Chapter 61: Grudges and Favors

  Xu Sheng and Xu Wei, the two brothers, went out to greet him. The one who was leading several soldiers into the house was not Zheng, but who else? Seeing the two brothers come out, he laughed loudly: "Guan Yun, you left just before I arrived, don't blame me for being an uninvited guest?"

  Xu Sheng, with a hearty laugh, said: "What's the hurry, please come in." Zheng Ying strode forward, and as he passed by Xu Wei, pointed at him and said: "Good kid, today we'll drink till we're drunk." After entering the main hall, they paid their respects to Old Man Xu, and after sitting down as host and guest, finishing their tea, Zheng Ying once again congratulated the old man.

  Xu Taigong didn't bother with pleasantries, knowing that his son must have won a great victory and was being rewarded. Zheng Jian, who had been waiting for him to ask "What's the good news?", saw him smile but say nothing, so he cleared his throat twice and spoke up himself. The famous General Jing of the rural militia camp in Shandong Province had rendered outstanding service in battle, and the imperial court had issued a clear order promoting Xu Wei to the position of "Wu Wing Lang", with the title of "Deputy Director of the Supply Depot". He was still appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Rural Militia Camp, a seventh-rank military officer. The official certificate of appointment was brought over, and he was ordered to send an attendant to present the reward of money and weapons, and congratulations poured in non-stop.

  Xu Taigong Xu Sheng's two fathers had expected that he would be rewarded and promoted, but they did not expect him to be promoted by two ranks. Xu Wei's original rank was the 44th rank of Xiū Wǔ Láng, now it is the 42nd rank of Wǔ Yì Láng. Don't underestimate the promotion of just one rank, from the 42nd rank and above, to the 35th rank, there are eight ranks that can be "double-promoted". The so-called "double-promotion" means that if you have military merit, you should be promoted by one rank, as long as you are within these eight ranks, you can be promoted by two ranks, those who should be promoted by two ranks can be promoted by four ranks, and those who should be promoted by three ranks can be promoted by six ranks. The 34th to 23rd ranks, in general, are not considered necessary steps for promotion. In other words, as long as Xu Wei achieves a few more military merits, he may be able to enter the top twenty ranks, catching up with his brother! Although it's just from the seventh rank to the seventh rank, it's already a mid-level military officer in the Song Dynasty.

  Xu Sheng looked at his younger brother and saw that he didn't show any signs of extreme joy. He couldn't help but secretly sigh, thinking that Lao Jiu was no longer a mediocre person, and with time, he would surely stand out from the crowd. As an older brother, he had to work harder. Otherwise, in the future, when he saw his younger brother, he would have to bow his head and show respect as if to a superior, how embarrassing would that be?

  Xu Taigong was even more surprised, thinking that Laozi had spent his whole life on the battlefield and had only been promoted to the seventh rank after five years. During this time, he had gone through dozens of battles, big and small, and had repeatedly achieved military merits before being promoted. Moreover, Laozi had fought against the Tangut people in the northwest, who were so fierce and skilled in battle? You, on the other hand, have only suppressed a rebellion among civilians, yet you've risen so quickly?

  Xu Wei was not surprised by the promotion, nor was he pleased with the reward, but when he saw the halberd presented by the inner court, he became extremely interested. In his impression, this type of weapon only existed in the Tang Dynasty and was a standard heavy infantry weapon for the Tang army. He did not expect that the Song Dynasty also had such a thing. Xu Taigong laughed and said: "In those years when we fought against the Xia army, the Party people sent 'Iron Swallow' to charge horizontally and vertically, as if entering an uninhabited land. Old Zhong ordered us to hold halberds in our hands, arrayed in a killing formation, one knife down, men and horses shattered! Haha!" When he talked about those years, the old man's eyebrows flew and his color danced, as if he had returned to that golden armor and iron horse majestic era.

