Chapter 9: The Zhang Family of Anyang

Zhu Zhao remained calm as always and turned to Zhang Yuan, saying: "Regardless of whether my elder brother is joking, I must defend myself by stating that your words are incorrect. My ancestors have been frontier soldiers for three generations, and our family tradition dictates that we must follow in their footsteps. In previous years, had I not been young, I would have participated in the county's preparations against bandits no matter what. This time, although I was fortunate to repel the invading Hu cavalry, as a man of the Han, I felt a great sense of satisfaction. It is precisely for this reason that I have the confidence to contribute my modest efforts to this year's preparations against bandits. I think of my elder brother as a hero in the county, and in previous years, your reputation for bravery in preparing against bandits has resounded far and wide. I cannot help but come to visit you first, hoping that you might impart some wisdom to me."

Not far from the roadside, there is a tea house that is doing a thriving business. Outside the tea house, seven or eight horses are tied up, and several tables on the outer side are surrounded by a group of young men, most of whom are dressed simply, each carrying a long bow and a short sword, resembling typical urban adventurers.

Zhu Zhaohe smiled and said, "Alright, let's set off now."

However, Zu Zhao raised his hand to stop Zu Ji and said, "A Ji, do not be disrespectful"

Zuzhao further stated: "Since we are at Anyang Pavilion, and it was my elder brother who proposed it first, I shall naturally follow the host's lead in this exchange of skills."

Zuzhao nodded and said: "Very good, thank you for making the trip back and forth."

Despite the disadvantage in age, preparing for theft is a matter of military urgency. As long as one can demonstrate exceptional bravery throughout the county and leverage the title of being recommended for the prefectural examination, everything will fall into place. Anyang Pavilion is adjacent to Beiguo Pavilion, and the two brothers, Zhang Yuan and Zhang Yu, are somewhat renowned street heroes. If one can subdue these two, it would be easy to spread the word through them, and during the preparation for theft, it would also facilitate better recruitment of the militia from Anyang Pavilion.

The reason for Zuzhao's special invitation to the two brothers, Zhang Yuan and Zhang Yu, for this horse training session is to first make a name for himself in Xuwu County, allowing more people to know that he and the library will be involved in the preparations against bandits this winter. This is merely the first step; next, he will leverage his success in repelling the Hu cavalry, along with his family's substantial influence, to rise as the leader of the anti-bandit efforts.

Zu Ji smiled innocently and said while touching his head: "It's not hard at all. During my leisure time, I often go to Anyang Pavilion."

As Zhang Yuan spoke these words, the group of wanderers immediately subdued their momentum

A line of people mounted in succession, carrying bows and swords, displaying a remarkable demeanor. Under the leadership of Zu Zhao, the procession moved grandly out of the southwest gate of the manor. The Xihe Bridge is located to the north of Anyang Pavilion, approximately eight or nine li away. Although it is called a bridge, there is actually no water system surrounding it; it is merely a place where nearby villages occasionally gather for a market.

Zu Ji was seething with anger, and although she no longer spoke, she continued to glare at Zhang Yuan with indignation

Following closely behind Zu Zhao, Zu Ji immediately spotted the wandering hero standing outside the tea house. He quickly rode over to Zu Zhao's side and introduced, "Young Master, that person is Zhang Yuan, the elder brother of the Zhang family."

The group led by Zu Zhao was numerous and imposing as they approached from a distance. Many passersby at the West River Bridge frequently glanced over, and some timid individuals mistakenly thought an incident was about to occur, hurriedly tightening their bundles and leaving. Among the wanderers in the tea house, one person shouted loudly, immediately drawing the attention of the others, and soon someone was the first to stand up and walk outside the tea house

He had long had plans in this regard; even if Zhang Yuan did not take the initiative to bring it up, he would still find ways to showcase his abilities. In other aspects, he had to appear modest to some extent, but people from the north are inherently martial; if he were to be hesitant in this regard, it would only invite contempt, making him more anxious to actively strive to become a leader among thieves

Zu Zhao glanced at Zu Ji, without any intention of reproach, as he himself had not clarified the matter regarding the * map * and * book * yesterday, which likely led to this misunderstanding. He maintained a humble smile and once again cupped his hands towards Zhang Yuan, expressing his gratitude: "Elder brother, your words make me feel quite apprehensive. It is indeed my fault for not having clarified things with Zu Ji yesterday, which resulted in this misunderstanding. I have come this time not only to meet you, elder brother, but also with the intention of discussing this year's preparations against bandits. How could I dare to trouble you to accommodate my horse training?"

