Ma Luan's home is in Xicheng District, there is only a dilapidated small circle, and from a distance, I can see a woman in her forties wearing an apron working, and a teenage young man practicing boxing in the yard.

"Xiao Cao, are you practicing boxing?" Ma Lan walked into the courtyard and greeted the teenager who was practicing boxing with a smile.

Ma Xiaocao glanced at Ma Lan, snorted coldly and continued to practice boxing, ignoring him, the middle-aged woman next to her who was beating soybeans saw Ma Lan, and said with a smile on her face: "Lu'er is back?" My sister-in-law has heated your meal in the pot, so go in and eat it while it's hot."

Ma Ling smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, I've already eaten it, you see I brought you big meat buns!" Xiao Cao, come and eat steamed buns! ”

Ma Xiaocao said coldly: "I don't eat your dirty things, this bun must have been stolen, or it was robbed!" ”

Ma Luan's face was very embarrassed, and the middle-aged woman's face changed, and she scolded Ma Xiaocao: "Xiao Cao, how did you talk to your second uncle?" Even if your second uncle is wrong, he is also your second uncle, why don't you come to apologize to your second uncle? ”

How do you know that Ma Xiaocao stopped and shouted: "Don't eat, I won't eat!" You don't go outside to inquire about what people say about you, the face of your ancestors has made you lose everything! ”

The middle-aged woman hurriedly said to Ma Luan: "Lu'er, Xiao Cao is very angry, you are old and an elder, don't be like him, you come to the house with your sister-in-law, and your sister-in-law has something to show you!" ”

"Oh, okay, sister-in-law!"

When the two came to the house, the middle-aged woman took out a hand-copied thread-bound book from under the pillow and handed it to Ma Lan and said: "This is when my sister-in-law sorted out her father's relics, I think it should be a very important book, you see what it is."

"Oh?" Ma Lan took the thread-bound book and looked at it, only to see three big characters written on the cover: "Ma Yuan Biography"

Turning the cover, the pages of the book record the life of Ma Yuan, the general of Fubo in the Han Dynasty, including his words and deeds. His political activities, his literary and martial arts, wrote about this man's style and some wonderful speeches.

The middle-aged woman saw that Ma Lan was paying some attention, and couldn't help asking, "Lu'er, what kind of book is this?" ”

Ma Lan hurriedly said, "Oh, sister-in-law." This is a book that records the deeds of the ancestor Ma Yuan's life, and it is called "Ma Yuan's Biography".

The middle-aged woman smiled: "I see, no wonder Daddy hid it in a wooden box like a baby." Okay, take your time and see for yourself, sister-in-law still has work to do! Remember to eat."

"Oh, got it!" Ma Lan agreed casually, but his eyes did not leave the written book for a moment, and everything recorded in the book about Ma Yuan deeply attracted him.

When he read a sentence in the dialogue between the ancestor Ma Yuan and the Pingling strategist Meng Ji: "The man should die in the border field, and the body should be buried in horse leather." How can you lie in bed and be evil in the hands of your daughter! He was full of blood.

Thinking of many ridiculous things about myself before, I was so ashamed that I burst into tears and remorse.

After reading "The Biography of Ma Yuan", Ma Lan remembered that he saw the martial arts competition held in the capital in September posted by the government at the gate of the city, and he immediately decided to take the martial arts examination, but to participate in the martial arts examination, he also had to go to the county office.

According to the regulations, ordinary people are required to participate in martial arts competitions held by states and counties. Only after passing can you go to participate in the martial arts examination in the capital, and after the martial arts examination, you will have to participate in the martial arts hall examination. This is the same as the system of Wenju passing all the way, but there is a difference between martial arts and Wenju, that is, after Jiangmen and Zhonglie, they do not need to participate in the competitions held in the state and county, they can go directly to the capital to participate in the martial arts examination, and then participate in the palace examination after passing. However, this year's regulations are different, and in this year's examination in the capital, it is necessary to increase the number of talents in arranging troops, military strategy, actual command of troops, and commanding operations.

Ma Lan's grandfather was called Ma Zhenghui. Before his death, he served as the general of the right Weiwei, and his father Ma Sheng, who was the right commander of the palace to join the army before his death, he can be said to be born in a family of generals. His grandfather and father were both killed in battle, and he only needed to go to the county government to apply for the relevant certificates. If you get the identity of a martial artist, you can go to the capital to participate in the martial arts exam.

Ma Lu's parents died, they were lonely since childhood, they were brought up by their brother and sister-in-law, and their brother also died early, and the family was all supported by his sister-in-law, and there was a nephew, who was five or six years younger than him, so it can be said that his sister-in-law was both a father and a mother, and a sister-in-law.

The county government was eager to send away the scourge of Ma Lu and let him go to the army, so as not to stay in the county town and harm the people, so he not only did not need to pay a penny when handling the relevant documents, but also gave him a set of armor and some coiled winding for travel expenses.

