allonlinenovel Chapter 384 Epilogue (5)
Chapter 384 Epilogue (5)
The cause of the conflict had been found, and those who should know it also knew it. From now on, unless there was a conflict that could not be resolved without Zhang Xueming's intervention, she would not interfere in the affairs between Gong Shangjiao and his wife.
[No matter how good our relationship is, we can't live for our brother. ]
Zhang Xueming picked up a braised chicken leg for Gong Yuanzheng to comfort him.
[Ayuan, don't worry. Didn't we both get to know each other and fall in love after getting to know each other and getting used to each other?
My brother is a warm-hearted person, and my sister-in-law is also a person who knows how to love. I believe that after they get to know each other better, they will be able to live in harmony in the near future. 】
Gong Shangjiao took the initiative to order people to copy all the books and classics in the collection except the history of the palace and hand them over to the Zhang family; he asked more than a thousand private soldiers (Jade Servant) to report to Changling City and register for military service; he promised that the weapons cast by Chen Xizong in the future would be exclusively supplied to the border troops and not sold to the outside world; he would no longer conduct private research on gunpowder, hide contraband weapons, or engage in illegal and criminal activities.
He also personally worked to open up the southern market for the Zhang family, managed the business in the south, continuously supplied funds to the northern treasury, and cultivated independent business talents.
He worked diligently and devotedly. Even the picky Zhang family members could not say that he did not do well enough.
The Wen family in Qiangui City did not have the ability of Gong Shangjiao. But for many years, the whole family had been law-abiding and followed the lead of the Zhang family. The heads of several generations were good at being the vanguard, informants, and cooperators of the Zhang family. They were a model family among the small families in the northern border. The Zhang family would never forget to bring their family along when there was something good.
Even if it was a marriage for a stable relationship, the Zhang family had no habit of betraying their capable helpers. If the two families were not compatible, the Zhang family would not let Gong Shangjiao get married.
Look at the Buddha's face without looking at the monk's face.
Gong Yuanzheng did not believe in the Zhang family's views, nor did he disbelieve Zhang Xueming.
When Wen Yuqing met him, he gave him and Zhang Xueming a black lamb fur coat, two rare medical books, a geography of Western Xinjiang, and a travelogue of the East China Sea. It can be seen that he has a certain understanding of their preferences.
When ordering food, Wen Yuqing first asked Zhang Xueming and the foods he was afraid of before deciding on the lunch menu. It wasn't very warm, but it made them clearly feel her concern.
Facing Gong Shangjiao's temptation, Wen Yuqing said "let it be whatever you want", making it clear that she didn't like the intrigue at home.
A girl who is gentle, generous, independent, attentive, considerate and sensible is welcome everywhere.
Gong Shangjiao asked her to be honest. Since she was the one who married into the family, she should be honest. And it should be Gong Shangjiao who proposed to her who should show sincerity first.
Gong Yuanzheng nodded and put another braised chicken leg into Zhang Xueming's bowl: "I'm not worried. My brother just had a distracted thought. After your reminder, he went back and reflected on it. With his ability, he will definitely live a good life. You should focus on eating. Eating is the most important thing in the world. Fill your stomach first and then think about other things."
Zhang Xueming laughed: [Okay, butler.]
The next day, the two went to Jiaoyuan for dinner again, and the atmosphere between Gong Shangjiao and Wen Yuqing was indeed much better.
It is still a long way from perfect harmony, but those who have done wrong should take a few more steps forward.
Gong Yuanzheng has found happiness, and he hopes that his brother who raised him can also be happy.
……
Gong Yuanzheng and Zhang Xueming stayed for another two days and then said goodbye and returned to Changling.
Even though the third old master and Zhang Wenling are in charge of the family, Zhang Xueming will not really be a hands-off boss.
No matter where the people of the Flower-Growing Family go, the two concepts of "great unification" and "economic base determines superstructure" in their minds will always drive them to do something when conditions permit.
