Zhang Mao frowned, but he did not reprimand Song Nan for the rudeness in his words, and muttered to himself. When Song Nan said goodbye and went out, Zhang Mao was still unconscious, only sitting in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking.

Zhang Lun ordered the servants to help the old man back to the room to rest, and he sent Song Nan out, and said a little apologetically: "The old man didn't mean to ignore you, it may be that what you said touched his mind, don't be surprised." ”

Song Nan smiled: "Doesn't the little grandfather blame me for being bold and rude?" ”

Zhang Lun thought for a while and said: "I know what you mean, the family of the Ming Dynasty is actually no longer the glory of the past, but the old man never forgets this, and he is always unwilling." Not only the old man, but also the princes of Dingguo, the marquis of the regimental camp, and the counts of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies are unwilling; But in fact, the decline of the nobles is already a fact, and in addition to being able to take charge of the Jingying Guard for the emperor, there is not much room for speech in the court. That is, the emperor is relieved that we are in charge of the army, but in fact, it is only the right to lead the troops, and the right to transfer troops is in the military department, the salary, silver, grain and grass are in the household department, and there are eunuchs in the army who are sent by the inner court, and the soldiers are actually not of much significance. ”

Song Nan nodded and said: "The little grandfather can see these clearly, which is enough to show that the little grandfather is very awake, and not living in a dream like others." The family of the Honorable Relatives is actually of their own making, and they have ruined their own reputation. ”

Zhang Lun sighed: "Yes, everyone is busy enclosing the land and tuntian, most of the monopoly businesses in the capital are the property of the lords, I am in the regimental camp, what do you not know?" They didn't put their minds on leading the army, but on making money and benefits, and comparing themselves with each other are also gold, silver, jewelry, beautiful concubines, and pretty maids, hey! I don't know what to say. ”

Song Nan patted Zhang Lun's shoulder and said, "Little grandfather, you and I are both friends and relatives, you have helped me a lot at a critical time, and I am naturally different from others." I know very well the attitude of the old relatives towards me, and I will have to settle this account with them sooner or later, but I don't want to involve the British government to come in and embarrass you, little grandfather. So, today I want to make a gentleman's agreement with the little grandfather. ”

Zhang Lun said: "What do you say? ”

"I promise to maintain respect for the British Commonwealth, not to touch the interests of the British Commonwealth, and no matter what happens in the future, I will not do anything to the detriment of the interests of the British Commonwealth; But the little grandfather also has to promise me, when there is a conflict between me and the old relatives, it is a bit difficult for you to stand on my side, but at least stay neutral, and dissuade the old man from doing things that are unfavorable to me, can the little grandfather promise me? ”

Zhang Lun frowned and hesitated to answer, Song Nan said: "I know that this is not an easy choice for you, and I am not in a hurry to know the answer; You have also seen the appearance of the old man today, sooner or later the little grandfather will become the grandfather of the country, and from now on you need to decide certain things, if I say these words to the old man face to face, I am afraid that he will immediately scold me angrily, this is the attitude and position of the old man; And you also need to have a position, you are the British Duke in the near future, whether the British Duke will still stand in the future depends not on the persistence of the old man now, but on your current choice. ”

Zhang Lun could hear the heroic meaning in Song Nan's words, and there was a resolute domineering spirit in and out of his words, how could Zhang Lun not know the attitude of the old relatives towards Song Nan, sooner or later there will be friction and entanglement, with Song Nan's character, I am afraid that he will not show weakness, and he will make trouble, which side he is on is really nerve-wracking, and it is difficult to make a decision for a while.

Song Nan didn't say much, he understood Zhang Lun's hesitation, the existing status limited his thinking, he didn't dare to make any moves lightly, emotionally speaking, Song Nan can be sure that Zhang Lun is willing to become an ally with him, but in the face of the old relatives who are in decline but powerful together, there must be an opportunity to show his strength, so that Zhang Lun will really fall to himself.

Song Nan had no choice, he had to make Zhang Lun his ally, not only because he needed the fame and strength of the British government, but also because of the relationship between the little county lord and Zhang Lun and himself, Song Nan's only weakness was his relatives and friends, which was an inescapable fact.

Towards noon, the sound of firecrackers exploded sporadically in the streets and alleys, and children in new clothes laughed and ran in groups, they lit firecrackers with incense sticks and threw them everywhere, blowing up the snow that had not yet melted on the roadside, causing passers-by to hide their faces and rush away.

Song Nan sat on the horse, walked around to relax his mind, enjoyed the harmonious scenery of the New Year of the Ming Dynasty, smelled the fragrance of fried rice cooked by every household on the tip of his nose, and unconsciously gurgled in his stomach, so he urged the horses to speed up to the house.

Gallop through Yongdingmen Street through the side street into the south of the square, the number of horses galloping, the horse's hooves rumble, stepping on the sewage in the gap of the stone slab overflowing, the people on the side street have sideways eyes, one by one to cover their faces with their sleeves, for fear of not being splashed by sewage, the lips move but no sound comes out, but look at the mouth shape also know that it is cursing.

