The imperial court wants to march westward?
After confirming the news, Wang Quanzhen, the preface officer of Honglu Temple, rushed out of the Yamen office and ran all the way through the central city. Panting and sweating, he did not stop and ran to the Jinchuan gate in one breath. He bent over and put his hands on his hands. Legs, breathing heavily.
After walking past the largest granary in the capital, passing through a group of houses, and walking another two miles, at this time, smoke was rising from every house, and the red light of the setting sun was tenderly lingering on this piece of land.
Wang Quanzhen walked outside a house and stopped.
The half-person-high fence is made of dead poplar trees, and the courtyard is very even. To the north are two connected thatched houses, to the west is a bare willow tree, and to the south is a vegetable garden of four or five steps. On the east side are piles of chopped firewood.
A middle-aged woman wore an apron around her waist and held a few cabbage leaves in her hand. She was about to fetch water to wash them with water when she looked up and saw the person outside the door. She was wearing an official hat and blue official uniform. Instead of leaving, he stood at the door and couldn't help but ask: "Is there something wrong with the official family?"
Wang Quanzhen's eyes heated up, he looked at the middle-aged woman and said, "Are you Mrs. Chen of the Fu family, Sister-in-law Chen?"
Mrs. Fu nodded slightly.
Wang Quanzhen's throat moved, he choked, and said to Mrs. Fu: "Sister-in-law, please take a closer look. I am Wang Quanzhen. In the spring of ten years ago, I visited Brother Fu. My sister-in-law entertained me. Before leaving, she also stuffed Gave me six eggs!”
Mrs. Fu looked at Wang Quanzhen who stretched out his hand to gesture, and his memory finally turned over the thick and desolate years, returned to the spring ten years ago, and remembered the person in front of her.
"Are you Fu An's colleague, Wang Quanzhen?"
Mrs. Fu stepped forward, her heart filled with emotions.
Wang Quanzhen nodded heavily, looked at the woman with some gray hair, and said, "Sister-in-law, I came here today to tell you some news."
Mrs. Fu opened the door, invited Wang Quanzhen to come in, and said, "If there is any news, please let it go for a while. I'll cook and treat you well. It's been so many years since I've seen an old friend."
After Wang Quanzhen heard this, he couldn't help but feel even more sad. He held back and said: "I have been looking for you for many years, but unfortunately there is no news..."
Mrs. Fu chuckled. It must be true that Wang Quanzhen has been looking for him. It is not that there is no news, but that it is useless if there is news.
Since her husband Fu An took his envoys to the Western Regions and there was no news again, the imperial court forgot about the Fu family. Later, even the meager salary was stopped. It was difficult for orphans and widowers to live in Nanjing. At first, there was Fu. My family and maternal family help me, and I can still survive, but for one year, two years, or three years, no one is willing to continue to help me.
In desperation, he had no choice but to move with his son, from the city to the outside of the city, from outside the city to the suburbs, and finally here.
Meng's mother moved three times, choosing her neighbors to live in. She moved three times just to save some money and survive.
Mrs. Fu entertained Wang Quanzhen with a smile. An old friend from ten years ago came to visit her ten years later. It was obvious that he was very attentive and affectionate.
Wang Quanzhen looked at the simple courtyard and thatched house and couldn't help but raise his sleeves: "Sister-in-law, how did you survive the winter?"
Mrs. Fu smiled and pointed to the firewood on the side: "People in the city use coal, but we are not so particular outside. We can still get by with a little firewood, but it's really cold in winter. It's getting warmer these days. My feet are unlucky."
Wang Quanzhen knew the feeling of frozen feet. It was so itchy that he wanted to chop off his toes with a knife.
"You sit down while I cook. Fu Linke will be back in a while. He is now working as a coolie at the dock. Back then, you asked him to study hard. Alas, this kid is not that good."
Mrs. Fu said and turned around.
Wang Quanzhen knew that Fu Lin, Fu An's only son, was very smart when he was young. He had read four books before he was eight years old.
It's a pity that there is no news about Fu An after he left. The court's indifference and forgetfulness may have completely broken the former young man and gave up his official career.
"I have something to say!"
Wang Quanzhen called out to Mrs. Fu, very seriously.
Mrs. Fu turned around and saw Wang Quanzhen's serious face. She wiped her hands on her apron, then untied her apron, arranged her hair with her hands, and then said, "Okay, tell me."
Wang Quanzhen's mouth trembled, and he opened his mouth several times, not knowing where to start. He was silent for a while, and then said with tears in his eyes: "Although Wang Quanzhen and Fu An are colleagues, they are also close friends. I respect him as my brother and respect him as a human being." ”
Fu's eyes were slightly red. Ten years had passed, and things had changed a lot. He still remembered Fu An, and was even willing to risk going to the Western Regions to find a person who might have died in the desert!
Wang Quanzhen made up his mind to find Fu An back. Even if he died, he must bring his bones back!
The six eggs that year were all the Fu family's eggs.
They have tried their best to help me and give to me, but I have hesitated for ten years!
I can't wait any longer. I just need a token. With this sustenance and this idea, I plunge into the vast desert and head to the extremely remote Western Region to find a person who may not exist.