For example, after the plot ended that year, the mature black gunpowder formula in Zhang Xueming's hand finally showed its power, and the gunpowder in the North was finally no longer only used for fireworks.
Using the flintlock rifle "Shan Cui" invented by Gong Zishang as cover, Zhang Xueming took out the blueprint of the repeating gun.
This type of continuous-fire flintlock rifle, developed by Dai Zi of the Qing Dynasty, could fire 28 bullets in a row, had a range of over 500 meters, and could easily penetrate thin armor within 200 meters. It was an excellent weapon for dealing with barbarians who were good at fighting on horseback.
The North has no shortage of copper and iron, no shortage of fast-flowing rivers, and no shortage of strong winds that can blow people into the sky.
Zhang Xueming took out the drawings of the horizontal downward-thrust water mill (ancient hydraulic press) and pneumatic mill, doubling the forging speed.
After a year of production and reserve, the first fully-armed firearms battalion in the North was launched. Of the 500 soldiers in the battalion, more than half were surnamed Zhang.
The large-scale use of muskets, artillery, and fire bombs in the military, combined with telescopes and hang gliders, brought about a devastating disaster for the barbarians on the grasslands who refused to surrender.
A year later, all the vast grasslands outside Tongqing Pass returned to the northern border.
The so-called pure-blooded people of the barbarians were all gone, and what remained were only some small tribes of mixed-blood herdsmen who had been enslaved and oppressed by the pure-blooded nobles.
They surrendered quickly enough, served as good guides, and their facial features did not have obvious barbarian characteristics, so the Zhang family did not kill them all.
They were settled in several villages outside Changling City and, under the supervision of soldiers, were engaged in the business of herding for the North.
In this war, Zhang Xueming was left in Changling City to take charge of the situation.
The veteran general, the Third Old Master, personally took action, and Zhang Wenling seized the command of the Firearm Battalion, and persuaded Gong Yuanzheng to go with him to serve as his personal soldier and military doctor. He used fierce artillery fire and a tragic battlefield to teach this "spoiled" son-in-law (Zhang Wenling thought so himself) a lesson, whom he disliked no matter what.
When they returned victoriously, the Third Old Master took off his red tasseled helmet, revealing his graying hair, and proudly declared: "The barbarians have been destroyed! The border troubles have been resolved!"
At that moment, the people of Changling who lined the streets to greet them were silent for a moment as if frozen in time, and then they were completely excited the next second.
Zhang Xueming, standing at the front of the group of officials, gave them a bright smile, but tears could not stop flowing.
Gong Yuanzheng, who returned from the war, still remembers the scene:
In front of the Forest of Heroes’ Stele, countless people were crying and laughing.
In the streets and alleys, countless people were dancing like crazy, running around with their hands raised high...
The peace that our ancestors have longed for has finally arrived.
The border troops, however, were training their horses and preparing for battle, and did not dare to slack off.
In addition to the barbarians, there are still foreign tribes that have occupied the nine cities in the Western Frontier, and there are also thirty-two small countries outside the Western Frontier.
The bastards there have delivered supplies to the barbarians and sent troops to participate in the barbarian battles many times.
All those debts, one by one, are remembered by the people in the North.
Now, two years have passed, and everyone in the North has had enough rest, their firearms reserves are full, and their treasury has money again. They can prepare to go to the Western Frontier to collect debts from those inhuman bastards.
The two men rode out of the valley where Chenxi Sect was located with Jin Miao and Su Rong.
About three miles away from Hualing City, beside the official road, three two-story RVs and twenty or so young men and women in lake blue round-necked robes were already waiting.
Zhang Xueming had to rein in his horse and stop: "Didn't I tell you to wait for me in Hualing City? Why did you drive here?"
That being said, now that the secretarial team has arrived, it’s time to start work.
She had to smile apologetically at Gong Yuanzheng: "A Yuan, I have to go get busy first."
Gong Yuanzheng smiled and comforted her: "You go about your business, don't worry about me. I just want to see the rare book my sister-in-law gave me."