Song Nan frowned, Jinyiwei's clothes were the most eye-catching, and he knew from a distance that it was Jinyiwei's flag school galloping on horseback, so he stood on his horse and waited for the arrival of those horsemen in the middle of the road.

When the few flag riders saw someone standing in the center of the side street, they were dressed in ordinary brocade robes, and they thought it was a son and brother riding a horse, and scolded from afar: "That stupid melon, don't you dodge and look for death?" ”

Song Nan rode his horse and didn't move, coldly watching a few horses galloping, the horse's horsemen didn't dare to really rampage, hurriedly reined in the horse and slowed down, a few horses neighed, spraying white gas and stopped a few feet in front of Song Nan, the leading Jinyi Weiqi School had a tired face, and was even more irritable after being blocked by someone, and waved his hand without saying a word: "Drag me off the horse and beat him hard, and it will be cheaper to find him dead." ”

Behind him, several Jinyi Weiqi schools turned over and dismounted, and one by one they rushed forward angrily, reaching out to pull Song Nan's horse reins, and to drag Song Nan off the horse to beat him violently. Song Nan is angry and funny, as the commander of the Jinyi Guard, if he is beaten by the people of the flag school under his command, it will be the biggest joke in Beijing this year.

Song Nan pulled out the foot in the stirrup, and kicked it in front of a flag school, the flag school didn't expect Song Nan to resist, and was kicked in the head, but fortunately, Song Nan didn't exert his strength, only kicked a Meng, and the rest of the flag school was stunned for a moment, and shouted almost at the same time: "The straight lady thief dares to do it!" A few sounds sounded between the words, the blade on the waist was already out of the sheath, and the people around who had stopped to watch the excitement suddenly scattered like birds and beasts, and no one wanted to see the scene of the corpse on the street during the New Year, otherwise the luck of this year would come to an end.

Song Nan couldn't cry or laugh, and held back his anger and said, "Which Qianhu are you from?" Who are you? ”

"If you ask us this, I'll chop you a few times first." The leading flag school raised his knife and slashed, and suddenly saw a black shadow flash, and a heavy thing flew out of thin air, smashed on his eyes, and suddenly his eyes burst into stars.

The rest of the flag school shouted and scolded and raised their knives to pounce, and the knives were in mid-air, and they suddenly heard the leader flag school who was hit behind him shouting: "Stop...... Stop it. ”

The flag school turned around in astonishment, but saw the leading flag school holding the thing that hit his eye socket in a daze, and was about to ask, when he saw the flag school fall to the ground on his knees, shaking his voice and shouting: "See the commander of the envoy, the lowly rank has eyes and does not know Mount Tai, it is really a crime to die, please spare your life!" ”

The flag school was stunned, and one of the flag schools said: "Boss, what's wrong with you, how can this boy brother with a milky smell and no hair on his mouth be my Lord Song of Jinyiwei?" ”

The leading flag school even squeezed his eyes and said, "Kneel down and ask for sin, what nonsense." ”

The banner school he saw clearly saw the thing he was holding in his hand, it was a waist card, much larger than the waist card on his waist, and there were several big red characters engraved on it: Jinyi Weidu Command Division, No. 0001. There is no need to look at the back, just the owner of the waist card of the 0001 knows that it is the commander of the envoy.

As the flag school knelt on the ground and kowtowed, the other four flag schools realized that they had really met Lord Yama, and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed and begged for mercy.

Song Nan sighed and scolded: "You guys, are you so arrogant and domineering on weekdays? Hey, you have all turned a deaf ear to the rules and regulations, which Qianhu Yamen are you? I'm going to ask you how you manage you on a daily basis. ”

The six flag schools kowtowed like pounding garlic, and the leading flag school also said angrily: "Commander, it's my fault for waiting, I have nothing to do with my family's thousands of households, if you want to punish me, you will punish me." ”

Song Nan waved his hand and said, "Get up, where are you going in a hurry?" ”

The leader of the banner said: "The little Wen Songzhang is the subordinate of the Jinyi Wei Qianhu in Ningxia Town, these are all subordinates of the lowly position, and the lowly position is on the order of my Jiang Qianhu to send an urgent secret letter to Sun Zhenfu of the Nanzhen Fusi. My family has ordered us to deliver it within five days, and today is already the fifth day, so I rode my horse and galloped to disturb the front of the adult's seat, please forgive me. ”

Song Nan was stunned for a moment and said, "You are from the Jinyi Wei Thousand Households in Ningxia Town?" What's on the secret letter? ”

As soon as the words came out, Song Nan knew that he had a speech problem, since it was an urgent secret letter, how did these flag schools who sent the letter know, no wonder these guys were all covered with dust, it was the result of a long journey. But since it was a secret letter sent by Ningxia Town, and in connection with the incident that happened in Ningxia Town not long ago about the commander-in-chief Jiang Han and Yang Yiqing, Song Nan faintly felt that something was wrong.

"This is not the place to speak, follow me to the yamen to speak." Song Nan turned the horse's head and galloped away first, and several flag schools hurriedly got on the horse and followed Song Nan away.