Women dressed as men: powerful officials

After Cheng Zhicheng became my disciple, there was one more person in the family.

Xu Wenxian then set up a table in the yard and gave lectures to Cheng Zhicheng.

Cheng Zhicheng also handed over the silver, but Wen Shufang refused to accept it.

Cheng Zhicheng said that it was not tuition money, but daily meal money.

The incident of the fire in the private school gradually disappeared in Sishui County. Few people talked about it anymore, and no one continued to sigh.

Cheng Zeyan never appeared again, and the same went for Cheng Jie.

Xuyuan was still a little surprised.

Based on her understanding of the Cheng family, Cheng Jie should have come to cause trouble for her as soon as Song Xiujing left, but he didn't, not from beginning to end.

It was not until one day when Zhang Yue came back with a message that Xu Yuan knew why.

"The Cheng family also hired a teacher! The teacher came from the capital and is good at both literature and martial arts. I don't know how much money the Cheng family spent. I heard that Cheng Jie is now practicing hard at home every day."

Zhang Yue finished speaking in one breath, took a big gulp of water, and sighed: "It's good to have money, but without money, you are nothing."

"Diligence can make up for lack of talent, brother. No matter how great the teacher the Cheng family hires, I still think Cheng Jie is no match for you."

"I feel the same way."

After hearing the wish, Zhang Yue felt much better.

Cheng Zhicheng was reviewing his lessons. Just as he was about to go over to take a look, he heard someone beating a gong outside, "Recruiting soldiers! Recruiting soldiers! Recruiting soldiers!"

"Recruiting soldiers?"

Zhang Yue's ears instantly pricked up and he ran out in a hurry.

Seeing Zhang Yue’s back, Xu Yuan was stunned.

It is only the end of October now, and Sishui County usually recruits soldiers at the end of November.

This year, it’s almost a month.

Does that mean that war is about to break out?

Cheng Zhicheng was also distracted when he heard Zhang Yue's words, and asked Xu Yuan, "Zhang Yue is going to join the army?"

"Yes." Xu Yuan nodded.

"The battlefield is no joke. Have you thought about it?"

"I've thought about it. I think my cousin can do it."

Xu Yuan tilted her head to look outside the house. The warm sunlight shone in inch by inch and fell on her face, which was full of determination.

"The weather is good. Soldiers are recruited at the end of November and the beginning of December every year. Anyone who is 15 years old or above can join. You know, joining the army in Sishui County is different from joining the army in other places. In Sishui County, the county magistrate does not have to be a general. If my cousin can make a name for himself in Sishui County, he will definitely be made a marquis and a prime minister in the future."

The tone of the wish was low, but it inexplicably had an inspiring power.

Cheng Zhicheng heard it and couldn't help but said, "I can do it, too."

If it were in the past, Cheng Zhicheng would definitely think that making a wish was a joke.

But after these days of contact, he found that Xu Yuan and Zhang Yue were completely different from what he thought.

Xuyuan is very smart, resourceful, and has an almost photographic memory.

Zhang Yue was very diligent. He practiced martial arts in the martial arts hall during the day and would ask Xu Wenxian to teach him calligraphy when he came back at night. After Xu Wenxian fell asleep, he would go to the yard to practice boxing. He never slacked off for a single day.

"I believe you too." Xu Yuan looked at Cheng Zhicheng with the same affirmative tone.

As the two were talking, Zhang Yue ran in with a notice and said to Xu Yuan happily, "Xu Yuan, if you want to join the army, go register this afternoon and you can go to the barracks tomorrow morning!"

After Zhang Yue finished speaking, the excitement on his face was slowly replaced by depression.

"what happened?"

Zhang Yue twisted his hands on the edge of his pants for a long time, and said sullenly, "Swords have no eyes on the battlefield. My father will not agree to let me go. Last time, he just mentioned it, but he didn't agree to let me go."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this." Xu Yuan smiled slowly, patted Zhang Yue on the shoulder, and said, "You know, my father always said that a man should either assist a wise ruler in the court or defend his country on the battlefield. He has already taught you the art of war. Do you think your uncle will not agree?"

"Hehe, I'll listen to you then." Zhang Yue rubbed his fists, eager to try, "I'll go pack my things! If possible, we'll leave early tomorrow morning!"

As soon as Zhang Yue left, Xu Yuan was thinking about how to tell Zhang Qingyi.

Before I could figure out what was going on, Xu Wenxian and Zhang Qingyi came back together.

As soon as Xu Wenxian entered the room, he said, "Yuan'er, call Yue'er out. I have something to say."

Before Xu Yuan could open his mouth, he heard Xu Wenxian's words, turned back and called Zhang Yue to come out.

When the two of them were standing in place, Cheng Zhicheng, who was reviewing his lessons nearby, also came over.

Xu Wenxian and Zhang Qingyi were sitting on chairs, with three juniors standing below.

Zhang Yue guessed that it might be when he was asked to join the army, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Uncle, what are you going to say? Why is there such a big fuss?"

This look is indeed quite scary.

Xu Wenxian straightened his back, looked at Zhang Yue, and said, "Yuer, today, your uncle is not telling you alone, but the three of you. Now that Zhicheng is a member of my family, I will not avoid him when talking to him."

Hearing Xu Wenxian's words, Xu Yuan tugged at Zhang Yue's sleeve, and the two of them knelt down hurriedly.

Seeing this, Cheng Zhicheng also knelt down.

Xu Wenxian said, "Since you were young, your father has warned you two that as a man, you should either serve in the court or on the battlefield. This is what you should pursue and should be your ambition. Over the years, no matter how hard life was at home, we adults gritted our teeth and held on, and never interrupted your studies for a single day."

"Sishui County is recruiting soldiers now. I plan to let Yue'er join the army. Once on the battlefield, swords and knives are blind and life and death are unpredictable. In order to let Yue'er go with peace of mind, so."

Xu Wenxian looked at Xu Yuan and said, "Yuan'er, I want you to swear in front of your uncle today that you will respect him as much as you respect me. You will also take over Yue'er's burden and support the entire Zhang family in the future. Can you do it?"

As Xu Wenxian was about to finish his words, Xu Yuan said, "I can do it, cousin. You can go without worry. I will take care of everything at home."

Zhang Yue suddenly burst into tears.

Xu Wenxian added, "Zhicheng arrived late. Today I want you to be a witness. In Tianqi, men have always been given names after the age of 20. But today, I want to take the initiative and give names to both of you."

"Zhang Yue, named Anbang, Xu Yuan, named Zhiguo."

Xu Wenxian's eyes were filled with tears as he spoke. He looked at the two young men in front of him and said, "I want you two to always remember that learning literature can govern a country, and learning martial arts can keep a country safe. No matter who is in power, you must be worthy of the people of Tianqi, especially Yuan'er. You have my blood, Xu Wenxian, so you must never betray your country and always be loyal to the people."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan kowtowed three times. The moment she stood up, there was a look of determination in her eyes.

She raised her right hand and said, "I swear to my father Xu Wenxian today that I will never betray my country or my king. I also swear to my cousin Zhang Yue that I will take care of his family in the future. His parents are my parents. As long as I am alive, I will never let my family suffer any grievances or harm."