Wu Shuangren, holding a bottle of wine, smiled and said to Xu Jing.
A smile appeared on Xu Jing's face as he took the wine from Wu Shuangren's hand, "It's all thanks to you. Come on, let's finish this jar of wine today!"
The two had come all the way from Bo County, fought side by side, and gone through several major battles, forging a genuine bond of camaraderie.
A moment later, the two sat facing each other in a room.
"In any case, I owe my appointment as the Assistant Commander of Yi Province to you!"
Xu Jing poured wine for the two of them, raised his glass to Wu Shuangren, and said solemnly, "This glass is for you!"
Born into a military family, he grew up surrounded by military traditions and dreamed of one day becoming a general, leading troops into battle, and fighting on the front lines.
Unfortunately, by the time he grew up, the Xu Family had fallen into decline, and at most he could only become a county magistrate.
Full of ambition and possessing great skills, yet unable to put them to use.
After leaving Bo County with Wu Shuangren, Xu Jing commanded numerous battles, large and small, displaying all his skills in a truly exhilarating way!
Now, he has become the Assistant General of Yi Province, in charge of the military power of a province, and has a real opportunity to realize his ambitions.
Therefore, his feelings for Wu Shuangren came from the bottom of his heart.
Wu Shuangren didn't stand on ceremony, raised his wine glass and clinked it with Xu Jing's, and the two of them drank it all in one gulp.
"My father replied to me, saying that the Yuan Clan of Nanyang was the one who helped me this time!"
Xu Jing knew what Wu Shuangren cared about most, and after having a few drinks, he spoke to Wu Shuangren about it.
"The Yuan Clan of Nanyang, one of the Four Great Aristocratic Clans?"
Wu Shuangren asked in surprise.
Xu Jing nodded; he was even more surprised than Wu Shuangren when he received the news.
Even at its peak, Yuan Clan Xu Family was like a candle flame compared to the bright moon, let alone now that the Four Great Aristocratic Clans Xu Family has declined.
Therefore, he never expected that the Yuan Clan of Nanyang would take the initiative to help him.
"My father also said that Yuan Shu, the current young master of the Yuan Clan, even took the initiative to befriend my uncle, who serves as a centurion in the Imperial Guard in the capital."
Xu Jing spoke with a strange expression, "My father asked me in his letter what earth-shattering thing I did in Yi Province?"
Wu Shuangren couldn't help but smile, "So, how will you reply?"
Xu Jing said solemnly, "I said there are some things that can't be explained in a letter, so I'll have my father come to Yi Province in person."
Wu Shuangren paused for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Given his current relationship with Xu Jing, and the high regard the Yuan Clan of Nanyang has for him, he really should have a serious talk with the head of the Xu Family.
P. S.: I'm traveling with my wife during the National Day holiday, so I'll be away for the next few days and can only update once a day. I'll try to write as much as possible.
? 194 Xu Clan of Lulin, the family has a beautiful daughter
The sixtieth day after Xu Rong was killed.
Xu Cheng arrived in Yi Prefecture City. He is the current head of the Xu Clan of Lulin and the current commander of the Shu Province Garrison.
Local guards and border troops/imperial guards were two separate systems.
Both the border troops and the imperial guards had military ranks such as clerks and centurions, but above centurions were captains, lieutenants, and various generals.
The highest military rank in the local garrison was Assistant General, followed by Deputy General. Whether or not a commander of a thousand households was needed depended on the size of the garrison.
For example, the full strength of the Yi Province Garrison is 1,500 men, but there are no thousand-household commanders, only hundred-household commanders.
The Shu Province Garrison has a total of four thousand men, organized into four commanders of a thousand men each.
Like local officials, the positions of guards and garrisons in various regions were mostly hereditary, passed down from father to son.
The Xu Family family had served as commanders of the Shu Province Garrison for generations, and later expanded into the border army and the Imperial Guard, gradually becoming a military family.
At its peak, the Xu Family had three captains and one cavalry general leading over ten thousand troops in the border army!
If it weren't for this past, Yuan Shu, given his status, would never have been able to remember a Xu Clan of Lulin.
However, the highest military rank held by members of the Xu Family family in the border army is only a colonel, and the highest official position in the local government is Xu Jing is currently the Assistant General of Yi Province. Apart from that, the only other notable figures are a county lieutenant in Lu Province and a deputy general in Jia Province, but their strength and prestige are not what they used to be.
Xu Cheng's trip from Shu Province to Yi Province was somewhat against regulations, as he held a military post and could not leave his post at will.
However, Yuan Clan's initiative to extend goodwill was a huge deal for the Xu Family, Xu Cheng had no choice but to come.
After learning that Xu Jing had become the military commander of Yi Province, the military commander of Shu Province readily arranged for Xu Cheng to come to Yi Province.
"Father."
Xu Jing personally greeted Xu Cheng at the city gate.
Xu Cheng looked his son up and down, then asked with a sigh, "Are you alright?"
He already knew that Xu Jing had previously led troops to fight against the Mount Liang army before he arrived.
Xu Jing shook his head. "I'm not injured."
Let's go.
The father and son entered the city, and Xu Jing led Xu Cheng into a restaurant and into a private room that had been prepared in advance.
"Just eat something simple, and tell me quickly what exactly is going on with this Yi Province Militia?"
As soon as he sat down, Xu Cheng asked impatiently.
He had a vague idea that Yuan Clan's initiative to befriend them was related to the Yi Province Militia that had repelled the Mount Liang army.
Let's talk while we eat.
Xu Jing called to the waiter to serve the dishes.
After all the dishes were served, the door to the private room was closed. Xu Jing urged Xu Cheng to eat while beginning to speak:
"This story begins with the change of the head of the local militia in our Bo County..."
