Zuo Tunwei's camp riot was once suspected by Yuwenshu and Yun Dingxing of being a political opponent to cause trouble, deliberately spreading and exaggerating rumors to cause military turmoil, creating embarrassment for Yuwenshu and his party, and indirect parties such as Chen Yingliang and Qu Tutong also had similar suspicions. However, after the mystery was revealed, everyone was stunned - the source of the rumor turned out to be the entourage of a civilian official, and after hearing the master laughing at the military attaché's dilemma, he couldn't help but spread it around, and it happened to reach the ears of some grassroots generals of Zuo Tunwei, thus causing riots in Zuo Tunwei's military camp.

As a result of the riot, the heads of several impulsive grassroots generals fell to the ground, and Zhu Cang, who killed people without blinking, was secretly instructed by Yun Dingxing to kill these grassroots generals on the spot, and Yun Dingxing announced on the spot that there was absolutely no such thing, which barely quelled the riot. But the anxious Yun Dingxing Yun Lao General knew very well that this was just a few days of reprieve, and the real test was still to come, once Emperor Yang of Sui issued the will to reduce the reward, what turmoil would happen in the Zuotunwei military camp, General Yun didn't dare to imagine it at all.

The reward discussion meeting held the next morning became the last straw for our old general Yun, and General Yun didn't dare to expect Emperor Yang of Sui to give double the reward for military merits as promised before the war, just to be able to give six or seven percent, and General Yun could be satisfied, but if it was lower than this reward, General Yun would not be so sure about whether he could pacify the army, and the lower the reward, the more likely Zuo Tunwei would be in turmoil, in proportion.

It is about his hard work and flattery to earn the position of high-ranking officials, General Yun Lao did not dare to have the slightest slackness, the next day before the time came to wait outside the imperial city, Mao Shi was the imperial city just opened, our old general Yun was the first to enter the imperial city, and directly came to the door of General Zuo Yiwei's mansion to wait, so that the imperial city guards couldn't help but praise, "No wonder you can also rise high with the waste prince, look at the diligence of others, today is not to the court to come so early, much better than those lazy officials." ”

It was early winter, the weather was very cold, rubbing his hands and stomping his feet in front of the door of General Zuo Yiwei's mansion and waiting for a lot of time, the gate of the general's mansion opened, General Yun couldn't wait to rush into the lobby, hugged the charcoal basin that had just been raised and shivered, and after a while, General Youyiwei came to the lobby for the second time, General Yun knew that Lai Hu'er, the second person in the military, had never liked himself, and he didn't dare to talk to Lai Hu'er after saluting, and Lai Hu'er sat in the first place on the left side of the lobby, looking at Fang Liang in a daze, his face was very gloomy.

Soon, Duan Wenzhen, the general of the left guard, Zhao Cai, the general of the right guard, Xue Shixiong, the general of the left guard, Feng An, the general of the left guard, and Qu Tutong, the general of the left Xiaowei, also came to the hall successively, and the atmosphere in the hall was a little more active. ”

"It's okay, just don't be late." Lai Hu'er, who had never said a word, finally spoke, and asked Chen Yingliang again: "Yingliang, did you please do what I asked you yesterday?" ”

Hearing this, Chen Yingliang, who has always respected Laihu'er, was abnormal, not only did not answer, but also lowered his head slightly. ”

Chen Fuliang's face was even more embarrassed, and he stepped forward for a while before he walked up to Laihu'er, and said in Laihu'er's ear: "Uncle Pei Ju, he didn't directly tell my country's treasury how much grain he was going to take out to reward the soldiers, he just showed me an edict, His Majesty issued an edict to Jiangdu yesterday, ordering Jiangdu to build 3,600 dragon boats and eighteen water halls, and also required regulations to be bigger than the dragon boat water hall that was burned by Yang Xuangan's rebels before. ”

The expression on Laihu'er's face suddenly froze, and then quickly turned blue and black, and he leaned on the back of the chair weakly, looking haggard, as if he was a few years old all of a sudden. The old general next to him saw that something was wrong, and hurriedly beckoned Chen Yingliang to the front, and asked in a low voice, "What did you say to Lai Zhuguo?" Why is his face so ugly? ”

Chen Yingliang was silent, neither relieved to let Yun Dingxing know that he and Pei Ju were secretly exchanging news, nor could he bear to tell him this cruel fact, Yun Dingxing was about to ask again, Yuwenshu's cough suddenly came, everyone did not dare to slack off, and quickly stood in order of the army, and saluted Yuwenshu who walked into the lobby from the main entrance, Yuwenshu looked around, and saw that the generals of the Sixteen Weifu in the Eastern Capital had already arrived, so he said: "It's all here, it's good to be here, it's cold, let's go to the warm pavilion in the back hall to discuss." ”

