Zhang Qingfeng's study is very simple. There are two bookshelves on the east and west sides, which are filled with various books. The desk in the room is filled with pens, ink, paper, inkstone and other utensils.
Opposite the desk, there was a coffee table. Fang Yun, Zhang Qingfeng and Wang Li sat around the table, sipping tea comfortably.
After drinking the first pot of tea, the three of them said nothing.
After tasting the second pot of tea, Zhang Qingfeng smiled and said, "My dear nephew Long Xiang, you didn't come here just to drink tea, did you?"
Fang Yun smiled and said, "I am here to discuss a few things with you two uncles. The first thing is, do you two uncles have a jade craftsman you can trust? The kind that can carve talented jade."
"Oh?" The two old men's eyes lit up. Not to mention them, even Marquis Lu Men would be very surprised if he heard this.
"I got a piece of talent jade from the secret room of the Gou family. I have been in prison for ten years and I don't know what happened during that time. I believe you two can guess something." Fang Yun said as he took out the talent jade.
The two Hanlin scholars stared at Caiqi Yu for a long time before they reluctantly looked away.
“Seven years ago, there were rumors that a Talent Jade appeared in Dingzhou. Many Hanlin scholars and university scholars of the human race, as well as barbarian lords and kings of the barbarian race went there, resulting in the deaths of two university scholars, seven Hanlin scholars, three barbarian kings and thirteen barbarian lords. In the end, the whereabouts of the Talent Jade was unknown, and it turned out that the old thief Gou Bao had obtained it. Some people speculated that the Talent Jade was originally obtained by a deceased university scholar, but was eventually killed and taken away.” Wang Li said.
"I see. Then, can you two find a jade craftsman?" Fang Yun asked.
"Of course." Zhang Qingfeng said.
"Okay, after it is carved into a jade of talent, it will be left in the hands of the two uncles in turn, each keeping three days. In time, the two uncles will surely be promoted to Grand Secretaries!" Fang Yun said.
"Are you really going to give it to us two?" Zhang Qingfeng and Wang Li looked excited.
The two have been promoted to Hanlin for many years. Now they are old and weak. Because Zhang Wankong was suspected of being a traitor, he was suppressed for ten years, which damaged their will and courage. It is difficult for them to be promoted to Grand Secretary. However, if they have the talent jade, they will definitely be promoted to Grand Secretary within five years.
"It's a loan, not a gift. When you two are promoted to Grand Secretary, I will give it to Jing'an." Fang Yun said.
"Of course, of course. After we are both promoted to Grand Secretaries, the effectiveness of this talent jade will be greatly reduced. It is better to give it to Jing An. But... why don't you use it?" Wang Li asked.
"If nothing unexpected happens, my nephew will be promoted to Grand Secretary within two months." Fang Yun said with a smile.
Zhang Qingfeng and Wang Li were greatly surprised. Then they looked at each other with relief.
"Good! I didn't disappoint Brother Wankong's expectations!" Wang Li said!
"You have been sitting in prison for ten years, but you have not retreated but made progress. In the future, you will definitely become a university scholar or even a great scholar, just like Brother Wankong. You will become a legend of the human race and plant the flag of my Pearl River Army on the city wall of Liangjie Mountain!" Zhang Qingfeng said excitedly.
"Hmm? Wait..." Fang Yun was surprised. "Uncle Zhang, why do you think the same as Jing An? You don't really think my father climbed Liangjie Mountain and performed great deeds, do you?"
Zhang Qingfeng and Wang Li's faces darkened and they were extremely displeased.
"You actually..." Wang Li yelled three words and then immediately lowered his voice and said, "You actually don't believe Brother Wan Kong?"
Fang Yun said helplessly: "My father never told me about this. If Jing An hadn't mentioned it, I would have known nothing about it. Besides, what is Liangjie Mountain? How could we, the people of the literary world, have participated in the war back then? Do you two have any evidence?"
"Hmph, Brother Wankong's words are the best evidence!" said Zhang Qingfeng.
