"Lord Luo." The concierge of the Zhizhou Mansion said respectfully.

"The teacher can be in the house?" Luo Huan asked with a smile, and naturally took out a small string of reward money and handed it to the porter.

"Yes. Wait a minute, adult. The porter took it with a dazzled smile and said secretly, "The villain will go to Tongbing." After saying that, he confessed his guilt, turned around and hurried into the house to spread the word. Luo Huan and Zuo Nianyuan stood at the door together, he was a frequent visitor here, while waiting and looking around, he saw that the plaster of the corridor and the eaves was a little peeled off, and the bluestone on the steps was worn badly, all of which were traces of the old times, and he couldn't help sighing: "The two Mr. Chen are quite concerned about the suffering of the people, since Chen Xianggong served as the governor, this state has not been rectified for nearly ten years." Zuo Nianyuan also nodded when he heard this, and said casually: "The worries of the world first, and the joy of the world after the world, this is exactly what my generation should follow." ”

After a short time, Fuzhong invited them to go to the study to meet Lord Zhizhou.

Luo Huan didn't need the porter to lead the way, he entered with Zuo Nianyuan, he was very familiar with the courtyard portal here, everywhere was the same, the green bricks on the ground were a little uneven, and only one of the three chandeliers was lit, which looked a little gloomy. Luo Huan's steps were not as brisk as before, and he was thinking about how to inadvertently recommend himself and strive for a position as a sailor, and then naturally get the opportunity to be recommended to enter the sailor school. After a few thoughts, he arrived at the small courtyard where Chen Gongju's study was located, and saw the dim lights in the distance, reflecting Chen Gongju's figure on the window paper, and Luo Huan's mind was also suspended. When he came to the door, he settled his mind and asked to see him in a deep voice.

"Come in." Chen Gongju stood up to greet him, his face was full of surprise and joy, and said with a smile, "It's just right." As he spoke, he beckoned the two to sit down, and said with a smile: "This is the tea that Chen Xianggong brought from Fuzhou, you can taste it." He actually distributed tea to the two of them, Luo Huan was fine, Zuo Nianyuan hurriedly took it with both hands, and said, "Thank you, Lord Chen." Chen Gongju waved his hand, signaling that he didn't have to be restrained, looked at the two of them, sighed, and said: "In the battle of Guangzhou, my generation Qingliu sacrificed himself to go to difficulties, withered a lot, but also sharpened a few talents. "Regret is greater than approval. Zuo Nianyuan thought of the dead Zhou Ruilan, and his face was gloomy. Luo Huan was also silent, secretly unpredictable, first waiting for Zuo Nianyuan to tell his teacher about entering the Water Master Academy, open the topic, and then recommend himself.

"Xiaguan Meng Chen recommended," Zuo Nianyuan put down the teacup and said, "I will live up to my expectations......

As soon as he started to speak, Chen Gongju's face changed slightly, and he interrupted him with words: "Things have changed a little. Nianyuan, when you first came to Guangzhou, I am afraid that you still know that the Northern Expedition of the Imperial Court is imminent, and we in Guangnan will send 3,000 troops to participate in this battle. The state school has agreed to recruit volunteers in the state army and county regimental training. He looked at Zuo Nianyuan, a little reluctant in his heart, and muttered, "However, thousands of troops are easy to get, and one general is hard to find." Hearing this, Zuo Nianyuan's face was expressionless, and Luo Huan's heart sank slightly, Chen Gongju sighed, "Since you want to send troops, you can't respond to the story in vain, but it will fall into our Guangnan morale." As the saying goes, fighting without teaching is punishment. Under the city of Guangzhou, there are many casualties among the Qingliu scholars, but there are not many officers who have honed their skills, and you are the best one, so I plan to recommend you as a commander to lead these 3,000 soldiers and horses to the north," Chen Gongju hesitated for a moment and asked, "Are you willing?" ”

There was silence in the study for a moment, and the candles flickered, illuminating the uncertain expressions of the three of them.

In the battle of Guangzhou, Guangnan Qingliu suffered heavy casualties. Especially in the area of Guangzhou, almost every family wears filial piety, and everyone mourns. Before this battle, the soldiers were impassioned and high-spirited, and after this battle, everyone knew that the battle array was treacherous, the sword and arrow had no eyes, the dead could never come back, and the disability was also a lifelong hatred. Neither Qingliu nor the people are willing to fight anymore. Chen Gongju had two preferred candidates, both of whom refused politely, and he was unwilling to hand over this elite army to unsuitable people, so he had to go back on his word and in turn ask Zuo Nianyuan, who was already preparing to go to the Water Master Academy.

"My lord," Zuo Nianyuan took a deep breath and arched his hand, "The Northern Expedition is where the righteousness lies, and the officials are willing to go." ”

"That's right!" Chen Gongju stroked his palm and praised, "I really didn't see the wrong person." Since this is the case, I will recommend you to the state school as the leader of the northern aid. This time to win with the Liao thief horn in Hebei, you need to use good firearms, the northern reinforcements have a total of six battalions of soldiers and horses, four of which are fire battalions, an artillery battalion, and a cavalry battalion. Chen Gongju's gaze fell on Luo Huan again, and Luo Huan's heart suddenly sudden, and his expression stiffened slightly.

"Zhongmou, when you recruited troops to the north in the past, you seem to have studied the art of artillery, right?"

"Yes." Luo Huan replied.

