Those who attended the banquet, if they were the guest of honor, were mainly Deng She, Haidong reinforcements were guests, and Yidu ministers were accompanied. As for Zhao Guo and Guo Conglong, they are between half home and half guest. After all, on the one hand, the two of them participated in the Battle of Yidu from beginning to end, and on the other hand, they also rescued Yidu. In addition, not only Fu Youde attended the meeting, but also foreign envoys such as Wang He and Meng Youde also attended.

There are Hong Jixun, Ji Zongzhou, Luo Lilang, Yan Zhixi, Yang Xingjian, Zhang Yu, Ju Sheng, Liu Mingjiang, and Wu Wenhuaguo, Zhao Guo, Tong Shengyang, Deng Chengzhi, Zhang Zhener, Yang Wanhu, Guo Conglong, Hu Zhong and others. ——, Zhang Yan'er's entry into the city was a little later than Wenhuaguo, although Deng She did not personally greet him, but he was still in time for the celebration of this night banquet.

In addition, Liu Guo and some other officers of the Yidu faction also attended the banquet.

In order to show that there was no distinction between thick and thin, Deng She specially called someone to inform them of their coming. It's just that because in Shicheng's old department, Chen Youtou and Gao Yanshi, the generals with the highest official ranks, have not yet returned, and the average official position of these people who stayed in the city is low, and Liu Guo, who has the highest military rank, is just a deputy Wanhu who was promoted before the war, which is far inferior to Zhiwen and Zhao Zhu, so most of them are at the bottom.

The place of the night banquet is the banquet hall in the palace.

Earlier, when Wang Shicheng was there, he had made great efforts to open up a large piece of garden forest in the palace, and named it "Liang Garden". This banquet hall is in the middle of Liang Garden.

There are bamboo forests and plum gardens on the left and right, although in the depths of winter, lush and dark fragrance floats; There are strange stones and clear springs before and after, despite the night, the water is bright and the stone is beautiful, and the pottery is pleasant. Around the synagogue, countless torches and lanterns were lit, and only the light was as bright as day.

Under the firelight and lights, hundreds of palace guards, in armor, stood guard, or patrolled back and forth. These guards are all selected from the army, and they can all be called tigers and wolves, and they have not been on the battlefield for a long time. Even if you don't move, if you stand there, you can give people a murderous aura that is cold to the bones.

This line of defense, centered on the banquet hall, spreads outward and reaches the periphery of Liang Yuan. Facing outward, there were other guards in the palace who were responsible for guarding.

Outside the gate of Liang Yuan, there were many generals and soldiers, as well as the retinue of Wenchen. The palace has already stipulated the scope of activities for them, and without Deng She's royal order, no one is allowed to go out of the circle, and violators will be killed. In fact, it stands to reason that Wenchen's entourage is fine, and the generals' personal soldiers are not qualified to bring weapons into the palace. They were able to stay outside Liang Yuan, which was because of Deng She's extra kindness, giving privileges to a few people such as Wen Huaguo, Zhao Guo, Tong Shengyang, and Zhang Xiao'er.

Even so, they were given a limited number.

For example, in Wenhua Kingdom, the largest number of personal soldiers that can be brought into the palace is twenty. Zhao Guo is second, and can lead fifteen people. Tong Shengyang and Zhang Ji'er are again, and they can take ten people. Yang Wanhu, Guo Conglong and others with greater merit were also allowed to bring between two and ten personal soldiers. This can be regarded as a special favor given to them by Dunshe.

The banquet has just begun.

In the layers of defense of the Liang Garden, under the vigilance of the heroic and masculine guards, inside and outside the door of the banquet hall, a team of light makeup and eyebrows, holding antique cups and wine vessels, went in and out; Rows of servants are low-end steaming delicacies and delicacies, and the river is endless.

Entering through the door of the banquet hall: the fire outside the door is bright enough, and the hall is even more brilliant.

In the hall, which can accommodate one or two hundred people, the floor is covered with wool blankets from the Western Regions, thick and soft, and the color is gorgeous. On both sides of the hall, tall mahogany pillars support the curved dome. Beneath the dome, beams run through it. On the beam, there are dozens of hundreds of palace lamps, or cast in bronze, or woven with silk, some light aromatherapy red candles, and some directly put the pearls and treasures used in decoration. Carved beams and paintings, jewels.

If the light of the palace lamp alone is not enough to reflect the splendor of the hall. On the walls of the front and back, there are also a lot of lamp plates densely placed; Next to each desk in the hall, there is also a copper wax table. The lamp tray and the wax stand are all in different shapes. Some look like beauties, some look like children worshipping Buddha, some look like dragons, and some look like Meilan competing for beauty. Being in it, it is like walking between the unreal and the real, especially the lights, which increase the dream-like unreality.

