The days are back to normal, although they are dull, but they are comfortable.

The same is true for Zhang Fan, although it has been nearly a year old, he still gets up early, reads, and practices calligraphy as usual. Zhao also looked energetic because of Zhang Fan's homecoming, and he will move to the capital next year, and his son's future is also splendid, which makes Zhao look much younger.

With the advent of the Spring Festival, this small county town of Anhua is even more busy. The people are very happy to be able to have a good year in peace. Even Zhang Fan is busy, the neighbors know Zhang Fan's identity and usually don't bother him, but this Chinese New Year, there is an endless stream of people coming to ask for Spring Festival couplets, and it is estimated that they also want to get touched by Zhang Fan's "luxury". If it weren't for Zhao's refusal, Zhang Fan would have the heart to open a small shop and sell Spring Festival couplets or something. Even those old neighbors who used to live in the west of the city came to Zhang Fan's house and asked Zhang Fan to write Spring Festival couplets. Mother felt that this would disturb Zhang Fan's studies, although she was quite unhappy, but for the sake of the neighbors, she didn't say anything. But Zhang Fan seemed to be refusal, and he regarded this as a way to practice calligraphy. Although the content of the writing is the same and there is nothing new, Zhang Fan did play a trick, using one font for one Spring Festival couplet, and changing another one for the next one.

Zhang Fan has been busy for several days, and the days are passing day by day, and before he knows it, he has reached the twenty-eighth year of the year, and people have already purchased New Year's goods, either visiting the door or squatting at home waiting for the New Year, and even the people who come to ask Zhang Fan to write Spring Festival couplets are much less.

This morning, Zhang Fan woke up, his mother was tidying up the housework, and a lot of new things had been added to the house this year, and those silk Zhao made a few new clothes for Zhang Fan, but he didn't make them for himself. Zhang Fan also persuaded her, but she said that she didn't need to go out to socialize, and she didn't need clothes made of such good materials, so Zhang Fan had to give up.

Zhang Fan had breakfast and read in the study, although it was almost the New Year, but the habit that his body had developed for many years allowed him to continue this life. After eating at noon, Zhang Fan was about to go out for a walk, and was about to open the door, but heard a knock outside the door. Zhang Fan's grandfather came to the northwest of the Ming Dynasty from Yangzhou alone, where are there any relatives, most of the relatives of his mother Zhao have passed away, Zhang Fan wonders who will come to his house at this time.

Although he had doubts in his heart, Zhang Fan still opened the door. When he opened the door, Zhang Fan was relieved, it turned out to be a servant, and he must have been sent by the Nama County Commander to find him.

"Gongzi Zhang, the county magistrate sent me to let you go to the county government for a while." The official saw Zhang Fan who opened the door and said with a smile.

"I wonder what the adults are looking for me?" Zhang Fan asked.

"It's Lord Chen, the Dingbian Inspector, and his two daughters who came to visit the Ma County Commander's Mansion and want to meet Zhang Gongzi." The officer replied.

"Master Chen......" Zhang Fan thought for a while, and suddenly remembered the two Chen sisters he met on the street that day, and his heart was relieved, so he said to the officer, "Since this is the case, I will follow you." ”

Zhang Fan said to his mother and followed the servant. There are not many pedestrians on the street, and many shops are too lazy to open in this cold winter and there is not much business because they are going to celebrate the New Year, so they all close their doors and go home to rest. Zhang Fan looked at the scene on the street, and looked at the smiles on the faces of the pedestrians passing by and was happy from the bottom of his heart, not to mention that there was still his own part in this beautiful scene, although it was not much, but it also made Zhang Fan proud.

Zhang Fan was already familiar with the road to the county office, and followed the official to the county government with a familiar car, and walked into the courtyard where the county government lived after the county office, and heard a burst of laughter as soon as he entered the door. Zhang Fan could hear the voice of Ma County Order, and there was a hearty laughter like a middle-aged man, Zhang Fan had never heard it, and guessed that it was the Chen Xunsi.

As soon as Zhang Fan walked into the hall, Ma Xianling found him and immediately greeted Zhang Fan.

"Virtuous nephew, you're here." Ma Xianling said to Zhang Fan, "Can you eat?" ”

"Lord Xie cares, and my little nephew has used it." Zhang Fan replied, but his eyes seemed to look at the other three people sitting in the hall casually. The first thing that catches your eye is the basket and one pink two figures, which are the Chen sisters. There was also a middle-aged man sitting next to Ma Xianling, Zhang Fan saw that this person was a perennial martial artist, although he was wearing civilian clothes, he revealed a heroic spirit all over his body. Although the face looks delicate, a sense of righteousness makes people awe-inspiring. At this time, these three people were all looking at Zhang Fan, and Zhang Fan was not tired of this kind of unintentional gaze.

