Chapter Thirteen Old Acquaintance

  "You dare to scold me, old man?" Wang Ji bared his teeth and brandished his claws again. However, Zhang Jiamu was not afraid at all; instead, he somewhat admired this slightly reckless young man.

  With his insight, what kind of person and temperament is almost impossible to hide from him. In his opinion, Zhang Jiamu, although he looks clever and wise, is still a young man after all, with a bit of fearless and bloodthirsty courage.

  He didn't know that Zhang Jiamu had grasped the character of Wang Ji, and as soon as they met, he deliberately scolded him with a stern tone, showing off his noble demeanor. At such an old age, where did this fiery temper come from?

  Of course, it's a probe to see if Zhang Jiamu is a good material! Since the other party has made a move, of course, we will respond with the same courtesy. This old man who rushes into things is extremely arrogant and once he makes up his mind, he won't turn back even if he hits a wall. Because his life experience has already taken shape and become fixed, once he makes a judgment, there won't be any other answers in his mind.

  Since he wanted to see Zhang Jiamu's demeanor and also wanted to see if this young man was a treacherous person, then, just show him some recklessness and bravery.

  The effect is surprisingly good beyond expectation.

  Wang Ji ate a top, but his face was more harmonious, the old man stroked his forehead and sighed: "Okay, heroes come out in their youth! Zhang Jia Da Lang, your father didn't dare to speak to me like that back then!"

  He repeatedly mentioned Zhang Jiamu's deceased father, which made Zhang Jiamu very puzzled. His father was just an ordinary jailer, how could someone of his status be so obsessed with a deceased Jin Yiwei jailer?

  Wang Ji seemed to know he was a bit garrulous too. He smiled wryly and thought: "I'm getting old!"

  Let's not talk about this nonsense for now. Turning to Zhang Jiamu, he said: "Young man, follow me inside. There is someone you know waiting in there. I won't say anything, and neither will he come out. He must be getting impatient."

  "Yes, but let the adults be in charge."

  The word "故人" is even stranger for a young man in his early twenties. Zhang Jiamu thought that today's trip was just some official business, at most Li Chun's face-to-face recommendation to bring him over, but unexpectedly, Wang Dabo actually had an arrangement, which really made him extremely surprised!

  Wang Ji led the way, and the meeting place was in a small parlor of the Earl's mansion. It was already an honor for outsiders to come here. Two finely dressed little maids stood under the corridor, seeing Wang Ji, Li Chun, and Zhang Jiamu approaching, they immediately lifted the cotton curtain, and from a distance, they could smell the fragrance wafting in.

  After all, it was the young master, Zhang Jiamu couldn't help but glance at the two little maids a few times, they were only fifteen or sixteen years old, fair and clean, dressed up beautifully, seeing him look over, the two maids didn't hide, just pursed their lips and smiled.

  Zhang Jiamu smiled slightly, and slipped into the house. Although it was still early before nightfall on this cold day, several copper braziers had already been lit in the room, and the red flames drove away the chill. The small hall was warm and cozy.

  Li Chun was obviously a familiar guest, and as soon as he entered the house, without waiting for the host to invite him, he ran to the front of the Huang Huali's Duobao Pavilion in the outer room, looking at it while laughing: "Let me see what good things Master Bo has added recently."

  The Duobao Pavilion is filled with exquisite antiques, ranging from bronze wares to Song porcelain, with a total of twelve pieces on display. They are replaced periodically, which is why Li Chun said so.

  Wang Ji smiled and pointed to the left guest seat, saying: "Zhang Jia Dalang, look who's sitting there!"

  Coming in from the bright sunlight, Zhang Jiayu's eyes took a moment to adjust, blinking twice before he could see clearly who was sitting there. He was overjoyed and hastily stepped forward, kneeling down, removing his fur hat, and knocking his head on the ground: "Master!"

  "Good," the person in the seat also looked relieved, stood up and nodded to him, then stretched out his hand to pull Zhang Jiamu up, laughing: "It's been many years since we last met, you've grown so much taller!"

  "Yes, Master."

  The person waiting in this small flower hall was indeed Zhang Jiamu's master, named Ha Ming, a Mongolian. Zhang Jiamu had learned martial arts from his father when he was young, and later followed this Mongolian to learn horse riding and archery, with exceptional skills that surpassed ordinary people, all thanks to Ha Ming. This master had not been in contact for a long time, making Zhang Jiamu miss him dearly. Today, upon seeing him again, he recalled the days when his father had invited renowned masters to teach him horse riding and archery techniques. However, although he was reunited with his master today, his father had already passed away, and as they conversed, he became somewhat emotional.

