Zhang Xutuo took out a copy of the imperial court document, handed it to Zhang Xuan and said, "This is the commendation order of the Ministry of War, you can take a look at it first." ”

Zhang Xuan frowned, it was actually just a commendation order from the Ministry of War, and he was a little dissatisfied: "Why is it not a holy decree?" ”

Zhang Xutuo shook his head and said with a wry smile: "I heard that the Holy Decree was originally to be commended, but Yu Shiji and several Xiangguo all advised the Holy Lord, and other Tongshou also had good achievements in suppressing bandits, but they did not give the Holy Decree commendation, if only one of us was given, it would make other generals dissatisfied and affect morale, so the Holy Decree was changed to the Ministry of War, but even so, I am very satisfied." ”

Zhang Xuan opened the text, and first saw that Luo Shixin, Qin Qiong and You Junda were promoted to Wu Yonglang generals, and the generals were rewarded with 30 yuan and 100,000 silk horses, Zhang Xuan saw that in the end, about the reward of his army, only Wei Chigong, Cao Sining and Wang Kuang were awarded captains, and more than a dozen teams were promoted to brigade commanders, and the rest of the rewards were arranged by Zhang Xutuo.

Regarding his Zhang Xuan's reward, the text did not mention a word, of course, this is also Zhang Xuan's own meaning, he has given his credit to Luo Shixin, Qin Qiong and You Junda in his letter to Pei Ju, so that the military department has a reason to appoint the three of them as generals.

Zhang Xutuo sighed, "I know that you have helped me a lot, but I don't want to sacrifice your merits, although the reward given to them by the Ministry of War satisfies me, but the injustice to you makes me unacceptable, Yuan Ding, I'm really sorry, I really shouldn't have said those words to you that day in the barracks." ”

Zhang Xutuo was extremely sorry in his heart, he knew very well in his heart that the Ministry of War specifically targeted Qin Qiong, Luo Shixin and You Junda as officials, and it was he who asked Zhang Xuan that day, he thought that the Ministry of War was kind, but later he figured out that it was Zhang Xuan who made efforts behind his back, otherwise why Wei Yunqi hadn't come back until now.

It's just that Zhang Xutuo didn't expect that Zhang Xuan used his own credit in exchange for the promotion of the three of them, which made Zhang Xutuo feel guilty. Touched again.

Zhang Xuan put the text of the military department on the table and said with a smile: "If I can be promoted every time I win a battle, then I should be a general now, in fact, most battles are only rewarded but not promoted." Or the promotion of the boss, this time Qin Qiong and the three of them were promoted as a compensation, and they should have been promoted a long time ago, but the boss didn't get any reward, I think it's also very unfair. ”

"Personally, I don't have to do it. But the Ministry of War has always been unfair to us, for example, this time the reward is 300,000 yuan, the reward is 100,000 yuan, if it is another guard, at least the silk will be sent over, Wang Shichong is like this, but we have nothing, what do you say that the road is far away, for fear of being intercepted by bandits, but why don't they say this to Wang Shichong?

Let's take it from the nearest government. But the local government can get so much money and goods, and in the final analysis, it still ignores us. ”

Zhang Xuan was furious in his heart, this is the reward of the imperial court? Just one number and nothing else? It's just a bunch of bastards!

Zhang Xutuo saw Zhang Xuan's anger, and hurriedly said in a deep voice: "Being angry with them will only hurt you, but they don't hurt the slightest, and they can't care about them." ”

Zhang Xuan forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and said coldly: "I can only understand that Dashuai is not a bandit for the imperial court!" ”

"That's a good saying, I'm going to suppress bandits so that thousands of poor civilians won't be subjected to banditry. It's not to please a few high-ranking officials in their military department, and it's not rare for any high-ranking officials, what if they don't give rewards, do you want me Zhang Xutuo to beg them? ”

Zhang Xutuo's tone was full of anger and helplessness. Zhang Xuan finally slowly calmed down, pondered for a long time, and said: "Dashuai, there is a suggestion for the humble position. ”

"Tell me, what's the suggestion?"

Zhang Xutuo called Zhang Xuan from Beihai County for two main purposes, one was to thank him for the sacrifice. Another purpose was to discuss with him the issue of rewarding the army's military merits, although the imperial court could pay lip service, but he Zhang Xutuo had to come up with real money.

He must not make empty promises to soldiers like the imperial court, but he couldn't think of any good way for a while, so he could only consult with Jang Hyun, who showed political acumen that he admired very much.

Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment and said: "In fact, I have considered in Beihai County that if you want to motivate the fighting spirit of soldiers for a long time, you must not rely on one or two rewards, you must tie the vital interests of soldiers with the army's suppression of bandits, and let the soldiers understand that suppressing bandits is to defend their own interests." ”

Zhang Xutuo nodded, "I have also had this idea, every time I suppress bandits, I will distribute the spoils to the soldiers, in fact, it is to mobilize the enthusiasm of the soldiers, and if you win the battle, you can make money and make a fortune, but unfortunately the bandits have too little oil and water, and the food needs to be used by the military and the disaster victims, and the money seized is not much, and each soldier will share a few dollars at most, which is of little significance, so every time I will say that the suppression of bandits is to protect their parents, wives and children, in order to boost morale." ”

"Did the marshal ever think about giving the soldiers land excessively?"

"Land?"

Zhang Xutuo frowned, and pondered for a moment, "The distribution of land must be agreed by the imperial court, especially the consent of the saints, and then the household department will send someone down to measure, determine the distribution plan, and then report to the imperial court for approval before it can be implemented, it is very cumbersome, if I dare to distribute land without authorization, the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

"The marshal can use workarounds, such as selling some official fields to soldiers very cheaply, doesn't the court reward the soldiers? Let the soldier buy it with this bounty. ”

Zhang Xutuo pondered for a long time, but still shook his head, "This method can't change the essence of private land division. ”

"But in addition to land, what property can the marshal use to cover 300,000 yuan and 100,000 pieces of silk?"

Zhang Xuan's straightforwardness made Zhang Xutuo freeze, and after a long time, Zhang Xutuo sighed in a low voice and said, "Let me think about this matter again!" ”

Zhang Xuan also understood that Zhang Xutuo needed time to think about it, so he got up and saluted, and left.

Zhang Xutuo was the only one left in the room, and he slowly walked to the window with his hands down, looking at a few big trees outside the window in a daze, with a lot of thoughts in his heart.

He knew that Jang Hyun's proposal was very realistic and workable, every soldier was eager to get land, and the government had a large amount of unclaimed land in its hands, which could be distributed to the soldiers.

It's just that he can't explain to the court and the saint, and he doesn't want to do anything that violates the rules of the court.

There is a contradiction between reality and his principles, how should he choose?

Coming out of the county office, his two personal soldiers had been sent back to the camp by him, and Zhang Xuan walked slowly on the street alone, when it was almost dusk, and the street was still full of people, and the bustling crowd passed by him.

At this time, Zhang Xuan felt a burst of hunger in his belly, and then remembered that he hadn't eaten for a day, and he touched his waist bag, and there were a few pieces of broken gold.

Zhang Xuan looked around again, and saw that there was a wine shop fifty paces away on the left, and business seemed to be good, so he walked over.

Zhang Xuan looked up at the wine banner hanging high above his head, with black edges and yellow background, with the three big characters 'Spring Wine House' written on it, and a bartender greeted him with a smile on his face, "Is the guest officer a person?" ”

Zhang Xuan looked at the second floor of the wine shop and asked with a smile, "Is there a window seat on the second floor?" ”

"Yes! Yes! Guest, please come with me. ”

The bartender enthusiastically invited Jang Hyun to the second floor, there were not many people on the second floor, and there were still a few vacant seats by the window, Jang Hyun sat down at a table and asked with a smile, "What are the specialties here?" ”

"The small shop is dominated by game, flying in the sky, running on the ground, swimming in the water, everything, the most characteristic dish is the braised bear's paw in oil, do you want to have a plate?"

"You don't need this, bring me a plate of mutton with sauce, a plate of venison and roast chicken, and six mince pancakes, this should be there!"

"Yes! The pancakes in the small shop are brown and soft, and the meat filling inside is extremely delicious, which guarantees the satisfaction of the guest officer. ”

"What's the wine?"

The bartender smiled bitterly and said: "There is no rice wine, only fruit wine, and there is Zhuojun wine for a better time, which is no less than Gaochang wine, do you want it?" ”

"Bring me a pot, and the food and drinks should be faster."

"Great! The guest officer will sit down for a while, and he will come immediately! ”

The bartender was about to go down, and after a while, another bartender brought up the sauce mutton and wine, Zhang Xuan filled himself with a glass of wine, and drank it in one gulp, although the bartender boasted that it was no less than Gaochang wine, but he still felt that it was far worse, far less mellow than Gaochang wine, but it was already very good to drink wine.

Zhang Xuan ate another piece of mutton with chopstick sauce, chewed it carefully, it tasted good, at this time, he suddenly felt that there was someone next to him, and he glanced out of the corner of his eye, only to see a woman standing quietly beside him, looking at him with a smile in her eyes, it was Gao Hui of the Bohai Society.

"It turned out to be Madame!"

Zhang Xuan got up and saluted, waved his hand, and pointed to the opposite seat, "Madam, please take a seat!" ”

Gao Hui wore a hat with a veil covering her face, but she had already taken it off and handed it to the maid next to her, Gao Hui sat down and smiled lightly: "General Zhang actually drinks alone, it's rare!" (To be continued.) )