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"There's a restaurant here! Let's take a break here so that the people from Shazhu can report first."

"Our trip to the Jingjue Ancient City will fall on him."

······

In the main hall behind the county government office of Xiaofangpan City, a tall, handsome young man was sitting on the main seat, and Xu Yuanjin, the county magistrate of Xiaofangpan City, was reporting to him on the situation of material collection.

There was also a big man with muscular body, dark skin and slightly curly hair in the room. He ignored Xu Yuanjin's report and fiddled with the strong bow in his hand and maintained the bowstring. However, Xu Yuanjin only dared to call him a vulgar barbarian in his heart but did not dare to say it out loud.

Because the big man's eyes were golden, Xu Yuanjin always felt a pricking sensation in his head when he was stared at by him.

This big man is an alien.

There was no good place in Xiaofangpan City, and the post station was small and in poor condition, and could not accommodate more than one hundred members of the delegation. Therefore, Xu Yuanjin donated the houses behind the county government office of Xiaofangpan City, which were also the only few blue brick and wooden houses in the city, for the delegation to live in, and he spared no effort to help the delegation raise supplies.

Xu Yuanjin was nearly forty years old, and he worked so hard to help the delegation. Naturally, he had his own reasons. He hoped that after the envoys returned to Chang'an, they would appreciate his hard work and say a few good words for him in front of the emperor, so as to give him a promotion.

He's had enough of this crappy place.

After reporting the situation, Xu Yuanjin complimented the young envoy sitting in the seat of honor a few more times before leaving.

After he left, the young envoy bent his straight back and lay directly on the couch, lying in a way that seemed very undignified for him at that time, but very comfortable, with an expression of great enjoyment.

The big man who had been keeping quiet and busy with his work just now finally spoke:

"Hmph, if the county magistrate knew the truth about this mission, I wonder if he would still work so hard, Zhang Qian?"

He addressed Zhang Qian by his full name without any courtesy. Zhang Qian, who was lying on the couch, was not angry, but said lazily:

"Ganfu (Tang Yifu), don't talk nonsense. There is no truth in the mission. It's just that this journey may be a little dangerous. But don't we still have you?"

Tang Yifu's eyes flashed with golden light, and he sneered: "Only foreigners like me who want to get out of prison are willing to follow you. You are reluctant to leave Chang'an, isn't it because you want to ask for help?"

"But who did you invite? Zhang Qian! What you and your master are doing is against the world, and it will not end well! Maybe Chang'an is organizing a new delegation now."

Zhang Qian chuckled and changed his posture so that he could have a better conversation with Tang Yifu:

"I didn't take it to treat anyone. Forget it. Why did you come?"

After Tang Yifu strung the bowstring, he said coldly: "Besides, your father has placed a restriction on me. I will only lift the restriction if I bring you back to Chang'an safely."

"When I return to Chang'an, with this experience, I can join the next group of envoys and fight for a better future."

"There won't be another delegation. I will definitely return to Chang'an with the Great Yuezhi's covenant."

Zhang Qian changed his lazy tone and spoke in a decisive tone.

step, step,

The sound of boots stepping on wooden boards came from outside the house. The sounds were dense and chaotic. During the Han Dynasty, all houses were made of wood, so people had to take off their boots before entering the house as a sign of respect. The visitor actually entered the house wearing boots, which made him look a little hurried and anxious.

Hearing the noise outside the room, Zhang Qian instantly stood up from the couch, straightened his back, sat upright, and maintained the demeanor of a Han envoy.

The person who hurried over turned out to be Xu Yuanjin who had returned. Zhang Qian was suspicious:

"Does County Lord Xu have anything else to do?"

Xu Yuanjin said anxiously: "Report to the envoy, my men just reported that two strange people have come to the city."

Zhang Qian was also a little surprised: "Yiren, your men didn't see it wrong, did they?"

Xu Yuanjin hurriedly shook his head: "The county magistrate of Sha was also at the scene. In front of them, the strange man was covered in golden light and slashed a ten-foot-long crack on the ground."

"Golden light? Did they tell me where it came from?"

Xu Yuanjin said worriedly: "No, they just said their last name is Zhang!"

Tang Yifu looked at Zhang Qian and asked, "Are you here for the envoys?"

However, Tang Yifu was worried that there were foreigners within the Han Dynasty trying to stop Zhang Qian from going on a diplomatic mission to Dayuezhi, but Zhang Qian himself was not worried about this.

