The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

Zhang Pingan sat back down with some doubt.

After everyone left, Zhou Ziming looked at Zhang Pingan and said calmly, "Do you know why I left you alone?"

"Please forgive my stupidity. I hope you can tell me!" Zhang Ping'an bowed and replied respectfully.

"There's no need to be so restrained. When we're alone, you and I can just talk casually," Zhou Ziming said, raising his hand.

"Remember the question I asked you when I last visited Ci County? You haven't given me an answer yet!"

"This..." Zhang Pingan was speechless.

Looking at Zhou Ziming's sharp eyes.

He really didn't know how to answer this question.

He had thought before that maybe he could just make up a few answers to fool people.

But Lord Zhou was such a smart man that he was worried that this might backfire.

He was not ready to speak out his guess.

I really don't have the courage to do it, and I don't know what the consequences will be.

Last time in the Yangzhou camp, Lord Zhou did not mention this matter, and he thought that the other party had forgotten it.

I felt relieved at that time.

It seems now that what is coming will never go away.

The two of them sat in silence, and no one spoke for a while.

Zhou Ziming drank tea calmly.

It seemed as if he didn't notice the confusion and helplessness on Zhang Ping'an's face.

After a moment, Zhou Ziming put down his teacup and said calmly, "Okay, you don't have to say anything. I already know the answer!"

Zhang Pingan looked over in surprise.

Zhou Ziming only continued: "Some things, it's enough for you and I to know each other's hearts!"

Zhang Pingan:………….

Who will tell him whether he should continue to explain this confession?

"I am really stupid!" Finally, Zhang Pingan replied with an apologetic look on his face.

After thinking about it, he realized that he had missed the best time to confess, so it was better to pretend to be stupid.

He was just an ordinary person, and he had never thought about the scene where fellow villagers would have tears in their eyes when they met.

Compared with Mr. Zhou's ambitions, he may be too mediocre and is already satisfied with his current situation.

I never thought of getting involved in the matter of that chair!

Zhou Ziming's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He simply glanced at Zhang Ping'an, chuckled, and commented, "Oh? I actually think you're not stupid at all, but quite clever! If you had given any other answer just now, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to trust you with the army's support!"

Zhang Pingan:………….

Zhou Ziming did not continue speaking.

He then explained the business: "The 200,000 troops I am leading this time are the most elite troops in Daxia. It was with great difficulty that I succeeded in mediating with the imperial court. Therefore, I am determined to capture the Huaihe River line. If we fail in this battle, the consequences will be disastrous.

Just in case, I've made two preparations. Take this token. If you hear of our army's defeat or if Ze County's safety is threatened, take this token and go to Yin County to find General Kong. He knows what to do!

Zhang Pingan looked at the iron plate in his hand and felt that the burden on his shoulders was as heavy as ten thousand pounds.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I will definitely follow your instructions." Zhang Ping'an put away the token and replied solemnly with a bow.

This is a matter of national interest and must be taken seriously.

"Remember to keep this matter confidential! Don't take this step unless it's absolutely necessary!" Zhou Ziming warned again with a serious expression.

"I know you have a lot of questions in your mind, but after thinking about it, I feel that you are the most suitable candidate. Maybe this is fate!

I could have stayed with the imperial court in a remote area south of the Cangwu River, but the suffering of the people in the north truly pains me. The wailing of the people, the weeping of the Chinese people, is enough. Someone must end this chaotic world! I also want to give it a try and see how far I can go. I hope that one day, when the flag is pointed, they will surrender!"

"Your Excellency has the world at heart. When you are on horseback, you can command the army; when you are on foot, you can pacify the people. It is a blessing for the country to have you around," Zhang Pingan said sincerely.

Not everyone has the courage and ability to save the world!

"You don't have to praise me. I've heard this too many times. It's lonely at the top!" Zhou Ziming chuckled and shook his head.

His eyes were deep, revealing a wisdom and understanding that seemed to see through everything.

After explaining this matter, Zhou Ziming asked Zhang Pingan to leave.

After coming out, Lao Tu and others were curious about what the two had just said.

Zhang Ping'an just said a few perfunctory words and turned a blind eye, not mentioning the token at all.

Lao Tu and others didn't know whether he believed it or not, but they didn't ask any further questions.

We are all people with discerning eyes.

Then the army set off and continued forward.

Zhang Ping'an also brought everyone back to Ze County.

Within ten days, news arrived that fighting had broken out on the front lines.

The army, with Huai'an as its center, marched westward with unstoppable force, capturing five cities in less than seven days.

The tactic adopted was to lure the enemy with food and supplies and strengthen the attack.

What the north lacks most now is food.

Zhou Ziming took advantage of this to recruit the amnesty, tricked the city gates into opening, and arranged elite troops to disguise as a grain transport team.

