Goldfield
Chapter 141: General

Who would have thought that Old Zhao, who had moved to Dongshan Village over thirty years ago, was actually a brilliant and famous general from the previous dynasty, Zhao Zimo. General Zhao was a brave and extraordinary strategist and even defeated 80,000 troops from the emperor emeritus' army at Dingbanpo. Emperor emeritus even sadly sighed, ‘If Zhou Yu is to be born, why should Zhuge Liang also exist?; he simultaneously admired and hated General Zhao. Admiring him for his martial talent, yet hating him for his loyalty to the previous dynasty. Unfortunately, the emperors of the previous dynasty did not appreciate it and believed in the slander of jealous people. He put General Zhao Zimo and his arch-nemesis Liu Ming together as commandos. During the next fight, to eliminate Zhao Zimo,

General Zhao had brought his thirteen-year-old son to the blood-soaked battlefield, and they had repeatedly repelled the attacks of the volunteer soldiers. Without reinforcements, the battle that day was a fight to the death. The emperor emeritus, who at the time was only the head of a volunteer army, had a heart that favored talented people, so he sent people over and over again to persuade General Zhao to defect. However, all his efforts have been rejected.

General Zhao fought hard for a full eight days, but the enemy force was on a completely different level. In the end, General Zhao was no match for them. In that fight, almost all of General Zhao's forces had been completely defeated. Fang Zizhen was severely injured while trying to cover the retreat of his teacher and martial sister, and they did not know if he survived. Moreover, almost all of Zhao Zimo's loyal assistants had been killed, and he himself had suffered serious injuries that rendered him unconscious. One of the remaining loyal servants managed to drag him out of the pile of dead soldiers and take him to safety. General Zhao had just escaped death from that fateful battle.

As for Liu Ming, he had actually framed General Zhao for treason and accused him of betraying the country. The previous dynastic emperors were flustered and handed down death penalty decrees. Zhao Zimo, who had just managed to stabilize his own wound, was helpless against this accusation. All he could do was take his only son with him on a difficult journey, avoiding the dynastic forces he was wholeheartedly trying to protect. Fortunately, before long, the previous dynasty had been overthrown by a volunteer army. It was then that Zhao Zimo was able to bring the remaining loyal servants and his son to live in seclusion next to the Western Mountains. That's where he and his family have survived until now.

For generations, the Zhao Family had only one heir for the next generation. General Zhao Zimo had been married for several years without children, so he raised Fang Zizhen like his own son. Although on paper both were teachers and disciples, personally they were truly like father and son. After the dust settled down, General Zhao returned many times to the battlefield to find the whereabouts of his disciple, but got no news for a long period of time. When Fang Zichen covered Zhao's retreat, he was severely injured and there were many soldiers chasing after them. So, it seems like he has met his end.

At the end of each autumn, the villagers of Dongshan Village, if they had any thoughts, could find Old Zhao at the foot of the Western Mountain using candles to burn the coarse straw paper. No one knew who he was saluting with.At first, when Zhao Han heard that the big man with a giant beard covering his face was the disciple that his grandfather had always remembered, he felt very happy and excited in his heart. However, he remembered that his family was in an awkward situation. Even though he was young, his grandfather never hid anything from him.

To be clear, the Zhao Family was technically considered a supporter of the previous dynasty. Zhao Han's grandfather had actually injured the current emperor emeritus in the previous battle. If their identities were revealed, then it was possible that they would all be destroyed. As a result, Zhao Han did his best to hide his inner turmoil as he prepared to continue voicing this man who called himself his martial uncle.

“General! The prefectural magistrate will start opening the wine and start a welcome dinner for you! ” An energetic and experienced young man saluted Fang Zizhen with clenched hands.

The general? Zhao Han frowned and somewhat took a step back. The only people who could be called generals right now were all the officials of the Great Ming Dynasty. If the man before him was his martial uncle, how could he possibly be a general of the Great Ming Dynasty? At that moment, Martial Uncle Fang had slaughtered many people in the volunteer army!

Although the muscular man in front of him looked rough, he had sensitive animal instincts. He could somehow say that Zhao Han hesitated and waved his hand at another young man, “I just found a former acquaintance, so I won't be able to attend the reception. Please tell the prefectural magistrate that I will prepare a banquet for him someday as an apology! ”

After he sent the young man, Fang Zizhen spoke to Zhao Han, “Talking in this area is uncomfortable. Where do you live? I'll accompany you there! ”

“Not needed!” Zhao Han looked at the man carefully and continued, “Master, you have recognized the wrong person! I really don't know someone named Fang Zizhen. ”.

“How can I possibly recognize the wrong person? Your face is about eighty percent similar to my master when he was young !! Even so, you also acknowledge that your surname is Zhao. I really can't be wrong !! ” Fang Zizhen excitedly refused.

Zhao Han replied carefully, “Some things look the same, some people look similar to others! It doesn't mean anything, does it? ‘Zhao’ is a very common last name, so there are many people with this name. We are just a few ordinary hunters, so how can you, Your Majesty, recognize us? ”

Fang Zizhen noticed that ever since his subordinates had come, the young man in front of him, who had previously seemed emotional, started to beg that he did not know him. He said, rather sadly, “Dear Nephew, do you blame me for taking an official position in the Great Ming Dynasty? Long story, let's find a place to slowly discuss what happened. ”

“This ordinary person has nothing to talk about with you, Master! It's getting late, this ordinary person is leaving! ” Zhao Han respectfully bowed then called Xiaocao and his father to tell them to leave the night market.

