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Page 188
Brother Qiao Yun nodded and replied: "Master, he is the official from Ximen. This time, the official came from Yanggu County to visit you, Master. Master, I heard that you are sick. When the disciple came Very worried."
Zhou Tong said with a smile: "Brother Yun, Master, I am stronger than Lian Po, and I can still eat! I just feel cold occasionally recently, it's not a problem. Let's go, and accompany Master to meet your family's senior officials."
At this time, Ximen Qing had already walked in front of Zhou Tong under the leadership of Yue Fei.Ximen Qing clasped his fists together and gave a big gift to Zhou Tong, saying in his mouth: "I have admired Zhou Tong Zhou's reputation as a hero for a long time, Ximen Qing is in Xiayang Valley, and I am here to visit today."
Zhou Tong hurriedly returned the salute, grabbed Ximen Qing's hands and said, "How can a senior official of Ximen do such a great gift? I really can't be an old villager! On the contrary, senior official Ximen, you are kind and generous, and have helped many poor people. Let the old man be admired. Senior officials, please come into the humble house to talk about it."
Zhou Tong took Ximen Qing's hand and walked into his yard together.Jiao Ting also followed Ximen Qing into the courtyard gate.
Wang Gui, Zhang Xian and other teenagers often come to Zhou Tong's house and are very familiar with Zhou Tong's house.After they entered the yard, they put down the gifts without waiting for Zhou Tong to pay them. Some ran to the kitchen to boil water and make tea, and some went to the house to bring tables, chairs and benches to the yard for Ximen Qing and others to sit on.It can be seen that they also often come to serve and take care of the daily life of their master.
Ximen Qing opened the presents one by one and presented them respectfully in front of Zhou Tong.
This time, Ximen Qing came to visit Zhou Tong in Tangyin County, Xiangzhou from Yanggu. What he brought with him were all materials he produced or sold, just like visiting relatives to give some souvenirs, not deliberately abrupt, but also kind.
However, in the eyes of Zhou Tong, Yue Fei and other teenagers, these gifts randomly given by the officials of Ximen Qing are not simple, they can be called important gifts.
The first thing Ximen Qing gave Zhou Tong was the medicinal materials from his herbal medicine shop.Because he learned from Brother Qiao Yun that Master Zhou Tong was over seventy years old, so Ximenqing sent a lot of precious medicines that prolong life, such as Jingnan chicken head sealwort, Shangdang Zituan ginseng, etc.
In the Song Dynasty, Polygonatum was more famous than ginseng, and it was known as a magic medicine. It is said that taking Polygonatum for a long time can become a god.Ximen Qing gave Zhou Tong a large package of Huang Jing, which made Zhou Tong deeply feel Ximen Qing's deep friendship.
Shangdang ginseng is also the best ginseng in China at this time, and its medicinal effect is better than Northeast ginseng and Korean ginseng.Historically, because Shangdang ginseng was exhausted, it was the turn of Northeast ginseng and Korean ginseng to become the protagonists.
From Ximen Qing's thoughts on choosing medicines, his affection for Zhou Tong is everywhere.
However, Zhou Tong is a well-known country hero after all, not an ordinary person. This time, Ximen Qing also brought an iron-armed bow carefully crafted by Tang Long himself as a gift to Zhou Tong, who is famous for riding and shooting.
When Zhou Tong saw the iron arm bow that Ximen Qing handed over, his eyes lit up, and he took it over.
After getting the iron arm bow, Zhou Yi held the bow in one hand, and rubbed the bow with the other hand. He was so excited that his eyes were full of tears, and he couldn't restrain his excitement.
Seeing this, Ximen Qing took a deep breath, he never thought that Zhou Tong would value this bow so much.
Zhou Tong took a deep breath, raised the iron arm bow with his left hand, hooked the bowstring with his right hand, and pulled it hard, pulling the bow into a full moon shape.When Zhou Tong released his right hand, the bow string made a "buzz~", and the bow body quickly returned to its original shape.
"Wow~" the teenagers onlookers shouted.
"What a bow with an iron arm! This bow has the strength of three stones. In a few years, I'm afraid I won't be able to pull this bow anymore. Sir, did you make this bow yourself?" Zhou Tong put down the bow. , asked Ximen Qing.
