The soldiers of Dong Zhuojun from the northwest have a clear difference from the Central Plains official army, that is, their armor is basically with fur edges, which is used to resist the cold air from the gap in the armor in the cold season.

In addition, some generals will have jade rings similar to those worn by women in the Central Plains on their earlobes, a custom that originated from the Qiang and Hu people in the border areas. Most of Dong Zhuojun's people come from the mixed land of Han and Qiang, and the way of life of the two sides has been blended with each other for a long time, and they are inevitably affected, and many of them actually have Qiang blood, even Dong Zhuo himself, which is why he has been mixed with the Huqiang tribes since he was a child, and even has a heart-to-heart with many tribal commanders.

Zhang Meng first saw the dazzling blue ornaments on the ears of the visitors, and then remembered the situation in the house yesterday, and then looked at the other party's appearance, sure enough, it was Dong Zhuojun's riding Sima Guo Yan.

Guo Yan was a horse thief in his early years, and later was recruited to join the army, although he became an official soldier, he still couldn't hide his cunning and ferocity in his eyes.

"In Xia Zhang Chengying, does Guo Sima still remember me?"

Guo Yan turned his neck, did not dismount, looked down condescendingly, and pretended to be contemptuous: "Who?" I don't remember. ”

Zhang Meng knew that he was intent on making things difficult, swallowed his anger, and said again: "I am friends with Dong Gong, and I want to see Dong Gong." ”

Guo Yan crooked his lips and smiled: "Who told you that Dong Gong is in the palace?" ”

"I met Lu Fengxian by chance, he said it."

"Lu Fengxian?" Guo Yan pursed his lips, "What kind of thing is he?" How could Dong Gong's whereabouts be known by him. ”

"Where is Dong Gong now?"

"No comment." Guo Yan gently placed the ring-head knife in his right hand on his right shoulder.

Zhang Meng calmed down and said, "I am serving in the palace and want to meet the Son of Heaven." ”

"Do you have any vouchers such as seals or talismans?"

"No, there was chaos in the palace the day before yesterday, and I waited to protect the Son of Heaven to retreat, and I was in a hurry and didn't bring it."

Guo Yan didn't look at people squarely, and said in a strange manner: "That's not possible, the palace is important, how can it be opened at will without a certificate." ”

Zhang Meng couldn't help but take half a step forward, and in an instant, he saw a white shadow flash in front of him, and a crossbow arrow was heavily inserted in front of his foot.

Guo Yan raised his hand, signaled the Zhang Shi on the palace gate behind him to steady, and snorted coldly: "Take another half step, life and death are unpredictable." ”

Zhang Meng thought to himself: "Dong Zhuo avoids seeing outsiders, he must have a major plan in the palace, and Guo Yan is blocking him, and he can't get in, even if I change to other palace gates, it will be the same ending if I think about it." Judging the situation, he didn't speak, but turned around and left.

"Don't send it!"

Behind him, Guo Yan shouted proudly, Shan Zhong followed closely, looked back from time to time, and whispered: "Zhang Jun, let's go?" ”

Zhang Meng frowned and said: "The husband can bend and stretch, and he can't help it, so he has to find another way." "Dong Zhuo's power is now in full swing, and he is alone, and he must not be hard-hitting.

After the two left the East 'Ming Gate, they went straight to Buguangli.

The prison door in Buguangli is a familiar one, and they greet each other with a smile. Zhang Meng asked, "Can you see Ji Zhongming in the past two days?" ”

The prison door shook his head and said, "No, I have passed by several times, and it seems that the courtyard door has not even been opened." ”

Ji Xuan's house is not far from Xili Gate, and when Zhang Meng went to see it in person, sure enough, the courtyard door was closed, and there was no one inside or outside, thinking to himself: "Ji Xuan didn't go home, did he go directly to the palace?" No, according to the posture of martial law at the palace gate, he is afraid that it will be difficult to enter, where did he go? ”

I couldn't figure it out for a while, but I didn't delay, according to the plan I had thought of earlier, I continued to walk along the laneway, went around a small half circle, and came to my uncle Zhang Chang's residence.

Zhang Chang is low-key and modest, disgusted with extravagance and luxury, the scale of the house is not large, and he can't see that it is an official eunuch's family, and it is even quite shabby in the comparison of the surrounding deep mansion compounds.

Zhang Meng walked to the gate of the courtyard, picked the dates on the branches of the wall and tasted them, the taste was ripe, and he thought to himself: "This is the jujube tree planted by my uncle's family, and the fruit is usually ripe at the end of August, and my uncle will pick them all and eat some of them, and give the rest to the neighbors. "I just felt something unusual, and I was even more worried.

Before knocking on the door, a figure came out of the dark part of the alley, but it was Shi A.

"Zhang Jun."

"Why are you hiding here?" Zhang Meng asked strangely.

Shi Ah scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "When the people in the door asked, I replied that it was sent by Zhang Jun, but I couldn't open the door, I only said that I wanted to enter the door, unless Zhang Jun came in person, so I ......"

