Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 243
The season has reached mid-May, and the temperature in the Northland is rising day by day, and the vegetation and flowers are already flourishing.

At the beginning of Yinshi, the flower hall in the backyard of the General Military Mansion in Ji Town was brightly lit, and beautiful maids shuttled back and forth carrying cups, plates and dishes filled with various delicacies.

Several candles as thick as a baby's arm are lit in the four corners of the spacious flower hall, and a rosewood square table is placed in the middle, filled with various delicacies; a square lantern made of white satin hangs directly above the wine table The outside of the satin is embroidered with a lady's hairpin pattern, and a few slightly smaller candles are fixed inside, shrouding the laughing and feasting people in light and shadow.

There were four people at the wine table: Hong Chengchou, Shen Shiyu who arrived later because he was supervising the transportation of food and pay, and Wu Xiang and his son.

Hong Chengchou sat in the main seat, Shen Shiyu sat opposite him, and Wu Xiang and his son accompanied each other. In front of the four of them were each a delicate wine bowl made of white jade, in which was amber-colored aged daughter's red.

After the food and wine were served, Wu Xiang waved his hand, and all the maids and maids withdrew from the flower hall.

"My son Sangui came back after several months of entering the customs to suppress thieves. During this period, when he talked about the supervisor several times with Beizhi, his words were full of admiration, and he was also very grateful to Mr. Shen for taking the time to spare in his spare time! He planned strategies for the supervisor. , Decisive victory over thousands of miles of profound wisdom and admiration! I wish I could always serve under the tent of the supervisor, and build invincible achievements with a bloody and brave body! I am so fortunate to see my great Ming Pillar today, and my heart is really deep I am so honored! I only use the wine in the cup to respect the supervisor, and I would like to express my deep gratitude to the supervisor for his kindness in promoting and taking care of Sangui for two years!"

Wu Xiang, who was wearing a straight blue casual dress, stood up and raised his glasses above his head, bowing his head to pay tribute to Hong Chengchou.

"The Zuo Dudu is too polite. The eldest uncle's achievements today are all due to his own fighting with the battle formation. I just report the facts and reward the court for meritorious deeds. As for the title of the Great Ming Dynasty's Pillar of the Sky, I have the right to do so." Governor Zuo laughed and talked about it after drinking, so don’t mention it again! Come on! I suggest that everyone here raise a glass together, and congratulate my Emperor Ming Pingjingliu thief!”

Hong Chengchou was slightly displeased with Wu Xiang's excessive praise.If the words of the Great Ming Optimus Pillar are known to outsiders, they might offend many people, especially Lu Jiandou and Sun Baigu, whose contributions are no less than their own. These words are purely to invite disaster for themselves.

But he didn't show any expression on his face, he raised the wine bowl with a smile and took a sip, then put it down, the other three quickly got up and drank the wine in the bowl.

As a southerner, Hong Chengchou tasted light. He only picked up a few plates of green vegetables and a plate of fragrant bamboo shoots and shredded chicken to taste a few mouthfuls, then put down his silver chopsticks and praised: "The cooking skills in Zuo Dudu's mansion are not bad! These few vegetables are quite suitable. This official tastes; however, I would like to remind my elder brother, don’t be greedy for food and drink at a young age, you should read military books and strategies frequently, and learn more about battle formations in order to prepare for future needs!"

Wu Sangui who was pouring wine for Hong Chengchou hastily put down the jug, bowed his hands and said: "Boy, I would like to follow the instructions of the supervisor! Since the boy returned for several months, he has been urging his soldiers to practice martial arts on a daily basis, and he never relaxes for a day! Now the bandits Now that it is destroyed, Jianlu has become a decisive enemy, I hope that one day I will follow the supervisor and lead an army to destroy the imperial food, so as to relieve my emperor's worries about the side affairs!"

Hong Chengchou praised loudly: "Good! You should get the fame of a great man immediately! My elder brother has this ambition, and I am very relieved! This statement and this action can be a model for my Ming officials! Come, I propose, for Daming A toast to young handsome men like Uncle Chang!"

After finishing speaking, after Wu Sangui filled Wu Xiang and Shen Shiyu's wine, he picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp, and the other three drank up the wine in the bowl one after another.