Deng She sat on the throne, left and right.

The hall and the door are not directly connected, leaving a lot of space. This space is connected with the aisles behind the left and right pillars, and like the stars holding the moon, the place of feasting surrounds it. The maids and servants served wine and food, and they walked from behind the pillars. In the middle between the door and the hall, it is reserved for musicians, singers and dancers.

Deng She looked left and right, saw that the text was handsome, and the stars were brilliant. Although tonight's banquet was held in Yidu, it can be said that at least more than half of Haidong's elites participated.

Deng She looked at it for a long time, gestured with his eyes, and turned his head to look at the guards standing behind him, meaning to ask if everyone had arrived? The guard approached quickly, bowed and said, "Back to Your Highness, it's all together." ”

The hall was very noisy, but Wenchen was fine, abiding by etiquette, and even if he talked, he mostly whispered. The generals are different, Monk Li and other generals who defend Yidu and the generals of the Haidong reinforcements have not seen each other for a long time, and they are all excited after an unprecedented fierce battle. Those who are close, such as Monk Li and Yang Wanhu, talk about their farewell to each other and laugh constantly. The estranged, such as Liu Guo and Hu Zhong, had nothing to say, but because of the proximity of the neighbors, they also talked about the war and talked about it. It's a mess.

Deng She took a glass of wine, stood up, coughed, and said, "Everyone." ”

He was the lord, and as soon as he spoke, the hall gradually quieted down, and everyone's eyes were focused on him. Zhao Guo and Ji Zongzhou took the lead, and with a "whoosh", dozens of people also stood up at the same time. Deng She looked at them with a smile and said, "This Yidu battle is really a test that my Haidong has never experienced. The fighting was very fierce and lasted for two months. At the most dangerous time, Yidu City was almost unsafe. Thanks to the power of the public, the crisis was turned into safety.

"Special Haidong reinforcements. In a short period of time, Wen Pingzhang organized tens of thousands of reinforcements to cross the Hanhai Sea in the middle of winter. There have been more than a dozen fierce battles of all sizes, and finally the ability to turn the tide, save the building, and save the benefits of fire and water. not only saved Yidu, but also preserved the whole province of Yidu, and did not fall into the hands of the enemy. The toil of the march! The combat achievements are also high! ”

Deng She looked at Wen Huaguo, then at Hong Jixun, and then at Liu Guo, smiled slightly, and then said: "Of course, as our Caizhi said, the reason why our army was able to force back Chahan was naturally more than just reinforcements. If there is no sacrifice of life and death of the generals of Yidu and stick to the lonely city, even if our reinforcements are prosperous, I am afraid that we will not be able to wait for the time to break the enemy. Li and Bi both commanded envoys, and General Liu Guo and Liu also made great contributions. Also, Liaoyang Chen Pingzhang and South Korean Yao Pingzhang, although they are not here tonight, one supports the crossing of the sea and the other plans to retreat from Polo, but they are also indispensable.

"Princes, it's still the same sentence, 'Thanks to the power of the princes, this battle has turned the corner'. Tonight's banquet, as soon as I came, I would pick up the wind and wash the dust for Wen Pingzhang and Zhao Zuocheng's heroes; Second, it is also a celebration for everyone here to work together to repel Chahan! ”

Deng She's words came out, and everyone in the hall had different expressions.

Ji Zongzhou thought: "I praised everyone here, and praised the reinforcements and Wen Pingzhang alone. praised the reinforcements and Wen Pingzhang, and focused on Monk Li, Bi Qianniu and Liu Guo. praised Monk Li, Bi Qianniu and Liu Guo, and praised Chen and Yao who did not come. praised Chen and Yao, and then came back, praising everyone here again.

"......, who is the lord praising here?"

He glanced at Hong Jixun and thought again: "No matter who is boasting, in short, Lao Hong's plan to support the generals of Shandong seems to have been seen through by the lord, and he is very dismissive." I'm afraid it's going to be in vain. He raised his eyes again and peeked at Deng She, and quietly bent down a little, putting his stance more respectful.

Hong Jixun was holding a folding fan and gently patting the side of his leg while listening to Deng She's words. After listening, he paused slightly with the folding fan in his hand, and beckoned Wen Huaguo on the right in a blink of an eye, thinking in his heart: "It is not surprising that the lord's words are praised by everyone here before and after, and he focuses on praising Wen Laozi." Anyway, at yesterday's meeting, the lord had already shown that he did not agree with my support for the Shandong generals.