After entering the city, they defeated the enemy leaders one by one, provoked internal strife, and when the rebel army was almost done fighting each other, they finally launched a violent attack and reaped the benefits.

High-end hunters often appear as prey!

It was the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the Chinese New Year was about to begin.

All the soldiers in Ze County were excited about the outcome of the battle on the front line.

Lao Tu and Zhang Pingan discussed, "The New Year is just a few days away. The situation on the front lines is good now, and we still have enough food. Let's let the soldiers have a big meal of dumplings on New Year's Eve. At least they can get a taste of the New Year."

"Okay, but what kind of filling should I make? I can't get that much meat, so I can only eat vegetarian food. Is white cabbage okay?" Zhang Ping'an thought.

"Okay, it's good to have something to eat," replied the bald old man, "there's nothing to choose from."

"Do you think the fighting will continue on the front line before the New Year? It's so cold." Zhang Pingan was a little worried, and he was always thinking about the war on the front line.

He didn't dare let go of the token Zhou Ziming gave him for a moment, and he never missed it when changing clothes at night.

The old bald man thought for a moment and replied, "Well, generally speaking, there are relatively few fighting during the Spring Festival, but it's not absolute. There are many considerations involved, and it mainly depends on the current situation and the progress of the war.

For example, the Mongols attacked the Jin Dynasty in the first month of the lunar calendar, and the Sui Dynasty conquered the Chen Dynasty on the first day of the first lunar month. From what I know about the commander-in-chief, he likes to fight with all his might. Since he launched the battle in the twelfth lunar month and attacked five cities in a row, he won't stop easily. A quick victory can also reduce food and fodder consumption!

"But the second batch of food and fodder hasn't been delivered yet." Zhang Ping'an was very worried.

"I believe the coach, he'll find a way," the bald old man said. "The coach is a very cautious man, always prepared for anything. You never know what unexpected escape hatch he might have."

"As expected of someone who served as Lord Zhou's personal guard, what you said makes sense," Zhang Ping'an smiled.

Who says military generals are rude? This is just a hint to him!

But Old Baldy's guess was indeed correct. The war never stopped for a moment, and Lord Zhou and his army did not even take a truce on New Year's Eve.

It was not an active attack on the city, but a surprise attack by a rebel army. They wanted to seize food and supplies while the soldiers were relaxed on New Year's Eve.

These people were considered the most brutal group in the rebellious army. The entire county was in a mess, like hell on earth. Children's bones could be seen everywhere, and there was not a single ordinary citizen.

It truly explains what it means to kill people like crazy!

During the surprise attack, they set fire to food supplies in several places to divert attention, leaving only the one place they wanted to rob.

Without considering any consequences at all, they only care about the petty gains in front of them.

Although no serious consequences were ultimately caused due to the layers of security, it still took a lot of effort to put out the fire.

People like this will not behave well as prisoners, and it is even more impossible to let them stay in the county town and live as ordinary people.

Zhou Ziming was really angry and hated these people.

After careful consideration and weighing the pros and cons, he simply ordered a massacre!

It was also a deterrent to everyone in the city that had been recaptured.

He is ready for the tough battle ahead.

There are two important cities on the next front, one is Zhengyang Pass, which is in the hands of Bai Chao, and the other is Huaiyang Pass, which is in the hands of Abra.

Anyone who knows a little about military affairs knows that these two checkpoints cannot be lost.

The rebel forces in these two places are also the largest.

If Zhou Ziming had not been able to rely on the powerful firearms battalion as a vanguard, he would not have been able to advance the war so quickly.

Food and supplies are limited, and every step must be taken according to plan.

It was precisely because of this determination to fight to the death and strong execution that the famous battles recorded in later historical books, the Battle of Zhengyang Pass and the Battle of Huaiyang Pass, took place.

This battle consolidated Daxia's defensive advantage north of the Cangwu River and laid the foundation for the future recovery of the entire Central Plains and the unification of the country.

Zhang Pingan could only watch what was happening on the front line for the time being, secretly worried about the second batch of food supplies.

Even the dumplings on New Year’s Eve don’t taste good anymore.

Liu Sanlang, Lao Tu and others saw it all.

The old bald man touched his full stomach and said jokingly: "You still don't have enough experience. I have been in the army for twelve years and have encountered all kinds of critical situations. There is no point in worrying. The world is big, but eating is the most important thing!

Even if you really can't let it go, wait until after dinner before thinking about it. Look, just like Sanlang, he enjoys everything he eats. I think he is suitable to be a general."

Liu Sanlang was suddenly called. He raised his head from the rice bowl and looked at the bald old man with a silly face. He wiped his mouth unconsciously and thought to himself, is it because he thinks he has eaten too much?

