Han Shizu

Chapter 1300 The Emperor's Toast

In the back hall of the prefectural government office, Emperor Liu, as the host, personally entertained the officers and soldiers who had returned from the northwestern desert after going through hardships and dangers.The food and wine are not exquisite, but the victory is rich and the quantity is large, including chicken, duck, fish, pig, mutton and beef, that is to say, the wine is better, and it is all made by the imperial court.More importantly, this was a banquet hosted by His Majesty the Emperor himself, accompanied by the Eldest Prince, Duke of Qin Liu Xu and Duke of Shou, Li Shaoyou.

This kind of treatment, not to mention the returning low-born officers and soldiers, even the ministers of the court and the meritorious veterans, few have the opportunity to experience it.

Therefore, for the invited officers and soldiers, they couldn't help but be overjoyed and excited, and they couldn't even speak coherently, and they didn't even dare to speak.

There were only five officers and soldiers who returned, and one of them was a guide. The highest-ranked officer was only a hundred generals. Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng only sent fifty soldiers and two guides. It took more than a month to return to Shanyang Taoist territory.

Only these five people are left alive, and the rest all died on the road, or were intercepted and killed by the Mobei tribe, or trapped in the swamp, or disappeared in the desert, or buried in the Yin Mountains, and they brought them back and sent them to Liu. The Mobei battle report in front of the emperor was also stained with blood, sweat and tears.

It is so difficult and dangerous for this small group of people to come back. One can imagine what the Yulin and Hexi Han armies who marched thousands of miles into Mobei experienced, what kind of predicament they encountered, and what kind of danger they faced , under such circumstances, he had to fight bravely and fight to the death with Mobeihu.

It is really difficult to see the reality of many things only by imagination and words on the report.[-] Han riders, crossing the quicksand, crossing the precipice, and crossing the Mobei, it sounds so passionate and exciting, but behind it, there are thousands of difficulties and dangers, countless soldiers throw their heads, sprinkle their blood, and lose their souls On the battlefield, in a foreign land where bones are buried.

Emperor Liu received these officers and soldiers, and even entertained them personally. Although there was a certain consideration for showing off, but listening to their stories and listening to their experience of going out of the fortress, it was inevitable that he would be moved.Emperor Liu, after all, is an emperor who has experienced many wars, he naturally understands the army and understands soldiers.

Especially the three officers and soldiers of the Hexi Army. They followed Wang Yansheng to the desert and experienced the series of hardships and dangers.Although I didn't encounter a terrible sandstorm, I had enough blown sand, suffered enough exposure, encountered the crisis of food and water shortages, and lost my way dangerously.Each of these items resulted in casualties, casualties, and the risk of annihilation of the entire army. Hearing this, Emperor Liu became nervous.

But with such an experience, after surviving the life-and-death crisis and suffering hell-like tempering, in the subsequent battles, it is not so difficult to defeat the barbarians, beat the Liao army, and reap the fruits of victory, large and small. Amazing.

After listening to the Battle of Tuwula River, Liu Xu couldn't bear it any longer. His face was full of emotions, and he said with emotion: "It's not easy for the generals to go out of the fortress! After going through such hardships and dangers, and fighting the Liao army in Mobei, how can we still fight against the Liao army?" What kind of will and what kind of spirit is it to be able to fight and win!"

Emperor Liu also picked up the wine glass, held it in the air, looked at the five black and rough officers and soldiers, and said in a deep voice: "I have read the report you brought back, and the experience of the Hexi and Yulin armies , I also understand it, but after all, it is not as intuitive and touching as you who have experienced it yourself. I want to pay tribute to you, you have worked hard, come, drink with me!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Bai Jiang's eyes were red, his voice choked with sobs, he took the lead and got up, raising his glass with both hands.

"Sit down!" Emperor Liu said when he saw several strong men standing up in unison.

Monarchs, ministers, officers and soldiers raised their glasses and drank together, and drank it all in one gulp.Yan Tuo, who was waiting, was about to come up to pour wine for Emperor Liu, but Liu Xu stopped him. He personally picked up the jug and poured a glass for Emperor Liu.

Emperor Liu stopped him, pointed at the five officers and soldiers, and said, "Pour wine for the returning warriors first!"

"Yes!"

Liu Xu responded, and on the other side, Li Shaoyou also took the initiative to get up and pick up a jug of wine, and did the same thing.He is also a prince and a duke of the state. Such a nobleman would not even dare to think about it on weekdays, but now he has a kind face and personally pours wine for them. This moved several officers and soldiers, but they were at a loss and had nowhere to put their hands.Of course, their embarrassment and even disrespectful performance are also worthy of forgiveness.

