Chapter 6, Dragon City Flying General

On the way back to Xu Wu County, Zu Zhao led the team through the place where Lu Hun and his party were attacked, gave Lu Hun and others some time to pack up the remaining luggage, and put the captured horse back on the carriage, so that more people could rest. After continuing on the road, he asked Zu Ji to go to the depths of the forest in the south to find Uncle Hong and the housekeeper of the Lu family. However, when Zu Ji came back, he told him that he could not find Uncle Hong and others, and speculated that he had returned to Xu Wu first.

Zu Zhao knew that Uncle Hong was important and that nothing would happen would happen, so he didn't pay too much attention and continued to lead the team south.

The population of Xuwu County is not rich. Even if there is a population base where Emperor Wu moved to Beitun, in the past hundred years, border conflicts have continued and the population loss is serious. Today, there are less than 10,000 households. However, with the four-way traffic in Xu Wuxian County, it has become an important border city connecting Hu Han.

When the group rushed back to the county, it was dark. Zu Zhao kindly invited the Lu family to live in the manor for a while. Lu Huan was polite and agreed after asking the young lady for instructions. Zujiazhuang is located in Beiguo Pavilion on the western outskirts of the county. The pavilion has a total of 300 households, 90% of which are ancestral surnames, and even Tingyi has become the private residence of the ancestral family.

Tingyi is the most periphery building of the North Guoting. At this time, seven or eight older teenagers were gathered in front of the door, and their faces were grim. From afar, he saw Zu Zhao and others appear along the official road. The leading young man in gorgeous clothes quickly ordered the two to rush back to the pavilion to report first, and then hurried to meet them. On the way, he couldn't help saying hello in a hurry.

Before we met, Zu Zhao recognized that the leading teenager was the eldest son of the third uncle from afar. He immediately guessed a few situations in his heart, so he asked directly first, "A Zhan, has Uncle Hong ever returned first?"

Zu Zhan nodded repeatedly and looked eagerly, saying, "Uncle Hong has just returned. He just told Grandpa, Second Grandpa and my father about it. My father Zhengyang went to the county to meet County Magistrate Chen, and my father-in-law also sent someone to Luronse to look for officers and soldiers. Fortunately, the eldest son is finally safe and will never be so reckless when he meets a horse thief in the future.

Zu Zhao laughed as if nothing had happened and said heroically, "How can a big man be afraid of me? Let's not talk about this first. Let's go back to Zhuangzi. After he finished speaking, he turned around and waved the crowd to enter through the alley on the side of the pavilion.

Zujiazhuang is the ancestral home of the Zu family, located in the westernmost position of the North Guoting, backed by a large pastoral field. The manor occupies a large area, and there is a wall with a high stone wood structure on the outermost part, with five layers of courtyard inside and outside. The main gate is the end of the North Guoting Road. The neighbors smelled the movement and went out one after another and saw Zu Zhao leading the crowd through. As the eldest son of the ancestral family, he is usually friendly and friendly. At this time, everyone naturally has to say hello and greetings attentively.

Zu Zhao nod back one by one, but did not slow down.

There were many ancestors waiting to welcome them outside the gate of the manor. After disaring, Zu Zhao asked Zu Ji to take the Lu family to the side hospital room to prepare hot water, food and other items needed to deal with the aftermath of the injured. After explaining, he walked into the front yard with Zu Zhan and others. After passing the door of the front yard, several uncles standing in the corridor immediately came forward, everyone with varying degrees of worry. However, after all, it is a military family, and the elders are used to it and do not have a serious reaction.

"Grandpa, the second master and the third master are waiting in the hall. Go and report your safety in person."

"There is a third uncle." Zu Zhao nodded to Zu Zhan's father, and then strode to the main hall.

There are not many people in the main hall. They are all the three elders of the clan. An old man over 50 was sitting in the head seat. Although he was skinny, he sat straight, with no expression or demeanor without any fatigue, and the temperament of the soldier was revealed. This person is Zu Zhao's grandfather and the eldest ancestor of the ancestral family. In ancient times, people married and had children earlier, even if the two generations were not too old.

Zui Zhao came to the main hall, saluted the first seat in a regular manner, and greeted the other elders in turn.

"Zhao'er, I've heard about it. Although it's a little impulsive, it's finally not humiliating the customs of my ancestors. Zu Ju's tone was slow and majestic, and his expression was also calm when he spoke.

"Hus are rampant, and no one bullies me. If he dares to invade the situation again, Sun'er will still attack head-on. Zu Zhao said righteously.

"Zhao'er has this ambition, and your father's spirit in heaven has finally been comforted. However, remember that the reason why my big man is majestic is that he is not reckless on the ground, otherwise it is no different from those uncivilized Hufu. Zu raised a lesson and said.

Zu Zhao's father died of illness in the barracks five years ago. In the early years, he was raised by his grandfather himself. As he grew older and became smart and obedient, he gradually gained some independent names in the family and began to inherit some of his family business.

