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

“There’s no smoke without fire. This might not be entirely baseless. If it’s true, things will get complicated,” Zhang Ping’an said after standing up and walking around for a while.

Liu Sanlang agreed wholeheartedly: "Everyone understands this principle, of course. Ordinary families suffer when they are childless, let alone the royal family. I guess—and this is just my guess, it may not be true—that it was because of this matter that the mothers of the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince became ambitious and wanted to find powerful companions for their sons to pave the way for their future."

"If that's the case, then His Majesty's refusal seems to have a deeper meaning," Zhang Ping'an pondered, his mind racing as he considered the connections.

"How could we possibly fathom His Majesty's thoughts? Fortunately, my family doesn't have any children of marriageable age. Donkey Egg just got married, and I'm already looking forward to holding my grandson in the future," Liu Sanlang was a very easygoing person who could keep things in mind.

Once this is said, it's over.

"Besides, I'm in the Northwest, far from the emperor's reach, and the affairs of the imperial court will be even more distant from me in the future."

“That’s true. But with Brother Lin by your side, life shouldn’t be too boring. He’s a man with great ambitions,” Zhang Ping’an replied, no longer dwelling on the matter.

Whether it's true or false, we'll find out once we return to the capital.

Liu Sanlang wasn't exceptionally intelligent, but he was a man of action. He only rested for one day at the Guazhou camp before starting the handover process the next day.

At the same time, he led the soldiers in training, ate communal meals with everyone, and farmed the land together.

He had a large appetite, great strength, and was honest, generous, and fair in his rewards and punishments—exactly the kind of personality that soldiers liked best.

Within a few days, he integrated into the group and became one of the soldiers.

He was strict when he needed to be, and lenient when he needed to be, and people gradually came to respect him.

Even General Xu of Yumen Pass had heard that the new deputy commander of the Guazhou camp was a divine archer with extraordinary strength, capable of drawing a bow with a three-stone draw weight and piercing stone with a single arrow.

I made a special trip during my day off to ask for your advice.

Liu Sanlang was naturally not intimidated; he had never met an opponent in this regard.

After the two clashed, General Xu was slightly weaker and lost, but he was impressed by Liu Sanlang's strength and immediately regarded him as a close friend.

Zhang Ping'an saw this and was proud of his brother-in-law.

Soon, it was New Year's Eve. Lin Junhui and his group were unable to arrive before the end of the year and were stranded in Xi'an due to heavy snow blocking the roads.

This year's Lunar New Year's Eve was organized by Zhang Ping'an, who sent people to handle the arrangements. When there was a shortage of supplies, he even paid for some out of his own pocket.

I just want everyone to have a good New Year.

After the excitement subsided, only silence remained in the commander's tent.

"It's been seven years since Jianxin was built, time flies!" Liu Sanlang said as he walked, holding a teacup.

Once he reached Zhang Ping'an's side, he plopped down and handed him a teacup: "Are you alright? Have a few sips to sober up. We still have to stay up to welcome the New Year today!"

Zhang Ping'an had drunk too much; his face was flushed, but he was still conscious. He took the teacup and gulped it down in one go. He then tugged at his collar and waved, saying, "It's okay, I'll be fine after I sit down for a while."

“Alright, then I’ll sit with you for a while,” Liu Sanlang said without saying much, and stayed by Zhang Ping’an’s side.

After sitting blankly for a while, Zhang Ping'an went to the outhouse twice more and felt much better.

At that moment, the scene stirred his emotions, and he suddenly remembered Wei Chengfeng, the former commander of this army.

"Brother-in-law, did you see Wei Chengfeng when you were in the capital?"

Liu Sanlang didn't know why he asked this, but he still nodded honestly and replied, "I saw him twice at the court assembly, but I haven't seen him since. I have often seen his deputy general going to the pharmacy to get medicine."

"Chiang Kai-shek?"

"I think that's the name. I didn't ask. Such a sensitive identity is not something we should have much contact with," Liu Sanlang said, though he seemed simple-minded. He was well aware of the seriousness of the matter.

“He is, after all, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, personally appointed by the Emperor. Jiang is his personal deputy general. No matter what, he shouldn’t have fallen to the point where Jiang has to personally fetch medicine. He probably still doesn’t trust him,” Zhang Ping’an guessed.

"Who knows? But I think the Emperor treats him quite well. The Marquis of Zhongyong also knows his place and keeps a low profile, basically staying at home."

With numerous informants from various factions in the capital, Liu Sanlang wouldn't inquire even if he was curious.

However, he still admired this person quite a bit.

“Yes, he’s a pragmatic person,” Zhang Ping’an shook his head and chuckled, then asked no more questions.

As the sound of firecrackers continued to ring out, the seventh year of the new era had truly arrived.

Another new year.

Even though Zhang Ping'an was in the military camp, all the officials, big and small, who could come to pay their respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year came over.

Since they had come from afar, Zhang Ping'an had no choice but to invite them to stay for a meal.

Although some people might be secretly cursing him for being a nuisance, it didn't affect the fact that everyone maintained a friendly demeanor on the surface.

With little entertainment during the heavy snow, hunting became Zhang Ping'an's most frequent activity, and sometimes he would even accompany his soldiers on patrols along the border.

Such days continued until February, when the ice and snow slowly melted, and only then did Lin Junhui and his group arrive, trudging through the snow.

"Goodness, I thought I could spend the New Year with you guys, but you guys ended up staying in Xi'an," Zhang Ping'an complained with a smile, but in his heart he was relieved that they had arrived safely.

"You know, the snow came too early last year, which was unexpected. But we didn't have a lonely New Year in Xi'an. That Prefect Cao is a good man and made some very thoughtful arrangements," Lin Junhui said with a smile, patting Zhang Ping'an on the shoulder.

The undisguised smiles on their faces revealed just how happy they were to be reunited after so long.

Besides his family and entourage, Lin Junhui also brought several members of the Lin family with him this time, presumably to be properly trained in the Guazhou military camp in the future.

Although it wasn't the first time they had met, Madam Lin Zhang Ping'an wasn't very familiar with her. He only remembered her as a generous and well-mannered young lady from a prominent family.

As a man from out of town, he didn't feel comfortable interacting with her too much. After exchanging greetings, he picked up the second son of the Lin family, a cute little boy, and said, "It's been two years, and your son is much stronger now!"

“How can someone who eats well every day not be strong?” Lin Junhui smiled and gave an order. Madam Lin then quietly returned to the tent where they had been settled with her youngest daughter, maids, and servants.

Lin Junhui then pulled his eldest son into the tent to talk.

The children were all quiet and well-behaved, which was a delight to see.

In terms of offspring, Lin Junhui was much more numerous than Zhang Ping'an, already having two sons and a daughter before his mission to the Western Regions.

When I took office this time, I brought everything with me.