"Alas, I only cared about talking, and I forgot to introduce it to you, look at my memory, I'm really old." Ma Xianling remembered the purpose of calling Zhang Fan to come, and hurriedly pulled Zhang Fan to the middle-aged man, and said, "This is Lord Chen Wenchuan Chen, the Dingbian Patrol Division." Then he introduced Zhang Fan to Chen Wenchuan: "This young man is the Zhang Fan you want to meet." ”

"It is an honor for the younger generation to have the honor to meet Master Chen." Zhang Fan bowed to Chen Wenchuan and said, "Master Ma often mentions adults to his juniors. ”

"Well, the young man is good." Chen Wenchuan also looked at Zhang Fan and said, "Xie Yuan, the first name in Shaanxi at a young age, can still go out with the army, I heard that Lord Qi also praises you well, and even the current emperor Zhang is very optimistic about you." ”

"Although the younger generation is with the army, he has no size merit, and he is worthy of the praise of the saint and the court." Zhang Fan said modestly.

"Well, it's good that young people aren't arrogant or impatient, but don't be too modest, that's hypocrisy. I've listened to the sergeants who have told you that many veterans can't guarantee that you'll be in the same state. Although the body is not good, if you don't have that heart, no matter how strong your body is, you can only wait for death when you go to the battlefield. ”

"What the adults teach is that the younger generations should remember." Zhang Fan said, and couldn't help but have a good impression of this Lord Chen.

"Don't call me 'junior', it seems that I am not close to people, I have a lot of connections with Master Ma's family, he is my contemporary, I will drag it out, and call you a 'good nephew'."

"The little nephew is all arranged by the adults." Zhang Fan said. He heard Ma County Commander say that this Chen Xunsi was also born as a scholar, Zhang Fan couldn't help but wonder, why did all the scholars of the Ming Dynasty come to join the army!

Ma Xian Ling smiled and looked at Zhang Fan and Chen Wenchuan to see the ceremony, and when the ceremony was finished, he introduced Zhang Fan to the two sisters and said, "My two nieces and nephews have met." As he spoke, he pointed to the woman in pink and said, "My two nieces are soft sisters, and this is one of them, Chen Ruxue." ”

"Hello Miss Chen." Zhang Fan saluted.

"Hello Zhang Gongzi." Chen Ruxue also said. This is the first time Zhang Fan has heard Chen Ruxue's voice, and he only feels that it is extremely soft, and with her delicate face, it makes people feel the urge to take the jade man in front of him into his arms and pity him.

"This daughter of mine is naturally introverted and doesn't like to talk much, and her nephew has a lot to offer." Chen Wenchuan was afraid that Zhang Fan would be embarrassed, so he hurriedly said.

"Miss Chen is showing off her wisdom, how can she be lazy." Zhang Fan said immediately.

"This is one of the younger sisters, Chen Zhaoxue, as her name suggests, she is too lively, and she gets into trouble all day long." Ma Xianling introduced another woman to Zhang Fan, although he said this, his face was doting.

"People don't come, and the uncle says that other people's words are bad." Chen Zhaoxue floated in front of Zhang Fan with a gust of fragrant wind, threw herself into Chen Wenchuan's arms, and said coquettishly, "Father, you have to be the master of your daughter!" The words are infinitely miserable, but there is a little miserable look on his face.

"Aren't you naughty enough?" Chen Wenchuan nodded at his daughter's delicate nose and said with a smile, "How much trouble has you caused me and your uncle since I was a child." Last time, I asked your sisters to come to see your uncle, but you dragged your sister away from the guard, and you ran into that incident. If it weren't for Zhang Gongzi's assistance, I would see how you would end up. ”

"You can't blame me, it's the splash who took the initiative to trouble me and my sister." Chen Zhaoxue didn't realize how much trouble she and her sister would cause if they traveled without an escort.

"Still stubborn, go and thank Gongzi Zhang for his rescue." Chen Wenchuan smiled and instructed his daughter.

Although Chen Zhaoxue was naughty, she didn't dare to disobey her father's words, not to mention that she also wanted to thank Zhang Fan, so she came to Zhang Fan and said: "What about me, my name is Chen Zhaoxue, you saw it last time, and thank you for helping me and my sister out of the siege." "Words and actions are a bit arrogant.

"Second Miss Chen is serious." Zhang Fan said.

"Alas, the girl's family doesn't know what to do if she is more reserved, and she can't get married in the future." Seeing Chen Zhaoxue like this, Ma Xianling shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Uncle bullied me again." Chen Zhaoxue was noisy again, which caused everyone to laugh, and even the introverted Chen Ruxue had a smile on her face.

After settling down, everyone sat down, and even the extremely lively Miss Chen Er knew that her father and uncle had something to say to Zhang Fan, so she also quieted down.

