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Chapter 376

Zhang Xianglian, who was stewing pork knuckles, said that the children were all at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, and he followed them without hesitation.

Little did he know that he arrived just as the examination was ending, and the scholars were all leaving. Being a tall man, it was quite difficult for him to move against the crowd.

After much effort, he managed to reach Jiang Sheng\'s side, his forehead covered in a thin layer of sweat, but he still smiled and called out, "Nannan, Daddy\'s here."

As usual, his chubby daughter would have happily rushed over and grabbed his clothes.

But today was different. The little girl looked shy, and it took her a while to approach him, whispering in the softest voice, "Daddy, do you know my third brother?"

The third brother, that would be Fang Heng from the Fang family.

The son of an old friend, he remained true to his initial aspirations and defended the border even amidst great changes in his family. He has achieved several small victories in these past two years.

If only he wasn\'t so busy, Jiang Jizu would have liked to sit down and have a good chat with this young man.

"Of course, I know him," he understood what was happening. "Don\'t worry, anyone who defends the border under my command is like my own child. I won\'t let anyone mistreat them."

If those who defend the border can still be mistreated by those who enjoy peace, then what meaning does war hold? What meaning does being a soldier have? What meaning does protecting one\'s home and country hold?

Soldiers deserve eternal respect and preferential treatment.

"Daddy is really kind," Jiang Sheng didn\'t expect her father to be so understanding. She happily pounced on him. "Daddy is a good father and a good general."

Jiang Jizu forced a bitter smile.

Perhaps he could be considered a good general, but he was never a good father.

At least not before.

Fortunately, there is still the future.

"Come here, Nannan. Daddy has prepared some honey pastries from the east of the city for you, and also the most delicious candied hawthorns in the entire capital." He took out things from his pocket.

One by one, another one, and another one.

Jiang Sheng eagerly looked on, her eyes shining.

Xu Mo and Zheng Ruqian exchanged a knowing glance and discreetly looked away.

In the crowd, Fang Yuan saw his brother, Fang Heng.

The two cousins, who used to practice martial arts together in front of their grandfather, now faced each other after experiencing a reversal of identities and a sudden change in their families.

One dressed in elegant white robes, surrounded only by servants, despite his noble status.

The other wore a simple black outfit, devoid of power, amidst the bustling crowd.

Especially when Jiang Sheng started sharing the treats, this brother received a piece of honey pastry, and that brother received a candied hawthorn stick. What Fang Heng held in his hand was a whole string of bright red ones.

Wrapped in ice sugar, the hawthorn berries were not particularly delicious, but with the added thoughtfulness of his sister, they became especially touching.

Fang Yuan silently watched, devoid of the surprise one would expect upon seeing an old acquaintance, and instead, a hint of complexity showed on his face.

Seeing this, Fang Heng raised the candied hawthorn stick and took a satisfying bite.

"Brother, is it delicious?" Jiang Sheng held a bag full of delicacies. "If it\'s good, I\'ll give you some more."

"It\'s delicious," Fang Heng smiled.

Turning his head, Fang Yuan was nowhere to be seen, leaving only emptiness behind.

Unable to describe his feelings, he let out a sigh and joined his brothers and sister in the carriage, returning to their courtyard.

Aunt Zhang had long simmered and cooked the meal, waiting eagerly to serve it hot when the children returned.

They ate and drank with gusto, engaging in lively conversations about brotherhood and the conflicts on the borderlands.

Jiang Jizu seemed somewhat intoxicated and patted Fang Heng\'s shoulder, saying, "You are younger than my son, yet more outstanding than him. You\'ve become a squad leader without anyone\'s help. If you had ambitions for promotion, you would surely achieve it."

"I have a longstanding friendship with Old Fang, and I wouldn\'t just stand by when it comes to his children... But why haven\'t you contacted your father\'s old subordinates in the northern border all these years? Why haven\'t you sought their help?"

Why indeed?

At first, it was to avoid the Fang family, to prevent them from discovering his whereabouts. But later, he wanted to earnestly defend the borderlands. If others could start as ordinary soldiers and rise through the ranks, Fang Heng believed he could do the same.

If he relied solely on his father\'s influence, it would feel like taking advantage of an opportunity.

Fang Heng was straightforward and unafraid, even with Jiang Jizu\'s son, Jiang Sheng, present. He honestly shared his thoughts.

Jiang Sheng listened nearby and couldn\'t help but worry about his brother\'s straightforwardness.

However, Jiang Jizu burst into laughter, appreciating this young officer even more. "You\'re right. If you want to become a great general, you must start as a soldier, share the worries of the nation, and endure the hardships of the common people. Only a general who has truly risen from the grassroots can lead the Dayu Dynasty to victory and drive away the Northern Nomads."

"Both Old Fang and I, as well as several vice-generals leading troops, all started as ordinary soldiers. None of us became squad leaders or generals without going through the camp."

Fang Heng nodded beside him, feeling a mix of awe and admiration.

"However..." Jiang Jizu\'s tone suddenly changed, "With your own capabilities, it might take more than a decade to become a general. If you have the ability and talent, even if you rely on connections to advance faster, it would still be for the sake of protecting the people and defending the borderlands sooner, wouldn\'t it?"

Fang Heng was taken aback but instinctively nodded.

He had become familiar with small-scale operations, but continuing down that path would only lead to repetitive fatigue. However, becoming the captain of the Third Battalion was not an easy task, and becoming a general seemed distant and unreachable.

"The thoughts of a military officer are straightforward, and we despise conniving methods the most. But Fang Heng, at the end of the day, we are all contributing our strength to protect our homeland. If we can help the suffering people and drive away the cruel and wicked Northern Nomads sooner, even if we take some shortcuts, it can be understood," Jiang Jizu said with profound meaning.

After three rounds of dinner, the general rose, patting his daughter\'s head and telling her to rest well.

Fang Heng sat there, as if his heart had been cleansed, as if he had realized the path he should take.

"I think I should seek out the old subordinates of the Fang family," he looked at his brothers, "The Fang family has long known of my existence, and the silent war is about to begin."

"To be precise, the Fang family has long known that you are our third brother," Chang Yan spoke slowly, "We used to think that the Fang family cheated during the exams, targeting our eldest brother\'s talent. But today, we realized we had misunderstood."

Fang Yuan\'s ability to practice Xu Mo\'s calligraphy in just a year showed considerable perseverance. Perhaps he wouldn\'t achieve the top scholarly rank, but passing the provincial exams wouldn\'t be difficult.

They changed Xu Mo\'s grades, but the main reason behind it was to weaken Fang Heng\'s influence.

They were afraid of Fang Heng\'s rise, afraid that he would gain power in the court, afraid that he would return from the northern frontier to the capital.

"So, it was my fault for causing trouble for everyone," Fang Heng blamed himself, clenching his fists. "Xiao Wu, tell me, how should I probe into the secrets of the Fang family? What\'s the best approach?"

Since they were already at odds with the Fang family, they might as well target them directly.

Let\'s see if the old-established aristocratic families are truly formidable or if the outstanding young talents are stronger.

"No rush, no rush," Chang Yan squinted his eyes. "During this time, everyone should continue doing what they need to do. We... will wait for the results of the investigation."

Whether Fang Yuan of the Fang family can pass the examination and secure the position of a tribute student remains to be seen.

They watched with anticipation.