Fang Zizhen did not try to stop him. Instead, he sadly followed behind like a golden retriever that had been reprimanded by his master. It wasn't easy to find news about his respected teacher, so he really couldn't let go of this! He had decided that when he found his esteemed master, if his master blamed him and even refused to recognize him, he would retire from his position and wait for his master for the rest of his life.

Zhao Han watched the big man follow them shamelessly. However, no matter what he said, the older man was unwilling to listen and continued to follow them. He felt very helpless inside but he did not want the man to know where they were staying. So he walked around the city in a circle.

After Zhao Bufan completed his own task, he waited in the inn for a long time. When he did not see his son and the father and daughter of the Yu Family back, he came out to look for them out of worry. Coincidentally, he met Zhao Han and the others walking around in circles.

“Now it's late and the shops are closed. Why did you bring Brother Yu and Xiaocao over now? If you want to take a walk, don't you still have time to do it? ” Zhao Bufan finds that his son is not heading towards the inn, which is why he asks his son with a slight reproach.

Zhao Han only felt a gust of wind pass him by. The big and burly man ran towards his father at an astounding speed and hugged his father tightly!

Zhao Bufan carefully stood still as a figure that resembled a huge black bear shot out. However, when he heard a familiar yet strange-looking voice, he put down his fist and held a very tight hug from the giant.

“Self-Defense Brother Zizhen? You are truly Martial Brother Zizhen !! ” Zhao Bufan couldn't help but shout in astonishment.

When Fang Zizhen sacrificed himself during that battle, the fourteen-year-old Zhao Bufan, who was already experienced on the battlefield, was right next to him. He saw firsthand how his brothers, who were all covered in blood from head to toe, protected his father and him from a group of nearly twenty soldiers from the volunteer army. The hoarse voice of his yelling fellow-colleagues, “Lari——” has been deeply embedded in his heart. Even now, he could remember it as clearly as day. If it wasn't for his fellow students and their loyal servant Uncle Huang, he and his father would have been two bodies in a grave!

Zhao Bufan's sharp eyes held back tears as he tried his hardest to suppress his spinning emotions. He slowly said, “Second Martial Brother, you are still alive —— it is really good !!”

“Xiaofan! Martial brothers have finally found you !! Is the teacher still okay? How have you and your family lived these years? I've been looking for you for over thirty years and never give up! Fortunately, you are all fine !! ” Fang Zizhen hurriedly wiped the tears of joy from his face. His mouth was wide open, showing clean white teeth.

Zhao Bufan laughed, “Self Zizhen, if Father can see you now, he will scold you for not hiding your emotions. Everything looks right on your face. ”

“Heh heh! I have never heard Master yell at me for over thirty years and I miss him so much! I just forgot the manners in front of you, that's all. In court, everyone knew that I, Fang Zizhen, was ‘general-faced stone’. In front of others, I never express my feelings! ”

Fang Zizhen had a simple and honest laugh that did not even have the slightest bit of persona ‘general stone-faced’. His subordinate behind him gaped at the sight. Is this still their general ah? That wouldn't be a con, would it?

“General? Martial Brother has a position in the court? ” Zhao Bufan, unlike his son, is not full of suspicion. He has a good understanding of the personality of his brothers and sisters. His fellow students would absolutely not let them accept any harm. Even if it had been thirty years since the last time they met, he was still confident that his assessment of —— brothers would not change!

Fang Zizhen's expression looked unnatural, “That day, after Master and you left, I was imprisoned not long after. At that time, the head of the volunteer army was the current emperor emeritus. Once he found out I was Master's student, he did not severely punish me as a prisoner and even treated my wounds. Not long after, the previous dynasty had been overthrown, and emperor emeritus took the supreme throne. ”

Fang Zizhen then paused for a moment before continuing, “At first, I did not plan to take a position. However, emperor emeritus said that only with a high position would I possibly have enough manpower to find the person I wanted to find. At the beginning of the new dynasty, I followed emperor emeritus everywhere to suppress rebellions and fight the enemies around us. During that time, I searched for Master and you wherever I went. Unfortunately, by the time the country is at peace, there is still no news of you. I resigned from all my positions except the general position in order to have more time to find you all along! The sky did not disappoint those who were persistent, I finally found you in Jinwei Prefectural City !! ”

As they spoke, the entire group arrived at the inn where they were staying. Fang Zizhen saw that the place was simple and crude. He frowned a little, “Self-Defense Sister, I have a small residence in the prefecture city, you should spend the night at my place. I have so much to talk to you about! ”

Zhao Bufan knew that he felt that the conditions in the inn were not good and smiled, “Do not disturb you, we have to leave early in the morning after tomorrow ..”

“Xiaofan, we haven't seen each other for thirty years, so it's no surprise that you feel a little weird with me! However, at that time, Master was always campaigning all the time, so basically I raised you! How could you treat your Martial Brother like an outsider now? ” Who would have thought, a big and big man with a burly beard and sideburns could have a sensitive heart.

Zhao Bufan didn't know if he should laugh or cry at this moment, “Secret Brother, I don't treat you like an outsider. I just feel moving all our stuff in the middle of the night is quite troublesome! After we finish our assignment tomorrow, you can come with us and then leave with us the next day at dawn. Come to Dongshan Village! ”

“Dongshan Village? Master and you were in Dongshan Village for all these years? ” Fang Zizhen was very interested in how his master and fellow students lived for so many years.

Zhao Bufan nodded, “Yes! We live on the west side of Dongshan Village at the foot of the mountain. The villagers were simple and honest. They live on the sea and mountain forests. With our expertise, even in the disastrous years, we would never starve. If we were ever found, West Mountain is also a very good hiding place! ”