Inside the private room, Xu Cheng listened for a while before putting down his chopsticks, losing all appetite.
An eighteen-year-old First Rank expert increased the number of Bo County Militia to nearly three thousand in just a few months, destroyed the Mist Hidden Temple, established the Yi Province Militia, and defeated the Mount Liang army...
Aside from the matter of killing Xu Rong, Xu Jing told Xu Cheng almost everything about Wu Shuangren's exploits along the way from Bo County.
If the person speaking in front of him wasn't his own son, Xu Cheng would only think that he was bragging.
"You mean Wu Shuangren is actually in charge of the Yi Province Militia?"
Xu Cheng frowned and asked.
Xu Jing nodded. "Not bad."
"He's only eighteen years old, does he really have no one backing him?"
Xu Cheng still found it hard to believe.
Xu Jing said solemnly, "Although Wu Shuangren is young, he is mature, steady, principled, and loyal. Moreover, he has many capable people assisting him. I believe he can achieve great things!"
This was the first time Xu Cheng had ever seen his son speak so highly of someone.
He let out a heavy sigh, "You mean... you're also one of his advisors?"
Xu Jing hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
In the past, given his pride, he would never have been willing to assist a young man who was only eighteen years old.
But along the way, Xu Jing witnessed firsthand every major decision Wu Shuangren made.
He took him along to hunt down the people of Mount Liang and Mist Hidden Temple, removed his armor to challenge Ciwen, avenged Xu Dengyun, rescued the people of Linwen County, led troops to rescue the people of Rong Province, and single-handedly led the charge to rescue Guo Jiwang and the captured Militia Private in the city...
If it were merely a matter of early fame, exceptional talent, and a bright future, Xu Jing would not have chosen to assist Wu Shuangren.
What truly convinced him was some of Wu Shuangren's actions that others considered foolish!
Xu Cheng looked at his son's serious expression and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Before coming, he thought Xu Jing was the real leader of the Yi Province Militia, which is why the Yuan Clan took the initiative to be friendly.
I never imagined my son was also working for someone else...
"So the Yuan Clan misunderstood?"
Xu Cheng paused for a moment, then asked, his tone filled with disappointment.
They thought Xu Family chance to rise to the top had arrived, but it was all for naught.
Xu Jing: "Wu Shuangren intentionally misled the Yuan Clan."
Xu Cheng was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Xu Jing explained, "Wu Shuangren didn't want to be noticed so quickly. In addition, the Yuan Clan initially mistakenly believed that the Yi Province Militia was organized by our Xu Family, so he played along and let the misunderstanding continue."
Xu Cheng's eyes shifted. "Let the misunderstanding continue... Could it be that he wants us to contact the Yuan Clan on his behalf?"
Xu Jing hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I think that's how it should be."
Xu Cheng picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp. "For someone so young to have such forbearance is indeed, as you said, a sign of maturity."
In the heat of youth, which young person doesn't crave the spotlight? Doesn't yearn for worldwide fame?
Wu Shuangren clearly had the opportunity to gain great fame and even be noticed by the Yuan Clan, one of the Four Great Aristocratic Clans, but he chose to endure and continue to lie low.
This kind of mentality did indeed surprise Xu Cheng.
"No wonder you asked me to come here. When can I meet with this Militia Commander Wu?"
Xu Cheng asked.
Xu Jing smiled and said, "Wu Shuangren has already made arrangements; tonight will be a welcome dinner for Father."
Night fell.
Bright Moon Pavilion the best restaurant in Yi Prefecture City.
Inside the private room, Wu Shuangren and Guo Jiwang were already seated.
A moment later, Xu Jing led Xu Cheng into the private room.
Wu Shuangren and Guo Jiwang got up to greet them.
"Father, this is Wu Shuangren, the commander of the Yi Province Militia."
Xu Jing explained.
Xu Cheng didn't put on airs of an elder, but solemnly clasped his hands in a salute. "Militia Commander Wu avenged my third brother; the Xu Family will never forget this kindness!"
Xu Dengyun died tragically at the hands of Ciwen. If Wu Shuangren hadn't led Xu Jing and the others to catch up that night and risked challenging Ciwen to a duel, this revenge might never have been achieved.
This incident made Xu Jing acknowledge Wu Shuangren for the first time, and it also held considerable weight in Xu Cheng's heart!
"Uncle Xu, please don't be so polite. Just call me by my name."
Wu Shuangren treated Xu Cheng with the respect due to an elder.
He pointed to Guo Jiwang and introduced him, "This is Mr. Guo. Guo Jiwang, who is now my strategist. At the same time, Mr. Guo is also the magistrate of West River County in Xi Province."
Wu Shuangren directly revealed Guo Jiwang's true identity, demonstrating his sincerity.
Xu Cheng was stunned.
In terms of rank, he, as a commander of a thousand households, was higher than most county magistrates, Guo Jiwang had to address him as "your subordinate."
But Xu Cheng had heard of the name Guo Jiwang.
"Is that Mr. Guo, who was famous throughout Beijing back then?"
Xu Cheng asked.
Guo Jiwang somewhat surprised, not expecting that Xu Cheng had actually heard of him.
"Guo did indeed have some minor reputation in Beijing back then."
Guo Jiwang laughed.
Xu Cheng gave Wu Shuangren a deep look and explained, "My brother-in-law married a woman from a noble family. His father-in-law was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in the same year as Mr. Guo. After returning home, he often mentioned Mr. Guo, saying that Mr. Guo was the person he admired most in his life! So my brother-in-law has also mentioned Mr. Guo to me."
"I see, then it is indeed some kind of fate."