On the first day of the last month of the first year of Jianyan, amidst swirling snowflakes, Zhao Jiu met Zhang Jun, Zhang Boying, one of the so-called Four Generals of the Restoration, and as famous as Yue Fei and Han Shizhong, at the Dongtai Pavilion near the confluence of the Fei River and the Huai River, thirty miles west of Shouzhou City!

In truth, Zhao Jiu knew of this man, not just from hearsay after emerging from the well, but even before his transmigration, this name was unforgettable because it was simple, direct, and constantly juxtaposed with Yue and Han... Of course, after escaping the well, the name had become even more resounding.

On the other hand, Zhao Jiu was never quite sure if Liu Guangshi was one of the Four Generals of the Restoration, because he could understand a famous general having low moral standards, but he found it difficult to accept that a "Taowei who avoided battle" and a "long-legged Taowei" could contribute anything to the restoration... Was it possible that while Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, and Zhang Jun were fighting the Jin army on the front lines, this Taowei Liu single-handedly handled all the rebellions in the rear with his speed and talent for recruiting rebels?

However, having chatted with the palace guards, Zhao Jiu now understood very well why Zhang Jun and Liu Guangshi held such prominent positions in the army.

The reason was simple: like the body Zhao Jiu now occupied, they happened to appear at the necessary turning points with a bit of irreplaceable capital.

Zhao Jiu's capital was naturally his bloodline, while Liu and Zhang's capital was their troops.

In addition, Liu Guangshi might have benefited from the tradition of father-son succession; Zhang Jun was similar, but he was more of an illegitimate heir to the Zhong family army.

It is said that Liu Guangshi's father was the famous Liu Yanqing, the leading long-legged Taowei in the Song army! This Taowei had always been fond of avoiding battles, missing deadlines, seizing credit, and running away. Back then, he ran all the way from Baigou to Tokyo, but perhaps his horse legs were not as long as the Jin people's, so he was inevitably cut by a Jin soldier.

And perhaps for this reason, Liu Guangshi's legwork became even more impressive after his debut, even surpassing his father!

But in any case, Liu Guangshi had the connections his father, a top-notch old military leader of the Great Song, had cultivated for decades... Moreover, Liu Yanqing was generous with his subordinates, and Liu Guangshi followed suit.

Therefore, when the Jingkang catastrophe occurred, Liu Guangshi was on his way to Tokyo with his three thousand troops. Hearing that the front lines had been defeated, he decisively abandoned everything and rushed from Guanxi to Hebei with his three thousand men. He was the first to reach Zhao Jiu, who was then only the nominal Grand Marshal, and from then on, he soared!

Just look at his official titles: everyone was a Controller of the Imperial Guards, and there was a Wang Yuan above them as the Chief Controller of the Imperial Guards, but Liu Guangshi also held the position of Commissioner for the Imperial Guards and Commissioner of Patrols for the Imperial Residence... This real power might not be less than Wang Yuan's.

He was even the first Song military man after the Jingkang disaster to be officially granted the title of Taowei, which had just been finalized a few days before Zhao Jiu emerged from the well.

As for Zhang Jun, Zhang Boying, his rise during the Jianyan era was roughly similar to Liu Guangshi's.

During the Jingkang catastrophe, he also managed to gather a force of two or three thousand men, and then appeared in the right place at the right time when Zhao Jiu had no one around him.

Relatively speaking, Zhang Jun was clearly more capable, because unlike Liu Guangshi, who had a good father and came on the scene with three thousand well-established troops and could enjoy his father's natural connections after the Imperial Residence was established... Zhang Jun was able to inherit the Zhong family army, a major force in the Western Army, thanks to his own hard work and determination.

First of all, Zhang Jun truly followed Zhong Shizhong in the bloody battle of Taiyuan, and he managed to lead a remnant force out of the siege after almost the entire army was wiped out. Secondly, he maintained his leadership position through his performance on the battlefield and his personal charisma along the way.

Of course, there was also a bit of luck involved. For example, he met a benefactor named Liang Yangzu, who first took in Zhang Jun and other fleeing remnants, and then took them to see Zhao Jiu's prefect of Guide Prefecture, who knew how to advance and retreat... When Zhao Jiu ascended the throne, they discussed preserving the original Grand Marshal's Office, and this man was supposed to be the Grand Marshal, but Liang Yangzu took the initiative to give up military power and central power, requesting to go south to manage finances.

And Zhang Jun inherited this mountain stronghold again, and only then was he qualified to be below Liu Guangshi and above Han Shizhong, becoming a Controller of the Imperial Guards.