  His words were not bragging, the Song army, especially the Western Army, had a large number of broadswords. The younger brother of King Li Jianxun of Xia, Chage, was ordered to inspect the front line and learn from the strengths of the Song army. After returning, he reported to King Li that although they had "iron falcon" heavy cavalry that could gallop on the plains, and "foot soldiers" that could climb mountains and occupy dangerous terrain. However, once they encountered the Song army's "broad sword formation", the iron cavalry was unable to deploy. If they encountered the Song army using "divine arm bows", the foot soldiers would also collapse. The power of broadswords is evident!

  Xu Wei took the knife in his hand, and saw that the knife was extremely fine, one zhang (about 3.33 meters) long, with a broad blade, double-edged, and a triangular tip, suitable for both chopping and stabbing. It weighed about 40-50 jin (about 20-25 kg), and could not be wielded with one hand.

  In the Song Dynasty, there were two types of equipment manufacturing departments: internal and external. The equipment produced by skilled craftsmen was only supplied to the imperial court. On the other hand, the equipment supplied to the army was mostly made by convict laborers, and the quality difference can be imagined.

  Xu Taigong got down from his seat and walked over to take the halberd in hand, stroking it gently and sighing: "After all, it's an object of worship in the inner court, not like the rough ones we used back then." After speaking, he let Xu Wei step aside and began to dance with the halberd in the center of the main hall. Although he was old, this 40-50 jin halberd swung freely in his hand, whistling as it cut through the air. Zheng Yong and Xu Sheng both cheered loudly, saying that his vigor had not diminished from his younger years.

  He danced for a while, then stood still with his sword in hand, panting slightly. Taigong smiled and said: "I'm old now, but if it were back in the day, I'd wear heavy armor, carry a bow and quiver of arrows, a dagger, an axe, and hold a strange knife in my hand, running as fast as flying!" Xu Sheng and Xu Wei hastily agreed, rarely seeing their father so carefree, whatever he said was right.

  After chatting in the hall for a while, Xu Wei invited Zheng Ying to join him for dinner. The latter didn't consider himself an outsider and gladly accepted, saying he had always been thinking about the old wine stored in the Xu family cellar. Xu Wei knew that he was generous and fond of this particular wine, which made him happy when drinking, and his mouth would run freely. He quickly ordered someone to bring out the good wine, and the three of them, father and son, accompanied each other, drinking with abandon.

  At the banquet, it was inevitable to talk about military affairs. Zheng Yong couldn't help but praise Xu Wei, saying that he hadn't misjudged him and that Xu Jiu Lang was indeed a good choice. Xu Tai Gong's mood wasn't bad either, having drunk several cups, but Xu Sheng worried about his health and didn't let him drink anymore. Zheng Yong, however, snatched the wine cup away, claiming that he wanted to properly toast the elder for raising two such excellent sons, and shouldn't he have a few more drinks?

  When the wine had reached half of its intoxicating effect, Zheng Yong's face was completely red as he took out an object and smiled mysteriously: "There is still another joyful event."

  "What brings you joy?"

  Zheng Yongzhong held the letter in his hand and asked, "The newly appointed 'Signing Official of the Secretariat', do you know who it is?"

  Xu Taigong had been out of office for many years and didn't know about the central personnel appointments, so he spoke bluntly that he didn't know. Zheng Xiang smiled and handed the letter to Xu Wei, saying: "It's actually a brother from the same mother as your senior!"

  As soon as this was said, Xu Sheng's expression changed and he looked at his father, who indeed had an unpleasant look on his face. In the Xu household, there was one person whose name could never be mentioned, and that was Uncle Xu Shao! Although he and Father were brothers by blood, they hadn't seen each other in years and had deep misunderstandings between them. Zheng Jian's mention of him at this time was likely to displease Father.

  Xu Taigong sneered and hummed: "Then congratulations are in order for him, from a second-grade official."