  Ha Ming understood his thoughts and didn't say much, he just gently patted his back to comfort him.

  The two stood quietly for a while, then Zhang Jiamu asked again: "Master, where have you been all these years? After the change of the earth and wood, I heard that Master was safe and sound, my late father was very happy, and he searched for your whereabouts in many ways. Unfortunately, he couldn't find it later, and my father was very unhappy, but there was no way."

  Actually, his words are not entirely false. Ha Ming was originally a Mongolian captive who rose to the position of General Flag in the 3,000-strong camp. He became acquainted with Zhang Jia Mu's father and even came to the Zhang family to teach Zhang Jia Mu archery skills. Later, when Emperor Yingzong, also known as the current Taishang Huangdi, was held captive by Wang Zhen during the Northern Expedition, the 500,000-strong army was completely annihilated by Esen, resulting in the deaths of many famous ministers and generals, including General Guo Gong Zhang Fu.

  News came out, the capital was filled with gloomy clouds and mist. At that time, Zhang Jiamu was only eleven years old, although he was young, but at that time, the situation was still remembered clearly. He didn't care about others, but he was very worried about his teacher, Ha Ming, who was also a member of the expeditionary army at that time.

  Fortunately, news came later that Ha Ming was safe and sound, but many generals who had narrowly escaped with their lives returned to Beijing, while Ha Ming still had no news.

  Later, Zhang Jiamu's father inquired about it from all sides and one day after returning home, his expression changed greatly. Zhang Jiamu went forward to ask for news, but was strictly ordered by his father never to mention again that Ha Ming was his teacher, not only was he not allowed to mention this matter, but also not allowed to mention Ha Ming himself.

  His father ordered him to do so, and Zhang Jiamu had no choice but to obey. As a result, even Ren Yuan did not know about this matter. After a long time, he himself gradually forgot his childhood teacher. Today, when they met again, many past events came to mind, with a thousand words and ten thousand languages, yet he didn't know what to say!

  Among them, Ha Ming knew some and didn't understand some, but his disciple was very emotional, and his concern for this master came from the heart, which made him quite pleased to teach.

  When teaching, Zhang Jiamu was seven years old and taught until he was eleven years old in the north. For several years, they spent their days together morning and evening, and it wasn't without feelings either.

  "Alright." Ha Ming smiled and said: "Our story can wait till later when we have time to tell it slowly. Come, let me introduce you to someone."

  It wasn't until then that Zhang Jiamu noticed that there was another person on the first floor, with a black folded scarf on his head and wearing a bullfighter's costume, with silver belt and leather boots.

  "Who is this?" He looked hesitant, the identity of this person in the upper seat must be noble, because the dragon robe and python robe are not what ordinary people can wear. Only the emperor's trusted nobles would be awarded the dragon and python robes. And this person in front of him, looking quite honest and kind, with a big face and ears, a lucky appearance, although wearing a dragon robe, does not look like someone in a high position.

  The temperament of a superior person is easy to distinguish, the one in front of you now looks like an honest old man from a tea house in the neighborhood, just a gentle middle-aged uncle.

  He Ming smiled and said: "This is a family that doesn't recognize each other, Dalang. This is your Jin Yiwei's Shi Bai Hu, Yuan Daren. You should pay your respects quickly."

  Trying a hundred households is not to say that it's an official hundred households, such officials in the Brocade Guard are nothing. Unless it's like Men Da's actual hundred households, then they have power.

  However, Zhang Jiamu didn't dare to be impolite either. Being able to sit as a guest in the mansion of Duke Jingyuan and being familiar with Ha Ming and Li Chun, this Trial Hundred Households' Lord wasn't that simple!

  "Your humble servant has seen Governor Yuan!"

  Yuan Baihu smiled, reached out to help Zhang Jiamu up, took a closer look and said: "Not bad, looks very spirited." He suddenly felt a bit sentimental: "Looks just like Old Zhang back in the day!"

  "Not at all!" Ha Ming also said: "They are as alike as two peas in a pod!"

  "Jia Mu," Yuan Baihu continued, "I'm older than you, so call me Uncle Bao. Do you still remember me?"

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