Aside from a few people close to Zhang Chen, others did not know that Dong Zhao had already defected to Zhang Chen. Therefore, to outsiders, they simply believed that Dong Zhao came to visit because Zhang Chen led the Military Camp to rescue Yingtao County last time, and the two had formed a friendship.
Zhang Chen was overjoyed when he heard that Dong Zhao had returned and quickly asked someone to invite him in.
As soon as Dong Zhao entered, he was beaming with a smile, as if there was a great happy event.
"Haha, Lord, great news, great news!"
As Dong Zhao came in, he spoke non-stop: "This trip to Zhongshan was to visit the head of the Zhen family and talk about the matter of the Lord wanting to marry Miss Zhen. The head of the Zhen family was very happy to hear this and immediately agreed to this marriage!"
"Oh? Really?!" Zhang Chen couldn't help but be overjoyed.
Although marrying Zhen Jiang also had the intention of winning over the Zhen family, Zhang Chen did have feelings for Zhen Jiang and did not just regard her as a tool for political marriage.
"Naturally it's true. Since Miss Zhen returned home that day, she has been thinking about the Lord. When she heard that the Lord came to propose marriage, she was also overjoyed!" Dong Zhao said, feeling very happy.
"Ah, did you give that letter to Miss Zhen for me?"
Dong Zhao smiled and said: "Lord, if you didn't mention this, your subordinate would have almost forgotten. The letter has been delivered to Miss's hand. This 'Rhapsody of a Beauty' by the Lord is truly unprecedented and will never be surpassed! Your subordinate originally thought that the Lord had great military strategy and ambition, but I didn't expect his literary talent to be so brilliant! Miss Zhen was deeply moved after reading this rhapsody. In your subordinate's opinion, if this rhapsody is passed down to the world, the Lord can be famous for generations just by this rhapsody!"
As Dong Zhao spoke, he couldn't help but praise repeatedly.
Zhang Chen also couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Brother Zijian, thank you so much this time! If it weren't for your timeless masterpiece, how could I have won the beauty?
"Lord, the head of the Zhen family has set a good date, which is the second day of the second month of next year. What do you think?"
"Good! Gongren, this time you have found such a good matchmaker for me, I really don't know how to thank you enough."
Dong Zhao smiled and said: "Promoting marriage is a virtuous deed. Your subordinate is happy to help the Lord make a good match. Lord, you should quickly prepare the betrothal gifts and don't neglect Miss Zhen!"
"Yes, yes! I'll prepare immediately, prepare immediately!"
Zhang Chen was beaming with joy and said repeatedly.
Dong Zhao said again: "By the way, Lord, this time the head of the Zhen family also asked your subordinate to bring back two gifts, saying they were to be given to the Lord."
"Oh? There are also gifts, where are they?"
Dong Zhao clapped his hands and said towards the door: "Carry them in."
Not long after, several runners walked in carrying a box, looking quite strenuous.
Zhang Chen walked up and opened the box, only to see two things inside.
A stone that was completely black, about the size of a rattan ball, and a square, golden metal plate that looked like gold.
Zhang Chen couldn't help but wonder: "Gongren, what is this?"
Dong Zhao walked up, pointed at the black stone, and smiled: "Lord, this is 'Red Mountain Black Iron'. Weapons forged with this can cut iron like mud and are invincible!"
Dong Zhao then pointed to the golden plate and said: "This is 'Northern Desert Gold Essence', which has excellent toughness. If supplemented with other materials and forged into armor, it can be impervious to swords and spears, and unaffected by water and fire!"
"Lord, these two things are priceless treasures." Dong Zhao smiled, "For a general, weapons, armor, and horses are the means of survival. Lord, you will need a handy weapon and armor when you go to battle in the future. The head of the Zhen family giving these two things shows their sincerity!"
Zhang Chen looked at these two things, his eyes filled with excitement, and he couldn't help but reach out and touch them.
