Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 256

The banquet to wash the dust for Captain Zhao and welcome the arrival of a hundred gunners was held in the newly built *** hall.This **** hall is where the Xia military camp gathers for discussion.The frame is made of ten-year-old pine and cypress wood, and the pillars are deeply buried in the soil. A half-foot-high soil is piled along the corner of the wall to prevent wind and snow, and then the four walls are built with thick planks. The spire is covered with thick birch bark to prevent heavy snow.In the Sanyin Village surrounded by diners and thatched sheds, this meeting hall, which can accommodate thousands of people, is particularly majestic and magnificent, and the common people have a sense of awe for it, similar to that of a government office.

Under the tall roof, gunner centurion Liu Zhijian and Gao Su were sitting, waiting for Zhao Xingde's arrival without looking sideways.A hundred gunners sat cross-legged behind the two centurions, habitually forming a neat square formation.The artillery trained by Zhao Xingde with the three classics, the military appearance and discipline can be said to be unparalleled in the world.Tang Qiyong, Zha Shen and other centurions who commanded the infantry chatted loudly about the past events since the expedition to Liaodong, especially the battle against Khitan Village a few months ago. While chatting, squinting at the opposite side.

The sergeants were seated in a team of ten, and in front of the table were rare wild vegetable stew, fruit barbecue, and candied fruit from the Western Regions.After the supplies at sea arrived, the eighth battalion of Chengying had a lot more food and grass. Although they usually save money, they can eat meat occasionally.Tonight, the sergeants ate meat, and the common people added an extra steamed bun.

The Artillery Centuries were trained by Zhao Xingde himself, logically they are the direct descendants of the captain, but they followed the artillery and came with the ship.Instead, the other [-] cavalry sergeants followed Zhao Xiaowei on the march across the Gobi desert, sharing joys and sorrows, as if they were divided into first come and first come first.Although the people and horses on both sides came from the same source, there was a delicate atmosphere in the joyful banquet.

Except for more than a hundred sergeants who were on duty outside, the people in Sanyin Village stayed in their burrows honestly. Only a few who were trusted and flexible were lucky enough to join the hall and serve food and wine for the sergeants. .The tangy smell of meat and vegetables penetrated into his nostrils, Zhang Gouwa swallowed, but he couldn't help but stand upright against the wall with a three-liter clay wine jug in his hands.

As more and more people came to Sanyinzhai, they gradually distinguished the ranks and ranks, and those who were close to Mrs. Xia, took on various duties, and held various positions in their hands. Authority, self-conscious superiority.As for these people, the sergeant, when there was something to do, some greeted them, and some didn't wait to be greeted, they ran back and forth very attentively, and even took the sergeant's clothes, shoes and socks back to be washed.

This kind of business of serving people, waiting for idlers has not had this opportunity yet.Zhang Gouwa had no desire for anything else, but just wanted to join the army and kill the Khitan people.He was originally an honest farmer, but his family members were murdered by Khitan households in the village. While the Khitan households were asleep, he crawled into the dog's hole, chopped off his enemy's head with a scythe, and fled into the mountains alone. He was exiled in Sanyin Village, and because of this incident, he was nicknamed Zhang Sickle. There was a loud noise in front of the hall, "The captain is here!" Hundreds of sergeants stood up together, and the hall became completely silent.Zhang Gouwa shivered, with his legs together, standing upright according to the military posture he observed these days, and looked towards the door energetically.

A moment later, Zhao Xingde appeared at the door together with Jin Changtai and Li Sihai. "Salute!" Hundreds of soldiers saluted together, and Zhao Xingde returned the military salute with a smile. "The ceremony is over!" Only then did the atmosphere in the hall return to a lively and peaceful atmosphere.

Zhao Xingde has always been very friendly to his subordinates. He smiled and looked around. From the Chengying Eighth Battalion, from the centurion to the tenth commander to the ordinary sergeant, he can not only call everyone by name , also understand their spleen 'nature' and family affairs.He smiled to his side and said: "A few months ago there was no frame, but now such a magnificent hall has been built, all thanks to Jin Sima." I am just planning and supervising the construction." Zhao Xingde nodded with a smile, his gaze turned to Gao Su and Liu Zhijian who were standing on the left side of the hall, and he walked over quickly.

Seeing the captain come over, the gunners who had been away for a long time were a little excited, put down their cups and trays, and stood up.Those who thought they were familiar with Zhao Xingde said, "Master Zhao." "School Captain." The voices of greetings sounded one after another. This is the relationship between superiors and subordinates cultivated by the three regulations.At this time, I am afraid that many people still remember the nickname of "Evil Ghost" in their hearts.

Liu Zhijian and Gao Su stood side by side. Both of them were senior centurions before joining the artillery battalion.The two were equal in knowledge, and they also had a good knowledge of sky surveying, mapping, geometry and other miscellaneous subjects, so they entered the artillery camp.Gao Su's body is slightly plump, while Liu Zhijian's is thin, but the temperaments of the two are similar, after several months of getting along on the sea boat, they have become good friends.Although they admired Zhao Xingde's character and ability, their eyes were much calmer than ordinary soldiers.

