Chapter 237: A toast to friendship, a toast to brothers
Huang Jin personally went to Jiang Qingzhi's house to discuss the marriage proposal, and a matchmaker also accompanied him.
What birth date, what names of ancestors...
"Thanks to Old Master Ye!" The matchmaker said with emotion when he knew Jiang Qingzhi's background.
If Ye Xuan had not changed Jiang Qingzhi back to his original surname, Jiang Qingzhi would have had to use Ye Qingzhi's name to discuss marriage.
With the title of "son of a son-in-law", Jiang Qingzhi's wife and children will be discriminated against in the future.
The old man became somewhat disheartened after his daughter passed away. He occasionally looked after his grandson, but spent more time entertaining himself.
After everything was settled, Jiang Qingzhi gave a thank-you gift to the matchmaker, and Huang Jin also received one.
"This is a happy event." Jiang Qingzhi said.
Huang Jin thought so too and accepted it.
Before leaving, Jiang Qingzhi was a little curious, "Who did His Majesty send to the Li family to propose marriage last time? I have to thank them later."
Could it be Concubine Lu Jing?
Or some noble lady.
No matter who it is, Jiang Qingzhi has to thank them.
Huang Jin looked at him deeply.
"It's Your Majesty."
Jiang Qingzhi: "Is it Daoye?"
Taoist Master... Huang Jin’s eyelids twitched.
Jiang Qingzhi was in a daze for the whole day that followed.
"Master, this is joy."
Sun Chonglou bet that his young master was so happy that he seemed silly because he was going to get married.
Fu Cheng, however, felt something was wrong based on his experience, "I'm afraid the uncle is worried about something."
Dou Jialan said: "Master looks a little melancholy."
"How do you know?" Sun Chonglou asked back.
"Feel."
"Ah!"
The back door of Bo’s house.
"This place is still the best!" Xu Wei sat down and took out the wine gourd.
Hu Zongxian first brushed away the dust on the steps with his sleeves, then slowly sat down and took out the side dishes.
Two wine glasses and a piece of side dish.
"Dry."
"Dry."
With a sip of wine, Xu Wei said, "My Lord's marriage is of great importance."
"Many people say that from the marriage of the uncle, we can tell who Your Majesty will rely on and value in the future." Hu Zongxian picked up a broad bean with his fingers.
The broad beans were from last year. Jiang Qingzhi asked the chef to pickle a batch of them using the braising method. After sealing them, he opened a jar at the end of the year. The delicious taste made Xu Wei and Hu Zongxian, two drunkards, very happy.
"I don't think so." Xu Wei chewed the broad beans slowly. The more he chewed, the more fragrant they became, reminding him of his hometown Shaoxing.
"Since the purge of the Beijing Guards, many people have noticed the signs." Hu Zongxian swallowed the broad beans, feeling that he had no wine at the moment, and it was a waste of this delicious appetizer. He drank the remaining wine in the glass, "The military meritorious officials are divided into several teams, each fighting for their own interests. There is no need to talk about the civil officials. Yan Song is in power. As long as Your Majesty can control them, you can control the overall situation. But what about the remaining officials?"
"Do you think that His Majesty is showing goodwill to those ministers who have not taken sides through the marriage between Lord Bo and Li Huan?"
"Your Majesty has been dormant for many years. Once he raises his head, the scholars will inevitably think of the Zuo Shun Gate incident. What is the most important thing at this time?"
"Old Hu, I hate keeping people in suspense."
"The most important thing is to win over people! Whoever has more people will have greater power."
"Haha! I don't agree with that."
"Why?"
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Unless those people want to rebel, Your Majesty is naturally superior to them. Yes, there are many officials and scholars who have not taken sides, and there are even many who agree with the Lord's proposal. But Lao Hu, don't forget, he is the emperor!"
"So what if he's an emperor?"
"The emperor, he can't bow his head!"
Hu Zongxian was struck by lightning.
Xu Wei took a sip of wine, "When the emperor bowed his head, he put himself, his subjects, and the people of the world together. The emperor who was high above and called himself the Son of Heaven rolled up his sleeves and pulled people together with his opponents...Where is the majesty? It's gone!"
