Li Ye's eyes had completely seen what happened in Zhang's house on this day, although it couldn't give Zhang Zhongli and Zhang Changan any reaction. But these scenes themselves touched him a lot.

Not to mention anything else, Li Ye has a lot of confidence about the situation in Hexi and the mentality of the Han people.

After contemplation, Li Ye gained a lot, and faintly felt that he had grasped something, but he still couldn't understand it for a while, so he decided to continue to observe.

At dawn the next day, Zhang Dong and Zhang Changan walked out of the Zhang family's mansion early, planning to find their good friend Chu Zheng.

The words that Zhang Zhongli told him last night, he remembered every word in his heart.

In the hearts of young people, my grandfather is a real hero, with a heart for his family and country, and a deep understanding of righteousness.

Although his grandfather was not as bad as Huo Quai, he was an example to look up to and admire. Unlike his father, he is weak and flattering in front of the Tibetan barbarians...... A dog.

Walking on the crowded street, Zhang Changan silently clenched his fists.

He respected and loved his father, which was a basic human filial piety, but what his father did really made him feel humiliated.

He refused to insult his father in his heart, but he had to admit in front of the facts that his father had lost the face of the Han people, insulted the ancestors who were glorious in the annals of history and passed down through the ages, and desecrated the glory they had fought for the Han people with their lives and ideals!

Zhang Changan can't forget how he sat on the stone steps drinking alone when he entered his grandfather's courtyard last night with his back to the dim lights.

Lonely and helpless, stubborn and unwilling.

Grandfather is old, his ambition needs to be inherited, since the father is unfilial and incompetent, then it is up to him, who is a grandson, to bear it!

It is difficult for young people to hide their words in their hearts, and when they are emotional, they always want to find someone to share, these things, Zhang Changan plans to tell Chu Zheng.

Zhang Changan came to a street corner in Funing Fang, sat down in front of a simple soup cake stall, endured the boiling blood in his heart, cocked Erlang's legs, patted the table and said loudly: "Brother Zheng, quickly bring me a bowl of soup cakes, I have something important to tell you after eating!"

Behind the steaming soup cake rack, there stood a slender and emaciated young man, fifteen or sixteen years old, with extraordinary sword eyebrows and star eyes, but his nose was too big, which ruined the beauty of the whole face.

There were not many diners at the two tables in front of the soup cake stall, and when he was free, he stood behind the water vapor in a daze. Although he was in a daze, his body stood straight, like a spear, ready to stab people at any time.

This is Zhang Changan's best friend, Chu Zheng.

When Zhang Changan was born, the Zhang family had already walked out of the most difficult years, so he was a standard child of a large family. Chu Zheng is different, he was born in an ordinary people's family - it may not be accurate to say this, Zhang Changan doesn't know who Chu Zheng's parents are, they have been friends for three or four years, and they have never met.

Zhang Changan only knew that Chu Zheng was raised by his master. It was an old Taoist who was addicted to alcohol, sloppy all day long, his clothes didn't seem to be clean, and he only worked on weekdays.

At this time, the old Taoist must have been hungover and not waking up.

Zhang Changan is very sympathetic to the tragic experience of his best friend.

He was able to become friends with Chu Zheng because of an accident four years ago.

At that time, the ten-year-old Zhang Changan was already in the realm of martial arts, and he could achieve qi cultivation with a little effort, and among the four major families of Zhang, Liu, Zhou, and Qian, he was the most top-notch little genius, and it was inevitable that he would be arrogant and had no one in his eyes.

One day when he walked to Funing Fang, smelling the aroma of the soup cake stall, he sat down and shouted to eat the soup cake, he was naughty, his behavior was naturally improper, and his feet were on the stool. After eating the soup cakes, when I paid for it, I threw the copper coins directly into the stall, and basically fell into the soup pot.

Chu Zheng asked him to take the copper coin out of the soup pot.

Zhang Changan naturally didn't do it.

So the two fought.

Chu Zheng only used two moves to make Zhang Changan lie down and unable to move.

Zhang Changan met a peer who was better than himself for the first time, so he was naturally unconvinced, but he was a self-respecting teenager, so he didn't call his servants to help in the battle, but asked Chu Zheng to wait. He went back to practice hard for a month, and then he came back with a fierce killing to take revenge.

Then, he was beaten again.

In this way, the more fights they fought, the two became familiar with each other. Zhang Changan also admired Chu Zheng's skills, obviously his realm was not higher than his own, but he couldn't move every time he could make three or two strokes, which made him admire.

Over time, the two became good friends.

Chu Zheng quickly made the soup cake, and the usual portion was thirty percent more, and after putting it in front of Zhang Changan, he also sat down on the table and asked, "What do you have to tell me?"

Zhang Changan ate the hot soup cake, and said angrily: "Big ...... Big deal!"

