Chapter 72: Zìzǐ Yuān

  The city of Luoyang is still prosperous, the horse market in the east of the city is still bustling, merchants from all over the world gather here, and there is no sign of war smoke. The nobles are still singing and dancing, unaware that the Han Dynasty is already secretly surging.

  Zhou Jianxin walked on the bustling street, always feeling that beneath the prosperous surface, there was a hidden undercurrent surging.

  Even deep down in my heart, I'm not quite adapted to this fake prosperous world.

  Because before long, the false peace and prosperity within Luoyang will be shattered.

  Zhou Mansion

  Zhou Jian walked forward and knocked on the door, which was opened by a young servant around twenty years old.

  "May I ask who you are, sir? Are you here at the Zhou residence looking for someone?"

  The young servant saw that Zhou Jian's attire was extraordinary, his demeanor majestic, and he had ten attendants following behind him. Knowing that this kind of person must be either wealthy or noble, the servant didn't dare to be slow and hastily asked with respect.

  " I am Zhou Jian, I have come specifically to pay respects to Uncle, would you kindly announce me?"

  "Ah! So it's Young Master."

  The little servant was startled and after a moment's hesitation, he quickly invited Zhou Jian in and then hurriedly ran to report.

  Zhou Jian hadn't sat in the front hall for long when hurried footsteps sounded, and Zhou Hui rushed into the outer hall.

  "Have seen elder brother."

  Zhou Jian put down his teacup and stood up, bowing his hands in greeting.

  "Brother, no need for excessive courtesy."

  Zhou Hui also returned a courtesy, and after sizing up Zhou Jian for a moment, he said: "This time, in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, Brother Jian was promoted to the position of Colonel of the Northern Army's Five Schools due to his meritorious service. The position is heavy with responsibility and prestige, it is indeed a great fortune for our clan."

  "Brother, don't say such polite words. I've joined the Ten Attendants' faction, and Father hasn't expelled me from the clan yet, which is already a great fortune. This time, I came to apologize to Uncle."

  Zhou Hui also sighed and said, "Right or wrong, it's hard to say clearly for the time being. However, my Lujiang Zhou family has been a prominent family in the world since my grandfather's generation. Although Jian Di's decision to join the Ten Eunuchs' faction is not ideal, but at this time when the world is in chaos, we men should be galloping on the battlefield and making contributions to the country. It doesn't harm the greater good, so it's not a huge mistake either. Moreover, Jian Di has not yet come of age, but he already holds an important position in the imperial court, commanding the elite cavalry of the Northern Army. This is indeed a glory for our Zhou family. Even if there are mistakes, it can be considered as making contributions to the prosperity of our clan. As for what Father thinks, let's wait until Jian Di sees him first and then talk about it!"

  Zhou Jian nodded and stood up, leaving the outer hall with Zhou Hui to see Second Uncle Zhou Zhong in the backyard.

  Inner court.

  Zhou Jian knelt down on the ground and paid his respects to Zhou Zhong with a deep bow, saying: "Your nephew pays his respects to his uncle."

  Zhou Zhong sat at the back of the case, gazing at Zhou Jian for a long time before sighing and getting up to help Zhou Jian up. He said: "I heard that you have been serving under the gate for ten years, I once regretted that my nephew was not worthy; I heard that you were in charge of the army under General Huangfu Song's command, with good governance and meritorious service, promoted to the important position of the Northern Army's Five Schools. I am deeply delighted, there is a successor to the Zhou family."

  Zhou Jian bowed again and said: "Young nephew did not investigate the loyal and good, lost the family style, please uncle to punish."

  "Your betrayal of our family's principles and your association with eunuchs should have led to your expulsion from our clan, in order to uphold the honor of the Zhou family. However, at this time when the world is in chaos and the imperial court is in turmoil, although the Yellow Turban rebels have been defeated, bandits are rising up everywhere and the people's discontent is boiling over. If the imperial court does not take control, disaster may strike at any moment. At that time, I fear it will be a case of war drums beating again, and this is an opportunity for heroes to prove themselves. Your past mistakes can be forgiven, but you must take on the responsibility of protecting our clan, advance bravely into the turmoil, and fight for our clan's survival in the midst of chaos."

  Zhou Jian said: "Thanks to Uncle Xie's kindness of not blaming me, I will follow Uncle Xie's orders."

  "Are you now twenty years old and have reached the age of wearing a crown?"

  Zhou Jian bowed again and said: "Exactly, please uncle give me a word."