"Sun'er remembers teachings and must reflect on it from time to time." He bowed and promised. Although there are many highlights worth mentioning in the process of defeating Huma today, I don't intend to brag in front of my elders. Anyway, this matter will spread soon, so it's better to be modest and cautious first.

"How are the rescued people doing now?" Zuju turned to ask.

"It's a coincidence that the people rescued are all relatives of the Lu Shi family in Zhuo County, and their grandchildren have arranged for them to stay temporarily on the village." Zu Zhao briefly mentioned this matter.

"Lu Shi in Zhuo County? But Zi Gangong's relatives?" Zu Ju was slightly surprised.

"Exact."

"That's a coincidence. Zigangong is a great scholar in the world and has a reputation. If it hadn't been for the disaster of the party, our ancestors should have had more contacts with the Lu family. Zi Gan's sharpness is too revealing and strong, and he is afraid that he will be trapped by the shackles. This opportunity coincides and can also make the two Zulu family have a social relationship. Zuju said with thousands of sighs.

"If the court is not vibrant and you are mediocre, I'm afraid that the country will change." Zu Zhao said with a deep face and meaningfully.

Several elders present changed their faces, but they didn't say anything.

Grandfather raised his eyebrows slightly. After a long silence, he said in a slow and serious tone, "Zhaoer, just say something at home. Don't talk nonsense outside. In a word, let's take good care of the Lu family first, and then go to the county early tomorrow to invite Huang Daoren to treat the injured.

Zu Zhao nodded and said, "Sun'er remembers it."

I thought the conversation would come to an end, but my grandfather suddenly changed the topic and mentioned another thing: "Zhao'er, you are the eldest son of my ancestors, and you are now much older. Last year, Grandpa mentioned marriage to you. At that time, you said you wanted to study, so put it aside for the time being. Last month, the Gongsun family in Xuantao County specially wrote a letter. It happened that the second Miss of the Gongsun family will come to you in the first month of next year. The meaning of the words is to make a special trip to talk about this marriage.

Zu Zhao's face changed little and hesitated for a moment, he said, "Why did Grandpa suddenly mention this?"

Zu Ju said in a low voice, "I planned to tell you about this matter in a few days, but it will be the same sooner or later. The Gongsun family of Xuandu County is a large local clan, and most of the clans are county bureaucrats. If this marriage can be promoted, the two families will become lips and teeth in the future, and it will be beneficial and harmless to everyone.

Although troubled times are coming, he should have tried to expand his family power before that, and Zu Zhao is by no means a twisted person. In this era, he must follow the tradition of "parents' orders" in this era, but he does not think that the Gongsun family in Xuantuo County is the most worthy of cooperation. Gongsun is indeed the big surname of Youzhou, but the big surname does not represent the same clan, and even the same clan may not be united. The great warlord who dominated Youzhou in the near future is indeed Gongsun Zan, but at this time, Gongsun Zan people are still in Zhuo County, and there are many branches of the Gongsun family in Xuandu County. From Gongsun Wang or down to Gongsun Du, who is still a county official, they are not familiar with each other at all.

Seeing that Zu Zhao was silent, Zu Ju did not hesitate much and said fiercely, "In a word, I have decided on this matter. This month, the people of the 16th Duke Sun family will come to Xu Wu as a guest, and we will talk about it in detail at that time."

Zuzuo asked, "Are the people of the Gongsun family coming?"

Zu nod his head and said nothing else.

At this time, several other elders inserted the topic, comforted Zu Zhao about the situation of Hu Ma, and taught him earnestly. Zu Zhao's mind is still on the marriage with the Gongsun family. For other words, it's just perfunctory. I didn't expect that some things came in a hurry!

That night, Zu Zhao asked Zu Ji to set up a banquet in the partial courtyard, which shocked the Lu family. However, this banquet was only a simple meal and not too extravagant. Even he himself just walked through the scene and toasted the Lu family. In addition, he also conveyed the situation of Uncle Hu, the housekeeper of the Lu family. Uncle Hong first took Uncle Hu back to his ancestral village in the afternoon to treat his wounds. The medical workers on the village have been diagnosed for the first time. Although he is still in a coma, the situation is still stable.

Lu Wan and the others were very excited and thanked them for a while.

After drinking, Zu Zhao got up out of courtesy and said goodbye to Miss Lu in Shenei. Miss Lu answered weakly and shyly through the curtain. Just as Zu Zhao was about to turn around and leave, the candlelight from the curtain suddenly shook and called softly: "You..."

Zu Zhao recalled and asked politely, "Miss, what else do you want to order?"

The candle shadow on the curtain shrank back and said after a long silence, "Thank you today. I'm here to thank you for saving my life. The voice is looming, and it is difficult to hide the meaning of shyness.

Zu Zhao smiled and said, "It's a matter of righteousness. Miss, you don't have to worry about it."