Ma Lan returned home and saw that his sister-in-law was still working, Xiao Cao was helping his sister-in-law work, so he walked over and bowed down on his knees. ”

Ma Lan said: "Sister-in-law, when I read the life and deeds of the ancestor Ma Yuan before, I felt inexplicable, and I was ashamed, I didn't do anything serious all these years, and I caused a lot of trouble to the family, but I was ignorant and worried about my sister-in-law!" Now, Lu'er decided to go to the capital to participate in the martial arts examination, if you can get the middle and high rankings, get an official and a half-position, Lu'er will come back to pick up her sister-in-law and nephew to enjoy the blessings, if not, Lu'er will go to Anxi to join the army, and from then on guard the border pass, horse leather shroud, if one day Lu'er can get ahead, will repay the sister-in-law's kindness, please accept the worship of Lu'er! ”

"Hurry up, hurry up!" The sister-in-law hurriedly helped Ma Lan up, looked at Ma Lan, and said worriedly: "Lu'er, it's not a joke to participate in the martial arts exam, and it's not a joke to go to the border to join the army. ”

Ma Lan nodded and said: "Sister-in-law, Lu'er has thought clearly, Lu'er is disliked by everyone in this Fufeng City, and it has also caused a lot of white eyes for sister-in-law and Xiao Cao, it is the best choice to participate in the martial arts examination and go to the border to join the army, Lu'er has made up her mind, sister-in-law don't persuade her, there is some money here, it is the county government that I heard that I am going to participate in the martial arts to give me a coil, give too much, I can't use so much, you take this money, buy some delicious food for Xiao Cao, he is the time to grow his body, he wants to eat more good!" ”

"No, no, no, if you want to go far away, how can you do it without bringing some money with you? You take it back and use it yourself on the road! The sister-in-law hurriedly stuffed the money back to Ma Lan.

Ma Lan forcibly put the money in the hands of his sister-in-law, and said to his nephew Ma Xiaocao: "Xiao Cao, the second uncle is leaving······

Although Ma Xiaocao hates Ma Lan for being idle on weekdays and causing trouble at home, he now knows that he is going to the capital, maybe he will go to the border to serve in the army, and he will die for a lifetime, and he doesn't know if he can meet again in the future, how to say that the two are also uncles and nephews, and the blood is dissolved in water······.

Ma Lan showed a smile on his face, "Xiao Cao, you are finally willing to call me second uncle, second uncle is very happy, second uncle can't stand you all these years, I hope you don't hate second uncle, after the second uncle leaves, you will be left in the family as a man, you must be filial to your sister-in-law in the future, and the second uncle will often write home letters back!" ”

"Hmmm······"

With the help of her sister-in-law, Ma Lan packed up several changes of clothes, and finally set off with her baggage.

Ma Lan is a famous general in the Tang Dynasty, at the beginning of the Anxi Protectorate, the accumulation of military merits moved to the general Jin Wuwei, after the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, the crown prince Li Heng ascended the throne as the emperor in Lingwu, the royal family is difficult, Ma Lan commanded the elite armor 3,000 to go to Fengxiang, Su Zong commissioned to the east. Defend the south and break the rebel army by 5,000. The official went to the north court of the four towns to camp the festival envoy, the left servant of Shangshu shot, the king of Fufeng County, the pawn gave Situ, and the name was martial.

Not long after Ma Lan set off for the capital, a team of men and horses came to the capital from the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate, led by Gu Huaien, the captain who had escorted Tuhuo and other captives to the capital with Zhao Ziliang and Gai Jiayun.

When he heard that the imperial court was going to hold a martial arts examination this year, he couldn't wait to ask his boss for leave and wanted to go to the capital to participate in the martial arts examination. It is not uncommon for soldiers who have military positions in the army to participate in the martial arts examination held in the capital, and the imperial court does not prohibit it, but encourages it, but if they are already a general, they can no longer participate in the martial arts examination.

······

Chang'an City, outside the city of Zhao's Zhuangzi.

There is nothing to do in the military department today, Zhao Ziliang returned to Zhuangzi after going to the military department, as for the preparation of the martial arts examination, the military department has been prepared, but the referee, examiner, deputy chief examiner, chief examiner and miscellaneous personnel in charge of the martial arts examination have not been fully confirmed, only after the emperor summoned the chief examiner and deputy chief examiner, the chief examiner and the deputy chief examiner temporarily appointed the above personnel to prevent fraud.

A few days ago, the emperor has issued an order, the chief examiner of the martial arts examination is served by the military department Shangshu Niu Xianke, Zhao Ziliang served as the deputy chief examiner, but these days I heard that Niu Xianke is sick, it seems to be very serious, has been taking medicine, seeing that the martial arts examination will start in a few days, but the examiner is sick, the emperor can only summon Niu Xianke to recuperate at home, and ordered Zhao Ziliang to be fully responsible for the martial arts examination, also known as the current left prison guard general Chen Xuanli to assist from the side.

Zhao Ziliang had just returned home from discussing with Chen Xuanli the specific candidates for the referee and examiner during the martial arts examination, when he saw Bai Xiaode walking in, and Bai Xiaode reported: "General, Nan Jiyun is here, I want to see you!" ”

"Oh? Let him in! Zhao Ziliang nodded.

Nan Jiyun's entry into the army was arranged by Zhao Ziliang, he is a person who really took refuge in Zhao Ziliang's command, no matter where Nan Jiyun served in the future, he was labeled as Zhao Ziliang on his head, which was different from many other generals who served under Zhao Ziliang before, he was the same as Zheng San, Chu Ge, Wang Can, and Wei Meng, all of whom belonged to Zhao Ziliang's lineage.

Under the leadership of Bai Xiaode, Nan Jiyun walked in and saluted Zhao Ziliang and said, "I've seen the general!" ”

Zhao Ziliang asked, "Why did Ji Yun come to see me?" ”

Nan Jiyun said: "General, my subordinates want to participate in the martial arts examination, but my subordinates don't have enough qualifications in the army, so I want to ask the general to ask someone to recommend to my subordinates."

Zhao Ziliang smiled: "This is a good thing, I will write you a letter of recommendation!" As he spoke, he picked up the brush on the table and began to write.

Nan Jiyun exclaimed: "Doesn't the general avoid suspicion?" Let's ask someone else to write it! ”

"No, as the saying goes, the virtuous don't avoid relatives! Bai Xiaode, General Ben will also write you a letter, you will also go to participate in this year's martial arts examination, you two don't let General Ben down! ”

Bai Xiaode and Nan Jiyun looked at each other. (To be continued.) )