As soon as the old bald man saw the expression, he knew there was a misunderstanding and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Eating more is a blessing. Today is Chinese New Year. Eat as much as you want until you are full!"

Zhang Pingan also said: "It's a rare opportunity to eat dumplings. Don't worry about me. I'm just thinking about something!"

He then explained, "Sun Tzu's Art of War says, 'Without food, you can't muster an army.' The problem of food directly determines whether 'the division is tired and exhausted' or 'the soldiers are well fed and the horses are vigorous.' Now that the army has been fighting for over ten days, there's still no sign of the second batch of food and fodder. That's why I'm worried. I'm thinking, should we send someone to the Yangzhou camp to check? Top-quality horses could arrive in a day, which would give us some peace of mind. In the north, we're in dire straits, so we can't be careless!"

"Alas!" The bald old man scratched the few remaining tufts of hair on his head, looked up after a moment and asked, "Who should we send then?"

Upon hearing this, Ruan San quickly lowered his head and started eating dumplings.

The others looked at each other and lowered their heads to eat.

If this task is not handled properly, one will offend both sides and appear to be meddling in other people's affairs. Moreover, it will also show a lack of trust in the court.

Zhang Ping'an saw everyone's reaction and understood their concerns. He said, "Lieutenant General Luo of the Yangzhou camp is the father of a classmate of mine. Our two families visit each other frequently and have a good relationship. He was the one who helped me find those buckwheat seeds. The buckwheat was harvested a while ago, so we can send some over and give him a letter to express our gratitude. What do you think?"

Liu Sanlang said in a deep voice, "Among all the rank-ranked generals, I have the strongest physique. I will go!"

"Okay," the bald old man nodded immediately. He was waiting for this sentence. Liu Sanlang was the most suitable person to go, and it would be safe too!

"You can ride my horse Lightning. He's a thousand-mile horse. You can get there in less than a day. I'll have someone prepare some more food for you."

Everyone knows that Lightning is the old bald man’s treasure. As long as he is there, he is closer to him than his own son.

This time I was quite generous.

It seems that he is also anxious!

Zhang Ping'an also thought it was feasible. Objectively speaking, his brother-in-law was indeed the most suitable person to go.

He also feels more at ease!

If the second batch of food and fodder cannot be delivered in time, it will surely lead to disaster!

That night, Zhang Ping'an secretly gave his eldest brother-in-law three sachets and said, "The red and yellow ones are filled with deadly poisons. They are for self-defense. The blue one contains a precious pill. It was given by the Qian family as a dowry. It is very rare. No matter how serious the injury is, it can temporarily prolong life and keep you alive. There are only six of them in total. I brought three of them this time. You must keep them safe. It is important to save your own life in critical moments!"

"There's such a miracle drug?" Liu Sanlang was surprised, then turned and refused, saying, "This is too expensive. I don't want it. Don't worry, I'm good at riding and shooting, and I'm very strong. It won't be a problem!"

"There are still many things you don't know. Stop talking nonsense and take it with you just in case," Zhang Ping'an put the brocade bag back with a determined look on his face.

"Okay, I'll keep it first," Liu Sanlang pressed his chest and put the things away.

The next day, at dawn, he rode away.

I didn’t even have a bowl of hot rice on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Except for the high-ranking generals, no other soldiers knew about this matter for fear of causing unrest in the army.

Anyone with a little common sense would understand how serious this matter is. If the front line has no food support, the defeat will happen within a month, and by then it is inevitable that the cities behind the front line will be impacted.

Ze County is the first to be hit!

After Liu Sanlang left, everyone appeared calm on the surface, but they were secretly worried.

The old bald man is very diligent in sharpening his knives.

After discussing with Zhang Ping'an, if Liu Sanlang had not returned by the fifth day of the New Year, he would ask the fireman to prepare ten days' worth of dry food and store it in case of any emergency.

On the evening of the second day of the first lunar month, Liu Sanlang did not return.

On the evening of the third day of the first lunar month, Liu Sanlang still hadn't returned.

Zhang Ping'an was stunned, and his heart sank.

The old bald man calmly picked up his knife and went to the yard to start sharpening it. He said casually, "It's nothing serious. It can only be said that all of us have bad luck. Have you ever heard of a good man not joining the army? If something happens to him, at least we still have people who feel sad for him. If something happens to us, we may not even have anyone to care about us. We should think about what to do next and make plans early."

Zhang Pingan didn't say anything, and was overwhelmed with thoughts for a moment.

As the old bald man spoke, he picked up the knife that had been sharpened several times, flicked the tip of the knife with his fingertips, and said with a big smile: "It's really shiny, it will definitely be easy to chop people!"

But my eyes are red!

"No, my brother-in-law will be fine," Zhang Pingan suddenly looked up and said firmly.