"You mean, my father might still be alive?"
There was a voice behind Wang Quanzhen. He turned around and saw a strong young man standing behind him. He was taller than himself. Although he was wearing winter clothes, it could be seen from his wide and thick palms that he was A coolie and a capable person.
"Are you Fu Lin?"
Wang Quanzhen was in a daze. The child back then had grown up. It was a pity that he did not enter an official career.
"Uncle Wang, I remember you. Let's not talk about old times. You just said you were going to the Western Regions? Is my father still alive? But what news is there?"
Fu Lin asked quickly.
When Wang Quanzhen saw Mr. Fu looking at him, he sighed, shook his head and said, "I really have no news about Brother Fu."
Fu Lin and Fu were a little disappointed.
Wang Quanzhen looked at the two people who lowered their heads and said: "However, the imperial court has received information that Timur is about to conquer the east. The emperor has issued an order, ordering King Yan to deploy 100,000 troops from the capital to go to the Western Regions to fight Timur. You also I know that the place where Brother Fu was sent as an envoy was Timur's country. I plan to ask for a decree and go to the Western Regions with the army. When the Ming Dynasty captures Timur's sergeants, I will inquire about Brother Fu's whereabouts."
"If there is no news, after Timur is defeated, I can go to Timur's country and ask questions along the way until I find news about Brother Fu. This trip will be long, so I would like to ask my sister-in-law to entrust me with a token to help I'm going west." Mrs. Fu looked at Wang Quanzhen who was saluting, and hurriedly stepped forward to straighten himself up, sighing: "Fu An has a friend like you, his life is not in vain. It's just that the Western Region is full of dangers, and there is war now, so I don't dare to let you take risks. , what about Fu An, let’s just listen to fate.”
Wang Quanzhen shook his head and said firmly: "Sister-in-law, I have made up my mind. If I don't go, I will end up with regrets in this life."
Seeing Wang Quanzhen like this, Mrs. Fu looked at her son Fu Lin. Fu Lin thought for a moment and said to Wang Quanzhen, "Uncle Wang, you really want a token."
Wang Quanzhen asked for it.
Fu Lin said seriously: "This token is me. You take me to the Western Regions, and I will find my father back."
Wang Quanzhen looked at Fu Lin in surprise and shook his head repeatedly: "No, absolutely not. I am not sure about the trip to the Western Regions, let alone take you to take risks. If something unexpected happens, I will not be able to explain to Brother Fu even if I die."
Fu Lin did not answer Wang Quanzhen, but looked at Mrs. Fu: "Mother, do you miss your father too? Since the imperial court is going to send troops to the Western Regions, we cannot miss this opportunity. I am willing to go to the emperor and submit a memorial to allow me to go westward. , I hope my mother will let me go."
Mrs. Fu lamented, walked into the house, and soon took out a suitcase, threw it at the door, and said: "Do you think you packed the package secretly, and the mother-in-law wouldn't know? If your uncle Wang hadn't come, wouldn't you have Did you secretly follow him to the Western Region?"
Fu Lin was depressed that such a secret little move was discovered.
"Have you known for a long time that the imperial court is about to go on an expedition?"
Wang Quanzhen looked at Fu Lin in surprise.
Fu Lin shook his head: "I'm not sure, but I know that the northwest needs a lot of food. The northwest has always needed food. This is very similar to before the attack on Annan, but that time the southwest has always needed food. A few days ago, I heard some Beijing troops say I thought there might be a war in the northwest, so I started to think about it."
Wang Quanzhen was relieved.
In fact, many courtiers received the news that the imperial court was going on an expedition later than the Governor's Office, the Ministry of War and the sergeants of the Fifth Army.
"Mother, let me go."
Fu Lin looked at Mrs. Fu and begged deeply.
Mrs. Fu pointed to the package at the door and said, "When you grow up, follow your father. You are very stubborn. Even if I stop you today, you will sneak away tomorrow. No one will worry. But if you want to go, You must promise me something."
"What's up?"
Fu Lin asked quickly.
Mrs. Fu grabbed Fu Lin's hand and said seriously: "Go in an open and fair manner, go in a dignified manner!"
Fu Lin was confused and didn't understand what it meant.
Wang Quanzhen nodded, understood what Fu meant, and said to Fu Lin: "You can also write, write a letter, and I will ask someone to deliver it to the emperor. Once the emperor sees it, he will definitely summon you. At that time, It will be much safer if you set out in the name of the imperial envoy."
Fu Lin looked a little ugly and refused: "I don't want to be an official of the imperial court. They have forgotten my father and now they still want me to work for them? Don't even think about it!"
Mrs. Fu patted Fu Lin's hand and said sternly: "My child, you are a citizen of the Ming Dynasty. Your father is an envoy on a mission, which is an honor. Even if you endure hardships and encounter disasters, If he loses his life, then he is also glorious. You want to find your father, but you don’t have an official position. In the vast sea of sand, there is no one to take care of you. Whether you can reach Jiayuguan alive is a problem. Be obedient and write a seal to Emperor Jianwen. Write a memorial, with Uncle Wang helping you, it will be no problem."
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