Everyone sang a promise, and hurriedly followed Yuwenshu into the warm pavilion of the back hall, Yuwenshu first ordered the servants to serve hot tea for everyone, and then drove away all the subordinates to close the door, and then sat in the middle of the main seat, and said with an unkind expression: "I called you all here today, you all know what is going on, I won't be verbose, before the reward, I have bad news to tell you, you have to be mentally prepared." ”

"Yuwen Zhuguo, say it." Lai Hu'er said with a gloomy expression: "You can't not give any money and food to the soldiers, right?" How much is 陛xià ready to give? ”

Yu Wenshu was silent, his expression was very gloomy and terrifying, and he said after a while: "Your Majesty summoned me into the palace yesterday and gave me a hint that the soldiers who participated in the Yanmen City Siege Battle will be promoted to the rank of Captain of the Sixth Rank Jianjie if they cannot make meritorious contributions, imitating the reward standard for quelling Yang Xuangan's rebellion. ”

Hearing this, the other Weifu generals who did not participate in the defense of Yanmen were better, but Laihu'er, who suffered heavy casualties in the defense of Yanmen, turned his face so blue that it was close to pitch black, and he asked in a hoarse voice for a while: "What about the reward?" His Majesty promised at that time that the meritorious soldiers would be rewarded with ten horses of silk and silk, and the fallen soldiers would be doubled, how much was His Majesty ready to give? ”

Yu Wenshu's face became even more gloomy, and he said in a low voice: "The soldiers who died in battle will be given five horses of silk and satin each, and the soldiers who have not died must understand the difficult ...... of the treasury, no." ”

Lai Hu'er stood up, his forehead was bruised, his finger joints were pale, and he glared at Yu Wenshu angrily, his eyes almost wanted to breathe fire, but Yu Wenshu lowered his head, not daring to meet Lai Hu'er's angry gaze. Fortunately, Lai Hu'er also knew that Yuwenshu couldn't be the master of this matter, and he also knew that Yuwenshu's Zuo Yiwei lineage elite also suffered heavy casualties in this Yanmen defense station, so he didn't spill his anger on Yuwenshu's head, gasped for a few breaths, and then sat back on the chair with a blushing face.

"Yuwen Zhuguo, what about our Qinwang army?" General Yun asked tremblingly, with a cry in his voice, and asked, "Our Qinwang army, according to what kind of reward will be awarded?" ”

"About the ...... of King Qin's army." Yuwenshu's face was still gloomy, and he said: "Thanks to the blessing of Ying Liangxian's nephew, this battle was fought beautifully, and he also captured the Shibi thief chieftain alive, His Majesty Xià was very satisfied, so he decided to award the reward according to the ......reward for peacetime wars, and half of the rewards for peacetime wars." ”

With a plopping sound, Yun Dingxing fell directly to the ground, his face was pale, and the corners of his mouth were foaming at the mouth. Chen Yingliang was blank-minded, and he couldn't believe that Emperor Yang of Sui could force him to this point, fight such a big victory, and ensure the safety of northern Xinjiang for at least 20 years.

"And." Yu Wenshu added in a low tone: "Your Majesty also hinted to me, let me try to let you take the initiative to reduce it again, and reduce the burden on the treasury more." ”

The warm pavilion was silent, even Duan Wenzhen, Zhao Cai, Feng Ang and others, who did not participate in this war, couldn't help but look at Chen Yingliang and Yun Dingxing and a few other unlucky people with sympathetic eyes, Yun Dingxing's mouth was foaming at the mouth, and his eyes turned directly into the appearance of a dead fish, Chen Yingliang's face was like ashes, his eyes were dull, and he instantly turned into a walking corpse, Qu Tutong and Xue Shixiong, two unlucky people, also regretted that they let their own troops participate in the war in the tail sweeping battle - if they knew this, they simply didn't go to reap the credit, Chen Yingliang and Yun Dingxing should be allowed to fight all the battles.