"The question is, why did you specifically point out Chen Ba and the guy surnamed Yao?" One supports the crossing of the sea, and the other plans to retreat from Polo'. Hey. The credit of the surname Yao is not small. We, the big voters, did everything possible to defeat Chahan, and the surnamed Yao sat firmly in South Korea and did not move, so he 'planned to retreat Polo'.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Hu ranks eighth among Deng San's sworn brothers, so Hong Jixun often calls him "Chen Ba" in private. And "Wen Laotu" is naturally Wenhua Kingdom. Wenhua Guo always has the posture of a nouveau riche, likes to wear gold and silver, and can't wait to hang all his belongings on his body, and his speech and demeanor are always very rude, and he does not take off his native colors. Yes, Hong Jixun has this almost contemptuous name for him.

When he was looking at Wen Huaguo, Wen Huaguo also noticed his gaze, turned his face, smiled at him, and thought in his heart: "Lao Yao is lucky, no one came, and the lord is still thinking about him." It's so much to like him. It's just that Liu Guo's dog's day, what qualifications can he be on a par with Monk Li and Bi Qianniu?

"......, it's a pity that Chen Yutou and Gao Yanshi haven't come back to Yidu until now, these two people can be regarded as good men among the generals in Shandong. And look at the future, there must be time, I can't say, I need to find them, put on a banquet, and drink happily. ”

While thinking about it, he felt that something was under his nose, and when he rubbed it with his hand, he saw that it was a gray particle, and bounced it away from afar, and secretly thought: "But when I saw Brother She's child, I cried a little forgetful." Entering the city to go to the banquet was too tight. This dog's face has not been washed. ......, Phew, 'Dog's Day's Face'? This doesn't scold Lao Tzu himself! Damn, Lao Wen, you are really a young string. ”

The civil and military ministers have their own thoughts. However, even if Wenhua Guo is included, he has been in a high position for a long time, and he may not be able to talk about deep cultivation, at least he has a little bit of a city government. The thoughts in his mind turned sharply, and none of his faces showed the slightest abnormality. They all held their breath and continued to listen to Dunshe.

Deng She raised the cup, his expression was straight, his tone turned low, and said: "In this battle, although it depends on the strength of the princes, my Haidong is lucky to win. However, there were also heavy losses. Just before the feast, the king got a rough count of the casualties and the people who were damaged in the battle.

"The Yidu Army, the Huashan Battalion, the Jinan Army, and the Haidong Reinforcement Army, only the number of soldiers killed in the battle was more than 10,000, nearly 20,000. This still does not take into account the losses of the Tai'an army and the Taishan battalion, nor the number of wounded. In the vicinity of Yidu, there were no less than 10,000 people who were affected by the war, or were killed or wounded, or taken captive by Chahan. This fight! The blow to my Haidong is really not small!

"......, the generals and soldiers who were killed and injured are all loyal and brave men of our Haidong. The people who are suffering are also the pure and loyal people of our Haidong. Mr. Hong once said: The soldiers of the three armies are also the minions of the country. Yao Gong also once said: The soldiers are endless, and what is the crime of our people!

"Ladies and gentlemen, this king proposes that our first cup of wine should be honored to the casualties who did not hesitate to sacrifice to protect the country and the country."

Everyone agreed to the promise, they all drank it all, put down the wine glass, and their own maids came to fill it again. Dunsha raised his cup again, and continued, "The second cup of wine, for the people who suffered and were displaced by the war. This cup is not a toast, not for them to drink for displacement, but for the guilt of this king for failing to protect the land and the people! Drink this cup, this king and all the princes swear that the hatred of Chahan for transgressing my territory, killing my people, and destroying my homeland will be avenged sooner or later! How to repay virtue with virtue? Repay grievances directly! ”

Dozens of people shouted in unison: "Repay grievances with virtue, how can you repay virtue?" Repay grievances directly! The ministers and the lord swore that the revenge of Chahan for violating my territory, killing my people, and destroying my homeland will be avenged sooner or later! ”

"Drink this cup."

They either covered their sleeves or raised their heads and drank all the wine from their cups.

Then Dunsher raised his glass for the third time. He turned to the ministers, his face was slightly gentle, and he smiled: "First glass of wine, salute warrior." The second glass of wine, keep this hatred in mind. What kind of name do you say, and what should you drink this third cup of wine, and for what purpose? ”

Ji Zongzhou thought: "I have remembered the deceased and remembered the deep hatred. This night banquet, since it is in the name of celebrating, the third glass of wine, it is natural to pay tribute to the heroes. He lowered his eyebrows and couldn't help but guess. From the words of the lord praising the heroes, it can be heard that although he did not say who was the first to make the first contribution in this battle, it seems that it must be Wen Pingzhang. made an inference, "This third glass of wine must be Jingwen Pingzhang." ”

Although he guessed an answer, he kept a low profile and refused to show his head to answer.

