When the first trace of yellow faded in late autumn, the whole land ushered in a season that symbolized desolation — midwinter.
For those rich people who sat on thousands of acres of fertile land, the arrival of winter was nothing. It was nothing more than a matter of adding a few more clothes. But for those poor people who did not have enough clothes to cover their bodies, winter really took their lives!
At this time, in the northern frontier, snow was swirling. Both rich and poor people were huddled in their beds. This year's northern frontier was really too cold. Even the sons of officials who liked to wrap themselves in thick fox fur coats to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms had all lit up the fireplaces in their homes. They put away their lively tempers and began to quiet down.
In a brightly lit house, there was a young man in a purple mink fur coat. He was holding a fireplace in his hands and yawning constantly.
"Little Zi, this snow has been falling for a few days, right?" The young man suddenly tilted his head and looked at the servant girl in the corner of the room who was constantly adding firewood for the earth dragon.
The servant girl named Little Zi was not in a hurry to answer her young master's question. She used the tongs in her hand to poke at the burning charcoal first, then raised her head and answered with a sweet smile on her face, "Little Zi,
"Young master, isn't it? This year's snow is really heavy. I've never seen such heavy snow in my life. "
Hearing this, the young man's delicate face froze and his eyebrows furrowed into a "chuan" character.
"I'm wearing a fox fur coat and the earth dragon is still burning in the house. I feel cold all over. What about those people who can barely maintain their food and clothing?" The young man felt a dull pain in his heart and couldn't help but worry for those poor people in the city.
"Little Zi, you stay here. I have something to do." The young man lightly ordered the servant girl who was still poking the firewood. He took a straw raincoat from the clothes rack and immediately put it on and walked out.
"Young master, how should I explain to Madam if you leave?" Little Zi looked at the young man's departing figure and couldn't help shouting.
That night, the Young Master of Huaining City's Zhao Clan, Zhao Zilong, bought all the charcoal in the city's charcoal shop. What was even more inconceivable was that he actually brought along seven or eight servants to distribute all the charcoal to the poor families that couldn't afford to burn charcoal. This caused the rich families in the city to secretly curse him for being wasteful. However, there were even more people in Huai Ning City who were full of praise for Zhao Zilong. It was unknown how many such things the Zhao Clan's young master had done over the years.
The next day, at the first glimmer of dawn, Zhao Zilong returned to the Zhao Family with the servant who had distributed the charcoal last night.
Forcefully suppressing his fatigue, Zhao Zilong first thanked the servant who had followed him through the snow for an entire night. Only then did he drag his tired body back to his own courtyard.
But before he could reach the entrance of the small courtyard, he was caught in the arms of a woman who was walking towards him.
"My son, it's such a cold day. You went out of the mansion without saying a word last night. If it weren't for Xiaozi, I would still be in the dark. Tell me, are you cold?" "You're so cold?" Ye Qingtang asked. The woman, who was also wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, grabbed Zhao Zilong's hand and carefully rubbed it in her palm. Then, she continuously blew hot air on her son's hand that was slightly red from the cold.
"Mother, I'm not cold. I'm still wearing the marten coat that you specially gave me a few days ago." Zhao Zilong's tone was gentle as he softly comforted the woman in front of him who had a face full of heartache.
This woman was Zhao Zilong's mother, the Zhao Clan's matriarch — Chu Ying.
The Zhao Clan had only one son for three generations. When it came to Zhao Zilong's generation, not only was the family's ancestor doted on and his mother spoiled, even the Zhao Clan's matriarch, who had always been ruthless, turned a blind eye to his son's "wasteful behavior".
And Zhao Zilong had a kind nature since he was young. He could not stand the slightest bit of injustice. Towards those poor families, he would always extend his helping hand, especially on some days when there were disasters, he would even personally deliver rice and food to them.
In Huining City, no matter man or woman, old or young, even some enemies of the Zhao Clan, when mentioning the Zhao Clan's young master, Zhao Zilong, they could not help but give him a thumbs up and say that the Zhao Clan's young master was really a good person.
Zhao Zilong was hugged by his mother all the way into the room. He comforted his mother for a while and promised that he would definitely inform her in advance the next time he was going out. Only then did he send his doting mother away.
Lying on his soft bed, Zhao Zilong did not even bother to take off his thick clothes. He directly pulled over his goose down quilt and fell into a deep sleep. He was too tired.
This sleep, Zhao Zilong slept until the afternoon when the sun was about to set. During this period, even when Little Zi called him for lunch, he did not respond.