"Ying Liangxian's nephew, you are the boss of King Qin, you decide." Yu Wenshu mended the knife to Chen Fuliang again, and said: "Your Majesty has opened Chrysostom, and how much burden will be reduced for the treasury, you have an idea." ”

Chen Yingliang laughed angrily and said with a smile: "Yuwen Zhuguo, I casually said that numbers are easy, but how can I explain to the soldiers?" ”

Yu Wenshu also smiled and said, "I'm not the same yet?" As soon as this reward is announced, who in the eighteenth generation of my ancestors can run? ”

"Each other, each other." Lai Hu'er also smiled, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and said with a smile: "In this battle for the defense of Yanmen, I am the commander of the city, and none of my ancestors will be lost in the eighteen generations, and maybe even the nineteenth generation of my ancestors will suffer." ”

After that, Laihu'er took the lead in laughing loudly, Yu Wenshu and Chen Fuliang laughed aloud, but there was no joy in their voices, Yun Dingxing cried directly, and choked up: "What can I do?" Zuo Tunwei had already made trouble yesterday, and as soon as this reward was announced, those Qiu Ba still had to directly smash Zuo Tunwei's camp? They smashed the Zuotunwei camp at the feet of the Son of Heaven, which was equivalent to smashing my head. ”

"Don't let Zuo Tunwei make trouble!" Yuwen Shu said viciously: "When the time comes, not only will your head definitely not be saved, but I will also be implicated!" ”

"But with such a low reward, how could those Qiu Ba not make trouble?" Yun Dingxing replied with tears in his eyes.

Yu Wenshu twisted his head away and said bluntly: "That's your business, figure it out yourself." ”

Yun Dingxing sobbed even more, and Yuwen Shu turned his gaze to Chen Yingliang again, and said: "Ying Liangxian's nephew, is it a blessing or a curse, it is a disaster that cannot be avoided, you decide for yourself, how to reduce some of the burden on the treasury?" ”

Chen Yingliang's face was as pale as paper, and he replied after a moment: "Yuwen Zhuguo, if the junior wants to fight for half of the usual reward for the soldiers, how about it?" ”

"Whatever you want, it's your freedom." Yu Wenshu kicked the ball back in front of Chen Yingliang, and said: "But virtuous nephew, I have to advise you, don't joke with your head, besides, do you think that you won half of the usual reward for the soldiers of King Qin, and those Qiu Ba will not resent you?" Still not angry at both ends? ”

"But how can I be worthy of those Qinwang soldiers who threw their heads and spilled their blood?"

Chen Yingliang wailed, not daring to express his stance and continue to reduce the reward, Yu Wenshu was silent, and did not force Chen Yingliang to express his position immediately, but Feng An, the general of Zuo Wuwei, who stayed out of the matter, said: "Otherwise, restrain the generals as much as possible, do not allow them to withhold rewards, and distribute all the rewards they can win to the soldiers one by one, so that the soldiers may have fewer complaints." ”

Chen Yingliang, who has been strictly forbidden to withhold the rewards of soldiers in the army, is still silent, and Yuwenshu and Laihu'er, who have not been rewarded by the soldiers under his command at all, are also silent, but Duan Wenzhen, the general of the Zuo Houwei, who is also the secretary of the Ministry of War, suddenly said: "Actually, the treasury is not completely without money and food, as far as I know, there are more than 400,000 yuan in the account of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and there are more than 200,000 horses in silk. Make up this money. ”

"Duan Shangshu, how do you know the accounts of the Ministry of Civil Affairs?" Zhao Cai, the general of the right guard, asked curiously.

"Fan Zigai, the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, was named Taiyuan to stay behind, and the affairs of the Ministry of Civil Affairs are temporarily in the hands of Wei Anshi, the waiter." Duan Wenzhen explained: "I have a small friendship with Wei Anshi, and the reward army has to be issued by the military department that I am also in charge of. ”

"So, the treasury still has money?" Zhao Cai was puzzled and said, "Since the treasury has money, why does His Majesty cut the reward so much?" His Majesty is usually quite generous in terms of rewards, why is he so mean this time? ”

Chen Yingliang and Lai Hu'er, who already knew the inside story, were silent, but Yuwenshu was quite frank, and said directly: "Those money silk are still very useful, don't even think about it, if it weren't for Ying Liangxian's nephew really playing beautifully this time, His Majesty would even want to save half of the usual reward." ”

"What's the use?" Everyone muttered in their hearts, and secretly said, "What else can it be of great use? It's nothing more than a cultivation palace and a building ceremony. ”

At this time, Lai Hu'er, who has always loved nurses and soldiers, spoke again, and said expressionlessly: "If I can get this money and food, I would like to donate it all to His Majesty and reward the soldiers, but unfortunately I don't." ”

"If I had, I would too." The elder greedy Yu Wenshu also nodded, and said without blushing: "If I am as rich as Guan Longba, I am happy to donate this money and food to help His Majesty solve his urgent needs, and also to appease the hard-working soldiers under our command, but unfortunately I am a poor bastard and have no heart." ”

Everyone including Yuwenshu's nemesis Yun Dingxing rolled their eyes, and they all scolded Yuwenshu for being shameless, obviously the gold, silver and jewelry at home were piled up, and he still had the face to call himself a poor bastard? Only Chen Fu's conscience moved, and he subconsciously blurted out: "Yuwen Zhuguo, what did you just say?" ”

"Ying Liangxian nephew, what's wrong with you? What did I just say, didn't you hear? Yu Wenshu asked suspiciously.