Although many people in Chang'an hoped that his mission to Dayuezhi would fail, no one dared to have any evil thoughts within the territory of the Han Dynasty.

The current Majesty is not someone who can be easily fooled. If something happens to the diplomatic mission within the territory of the Han Dynasty, it would be a slap in his face.

"You are covered in golden light, and your surname is Zhang?"

He seemed to have thought of something, and he stood up from the bed. Zhang Qian said to Xu Yuanjin:

"Where are they now? Take me there!"

"Here!"

The next chapter is a bit imaginary and inconsistent with the history books. I am just talking nonsense in all seriousness, please don't put yourself in my shoes.

In addition, I know that the Golden Light Spell was not created by Zhang Tianshi and Zhang Liang, but since it is set in One Person that the Golden Light Spell is the unique skill of Longhu Mountain, I can only follow the setting of Mi Er Da.

Chapter 114: Hollowing out people's hearts

"well,"

In a small shop in Xiaofangpan City, Chen Duo and Hu Xiuwu sat opposite each other at a small table, both of them sitting on the couch. They were not used to the standard kneeling method of the Han Dynasty, so they could only sit on the couch in a meditative manner.

Chen Duo ate her portion of food quietly, while Hu Xiuwu was sighing and groaning, occasionally gnawing at the steaming roast lamb on the plate.

On the table were a dozen steamed buns, a roasted lamb with plenty of spices, a plate of pickles, and a pot of muddy wine.

There were no iron pots at that time, so the only ways to cook meat were steaming, stewing and roasting. There were very few fresh fruits and vegetables in Xiaofangpan City, and they were more expensive than meat.

This meal was already the best in the restaurant. If they had not seized a lot of money from the bandits, they might not have been able to afford this meal.

Hu Xiuwu said indignantly: "How can you roast lamb without cumin? This is evil, evil."

After eating dried meat for so many days, Hu Xiuwu was thinking about having a good meal in Xiaofangpan City. Unexpectedly, he had such a weird barbecue, which made him feel uncomfortable and confused.

The diners around looked at Hu Xiuwu strangely, not understanding what the cumin he was talking about was.

Hu Xiuwu took a big bite of the roasted mutton, feeling the mutton's mutton smell and the spicy and astringent taste of the dogwood in his mouth. He sighed and said:

"Even if it's just to take you to try the hot pot at Fourth Brother's house, I have to take you back."

The fourth brother that Hu Xiuwu mentioned is the hot pot restaurant that Hu Bayi and Wang Kaixuan often go to. After going there so often with Hu Bayi and the others, Hu Xiuwu got to know the owner. Sometimes Hu Xiuwu would also bring Wang Ye, Xiaotian and others to show his support.

Chen Duo slowly ate the steamed bun in her hand, indifferent to Hu Xiuwu's words.

Not getting a response, Hu Xiuwu had to continue dealing with the barbecue and steamed buns in his hands with a confused look on his face.

There was a commotion at the entrance of the restaurant and all the idle people at the entrance were dispersed. Sha Zhu and Xu Yuanjin followed a tall, handsome and heroic young man in his twenties. It was obvious that the status of this leading young man was much higher than theirs.

After entering the restaurant, Sha Zhu looked around and saw Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo. He stared in the direction of Hu Xiuwu and whispered to the young man.

The young man then looked towards where Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo were. Seeing their handsome looks that were far superior to ordinary people, a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes, and then he seemed a little dazed and felt that it was natural.

The young man whispered to Sha Zhu and Xu Yuanjin, "You two should go out first. I want to talk to these two alone."

"Here."

Xu Yuanjin was a little worried that Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo would do something bad to this young man, but in the end he retreated under the young man's gaze, nodded, and led the others to leave.

A group of people came in, including the local county lieutenant and county magistrate. The diners who were just chatting and eating in the restaurant had already sneaked away tactfully.

The young man behaved in a dignified and polite manner, without being arrogant or boastful. He first bowed to Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo, and then sat beside Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo like a textbook, with his back straight.

The young man spoke first:

"I am the Han envoy Zhang Qian and Zhang Ziwen, honored to meet you two."

After the ceremony, Zhang Qian took a look at Hu Xiuwu and Chen Duo's appearance and exclaimed: "It is said that Liu Hou is handsome. Seeing him today, it is indeed true."

The Marquis of Liu he was talking about was of course the first Marquis of Liu, Zhang Liang, who made plans in the tent and won battles thousands of miles away. According to historical records, Zhang Liang was handsome and beautiful like a woman.