Back to the present.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, the atmosphere of the meeting in the Dongtai Pavilion was gradually becoming tense and rigid, because after Zhao Guan Jia entered the warm pavilion prepared for him by Taowei Zhang, he unceremoniously ordered the removal of the gorgeous curtains, and then ordered that most of the delicacies and wines in the pavilion be bestowed upon the palace guards and Huyan Tong's troops who had worked hard marching in armor. Only a few roasted ducks from the stoves in the pavilion were left untouched, and then he remained silent, sitting there until now.

Poor Taowei Zhang was already over forty years old, and had been standing at the edge of the pavilion's eaves without taking a seat, and his shoulders were gradually accumulating snow... If this were to be spread out in the future, wouldn't there be a historical anecdote of "Standing in the Snow at Dongtai" to specifically describe the Guan Jia's cold-blooded nature?

After all, considering the Guan Jia's preferential treatment of Han Shizhong that day, and the Guan Jia's change in attitude towards certain former confidants after falling into the well, it was impossible to prevent the civil and military officials present from speculating wildly.

And to be honest, everyone generally felt sorry for Taowei Zhang, because there was no reason why Han Shizhong's subordinates could rebel and get a jade belt, while Taowei Zhang came thirty miles out of the city with respect, but was treated like this!

Of course, Zhao Jiu was not doing it on purpose. On the contrary, it was precisely because he knew the importance of this Taowei Zhang that he had been hesitating, unsure of how to talk to him, and then inadvertently drifted off into thought.

"Lord Zhang, please come and sit."

Finally, just as Yang Yizhong, one of Zhang Jun's old subordinates, was about to break the taboo and offer a reminder, Guan Jia Zhao finally spoke, and the gentleness of his words immediately relieved the civil and military officials on both sides.

"This subject dares not!" Taowei Zhang, also relieved, still appeared extremely respectful. "The Guan Jia and the Honorable Ministers may sit; where would there be a place for a soldier like me?"

"What is there to be afraid of?" Zhao Jiu came back to his senses and laughed. "Han Liangchen passed by here a few days ago, and I don't believe Taowei Zhang didn't see the jade belt around his waist... Even the rogue Han Five is not a Taowei, yet he dares to swagger past with a jade belt every day. How can you, the dignified Taowei Zhang, not dare to sit with me?"

Zhang Jun continued to bow and decline.

"Lord Zhang," Zhao Jiu said helplessly upon seeing this. "Are you perhaps keeping your distance from me because you know that I have forgotten some things after falling into the well? It is precisely because of this that we should be more frank and intimate, lest past closeness become a burden."

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Jun dared not hesitate any longer, and walked forward, past the Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun, who had a very similar name to him, and sat down with the Honorable Ministers of the Eastern and Western Administrations, but he deliberately sat on the outermost side, leaving only half his buttocks on the stool.

Seeing the other party's posture, Zhao Jiu simply waved his hand and said directly, "In that case, please, Honorable Ministers, set off early to settle down in the city of Xiacai (the name of the county where Shouzhou's seat of government is located), so as not to suffer the cold outside. The rest of the civil and military officials should also help to settle the troops. I have a few words to say to Taowei Zhang in private..."

Everyone was shocked, and while Lu Haowen was hesitating, Zhang Que, the Associate Administrator of the Privy Council who had just returned to the inner circle, said with a stiff neck:

"When the Guan Jia speaks with the Taowei, it is not necessary for the Prime Minister to be present!"

Zhao Jiu was helpless and had to change his words: "I plan to ask Taowei Zhang some private matters."

"When has the Guan Jia ever had private matters?" Zhang Que blurted out almost reflexively.

Zhao Jiu was clearly annoyed, but he could only rise and brush his sleeves: "Then please, Honorable Ministers, take your time enjoying the wine and duck here. Taowei Zhang, please come and ride with me, and admire the snowy scenery on the Huai River!"

Zhang Que still wanted to follow, but when he thought about the Guan Jia's horsemanship, which was known throughout the world, and the fact that it was indeed cold outside the pavilion, he was so angry that he simply did not get up to see him off. Instead, he lowered his head and sullenly ordered someone to bring up the duck. The cooks in the pavilion were prepared and first presented a salted duck before hurriedly demonstrating their roasted duck skills to the Honorable Ministers.

