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Chapter 1288: Virtual and Submissive
The banquet was not very sumptuous.

However, in such a chaotic front line, it is not easy to prepare this table of food and wine.

In fact, the quality of the wine and food is not the most important thing. What is really important is the attitude of the Earl of Yongning towards Dong Tingxian, because it hides his attitude towards Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet at that time.

The real guest is not the fox Dong Tingxian in front of him, but the big tiger behind him - Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet!

Because Dong Tingxian came on this visit in a private capacity, he did not even dare to enter Kaifeng City to avoid suspicion, so the Earl of Yongning did not invite many people to accompany him.

At the banquet, apart from Yongning Bo and Dong Tingxian, only Sun Shixiang was present. Although Liu Chengzu and Zhang Mingyuan were also present, they acted as servants serving at the banquet.

"It's rare!"

Dong Tingxian looked at the steamed horse meat and roast chicken on the table and felt very satisfied. "I never thought that I could eat such a sumptuous meal on the battlefield where two armies were fighting. It's rare... It's really rare."

Yongning Bo also smiled and said: "No matter how difficult it is for Zhang Cheng, he should not neglect Zhou Xiang's people."

"this is……"

"Oh. This is dried fish, shipped from the Liaodong drying yard. It tastes salty and fishy. You may not be used to it at first, but you will get used to it after a few bites. The aftertaste is very good. The soldiers all use it as a snack.

Moreover, this dried fish is made from dried sea fish, and it has a salty taste. You can eat it directly, and it can also be fried or stewed with some vegetables. My Yongyi Army always has this food, and often uses it to replace meat. "

"Oh. How come you've never eaten something this good in the capital?"

"This dried fish is a cheap thing. How can it be served on Mr. Dong's table on a normal day?"

Zhang Cheng smiled and looked at Sun Shixiang, and asked him, "Mr. Sun, don't you agree?"

"My Lord is absolutely right."

Sun Shixiang first affirmed what Yongning Bo said, but then explained: "However, the method of making dried fish has existed since ancient times, and it is not something invented by modern people. For example, the dried black fish in Shaoxing was once sent to the palace as a tribute.

Dried bream and dried fish are also Shaoxing's specialties. These dried fish from the south have been sold in the homes of court officials, nobles and merchants. After being cooked properly, they can become a delicious delicacy.

It’s just that the dried fish in our Yongyi Army are all produced in Liaodong and the front line of the war with the Eastern Tartars. Their quality and taste cannot be compared with Shaoxing dried fish, but their production is large enough and the price is very reasonable, which is very suitable for the army to store and eat. "

Dong Tingxian nodded and said with a slightly weird smile: "I heard that... the Liaodong Fishery has a stake in the Earl of Yongning!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Zhang Cheng laughed heartily. He neither denied nor confirmed it. Instead, he said with a smile, "Mr. Dong, try this steamed horse meat. It will taste bad if it gets cold."

Seeing him like this, Dong Tingxian stopped asking questions. He picked up a large piece of horse meat with chopsticks, put it into his mouth, and began to chew it.

…………

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, everyone's faces were covered with a layer of tipsy red clouds. "Mr. Dong, I heard that Prime Minister Zhou recommended Hou Xun to the emperor to replace Zhang Fuzhen and Ding Qirui as the governor of Baoding and the five provinces of Henan to suppress bandits?"

"It's true."

Dong Tingxian then leaned close to Earl Yongning's ear and whispered mysteriously, "Earl Yongning, before Tingxian left, the elder said that if Earl is willing, he can advise the emperor to recommend Earl Yongning to assist Hou Xun and command the troops to suppress bandits on the front line in Henan."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng hurriedly picked up his wine glass and said, "Zhang Cheng respectfully greets Mr. Dong."

After drinking, Zhang Cheng asked with a smile: "I wonder when this Hou Duchen will take office?"

Dong Tingxian was stunned when he heard this, and wondered in his heart what Zhang Cheng meant. He didn't respond to what he had just said, but instead showed concern for Hou Xun. Was he probably drunk after a few glasses of wine?

Although he was secretly grumbling in his heart, his face remained calm. He only replied: "The emperor only agreed to release Hou Xun from prison and conferred an official position on him. I'm afraid it will take some time before he orders Hou Xun to serve as the commander-in-chief."

However, Dong Tingxian came here with a mission, so he naturally refused to give up easily. He then reminded Zhang Cheng, "Chen Benbing has been imprisoned by the emperor, and the cabinet is also selecting a new military official. I think it will be necessary to ask the emperor to make a decision soon..."

He paused for a moment, looked at Earl Yongning's face, and continued, "Zhou Bi also admired Earl Yongning very much. He often told us that Earl Yongning is a pillar of the country and a rare talent in both civil and military affairs in the court."

How could Zhang Cheng not hear the intention of recruiting in his words? However, with his current strength, although he didn't necessarily have to become a disciple of Prime Minister Zhou Yanru, it was not worth offending him.

Therefore, he could only avoid the issue and not accept the olive branch extended by Dong Tingxian for the time being. He would wait and see how the situation developed. After all, in his memory, Zhou Yanru did not stay in the position of Prime Minister until the end!

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Prime Minister Zhou is the head of all officials, a wise prime minister of the country, and the leader of the Confucian scholars. Zhang Cheng is truly ashamed to receive such an evaluation from Prime Minister Zhou."

After Zhang Cheng expressed his modesty, he made another request: "Mr. Dong risked his life to personally go to the front line of Henan to suppress the bandits. This courage alone is already very rare and far exceeds that of many court officials.

However, the war in Henan has become very critical and the bandits are powerful. Mr. Dong has witnessed this personally. Although our Yongyi Army is brave and elite, there is a huge gap in troop strength, and the supply of food and fodder is already in short supply and often cannot be delivered to the army on time.

It is already very difficult to hold on here and prevent the enemy army from going north to besiege Kaifeng, let alone attacking and repelling the enemy. I hope that Mr. Dong can report the true situation of our army to Prime Minister Zhou after returning to Beijing, and I implore Prime Minister Zhou to urge the Ministry of War to increase the allocation of food and fodder to avoid delaying the battle on the front line.

Of course, if Prime Minister Zhou can ask for merit for my frontline soldiers in front of the emperor, I will be even more grateful! "

"I'm asking the Ministry of War to deliver food and fodder for the sake of the country's suppression of bandits. The Prime Minister is naturally duty-bound to do so."

Dong Tingxian said this indifferently, but suddenly changed the subject, stared at Zhang Cheng and asked directly: "However, the Prime Minister values ​​your attitude more, Earl Yongning!"

Yongning Bo immediately picked up the wine glass and said loudly and generously: "Zhang Cheng has long admired the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister has any instructions, I, Zhang Cheng, will not hesitate and will follow the Prime Minister's orders."

Zhang Cheng played a little trick here. He used to call Zhou Yanru, the chief minister of the cabinet, "Prime Minister Zhou", but now he calls him "Prime Minister" all the time. On the surface, it seems that he is showing his loyalty to Zhou Yanru, but deep down, he is only loyal to the Prime Minister, not Zhou Yanru personally!

However, even someone as smart as Dong Tingxian didn't seem to hear the difference.

As he spoke, Earl Yongning pushed the wine glass toward Dong Tingxian and said with a smile, "I also want to thank Lord Dong for traveling thousands of miles to Xincheng to inspect the military situation, which gave me the opportunity to show my merits to the Prime Minister."

"Here. This glass of wine... let's toast to Mr. Dong!"