"Yes!" Wang Li agreed.
Fang Yun looked at the two of them carefully and said with a wry smile, "Uncles, did my father really say this? Was he just joking after getting drunk?"
Zhang Qingfeng said solemnly, "I can't blame you. When Brother Wankong talked about this, there were only me, your uncle Wang Li, and Zhang Hua around. At that time, your father was not drunk, but was very sober. He said in a melancholy tone that he had arrived at Liangjie Mountain and had made great contributions. However, he was hesitant at the time and stopped talking halfway. Not long after, he disappeared. You know what happened next."
"Father...did he really climb Liangjie Mountain?" Fang Yun looked at the two men in disbelief. If it was just Zhang Jing'an who said that, it wouldn't be worth paying attention to. But since even these two old Hanlin scholars said so, he would have to think carefully before making any conclusion.
Wang Li said angrily, "What happened back then is still fresh in my mind, and the words are still ringing in my ears. The two of us and Zhang Hua will never make a mistake. Humph, I didn't expect you to be the same as those superficial people. After Brother Wankong disappeared, I defended him in the court, and accidentally said something wrong, saying that he had made great contributions in Liangjie Mountain and could not be a traitor. As a result, the court burst into laughter and the ministers mocked me. That day, I swore in my heart that I must lead the Pearl River Army to Liangjie Mountain and let everyone in the world admit that Brother Wankong was not lying and that he had indeed stood on Liangjie Mountain!"
"Wan Kong has disappeared for a long time, and it is impossible for us to find the truth. Long Xiang, I entrust this matter to you. If you have the opportunity to enter Liangjie Mountain in the future, you must do your best to find the truth and wash away the shame for your father and the Pearl River Army! Do you know how some people humiliate the Pearl River Army? They ridicule that the Pearl River Army is the number one army in the Ten Thousand Worlds and the master of Liangjie Mountain! Long Xiang, promise us that you will find evidence of your father's meritorious service in Liangjie Mountain!"
Fang Yun looked at the two old men, their eyes were full of expectation, and nodded gently, saying: "My nephew will definitely work hard."
Having said that, Fang Yun still had more doubts in his heart.
"One day, the entire Confucian literary world will know that the flag of our Pearl River Army once stood on the Liangjie Mountain!" Zhang Qingfeng said excitedly.
“On that day, Brother Wankong will surely be vindicated! Brother Wankong is a great contributor to the human world and a hero of Liangjie Mountain. He is definitely not a traitor!” Wang Li clenched his right fist.
The two old men looked determined.
Fang Yun sighed secretly, not knowing how to communicate with these two people. After all, things were too weird. A few days ago, he used the official seal of King Ji to look up information, but there was no information about Zhang Wankong. He was a virtual saint, and if Zhang Wankong really made military achievements in Liangjie Mountain, there would be no way he could not find it.
"The State of Chu will send a large army to Liangjie Mountain soon. Our Pearl River Army has a chance to be selected. By then, you two uncles will also have the opportunity to go to Liangjie Mountain and solve the secret of that year with me." Fang Yun said with a smile.
"Okay!" The two old men were suddenly full of fighting spirit.
"Now that the Talent Jade has been solved, let's put the matter of Liangjie Mountain aside for now. The next thing we need to discuss is how to control the Pearl River Army!" Fang Yun said.
"What...is your goal?" Zhang Qingfeng looked at Fang Yun and Wang Li with a smile.
"Promote yourself to Grand Secretary, take charge of the Pearl River Army, pacify the Southern Barbarians, and clear all obstacles! Let the flag of the Pearl River Army never fall!" Fang Yun said.
Zhang Qingfeng and Wang Li looked at each other.
"You and I, three, talk slowly!"
From early morning till late evening, the three of them did not leave the study.
Until night fell, the door opened and the three people came out together, all with a faint smile.
That night, Fang Yun went to the Marshal's Office to report on his work and was officially responsible for military documents and other matters.
.(To be continued.)