The hunger in his stomach had long been unable to be suppressed, but the tiredness in Zhao Zilong's eyes had been swept away. After waking up, his spirit had more or less recovered.
He asked Little Zi to reheat the porridge for lunch, then drank it in one gulp and burped in satisfaction. Zhao Zilong turned over and got off the bed, sighing heavily at the snowflakes that were still constantly falling outside the window.
Those families were going to suffer a lot. He only hoped that the charcoal from last night would be able to help them a little.
Calculating the time, it was estimated that it was almost time for the evening class. After informing Little Zi, Zhao Zilong directly went to the Zhao Clan's study, where his father, Zhao Wu, was waiting for him.
Although Zhao Zilong was the only son of the Zhao Clan and was very doted on by the Old Mistress, he was very respectful towards his father.
Zhao Wu, as the frontier general of the Jiangchu Dynasty, not only was he strong, but he also made outstanding achievements on the battlefield. He was also extremely strict with the management of the family!
In the past, Zhao Wu did not stop some of Zhao Zilong's childish behavior. Firstly, it was because Zhao Zilong was still young, and it was not a bad thing to have such a pure heart. Secondly, it was naturally because the Zhao Clan was big and could afford such squandering.
But now, everything was different.
Zhao Zilong went all the way to Zhao Wu's study. As soon as he entered the room, he saw his father standing in front of the desk splashing ink.
Zhao Wu naturally also noticed the arrival of his son, but he did not pay attention to it. He still buried his head in the desk.
After a long time, Zhao Wu straightened up, sat on the chair, and waved his hand to signal Zhao Zilong to come forward.
"Zilong, did you go to send charcoal to those poor people last night?" Zhao Wu looked at his only son with a calm face.
"Yes, Father. How do those poor people live like this?" Zhao Zilong raised his head and had a trace of worry on his face.
"Every family has its own way of living. For so many years, if everyone is as unbearable as you think and needs the help of others again and again when they encounter a small disaster, then how can there be a great era of my Jiangchu Dynasty?" Zhao Wu said coldly.
"But, but …" Zhao Zilong wanted to refute his father's words right away.
"But what?" Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Wu directly interrupted Zhao Zilong's words.
"You have to know that only by knowing your own situation will you have the motivation to ceaselessly climb up. If a person is hungry, he doesn't have to work, and someone will send him food. If he's thirsty, someone will send him tea. Then what's the point of living like this? If you want to live a better life, then you naturally have to ceaselessly fight, work hard, and rise up. That's what a man should do! "
Seeing that his son's face had turned red from his words, Zhao Wu's expression also eased up a lot.
"This society has its own principles. I'm telling you this not because I want you to stop doing good deeds and doing good deeds, but because I want you to understand that a person's life depends on himself. It's not something that others can easily help."
Zhao Zilong stood with his hands by his side and quietly listened to his father's teachings. Although he could not accept it immediately, he knew that what Zhao Wu said was the truth.
However, what Zhao Wu said next really frightened Zhao Zilong.
"Last night, I received a secret report that the Li Tribe at the border is restless again. A few groups of cavalry have already entered our Jiangchu border. They are going to start robbing our Jiangchu people again." Zhao Wu's tone was very calm, but Zhao Zilong could feel a biting cold murderous intent from it.
"I'm telling you all this because I want you to know that giving some food to those poor people and keeping them warm for a while is just a small kindness. But really going to the border to protect our country and keep the people of Jiang Chu away from the chaos of war, this is the true kindness." Zhao Wu stood up from the chair and stared at his son.
"But father, even though I have the heart to kill the enemy, I have never touched a sword. How can I go to the battlefield?" At this moment, Zhao Zilong had completely accepted his father's words. However, thinking that although he had read some books for more than ten years, he had never touched a sword, he could not help but feel a little embarrassed.
"I have no intention of letting you go to the battlefield with me. I have already made preparations for you. After I leave tomorrow, I will send you to a place to start practicing martial arts. I hope you can endure the pain." Zhao Wu finally had a trace of a smile on his face.
"Zilong, what kind of person do you think you are?" Just when Zhao Zilong began to think about where his father would send him, Zhao Wu suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Zhao Zilong stood still and thought for a long time before he looked at his father with a pair of bright eyes. "I am an ordinary person. I just want to see everyone like me, without too many troubles."
"Sigh, Zilong, you are a good person." For some reason, this should be a compliment, but when it came out of Zhao Wu's mouth, there was a hint of a sigh.
Zhao Zilong did not think that much. His heart was filled with joy. 'Father actually praised me as a good person. So I am a good person.'