After drinking for three rounds, Shen Shiyu said with a smile: "Commander Zuo, before Mr. Hong left Beijing this time, His Majesty specially issued an order to the Ministry of War to allocate three months' rations according to the number of soldiers in Ji Town, with a total of 12 taels of silver. , and more than 8000 shi of grain, and tomorrow I will ask the left governor to send his staff to check and issue a receipt, so that the officers of the Ministry of War can hand over their errands when they return to Beijing!"

Wu Xiang hastily bowed his hand and thanked him.

He knew in his heart that the Ministry of War only allocates money and rations according to the head reported by Ji Town, and did not mention the matter of checking the number of soldiers. Under the premise that the current imperial court is strictly investigating the generals who command troops in various places, this is already an extreme release from the imperial court to Ji Town. Great kindness.

In fact, the Wu family has been in Liaodong for many years, and has already made a lot of wealth through smuggling, eating empty wages, and doing business. That little salary caused unnecessary trouble, so the number of soldiers in Ji Town reported to the Ministry of War was not worth much.

Even so, his Wu family still owes the imperial court affection after all.

"Wu has been guarding Liaodong for many years, and he is very familiar with the generals and officers in Liaodong. Shen Gong followed the supervisor to take office outside the customs. After all, he has two lives. The officers and generals guarding Liaodong have been guarding for generations. There are domineering and rude people; if Mr. Shen encounters embarrassment, just speak up, most Liaodong officials will give Wu some face!"

Wu Xiang said these words to Shen Shiyu nominally, but actually to Hong Chengchou.

From the time when he led his troops to move the town and defended the Yushan Pass with his brave battalion, to Hong Chengchou's replacement of the fatuous Wu Aheng governor Ji Liao today, these successive behaviors are just like what his second son Wu Sangui said, the imperial court can no longer tolerate Liaodong generals, and his Wu family must We have to come up with an attitude.

Although it is not clear what method Hong Chengchou will use to go to Liaodong, conflicts with Liaodong generals are inevitable.

Wu Xiang knew the virtues of his uncles and the generals under him. If Hong Chengchou's methods were too simple and rude, no one could guarantee that there would not be extreme cases involving personal interests.

Not long after Wu Aheng, the former governor of Jiliao, went to Jinzhou, he was coaxed and coaxed back to the pass by the generals in Liaodong. In desperation, he could only hide in Jizhen, drinking all day to forget his worries, until he was dismissed by an imperial decree and returned home.

Although the ancestors and the Wu family share the same interests, they have always advanced and retreated together and made the same choices in major matters and minor situations; but Wu Xiangsu has no ambitions, and is quite satisfied with his current wealth and glory. He even had a relationship with important court officials. The idea of ​​returning to Beijing to seek a vain job and enjoy wealth and honor.

But people are in the rivers and lakes, and they can't help themselves. The Wu family has been tied to a boat by their uncles, and it is not easy to get out.

"Hehe! Commander Zuo's good intentions, I accept it! Shen is not talented. He has followed Honggong for more than five years. During this period, he has seen countless heavy-handed soldiers, murderous villains, and been in the sea of ​​corpses for many years. Shen I think that I am not lacking in courage and insight; Liaodong is still the land of Ming Dynasty after all, the generals and soldiers of Liaodong are also the Ming Dynasty's army, Hong Gong has the holy order to supervise Ji Liao, this is acting on behalf of the emperor! Shen has also thought about it After this trip, I realized something, when the world is peaceful and the government and army are strong, who in the Ming Dynasty dares to defy the destiny!"

After Shen Shiyu finished speaking, he picked up the wine bowl and drank it up.

He knew Wu Xiang's intention of showing favor, but as the staff of the imperial envoy, Shen Shiyu must not show weakness, his words actually represented Hong Chengchou's attitude.

The banquet ended at the end of You hour, and Wu Xiang and his son sent Hong and Shen back to the guest room to rest respectively.

When he arrived at the door of the guest room, Shen Shiyu turned around and said to Wu Sangui who was behind him: "Uncle, I haven't seen you for a few months, have you ever let go of your knowledge? Come, come, follow me into the room, I want to take an exam with you!"

　Thanks to the book friends for the reward that no one has used this account.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)