"Very good, the plains are engaged, and the artillery battle is the first. I consulted Zhao Yuanzhi, and there was a battle on the plains, and the Liao thieves clashed with strong horses, rushing and riding and shooting, and I matched it with a strong crossbow in a strong formation. In recent years, the Liao thieves have mostly used iron barrels to damage our infantry array. Therefore, our artillery must be more, farther and more fierce than the Liao thieves. I have learned from the state and allocated all the artillery purchased by Xia Guo to you, a total of thirty five-inch guns, ten four-inch guns, and ten three-inch guns. I also asked the officers of the Naval Division to help us train our gunners again. However, several times in Guangnan, there are too few officers who know soldiers and understand artillery, so I hope you can be the commander of the artillery battalion and go on the Northern Expedition with Nianyuan. ”

Chen Gongju looked at Luo Huan and asked, "Are you willing?" "There was trust in my eyes.

At the time of Zhao Xingde's Northern Expedition, the situation in the north was far worse than now, Luo Huan was able to scatter all his wealth to recruit troops to respond, and now that the imperial court was on a large Northern Expedition, Chen Gongju suddenly thought of Luo Huan. On the one hand, the Guangzhou North Aid Battalion lacked an officer who understood the command of artillery, and on the other hand, everyone knew that Luo Huan was Chen Gongju's most valued disciple. No matter how to reuse it in the future, others have nothing to say.

"The disciple is willing." Luo Huan said in a deep voice.

"Good! Good! Good! Chen Gongju sighed with emotion, "After going to righteousness and not falling behind, it is the people of my generation." The state capital is already recruiting troops, and a few days ago a large camp was set up at the wharf in Western Australia, which is connected to the large camp of the sailors on the shore, and the soldiers and horses are also drilled together. You go back first and make a little preparation, and then you can go to the big camp to take up your post, first master the soldiers and horses, and then decide on the date and route of the northward journey. ”

............

After resigning from the palace, Zuo Nianyuan and Luo Huan were silent and did not speak. It's not that the two of them are timid, it's just that the change came too suddenly, completely disrupting expectations. Walking side by side for a while, Luo Huan reluctantly smiled and joked: "Brother Zuo, you will be my official from now on." "Zuo Nianyuan was only the commander of a regimental training battalion during the Battle of Guangzhou, but this time he became the commander of the capital, and his official position was promoted to three levels, plus the difference between the forbidden army and regimental training, it can be described as a rare encounter. If it weren't for the heavy casualties in the previous battle, the mourning of the family, and the reluctance of everyone to fight far from their hometown, this high-profile position would not have easily fallen on Zuo Nianyuan.

Zuo Nianyuan and Luo Huan have a very good relationship, and their experiences are very similar, not long ago, the two were only wearing wide robes and big sleeves, and even occasionally put on incense powder, or chanted poems on the Yaji to oppose them, or impassioned discussions about war and defense plans, and most of the friends were literati. The discussion of the war in the north in the Lishe Zhibing Zhai, the latest military book written by Zhao Yuanzhi, and even the drill fire gun of the regimental training camp cannot change the essence of the literati in their bones. However, in just over a month, the war completely changed people. Sometimes, Zuo Nianyuan is not much different from the battle-hardened veterans, and if it is not necessary, the bloody battlefield is what he hates the most.

"Don't talk about those vulgar things," Zuo Nianyuan patted Luo Huan's shoulder, "You get what you want, you can finally go to Hebei." Walk! Looking at the sea building, if you don't get drunk, you won't return! He laughed heartily, pulled Luo Huan, who was full of strange faces, into the carriage, and told the coachman to go straight to Wanghai Tower.

Before reaching the Wanghai Tower, I heard a loud noise of singing and laughter in the distance.

"But it's unfortunate, I don't know who is setting up a table in Wanghai Tower? I'm afraid there are no private rooms anymore. Zuo Nianyuan walked to the door with Luo Huan while talking, but Xiao'er, who was waiting outside the store, greeted him and said with a smile: "The two masters are late." After Zhao Jieshuai arrived, the banquet was opened, don't blame the two big officials, please follow the small steps to the building. After saying that, he respectfully led the two upstairs.

Zuo Nianyuan and Luo Huan glanced at each other, and they both saw the confusion in each other's eyes.

"If Mr. Zhao is up there, it's not good not to go up and see him." Zuo Nianyuan said in a low voice, "Whatever, go up and have a look." ”

Luo Huan also nodded, and the two followed Xiao Er up.

The highest three floors of Wanghai Tower and more than 30 Accords are already noisy. This is a banquet jointly held by the major maritime merchants to entertain the officers of the naval battalion. Zhao Xingde personally attended the banquet, and many civil officials and Qingliu gentry also attended the banquet to accompany him. The officers were protruding and wore sashed robes, while the civil officials of the Cantonese provinces wore various official robes, and the merchants wore tunas or silk robes. In order to get close to each other, everyone sat together, sometimes sat and toasted, sometimes stood up, and sometimes walked and talked with each other in various ways.

Entertaining so many characters at once, they are all characters with heads and faces, and they don't talk in a whisper, the owner of Wanghailou is very nervous, the shopkeeper shuttles back and forth with a plate, and the wine lady waits carefully during the banquet, for fear of offending anyone. The little second who led the way was sharp-eyed, and when he saw that Zuo Nianyuan and Luo Huan were both wearing official robes, he guided them to the ninth floor, which was the highest floor. "Here is the state government secretary who joined the army." Xiao Er walked while introducing the identities of the guests at each table, and walked to the door of the room where Zhao Xingde was located, which was also the largest Accord, Luo Huan and Zuo Nianyuan looked at each other and smiled, this is it.