~~

On the 20th, the newly-appointed Jinshi entered the palace again, expressed his gratitude, and accepted the court robes, crowns, belts, and Jinshi treasure notes awarded by the court.

And this day was also the day when Mr. Zhang invited Zhao Hao to visit his house.

That day, Zhao Hao got up early, and with the help of Secretary Ma, he put on his most handsome clothes, combed his hair meticulously, and tied it on his head with a silver crown.

"How is it? Am I handsome?" Young Master Zhao asked Ma Xianglan who was arranging his blue silk ribbon while looking at himself in the mirror.

"Of course you are the most handsome." Ma Xianglan carefully smoothed the blue silk ribbon around his waist and said with a smile, "If you didn't know, you would have thought you were going to meet a beautiful lady."

"Haha, Mr. Zhang is much more important than the beauty." Zhao Hao's eyes calmed down and he sighed softly, "I need him to give me strength."

Ma Xianglan said no more, stood up, looked at him carefully and said, "You can go out now."

Then she gave Zhao Hao's business card and some elegant gifts for Zhang Juzheng to Zhao Shizhen, who was acting as a book boy.

But Sister Xianglan couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, because he was the real servant, okay?

~~

In the carriage heading to the Grand Secretary's Mansion, Zhao Hao asked Zhao Shizhen to roll up the curtains. Looking at the bustling scene of the imperial capital outside the window, he was surprisingly silent.

If Zhang Juzheng had invited him a few days in advance, he would probably just be laughing foolishly now.

But the shocking conversation with the old man that day made it impossible for Zhao Hao to simply be a crazy fan anymore.

Because behind that conversation was Zhao Hao's choice of future path——

From the moment Wang Zhi was beheaded eight years ago, the old man had lost all confidence in the Ming Dynasty, which was kidnapped by the bureaucratic group.

So he hoped that his grandson could go back with him and try to use Jiang Xueying and the golden seal to fill the gap left by the Lu family during the chaos.

Then go all out at sea and, like Wang Zhi, own your own fleet and overseas territories.

If this distant goal can be achieved, no matter what happens to the Ming Dynasty in the future, at least the descendants of the Zhao family will no longer have to worry about the collapse of their family.

But if Zhao Hao follows the old man's arrangements, it means that his future life trajectory will revolve around the southeast and overseas.

Just like those wealthy families in the southeast, the wind, rain, thunder and lightning in Beijing have nothing to do with him anymore.

Even though Liaodong had been occupied by the Jurchens, and even though the peasant army had already rushed out of Shanxi and Shaanxi, they were still intoxicated by the mist and rain of the south of the Yangtze River, and ignored the war outside the Great Wall...

How is this possible?

Absolutely not!

As early as on the glazed tower of the Da Baoen Temple in Jinling, Zhao Hao had already sensed his mission.

That is to risk everything you have to preserve China's reputation!

You can change dynasties as you like, but you must not let foreign barbarians defile China!

Although Zhao Hao was afraid of death and would scream for a long time even if a thorn stuck in his hand, he had already made up his mind to risk everything and even his life for this...

Of course he knew that this was harder than climbing to the sky, but fortunately he was not alone, and there were people who were also trying their best to save the damn Ming Dynasty.

That was his idol Zhang Juzheng.

Therefore, Zhao Hao regarded this visit as a ceremony.

Just like people often like to go to the temple to worship before making important decisions.

Zhao Hao also wanted to pay his respects to Zhang Juzheng, strengthen his beliefs, and go back to talk to his grandfather again.

Let’s see if we can convince the old man to give the Ming Dynasty another chance.

~~

When the carriage arrived at Dashamao Hutong, Zhao Hao had calmed down completely.

Gao Wu stopped the carriage and pulled open the curtain, and Zhao Hao held his shoulders and landed steadily on the ground.

Seeing that the person coming was a student, the Jinyiwei on duty came over immediately to drive him away.

Zhao Shizhen hurried forward and took out Zhang Juzheng's invitation and Zhao Hao's business card.

The Imperial Guards then let the three people come to the plaque of "Zhang's Mansion".

A servant in a green robe and a small hat took the invitation from Zhao Shizhen and explained apologetically:

"A guest just arrived, and the doorman went in to report. Please wait in the doorman for a while."

The Zhang residence has strict rules and regulations, and there are usually few guests, so only the doorman can enter the inner house to report.

Zhao Hao and the other two followed the servant into the gatehouse, where they saw a middle-aged man with a broad mouth and a bronze complexion sitting inside.

Hearing someone coming in, the man glanced over with a hawk-like gaze.

Just one glance and Zhao Hao felt as if the blood in his body had frozen.

Gao Wu fell to his knees on the ground, his mouth open but unable to speak, tears streaming down his face.

The man was surprised at first, then he suddenly realized what was going on. He stood up and laughed loudly, "Gao Wu!"

"Great, great commander!" Gao Wu bowed to him heavily, then shouted excitedly. "You still remember me."

“Hahaha, of course I remember.” The Marshal finally stood up. Although he was wearing a scholar's robe, he still couldn't hide his broad shoulders and back, and his sturdy figure. His whole body exuded a brave and strong spirit from the inside out.

"You are such an annoying person, I will never forget you no matter who I am!"

The Marshal walked forward, pulled Gao Wu up, punched him on the chest, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Your Kung Fu hasn't fallen behind."

"Hi, hi." Gao Wu just touched his head and smiled foolishly, like a child who was overwhelmed by happiness. It took him a while to remember his current identity and hurriedly wanted to introduce himself to Zhao Hao.

But the more anxious he became, the less he could speak.

"Who is this?" The Marshal simply asked himself.

"I, Zhao Hao, greet Marshal Qi!"

Zhao Hao bowed deeply and saluted the other party respectfully.

Even Hai Rui had never received such treatment.

"I have long heard of your great name and I admire you immensely! I am so lucky to meet you today!"

In fact, Zhao Hao wanted to bow three times, or kowtow, but that would be too ridiculous, so he had to bow for a long time to express his admiration.

In this world, there is only one general who can make Brother Gao, who is as steady as a rock, lose his composure like this, and that is Qi Jiguang!

Although Zhao Hao had known for a long time that Qi Jiguang was now in Beijing, he had never had the chance to meet him. He did not expect to meet him at Zhang Juzheng's residence today. Happiness really came too suddenly...

Well, Mr. Zhao has no objection even if I have to kowtow a hundred times to the national hero.

Just as he was immersed in the self-intoxication of paying tribute to the hero, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Qi Jiguang who was also paying him the same great gift.

"So you are Mr. Zhao, a scientist who has passed the imperial examinations five times. Yuan Jing was really rude just now. Please forgive me!"

"Marshal, please don't kill this kid." Zhao Hao was so scared that he quickly dodged.

"The title of Marshal is really too humiliating for Yuan Jing. If you don't mind, just call me by my courtesy name." Qi Jiguang was still respectful and polite.

It was as if all his unparalleled achievements did not exist.

It was as if he was not a first-rank governor.

As if he didn't realize that he was old enough to be the other person's father...

Zhao Hao felt a pang in his heart. He knew why Qi Jiguang, a great man, would be so cautious and humble...

ps. The fourth update is here, please give me monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~~