Zhao Xingde smiled and nodded to the sergeants who greeted all around while walking, came to the two centurions, stood still and said in a deep voice: "The sea road is bumpy and dangerous, brothers have worked hard." Gao Su cupped his hands and said: "School Captain Praise." Liu Zhijian smiled and said, "Walk around and arrived."

Zhao Xingde nodded and smiled and said: "I heard that you practiced 'shooting' several times at sea, and almost knocked the ship apart." Li Sihai behind him had a wry smile on his face, and lowered his voice: "I also For this reason, I wrote a letter to the Huguo Mansion, saying that in the future, the sea-going ships equipped with cannons must be made stronger. The good wood in the south is too expensive, and the oak wood in Liaodong is the calculation. Anyway, you have so many people available here. The Ordnance Department wants to lower the price randomly If not, ignore them."

Amidst the sergeant's messy answers, Li Sihai's voice was only audible to Zhao Xingde and Jin Changtai.Gao Su and Liu Zhijian saw him talking to Captain Zhao in a low voice, they only thought that Captain Li had an odd personality, and the military discipline of the Artillery Centuries was second to none in the whole army, so they were not worried about his strange remarks.

Zhao Xingde sat cross-legged on the main seat after exchanging pleasantries here for a while.When the Eighth Battalion rarely had such an orderly dinner, Li Sihai observed each centurion with great interest.Jin Changtai looked to the side, and Zhang Gouwa hurried over to pour wine for the three adults.In order to prevent the morale of the army from being shaken, the barracks brought prostitutes and maids, so the men who were busy pouring wine and serving food during the banquet were all men.

Seeing that the wine pourer was a man, Zhao Xingde frowned slightly.Zhang Gouwa filled up the drinks one by one and was about to step aside.Zhao Xingde stretched out his hand to stop him, and asked, "What's your name?" Zhang Gouwa was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "The villain's surname is Zhang, and the villagers all call me Zhang Liandao." He used to have a Gouwa Xiaoming, at this time, was afraid that Shangguan would underestimate him, so he nicknamed Zhang Liandao, which was considered a small scheming.

Zhao Xingde smiled and said to Jin Changtai who was beside him: "This name has some meaning."

Jin Changtai smiled and said: "This man killed the Khitan village tyrant with a sickle, so he got this name." Because of Zhang Gouwa's experience, Jin Changtai had a certain impression of him among tens of thousands of people.He roughly guessed Zhang Gouwa's heart, so he didn't say his real name.

Many ordinary people in this world don't have proper names, Zhao Xingde didn't care about it, he held his wine glass and asked with a smile: "Zhang Liandao, how much do you get paid for working here?"

Zhang Liandao didn't know the depth of it, so he quickly waved his hands and said, "I don't dare to ask for rewards for doing things for military men." He looked at Zhao Xingde sincerely, his heart was full of surprise and nervousness, "The opportunity is rare, why don't you ask your lord to forgive him?" Shall I join the army?" "My lord, just answer your questions, there is no place for you to beg, and if you offend your lord, I will drive you out." When his heart was tangled and conflicted, his eyebrows twitched into a ball Ma Hua's face was cloudy and uncertain, and he couldn't say anything else for a while.

Zhao Xingde stopped his cup and sighed in a low voice: "I am in charge of the law, the sergeant is not allowed to serve in the shadow household, Jin Sima without reason, in my opinion, it is better to give these common people a fair reward."

A centurion next to him said: "These Liaodong Han sons are not serious and shady households. It seems that the court laws should not be followed here." self-interest.However, in the Shanzhai of Emperor Shangao, the people of the Han Dynasty in Liaodong only offered sergeants as officials and lords. Although Jin Changtai selected a group of tribunes, these tribunes were not familiar with the rules of Xia Kingdom at all. Let’s not say a word, speaking of it, those who can be picked up by the sergeants to do something will still be a little arrogant when they return to the common people.

Zhao Xingde put the wine glass on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "I want to rule the world, if I can't treat the people of the world kindly, just like the people in Guanzhong and Longyou, then it will be different from Jurchen and Khitan people!" His tone was very serious. , the centurion also tactfully kept his voice silent, the captain has always been gracious and magnanimous, and he didn't take it as disobedient when his subordinates argued with him, and he didn't take revenge afterwards, but when it came to issues he insisted on, his temper was indeed Some are smelly and tough.

Jin Changtai explained: "Lieutenant Zhao, this is my negligence. From now on, I will order all the troops to act in accordance with the rules of the country, and not to serve the people at will." At this time, the soldiers around looked over, Zhang Gouwa realized Feeling that something was wrong with the atmosphere, I couldn't help feeling slightly scared.

Zhao Xingde nodded, and said slowly: "The common people are raised by their fathers and parents. They were just born in Liaodong, and they encountered many ups and downs. It doesn't mean that they are more humble than the Central Plains people. I heard that the founding of the country The emperor set up troops in Hedong, first took Lingzhou and Longyou, and then took Guanzhong and Bashu, and established his foundation. If at that time, the people who were attached to by the soldiers were treated like slaves, would you still be here today?"

Many people lowered their heads. Even in Hezhong and the Western Regions, most of the Xia people moved out from Guanzhong and Bashu. If the people in Guanzhong were originally enslaved by slaves, I am afraid that the ancestors here will also suffer a lot. .Li Sihai looked at Zhao Xingde with serious eyes.