"Majesty is the fate of an emperor!" Hu Zongxian covered his forehead, and then was stunned, "So, this marriage really has no considerations at all?"
"Yes." Xu Wei pointed to the empty wine glass.
Hu Zongxian poured wine for him, "If you can't explain it..."
Xu Wei picked up the wine glass and said, "You forgot one thing. The emperor is also a human being."
"Shut up." Hu Zongxian looked around.
Xu Wei was calm and composed. "It's not the emperor who is playing tricks, it's the power. Old Hu, the emperor is also a human being. He has the same emotions and desires as ordinary people."
Hu Zongxian lowered his voice, "That's the emperor!"
"Son of Heaven? Why don't you let the Son of Heaven shout at the heavens and see if his father responds?" Xu Wei said disdainfully: "At the end of every dynasty, the so-called Son of Heaven becomes a plaything of powerful officials. Where is his father? Bullshit Son of Heaven!"
"Damn you, I really want to find a needle and thread to sew up your shameless mouth."
"Everything is driven by desire." Xu Wei sneered: "I said, the emperor is also a mortal, and mortals have seven emotions and six desires. Your Majesty, he values love!"
"did you mean……"
"In your majesty's eyes, this marriage is just a marriage I found for my younger brother."
"Brother?"
"Why do you think Lord Bo was disappointed? It's because your majesty's move has shielded him from many open and secret attacks. Can an emperor do this for his subjects? No, look at Xia Yan, your majesty suppressed him three times, and the third time he almost killed him.
Look at Yan Song, he seems to be very proud, but everyone knows that he is the dog raised by His Majesty. If Yan Song were in trouble, His Majesty would not be moved. Even when the dog is no longer useful, His Majesty would abandon him without hesitation. But look at the Lord Bo again. "
Xu Wei filled his glass with wine and sighed, "Your Majesty is personally arranging a marriage for him. This is not for a minister, but for a relative!"
Xu Wei felt somewhat melancholy, perhaps thinking of his own relatives, "If someone could disregard his status as an emperor and personally go to a minister's house to propose marriage, I would be moved too, so how could Lord Bo not be moved?
But since he embarked on this path, he has been prepared to be surrounded by enemies and even prepared to be abandoned by His Majesty at any time. But His Majesty is telling him: Boy, don't panic, I am here! "
"Your mouth...be careful of getting into trouble."
"Haha! Can't you see? Ever since you offended the scholars of the world, Master has embarked on a path of no return."
Xu Wei sipped his wine and ate a broad bean. "This road is rugged and there are many enemies along the way. There are abysses on both sides of this road... If you are not careful, you will fall down and be smashed to pieces."
Hu Zongxian said: "And your majesty could have chosen to watch and take advantage."
"But he personally took action and used this marriage to announce it to the world..." "He will not sit idly by."
Two glasses raised.
"There has to be a reason for this cup, right?"
"Respect, friendship!"
"Respect for friendship!"
……
Datong.
The northwest wind was still biting, and the small flag officer Deng Sheng and his scouts were waiting for the city gate to open.
The soldier on duty today looked at them lazily from the top of the city wall.
"Deng, you are so lucky! The two sides have finally reached peace, and it is your turn to go out and get information.
The general officer Wang Dalou, nicknamed Fatty Wang, said with a smile on his face on the top of the city wall.
Deng Sheng looked up and cursed, "It's so cold today, why don't you go and give it a try? I'll guard the city."
"Pooh!"
At this time, the city gate opened, and Wang Dalou waved his hand, "I got a pot of good wine yesterday, waiting for you to come back."
"No problem. I have some dried meat, that's perfect."
The scouts set out.
"Oh my god! This wind has cracked people's faces."
Chen Xiaosan pulled the rope down a little.
Deng Sheng turned his eyes and saw that most of his men were lazy, so he cursed: "Scouts in winter are even worse, so you guys should cheer up."
"Flag, there are enemy scouts."