Zuzhao spoke calmly and in a serious tone: "I have always respected my elder brother. Why has my elder brother repeatedly treated me lightly and made things difficult for me? If my elder brother truly does not value me, then why resort to insinuations and excessive words? Let us speak clearly and openly; if we cannot become friends, we need not become enemies. What does my elder brother think?"

Zhang Yuan felt a sense of goodwill towards Zu Zhao's humility. However, since he initially intended to assert dominance, he could not fully relax his demeanor. He chuckled ominously and, crossing his arms, said: "You are indeed a person of eloquence. I, Zhang Yuan, have come to this appointment out of respect for Ancestor Ji. I heard that the young master is in high spirits today and has invited everyone to join you for horse riding practice. Ha, Anyang Pavilion is certainly not Beiguo Pavilion"

Zhang Yuan felt a sudden jolt in his heart and gradually restrained his expression. He prided himself on being a hero and a man of great talent. Although he had some dissatisfaction with Zuzhao, the latter frequently apologized with courtesy, and to hold onto his grievances would be a loss of magnanimity. After a couple of low, cold laughs, he changed his tone and said: "The eldest son is truly a capable person with eloquence. I, Zhang, am but a rough and uncouth individual, so I hope you will forgive my indiscretions. Since the eldest son is so serious about the banditry this year, I shall certainly accompany you."

Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow; he was by no means a rude and unreasonable person. Moreover, the reputation of Zu Zhao for humility was not unfounded in the county. It seemed unlikely that a young man would be so reckless as to seek trouble with others for no reason. He and Tu Shu slightly improved their expressions, still relying on their seniority, and said with their heads held high: "It is only early autumn, yet the young master already exhibits such enthusiasm? Could it be that the recent victory over those Hu horses has stirred a momentary impulse?"

Zhang Yuan clapped his hands and burst into hearty laughter, a hint of pride on his face, and said: "Indeed, Master Zu is full of knowledge, speaking in such an eloquent manner, making us unlearned individuals feel quite inadequate"

Although Zhang Yuan appeared amiable and courteous towards his ancestor, he displayed a rather nonchalant demeanor when standing before Zu Zhao. With a frivolous gesture, he cupped his hands towards Zu Zhao and chuckled, saying: "What a fine line, 'As long as the Flying General of Longcheng is present, the Hu cavalry shall not cross Yin Mountain.' Young Master truly is a youthful hero, brimming with spirit." His tone concealed a hint of veiled disdain.

Zhang Yuan casually lifted the corners of his mouth and quickly added, "The young master is a youthful hero, capable of repelling over a hundred Hu cavalry with just twenty riders, which clearly demonstrates the young master's exceptional martial skills. Today, the young master has specially come to Anyang Pavilion to invite me, Zhang, to practice horsemanship in preparation for dealing with bandits. I would like to take this opportunity to seek guidance from the young master and witness how the young master once struck fear into the Hu invaders."

Zhang Yuan let out a cold laugh twice, but did not respond

Zhu Zhao replied without hesitation: "Alright"

Even the straightforward Zuji noticed that there was something off about Zhang Yuan's words at this moment, and couldn't help but interject, "Wenyi, why do you speak like this?"

Zhang Yuan smiled at Zu Ji but did not respond

After approximately forty-five minutes of slow travel, Zu Zhao and his companions left the northern outskirts and entered the territory of Anyang Pavilion. Upon reaching the West River Bridge, they fortuitously encountered the market day for nearby villagers, where over ten stalls were set up in a spacious area. Some laid out mats to display their homegrown vegetables, while others had carts loaded with various dried goods. Additionally, one or two hunters were hawking freshly caught birds and beasts, hanging them around their necks. Although the market had passed its peak bustling hours, the number of both sellers and buyers had significantly decreased, yet the atmosphere still retained a lingering vibrancy. After all, it was the autumn harvest season, with a full array of goods available, coinciding with the busy period of stocking up before winter.

