One

The young man invited Xu Zhihe to drink, and the two of them found a quiet place in the tavern to sit down, and chatted while drinking.

It turned out that the young man's name was Zhou Zong, a native of Guangling, who had been an orphan since he was a child and wandered around. Originally, he worked in a local brewing workshop, but because Zhou Zong was diligent and serious, the lord admired him very much. A few days ago, the old man asked him to take back the wine money from several taverns in the city, and Zhou Zong wanted to come back by counting a lot. But on the way back, Zhou Zong met a group of refugees from the north, there were many women and children, and a group of people were in rags, with yellow faces and thin muscles. Thinking that he had relied on other people's alms to live to be an orphan today, Zhou Zong suddenly felt pity and gave all the money to this group of refugees. But the money was gone and he couldn't explain to the master, so Zhou Zong said that the wine money was going to come back, but he was robbed by the refugees on the way back. Zhou Zong had no choice but to wander around the street and wanted to find something to do to make some money as soon as possible, but three days later, Zhou Zong did not find a suitable thing to do, and the old man saw that he had not repaid the money and was afraid that he would run away, so he sent someone out to arrest him and wanted to send him to the government, which happened before.

"I didn't expect you to be so generous." Xu Zhihe said.

"When I was younger, like those children, I wandered around, and when I saw them, I thought of myself, so I couldn't help but want to help them." Zhou Zong said.

When Xu Zhihe heard this, he suddenly had a feeling of being connected to Zhou Zong, so he said with emotion: "I am also an orphan, I can understand you." Seeing Zhou Zong looking at him suspiciously, Xu Zhihe continued:

"I am just the adopted son of the Xu family, and I was adopted by my adoptive father when I was seven years old."

"I didn't expect that we were all fallen people at the end of the world." Zhou Zong said with emotion.

"Then why don't you run? Why are you still wandering around, not waiting to be caught? Xu Zhihe asked.

"When I did this, I thought in my heart, even if I borrowed the money from the master, I will definitely pay it back in the future, if I run away, what will it be!" After listening to this, Xu Zhihe sincerely admired Zhou Zong's character of daring to do things.

The more the two talked, Xu Zhihe found that Zhou Zong not only had a sense of justice, but also was very honest, and he had a special character that attracted him, and he was a person who could be interacted with. And Zhou Zong found that although Xu Zhihe was the son of the Xu family, he was not as lofty and empty-eyed as other sons, but he was approachable, and both of them regarded each other as friends in their hearts. informed each other of their ages, Xu Zhihe was a few years younger than Zhou Zong, and Xu Zhihe was called Zhou Zong's eldest brother.

At the end, Xu Zhihe said to Zhou Zong: "Since you haven't found anything to do for the time being, it's better to go back to Xu's Mansion with me, at least there is a place to live." Zhou Zong didn't want to trouble Xu Zhihe, but Xu Zhihe insisted on letting him go, and told Zhou Zong: "I don't have any friends, but I have made a friend of yours." So Zhou Zong and Xu Zhihe returned to Xu's mansion.

Two

After returning to Xu's mansion, Xu Zhihe introduced Zhou Zong to Xu Wen, and Xu Wen saw that Zhou Zong looked dignified, so he said happily: "Okay, since you are a friend of He'er, then don't be restrained." Zhou Zongshili said: "Then I will be more disturbed." The next day, Xu Zhihe asked Zhou Zong to return the money, Zhou Zong was a little hesitant, Xu Zhihe knew his thoughts, and said: "Borrow you first, remember to return it to me when you have money!" After saying that, they both laughed.

So Zhou Zong helped Xu Zhihe in the house, and the two of them usually chatted while doing things, and they further enhanced their understanding of each other. Xu Zhihe felt that Zhou Zong was stable and good at handling interpersonal relationships, because he was familiar with everyone in the mansion in a short period of time; And Zhou Zong felt that although Xu Zhihe was taciturn, he was calm and calm, had a city government, had great ambitions, and although he grew up in the house of an official eunuch, he had no vices, and both of them felt that they were very complementary to each other.

Maybe it's because he has been under the fence since he was a child, Xu Zhihe is very independent, very good at managing housework, he has always been famous for his diligence in Xu Mansion, and now he is responsible for many things inside and outside Xu Mansion, Xu Wen and his wife are very satisfied with this and are very relieved. Xu Wen's wife often praised him in front of Xu Zhixun's brothers, "You are like my adopted son, and He'er is like my own son, if only you had half of his filial piety." Whenever they heard such words, Xu Wen's sons were very unconvinced, especially Xu Zhixun, who always had a very disdainful and jealous expression.

Three

Xu Zhihe's performance for so many years, Xu Wen saw it in his eyes and remembered it in his heart, judging from the current situation, it is an indisputable fact that his personal ability is above his own son. Thinking of the poem written by Xu Zhihe before, Xu Wen felt that Xu Zhihe's seemingly calm face had a restless heart that was not satisfied with the status quo, he was eager to achieve a career, and longed for a free flying sky, Xu Wen decided to give Xu Zhihe a chance to perform, and at the same time further investigate Xu Zhihe.

One day in June of the sixth year of Tianyou, Xu Zhihe had just passed his 21st birthday, Xu Wen said to Xu Zhihe: "He'er, now that you have grown up, you should let you go out and break through, and prepare to send you to Shengzhou for your father, what do you think?" When Xu Zhihe heard Xu Wen say that he was going to send himself to Shengzhou, he was very happy in his heart, but he controlled his emotions and said respectfully:

"The child is only afraid that he is young and ignorant and has limited abilities, and he will disappoint his father."

"He'er, you don't have to be presumptuous, Dad won't look at the wrong person, Dad believes that you have this ability. Besides, if you have a father, you will be bold enough to do it, ah! ”

"Yes, Dad."

"Then don't you ask what Dad asked you to do in Shengzhou?" Xu Wen looked at Xu Zhihe and asked.

"No matter what, as long as the father asks the child to do it, there must be a reason for the father, and the child will do it with all his heart." Xu Zhihe said humbly and sincerely.

"Okay, He'er, Dad is going to let you go to Shengzhou as a defense envoy, responsible for the defense of Shengzhou City, and at the same time a military envoy of the building ship, responsible for supervising the construction of warships in Shengzhou. He'er, my Huainan is located in the Yangtze River area, the waterway is accessible, although there is the Yangtze River natural insurance, but only the Yangtze River natural insurance is not enough, but also to train the water army, to ensure my water safety, in order to seek peace in this troubled world. Now that the Central Plains is in turmoil, Zhu Wen has coveted Huainan for a long time, and he is currently facing off against Li Cunqiao in Hedong, and he has no time to take care of Huainan for the time being, but when the battle is over, Zhu Wen may concentrate his forces to deal with Huainan. Although Guangling is the birthplace of the first king of Wu, it is a small place after all, and his father wants to take Shengzhou as the capital of Huainan in the future, and strive for the long-term stability of Huainan. ”

Xu Zhihe didn't expect Xu Wen to believe in himself so much and give him such an important matter, he was very moved in his heart, so he replied categorically: "The child will definitely not let his father down." ”

Xu Zhihe has great ambitions and looks forward to making a difference, he has been conscientious, respectful and respectful in Xu Mansion over the years, on the one hand, out of his sincerity and filial piety, on the other hand, he also hopes to be appreciated by Xu Wen, because he knows that only his adoptive father Xu Wen can give him the opportunity to get ahead, and now he is finally waiting for the opportunity, Xu Zhihe is extremely excited.