Chu Zheng didn't ask much, sat there and watched the pedestrians in front of him distracted, waiting for Zhang Changan to take the initiative to elaborate.

Zhang Changan felt that Chu Zheng was good at everything, righteous enough, and courageous enough. Once he was bullied by the Tubo barbarians, Chu Zheng knew that he was invincible, and he dared to rush up to help, but both of them were beaten with blue noses and swollen faces, and they could only watch the Tubo people laugh and leave with hatred.

But it's just that there are few words, very little, basically don't take the initiative to speak, and it seems that he never talks nonsense, which is a little boring.

Zhang Changan finished eating the soup cakes, put the chopsticks on the table, stared at Chu Zheng, and lowered his voice: "Brother Zheng, King An has arrived in Hexi and has captured the seven southern states, do you know this?"

Chu Zheng turned his head to look at Zhang Changan, and replied in a wooden voice: "I know." ”

"Then do you have any ideas? I plan to gather some brothers and greet Wang Shi when necessary!" Zhang Changan said excitedly.

Chu Zheng was silent for a moment, "A few days ago, Brother Sun, Brother Xu, and they also united some people to prepare to follow the example of the old things that responded to Zhang Yichao when King An arrived. They found me, and I said yes. ”

Zhang Changan's eyes widened, and his face flushed with excitement, "Brother Sun, Brother Xu, great, with them taking the lead, we will definitely be able to unite many people! How many people have they called?"

The so-called Brother Sun and Brother Xu, although they are just ordinary people, are all brave warriors, and they also like to make friends, which is equivalent to a ruffian, and has a good appeal among young people.

Chu Zheng said: "As of last night, there were nearly 100 people who joined them, all of whom were children of the Han family on the street. ”

"Okay, good!" Zhang Changan stroked his palm, his eyes lit up, "How about we go see them now?"

Chu Zheng's eyes became strange when he looked at Zhang Changan, "They are all at the intersection of the main street in the city now...... There are only human heads. ”

Zhang Changan didn't expect things to turn out like this, he was stunned for a moment, his face was bruised, and he couldn't speak.

Chu Zheng stood up, "It was killed by mistake by Qimu." If I hadn't run fast, I'd have died. ”

Speaking of this, he paused, chuckled, and his stereotypical expression was indistinct, "They are all guys who have no surplus food and have enough to eat, and when they encounter such an opportunity, of course they want to fight for wealth and wealth, and they may also have the heart to serve the country, but it must not be much." It's a pity that this time the karma made a mistake too quickly, and they could only move their heads. ”

Seeing that Chu Zheng was about to walk away, Zhang Changan hurriedly stood up, "Brother Zheng, this is just a temporary setback! You won't be afraid, will you? join forces with me, and we'll find someone again!"

Chu Zheng stopped, turned to look at Zhang Changan, and said seriously: "You can't find anyone." Now no one dares to talk about it anymore. Except for me, no one else even has the courage to hear you say that. ”

Zhang Changan didn't believe it. In his consciousness, the sons and daughters of the Han family are all fierce and not afraid of death, and they should all remember the glory of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Taizong of this dynasty, how can they be afraid of some people if they die? When Ban Gu left the Western Regions, there were only a few dozen people around him, and he was not afraid, and now there are more than 10 million Han people in Jincheng County, why should he be afraid?

Zhang Changan said loudly: "I don't believe it! Brother Zheng, you ...... How can you do this? You have always been a bold and daring person, why are you so afraid now? If we go to find someone, we will definitely be able to do it, just like Huo Quai, like Bangu!"

Chu Zheng shook his head: "There won't be anyone." ”

Seeing that Zhang Changan blushed and wanted to say something, Zhang Changan said: "Ordinary people's homes are like this. Living here, you have to do your best to make a living, how can there be so many loyal and righteous courages? Even if you have, it is not as important as living. The situation is favorable, and it is good that someone takes the lead, which may stimulate the blood and fight for future generations to live better. Now that the situation is not good, and the person who took the lead has also been killed, who will dare to move?

"The matter of Huo Qu's illness and Bangu is too far away for them, it is a story, not a reality, and it cannot be used to satisfy hunger or protect against the cold. If there is still a bite to eat, who wants to send them to death? Xiaodong, go back. ”

After saying these words, Chu Zheng returned to the back of the stall and continued to stand straight, looking at the courtyard wall across the street and no longer speaking.

He has enough to say today. On weekdays, he rarely says so much.

The grief-stricken Zhang Changan kicked over the stool and left, shouting before leaving to break off relations with Chu Zheng.

Chu Zheng pretended not to see the tears in Zhang Changan's eyes, and waited until the other party was far away before going over to put the stool back on.

Behind the steaming white steam, Chu Zheng remained motionless and did not say a word. Until the next guest comes to the door.

