Zongwen's negligence.
Knowing Xu Yizhi's whereabouts, Xu Zongwen quickly asked the Xu clan members to sit down in the lobby.
"Uncles, Xiao'er is tired today. Goodbye on the day of the coronation ceremony!" Old mother Nie sat in the main seat and spoke.
In addition to the family members of the second uncle Xu Yanzhi and the fourth uncle Xu Yizhi, there were also several branches of the Donghai Xu family who welcomed Xu Zongwen this time, totaling at least a hundred people. However, as soon as Mr. Nie opened his mouth, they obediently said goodbye and left. This was not because Mr. Nie was highly virtuous, nor because the people of the Xu clan knew books and rituals, but because Xu Zongwen’s official position, title and military merit were there, and no one dared to fail. The old lady's thoughts.
"Slow down!" Xu Zongwen stood up from his seat, left his second uncle Xu Yanzhi, fourth uncle Xu Yizhi, his eldest sister Xu, and his brother-in-law Uncle Shen Ren, and sent away the rest.
"I've met the old lady!" The four brothers Xi Jian, Guo Shang, Liu Yu, Xu Wen, Zhang San and Zhang stood behind Xu Zongwen and saluted the old lady together.
Xu Zongwen introduced them one by one: "Xi Jian, also named Shooyue, is currently a staff member of the Zhengbei General's Mansion. This is Guo Sang and Guo Zijin, who used to be the imperial censor. This is Liu Yu and Liu Jinu, who is now the Zhengbei General. Fu Sima. Xu Wen, Captain of the Xiaoqi Army, a member of the Xu clan..."
Xu Yanzhi tilted his head and said to Shen Shuren: "Zong Wen's subordinates are all capable people! People in the imperial army, surrendered ministers of the Qin State, and censors from the Yushitai can all willingly submit their services. It's amazing!"
"That's what the second uncle said. During the Northern Expedition, Zong Wen led the Qiaoqi army to defeat the armies of Qin and Yan, recovered so much lost territory, and made great contributions to the Jin Dynasty. Now he has been granted the title of marquis and general, and all the wise men in the world are willing to serve him. Under my account, I will serve the country and expand the territory." Shen Shuren is already forty years old, and now he is just a county administrator. He is thinking about what if he abandoned civil service and joined the military, joined the Beifu soldiers and followed Xu Zongwen in the Northern Expedition. , what is the situation like now?
"Zong Wen has brought glory to our Xu family. Since Aye, the Xu family has never had a high official like Zhou Mu, let alone a marquis!"
"That's natural! My grandfather was recommended by Duke Huan to become the governor of Jiangzhou. He served in the government for three years and made quite a lot of political achievements, but he didn't have the merits of becoming a prince! Now the eldest brother started his career as a warrior and rose through the ranks. He became a famous general in the world and became famous all over the world. In Sihai, I was granted the title of General Zhengbei, Minister of Huangmen, and was conferred the title of Marquis of Wuxuan County. This is an honor for the whole family!" Xu Qianzhi, the eldest son of his second uncle Xu Yanzhi, stood up and saluted Xu Zongwen.
Xu Zezhi, the only son of the fourth uncle Xu Yizhi, also chimed in: "My eldest brother is not only well-known throughout the world, but has also been granted a marriage by Your Majesty with the Qiao Guohuan family. This move will make our Xu family in the East China Sea rise even further!"
After Xu Zezhi's enlightenment, everyone realized that the top priority was to marry the Huan family and improve the Xu family's noble status!