  Zheng Yong saw his reaction and guessed a few points, so he tactfully shut up. Xu Wei didn't know that there was an uncle who was a high-ranking official in Tokyo, nor did he know the grudges between them, so he opened the letter and started reading it. The language was obscure and difficult to understand, but as a university graduate, he could roughly make out the meaning. Xu Shao's letter was brief, saying that he had just taken up a post at the Imperial Secretariat, and upon hearing that his nephew had achieved meritorious deeds in suppressing bandits, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed, so he asked Xu Wei to hurry to Tokyo as soon as possible. There was no mention of Xu Zhang, Xu Wei's elder brother, in the letter.

  Xu Wei finished reading the letter and handed it to his father, but the old man refused to take it. He drank a cup of wine and asked, "What does it say?" Xu Wei told him the general content of the letter, but Xu Tai Gong didn't respond, his face darkening in a way that was frightening. Zheng Ying was an understanding person and knew there must be some reason behind this. As an outsider, he didn't want to pry, so he excused himself. Xu Sheng and Xu Wei, the two brothers, personally escorted him out.

  Standing at the gate, Xu Wei read the letter again and felt more and more uncomfortable. Since the other party was his own uncle, and also the old master's brother, why did a family letter only have a few words, without even asking about others?

  Xu Sheng saw his brother staring at the letter and thought that after his serious illness, he couldn't remember things from before very clearly. Even if he did remember, how old was he at that time? So he said: "Father and Uncle haven't been in contact for many years."

  "Why?" Xu Wei was puzzled.

  Xu Sheng sank into thought for a moment, and then sat down on the steps, sighing: "It's a long story..." Xu Wei sat beside him, listening as his fourth brother brought up the old affairs of the Xu family.

  The Xu family's ancestral home was located here, and their ancestors were all low-ranking military officers. The Xu family was a hereditary military family, so the younger generation all went to join the army, with the highest rank being only an eighth-grade official. It wasn't until the previous generation that someone finally made a name for themselves: Xu Mao, the eldest brother of Xu Zhang and Xu Shao, was promoted to Governor of Qingzhou, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and Vice Envoy due to his military achievements. He intentionally promoted his two younger brothers through connections, allowing Xu Shao to rise through the ranks, but Xu Zhang refused his older brother's kindness and instead followed the old general Zong Chuke into battle, shedding blood and fighting bravely, also rising through the ranks. He relied on his actual abilities to advance in office, so he naturally looked down on his younger brother Xu Shao with some disdain, and the two brothers gradually became estranged. Later, when Xu Mao passed away, he still remembered his two younger brothers, especially Xu Zhang, and entrusted his close friends in the imperial court to use their connections to transfer Xu Zhang from the Western Army back to the Eastern Capital, appointing him as the Commander of the Imperial Guard. At that time, Xu Shao was already a powerful regional official with control over heavy troops, holding the position of Governor-General.

  Xu Zhang entered the ranks of the three officials, became a government official in the capital, but soon after taking office, he was at odds with his colleagues and often criticized some bad habits in the court, offending many people. Some powerful people deliberately tried to deal with him, and there were constant memorials from courtiers. Although Xu Zhang was angry about other people's attacks, he didn't take it seriously. But among them, there was actually his own younger brother Xu Shao! How could he not be disheartened? It was precisely because of Xu Shao's memorial that his second brother was forced to resign.

  As a result, the brothers became enemies and had no more dealings with each other. Even if Xu Shao led his children back to their hometown to sweep the tombs and worship their ancestors, Xu Zhang would shut the door tightly and refuse to see them, treating his own brother like a stranger.

  "This time, your uncle has sent a letter summoning you to Beijing. If you go, Father will definitely be displeased." Xu Sheng exhorted with some helplessness. To be honest, Xu Sheng also had many things he didn't understand about this matter. Why did his uncle want to frame his father in the first place? And even though they had already made amends and withdrawn the accusation, shouldn't brothers still be brothers? Why was Father treating him like a sworn enemy, refusing to have anything to do with him? The Xu family ancestral home originally belonged to all three brothers, but it had never been divided. However, the branch of the eldest uncle's family had scattered in different directions and rarely kept in touch. As for Third Uncle's family, it was even more hopeless. Since then, the Xu family had never gathered together again."