After the wine glass was filled, Emperor Liu raised his glass again and said, "This glass is a toast to all of you who have gone through hardships and come back to report to you!"

"This cup is a toast to the soldiers who died in the battle. They are all heroes!"

"This cup is to respect all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Northern Expedition. Their heroic spirits will live forever and be immortal!"

"This cup, I respect all the officers and soldiers who are still fighting against the Liao people on all fronts. I wish them victory and return with honor!"

Five cups in a row, the cups are overflowing, and the cups are drained. Emperor Liu has not tried this drinking method for a long time, and the little hot feeling in his throat is insignificant.Obviously, he was really emotional.

Liu Xu and Li Shaoyou were drinking with each other, and they all felt something in their hearts, while the five officers and soldiers were flushed and excited.

"Your name is Zhou Tai, right?" Emperor Liu looked at the general.

"Return to Your Majesty, that's right!"

"That's a great name!" Emperor Liu said encouragingly, "There is a warrior named Zhou Tai in Eastern Wu of the Three Kingdoms. I hope you can become a warrior of the Han Dynasty in the future and carry forward this name!"

"Yes!" Facing Emperor Liu's encouragement, Zhou Tai immediately got up and replied, "This is the ambition of the last general!"

"In this way, I will directly promote you to the rank of battalion general, and the others will also be promoted by two ranks each, and will be rewarded with a hundred guan, and they will all be transferred to the imperial army!" Emperor Liu looked at them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hearing this, several people quickly got up and knelt down to thank you.Although he came back after all the hardships to report the letter and to complete the task, he didn't have too many demands, but being promoted and rewarded was enough surprise.

"Tell me about what happened after the battle of Tuwulahe!" Emperor Liu said to Zhou Tai after calling several people to the table.

"Yes!"

After drinking a few glasses of wine, he was not so nervous anymore. He subconsciously took a sip while holding the jug, and Zhou Tai continued to tell Emperor Liu.

The Battle of Tuwula River was a small decisive battle between the Han and Liao forces in the northwest of Mo. Liu Fang and Yang Yanzhao led thousands of riders to detour for hundreds of miles. Disturb its position, thus establishing the victory.

Perhaps it was because of someone's advice, Zhou Tai also specially described that Liu Fang took the lead in the battle, commanded as determinedly, and pulled out the flag.Maybe it was Zhou Tai's eloquence, or maybe it was the anticipation in his heart, Liu Fang's demeanor of white horse and silver armor, crossing the battlefield, just popped into his mind.

In the battle of Tuwula River, the Han army won a great victory, killing and capturing more than [-] Liao troops, and the rest either surrendered or collapsed. The Liao army commander Ping Wang Yelulong first escaped from the pursuit under the desperate protection of thousands of Pishi troops. , retreated all over, and finally only accommodated less than six thousand riders, and withdrew to the east, not daring to stay.

And this battle also completely destroyed the rule of the Liao Kingdom in the northwest of Mo, and the situation was completely disrupted. The ministries of Zub, Dadan, and Damili either fled or simply surrendered to the Han army. The towns and cities fell into the hands of the Han army.

Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng's two armies also solved the biggest crisis, harvested a lot of spoils, made up for logistics supplies, and obtained a rare opportunity to rest.Under such circumstances, I had time to write the battle report and military situation, and sent people thousands of miles back to the Han territory to report the war situation.

And they went out of the fortress, not to seize those towns and lands. In the joint report of Yang Ye and Wang Yansheng, it was also mentioned that after the rest, they will move eastward and burn the flames of war to the entire Mobei. Guo's rear, which he thought was safe and stable, was turned upside down.
After listening to the report, Emperor Liu came back to his senses when he saw the officers and soldiers sitting awkwardly at the banquet, and said with a light smile, "I just listened to your report, and the food is getting cold! Come on, this table of wine and food is specially prepared for you , pick up the cup, pick up the chopsticks, start, don't be restrained!"

"What's your name?" Emperor Liu looked at the youngest soldier.

Facing the kind-hearted and kind-hearted Emperor Liu, the soldier was very nervous and replied hesitantly: "I, my name is Aries!"

"Where are you from?"

"People from Binzhou!"

"How old are you?" Emperor Liu asked.

"Nineteen!" replied the soldier Aries.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu praised: "It's amazing! At such a young age, I have already gone to the remote area, participated in the great war, and was given a heavy responsibility."

For young people, Emperor Liu always praised and encouraged them without hesitation, and said softly: "Eat more vegetables, drink more wine, and have fun!"

Faced with Emperor Liu's kind concern, the young soldier couldn't hold back anymore, and burst into tears, which made Emperor Liu a little puzzled.I asked him, he said he was very touched
(End of this chapter)