The weapons and armor he was using now were the most ordinary, no different from those of ordinary Soldiers. He had long wanted to forge a handy weapon and armor. Now, this great gift from the head of the Zhen family came just in time!
After a few pleasantries, Dong Zhao took his leave and returned to Yingtao County.
Zhang Chen then ordered someone to give him a thousand taels of gold as a thank you for his matchmaking this time. Dong Zhao was not pretentious and accepted it immediately, smiling and saying that he was waiting to drink Zhang Chen's wedding wine, and then he took his leave and left.
After sending off Dong Zhao, Zhang Chen called for a runner again and asked if there were any skilled craftsmen in the Ye City area.
The runner thought for a moment and said that Li the Blacksmith in the East Market was the most skilled in Ye City.
Zhang Chen thought back for a moment. Wasn't that the shop he found a few days ago when he was forging a sword for Li Wen?
Putting everything else aside, the sword forged by that blacksmith was indeed of some standard!
Thinking this, Zhang Chen immediately ordered someone to summon Li the Blacksmith and handed him the "Red Mountain Black Iron" and "Northern Desert Gold Essence", ordering him to forge a spear and a set of armor.
Li the Blacksmith recognized Zhang Chen and was surprised. He didn't expect that the customer who visited his shop a few days ago had now transformed into Prefect.
But when he saw these two things, his eyes immediately straightened, and he repeatedly said that he had been forging iron his whole life and had never seen such treasures.
Zhang Chen looked at him and asked: "How about it? Can these two treasures be used to forge a divine weapon and precious armor for this official?"
"Lord, don't worry, with these two treasures, a divine weapon and precious armor are definitely within reach," Li the Blacksmith said, "My father is also a famous sword master. I will go back now and ask my father to come out and open the furnace with me. Within ten days, I will definitely present a divine weapon and precious armor to the Lord!"
"Good!" Zhang Chen said happily, "Then use this 'Red Mountain Black Iron' to forge a spear for this official. Remember, the weight must not be too light, at least sixty catties or more. And use this 'Northern Desert Gold Essence' to forge a set of armor for this official."
Li the Blacksmith quickly responded: "Your humble servant obeys."
Zhang Chen said again: "If this matter is handled well, you will not lack benefits in the future."
"Lord, what are you saying? Your humble servant is fortunate enough to see these two treasures, which is already a great fortune. If a divine weapon can be forged by your humble servant's hand, your humble servant will definitely be famous throughout the world! This is all thanks to the Lord's help!"
After saying that, Li the Blacksmith took his leave and left, happily taking the two treasures back to his shop.
With the weapons and armor taken care of, Zhang Chen also had a matter settled. Otherwise, when he went to the battlefield in the future, people might think he was an unknown nobody.
The affairs of the commandery also gradually got on the right track. Zhang Chen specifically sent a letter, instructing Qian Zhao and Fang Ping to also take into account the farming season while recruiting Soldiers. Each household must keep able-bodied young men to farm and not recruit all of them.
It was already July, and the autumn harvest would be soon. Since the beginning of this year, the weather had been favorable, and there had been no natural disasters, so it was expected to be a good harvest.
A few days later, it was the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Qixi Festival.
On this day, Ye City was bustling with excitement. Young men and women could be seen walking hand in hand everywhere in the streets and alleys.
Zhang Chen finished his official duties in the evening and, having nothing to do, also came to the market to feel the sweet atmosphere of young men and women expressing their love to each other.
Zhang Chen came to the East Market and saw that the streets were crowded with pairs of young men and women. Vendors were selling various dazzling goods, attracting people to stop.
"It's a pity for such a beautiful day and scenery without a beauty to accompany me."
Zhang Chen sighed and couldn't help but think of Zhen Jiang.
It was here that he first met Zhen Jiang that day, and it had been more than half a month without realizing it.
He wondered how she was doing now?
Alas, she was a dignified young lady from an aristocratic family, naturally living in the inner courtyard and being pampered. What was he worrying about?
Zhang Chen smiled self-deprecatingly and then walked forward at a leisurely pace.