In the distance, more than ten riders also discovered them.
Both sides are slowing down.
"Xiao Qi, do you want to go back?" Chen Xiaosan was a little uneasy.
"Get your mother back!" Deng Sheng cursed, "Chang Wei Bo said that we Han people have been beating up the barbarians for thousands of years. It was only since the damn Song Dynasty that the scholars and officials castrated our testicles, making us as weak as women. That's why the barbarians took advantage of us. As long as you are not afraid, what's the saying, we will meet on a narrow road..."
"The brave win!" A sergeant's eyes were bright, "Little Flag, they are coming."
"Yes, the bravest will win when two meet in a narrow road!" Deng Sheng said, "It is said above that the court has sent someone. Isn't that person still in the city? He is just waiting for Altan to come and negotiate peace. If things go wrong, they will not fight."
The dozen or so enemy soldiers approached, and the leader lifted his veil and said coldly, "The coward finally dares to show his head?"
"Bullshit!" Chen Xiaosan cursed, "Who is the coward?"
"In the past, our army of more than a hundred cavalrymen could have made you afraid to fight, but today you are so bold..."
More than a dozen enemy soldiers taunted while moving to the sides.
Deng Sheng's eyes turned, "What are you going to do? Didn't you say that we won't fight for the time being?"
The enemy soldier suddenly laughed grimly, "But the Khan's envoys haven't arrived yet! Kill them all!"
More than ten enemy troops suddenly attacked.
But Deng Sheng was prepared, with a bow and arrow in hand, and shot two people with two arrows in succession. Another archer under his command also shot and killed one person.
Four of their own men were also shot off their horses.
"Don't retreat, kill them all!" The enemy has already surrounded us, if we retreat, we will definitely be surrounded.
Deng Sheng led his men to fight desperately.
The screams of his subordinates continued to be heard from behind.
These were all comrades who had lived together day and night, brothers who could rely on each other for life and death... Deng Sheng gritted his teeth and looked back. Only Chen Xiaosan followed him, and the two brothers fell behind. They shouted, "Xiaoqi, go quickly!"
After shouting, the two turned around and fought with the enemy, trying desperately to delay their opponent.
Deng Sheng and the other man beat their horses desperately. Soon, they heard the sound of horse hooves behind them.
Five enemy soldiers were either injured or covered in blood as they pursued them.
The distance between the two sides keeps getting closer.
Deng Sheng suddenly pulled the reins, and the horse stood up and turned around on the spot.
"Chen Xiaosan!"
"Little Flag!"
"Tell the general that the two armies are still enemies even without the arrival of the messenger. Be careful of the enemy's attack."
"Yes, Xiaoqi, you..."
"Go quickly!"
The horse's hooves touched the ground, and Deng Sheng laughed wildly, "Grandpa Deng Sheng is here!"
He drew his bow and arrow, and after shooting and killing one man, the enemy troops huddled beside their horses, getting closer and closer.
Deng Sheng discarded his bow and drew his long sword.
Chen Xiaosan, who was riding his horse at full speed, looked back and saw Deng Sheng surrounded.
"Holding the steel knife ninety-nine times, I will not stop until I have killed all the barbarians. I am a man, why should I serve the Tartars as a horse or an ox? The warrior drinks the wine in the bowl, and will not turn back after the journey of a thousand miles. The gongs and drums sound and the crowd roars, but the Yellow Dragon cannot be defeated..."
The heroic singing came to an abrupt end.
A wounded warhorse rushed out, ran for a while, turned back, and wailed in the direction of the enemy...
"Little Flag!"
Datong quickly took precautions, and that afternoon, 5,000 enemy cavalrymen raided Datong City but were repelled by the well-prepared defenders.
Changing of guard on the city wall.
The general flag officer Wang Dalou returned to his residence.
He took out a pot of wine and two wine glasses.
Fill two glasses with wine.
"Deng, you always say that drinking must have a reason, otherwise it is alcoholism. This cup..."
He raised his glass and clinked it lightly with the other glass.
"Cheers, brother!"
(End of this chapter)