"Zhu Guo forgives the sin, the younger generation was a little distracted just now." Chen Yingliang asked while pleading guilty: "Yuwen Zhuguo, you just said that if you are as rich as someone, you are willing to donate this money and grain to solve your majesty's urgent needs?" ”

"Guan Longba, everyone." Yu Wenshu said casually: "If I am as big and deep-rooted as Guan Longba's family, and the warehouse is full of money and grain, I will donate this money and grain to help His Majesty reward the soldiers." ”

"Guan Longba, everyone is so rich?" Chen Yingliang asked in surprise: "800,000 military expenses, 300,000 horses of silk, they can easily take it out?" ”

Everyone rolled their eyes at Chen Yingliang's stupid question, but Yun Dingxing was still righteous enough, and explained: "Virtuous nephew, your knowledge is still less, Guan Longba's family has been in the world for a hundred years, and each family is rich and rich, and it is not easy to take out this money and grain, but it is definitely not a big problem." ”

Chen Yingliang's face was ecstatic, and he blurted out: "In that case, why do we ask His Majesty to take out the treasury money to reward the soldiers, why don't we want to find a way to let Guan Longba and the others give this money and food?" ”

"Chen Yingliang, are you stupid?"

Almost everyone was surprised, but Lai Hu'er's heart moved, and he quickly raised his head and said, "Ying Liangxian's nephew, do you want Li Valve to give this money and food?" ”

"Exactly." Chen Yingliang nodded vigorously and said: "Your Majesty is worried about how to deal with Li Yuan, the punishment is so heavy that you can't stand everyone from pleading, and the punishment is light, since this is the case, why don't we ask Your Majesty to let Li Yuan take out this money and food to reward meritorious soldiers?" In this way, His Majesty the Emperor saved money, Tang Guogong saved his life, and our soldiers received the rewards they deserved, and we can also raise our heads and speak loudly in front of all the soldiers, isn't it a win-win situation for all parties? ”

Several generals were all dumbfounded, all of them were stunned by the genius idea of Chen Fuliang, and Lai Hu'er was also moved in his heart, and after muttering for a while, Lai Hu'er said in a deep voice: "Two questions, first, how can you convince Your Majesty to agree to do this?" Second, who said this to His Majesty, this is a matter of offending Li Valve in death, who will be the first bird? ”

"Ying Liangxian nephew, the solution is to come up with it, if you dare to be this bird, I will do my best to assist you by the side!" Yu Wenshu also said.

Everyone's eyes turned back to Chen Yingliang's face, Chen Fuliang thought about it a little, and quickly said: "The solution is what I came up with, of course this budding bird should also be done by me, anyway, I have already offended Li Valve, and I don't mind deepening the feud." However, in order to convince His Majesty to do so, I need the help of my seniors. ”

"Say, as long as we can do it, we will do our best to help you." Lai Hu'er said: "This is also for our soldiers, we will do our best." ”

Yuwen Shu also echoed Lai Hu'er's words, and Chen Yingliang smiled and said: "Actually, it's very simple, just ask Yuwen Zhuguo and Lai Zhuguo to make a statement to His Majesty, and ask His Majesty to lead you to visit and review the firearms team under the command of the last general, and the rest can be handed over to the juniors." "Agree to do that? Second, who said this to His Majesty, this is a matter of offending Li Valve in death, who will be the first bird? ”

"Ying Liangxian nephew, the solution is to come up with it, if you dare to be this bird, I will do my best to assist you by the side!" Yu Wenshu also said.

Everyone's eyes turned back to Chen Yingliang's face, Chen Fuliang thought about it a little, and quickly said: "The solution is what I came up with, of course this budding bird should also be done by me, anyway, I have already offended Li Valve, and I don't mind deepening the feud." However, in order to convince His Majesty to do so, I need the help of my seniors. ”

"Say, as long as we can do it, we will do our best to help you." Lai Hu'er said: "This is also for our soldiers, we will do our best." ”

Yuwen Shu also echoed Lai Hu'er's words, and Chen Yingliang smiled and said: "Actually, it's very simple, just ask Yuwen Zhuguo and Lai Zhuguo to make a statement to His Majesty, and ask His Majesty to lead you to visit and review the firearms team under the command of the last general, and the rest can be handed over to the juniors." ”