Ximen Qing replied to Zhou Tong: "Hero Zhou is over [-] years old and can draw a three-stone strong bow. He is really a god! I admire it! Hero Zhou, this bow was made by my blacksmith workshop in Ximenbao. Hero Zhou's intentions?"
Zhou Tong stretched out his hand and made an inviting gesture to Ximen Qing, asking Ximen Qing, Jiao Ting, Brother Qiao Yun and others to sit down in the courtyard.
After Ximen Qing sat down next to him, Zhou Tong said to Ximen Qing: "Mr. Ximen, there are capable people in your blacksmith shop! This iron arm bow is the best bow made by our Western Army in the Great Song Dynasty. How come your subordinates will do it too?"
Zhou Tong was right, this iron arm bow was indeed the best bow used by the Western Army of the Great Song Dynasty.Although the Song Army still had a weapon called the "God Arm Bow", it was actually a crossbow, not a bow.
The magic arm bow is a military secret of the Song Dynasty. It is produced in Bianliang, Tokyo, and then transported to the northwest front for use. It is strictly forbidden to manufacture it without permission.In order to prevent the enemy from knowing the secret of the God Arm Bow, the court also strictly ordered that the God Arm Bow must be destroyed when the army was defeated, so that the weapon could not fall into the enemy's hands.
Therefore, making a god arm bow is a taboo thing.Even if Tang Long knew how to make it, Ximen Qing would not let him make it and bring it to Zhou Tong to show off.
The iron arm bow is not classified as a prohibited weapon, so what Ximen Qing brought to Zhou Tong was this powerful iron arm bow.
Ximenqing heard Zhou Tong's inquiry, and told Zhou Tong that one of his subordinates was named Tang Long, who was a blacksmith of the Western Army. His father was in charge of making weapons under the command of the old minister, and he also served as a knowledgeable villager. .Therefore, Tang Long will build all the weapons used by the Western Army.Later, because of conflicts with the people in the army, Tang Long was exiled in the rivers and lakes, and he was invited back to Yanggu County to manage the blacksmith shop.
After hearing this, Zhou Tong snorted and said, "There are not many good people in the Chong family army! Then little brother Tang Long walked wisely!"
After hearing this, Ximen Qing thought that the current Great Song Xijun, Zhongshidao and Zhongshizhong's brothers Zhongjiajun are the most famous!Even Lu Zhishen was once their confidant and beloved general.There must be a reason why Zhou Tong is so dissatisfied with the family army this week.
Therefore, Ximenqing asked Zhou Tong why he didn't like to plant a family army.
Zhou Tong let out a long sigh, and said, "I don't know the officials, but my son was killed by the Zhong Family Army and died in Yongle City."
It turned out that in the fifth year of Shenzong Yuanfeng, Xu Xi led an army to attack Xia and built a city in Yonglechuan.Xixia concentrated 20 troops and surrounded Yongle City, which had only [-] soldiers and civilians.Due to the feud between Zhong Er, who founded the Zhong Family Army, and Xu Xi, he did not lead the army to rescue Yongle City in time, so that almost all the [-] soldiers and civilians led by Xu Xi died in Yongle City.
At that time, Zhou Tong's father and son also went out with Xu Xi. When Yongle City was broken, Zhou Tong's only son died in a heroic battle.
Since then, Zhou Tong was disheartened, quit the Western Army, and wandered alone in the rivers and lakes. He didn't return to his hometown of Tangyin County until his later years.
Chapter 278 What Do Officials Want To Do?
Zhou Tong rubbed the iron arm bow on the table with his hand, and said to Ximen Qing and the others: "My son used such an iron arm bow to shoot and kill dozens of thieves from the Xia Kingdom. It's a pity that he was outnumbered, and he still failed. Follow me out of the enemy's encirclement..."
Brother Qiao Yun, Yue Fei, Zhu Gui and other teenagers standing beside Zhou Tong's eyes turned red when they heard Zhou Tong's words, and they called out to Zhou Tong in unison: "Master, you still have disciples!"
Zhou Tong's eyes were also wet, he looked at Yue Fei and the others and said, "You are all good boys..."
Only then did Ximen Qing know that Zhou Tong had such a sad past.A good bow that he gave unintentionally brought back Zhou Tong's dusty memories.