For two months, Yan Zhixi has been busy pacifying the city. This night banquet was the first large-scale gathering of ministers he participated in in recently. Because of the lack of rest, his complexion at this time was very bad, his face was haggard, and the black and bright beard that he had always maintained had become a little dry and unkempt.

Yesterday's meeting, although he did not participate, greeted Wenhua Guo in the evening, but he went. He endured his sleepiness and thought to himself: "Today, Wen Pingzhang came, and the lord and his father greeted him for thirty miles, and they even walked to meet each other. The weight of etiquette is really rare. This third glass of wine is no different from being a tribute to Wen Pingzhang. ”

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but think of Wen Huaguo's performance after seeing Wen Huaguo. He was in a relatively backward position, glanced forward obliquely, looked at Wen Huaguo, and thought to himself: "Wen Pingzhang seems to be a rough person, but the one in the evening is very good!"

In front of the three armies, in front of the generals, he cried loudly, as if his emotions were exposed. But as the commander of the first army, he has been in charge of the army for a long time, how can he not know that he is a general, and he should take prestige as the most important? In front of the generals, he disregarded his identity and howled like a country man, but in fact, he was to dispel the suspicion of the lord.

When he cried, he commanded tens of thousands of elites, and his prestige of fighting hundreds of miles and forcing Chahan to retreat was suddenly lost, and the credit for rescuing Yidu was also lost.

"Clever, really clever!

Not only that, but he also scolded Zhang Yan'er, Liu Yang, and Wu Henian successively. These three people are all the henchmen of the lord. Zhang Ji'er sits in the Guanbei region, Liu Yang is in charge of the Pyongyang naval army, and Wu Henian is in charge of the people's livelihood economy. It seems that Wen Huaguo is expressing his dissatisfaction with them.

However, if you think about it from another angle, Zhang, Liu, and Wu were originally placed in North Korea by the lord to share the right to share the rules. The more dissatisfied the diploma is with them, the more relieved the lord will be with him? Because the harder he scolded, the more he said that the Korean provinces were not monolithic.

"The lord has been trapped in Yidu for two months, almost cut off from Pyongyang. Wen Pingzhang came, and led thousands of troops, and the momentum was unmatched for a while. Although Chahan's retreat was not his work alone, but the whole province of Yidu regarded it, but it was mostly seen as a savior. At this delicate moment when the lord is a little suspicious and the minister is a little stronger, if you don't pay attention to it, the consequences will be unimaginable. Unexpectedly, Wen Pingzhang made a lot of strange moves, first falling into his majesty, and then scolding the important ministers, but two small tricks easily and skillfully resolved the lord's suspicion of him.

What's more, he interspersed Yao Haogu in his words at that time, saying that Yao Haogu had repeatedly prevented him from crossing the sea in advance. What does that mean? What are you talking about for no reason? Isn't it just to hint to the lord that the reason why the Haidong reinforcements were able to successfully cross the sea and rescue the driver this time was not his own credit. Yao Haogu also has great contributions. It is clear that this is a merit move.

"......, Wen Pingzhang, Wen Pingzhang. It has long been heard that he seems to be thick and thin in Pyongyang, and although he is a large and thin province, he has never made any mistakes, and has a reputation for discerning people. I thought it was nothing more than the words of some sycophants. Judging from his actions today, there are indeed things that are different from ordinary people.

"I just don't know, he came up with this method himself? Or is it someone else's advice? ”

Wen Huaguo was also proud, although he lowered his head, the people nearby, such as Zhao Guo, could also see his expression clearly, and even saw his lips squirming, listening carefully, he seemed to be saying something: "Although the ,......, ministers in this battle have great achievements, the main thing is that the lord is commanding like a god,......。 And so on.

With Zhao Guo's steadiness, he couldn't help laughing. He didn't wait for Deng She to toast, so he was rehearsing his modest remarks first. Deng She was not far from Wenhuaguo, and he faintly heard it, he smiled slightly, looked at Wenhuaguo, and said with a smile: "Uncle has worked hard and made great achievements, so I don't need to talk about it." But this third glass of wine, I don't pay tribute to Uncle. ”

Holding the wine glass, Deng She walked down the hall and came to Hong Jixun's side, holding the cup in both hands, with a dignified expression and sincere words, and said: "Chahan has besieged the city for more than a month, and there are no less than dozens of battles. If there is no gentleman's great concern and the king's strategy, whether the city of Yidu can be defended is really between the two. Without Mr., there is no benefit. If there is no benefit, there will be no king. Without this king, how can you talk about Haidong? The merit of Mr. is really the first. Please drink this glass of wine. ”