"Brother Zheng, the old rule, put more vinegar, and serve another bowl of soup!" A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard sat down at the table and let go of his voice to greet him.

Chu Zheng nodded, did not speak, but the movements in his hands were very sharp.

This middle-aged man is an old eater and an acquaintance of Chu Zheng, who lives next door, because of his strong body, the neighbors call him an iron plate, and he is a porter.

Chu Zheng disdains the name of the iron plate, because although this person looks tall, has a large amount of food, and has to drink an extra bowl of soup to eat a bowl of soup cakes, he is actually gentle to the point of being close to cowardice, never arguing with others, and taking a step back in everything.

When Brother Sun and Brother Xu gathered people, they also found the iron plate, but he hurriedly waved his hand and refused, and ran so fast.

Diners came one after another, and if they were acquainted, they would say hello to Chu Zheng.

"Brother Zheng, my daughter always talks about your soup cakes, and she has a crush on you, how about it, do you want to get close to my daughter?" A woman with a good appearance but a waist as thick as a bucket squeezed her eyebrows at Chu Zheng through the soda.

Chu Zheng just smiled and didn't answer. Because of Zhang Changan's incident, his smile is not as good-looking as usual.

The woman in front of him, Chu Zheng only knew that her surname was Wei, it was said that her husband's family died early, and now she is alone with a daughter, and everyone calls him Mrs. Wei.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, you can find a family affair, but the daughter of Mrs. Wei's family is only five or six years old...... This shrewd philistine woman, every time she comes to eat a bowl of soup cakes, she will talk about her daughter, the purpose is just to give a penny less.

Sometimes, seeing that Chu Zheng was happy, she even paid back the credit, and then she never paid that money again.

The entire Funing Fang, Chu Zheng is very familiar.

Granny Zheng, who sells vegetables on the street corner, is always shoddy and often quarrels with others, but as long as she comes to eat soup cakes, Chu Zheng will only charge half of the money.

The gray-haired Chen blind man would beg at the gate at this time, looking old, but he was actually only in his twenties. Not only was he blind, but one leg was lame, and I heard that he was lame by the Tibetans.

There are many such people.

Chu Zheng has a good impression of some people, but he is very contemptuous of some people.

For example, Chen is blind, he has been taken care of by Brother Sun a lot on weekdays, and this morning he knew that Brother Sun was dead, and said that he was not good at eight characters, and his fate should be like this, and he couldn't complain about others.

At about four o'clock, Chu Zheng collected the stall and pushed the wooden cart home.

In the dilapidated yard, there were clothes still drying on the bamboo poles, and as soon as Chu Zheng pushed the door open, he closed the door with his backhand, afraid that the chickens would fly away.

"I came back two minutes earlier than yesterday, what's the matter, business is not good today?"

It was the old Taoist who spoke, sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, twisting the wine gourd in his hand, and sending a sip to his mouth from time to time. When he spoke, he didn't squint, and he didn't look at Chu Zheng at all.

Chu Zheng, who was quiet and wooden outside, heard the joke of the old Taoist, and suddenly overturned the wooden cart that was carefully pushed into the door, the carbon fire in the stove burst out, the flour seasoning on the board was spilled on the ground, and the pots and pans were even more clanging and broken.

The five old women who were leisurely foraging in the yard were so shocked that they flapped their wings and screamed and jumped, and the chicken feathers flew a little.

The young man stared at the old Taoist on the rattan chair, his face was as red as charcoal fire, his forehead was bruised, his teeth were creaking, but he didn't say a word, like a beast about to run wild.

The old Taoist still didn't turn his head to look at Chu Zheng, but let out a sneer from his nostrils, "What's the matter, boy, I think your eldest brother Sun died unjustly, so I can't help it? Do you want to go desperately with the Tubo people? Go, I won't stop you." ”

Chu Zheng clenched his fists and trembled, just like Zhang Changan looked at him in disappointment, his eyes were scarlet and he roared: "Why?!Why didn't you do it last night? You can obviously save them! You have the ability to save them! Qiang Mu Co is not your opponent, why don't you make a move?! What you taught me, why can't you do it yourself?!"

The old Taoist finally turned his head.

But he just turned his head, and he didn't even sit up straight.

He looked at Chu Zheng's bloodshot eyes and asked lightly: "I can save them, and I can still kill Qiang Mucuo." And then you and I will be chopped into meat sauce by the Tibetans. You don't think that just with you and my master and apprentice, with those ordinary men who only have the courage of blood and energy, and with your eldest brother Xu Da, you can change the banner of the king of Lanzhou City, right?"

Chu Zheng squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "There is Xiaodong! There is Xiaodong's grandfather! There are those ......."

"Who else can be sent to death?" the old Taoist coldly interrupted Chu Zheng's words.

Chu Zheng was speechless.