As the civil and military officials watched the Guan Jia and the hastily following Zhang Jun ride off towards the Huai River mouth, with only Yang Yizhong and a few riders following far behind, perhaps because of the name issue, Administrator Zhang took a bite of roasted duck and vented his anger on the Censor-in-Chief Zhang Jun. He even scolded the other party in public while holding a duck leg, saying that Zhang Deyuan, as the head of the Censorate, lacked backbone and so on.

Zhang Deyuan, young and successful, knew that he was not on the same side as these old ministers, so how could he show weakness? Although he could not be as direct as the other party, he became sarcastic, so that the other Honorable Ministers and the knowledgeable people accompanying Zhang Jun's army kept persuading him... But no matter how much the pavilion was in turmoil, it could not prevent the Guan Jia from meeting with a military officer in private again.

It is said that the snow was falling more and more rapidly, and the withered yellow color of the grass on the riverbank had long turned into a pure white. Zhao Jiu, Zhang Jun, Yang Yizhong, and his entourage hurriedly left the warm Dongtai Pavilion with its stoves. After avoiding the large group crossing the Fei River, their footprints were almost covered by the wind and snow as soon as they passed.

But in the wind and snow, when Zhao Jiu, led by Zhang Jun, turned onto a gently sloping hillside and stopped to look out, he saw the mist rising from the Huai River, intertwined with the snowflakes in the sky. At this time, the world seemed both clear and misty, both unified and distinctly separated into heaven, earth, river, and mountains. It was simply a picturesque landscape... How could the Zhao Guan Jia, who came from a humble background, have ever seen such a sight? He naturally marveled at it, and the unhappiness with Zhang Que earlier immediately dissipated. He almost recited a poem on the spot.

However, this Zhao Jiu, a science and engineering dog who only knew how to read web novels, had such shallow literary skills that it was difficult for him to even plagiarize a poem to suit the occasion, so he stubbornly held back!

After Zhao Guan Jia looked at the scenery for a long time, he turned around and saw Yang Yizhong standing ten steps away, and the palace guards were even further away, dozens of steps away. With only Taowei Zhang by his side, he finally got to the main topic:

"Lord Zhang, do you know what I was thinking when I sat silently in the pavilion earlier?"

"This subject dares not presume to guess," Zhang Jun said quickly, having already paid attention to Zhao Guan Jia's posture and thought of various answers in his heart. "Could it be that the Guan Jia thought this subject's arrangements in the pavilion were a bit extravagant? Guan Jia, do not worry. This subject knows that the temporary residence is difficult. Since I have returned to the temporary residence, all the spoils and supplies seized previously will naturally be handed over to the central government for allocation, and this subject will never allow his subordinates to cause such incidents."

"You are overthinking things," Zhao Jiu said, holding the reins and continuing to look at the steam on the Huai River. "What I was thinking about earlier was how to make Taowei Zhang more sincere and use him for my own purposes. Then I naturally thought about the matter of our lord-subject meeting, and I couldn't help but think more..."

"This subject is ashamed, but there is one thing I must say," Zhang Jun replied immediately, bowing his head again. "This subject has heard of the Guan Jia's incident of falling into the well outside the temporary residence, but the Guan Jia's importance is as solid as Mount Tai. This subject will never forget the Guan Jia's kindness to me, and my loyalty and gratitude to the Guan Jia will never be hindered by such trivial matters..."

"That's what I thought too," Zhao Jiu suddenly said, turning his head directly to stare at the other party. "I thought about it for half a day in the pavilion earlier, but I suddenly realized that I was actually overthinking things... You and Liu Guangshi are similar, but slightly different from Han Shizhong. We met in Hebei, and we will prosper together and suffer together. There is no need for belts or anything else between us! Is that right?"

"That's what this subject means!" Zhang Jun was overjoyed, feeling that the uneasiness of the past few months had disappeared. "The Guan Jia is still the Guan Jia after all."

Zhao Jiu laughed along with him, but after laughing, he directly pointed at the other party from horseback, and then pointed at himself:

"But Lord Zhang, that was then. At that time, you and I were lord and subject in Hebei. Without me, you would be a stray dog by the roadside; without you, I would be Jin soldier bait. But what about now? Now, even without you, Lord Zhang, I still have Han Shizhong and half of Jiangnan to rely on; but without me, you and Liu Guangshi can only be stray dogs by the roadside as in Hebei! Isn't that right?"

Not far away, Yang Yizhong was dumbfounded, and Zhang Jun's face changed drastically.

"Alright, I'm asking you now," Zhao Jiu said sternly. "Taowei Zhang, can the Huai River be defended? I really don't want to run anymore!"

ps: Continue to sacrifice——《The Great Song Western Army》, as the name suggests, everyone go take a look!