Zhang Meng nodded and said, "Understood." "Although Shi Ah is agile, it is impossible to forcibly break into his uncle's house.

Shan Zhong pinched his throat and said deliberately: "Oh, I can't even enter the courtyard gate, do you need the help of my surname Shan?" ”

Shi Ah said angrily: "Okay, I'll throw you in, you open the door for me!" ”

Zhang Meng stopped the two from arguing, knocked on the courtyard door lightly, and after a few clicks, an impatient voice came from the courtyard: "I've said it a few times, it's not a child of the Zhang family, don't open the door!" ”

"Zao, it's me, open the door." Zhang Meng called softly.

"You, you're ...... Is it a brother? ”

The door of the courtyard then squeaked open, and a teenager stood inside the door.

Zhang Meng smiled and said, "Ah Zao, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

This young Confucian dressed up, with slender limbs, thin and small, is the only son of his uncle Zhang Chang, Zhang Hu, nicknamed A Zao, who is only fourteen years old this year, and is in Taixue for all students, learning scriptures and righteousness.

"Brother, you're here!"

Zhang Hu's originally pale face showed a little color because of joy. His name is Zhang Huan, derived from Liang Hu, is today's Lishu master, one-handed eight-point book name moved the world, and even because of calligraphy, he was appreciated by Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, and his official fortune was prosperous. Zhang Huan used Liang Hu to encourage Zhang Hu and had his own expectations.

"They are ......" Zhang Hu saw Shi A and Shan Zhong, he didn't feel like a good person, and he was uneasy.

Zhang Meng patted him on the shoulder and said gently: "They are all my friends, just like Ji Zhongming, they just look fierce." ”

Zhang Hu was relieved at this time, welcomed the three of them into the front yard, and then hurriedly prepared tea.

Zhang Chang's wife died early, and then did not continue the string, only Zhang Hu's child under his knees, and no property, except for a handy worker, there is no other person in the family - Grandma is a nurse, Zhang Hu's mother died in childbirth, Zhang Chang can only ask an older nurse to feed Zhang Hu, and later felt that she is diligent and skillful, so she stayed.

Zhang Meng sighed secretly, waited for Zhang Hu to bring tea, and asked, "Is your father still on duty in the government office?" ”

Zhang Hu shook his head and said, "No, my father is sick in bed." ”

Zhang Meng was surprised: "How can this be? ”

"A few days ago, there was chaos in the palace, my father was frightened, and after returning home, his heart palpitated, and he contracted a cold, and he couldn't afford to get sick."

"What did the doctor say?"

"I only said that I need to recuperate, and I won't be disturbed again for at least half a month."

Zhang Meng sighed and didn't speak.

Dunhuang Zhang's fame reached its peak when his grandfather Zhang Huan was at its peak, Zhang Huan was prescient and did not want the family to decline after him, so he did everything possible to support his children and grandchildren to succeed him before his energy was exhausted. It's a pity that it backfired, Zhang Zhi and Zhang Chang brothers were addicted to skillful skills and had no intention of career, until Zhang Huan's death still did not improve, and both of them were single-handed, the incense was not prosperous, Zhang Huan was discouraged in the last few years of his life, and he was somewhat depressed.

At present, the entire Dunhuang Zhang family, aside from other branches, only Zhang Huan's lineage has the hope of inheriting Zhang Huan's mantle There are only a handful, Zhang Meng is one, and there are two others, one is the third uncle Zhang Meng, who is a few years younger than himself, and the other is the younger brother Zhang Hu in front of him.

Judging from his age alone, he inadvertently became the leader of the family's descendants, and Zhang Meng shook his head and smiled bitterly every time he thought of this. The prosperity of a family can not be completed overnight, and it has been proved that it will only be able to revitalize the family by only dancing and writing, and it will even lead to the family's slow demise in the cruel competition.

Troubled times are coming, and there is no room for a little weakness and casualness.

The eldest brother is like a father, Zhang Hu has always been in awe of Zhang Meng, and at this time, seeing Zhang Meng silent and solemn, he asked cautiously: "Brother, have you eaten?" Why don't I let the grandmother cook some food first......"

In the middle of speaking, there was a knock on the door outside the courtyard, and then someone leaned in sideways and saw a person in the courtyard, slightly surprised.

Zhang Meng knew that the other party was Li Zheng in Buguangli, and got up to salute.

Li Zheng looked at Shi Ah and Shan Zhongmian Sheng, looked carefully at a few steps apart, and finally shook his head. At this time, the courtyard door was pushed open, and it turned out that there were several men who were gearing up behind Li Zheng.

Zhang Meng saw that he was sweating profusely, and was puzzled: "Li Jun is here, what are you doing?" ”

Li Zheng wiped the sweat on his forehead and said, "I just received an order from Shangguan to arrest the traitor." He took out a roll of Baqiao paper from his waist and handed it to Zhang Meng.