  Zhou Zhong pondered for a moment, then said: "Alright, your father is straightforward and may not be pleased with you. As the eldest brother, I will take his place to give you a letter of appointment, which is in accordance with etiquette and law. Let me give you the letter, 'zi yuan', and I hope you will behave yourself."

  Zhou Jian bowed and said: "Thank you, Uncle, for giving me a pen name."

  Zhou Zhong waved his hand and said, "You go down first!"

  Zhou Jian bid farewell and went with Zhou Hui to the side room.

  Side room.

  Zhou Jian and Zhou Hui sat opposite each other on their knees, and the servants presented them with wine and water before retreating.

  Zhou Hui looked at Zhou Jian for a while before saying: "The weather today is chaotic and the omens have already appeared, I don't know where Brother Jian's will is headed."

  Zhou Jian said: "I am shallow and inexperienced, I don't seek to be known by the feudal lords, I only wish to lead troops on the battlefield and make contributions to the country."

  Zhou Hui's eyes gleamed as he said, "Brother Jian, how can you deceive me like this? If I'm not mistaken, Brother Jian began training his loyal followers ten years ago and joined the Eunuch Party before the Taiping Taoist uprising to gain fame and fortune. He then led troops to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion and was appointed as a general due to his merits. If all of these are just coincidences, isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"

  Zhou Jian was silent, there were some things he couldn't say, and it wasn't the right time either.

  Zhou Hui is his brother, not his retainer.

  Twenty followers were deeply loyal to Zhou Jian, and the value of their lives was to die for him. No matter whether Zhou Jian wanted to be a hero who dominated the world or a minister who helped the people, they would support him unconditionally.

  Zhou Hui was different, he was Zhou Jian's older brother, had his own ideals and beliefs, and was not Zhou Jian's confidant or subordinate.

  Zhou Hui gazed at Zhou Jian for a long time before sighing and saying: "Brother Jian, don't you trust me?"

  "Brother, where did you get this from?"

  Zhou Hui said: "If you don't believe me as a brother, why didn't you tell me the truth?"

  Zhou Jian was silent for a moment before saying, "It's not that I don't trust my elder brother, but today the world is in chaos and the people are in danger. The aristocratic families are also on shaky ground, and what you're doing is just trying to gain power to secure your own safety. As for ambitions and ideals, they can only be taken one step at a time, and there's no grand ambition."

  Zhou Hui nodded and didn't ask more questions.

  I am in a stronghold twenty miles north of here.

  Ma Si wiped the sweat from his forehead and waved his hand loudly, saying: "Release."

  Fifty sturdy men shouted in unison, pulling with all their might on the over ten zhang long rope, using the lever to pull the stone basket and sending it flying past, the brain-sized green stones inside the basket flew out and heavily hit the ground fifty paces away.

  "Good!"

  Mao Si excitedly let out a loud whoop, "We've finally succeeded."

  Fifty robust men wiped the sweat from their faces, each and every one of them bursting with excitement.

  "Old Mao, congratulations!"

  Hu San looked on from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement, "You're quite something! Back then, Master just casually asked about it, didn't expect you to actually manage to build a trebuchet. When Master returns, he'll probably reward you handsomely."

  "Needless to say, sir, you've been supporting our whole family, providing us with food and clothing. I couldn't just let you support me for nothing. Where's the logic in that? Even if you didn't mention it, I'd still feel anxious about it!"

  Hu San nodded repeatedly, "That's the way it is."

  "As for the reward, it doesn't matter anymore. The world is in such chaos now, just a few days ago our village was looted by a group of bandits. As long as you're willing to take us with you, I don't care where we go. At least under your leadership, we can have a peaceful life and not be constantly worried about being robbed by bandits."

  "It's not like that, the world is in chaos, and these days are getting harder to pass. Now the various townships and big men are not the same as before, the bandits are more and more, but here it's still relatively stable, no one dares to come and make trouble. But if things go on like this, once those wandering bandits increase in number, I'm afraid we won't be able to stay calm for a few days either. And who knows where the big man has gone to take office now, how long will it take before he comes to fetch us?"

  Just as Mao Si was about to speak, a sturdy young man rushed over at a rapid pace.

  "The young master has received a letter."

  Zhuang Ding hadn't even approached yet, but he was already excitedly shouting loudly.

  Mao Si was taken aback for a moment, then came to his senses and exclaimed with joy: "Quickly, quickly invite Mr. Chen Fang, let Mr. Chen Fang take a look at what the adult wrote in the letter. Ah, I didn't expect the adult would actually write a letter to us, unfortunately we can't even write our own names."