The old Taoist snorted coldly, "If you don't know, just these people, just giving heads to the Tubo people, these years can be regarded as my apprentice for nothing." ”

Chu Zheng sat on the ground.

The old Taoist continued: "If you want to welcome Wang Shi, if you want to subdue Hexi for the imperial court, it is useless to rely on the courage of blood and qi. If you want to achieve great things, you must first plan. Daring to expose oneself without careful planning is just the way to die. Such stupid people, you expect them to rely on them to recover Hexi? They will only do bad things. It may be ruthless, it may be unfair to them, but it is what it is!"

Chu Zheng hugged his head.

The courtyard was quiet.

Only the hen makes a few calls from time to time.

After a long time, Chu Zheng suddenly whispered: "Master, you have taught me for so many years, I am very grateful. ”

The old Taoist pauses in his drinking, "What are you going to do?"

Chu Zheng stood up and straightened his robe, "I'm leaving." ”

The old Taoist's eyes widened: "Are you going to leave again? Don't you know that we disciples of the White Deer Cave are destined to do great things......?

"Our fifth disciple of Bailu Cave, known as 'Hidden Son' in the mountain gate, has existed in the treacherous environment surrounded by enemies since the moment of birth, and has been dormant on weekdays, just to give the enemy a fatal blow at the critical moment, achieve the most glorious feats, and leave the most resounding name to the world!"

Chu Zheng took the old Taoist's words, but the disappointment in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

The old Taoist instantly sat up straight and stared at Chu Zheng: "Since you know everything, why do you still want to go? A good man should make immortal achievements, just like Huo Quai...... Although we can't lead the army to fight for thousands of miles, what we do is actually no different from Huo Qu's disease, the same shocking world, the same earth-shattering ......"

As he spoke, the old Taoist's voice lowered, and just looking at Chu Zheng's disdainful expression, he felt that he was extremely weak-hearted.

The old Taoist coughed twice, and said, "Don't you know that the inheritance of our fifth disciple of Bailu Cave has a ...... mission in his life."

"The mission of our life is to be for the majesty of our family and country! The majesty of our family and country is tied to our fifth disciple of Bailu Cave. Without us, when the country is in danger, it will not be able to get key support, and it can only decline. Therefore, the fifth disciple of Bailu Cave should work hard for his family and country, and have no regrets in his life, this is our glory!"

Chu Zheng recited this passage as if he had endorsed it.

The wine gourd in the old man's hand fell to the ground.

He said, "Why do you want to leave when you know everything?"

The disappointment in Chu Zheng's eyes has turned into despair: "Master, just because of your words, since I beat me to be sensible, I have supported you for six years by selling soup cakes, and I have endured you for six years!

Speaking of this, Chu Zheng took a deep breath, "But today, I know, these words of yours are just bullshit, useless at all! You are just a turtle with a shrunken head, just a coward! What a White Deer Cave, what a fifth disciple, it's just an excuse for you to be lazy and let me raise you!"

The old Taoist was dumbfounded.

Chu Zheng closed his eyes and eased his mood, and then said word for word: "I am sixteen years old, and I will never be bewitched by you again, I must leave today! I want to fight with Xiaodong to the end against the Tubo barbarians! Even if I die, it is better than raising you here, a drunken ghost!"

After speaking, Chu Zheng stared at the old Taoist.

The old Taoist was speechless.

After wanting to speak a few times and then stopped, his expression fell lonely, and his spirit disappeared suddenly.

When it was over, the old Taoist waved his hand weakly and sighed: "Since you have decided to go, then go and do what you want." For the teacher...... For the teacher, I won't stop you. It's useless to be a teacher, it's just an old waste, and I can't drag you down. You...... Let's go, let's go!"

Chu Zheng looked at the old Taoist in disbelief, almost unable to believe that these words came out of the other party's mouth.

This old immortal is willing to let himself go?

When he wanted to leave before, the other party always tried every possible way to stop him.

"Then I...... Really gone?" Chu Zheng said uncertainly. At the moment when he was eligible for liberation, he was unexpectedly nervous, feeling extremely awkward, as if he had become a ruthless, unrighteous and rebellious thief.

"Let's go, let's go, Master is old, and you won't listen to what he says. Whatever you want, go for it. Even if Master is drunk and dies at home, don't come back to collect the body, anyway, Master is a bastard with bad conduct, he deserves to die and no one will bury him!"

The old Taoist stood up very miserably, looked up to the sky and sighed, and didn't care about the wine gourd that was regarded as life, and walked into the room with his back on his back.

Chu Zheng stayed there stupidly.

He was stupid for a long time.

And then...... Then he turned around, bent over, bowed his head, silently lifted the soup cake rack, put away the pots and pans, and pushed into the wing. Then he started cleaning the yard. In the end, he went headlong into the kitchen and cooked for the master.

It's like wanting to leave countless times before, but in the end they all had to stay.