Ximen Qing clasped his fists to Zhou Tong and said, "Hero Zhou Daxia, father and son, I admire you!"
Jiao Ting also clasped his fists and bowed deeply to pay respects to Zhou Tong.
Zhou Tong looked at Kong Wu's powerful Jiao Ting, and asked Ximen Qing: "I haven't asked this good man yet..."
Ximen Qing said: "This is my good brother Jiao Ting."
Jiao Ting rushed to answer: "Hero Zhou, I'm Jiao Ting, 'faceless' from Zhongshan Prefecture, Hebei Province. Three generations of his ancestors have made a living in sumo wrestling, and now he votes for Brother Ximen in Yanggu County."
Zhou Tongdao: "It's a pleasure to meet you! Brother Jiao Ting is also a hero."
Ximen Qing, Zhou Tong, and Jiao Ting exchanged pleasantries for a while, Zhou Tong looked at the gift from Ximen Qing on the table, and said to Ximen Qing: "I appreciate the kindness of a high official. Didn't go to the river to bask in the sun. Mr. Ximen, do you have the pleasure to accompany the old man to the Tangshui River for a walk?"
Ximen Qing knew in his heart that Zhou Tong had something to say to him alone, so he quickly nodded in agreement, stood up and said, "I am honored to be able to accompany Hero Zhou for a walk! Hero Zhou, please!"
Zhou Tong also stood up, and after paying Yue Fei and others to entertain the guests at home, he took Ximen Qing out of the courtyard and walked towards the river outside the village entrance.
Ximen Qing followed Zhou Tong, turned left and right, walked to the river from another exit of the village, and stood under a big poplar tree.
With his hands behind his back, Zhou Tong's long beard fluttered gently in the wind, looking like a tall man.
Ximen Qing cupped his hands and asked Zhou Tong, "I don't know what advice Mr. Zhou has?"
Zhou Tong stared at Ximen Qing and asked, "The officials from Ximen came all the way to Bicun and gave the old man so many expensive gifts. For his archery skills, he only needs a gift from Brother Qiao Yun, how can he work for the respect of Ximen High Official?"
Ximen Qing replied: "To be honest, I am here to visit, one is to thank Zhou Daxia for his kindness in teaching and teaching Brother Yun, and the other is to ask for something else. I will ask Zhou Daxia about martial arts for a long time." Gao Qiang is proficient in spears, fists, kicks, riding and shooting, so I also want to ask Zhou Daxia for advice and learn some spear and stick skills. Young people like Yue Fei and Wang Gui need the guidance of a famous teacher. I wonder if Zhou Daxia can accompany you back to Yanggu County to teach the young children of Ximenbao?"
Hearing this, Zhou Tong looked at Ximen Qing in surprise, and said, "Where did the Ximen officials hear that this old man is proficient in spears, sticks, fists and feet? When I was young, I had amazing physical strength, and I was famous for riding and shooting. However, I didn't have a famous teacher. There is no superiority in guns, sticks, fists and feet, but strength is superior to others. Ximen officials want to learn the skills of spears and sticks, and this old man really can't teach them."
When Ximen Qing heard it, he was also dumbfounded. It seems that most of the information he got from the legends were fabricated by later generations!Master Zhou Tong is not an omnipotent martial arts master, so the idea of learning a few tricks from him when he came here is probably going to fail.
Zhou Tong said to Ximen Qing again: "Your official Ximen, I'm not boasting. This old man is quite accomplished in the art of riding and archery. If the official Ximen is willing to stay here to learn the art of riding and archery, I will definitely teach you everything It's just that Pengju and the others can't leave the old man, and it's really hard for the old man to follow the officials back to Yanggu, Shandong."
Ximen Qing said in his heart, that's fine, Zhou is also a master of archery, and if he can get his guidance, he will definitely improve his riding and archery skills.I don't know, can I practice to the level of Yang Zhi's Lianzhu arrow?
Ximen Qing bowed his hands to Zhou Tong and said: "I would like to learn archery from Zhou Daxia, and I hope Zhou Daxia will teach you more."
Zhou Tong said with a smile: "Okay! Senior official, looking at your body and arms, this old man knows that you have the talent to learn how to ride and shoot. Given time, the senior official will definitely be able to learn how to swing the bow from both sides."