Zhu Jixian hurriedly approached Zhu Zhaoma and, slightly out of breath, said: "Eldest Young Master, I just visited Anyang Pavilion this morning and have already arranged with the Zhang brothers to meet at Xihe Bridge in the afternoon"

Zuzhao once heard Zujì mention Zhang Yuan. Although the Zhang family of Anyang Pavilion is a prominent clan, Zhang Yuan is not a direct descendant of the Zhang family; he is merely a branch from a secondary line. Furthermore, he is accustomed to a life of adventure and is not favored by the clan. He can vaguely guess that someone like Zhang Yuan is least inclined to adhere to conventional norms, and thus the more he is revered by others, the more he looks down upon them.

Zhang Yuan let out a low, cold snort. He had previously thought that Zu Zhao was refined and cultured, but now he found him to be quite decisive and straightforward. It was evident that this young man was indeed skilled in martial arts. He spoke with unwavering confidence, saying: "That is truly excellent."

Zhu Zhao's expression showed a hint of doubt, while the group of Zhu family disciples behind him had already revealed their dissatisfaction

The other rangers once again echoed in agreement. Behind Zu Zhao, many members of the Zu family were not without indignation, and the atmosphere became tense and confrontational

Zhu Zhao slightly nodded, and as he approached, he carefully scrutinized the other party. Zhang Yuan had already passed the age of twenty, yet he did not wear a crown on his head; instead, he had tied a short piece of cloth into a bun. He was dressed in a somewhat worn and slightly soiled cotton short garment, but he wore a pair of polished leather wrist guards on his wrists. His build was not particularly robust, yet he stood tall and straight, exuding a certain heroic demeanor reminiscent of a gallant figure.

Zhang Yuan lightly smiled and said: "As northern men, we have practiced martial arts since childhood, and archery and cavalry skills are indispensable. The eldest son has repelled the Hu cavalry with his archery and horsemanship, so I, Zhang, do not dare to take advantage of my seniority. Therefore, I will simply use archery and cavalry as the topic."

His words were spoken loudly, particularly emphasizing their meaning. The group of wanderers following behind, led by Zhang Yu, began to murmur and make a commotion.

The next morning, Zu Zhao first recited a passage from the Analects in his study, and then reviewed some arithmetic. After noon, he changed into his travel attire, had an early lunch, and asked someone to notify the stable to prepare the mounts. According to Zu Zhao's earlier instructions, he had specifically summoned more young members of the clan to practice horsemanship together. When he arrived at the stable, there were already fifty or sixty people waiting. Upon seeing Zu Zhao, they all greeted him respectfully. Only Zu Ji arrived a bit late; he showed up only after everyone had organized their reins and accompanying items, and when he arrived, there were still a few grains of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth.

Zuzhao inclined his body slightly and smiled, saying: "First, I must thank my elder brother."

On one side, Zu Ji could no longer tolerate it and reproached Zhang Yuan, saying: "Zhang Weny, I considered you a brother, yet you repeatedly show disrespect to my family's eldest son. What exactly do you mean by this?"

Zu Ji waved to Zhang Yuan while urging his horse forward to greet him. He jumped off his horse in front of Zhang Yuan, happily clasping the other's arm. After exchanging a few casual remarks, he turned around to lead him to meet the eldest son of the Zu family. Those wandering knights still in the tavern hurried out as well, following behind to meet Zu Zhao.

He naturally would not take it to heart, gracefully leaping down from the horse, he politely returned a salute to Zhang Yuan and smiled, "Brother, you truly are a person of character, and I greatly admire you. Long ago, I heard my great-grandfather Ji mention that you are a renowned hero in this region. Today, I specifically arranged this meeting with the hope of getting to know you."

Immediately, he said politely: "I am flattered. If it is a matter of discussing things to a certain extent, I sincerely wish to seek guidance from my elder brother."

Zu Jidun's expression changed dramatically, feeling an overwhelming sense of regret for not having clarified matters yesterday