Although it was good to be a good person, a good person did not have a good life. Ye Chen spent so much effort to send his son to practice martial arts. Was it really because his son wanted to be a good person in the future? Nonsense, which eagle would not protect its own chick? Moreover, as a famous general in Jiangchu, how could Zhao Wu not make plans for his only son?
He did this only because he thought that one day, even if he was gone, Zhao Zilong would still be able to happily do his own things and have the ability to do his own things!
He did not want his' good person 'son to be hurt. He would never allow it!
All these years, the Jiangchu Dynasty had been working hard to develop the country's economy, and didn't really care about the Li Clan's small squabbles. Furthermore, ever since the current Emperor ascended to the throne, he had been working hard to make Jiangchu a flourishing scene. The Li Clan wanted to take advantage of them at this time, but it was the time for the Jiangchu Imperial Court to show their strength.
As for Zhao Wu, as the Northern General who guarded the north of the imperial court, how could he let the Li Clan mess around?
Just when Zhao Zilong stepped out of the study, Chu Ying walked out from the curtain behind the study.
The young lady from a prominent family in the south was frowning at the moment, looking at her husband in dissatisfaction.
Although the north of the Great Wall was constantly invaded by the flames of war all year round, Zhao Wu had been overseeing the frontier these past few years. With a series of iron-blooded methods carried out, the Li tribe had at most only engaged in small skirmishes. Those so-called wars were simply not worth mentioning.
Thinking about the place where her son was about to go, Chu Ying felt a dull pain in her heart. She began to feel sorry for her beloved baby. Zhao Zilong had been spoiled by her for more than ten years. He was used to living a life where she could stretch out her hands and open her mouth to eat. Now that he was suddenly sent to the south by his father, she could not be at ease.
"Without a bone-chilling cold, how can one smell the fragrance of plum blossoms! I have my reasons for Zilong's path. What do you, a woman, know? "Zhao Wu looked at his wife's worried face and couldn't help but snort coldly.
Zhao Wu looked at his wife's determined expression and thought about the debt he had owed the mother and son for the past twenty years. His face unconsciously became completely warm.
"Ying 'er, although I am a general of Jiangchu, I am also Zilong's father. He is my only son."
Zhao Wu faintly sighed.
Chu Ying was also a talented woman who was famous throughout the south. She was extremely intelligent, but when she heard this, her heart suddenly jumped. She looked up at her husband and said in a somewhat hurried tone, "Could it be that the Li Clan's actions this time …"
Zhao Wu helplessly looked at his beloved who had accompanied him through hardships, and helplessly nodded.
Seeing this, Chu Ying's eyes turned red. She stepped forward and hugged her husband tightly, murmuring, "It's good that Zilong is gone. We must all be well, we must all be well …"
That night, from the most authoritative Old Mistress in the Zhao residence, to General Ye who was about to go on an expedition, to the gentle and virtuous Mistress of the Zhao family, none of them felt sleepy at all.
The Old Mistress was worried about her son and grandson, while Chu Ying was worried about her son and husband.
But there were always exceptions to everything. After Zhao Zilong returned to his room, he casually chatted with the servant Xiao Zi for a while and then fell asleep. He was both afraid and excited about the journey to the south the next day. With the two conflicting forces, he was exceptionally tired, so he fell asleep early.
…
At daybreak the next day, the entire Zhao residence began to move at top speed amidst the neighing of warhorses.
Zhao Wu put on his armor with Chu Ying's help. Then, the couple held hands and went to pay their respects to the Old Mistress and bid farewell.
What they did not expect was that before they left, the Old Mistress walked in with the help of two servant girls.
Zhao Wu looked at his mother's head of white hair and his body trembled. Even though he had killed countless people on the battlefield, he could not help but tear up. The battlefield was not like the business world. No one could predict what would happen.
The two of them paid their respects to the Old Mistress. Then, Chu Ying took the Old Mistress' hand from the two servant girls and personally helped her sit down.
"Mother, why are you here? It's such a cold day. We should be the ones to pay our respects to you. "Chu Ying looked at her mother-in-law and spoke gently.
"Wife, your son is leaving again. I can't rest easy if I don't come to see him. It's just that you've suffered all these years," the Old Mistress said softly as she placed Chu Ying's left hand in her palm with some pity.
"I've been unfilial and made you worry." Zhao Wu's tone was a little low.
"Zhao Wu, your father left early, leaving us alone. Now that you have a wife and a child, you must remember to prioritize your own safety!" the Old Mistress said softly to her son.