"This time, the people and horses invaded by the Tartars south were wiped out, and I can finally have a good year." Chen Wenchuan opened his head and said.

"Yes, fortunately, Xu Ge can abandon the disagreement with Gao Gong and fully support the dispatch of troops, otherwise there will be waiting." Ma Xianling said.

"This time, I was also ordered by Lord Wang to lead my troops to patrol the front line of the Great Wall, but I didn't encounter any Tartars." Chen Wenchuan said, "I have fought with the Tartars before, but they are all small groups of stragglers. Zhang Xian's nephew went out with the army this time and saw the Tartar brigade, I don't know how he feels? ”

"Those Tartars are powerful." Zhang Fan recalled the Tartars he met when he went out with the army, and said, "The Tartars grew up on horseback from the bottom, and they are very good at riding and archery, and they often participate in wars, and they are all extraordinary. ”

"It's a nuisance like this." Chen Wenchuan heard Zhang Fan's description and said with a frown.

"Don't worry too much, my lord, although the Tartars are brave, my daimyo soldiers are slightly inferior, but it is estimated that it will be difficult to have such a large-scale attack in the future." Zhang Fan said.

"Oh? How so? Chen Wenchuan asked.

"Since being driven back to the grassland by Emperor Taizu, there has been a discord within the Tartars." Zhang Fan said, "Now it is Na Yuda who is the only one, so he has the strength to send so many people to invade the south." It's just that I'm also old, and after he dies, I'm afraid that chaos will start inside the Tartars again. At that time, there is still room for large-scale attack, and the people who come are small groups of people who are begging for wildfire, and there is nothing to fear. ”

"That's good, too." Chen Wenchuan listened to Zhang Fan's words, his brows stretched slightly, but he was still a little worried, "It's just that if this tartar is not removed for a day, this hidden danger will always be there, making it difficult for people to sleep and eat." ”

"Yes, the Tartars have always been eyeing my name, although the internal discord makes them powerless to commit, but their intention to invade my Ming has always existed." Ma County Ling was also a little worried.

"It is impossible to completely annihilate the Tartars." Zhang Fan said, "The grassland where the Tartars live is so big, in the past, Emperor Taizu and Chengzu personally led the army to conquer many times, and the Tartars were defeated and retreated, but they could not be eradicated. ”

"Is it just a matter of letting it go, allowing the Tartars to harass my Ming frontier. In the past two hundred years, I don't know how many people have suffered from it. Chen Wenchuan said angrily.

"Yes, the Tartars have indeed done great harm to my Ming Frontier for more than a hundred years." Zhang Fan thought of what happened to Wang Degui, and he also hated Tartar very much in his heart, "Therefore, it is necessary to remove this hidden danger." ”

"Huh? What's the best plan for the nephew? Chen Wenchuan heard that Zhang Fan seemed to have his own opinions, and hurriedly asked.

"In fact, this matter still has to be decided by the court and the emperor." Zhang Fan said, "My land of China has been ruled by foreigners several times, but I don't know what you have discovered. ”

"Could it be ......" Ma Xianling seemed to think of something, but Chen Wenchuan looked at the two of them suspiciously.

"Yes, they ruled the Han people for so long, and in the end they were all assimilated by the Han people. They speak Chinese, write Chinese characters, and even their living habits are no different from those of the Han people. ”

"What do you mean by assimilating them?" Chen Wenchuan said, "Impossible, how can those barbarians comprehend the thoughts of my Han people." Although he is a general who leads the army, Chen Wenchuan, who is a scholar after all, still has an unbeatable arrogance of a literati in his bones, as well as a contempt for Tartars.

"The Tartar used to be the lord of the Central Plains, and the reason why he is now constantly invading and plundering in the south is not only for food, but also because he wants to enjoy the exquisite things of my Central Plains." Zhang Fan analyzed, "The nobles of the Tartars also like a luxurious life, but although they have money, they can't buy these things they yearn for. And the imperial court did not trade with the Tartars, so the Tartars would naturally come to plunder. If the two sides start to trade, the Tartars can easily get what they want, better than what they originally robbed, and they don't have to risk their lives, and the crisis in this side of the frontier will naturally go down. Once this time has passed, the Tartars will naturally yearn for the life of our Han people, and assimilation will begin from here. ”

Chen Wenchuan listened to Zhang Fan's words, thought about it, and said: "The words of the virtuous nephew are very reasonable, but I took these thousands of miles from the hands of the Tartars. Both the imperial court and the royal family were very wary of the Tartars, how could they easily trade with them! ”

"That's why the little nephew said that it depends on the decision of the emperor and the court." Zhang Fan said.

"Alas, it seems that the road ahead is very difficult!" Ma County Ling also sighed.