Zhang Liang's eldest son, Zhang Buyi, was just an ordinary person and did not inherit Zhang Liang's magic. His second son, Zhang Pijiang, disappeared from Chang'an to avoid the Lu family's rebellion and has never been seen since.

So Hu Xiuwu had an idea and planned to pretend to be the descendant of Liu Hou. It just so happened that he also knew the unique skill of the Tianshi Mansion, the Golden Light Spell. The first generation of Tianshi of the Tianshi Mansion in Longhu Mountain was a descendant of Liu Hou, and it was rumored that Liu Hou also knew a kind of golden escape light.

Therefore, there has always been speculation among the extraordinary people that the Golden Light Mantra was improved by the first generation Heavenly Master from the methods passed down by Liu Hou.

His naturally handsome appearance gave Hu Xiuwu the opportunity to pretend to be the descendant of Liu Hou.

Hu Xiuwu chuckled: "You got the wrong person."

Zhang Qian pretended to be puzzled: "Oh, isn't that golden light the unique method of Liu Hou?"

"Besides, the two of you deliberately used golden light at the city gate. Wasn't it to lure me over here?"

Hu Xiuwu looked at Zhang Qian, who was in his prime of life. Zhang Qian had once been an attendant to Emperor Wu of Han. Emperor Wu of Han was a fan of appearance, and he would not allow an ugly person to be his attendant and hang around in front of him.

Hu Xiuwu sighed, "I've heard that Zhang Qian is smart and courageous, but why did he do such a stupid thing?"

"You two can just call me Ziwen."

Zhang Qian restrained his smile and said, then he mocked himself:

"In Chang'an, no one says I'm smart. Everyone calls me stupid. If I weren't an extremely stupid idiot, how could I have accepted this mission to challenge the authority of the world's extraordinary people?"

Before Zhang Qian decided to go on a diplomatic mission to Dayuezhi, the great Confucian scholar Dong Zhongshu gave advice to the newly enthroned Emperor Wu of Han.

When the emperor and his ministers were discussing the issue, Dong Zhongshu first used the theory of the unity of man and nature to affirm the legitimate status of the Liu royal family. Then he compared Emperor Wu of Han to the Big Dipper surrounded by many stars, which made Emperor Wu of Han feel very comfortable.

Then he took the opportunity to propose to Emperor Wu of Han that all schools of thought should be abolished and Confucianism should be the only one respected.

This is not only about hoping that Emperor Wu of Han would recognize Confucian classics, but also about hoping that Emperor Wu of Han would depose those extraordinary people who occupied high positions simply because of their high cultivation and were ignorant of the art of state governance, and give ordinary people with extraordinary talents and abilities a chance.

Replace the techniques of the minority with the methods of the majority, no longer select talents based on their accomplishments, but on their talents and moral character.

At the same time, Dong Zhongshu also suggested to Emperor Wu of Han that ordinary people could be better controlled than those extraordinary people. After all, compared with the extraordinary people, their weak bodies could not do things like "one man's anger would cause the whole world to mourn."

Emperor Wu of Han ascended the throne at a young age, full of vigor and ambition, and was quite tempted by his proposal. However, he was still influenced by traditional ideas, and he had some concerns and doubts in his heart.

Can ordinary people govern the country well?

So he proposed a test,

He traveled 14,000 miles, through the desert and the Gobi Desert, enduring the test of wind, snow and bitter cold, and went on a diplomatic mission to Dayuezhi!

As long as someone can do all this as an ordinary person, he will recognize that ordinary people are also qualified to reach high positions.

After hearing about this, Zhang Qian, who was still working as an attendant officer, recommended himself to Emperor Wu of Han and hoped to serve as the chief envoy of the delegation. Emperor Wu of Han agreed to his request, and gave Zhang Qian a seal to form an envoy for him.

However, unlike in the past, this delegation was composed entirely of ordinary soldiers. There were no foreigners under the Inspector of the Imperial Guard. Only Zhang Qian's father, worried about his son's safety, found a foreigner named Tang Yi Fu to protect him.

Before leaving, Zhang Qian wanted to visit his old friends, but he didn't see any of them as they all stayed indoors. Some of his loyal friends wanted to see him, but were locked in by their elders.

Everyone in Chang'an was waiting to laugh at him, thinking that he was overestimating his abilities. Even an extraordinary person would have difficulty accomplishing this task, let alone an ordinary person like him.

But Zhang Qian took on this mission without hesitation.