"You'll be leaving soon. Let my grandson leave in the afternoon. This old bag of bones wants to take a good look at my obedient grandson." The Old Mistress' voice was very soft, but when Chu Ying, who was standing at the side, heard this, two streams of tears flowed down her cheeks. A sharp-eyed servant girl saw the First Mistress crying and quickly handed her a handkerchief.
Chu Ying choked with sobs but still forced a smile. "Mother, what are you saying? Fan 'er is only going out for a while. He'll be back soon."
"Sigh." The Old Mistress sighed and closed her eyes. She waved for Zhao Wu and Chu Ying to leave, then sat in the room without moving.
The couple went straight to the gates of the Zhao Residence. A group of Zhao Residence bodyguards dressed in armor were already waiting there. When they saw Zhao Wu, the dozen of them dismounted in unison and knelt on one knee. They cupped their fists and shouted, "Greetings, General!"
Nodding, Zhao Wu lifted his right hand and gestured for the soldiers to rise. He then took the reins from the old steward and stroked his beloved horse's mane. He then turned to look at his wife and said gently, "After I leave, I'll leave you to take care of me."
"Don't worry, husband. I'll take care of everything at home." Chu Ying's eyes were slightly red.
"Take care of yourself and wait for my return," Zhao Wu whispered into Chu Ying's ear.
"Tell Zilong that his father is waiting for him at the border." Zhao Wu had just finished speaking when he suddenly waved his whip. His legs clamped tightly around the horse's abdomen and he charged out first. Ten cavalrymen followed closely behind him. The trampling of the horses' hooves filled the entire road with dust.
The wind blew and the clouds flew. Snowflakes fell towards the Chu border.
Who could understand the General's intentions? But he watched his mother cry at home.
By the time Zhao Zilong finished washing up with Little Zi's help, the sky had already turned white. Although he got up early, his father left even earlier! The father and son did not get to see each other one last time before they parted.
At noon, Zhao Zilong, Chu Ying and Old Zhao Taijun sat around the dining table. Although the food on the table looked particularly tempting, the three of them had no appetite at all.
Old Zhao Taijun held Zhao Zilong's hand tightly and then her lips trembled slightly. "Zilong, I don't know when you'll come back. Let Grandma take a good look at you one last time."
Hearing this, Zhao Zilong's expression changed greatly. His tone became even more flustered. "Grandma, what nonsense are you talking about? I'm only going out for a while. I'll be back soon. "
Old Lady Zhao didn't care about Zhao Zilong's words. She pulled him into her arms and said softly, "Our Zhao family doesn't owe anyone. Zilong, no matter what happens in the future, just follow your heart. I, your mother, and your father won't blame you."
Hearing his grandmother's nonsensical words, Zhao Zilong's heart became a little confused. However, they were about to part, so it was not appropriate for him to ask his grandmother in detail. He just thought that the old woman felt sorry for her grandson and started to speak incoherently.
Chu Ying, who was at the side, looked at her son quietly and then said, "Fan 'er, when you arrive, remember to write home a letter every month so that your grandmother and I won't worry about you."
Nodding heavily, Zhao Zilong suddenly buried his head in the food in his bowl. Two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks into his mouth. It was salty and astringent.
After hastily finishing lunch, Zhao Zilong was finally about to set off.
There was a servant at the entrance of the Zhao manor who was waiting outside with a carriage.
This time, only his mother came to send Zhao Zilong off. Old Zhao Taijun had sent off her son and grandson in one day. At this moment, she was secretly wiping away her tears in her room. She was afraid that her grandson would feel sad when he saw her, so she decided not to leave the manor.
"Zilong, you are going south alone this time. You must learn to be more tolerant. The outside world is not like home. You cannot act recklessly," Chu Ying said solemnly.
Zhao Zilong knew this a long time ago. There was no one else besides a coachman to send him on this trip to the south. In the words of his father, how could a person who couldn't even take care of himself calm down to learn true skills?
"Mother, I will not be by your side. You and grandmother have to take care of yourselves." Zhao Zilong's voice trembled slightly. After all, he was only a sixteen-year-old child. This was his first time leaving his parents and traveling alone. It was inevitable that he would feel a little sad.
…
Under the setting sun, a horse carriage drew a long shadow under the sunlight as it slowly headed towards the south …
In the 15th year of Zhengde Era, the General of the North, Zhao Wu, rushed to the northern frontier. His son, Zhao Zilong, also began his journey south.
After this parting, it was unknown when they would meet again.
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